From filming locations to historical celebrations, we’ve found good excuses to visit each of these 24 destinations this year. Not that you needed any…
By Fiona Brutscher
0/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Skellig Michael:
Skellig Michael: As one of the few new Star Wars locations confirmed before Episode VII even hit the big screen, this jagged rock off the West Coast of Ireland has already seen visitor numbers increase over the past year. Now that the franchise is once again setting box office records, you might have to scramble to get yourself on one of the official tour boats – visitor numbers are strictly limited. skelligislands.com
1/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Stratford-upon-Avon:
Stratford-upon-Avon: The 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death might just be that excuse you’ve always needed to pay a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon. In the bard’s home town, you can visit Shakespeare’s birthplace, the Guildhall where young William went to school, and the site of the house in which he died. shakespeare.org.uk[Photo: Wikimedia Commons]
2/25
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The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Zurich:
Zurich: In 1916, a raucous band of creative misfits met at Zurich’s Cabaret Voltaire to turn the art upside down, inside out and make sense from nonsense. Dadaism was born… and its reverberations can still be felt in today’s pop culture. In 2016, Cabaret Voltaire (reopened in 2004) will be celebrating a century of Dada with a variety of weird and wonderful events. dada100zuerich2016.ch
3/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Munich:
Munich: As anyone who has ever visited the Bavarian capital knows, Munich is prouder of its beer than of any other of the city’s products. The celebrations marking 500 years since the passing of the beer purity law will only reinforce that pride, so join the happy locals in drinking to their marvellous brew. 500jahre-reinheitsgebot.com
4/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Poland:
Poland: If you’ve seen Warsaw and Kraków… you still haven’t scratched the surface of Poland’s wonderful cities. In 2016, visit Wrocław, one of the European Capitals of Culture and the World Book Capital for the year. poland.travel
5/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Wales:
Wales: A campaign promoting the “Year of Adventure” presents Wales as an outdoor destination, but we have a different type of adventure in mind: In Welshman Roald Dahl’s centenary year and with his Big Friendly Giant (BFG) looming large on cinema screens, you could say it’s a country for adventures of the mind, too. walesonline.co.uk
6/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Dublin:
Dublin: History buffs head to Ireland for the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, which led to Irish independence and the founding of the Republic of Ireland. As always on the Emerald Isle, there’s many a tale to be told, some of them potentially tall… dublincity.ie
7/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Norway:
Norway: A visit to Norway will please Frozen-loving kids and their nature enthusiast parents in equal measure. It’s a smart time to visit the land of Elsa now that the first craze is over, but before the inevitable sequel comes. More importantly, the current Northern Lights cycle is ending, so it might be the last chance to see those flickering displays of light in a while. visitnorway.com
8/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Amsterdam:
Amsterdam: Hopping across the channel to Amsterdam just got even easier. Eurostar is introducing a new route to the Dutch city of canals, stopping in European capital Brussels, fashion hub Antwerp and port city Rotterdam along the way. eurostar.com
9/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
New York
New York: Frank Sinatra was born December 12, 1915, so the crooner’s anniversary year runs through most of 2016. If you’re in New York, you can pay tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes with a visit to a special exhibition at the Grammy Museum, to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, or on a walking tour of Sinatra’s Manhattan and Hoboken, New Jersey. nypl.org
10/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
USA:
USA: Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service by visiting some of America’s most awe-inspiring national parks. Steer clear of the most popular parks and head for less well-known ones like Kobuk Valley, Lake Clark, Gates Of The Arctic or Wrangell-St. Elias, all in Alaska, and all amongst the least visited national parks in the US. nps.gov
11/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Byron Bay/Burleigh Heads:
Byron Bay/Burleigh Heads: The exchange rate is good, but several new laws will see backpacker numbers drop across Australia. If you’ve always wanted to visit Byron Bay, now might be your chance to experience it at its (relatively) uncrowded best. Or, for an upscale take on the relaxed beach bliss vibe Byron is known for, head up the coast to Burleigh Heads, which is being touted as the new hipster surfer mecca. visitgoldcoast.com
12/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Brisbane:
Brisbane: Even further north, the capital of Queensland is laying claim to cool capital of Australia. The city has always had a sunny disposition, but now it’s adding serious street cred to its list of reasons to visit. With a lively laneway culture, music scene and arts offerings, plus surely the only bridge in the world honouring an indie band (Go Between Bridge, named after local act The Go-Betweens), Brissie is hip and she knows it. visitbrisbane.com.au/
13/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Brazil:
Brazil: Catch the country between two massive sporting events by going early in the year – or, if you can’t avoid being there in summer, get away from all the action by escaping to Ilha Grande. Just far enough from Rio to avoid the crowds, it’s an easy island getaway. ilhagrande.es[Photo: Jean-Marc Astesana/Flickr]
14/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Cuba:
Cuba: The country is set to slowly awaken from its decade-long beauty sleep – and she’s ready for her close up. Now’s the time to go if you want to see the old Cuba. Havana tops everyone’s to-do list, but the island’s second city, Santiago de Cuba, with its Caribbean spirit, cultural heritage and architectural diversity, offers an even more authentic experience. visitcuba.com
15/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
St Helena:
St Helena: Once upon a time, St Helena was so far away from the rest of the world, it seemed appropriate to banish a deposed emperor to exile there. In 2016, the island is opening its first airport, which means that the former 5-hour trip (by boat from Cape Town) is now cut down to a short flight. This sign of changing times may also bring with it other modernisation, so get there while the trip is easy but the remote island still remains unspoilt. sthelenatourism.com
16/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Taipei:
Taipei: The World Design Capital project “celebrates the accomplishments of cities that have used design as a tool to reinvent themselves and improve social, cultural and economic life.” In 2016, that city is Taipei, showcasing the best of Taiwanese design and urban planning in a rapidly growing urban melting pot. worlddesigncapital.com
17/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Belgrade:
Belgrade: As the European weekend jet-setting crowd head further and further east in pursuit of gritty urban adventures, the Serbian capital becomes the latest “new Berlin.” It has the rich history, combined with a thriving arts and design scene, as well as a vibrant nightlife, to deserve that title, but also enough to set it apart and become a city destination in its own right. beograd.rs
18/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Guadalajara, Spain:
Guadalajara,Spain: The Spanish province of Guadalajara has gone a bit Juego de Tronos mad. That’s Game of Thrones to the English speakers amongst us. Several Spanish locations have been added to the rapidly expanding real-life Westeros for season 6 of the blockbuster series. Castillo de Zafra in Guadalajara has been the most hotly discussed location, with fans hoping it may represent the Tower of Joy described in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. turismocastillalamancha.es
19/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Macedonia:
Macedonia: Another new Game of Thrones location, albeit as yet unconfirmed, is probably Macedonia. The rugged scenery would serve as a beautiful backdrop for the visually stunning show, giving the Former Yugoslav Republic its well-deserved moment in the spotlight. exploringmacedonia.com
20/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Botswana:
Botswana: The Southern African country, celebrating its 50th anniversary of independence, is riding an enduring high: Politically stable, economically prospering, it is now also recommended by Lonely Planet as a top destination to visit in 2016 (not only for fans of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, the series of novels set in capital city Gaborone). botswanatourism.co.bw
21/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Quebec City: “
Quebec City: “North America’s most European city” is a destination for all seasons – four very distinct seasons offering everything from beach fun on the shores of the St. Lawrence river in the summer sun, to deep snow skiing minutes from the city in winter. quebecregion.com
22/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Bolivia:
Bolivia: Often eclipsed by its larger neighbours, Bolivia offers almost all of the highlights of South America in a nutshell (except – as a landlocked nation – beaches). It shares control of Lake Titicaca with Peru, offers a rich indigenous culture and enticing cuisine, boasts soaring mountains, thriving rainforest, sprawling salt flats, Inca ruins and, for those feeling adventurous, the world’s most dangerous road. bolivia.travel
23/25
Travel
The 2016 Trend Destination Hot List.
Kanazawa, Japan:
Kanazawa, Japan: Look beyond Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto and head to historical Kanazawa. The original Samurai city has seen a huge influx in foreign and domestic visitors, thanks to a new bullet train connection from the capital. Now you can get there so fast, you could pop over just for lunch – the city is rumoured to serve the freshest seafood in Japan. kanazawa-tourism.com[Photo: Douglas Perkins/Flickr]
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