The 2019 is about to end and, while the sums are drawn on the past year, we begin to plan trips and adventures for the next. It is not by chance that it is in this period that on the site of the famous travel guide Lonely Planet the list of the best travel destinations or, better, of the is published lesser-known or tourist places to discover or re-evaluate. Among the suggestions for the 2020, divided according to different categories including best country, city and region, we find exotic, cultural or zero-impact destinations, tourist-less locations to be re-evaluated or reachable thanks to new air connections and finally cities that will host important events. Surprisingly, Italy is also given a place of honor, as the Marche region ranks second among the recommended regions.

The best countries to travel in 2020

Bhutan, England, Northern Macedonia, Aruba, eSwatini, Costa Rica, Netherlands, Liberia, Morocco, Uruguay.

The first of the recommended countries is the Bhutan, a pristine gem of the eastern Himalayas, bordering with India and Tibet but less known and less touristy. This small state of rare naturalistic beauty, whose 60% of the territory is covered with forests, was already noted two years ago for having been elected "happiest country in the world", as well as for being a unique eco-sustainable example for a long time in the world. The guide Lonely Planet remember, however, that the national policy based on "high value, minimal environmental impact" includes a daily tax that tourists must pay to obtain a visa and to visit the country.

In second place we find England and, in particular, theEngland Coast Past, the long-awaited National Trail coastal route that will be completed in 2020 and that with its 5000 kilometers it will be the longest in the world. Thanks to this railway section it will be possible to easily explore the extraordinary and picturesque English coast, between wild and rural stretches, castles and characteristic villages.

There Lonely Planet then suggests to consider a trip to Macedonia, Balkan country still unexplored, but from next year more accessible thanks to the inauguration of new flight routes; among the recommended excursions, the one to Lake Ohrid, one of the oldest in the world, as well as a day of trekking along the High Scardus Trail.

The best cities to travel in 2020

Salzburg (Austria), Washington D.C. (USA), Cairo (Egypt), Galway (Ireland), Bonn (Germany), La Paz (Bolivia), Kochi (India), Vancouver (Canada), Dubai (Uae) Denver (USA).

The most recommended city for 2020 is Salzburg, which this year is preparing to celebrate the centenary of the Salzburg Festival, one of the most prestigious and famous opera and classical music events in the world; provided an exceptional poster with prominent names and titles such as Elektra and Don Giovanni.
Another centenary that, according to Lonely Planet, deserves a trip next year is what will take place in Washington D.C. in the United States, and that of the 19th amendment: to celebrate the anniversary of the law granting women the right to vote in fact, there are special exhibitions and events. In third place in the ranking of the cities to visit there is Cairo, in Egypt, where, after so many years of waiting, the doors will finally open on Great Egyptian Museum (GEM), a museum complex of almost 500 thousand square meters that will host thousands of archaeological finds.

The best regions to travel to in 2020

Via della Seta (Central Asian), Marche (Italy), Tōhoku (Japan), Maine (Usa), Lord Howe Island (Australia), Guizhou Province (China), Cadiz Province (Spain), Northeast (Argentina), Kvarner Gulf ( Croatia), Amazonia (Brazil).

The region of the world at the top of the "Best-in-travel" of the Lonely Planet and the Central Asia Silk Road, an ideal tour through countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, rich in history and tradition. From 2020, in fact, this itinerary will be made even more accessible thanks to the decision of Uzbekistan to introduce a new system of electronic visas as well as a visa-free transit regime for short stays.
In second place there are the Marche, of which the Australian guide praises the sea as much as the countryside, the suggestive medieval hilltop villages, the splendid Renaissance palaces, festivals and festivals that promote regional cuisine; as if that were not enough, in 2020, the "picturesque city of Urbino" is preparing to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Raphael's death.

In third place we find the Japanese region Tōhoku, unfortunately known above all for the damages suffered due to the tsunami and the earthquake of 2011. This region, which is slowly flowering again, now offers excellent tourist facilities and can be reached within a few hours by train from the capital. There Lonely Planet, on the occasion of the Summer Olympics to be held in Tokyo next year, therefore suggests an "escape" to the discovery of this country, to admire its authentic lifestyle, the breathtaking landscapes, the ancient traditions and the evocative sacred temples.

Opening photo: Bhutan travel destinations 2020