These countries have been voted best to travel to for 2019
The best countries to visit in 2019 have been revealed by the travel experts at Lonely Planet.
The Lonely Planet’s Best In Travel guide, which is published annually since its origination in 2015, lists the finest cities, regions and countries for tourists.
If you’re already experiencing wanderlust and thinking about how to use up your annual leave next year, its best countries guide will certainly whet your appetite.
Countries ranking in the top 10 include everything from European highlights (Belarus, Germany) to far flung Panama and Belize.
The South Asian island of Sri Lanka – known for its ancient ruins and pretty beaches – tops the list.
Also on the list is the country of Jordan, which is home to the archaeological site of Petra – also known as ‘The Rose City’ for its pink sandstone cliffs.
If you’re firmly on the lookout for your next adventure, click through the slideshow to see which countries made the cut – and why you should book to go there next year.
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Famed for its ancient Buddhist ruins, scenic train journeys and delicious curry-based cuisine, Sri Lanka – formerly known as Ceylon – has topped the Lonely Planet list this year. Whether beach resorts or wildlife hikes are your bag, this country has something for you. [Photo: Getty]
Coming second on the list, Germany is an industrial country in Western Europe known for the invention of the printing press. Travel to the home of party capital of Berlin, or Munich (of Oktober fest fame) for a good time, or take a drive through the Romantic Road of Würzburg and Füssen to soak up the natural beauty. [Photo: Getty]
Already firmly established as a tourist hotspot, Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in Africa celebrated for its safari areas and natural parks, not to mention the famous Victoria Falls. [Photo: Getty]
Don’t be put off by the name – which is as hard to pronounce as it is to spell – Kyrgzstan is a beautiful country in Central Asia known for its unspoilt natural beauty. [Photo: Getty]
Despite recent natural disasters, the bulk of Indonesia is still safe for travellers. Made up of over 17,000 volcanic islands, this country is known for its jungles filled with orangutans, Komodo dragons and elephants. Its capital, Jakarta, is also a site for traditional puppetry. [Photo: Getty]
Belarus is known for its capital city, Minsk, which was remodelled to please Stalin’s tastes. The country, which includes everything from Neo-Romanesque churches to primeval forests, will surprise you with its increasingly modern attitude, polite locals and vibrant art scene. [Photo: Getty]
Sneaking into the top 10 is Belize, an island on the eastern coast of Central America. Belize is worth travelling to the Mayan Ruins and massive Belize Barrier Reef, not to mention its incredible Blue Hole, a astoundingly beautiful sinkhole located in the middle of the ocean. [Photo: Getty]
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1. Sri Lanka
Famed for its ancient Buddhist ruins, scenic train journeys and delicious curry-based cuisine, Sri Lanka – formerly known as Ceylon – has topped the Lonely Planet list this year. Whether beach resorts or wildlife hikes are your bag, this country has something for you. [Photo: Getty]
2. Germany
Coming second on the list, Germany is an industrial country in Western Europe known for the invention of the printing press. Travel to the home of party capital of Berlin, or Munich (of Oktober fest fame) for a good time, or take a drive through the Romantic Road of Würzburg and Füssen to soak up the natural beauty. [Photo: Getty]
3. Zimbabwe
Already firmly established as a tourist hotspot, Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in Africa celebrated for its safari areas and natural parks, not to mention the famous Victoria Falls. [Photo: Getty]
4. Panama
Panama is a mis-mash of the towering skyscrapers and casinos of Panama City mixed with the rainbow colonial building in Casco Viejo (pictured). There is also a spectacular rainforest in the Natural Metropolitan Park.[Photo: Getty]
10. Kyrgzstan
Don’t be put off by the name – which is as hard to pronounce as it is to spell – Kyrgzstan is a beautiful country in Central Asia known for its unspoilt natural beauty. [Photo: Getty]
6. Jordan
Jordan is a Middle-Eastern country known for its pink sandstone cliffs, national parks and abundant olive trees. Visited by Prince William last June, the country is enjoying a renewed tourist interest in the past year. [Photo: Getty]
7. Indonesia
Despite recent natural disasters, the bulk of Indonesia is still safe for travellers. Made up of over 17,000 volcanic islands, this country is known for its jungles filled with orangutans, Komodo dragons and elephants. Its capital, Jakarta, is also a site for traditional puppetry. [Photo: Getty]
8. Belarus
Belarus is known for its capital city, Minsk, which was remodelled to please Stalin’s tastes. The country, which includes everything from Neo-Romanesque churches to primeval forests, will surprise you with its increasingly modern attitude, polite locals and vibrant art scene. [Photo: Getty]
9. São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe is an African country made up of two islands. Lonely Planet ranks this area – the smallest Portuguese speaking country in the world – among its top 10 for its verdant jungles, tropical waters and scenic landscapes.
3. Belize
Sneaking into the top 10 is Belize, an island on the eastern coast of Central America. Belize is worth travelling to the Mayan Ruins and massive Belize Barrier Reef, not to mention its incredible Blue Hole, a astoundingly beautiful sinkhole located in the middle of the ocean. [Photo: Getty]
