1 . Must-See Destinations in 2024

Are you ready to explore the world in 2024? Whether you dream of sailing down famous European rivers or exploring unique places, our list of must-see destinations is here to inspire your travels.

Throw yourself into the rich culture and history of Spain. From the sunny beaches of Tenerife to the Moorish architecture (建筑物) of Andalucía, there’s so much to explore in this lively country. Discover the UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) city of La Laguna and become amazed at the beauty of Cordoba, Seville, and La Alhambra, or relax on a beach holiday to Majorca or Tenerife.

Despite its size, Montenegro has beautiful beaches, rich history, and a breathtaking channel. Experience the beauty of the Montenegrin coast — Dalmatia’s jewel (宝石) is the UNESCO World Heritage listed oasis of Dubrovnik, famously praised by Lord Bryon as The Pearl of the Adriatic.

Discover the beauty that is Dubrovnik. Explore the 16th-century city’s defensive walls and red-roofed buildings. Sail along Croatia’s Adriatic Coast, where attractive villages and beautiful towns like Pula, Rovinj, and Poreč are just waiting to be explored...

Explore the wonders of South Africa, from the Garden Route’s nature reserves to the thrill of a Safari drive in the Kariega Game Reserve. Discover the different plants and animals while searching for the “Big Five” on an unforgettable South Africa holiday.

With over 25 years of experience creating holidays for the curious, Travel Department ensures that your journey is in good hands. Plus as a trusted Reader’s Digest Travel partner, you can get special deals when you travel with them across lots of different 2024 holidays. If you want to know more information, please click here.

3 . The Most Beautiful Train Stations in the World

Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building

The wide-open entrance square on the Marunouchi side of Tokyo’s main train station would look more at home in Amsterdam or Paris. Kingo Tatsuno’s classical European design took over six years to complete, finally opening in 1914. The statin has received several facelifts since the Second World War, most recently in 2012. It’s one of the biggest and busiest train stations in the world.

Beijing West Railway Station

The idea of building this station in the capital of China was put forward as early as 1959 but didn’t come to reality until 1996. It was the largest station in Asia at the time, although Shanghai’s Hongqiao Station has since surpassed it. The station itself has a unique architectural (建筑的) style, with the main body of the building having quite a functional Russian look, but the rooftop is decorated with three amazing Chinese pagodas.

Duoliang Station, Taiwan

This is the smallest station on this lit by a distance. In fact we’re not really choosing Duoliang for architectural reasons. This station is all about location, location, location. Surrounded by hi top greenery on one side and amazing Pacific Ocean scenery on the other, it’s one of the most scenic spots in all of Taiwan. This isn’t even a working station anymore, but the platforms have been adapted into viewing spots, extremely popular with local train spotters.

Stazione Milano Centrale in Milan

Milan’s central train station looks pretty much exactly as you’d imagine it. There are a mix of styles at play here, from Art Nouveau to Art Deco, but the entire building is filled with a classic sense of Roman monumentality. The outer look is guarded by two statues, while its insides are equally impressive, as grand stonewalls curve (弯曲) into the station’s glass ceilings.

6 . China has seen a boom in glamping, a combination of “glamorous (迷人的)” and “camping”, since 2020.

Camping, in earlier years, was mostly for those exploring the rough outdoors. The equipment they used was more for survival than for enjoyment. The image of camping thus was a pretty tough one.

Urban explorers, in recent years, have turned their sights to camping as they grew tired of hotel-stay travel style. The views of tents in a grassland or by a river soon attracted growing public interest in camping. Facilities that allow people to get close to nature while still able to enjoy the comforts of modern luxury have given wings to glamping.

There are many glamping grounds where facilities are ready to use. People just need to buy a ticket to get in and don’t have to buy any further equipment. It is suitable for new campers who want to get some experience of spending time outdoors.

Zhang Zheming, a photographer in Beijing, got his first taste of glamping in June2019 at a campground in suburban Beijing. It was a very spacious site and campers needed to bring their own kits (装备).

Zhang and his wife brought their 4-year-old son with them. As they didn’t have any experience in picking the right equipment, they didn’t prepare the canopy (遮阳篷), a camping must to protect oneself from strong sunlight. But this didn’t affect their first experience.

“In the past, my wife and I only chose to stay at hotels while traveling,” he said. “We are very happy to have discovered glamping and it is also a new way of socializing. My son used to be a shy boy, but now he gets along quite well with other people.”

Zhang is also surprised to see how popular glamping has become. The first time he went there in 2019, only 500 people joined in. But when he went there for the second time in 2020, he saw over 5,000 people.

7 . With historic cities, amazing beaches, and a beautiful countryside, a visit to Turkey promises a fascinating vacation. There are many more great destinations. Here’s a look at the best places to visit in Turkey.

Mardin

Located in the south of Turkey, with a long history and rich cultural heritage, Mardin is one of the oldest settlements in the region. Mardin is famous for its Old City of sandstone buildings that line the slopes of the hill, forming a unique and picturesque scenery. The maze of meandering streets. in the Old City leads visitors along terraced (排屋的) houses, mosques, churches and mansions. Many boutique hotels, fashioned from the charming old buildings, have opened in recent years, along with a few upmarket hotels.

Antalya

Nestled along the beautiful Turkish Riviera on the Mediterranean coastline, Antalya is a lively city welcoming tourists with numerous resorts, bars and restaurants. Spectacular scenery frames the city with splendid beaches and beautiful green mountains dotted with ancient ruins. From swimming and sailing to mountain climbing and sightseeing, Antalya offers something for everyone.

Cappadocia

Situated in Central Anatolia, Cappadocia is best known for its fairytale landscape of unusual formations looking like chimneys, cones and peaks. Natural processes such as ancient volcanic eruptions and erosion have all sculpted these odd formations over the ages. Thousand of years ago, mankind added remarkable touches to the landscape by carving out house churches and underground cities from the soft rock.

Side

Located on a small peninsula, Side offers fantastic dining and nightlife. Its star attraction: an unearthed site of ancient Hellenistic and Roman ruins that include the remains of a hug theater and various temples. Featuring narrow streets and attractive gardens, the charming tow. of Side offers many restaurants ranging from delis and pizza shops to upscale dining in a variet of cuisines.