UK travellers have revealed their list of must-see destinations around the world, as part of the Telegraph Travel Awards.
With its combination of year-round warm climates, history, culture, tasty gastronomy and iconic cities including Venice and Rome; it was no surprise that Italy was voted as readers’ favourite country in Europe.
New Zealand’s lush landscapes, from the beaches of the Coromandel to the rolling green hills of the Waikato region, helped it earn the accolade of the favourite country on a global scale, reclaiming the top position that it held for four out of the five years between 2004 and 2008.
The country is also famed as being the setting for the Lord of Rings trilogy, and the world premiere of the first instalment of the Hobbit trilogy in Wellington on 28 November is set to provide a further boost to New Zealand’s tourism industry.
The historic Scottish city of Edinburgh claimed the title of readers’ favourite UK city, with key sites including the medieval streets and closes of the Old Town, and the Georgian crescents of the New Town – which together form a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Edinburgh’s annual Fringe Festival and Hogmanay celebrations at New Year also prove a constant draw for travellers.
Cape Town’s imposing Table Mountain and stunning ocean setting helped the city take the accolade of favourite worldwide city.
Cape Town also provides the ideal base for safaris in Kruger and other South African parks, or as a springboard for trips east to the verdant winelands around Franschhoek.
Lonely Planet’s Best In Travel 2013 guide put San Francisco, home of the famous Golden Gate Bridge and former high security prison Alcatraz, in top spot in a ranking of the top ten cities.
This was followed in second place by Amsterdam, best known for being the birthplace of Anne Frank and for its laid back cafe culture. The top five was completed by Hyderabad (India), Derry and Beijing.
