1. ON THE BRINK OF A BOOM: TIMOR-LESTE
Timor-Leste (pronounced “Lest-ay’”, meaning “east” in Portuguese) is on the southernmost edge of the Indonesian archipelago. It was settled by the Portuguese in the 16th century, and declared independence in 1975, only to be invaded by Indonesia nine days later. What followed was a two-decades-long occupation that finally ended in May 2002, as Timor-Leste became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century.
Twenty years on, with its idyllic beaches, mountainous terrain and tropical climate, it is starting to shine on the tourism landscape, with The Telegraph calling it “one of the world’s great ocean destinations” due to its being on the migration superhighway for several species of whales, manta rays and more.
It’s a 90-minute flight from Darwin, Australia, and a near four-hour flight from Singapore, so it’s as far off the beaten track as one can get. But the payoff for the effort of getting there is a sleepy, pristine charm. Its fledgling travel industry is for now focused on eco-tourism and low-impact tours. Even the capital Dili is more seaside village than bustling capital, where one can adopt a lazy pace in exploring its coffee culture, markets and beaches and learn more about its history in places such as the Timorese Resistance Museum.
The Nino Konis Santana National Park includes the entire eastern tip of Timor-Leste and the waters offshore, as well as the uninhabited “heaven on Earth” that is Jaco Island. You can take a day trip there by boat but it is illegal to spend the night. You can, however, stay on Atauro Island, a 90-minute boat ride from Dili, whose beaches and pristine coral reefs offer epic diving, snorkelling, swimming and whale and dolphin watching. There are also brilliant hiking opportunities, with hidden caves, amazing cliffs, and springs to explore. See the official tourism website here.
THREE CULTURAL CAPITALS
Since 1985, the EU has been using its Capitals of Culture initiative to spotlight the diverse traditions of its regions and peoples. Each year, different cities are appointed as a “cultural capital” and given an opportunity to showcase their cultural achievements, enhance their international profile, and bring people together through a year-long programme of events, festivals, exhibitions and activities that reflect the host city's cultural heritage and contemporary arts scene. For 2024, there are three: Bad Ischl (Austria), Tartu (Estonia) and Bodø (Norway).
2. BAD ISCHL
About 40km east-southeast of Salzburg, Bad Ischl is known as a gateway to the Alpine lakes and mountains of the scenic Salzkammergut region, often called the Austrian Lake District as it has more than 30 lakes. The town is historically important as the summer retreat of Emperor Franz Joseph I (1848-1916) of Austria and a favourite destination for the Habsburg monarchy. Visitors can tour the Kaiservilla (imperial villa) and grounds, where the emperor spent 60 summers and where, in his study, he signed the declaration of war on Serbia that led to World War 1.
Besides its historical sites and scenic beauty, the town is also renowned for its thermal spa facilities, and many visitors go to indulge in the healing properties of its thermal baths and luxurious spa treatments. Find more information here.
3. TARTU
The second-largest city in Estonia, Tartu on the Emajõgi River has been inhabited since the fifth century CE. Its long and complex history includes falling under the control of several nations over the centuries, including Germany, Russia, Poland and Sweden.
It was invaded by Ivan the Terrible in the 1500s, occupied by German troops in World War 1, and, along with the rest of Estonia, was part of the Soviet Empire from 1944-1991. According to its official tourism page, “no other city in Estonia has been devastated and burnt down as much as Tartu”.
Today it is a thriving town with a population of about 100,000 perhaps best known for its university which, founded in 1632, is one of the oldest in northern Europe. Visitors often roam the campus, with its historic buildings and beautiful gardens; and the café-filled old town with its cobblestone streets, colourful buildings and famed “kissing students” fountain. Other attractions include the botanical gardens, the modern Science Centre AHHAA, the Estonian National Museum, Tartu Art Museum and Toomemägi (Cathedral Hill), a park area known for its scenic views, historic buildings, and the ruins of the 15th-century Tartu Cathedral.
4. BODØ
Bodø is the third Norwegian city chosen as a capital of culture, but the first above the Arctic Circle — hence it is a splendid spot from which to see two of world’s most mesmerising natural phenomena: the northern lights in winter and the midnight sun in summer.
It was established as a town in 1816 to promote trade and fishing. Destroyed by a German air raid in 1940, it was hastily rebuilt in a functionalist style. Today it is a working fishing town perhaps best known in tourism as a cruise port and a starting point for exploring the dramatic Lofoten Islands.
Bodø itself also offers stunning landscapes, including fjords, mountains and the Norwegian Sea, and activities such as hiking, fishing and wildlife watching. Cultural attractions include the 13th-century Bodin Church, one of the oldest stone churches in northern Norway; the modernist cathedral; the Bodø Museum; and the Norwegian Aviation Museum. Its Stormen Cultural Quarter houses a concert hall, theatre and art gallery and it also hosts the annual Bodø International Film Festival, showcasing a diverse selection of national and international films each October. Find more information here.
5. AFRICAN COOL: ACCRA
Condé Nast Traveller’s list of 24 best places to go in 2024 criss-crosses the globe, and includes three spots in Africa: the Okavango Delta in Botswana; Mauritius; and Accra, Ghana.
The latter, it says, is at the “heart of a pan-African cultural renaissance” and is “the continent’s capital of cool”, vaunted especially for its burgeoning food scene. One example: the Ghana Food Movement is a network of industry stakeholders working together to celebrate, preserve and redefine the country’s food culture and cuisine. In May, it is slated to launch a meeting-place-cum-test-kitchen, the Link-up Kitchen, which will host dine-and-dance events, plus pop-ups featuring up-and-coming chefs and indigenous menus.
Add to that a menu of local food tours, beaches, cool cafés, bustling markets, historic neighbourhoods such as Jamestown, and the odd imposing monument — Independence Square, for example, where “the eternal flame of African liberation”, lit by the first prime minister and president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, still flickers — and you’ll have a stacked itinerary.
For added oomph, go in April to catch the annual Chale Wote Street Art Festival or in December for “the new king of music festivals”, AfroFuture. Find out more here.
6. BEACHES & CLOUD FORESTS: COSTA RICA
Travel + Leisure magazine picked an ambitious 50 places to go in 2024, divvying the selection up into categories that include “for cultural immersion” (such as Cartagena, Colombia) and “for nature” (KwaZulu-Natal gets a mention). But a spot on its “for beach vibes” list is also the mag’s top destination for 2024: Costa Rica, a rugged, rainforested Central American country with coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific.
Colonised by Spain in the 1500s and independent since 1821, it has much to offer those interested in history and culture, particularly in the museums, galleries and historical attractions of the capital, San José. But with roughly a quarter of the country made up of protected jungle, its major appeal is in its forests, beaches, volcanoes and incredible biodiversity.
Many go for its hiking trails, hot springs, and adventure activities such as zip-lining and canopy tours. Natural highlights include the rainforested Tenorio Volcano National Park; the high-altitude Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve; and the Cahuita National Park with pristine beaches and protected waters on the Caribbean coast.
For something truly epic, its Camino de Costa Rica is a 280km hiking trail that connects the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea. Find out more here.
7. MOVIES ON THE MED: VALLETTA
An entrant on National Geographic’s “cool list” of 30 destinations for 2024, Valletta, Malta, is highlighted in part for its use as a filming location in the 2000 epic Gladiator, a role it has been reprising with the filming of a long-awaited sequel last year. Work was interrupted by the Hollywood strike, which may yet delay the release planned for later this year, but the buzz has nevertheless put a movie-buff spotlight on the Mediterranean island. As with the original, multiple scenes are being filmed around the 17th-century ramparts of Fort Ricasoli, and the same director, Ridley Scott, also used the Grand Harbour area in his latest biopic, Napoleon.
Malta’s capital, however, is a compelling tourism destination in its own right. A Unesco World Heritage Site, it was shaped by a multinational order of knights who ruled from the 16th to the 18th centuries and were ousted by Napoleon Bonaparte himself in 1798. It was a British colony from 1814 until independence in 1964.
The capital’s combination of sea, history, architecture, cultural vibrancy and year-round warm weather make it a great choice for visitors interested in exploring its rich history while enjoying a Mediterranean getaway. Its Grand Harbour area teems with waterfront cafés and restaurants, while some of its historical and architectural treasures include St John’s Co-Cathedral, known for its opulent interior, intricate carvings and a marble floor with tombstones of the Knights of St John; and its impressive city walls and bastions, which offer stunning panoramas of the Grand Harbour and surrounding areas.
There are several museums including the National Museum of Fine Arts, and its Manoel Theatre, established in 1731, is one of Europe’s oldest working theatres. Its cultural calendar includes the Valletta International Baroque Festival in January and the Malta Arts Festival in June. Find out more here.
