Lonely Planet experts have rummaged the globe in search of
destinations that should not be missed in the months to come. Unforgettable
experiences, new trends and renewal for some or places still unknown to
tourists, discover the 10 countries of our Best of 2019.
1 Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
is definitely enjoying its moment of glory under the sunlight’s of the tropics
and is changing rapidly. Already appreciated by adventurous travelers for its
mix of religions and cultures, More than ever it will appeal to families,
adrenaline seekers, colorists, wellness seekers and gourmets of all budgets. Even
the North or the East including in previously forbidden areas which
inaccessible.
2 Germany
Germany
has long been a center of innovation and has given the world, among other key
inventions, the printing press, automotive and aspirin. One hundred years ago,
a small school in the Thuringian countryside launched an influential aesthetic
movement in the world that is still felt today: the Bauhaus. Participate in the
festivities, planned to last one year, and celebrate the centenary of this
modernist midwife, founded in Weimar
in 1919, who flourished in Dessau
and was crushed by the Nazis in Berlin
in 1933. Brand new museums will open in these three cities, and there will be
many Bauhaus events and exhibitions throughout Germany.
3 Zimbabwe
Although it is often the headline for the wrong reasons, Zimbabwe
has always excited travelers. It is one of the safest countries in Africa, with
an extremely welcoming population, national parks with large mammals, world
heritage archaeological ruins, wooded mountains and, of course, the mighty
Victoria Falls. Zimbabweans see in the future real possibilities for hope and
can once again be optimistic. The enthusiasm that followed the end of the
Mugabe era is palpable, even in the warm welcome of a population wanting to
turn the page.
4 Panama
Welcome to the crossroads of the Americas.
In Panama North and South meet in a fiesta of tropical biodiversity, that
celebrates to the superb BioMuseo. East crosses the West with ever increasing
world trade, and the world’s largest freighters cross the recently renovated Panama
Canal. There are so many treasures in this small country from
white sand beaches to tropical rainforests, misty mountains to indigenous
cultures that it is astonishing that Panama
has been little known. In 2019 Panama City
swore to party like never before, and to mark its five-hundredth anniversary
with a noisy jubilee not to be missed.
5 Kyrgyzstan
The appearance of Kyrgyzstan
on the world tourist scene seems to have followed the huge buzz of the 2018
World Nomadic Games a competition devoted to traditional sports in Central
Asia. There is no better time to get there: more than 2,700 km of
trekking routes have been newly marked out, new organized tours run by local
communities are popping up all over the country, the national road system has
been renovated, significantly reducing travel times and a simplified electronic
visa system has been created for citizens of countries not on the list of sixty
that do not require a visa.
