Your bucket-list holiday hotspots for 2019

It’s the start of a new year… what better time to start thinking about holidays? We look at 10 destinations on the hotlist for 2019. There’s something for everyone in this year’s top picks.

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

There’s never a bad time to visit Denmark’s capital, but 2019 brings a host of compelling new reasons.

Bjarke Ingels’s groundbreaking Copenhill project (a waste-to-energy plant with a ski hill and recreation centre) is due for completion. The Museum of Copenhagen will reopen with a renewed focus on the city’s history and architecture. The new Noma restaurant is relaunched this year, also with a design by Bjarke Ingels.

ZADAR, CROATIA

Zadar has risen from the ashes of its war-ridden past and blossomed into a spirited cosmopolitan city. Wander through the Old Town’s warren of bright marble streets to discover cool bars and laidback cafes, ancient Roman ruins, innovative museums and rustic, trattoria-style restaurants. The true phoenix of Zadar’s transformation is its waterfront promenade, where locals gather to listen to the chimes of the Sea Organ.

ATHENS, GREECE

The allure of Athens is something that keeps you coming back for more. At the centre of the city is the ever-famous Acropolis, which sheds just a glimmer of light into the historical aspects that surround the city itself. You could spend weeks in Athens and not fully see the city, its history, or all of what Ancient Greece had to offer.

But outside of its historical aspect, there lies many other enjoyable activities. The booming nightlife, shopping, and world cuisine is unmatched. The city comes alive at night and the narrow city streets and large plazas offer an atmosphere that is electric.

BERLIN, GERMANY

2019 marks two important anniversaries for Berlin: the centenary of the Bauhaus and 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

To celebrate, the opening Bauhaus Festival will be held at the Akademie der Künst on January 16–24.

It is also worth visiting some of Berlin’s Unesco Heritage-listed Bauhaus sites, including a famous Mies van der Rohe house in the 1930s.

MIAMI, USA

Famed for its beautiful beaches and buzzing nightlife, Miami has long captivated travellers seeking a slice of tropical paradise.

The city’s downtown continues to be rejuvenated with the arrival of a celebrated $305-million science museum, while the Design District has become a cultural magnet with new eye-catching architecture, public art installations and expansive new cultural programming.

ARLES, FRANCE

Vincent Van Gogh’s dream is finally coming true. It was his vision for Arlesto to become a kind of utopian refuge for artists – and now, with a major new arts venue being created, including a centrepiece by Frank Gehry, this Provençal city in the Camargue is set to become an important art destination for Europe.

He was hugely prolific during his year in the city’s “Yellow House”, where he lived, painted and, famously, cut off his ear after a row with his housemate, Paul Gauguin.

Philanthropist Luc Hoffmann launched the Foundation Vincent Van Gogh here in 2014; and now Luc’s billionaire daughter Maja Hoffmann is transforming a disused railway site into a vast arts campus called the Parc des Ateliers with the Luma Arles foundation and Gehry’s gleaming tower at its centre, and studios and exhibition spaces in the old engine sheds.

And there’s more. The international photography festival Les Rencontres de la Photographie expands year on year; while the Roman amphitheatre (Arles was a provincial capital of Rome) will host cultural events; and the beautiful new art hotel Le Collatéral, which is set in a medieval church, showcases contemporary art in its public spaces and bedrooms, including one inspired by van Gogh.

WADI RUM, JORDAN

Also known as the “Valley of Sand”, this stunning desert wilderness has inspired countless filmmakers over the years – its reddish rocks even stood in for Mars in 2015’s Matt Damon movie The Martian.

Tourists come here for stargazing and bucket list sunsets, but if you’re tempted, you’ll need to plan ahead: it’s at least a four-hour drive from Jordan’s Amman airport.

BACALAR, MEXICO

This 16th century coastal town is so pretty and tranquil, it’s been called the “new Maldives”. It’s also known for delicious seafood, but the major tourist attraction is the shimmering Lake of the Seven Colours, a popular diving and snorkelling spot. UK travellers can fly to Mexico City or Cancun, then catch a short hop to nearby Chetumal airport.

TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA

Until recently, Tasmania was a national joke – the Isle of Man of Australia.

Now, suddenly, savvy travellers are obsessing over its devastatingly handsome coastline, its wilderness lodges, and the out-there arts venue that started it all.

When weird genius David Walsh opened his cutting-edge Museum of Old and New Art in 2011, it set in motion a transformation of Hobart.

Mona turned the world on its head – not just in terms of its upside-down architecture – but for its challenging collections.

Tasmania is about as far as you can get from Britain – but Qantas’ new 17-hour direct flights to Perth coupled with a domestic hop to Hobart has made it a very real possibility.

OUARZAZATE, MOROCCO

If you’ve done Marrakech but want to see more of Morocco, this historic city – nicknamed “the door of the desert” – is a strong option.

Sightseers will love exploring the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, a Unesco World Heritage Site, and the nearby oasis town of Zagora.

Total flight time from the UK is around eight or nine hours, but it’s probably best to avoid visiting in the summer, when temperatures soar.