Switzerland
Jumping an incredible nine spots, readers gushed about Switzerland’s “beautiful beauty” and raved about its lakes and mountains. For great ideas on how to enjoy Switzerland’s natural beauty, read our guide to the finest outdoor activities there. In the breathtaking Jungfrau region, explorers will want to tackle the Eiger, but you might prefer to take in the scenery from a charming mountain train. The Matterhorn and Zermatt, an iconic location, are another. Many of you also praised Switzerland’s “wonderful towns” and “beautiful pristine cities,” like lakeside Lausanne, Vevey, and Montreux, affluent A great idea is to stay at Sunstar Hotel and Spa Grindelwald for its breathtaking views of the Wetterhorn.
New Zealand
What you adore: “The diversity of the landscape and the beauty of the people and cultures”
Because of its “beautiful beauty,” New Zealand overtook Italy as the top destination. This also applies to New Zealand’s “variety of landscapes,” particularly the “difference in scenery between the highlands and beaches.”
These breathtaking landscapes serve as the setting for exhilarating outdoor excursions and breathtaking alternative journeys. Given that so many of you adored the “wide open spaces,” you might want to learn more about the top driving routes in New Zealand.
Discover why New Zealand has won the hearts of so many Rough Guides readers by planning a custom vacation there.
Canada
Canada, which has consistently ranked among the top five most beautiful countries in the world, provides a wide selection of must-do vacation experiences. Many of you praised its magnificent vistas and the size of its “wide-open areas.” If you concur with the comment made by one respondent that the “mountain scenery is beautiful” in Canada. While the East Coast capitals of Toronto and Montreal enchant with their world-class restaurants and cosmopolitan attitude, the B.C. mountains lure thousands of skiers and snowboarders each winter. The surreal Bay of Fundy, considered as one of the planet’s most stunning locations, is another. Speaking of eccentric sights, Canada’s Spotted Lake is included in our list of truly bizarre locations around the globe.
Top tip: Try your hand at ziplining at the Niagara Falls for an adventure you’ll remember for years.
Check out our totally customizable, locally-curated trip plans to experience Canada in all of its breathtaking beauty.
Australia
Australia is a continent that is also more than just a nation. From the Outback to the Kakadu National Park and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park with its iconic stone monolith, it’s its own world. Australia is known for its untamed parks and diverse landscapes, including Sydney and its harbor, one of the world’s most picturesque and recognizable urban areas, the Great Barrier Reef, the untouched tropical Whitsunday Islands, and the Mornington Peninsula National Park, which faces the ocean. Admire Australia’s diversity before or after taking a trip along the Great Ocean Road.
France
Paris has the ideal air of cultural grandeur, but even if the capital receives all the attention, France has so much more to offer. The country is full of charming Old World villages, from the majestic Loire Valley to lush Provence. The world’s largest palace (Versailles) and museum (the Louvre), as well as the opulent Riviera, are located here. But France is also a nation where people may live in outdoor cafes, in cities that have been meticulously conserved, and in wine-producing regions like Bordeaux and Champagne. See the magnificence of Mont St. Michel, the countless chateaux spread around the nation, and the breathtaking view of the Chamonix valley if that isn’t enough.
Italy
The world’s most lovely city, the most motivating social fortunes, and eminent landscape: Nowhere else on the planet will you track down a greater centralization of excellence. There’s Venice, Florence and Rome with their changed design, the regular magnum opus that is Tuscany with its moving slopes, grape plantations and snow-topped mountains.
You get the impression that no country on Earth offers as much splendor everywhere you turn as Italy because of the Amalfi Coast, Lake Maggiore, and the Alps, which are like the perfect naturalist painting.
Greece
The beaches of Mykonos and other Greek islands in the Aegean Sea are well-known around the world for a reason—they are among the most stunning in the entire planet. They are the first images of the country, but there are also gorgeous mountains like Mt. Olympus and Meteora, as well as historic ruins all over the place. Greece is a place that fully fulfills all the senses, so it’s obvious how the concept of so many gods emerged here, even though Athens disappoints those seeking aesthetic inspiration.
Spain
Spain is much more than the horrendous overdevelopment of the Costa del Sol or parts of the Balearic Islands, which are the most prevalent images of the country. It is possibly the most diversified nation on earth, having everything from elegant urban hubs to white Mediterranean villages. Additionally, it is the most alluring nation in the world, with a desire for enjoying the good life that is mirrored in great plazas in even the smallest cities, in meticulously restored historic districts, and in the tiniest villages perched on hilltops.