Where does a Russian citizen go on vacation with family members or in splendid isolation? You can develop your own itinerary, or you can use the recommendations of National Geographic Traveler magazine, which published a rating of the best places to stay in 2016.
Here are the top 7 most popular tourist destinations this year.
7. Glasgow, Scotland
Connoisseurs of surreal design can visit the world-famous studio Timorus Bistiz, founded in 1990. It is good to walk with children in the Botanical Gardens of Glasgow, where rare species of plants are located, and with your loved one to visit the performance in the ancient Royal Theater (opened in 1867). Shopping enthusiasts should not miss a trip to the West End - the center of fashion boutiques, bars and expensive clubs. Nature lovers should go to Loch Lomond, which is one of the most beautiful lakes for recreation in the world.
When to go: from March to May, to admire the spring flowers and get to the Mayfest festival, where the culture of Scotland is presented in all forms.
6. Brown Parks, UK
18th-century landscape designer Lancelot Brown designed over 200 gardens in Britain. His best creations are: the gardens around Blenheim Palace (where Winston Churchill was born), the park around Burley House in Lincolnshire, the park surrounding Chatsworth Manor and Stow Park in Southern England, surrounded by 28 churches. All these parks with sparkling lakes, winding paths and manicured lawns are simply created to restore peace of mind.
When to go: from May to August.
5. Eastern Bhutan
The Buddhist "Land of the Thunder Dragon" rarely sees foreigners due to its high mountain location. You can’t sell and smoke tobacco (a fine of 175 euros), but you can buy fine silk brocade products and taste the local Hemadatsi dish - fresh chili peppers and old yak cheese (often served with red rice). If you are ready to go to Bhutan, then get ready for an abundance of chili in food. And also the lack of traffic lights in the capital Thimphu. Instead, in the middle of the main intersections there are pagoda-style wooden cabins, of which police officers control the flow of cars with theatrical gestures.
When to go: from March to May and from September to November to see major religious holidays, including Gom Kor in March and Buddha's Coming Day in November.
4. Danube River
The Danube is one of the best rivers for cruises in the world. Cruises on the Upper Danube usually pass between Nuremberg (Germany) and Budapest (Hungary), through the Danube valley Wachau (Austria) and Bratislava (Slovakia). Cruises on the Lower Danube usually pass east from Budapest to the Black Sea, through the territories of Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania.
When to go: all year round. From mid-November to the end of December, you can go along the Danube to the Christmas markets in Nuremberg, Regensburg and Vienna.
3. Bermuda
Drown in greenery, sunlight and disposed to laziness and idleness. You can stay at the Cambridge Beach Resort and Spa, which is surrounded by four beaches. Each room is made in the style of cottages and has a unique decor. And here there is a cottage that "lived" for 300 years.
When to go: March-April for whale watching; from May to September, if the goal is to soak the body on a warm beach; from November to April - fewer tourists, the prices for excursions are lower.
2. Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
In Brazil, where there are a lot of wild monkeys in the forests, and even pond-pond beaches, the state of Rio Grande do Norte is ready to show that it is sunny and beachier than others. It is famous for growing cashews and mangoes, as well as a developed tourist infrastructure. In the city of Natal, you can visit the Cascudu Chamber Museum, which contains archaeological finds and tools of the Indians and first-class beaches: Ponta Negra, Jacques, Jenipaba and Pipa.
When to go: all year round.
1. Cote d’Or, Burgundy, France
The first vineyards in this area were planted by Roman legionnaires. And the natives of these places insist that there is no place in France with wine traditions that have deeper roots than in Côte d’Or. They say that they produce the best wines in the world. You can watch the wine making process in the castle of Clos de Vougeot, which is located near the town of Bon.
When to go: in July to get to the International Baroque Opera Festival (held in Bonn).
