If you’re keen to take a trip across the Atlantic this year, why not skip the classic destinations and try somewhere a little more compelling?
We’ve pulled together eight noteworthy places with compelling reasons to visit right now, from an easily overlooked island nation in the Med to a Mittel European capital that’s worth considering year-round rather than only at Christmas.
1. Türkiye
Istanbul’s energy is undeniable right now: The $1.7 billion Galataport complex opened in 2021, adding a ritzy new waterfront destination with over 200 shops and restaurants to a reimagined cruise terminal, while 2023 brought Istanbul Museum of Modern Art to a new home in Karaköy designed by Renzo Piano. The Blue Mosque, the only one studded with six minarets in Türkiye, reopened on the first day of Eid in 2023 after years-long renovations, and multiple new luxury hotels are popping up, including both a Mandarin Oriental and a Peninsula.
On the food scene front, eateries ranging from the luxe Nobu Istanbul to street food spot Papatya Dürüm are bringing an air of energy, while the city got its first Michelin Guide in 2022. One Michelin-starred suggestion that Afar contributor Anya von Bremzen recommends in her guide of new things to eat, drink, and do in Istanbul is the 2019-opened Turk, which serves up a 13-course micro seasonal tasting menu.
With Türkiye’s release of its digital nomad program earlier in 2024, Istanbul is even more accessible for those wanting to get in on the action.
Where to stay: Peninsula
- Book now: peninsula.com
The brand-new Peninsula is an instant landmark (and one of Afar’s best hotels of 2024), straddling four buildings in Karaköy; the rooftop Turkish restaurant has swoony views, and there’s an enormous, 18,000-square-foot spa.
The island nation of Malta, in the Mediterranean Sea, offers postcard-worthy swimming spots.
Photo by Jessie Beck
2. Malta
Come to this tiny three-island nation in the southern Mediterranean for a thrilling mashup of cultures. Its adjacency to Sicily confers a dollop of dolce vita–style good life to the vibe here, as well as superb food. (Try a square slice from Casa Sotto pizzeria in the heart of the capital, Valletta, or go for the more traditional stuffatt tal-fenek, also known as rabbit stew.)
The archipelago’s local art and design is also booming too, including the soon-to-open contemporary art museum, MICAS (set to open in 2024), and Villa Bologna Pottery, a decades-old atelier that was revived by a young British Maltese couple and still produces charming, midcentury-modern–style plates, bowls, and ornamental ceramics.
Where to stay: The Phoenicia
- Book now: phoeniciamalta.com
The Phoenicia is the handiest base for Valletta, located just outside the city walls. Stay here and you won’t need to rent a car (driving in Malta can be chaotic).
To see some of Copenhagen’s fantastic architecture, head to places like Nyhavn.
Photo by studiolaska/Shutterstock
3. Copenhagen, Denmark
It was no surprise when the Danish capital assumed the mantle of UNESCO’s world hub for architecture in 2023 (which it will remain until 2025), given that it’s been known for design-forward thinking for decades. One of the city’s latest marvels is the Opera Park, which opened in 2023 and includes a greenhouse, a café, and six themed gardens.
The charming old center of Copenhagen, notably the candy-colored buildings around Nyhavn, remains a must-see, but make sure to cross the pedestrian bridge there and walk (or cycle, the preferred Danish transit method) to Refshaleøen, the former shipyard that has been reborn as the city’s funkiest new neighborhood. The B&W flea market there can be a fine place to pick up well-priced midcentury goodies, while La Banchina is a tiny restaurant with its own on-site sauna, housed in a hut that was once a ferry waiting room. The terrace out front is lively on a summer’s day, as locals take dips in the water and sips of beer from the nearby Mikkeller Baghaven brewery.
Where to stay: 25 Hours Paper Island
- Book now: 25hours-hotels.com
Housed in a former paper mill, 25 Hours Paper Island opened in July 2024. Choose from rooms of different sizes ranging from Medium (172–205 square feet) to Gigantic (approximately 400–440 square feet). Evoking the sense of a Scandinavian island holiday home, the cozy retreat is decorated with warm colors and wood details.
Karlskirche Church is just one landmark in Vienna, one of the world’s most livable cities.
Photo by Anikin Dmitrii/Shutterstock
4. Vienna, Austria
Yet again, Vienna took the spot as the world’s most livable city in 2024 (as it did in 2023, 2022, 2019, and 2018). The Danube bisecting the city becomes a social thoroughfare in the sunshine, a place to linger and chat: Enjoy a drink on Motto am Fluss, the riverboat-turned-restaurant that sits moored downtown, or paddle a kayak down it. Ride a bike to trace its route into the woodlands nearby, and idle an afternoon or two at a wooden table in the gardens of one of the vineyards to the city’s west, in Neustift am Walde or Ottakring.
If you’ve come to Vienna for the cakes (no shame in making Sachertorte the impetus for any trip), don’t miss the Vollpension project, where seniors use their baking know-how to bolster their incomes in a pro-social café; it also has a studio for in-person classes. Pick from an assortment of recipes doled out by a roster of sprightly locals, from apple strudel to Sacher-style chocolate gâteaux.
Where to stay: Amauris
- Book now: theamauris.com
The generic Ring Hotel on the Ringstrasse, between the Vienna State Opera and the Musikverein concert hall, reopened in 2023 after a gut renovation as the much-improved, 62-room Amauris, a glamorous, marble-heavy crash pad.
Now that there are more flights to Palma, sights like La Seu are more accessible.
Photo by Boris Stroujko/Shutterstock
5. Mallorca, Spain
Spain has quite a few “best of” titles on its belt: It’s one of the best countries for expats to live abroad and one of the best places to retire to, and it has some of the best cities on the continent (as well as some of the best wine!). With so many places worth visiting, consider a nonstop flight to the Spanish island of Mallorca. After United Airlines’ inaugural flight to Palma de Mallorca in 2022, the carrier has continued service every summer since, a sign of its confidence in this place as a new need-to-see destination.
Pause in the island’s capital, Palma de Mallorca, for some sightseeing, specifically at the Gothic masterpiece of the cathedral known as la Seu. (Look for the cardinal’s hat, suspended from the ceiling in one annex, which is said to presage disaster if it ever falls.) Next, head inland for countryside that’s more like Tuscany or the Hudson Valley than a Mediterranean beachfront: Hire a bike to crisscross the Tramuntana mountain range (e-bikes are a smart option, as some climbs can be steep), or tackle one of the dedicated cycle routes laid out more than a century ago by a forward-thinking Mallorquin, civil engineer Antonio Parietti.
Where to stay: Son Net
- Book now: sonnet.es
Son Net is the standout among a cluster of brand-new hotels opening in response to the island’s rising profile. The rooms offer a sense of regal serenity, with some that even have their own terrace.
The charming coastal town of Bergen is a highlight of Norway.
Mao Yuqing/Unsplash
6. Norway
When it comes to sustainable travel, Norway is making headway as the best country for it: Its Norient Express train line, which is planning to launch its first trips soon (with an anticipated date in 2025), will operate two electric trains. By 2026, the government will require all cruise ships and tourist boats in the West Norwegian Fjords to be zero-emission.
On the car front, the country’s also making moves, aiming for all new cars to be zero-emission by 2025. Already, as of 2023, more than 80 percent of new cars sold in Norway were electric.
Before you head out on the ultimate EV cross-country trip, Afar writer Jessica van Dop DeJesus advises you to keep EV etiquette in mind: “My friend Ingunn, a lawyer on the west coast of Norway, says that ‘there’s an unwritten rule that you should not charge up to 100 percent, especially if others are waiting. If you go into a restaurant while charging your car, keep an eye on the charging time,’” she writes.
Where to stay: Wood Hotel Bodø
Book now: woodbodo.com
Throughout your travels in Norway, check out the Arctic city of Bodø, one of Europe’s 2024 Capitals of Culture. In May 2024, the Wood Hotel Bodø opened its doors, and its café, wellness area, heated pool, and rooftop dining make it a solid home base for a while.
Manchester is a city of firsts: the first women’s vote in the UK, the world’s first professional soccer league, the first Rolls Royce, the first passenger railway, and it’s also where Oasis (and countless other bands) played their first gig.
Photo by Wambam Photography
7. Manchester, England
This northern English city has long appreciated arts and culture. It’s home to Chetham’s, the oldest surviving public library in the English-speaking world. But Manchester’s been having plenty of renewed energy as of late. It earned a spot on Afar’s Where to Go list for 2024 thanks to new developments like the opening of Co-op Live, the United Kingdom’s largest indoor concert venue, in 2024 and Aviva Studios, opened in 2023.
There’s plenty more to appreciate on a walk around the city, such as the 135-year-old Manchester Museum (which reopened in 2023).
Where to stay: Reach at Piccadilly
- Book now: marriott.com
Marriott opened the Reach at Piccadilly, a Tribute Portfolio hotel, in July 2024 on Ducie Street. The 215-room property features warm colors and plenty of greenery—all overlooking Rochdale Canal.
Search for secluded beaches while you’re in Sardinia.
Alexandra Cozmei/Unsplash
8. Sardinia, Italy
Rome, Milan, Sicily—these gorgeous places are very much on the radar for many travelers heading to Italy. Lesser known are some of the country’s islands, such as Sardinia, which is in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.
Italy’s second-largest island is full of incredible nature besides well-loved beach stretches like Costa Smeralda. Travelers can hike to the deep gorges of Gola di Gorropu or even traverse Sahara-like landscapes at the Dunes of Piscinas. Plus, hikers younger than 35 can stay free for up to three nights on the Santa Barbara mining trail, thanks to the Leg’s Go in Cammino initiative, which is valid most of the year except during the summer.
Where to stay: Hotel Cala di Volpe
- Book now: marriott.com
The 1963-opened Hotel Cala di Volpe property, which sits near the waters of Costa Smeralda, combines elements of fishing-village–like appeal (terra-cotta rooftops, granite floors) with updates including new glass artworks and an elevated lobby bar.
This article was originally published in 2023; it was updated on August 16, 2024, to include current information.
