Top 10 most visited places in the world in 2024

10. Dominican Republic

Dominica’s combination of volcanoes, rainforests, waterfalls and hot springs has given it a very special beauty. Later this year, visitors will be able to admire the magnificent landscape thanks to a 6.5km cable car that will take passengers from the Roseau Valley to Boiling Lake, a hot spring about 70m in diameter with water that is always bubbling, thus its name.

The 6.5km cable car will take passengers from the Roseau Valley to Boiling Lake in Dominica - Photo: Dominica News Online

The island is also a playground for eco-adventurers: Hiking trails crisscross three national parks, pristine coral reefs offer some of the best diving in the world, and more than 20 species of whales and dolphins are spotted along the west coast.

9. Geneva (Switzerland)

The tiniest bits of nature are the biggest draw at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), and its 27-kilometer-long particle accelerator outside Geneva. Until recently, visitors had few options for exploring the machine.

Inside the 27-kilometer-long particle accelerator of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) on the outskirts of Geneva, Switzerland - Photo: Live Science

But the CERN Science Gateway, which opens in October, will change that with activities such as quantum karaoke, quantum air hockey and a miniature magnetic accelerator modeled after the Large Hadron Collider, where in 2012 physicists discovered the “God Particle” (Higgs Boson), one of the most elusive mysteries and considered key to understanding the origins of the universe.

Or you can opt for the Choco Pass, a chocolate tour launching in 2022 that lets visitors sample Geneva's famous truffles, bonbons and pralines.

And if you want to explore the nature of time—or watches—book a table at Breitling Kitchen, the Swiss watch brand’s fourth crossover restaurant, which features a menu designed by “Top Chef” alum Juan Arbelaez.

8. Ladakh (India)

Ladakh, a mountainous region known as the “Land of High Passes,” lies between the Himalayas in the south and the Karakoram range in the north. This rugged land of unspoiled beauty and remote villages is a place where time seems to have stood still. However, in recent years, administrative changes have significantly improved Ladakh’s infrastructure and accessibility.

Ladakh, the land known as the land of passes - Photo: Incredible India

The Atal Tunnel, a remarkable feat of engineering, allows travelers to bypass the infamous Rohtang Pass, turning a treacherous journey – which would normally take several hours in the best of weather conditions – into a quick 20-minute trip.

This makes it easy for visitors to experience the region’s stunning landscapes, pristine lakes, Buddhist monasteries and other cultural attractions, including markets, several museums and a distinctive nine-story palace in Leh (Ladakh’s largest city). New hiking and trekking routes in Leh and the Zanskar Valley offer plenty of options for adventure seekers.

7. O'Higgins (Chile)

This often overlooked region south of Santiago is facing climate change, wildfires and earthquakes that are threatening its centuries-old vineyards, so a group of local chefs, winemakers and grape growers have joined forces to preserve their campesino, or “rural,” identity.

Coming to O'Higgins (Chile), visitors will have a culinary experience full of rural flavors, watching the sunlight dance on the vineyards - Photo: Chile Travel

In late 2023, their initiative, called Ruta de los Abastos, will begin offering rural culinary experiences to connect visitors with local beekeepers, oyster farmers and other producers.

Markets and restaurants—like El Abasto or Food and Wine Studio and Vina Vik—are highlighting regional ingredients like locally raised lamb, salt from the coast in Cahuil, and rustic, low-alcohol wines called chacoli, produced by area grape growers.

On the coast around Pichilemu and Punta de Lobos, amid minimalist beach lodges like Hotel Alaia, local seafood and a long wine list offer priceless moments of relaxation.

6. Singapore

Singapore has been on a relentless quest to modernize since gaining independence in 1965. Now the cosmopolitan city-state, known for its world-class cuisine, architecture and airport, is transforming itself with a luxury hotel boom.

Edition recently opened a 204-room property in central Singapore’s Orchard Road district, while Standard is set to open later this year. Famous hotels such as Mandarin Oriental and Grand Hyatt, which have closed in recent years for major refurbishments, are also set to return.

Changi Airport is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Singapore - Photo: New York Times

Changi Airport has also undergone a major expansion. In November, Terminal 2 fully reopened with new automated check-in kiosks, baggage drop-off and immigration lanes, quadrupling the terminal's capacity to 28 million passengers a year.

And more passengers will be moving through Changi even more efficiently this year, as the airport plans to introduce the latest facial recognition and biometric technology for passport-free departures.

5. Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni (Arizona, USA)

While Grand Canyon National Park is no stranger to tourist destinations, there's a new reason to visit the American Southwest.

Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni, or “Footprints of the Ancestors,” is located within the Grand Canyon National Monument, which preserves more than 80,000 acres of forests, plateaus, canyons, and more than 3,000 cultural and archaeological sites, hunting grounds, trade and migration routes, ceremonial lands, and other locations prominent in Native American history.

A valley at Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni, located in the Grand Canyon National Monument area - Photo: NC News

You can support your local Native American community by booking a Colorado River adventure with Hualapai River Runners, a whitewater rafting company led by Hualapai Tribe river guides.

And be sure to look it up: The California Condor, the largest bird in North America and once facing extinction, now numbers more than 100 at Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni thanks to recent conservation efforts.

4. Maui (Hawaii, USA)

Maui, Hawaii's second-largest island and one of its most popular with tourists, was dealt a devastating blow last summer when wildfires broke out that killed at least 100 people and leveled the town of Lahaina on the island's west side.

Non-essential travel to affected areas was suspended for two months; and the tragedy has left visitors and residents concerned about the revival of tourism, Maui's top economic sector.

Kamaole Marine Park on Maui Island, Hawaii is a great place for snorkeling and sea turtle watching - Photo: Vacation Maui

Although Lahaina remains closed, the island is once again welcoming visitors and is still filled with plenty of activities and lush landscapes to enjoy: Kamaole Beach Park is ideal for snorkeling and sea turtle viewing.

Further north in Kapalua, a gentle hiking trail meanders through lava fields and along the coast. And some of Maui’s most beloved natural attractions, like Haleakala National Park, are located far from the fire zone. Visitors can also take it a step further by volunteering to help those displaced by the wildfires.

3. New Zealand

Travelling around New Zealand in a campervan is a free-spirited traveller's dream. But there's an easier, more environmentally sustainable way to get around: by train.

Take a 17-day journey on the Northern Explorer, Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine trains offered by Great Journeys, the tourism division of KiwiRail, New Zealand's national rail operator. The journey begins in Auckland and explores sublime sites like the volcanic peaks of Tongariro National Park and the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum.

On a train taking tourists around New Zealand - Photo: Travel Tip

Ferry across the Cook Strait to the South Island and up the Pacific Coast past world-class vineyards and along rugged coastlines, stopping to spot whales and dolphins before finishing in Christchurch. The final stretch of the TranzAlpine begins on the lush Canterbury Plains, then climbs through the Southern Alps, with views of white-capped peaks, rushing rivers and alpine lakes.

Accommodation in 4-star hotels at stops along the way and train cars with luxurious reclining seats, panoramic windows and partial glass ceilings are amenities that make the journey more enjoyable for travelers.

2. Yamaguchi (Japan)

Yamaguchi is often referred to as the Kyoto of the West, although it is much more interesting than that – and considerably less “touristy”. A small city of around 190,000 people, Yamaguchi is located on the western tip of Honshu, between the Seto Inland Sea and the Sea of ​​Japan.

The beautiful Toshunji Temple in Yamaguchi (Japan) - Photo: Japan Travel

Yamaguchi is home to impeccable gardens and Rurikoji Temple, a five-story pagoda designated a national treasure. The city’s winding streets also offer a variety of experiences: pottery kilns like Mizunoue, located on the grounds of Toshunji Temple; chic cafes like Log and Coffeeboy and retro cafes like Haraguchi; and cool counter-top shops serving Japan’s signature oden hotpot.

And, just a 15-minute walk south, is the hot spring resort village of Yuda Onsen. Yamaguchi is also known for its annual summer festival, the Gion Festival, which features parades, traditional costumes, and folk dances, held every July. 2024 will be the first full year of the Gion Festival since pre-Covid-19 times.

1. Paris (France)

Already one of the most visited cities in the world, Paris is preparing to welcome millions of tourists this summer as host of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. To celebrate the world's biggest sporting event, many famous monuments are being transformed into competition and entertainment venues.

For the first time, the opening ceremony of the Games will not be held in a stadium but outdoors, along the Seine River and near the Eiffel Tower. Open-water swimming and the Paralympic triathlon will take place on the Pont d'Iéna bridge. The Grand Palais, a historic monument famous for its vast glass dome, is undergoing extensive renovations to host fencing and taekwondo competitions.

The French capital Paris will host the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics - Photo: Euronews

The vast gardens of the Château de Versailles, just outside Paris, will be transformed into a gallery and equestrian venue. La Concorde will host the Olympic debut of breakdancing and other sports such as skateboarding and 3x3 basketball.

If that weren’t enough, Paris, along with Normandy, is also celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first Impressionist exhibition. “Paris 1874: Impressionist Moment” will feature 130 works at the Musée d’Orsay (March 26–July 14). Notre Dame Cathedral, which was devastated by a fire in 2019, is also scheduled to reopen to visitors on December 8, 2024.

Quang Anh (according to New York Times)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/top-10-dia-danh-dang-ghe-tham-nhat-the-gioi-nam-2024-post283847.html