Dynamic Dundee one of Europe’s top 10 hotspots

Lonely Planet praises cultural scene and city’s ‘exciting transformation’

Dundee has been chosen as a “top European destination for 2018” by the world’s largest travel guide publisher.

The City of Discovery is the only UK destination named in a top 10 list of tourism hotspots to visit this year, by travel authority Lonely Planet.

Praised for its “growing cultural scene and the exciting transformation of the waterfront”, the accolade follows similar recommendations from prestigious outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Bloomberg and The Guardian.

The guide lauds Dundee for its growing cultural scene and the transformation of the city’s historic waterfront, spearheaded by the opening of the newest branch of the V&A this September.

Describing the city, Lonely Planet’s writers praised a creative scene that “increasingly attracts some of the UK’S most visionary talent”, building on its selection by Unesco as the UK’S first City of Design in 2014.

Lonely Planet’s spokesperson and editorial director Tom Hall said: “While visitors have always been assured of a friendly welcome, Dundee has often been overlooked by travellers to Scotland, but that should be set to change.

“The opening of V&A Dundee is a really exciting moment that marks the city out as well worth a visit, but throw in nationally important museums and attractions, and its dynamic, creative spirit, and travellers will find a city boasting plenty to discover.” The recognition forms part of Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe 2018, compiled annually by the travel company’s European experts to reveal their pick of the most exciting and underrated destinations to visit across the Continent.

This year’s list claims to highlight some of the “best lesser-visited regions, alternative city breaks and hidden gems that in-the-know travellers should be planning their next trips around”.

Others making the top ten list include Italy’s food heartland of Emiliaromagna, Greece’s Small Cyclades islands and the Northern Spanish region of Cantabria.

“The opening of V&A Dundee is a really exciting moment that marks the city out as well worth a visit

A girl enjoys the sun among the palm trees on Perth Road, Dundee.

The top 10 includes Vilnius, Lithuania, left, Cantabria, Spain, top, and Peja, Kosovo.