Lonely Planet’s best cities, countries, regions to visit in 2014 | CNN

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Travel

Lonely Planet’s best cities, countries, regions to visit in 2014

Updated 3:02 AM EDT, Tue October 29, 2013
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Lower prices, fewer tourist numbers, the same incredible ancients sights that have been there for centuries. The Greek Islands in 2014 offer "remarkable value," says Lonely Planet in its Best in Travel 2014 rankings.
Best value destination -- Greek Islands —
Lower prices, fewer tourist numbers, the same incredible ancients sights that have been there for centuries. The Greek Islands in 2014 offer "remarkable value," says Lonely Planet in its Best in Travel 2014 rankings.
LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP/GettyImages
It's going to be an eventful year for Scotland ... Lonely Planet listed the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next summer and the country-wide Year of Homecoming celebrations for Scottish ex-pats returning home to visit as just some of the reasons why Scotland came in third.
Top 10 countries to visit in 2014 -- Scotland (3) —
It's going to be an eventful year for Scotland ... Lonely Planet listed the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next summer and the country-wide Year of Homecoming celebrations for Scottish ex-pats returning home to visit as just some of the reasons why Scotland came in third.
LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images
Second place actually went to a continent, not a country, for its pristine, unexplored territories and incredible scenes of wildlife. The timely factor? Next year marks the centenary of the start of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition.
Top 10 countries to visit in 2014 -- Antarctica (2) —
Second place actually went to a continent, not a country, for its pristine, unexplored territories and incredible scenes of wildlife. The timely factor? Next year marks the centenary of the start of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition.
Kerry Sanders/NBC NewsWire/NBCU Photo Bank/getty images
This one's a no-brainer -- the 2014 World Cup in arguably the most soccer-obsessed country in the world makes for a remarkable travel experience. "Tack on a recession-dodging economy and boom! Brazil is the belle of the ball," says Lonely Planet on why Brazil tops the list of countries to visit.
Top 10 countries to visit in 2014 -- Brazil (1) —
This one's a no-brainer -- the 2014 World Cup in arguably the most soccer-obsessed country in the world makes for a remarkable travel experience. "Tack on a recession-dodging economy and boom! Brazil is the belle of the ball," says Lonely Planet on why Brazil tops the list of countries to visit.
Michael Regan/Getty Images
From the happiest place in Britain (Harrogate) to the world's first UNESCO City of Film (Bradford), Yorkshire is giving London some fierce, inventive competition as a destination.
Top 10 regions -- Yorkshire, England (3) —
From the happiest place in Britain (Harrogate) to the world's first UNESCO City of Film (Bradford), Yorkshire is giving London some fierce, inventive competition as a destination.
Photofusion/Universal Images Group via Getty Image
Travelers who want to get away from other travelers should look to this seemingly endless, open region, which is also one of world's most sparsely populated areas. The difficulties in getting around ("croc-infested, almost impossible to travel around without a 4WD, and mostly inaccessible during wet season") only adds to its appeal.
Top 10 regions -- The Kimberley, Australia (2) —
Travelers who want to get away from other travelers should look to this seemingly endless, open region, which is also one of world's most sparsely populated areas. The difficulties in getting around ("croc-infested, almost impossible to travel around without a 4WD, and mostly inaccessible during wet season") only adds to its appeal.
Auscape/UIG via Getty Images
It's an intriguing choice. Sikkim tops the list of regions to visit for its "responsible travel" -- it's India's cleanest state, and the government also plans to turn it into a fully organic state in the near future. Couple that with a new airport opening next year, and Sikkim makes it to the top of the regional rankings.
Top 10 regions -- Sikkim, India (1) —
It's an intriguing choice. Sikkim tops the list of regions to visit for its "responsible travel" -- it's India's cleanest state, and the government also plans to turn it into a fully organic state in the near future. Couple that with a new airport opening next year, and Sikkim makes it to the top of the regional rankings.
IndiaPictures/UIG via Getty Images
Reasons why Cape Town has been designated the World Design Capital for 2014: sculpture-filled parks, makeovers for former industrial districts and many a design-oriented sustainable project.
Top 10 cities -- Cape Town (3) —
Reasons why Cape Town has been designated the World Design Capital for 2014: sculpture-filled parks, makeovers for former industrial districts and many a design-oriented sustainable project.
Andrew Pittaway/Gallo Images/Getty Images
The second most must-visit city for 2014 is "a sherbert-tinged, time-trapped" UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the "extraordinarily beautiful result of a 19th-century sugar boom," says Lonely Planet, touching on the city's sad legacy of importing African slaves. A series of celebrations has been planned for next year's 500th anniversary of the city's foundation by Spanish conquistadors.
Top 10 cities -- Trinidad (2) —
The second most must-visit city for 2014 is "a sherbert-tinged, time-trapped" UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the "extraordinarily beautiful result of a 19th-century sugar boom," says Lonely Planet, touching on the city's sad legacy of importing African slaves. A series of celebrations has been planned for next year's 500th anniversary of the city's foundation by Spanish conquistadors.
EyesWideOpen/Getty Images
A new car-free zone from the Musée d'Orsay, new bells in the Notre Dame, beautiful exhibition after beautiful exhibition being planned in mansions and museums all over the City of Light. It would be strange if Paris <em>wasn't </em>at the top of the list.
Top 10 cities -- Paris (1) —
A new car-free zone from the Musée d'Orsay, new bells in the Notre Dame, beautiful exhibition after beautiful exhibition being planned in mansions and museums all over the City of Light. It would be strange if Paris wasn't at the top of the list.
PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Images

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