The American newspaper The New York Times has launched a list that includes 52 destinations in the world that it recommends visiting in 2024. Valencia is the only Spanish city on the list.
Valencia: Spain's most recommended travel destination
The newspaper's experts compiled this annual list considering sustainable travel and cultural events in different parts of the world.
The Path of Totality (North America), one of the best places to see the solar eclipse in April, and Maui (Hawaii), severely damaged by the 2023 forest fires, are some of the recommended destinations worth visiting this year. There is also a wide range of options for the adventurous, including the underwater world of Hurghada (Egypt) or the Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia), the world's largest salt flat.
The city of Valencia, the only Spanish city on the list and in 20th place, stands out for its green areas and sustainable policies that have led it to become the 2024 European Green Capital, the pedestrianisation of parts of the city centre, its cuisine and spaces such as the new Hortensia Herrero Art Centre.
The top three places are, therefore, in this order: the Path of Totality (North America), Paris (France) and Yamaguchi (Japan). The top 10 also includes New Zealand by train, Maui (Hawaii), Baaj Nwaavja I'tah Kukveni (Arizona, USA), Singapore, O'Higgins (Chile), Ladka (India) and Geneva (Switzerland).
The next ten destinations are Dominica (Caribbean), Manchester (UK), Craters of the Moon (Idaho, USA), Baltimore (Maryland, USA), Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia), Negombo (Sri Lanka), Massa-Carrara (Italy), Bannau Brycheiniog (Wales, UK), Morocco and Valencia (Spain).
Valencia's highlights
In 20th place, 'The New York Times highlights Valencia's green spaces and sustainable policies that have led it to be named European Green Capital this year, such as the Turia Garden in the old Turia riverbed. With a surface area of more than 120 hectares and a length of 12 kilometres, it is the longest urban park in Europe.
The city's green and natural spaces include Albufera Natural Park, Turia Natural Park, the peri-urban market gardens and the Mediterranean Sea, as Visit València recalled.
The newspaper also highlights the pedestrian-only areas in the centre of Valencia, such as the Plaza de la Reina, the area around the Central Market and the City Hall square. As for culture, the newspaper points out the new Hortensia Herrero Art Centre in the old Valeriola Palace, added Visit València. The New York Times also recommends this destination for its food.
This recognition is added to that recently made by the American travel magazine AFAR, "one of the most important travel magazines in the United States", which considers the city of Valencia "one of the ten best destinations to visit in March".
The rest of the list
A total of 52 destinations appear in the newspaper's list. Following the top 20 are Kansas City (Missouri, USA), Antananarivo (Madagascar), Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico), Lake Toba (Indonesia), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Quito (Ecuador), Mingan Archipelago (Quebec, Canada), Montgomery (Alabama, USA), Tasmania (Australia), Waterford (Ireland).
The last 22 destinations are Tsavo National Park (Kenya), Brasilia (Brazil), El Salvador, Koh Her (Cambodia), Vestmannaeyjar (Iceland), Montevideo (Uruguay), Mustang (Nepal), Vienna (Austria), Brisbane (Australia), Pasadena (California, USA), Hurghada (Egypt), Border Waters (Minnesota, USA), Thessaloniki (Greece), Normandy (France), Grenada (Caribbean), El Camino in Costa Rica, the Albanian Alps, Whitehorse (Yukon, Canada), Choquequirao (Peru), Dresden (Germany), the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (Mexico) and Flamingo (Florida, USA).
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