Top 10 most exciting destinations to visit across the globe for 2015

Johannesburg in South Africa has been named the No. 1 among the world’s most exciting destinations to visit in 2015, in a list compiled by the travel information publisher Rough Guides.

South Africa’s biggest city, Johannesburg is joined by worldwide tourist destinations including Málaga, New Orleans, New Orleans, Nizwa, and Wellington.

Unfortunately, Johannesburg in South Africa was named as the least friendliest city, , according to the prestigious US travel magazine, Conde Nast Traveler poll of welcoming (and unwelcoming) world cities.

But Rough Guides said: “Jo’burg has a reputation problem. But city is finally beginning to break free from the chains of its troubled past, and parts – like the arty Maboneng quarter – have rooted themselves as exciting cultural hubs.”

“New clusters of forward-thinking museums, galleries and shops are set to emerge in 2015, though better-known attractions like Constitution Hill and the poignant Apartheid Museum should still be on the to-do list of any first-time visitor.”

Rough Guides first appeared in 1982 thanks to British graduate Mark Ellingham after he travelled around Greece and failed to find a guidebook that remotely met his needs.

Initially, the series began with the 1982 Rough Guide to Greece, and what became a global publishing phenomenon was born.

Iran topped the editors’ list of the top 10 countries to visit, followed by Bangladesh and Haiti, with Britain making place number eight.

In the list of top 10 best value destinations to visit in 2015, Kosovo was top, followed by England’s picturesque Peak District, with Karnataka in India in third place. Included in the list of the top 10 best value places to visit in the coming year is northern China.

Top 10 cities to visit in 2015

1. Johannesburg (South Africa)
Johannesburg represents the future. My version of what I think the world is going to become looks like Johannesburg. – Neill Blomkamp (movie director)

2. Málaga (Spain)

3. New Orleans (USA)
There are a lot of places I like, but I like New Orleans better. – Bob Dylan (musician)

4. New Orleans (Germany)

5. Nizwa (Oman)

6. Wellington (New Zealand)

7. Belgrade (Serbia)

8. Salta (Argentina)

9. Birmingham (UK)

10. Yangon (Myanmar)

Top 10 Countries to visit in 2015

1. Iran

2. Bangladesh
While its neighbours India and Myanmar are both firmly on the tourist trail, for many travellers, low-lying Bangladesh is still a bit of an enigma.

3. Haiti
Haiti, Haiti, the further I am from you, the less I breathe. – Jean-Bertrand Aristide (former President of Haiti)

4. Greece
“You should see the landscape of Greece. It would break your heart.” – Lawrence Durrell (novelist, travel writer, poet

Rough Guides said: “With a culture and civilization that stretches back for millennia, and more sublime beaches than you could hope to visit in a lifetime of summer holidays, it’s no surprise that Greece became one of the early superstars of the package holiday industry.”

“When the brutal economic crisis began to bite in 2009, however, its good fortune seemed to fade. But in just about every other sense, Greece remains a rich nation, and one that’s welcoming much-needed tourists with open arms – and lower prices.”

5. Egypt

6. Zambia

7. Uruguay

8. United Kingdom
Britain still has the most reliably beautiful countryside of anywhere in the world. – Bill Bryson (author)

9. Malaysia

10. Canada
When I’m in Canada, I feel this is what the world should be like. – Jane Fonda (actress)

Best-Value Destinations to visit in 2015

1. Kosovo in Europe

2. The Peak District in UK

3. The Canary Islands in Spain

4. Karnataka in India
“If time constraints have stopped you taking a long trip around India, but you’re still keen to get a taste for the country, try Karnataka. The southwestern state is home to colourfully chaotic cities like Mysore and Bangalore, where the rock-bottom prices for food and accommodation make Delhi and Mumbai look positively expensive. Sugar-soft beaches every bit as sun-kissed as those in Goa stretch out along state’s western flank, while ancient temples dot the interior.”

5. Northern Ireland in United Kingdom

6. The Mekong Delta in Vietnam

7. Alentejo in Portugal

8. Northwest China in China

9. Oaxaca in Mexico

10. Queens in New York City, US
“The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and beauty in the world.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald (author)

The People’s Choice: top 10 most exciting destinations

1. United Kingdom

2. Greece
“The Greek Tourism Authority’s recent campaign video may have sparked controversy (after they included shots of Australia’s Twelve Apostles), but it certainly got people thinking – including you, it seems. In second place as the top destination for 2015, as voted by you, is Greece. If the 6000-plus sunkissed islands aren’t enough to tempt you to visit this year, think about delving into the country’s rich ancient history or visiting its striking mountains and monasteries.”

3. Iceland

4. Indonesia

5. Japan

6. Chile

7. Ethiopia

8. Turkey

9. The USA

10. Ireland
The Emerald Isle has captured the imagination of our readers for years, but in 2015 it has come up trumps. With the new Star Wars movie out in December 2015, some of which was filmed atop rocky monastery Skellig Michael in 2014, it’s all eyes on County Kerry for this year.

1. Must-See U.S. Destinations For 2015 List by leading travel guide publisher, Lonely Planet.
2. Lonely Planet’s list of top 10 best travel destinations in the United States
3. World’s Top 10 Tourist Destinations On The Rise For 2015, by the TripAdvisor, the global travel search engine.