For some holidaymakers the destination is already determined in advance, while others have to think a little longer before making the choice of country for the upcoming trip. For example, one person likes to go to the same destination every year, perhaps even the same accommodation, while the other prefers to go to a different country again and again. And while one person opts for mass tourism, another prefers to travel off the beaten track. If you choose a new country that is preferably not (too) touristy, you could easily travel to an emerging destination… For those who love new things, challenges and surprises, here are the ten best emerging destinations in the world.
Mar del Plata – Argentina
The port city of Mar del Plata is located approximately 400 kilometers from the capital Buenos Aires and is the most popular beach destination in Argentina. The opulent Victorian summer houses reveal that this seaside resort was once a country retreat for the Argentine elite; It has now become a destination for beach tourists with every budget. Mar del Plata has a mild climate, making it easy to visit at any time of the year. However, there is indeed a summer high season in January and February and during these two months it can be quite busy on the sixteen kilometers of sandy beaches. In addition to sun, sand and sea, there are also plenty of opportunities to experience some culture, including the Mar del Plata Cathedral and the Museo Municipal de Arte Juan C. Castagnino are definitely worth a visit. Furthermore, in the port of Mar del Plata there are various options for eating fresh fish and the many souvenir shops sell handmade woolen clothing. Beautiful nature can be admired in Laguna de los Padres.
São Paulo – Brazil
The Brazilian multinational city of São Paulo is the largest city in South America with more than twenty million inhabitants. The city is known for the many excursion options in and around the city. The Cathedral of São Paulo is definitely worth a visit, and not just because it is one of the largest neo-Gothic cathedrals in the world. The Museu de Arte de São Paulo, which is one of the largest museums in Latin America, houses works by Karel Appel, Frans Hals, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, El Greco and Pablo Picasso, among others. Brazil’s tallest building, the Mirante do Vale, is also in São Paulo. After Los Angeles, the city has the most helicopters in the air: rich people take the helicopter to the shopping center and the beach approximately eighty kilometers away, the police use them for patrols and banks regularly use helicopters for cash transport. São Paulo is also very suitable for shopping and the Le Jardin district in particular offers great culinary diversity. Those who love flora and fauna can visit the zoo and the botanical garden with more than 1,200 species of plates, lakes, streams and wild monkeys.
Kiev – Ukraine
Kiev is the capital and largest city of the state of Ukraine, which has been independent since 1991. This city survived the Mongol Empire, World War II, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and Russian rule. Located on either side of the Dnieper River, on the ancient trade route between Scandinavia and Constantinople, Kiev is the center of Ukrainian culture. The city is home to many theaters including the National Opera House of Ukraine, museums, religious sites and structures, modern buildings and ancient ruins. The World Heritage List includes the Cave Monastery, founded in 1015, and the Cathedral of Saint Sophia, which was founded a few years later in 1037. The Museum of the Great Patriotic War is characterized by the enormous statue of the Mother of the Fatherland and also offers an incredibly beautiful view of Kiev. Also worth visiting are the Mariinsky Palace and Independence Square. Kiev is also the city of the famous football team Dynamo Kiev and the final of the 2012 European Football Championship was played in the NSK Olimpiejsky stadium on July 1, 2012.
Montevideo – Uruguay
The port city of Montevideo is, in addition to the capital of the South American country Uruguay and the department of the same name, also the sports capital of Uruguay. Montevideo is located just a little further south than the Argentine capital Beunos Aires, making it the southernmost city in South America. The city is located on the 200 kilometer wide north bank of the Río de la Plata river. Montevideo is suitable for tourists looking for culture, beaches and tranquility. There are opportunities for relaxing walks along both colonial buildings and beautiful beaches, with a walk on the Rambla de Montevideo being one of the most famous. The Ciudadela Gate, the only part left of the wall that once surrounded the entire city, now serves as the entrance to Montevideo’s oldest neighborhood: Ciudad Vieja. This district has churches, theaters and museums. Ciduad Vieja is home to the renowned Auditorio del Sodre theater and is brought to life at night by the nightclubs where tango and candombe music is played to accompany large groups of dancers. A popular excursion is a tour of the vineyards and wine cellars of the scenic Bouza Bodega Boutique winery.
Perth – Australia
Perth is the capital of the Australian state of Western Australia and is located on the banks of the wide Swan River. The city lies between the Indian Ocean and the sands of the Nullarbor Plain, making it one of the most isolated cities in the world. At the same time, Perth is also rated among the most liveable cities in the world and boasts an active beach scene and vibrant nightlife. Scarborough in the north has many lively clubs on the beach. Cottesloe Beach, on the other hand, is very family-friendly and is teeming with swimmers, surfers and snorkelers. Lovers of flora and fauna will get their money’s worth in the modern zoo Perth Zoo, Kings Park with, among other things, the botanical garden from which you can also enjoy beautiful views, or they can take the ferry to Rottnest Island and then melt away at the cute marsupials. For tourists who want to experience culture to a greater or lesser extent, Perth has a number of churches and cathedrals that are certainly worth a visit. The famous Trans-Australian Railway runs from Perth to the nearest major city of Adelaide, 2,700 kilometers away.
Mexico City – Mexico
The capital and also the political, economic and cultural center of Mexico: Mexico City is located in the valley of Mexico, 2,240 meters above sea level. This largest high-altitude city ever emerged from the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, offering today’s tourists an interesting mix of modern city life and historical remains. A comprehensive introduction to Mexican history and culture can be enjoyed at the National Museum of Anthropology. In addition, the sites of the spectacular Teotihuacan and the partially excavated museum of the Mayan temples can be visited. There are nice walks in the Coyoacan district and the Paseo de la Reforma street with trees, statues, art exhibitions and shows. Yet one of the most visited places in Mexico City is Zócalo Square. Home to historic attractions such as the Aztec Mayan Temple of Tenochtitlan, the National Palace and the Spanish Cathedral, this square is the third largest square in the world. Until the year 2000, Mexico City was nicknamed the City of Palaces. This nickname was changed to City of Hope by the then mayor. However, opponents of the mayor in question still use the old nickname.
Hobart – Australia
The lively port city of Hobart is located on the southeast coast of the island of Tasmania, also off the southeast coast of Australia, and is the capital and largest city of the state of Tasmania. The city is located on the Derwent River, the Tasman Highway and at the foot of the 1,271 meter high Mount Wellington. On the waterfront there are several cafes, restaurants and studios located in centuries-old converted warehouses that overlook a harbor full of yachts and fishing boats. In addition, Hobart’s charm is further enhanced by a relaxing daily routine, an active artist scene and a vibrant nightlife. Animal lovers will get their money’s worth in the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, where kangaroos, wallabies and koalas can be seen, petted and fed. From the top of Mount Wellington you can enjoy breathtaking views, while there is also plenty of natural beauty to behold on and around the mountain. Salamanca market is highly recommended, a unique and one of the nicest markets with lots of fresh products; Dishes can even be prepared in the existing steam cooker. Finally, it is nice to know that American actor Errol Flynn and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark were born in Hobart.
Guadalajara – Mexico
Guadalajara, named after the city of the same name in Spain, is located in the interior of western Mexico and is the capital of the state of Jalisco and is particularly important historically and culturally. In the historic center of Guadalajara and in the neighboring city of Zapopan you will find a large number of tourist attractions and sights: museums, parks and churches compete with rodeos, bullfights and football. Guadalajara is a metropolis that has retained the character of a provincial city and is known as the most Mexican city in Mexico. The city is the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara and the seat of the Christian Church of the Light of the World. Sights include the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Expiatory Temple. Football fans can indulge themselves in the Estadio Ominilife, the home stadium of the local football club. In the same region as Guadalajara are also Tequila, the city where the spirit of the same name is made, and the artist towns of Tlaquepaque and Tonala, where various artisans and artists make all kinds of typical Mexican products. The Mariachi orchestras from this region can be seen and heard everywhere in Guadalajara.
Moscow – Russia
By far the largest city in Russia, formerly the Soviet Union, its capital Moscow is also the historical, scientific and business center of the country. The city is located at an altitude of 156 meters above sea level in the highland between the Oka and Volga rivers. The Moskva River crosses Moscow from northwest to southeast and about 120 smaller rivers flow through the city. Moscow, shows the contradictions of Russia in the most extreme form: old and new stand side by side in this city of ten million inhabitants. Moscow has elegant metro stations from which tourists can take the metro to take a look at Red Square, the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral with the famous nine domes, Lenin’s mausoleum, the White House, the KGB Museum, etc. the state department store GUM and other symbols of Moscow’s rich and at the same time terrible past. The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts houses a department of Italian and Dutch/Flemish painting and the Bolshoi Theater is known all over the world. About a third of Moscow’s urban area consists of green areas, which include approximately 100 parks. Shoppers will get their money’s worth at the Boulevardring and people can easily watch people at Pushkin Square.
Turin – Italy
Turin is located in northwestern Italy, southwest of Milan, and is the capital of the Piedmont region and the largest city in northern Italy after Milan. The city is flanked on the north and west by the Alps, on the south by the Monferrato hills and four rivers flow through the city, the Po being the best known. Turin is a real industrial city and partly because of this, sports cars and chocolate are the subject of regional pride; it is therefore the city where the FIAT garage was founded in 1899 and the Automobile Museum was opened in 1933. Most of the famous buildings in Turin belong to the Baroque period; The Duomo, dating from around 1500, is one of the few examples of Renaissance architecture. The Museo Egizio has one of the most impressive collections of Egyptian archaeological objects in the world. During a walk around Piazza Castello and along Via Roma it is possible to visit a large number of sights. Turin Cathedral and the Royal Palace are well worth a visit. In the Valentino Park there is an 18th century castle, a botanical garden and a medieval village. The casual trattorias invite the culinary or gastronomic tourist to taste the various regional pastas, wines and coffee. Turin also owns the famous football club Juventus and was Italy’s film city until the First World War, when Rome took over this title.