World Tourism Roundup: From Paris to Samarkand, the Destinations to Visit Now

Some journeys are about one place. This one is about the world. From the boulevards of Paris to the Silk Road domes of Samarkand, from Caribbean-blue island lagoons to the desert skylines of the Gulf, this roundup brings together the destinations travellers are talking about right now — and explains what makes each of them worth the journey.

FAKTA

• Europe: Paris, Rome, Santorini and the Swiss Alps — art, history, islands and mountain air.
• USA: New York City — the skyline, the museums and the neighbourhoods that never sleep.
• Asia: Kyoto in Japan and the Maldives — ancient temples one day, turquoise lagoons the next.
• Azerbaijan: Baku — a Caspian capital where medieval walls meet flame-shaped towers.
• Uzbekistan: Samarkand and Bukhara — Silk Road cities of turquoise domes and desert caravanserais.
• Saudi Arabia: Riyadh and Jeddah — a fast-changing capital and a Red Sea port city.
• The Gulf: Dubai and Abu Dhabi — desert luxury, record-breaking towers and island resorts.

Europe: art, islands and alpine air

Paris remains the world’s great walking city. Beyond the Eiffel Tower, the city’s real pleasure is in its neighbourhoods: the bookshops and cafés of the Latin Quarter, the galleries of the Marais, the views from Montmartre, and the grand sweep of the Champs-Élysées. The Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay hold some of the finest art on earth, but a simple afternoon by the Seine, watching the light change on the stone bridges, is just as memorable.

Rome offers a different kind of grandeur. The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon stand as reminders of an empire, while the Vatican’s St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel draw visitors from every continent. Rome rewards slow travel: a piazza at dusk, an espresso at a corner bar, and the discovery that some of the city’s best meals are found far from the famous squares.

For island beauty, Santorini in Greece is hard to beat. The whitewashed villages of Oia and Fira cling to the rim of a volcanic caldera above a deep-blue sea, and the sunsets over the Aegean are rightly famous. Come for the caldera views, stay for the black-sand beaches, the cliffside tavernas and the slow rhythm of island life.

And for pure nature, the Swiss Alps deliver mountain lakes, flower-filled meadows and rail journeys that climb past glaciers. Lake Lucerne, the Bernese Oberland and the Matterhorn region around Zermatt offer hiking in summer and skiing in winter, with villages that look as though they were built for postcards.

USA: New York, the city that contains the world

New York City packs more into five boroughs than most countries manage. Manhattan’s skyline — the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the new towers of Hudson Yards — is best seen from the water or from a rooftop at dusk. Central Park is the city’s green lung, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art anchor its cultural life, and neighbourhoods from Brooklyn’s Williamsburg to Queens’ food streets offer a different city on every corner.

What makes New York special is its energy: Broadway shows, jazz clubs, street food from every cuisine on earth, and the feeling that something worth seeing is always just around the next corner.

Asia: temples, gardens and turquoise seas

Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital, is a city of temples, bamboo groves and traditional wooden machiya houses. The golden pavilion of Kinkaku-ji, the thousands of vermilion gates at Fushimi Inari, the bamboo forest of Arashiyama and the cherry blossoms of spring all make Kyoto one of Asia’s most rewarding destinations. Its kaiseki cuisine and tea houses add a quieter, more refined pleasure.

For a complete change of pace, the Maldives offers the classic island escape: low-lying atolls ringed by turquoise lagoons, white-sand beaches and coral reefs alive with fish and rays. Days here are measured in swims, snorkelling trips and sunsets over the Indian Ocean, and the islands’ overwater villas have made the Maldives a favourite for honeymoons and slow, restorative holidays.

A Maldives island ringed by a turquoise lagoon — the classic island escape.

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan: the Silk Road, old and new

Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, sits on the Caspian Sea and combines a beautifully preserved medieval Old City — its narrow lanes, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower — with a striking modern skyline of flame-shaped towers and the Heydar Aliyev Center’s flowing curves. The city’s seaside boulevard, its carpet museums and its Caspian sunsets make it one of the most surprising capitals in the region.

Further east, Uzbekistan’s Silk Road cities are among the great sights of Central Asia. Samarkand’s Registan square, with its three tiled madrasas, is one of the most beautiful public spaces on earth, while Bukhara’s old town — its mosques, minarets and trading domes — feels like a living museum of the caravan routes that once linked China to Europe. Travelling between them by modern rail makes the journey as easy as it is unforgettable.

Saudi Arabia and the Gulf: deserts, seas and skylines

Saudi Arabia is opening up to tourism at remarkable speed. Riyadh, the capital, blends the historic Diriyah district — a UNESCO-listed mud-brick quarter — with modern museums, festivals and a fast-growing restaurant scene. Jeddah, on the Red Sea, offers coral reefs, a historic old town of coral-stone houses and a waterfront corniche that comes alive in the evening.

In the Gulf, Dubai remains the region’s great showcase: the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building; the Palm Jumeirah’s island resorts; the souks of Deira; and desert safaris into the dunes beyond the city. Abu Dhabi, a short drive away, counters with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque — one of the most beautiful modern mosques in the world — the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, and the mangrove-fringed coastline of its island resorts.

A mountain lake beneath the Swiss Alps — Europe’s great nature escape.

How to choose your next journey

If you want culture and history, start with Paris, Rome or Samarkand. If you want to switch off completely, head for the Maldives or a Gulf island resort. If you want nature, the Swiss Alps and the Red Sea coast will not disappoint. And if you want a journey that mixes all three, combine Baku with Samarkand, or Dubai with a desert night under the stars.

Wherever you go, travel slowly where you can: the best destination is rarely the one you rush through, but the one you take the time to know.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which destination is best for a first trip to the Silk Road?

Samarkand in Uzbekistan, with its Registan square, is the classic starting point, and it pairs well with Bukhara and with Baku in Azerbaijan.

When is the best time to visit Santorini?

Late spring and early autumn offer warm weather, calmer crowds and beautiful light over the caldera.

Is Dubai suitable for families?

Yes. Dubai offers family beaches, water parks, desert safaris, aquariums and attractions for children of all ages.

What should I see in Kyoto?

Kinkaku-ji’s golden pavilion, the Fushimi Inari shrine gates, the Arashiyama bamboo grove and the historic Gion district.

Do I need a visa for Saudi Arabia or the Gulf?

Visa rules vary by nationality. Many visitors can obtain an e-visa or a visa on arrival, but travellers should always check the current rules for their passport before booking.

Which is better for a beach holiday: the Maldives or the Gulf?

The Maldives offers secluded island resorts and coral lagoons, while the Gulf offers city beaches combined with shopping, dining and desert excursions. The best choice depends on whether you want total seclusion or a city-and-beach mix.

How many days should I allow for Paris or Rome?

Three to four days gives a good first taste of either city, but a full week allows you to explore neighbourhoods beyond the famous sights.