Georgia named among best trip destinations in 2018

Harar, Ethiopia

WHY GO NOW: Find the most surprising city in East Africa. Tourists in northern Ethiopia rarely travel to the laid-back east, anchored by the enchantingly contradictory city of Harar. The “City of Saints” boasts 82 mosques, as well as Ethiopia’s best beer, strongest khat (an ubiquitous narcotic plant), and highest quality coffee. FUN FACT: Hyenas are welcome night visitors in Harar, where they eat food waste and are fed by 'hyena men.'

Jujuy Province, Argentina

WHY GO NOW: Hang with nature-made rock stars. Located in outermost northwest Argentina, Jujuy is home to the Quebrada de Humahuaca World Heritage site. The narrow valley is cloaked in colorful rock bands crafted over millennia. Elevate your Instagram with shots of Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of Seven Colors). FUN FACT: Prehistoric hunter-gatherers (9000 BC to AD 400) lived in Quebrada de Humahuaca.

Tbilisi, Georgia

WHY GO NOW: Experience Old Tbilisi’s authentic charms. Development is reshaping the cityscape of Georgia’s capital city at a dizzying pace. Traditional Georgian experiences—the 24-hour sulphur baths, the plump khinkali (spiced meat dumplings), and the legendary hospitality of the locals—persevere in disarmingly disorganized Old Tbilisi. FUN FACT: Persian, Arab, Byzantine, Ottoman, Russian, and Soviet occupations influenced Tbilisi architecture.

Sydney, Australia

WHY GO NOW: See the new-look Opera House. A $273-million upgrade launched in May 2016 is transforming the interior of Sydney’s iconic Opera House. Improvements include state-of-the-art acoustics, a hangout-friendly foyer, and the renovated Joan Sutherland Theatre, which reopened in December and welcomes back the Australian Ballet in April. FUN FACT: The Opera House includes one thousand rooms and has over one million roof tiles.

Oaxaca, Mexico

WHY GO NOW: Discover the ancient art of natural dyeing. Tourists are welcome more than ever in the color-rich Mexican state of Oaxaca; shaken by two powerful September earthquakes. Shop local markets for dazzlingly vibrant wool rugs and other handmade textiles dyed using fruits, insects, and other natural colorants. Discover more about Oaxaca. FUN FACT: The most-coveted Oaxaca textiles are woven with snail-dyed purple threads.

Vienna, Austria

WHY GO NOW: Celebrate the Secession art movement. Gustav Klimt, Koloman Moser, and Otto Wagner—three leading members of Vienna’s upstart Secession art movement—died in 1918. To mark the centennial, the Belvedere, Leopold, MAK, and other museums in Austria’s art-obsessed capital city will host special Secessionist exhibitions. FUN FACT: Vienna’s Secession Building houses Klimt’s massive masterpiece: the seven-foot-tall and 112-foot-long Beethoven Frieze.

North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

WHY GO NOW: Support local farmers and rural life. World-famous for its big waves, the North Shore is the rural neighbor of increasingly sprawling Honolulu. Local farms, such as Poamoho and Kahuku, are helping (as the ubiquitous bumper stickers state) “Keep the Country Country” by cultivating homegrown crops and agritourist experiences. Discover more about Oahu. FUN FACT: At the North Shore’s Mohala Farms, guests exchange labor for lodging.

Malmö, Sweden

WHY GO NOW: Savor global flavors. Home to nearly 180 nationalities and over 450 restaurants, Sweden’s third largest city is a United Nations of food. Foodies flock to Malmö to sample a global smorgasbord offering everything from cutting-edge Nordic cuisine to the number one street food, falafel. FUN FACT: Swedes relish their fika (pronounced ‘fee-ka’), or coffee-and-cinnamon bun breaks.

Jordan Trail

WHY GO NOW: Hike a newly marked historic route. The 400-mile Jordan Trail is a newly minted hiking path linking ancient trade routes. Divided into eight separate sections, the trail leads through Jordanian forests, canyons, deserts, and along the shores of the Red Sea. Overnight in guesthouses, home stays, and Bedouin campsites. FUN FACT: It’s believed that Jesus, Moses, and Mohammed all walked this path.

Dublin, Ireland

WHY GO NOW: Feel at home in ‘Europe’s largest village.’ While home to almost 1.2 million people, Ireland’s intimate capital exudes a friendly, village vibe. Stroll around to discover Dublin’s historic Georgian squares, cozy pubs, and high-tech treasures, like the new Irish Emigration Museum and revamped National Gallery of Ireland. Discover more about Dublin. FUN FACT: One-third of the Irish population is under age 25.