Up And Coming Cities Of The World

If you’re looking for something a little different, and don’t want to visit the best known destinations in the world, there are plenty of places to get flights to which are a little bit off the beaten track and somewhat freer for visiting. Here are some you could choose from.

Tashkent – Uzbekistan

The capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent is a very cosmopolitan city, and in 2007 was nominated as the cultural capital of the Islamic world. The Navoi Literary Museum and the Fine Arts Museum are jewels for visitors. Summer temperatures make this a warm place to visit. There is good public transport making seeing the city easy, and there is much here that’s great to see. It’s worth remembering that a few Russian phrases well learnt before you travel will help you a lot as this isn’t a place that’s used to lots of tourists yet.

Sao Tome – Sao Tome and Principe

Africa’s second smallest nation has been peaceful for many hundreds of years and this its capital is a wonderful place to visit. With perfect weather much of the year, tourism here is still growing slowly and it’s in fact only about twenty years since the first hotels were built here. The beaches are beautiful with wonderful clear waters, so it’s not surprising that each year sees more and more visitors to this wonderful place. Boating and diving are popular with guests, as are walking tours. There aren’t many shopping opportunities but what is available is worth finding. This is a stress free area with a slow and gentle pace.

Funafuti – Tuvalu

Peace and quiet is what you’ll find if you seek it here. This exquisite remote Polynesian island has plenty of tropical fish, birds and green turtles, but as yet not many visitors. There are coral reefs to explore, and plenty of open spaces for picnicking and relaxing.

Thimphu – Bhutan

This is a city which fought for a long while to stay away from western influences, and you may feel a long way from home here. Thimphu may be the capital of Bhutan, but you’ll find no traffic lights here, instead white gloved policemen direct the traffic. Don’t expect a lot of exciting nightlife here, instead enjoy the cultural heritage this wonderful city has to offer.

Sofia – Bulgaria

An up and coming European city destination Sofia has a great nightlife and is the 12th largest city in the EU. It’s got some of Bulgaria’s best clubs and bars, and there are five star hotels and massive shopping malls to explore too. Side by side with all this, you could choose to stay with a local family run place instead, and enjoy more of the local culture and visit Red army monuments and Ottoman mosques that are dotted around the city.

Reykjavik – Iceland

A vibrant city with loads of nightlife, but one which has very unusual daylight patterns. In the winter you’ll only experience a few hours of light, and in summer the sun never really sets here. You do however get the chance to experience the northern lights if you visit at the right time of year, and there’s plenty more to entertain visitors such as glacier trekking and whale watching. You might even find yourself in the middle of a Viking festival.