Flying from Heathrow in January

Golden temples, river boats, rooftop bars and some of the world's best street food.

• City break
• Temples
• Food

Malaysia's capital of twin towers, cave temples and Malay, Chinese and Indian food on every corner.

• City break
• Food
• Stopover

Saigon's scooters, rooftop bars, colonial landmarks and superb street food.

• Food
• Nightlife
• History

Sri Lanka's friendly seaside capital and the gateway to its beaches and tea country.

• Beaches
• Culture
• Food

India's seaside megacity of Victorian Gothic landmarks, street food and Bollywood energy.

• City break
• Food
• Architecture

Coral atolls with overwater villas, house reefs and some of the clearest water anywhere.

• Beaches
• Snorkelling
• Luxury

A spotless city-state of futuristic gardens, skyline views and brilliant cheap hawker food.

• City break
• Food
• Stopover

Jamaica's north-coast resort town, with Caribbean beaches, reggae and trips to waterfalls and rivers.

• Beaches
• Reggae
• Waterfalls

Small Caribbean island of white-sand beaches, rum shops and cricket, with calm water on the west coast.

• Beaches
• Rum
• Caribbean

Mexico's Caribbean resort strip, with turquoise sea, Mayan ruins and cenotes to swim in.

• Beaches
• Mayan ruins
• Cenotes

A Caribbean island of calm turquoise bays, Nelson's Dockyard and a lively sailing scene.

• Beaches
• Winter sun
• Sailing

Table Mountain, penguin beaches and winelands, in one of the world's most beautiful cities.

• Winter sun
• Wildlife
• Wine

East Africa's safari capital, with lions and giraffes on the edge of the city.

• Safari
• Wildlife
• Culture

South Africa's biggest city, with powerful history museums and the gateway to safaris.

• History
• Safari
• Culture

The UAE's capital, with a dazzling white mosque, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Yas Island's theme parks.

• Winter sun
• Culture
• Theme parks

Record-breaking towers, giant malls and Gulf beaches, with the old creek souks and the desert close by.

• Winter sun
• Beaches
• Shopping

Art Deco hotels, Latin flavour and beaches, with the Everglades and Florida Keys within reach.

• Beaches
• Nightlife
• Winter sun

The Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Luxor temples, and Nile cruises.

• History
• Nile
• Winter sun

A modern Gulf capital of striking museums and a restored souq, with desert dunes close by.

• Winter sun
• Museums
• Stopover

Aztec ruins, great museums, leafy neighbourhoods and one of the world's best food scenes.

• Food
• Culture
• History

Florida's theme park capital, with Disney and Universal, and the Space Coast on the doorstep.

• Theme parks
• Space
• Beaches

Gulf Coast sunshine, a historic Cuban cigar district, theme parks and nearby beaches.

• Beaches
• Theme parks
• Winter sun

The biggest Canary Island, with Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak, above the resorts of the sunny south coast.

• Winter sun
• Volcano
• Whale watching

A relaxed Gulf island kingdom with ancient forts, pearling heritage and souqs.

• Winter sun
• History
• Stopover

A British island in the Atlantic with pink-sand beaches, pastel cottages and very clear water.

• Beaches
• Snorkelling
• Summer

Lakes, temples and the chaotic Old Quarter's street food, with Ha Long Bay in reach.

• Food
• Culture
• History

Beaches, film studios and sunshine, spread across a city of very different neighbourhoods.

• Beaches
• Road trips
• Film

Night markets, imperial treasures, hot springs and green mountains in Taiwan's easy-going capital.

• Food
• City break
• Culture

India's sprawling capital, with Mughal monuments, Old Delhi's food lanes and the Taj Mahal within reach.

• History
• Food
• Culture

The souks and the Jemaa el-Fnaa square of the medina, riad courtyards, and the Atlas Mountains on the horizon.

• Souks
• Riads
• Culture

Sunny Californian beaches, Balboa Park's museums and a famous zoo.

• Beaches
• Family
• Winter sun

Skyscrapers and harbour views, street markets and dim sum, with green hiking trails a short ride away.

• City break
• Food
• Hiking

Morocco's Atlantic business city of art deco streets and a vast mosque on the ocean's edge.

• City break
• Architecture
• Coast

Picasso's home town: a Moorish fortress above the port, tapas bars below, and a city beach a short walk from the centre.

• City break
• Tapas
• Museums
• Mild winters

A palm-lined seafront, the church of Saint Lazarus, and pink flamingos on the salt lake in winter.

• Winter sun
• Beach
• History

Jazz, Creole food and French Quarter balconies in America's most distinctive city.

• Music
• Food
• Nightlife

The futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, the home of paella, and city beaches along the Mediterranean.

• City break
• Food
• Beach

A UNESCO medina, the Bardo's Roman mosaics, Carthage and blue-and-white Sidi Bou Said.

• History
• Culture
• Souks

The Alcázar palace, a vast Gothic cathedral, and flamenco in the lanes of Triana and Santa Cruz.

• City break
• History
• Flamenco

The Rock, with its Barbary macaques, cable car and Great Siege Tunnels. British, with Spain across the border.

• History
• Monkeys
• Short break

Valletta's honey-coloured fortress city, prehistoric temples and clear water for diving and boat trips to Gozo and Comino.

• History
• Diving
• Island hopping

Street food markets, Arab-Norman churches and the beach at Mondello.

• Food
• History
• Beach

Seven hills of tiled houses, the historic trams, custard tarts in Belém and the beaches of Cascais along the coast.

• City break
• Food
• Coast

Neon, casinos and big shows in the desert, with Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon in reach.

• Nightlife
• Shows
• Road trips

The Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars up steep hills, and wine country and redwoods nearby.

• City break
• Food
• Road trips

Gaudí's Sagrada Família and Park Güell, the Gothic Quarter's lanes and a city beach at Barceloneta.

• City break
• Architecture
• Beach

The Guggenheim Museum, pintxos bars in the old town and the green Basque coast.

• Food
• Art
• City break

The home of pizza, with Pompeii, Vesuvius and boats to Capri all within reach.

• Food
• History
• Islands

The Acropolis above the city, the Plaka's tavernas, and ferries from Piraeus to the islands.

• History
• Food
• City break

The Promenade des Anglais along the bay, the old town's market, and the Riviera villages of Èze and Monaco nearby.

• Riviera
• Beach
• Old town

Brightly painted buildings, the Bunk'Art museums in Cold War bunkers, and the cable car up Dajti mountain.

• City break
• History
• Mountains

The Colosseum, the Pantheon, Vatican City and trattorias down every side street.

• History
• Food
• City break

Jordan's hilly capital of Roman ruins, and the base for Petra and the Dead Sea.

• History
• Culture
• Desert

France's oldest city: the Old Port, the hilltop basilica, and the limestone inlets of the Calanques.

• Coast
• Food
• City break

The Renaissance in one compact city: the Duomo, the Uffizi, Michelangelo's David and Tuscan food.

• Art
• City break
• Food

The Prado, the Retiro park, late dinners and tapas bars that stay busy past midnight.

• City break
• Art
• Food

Neon districts, quiet shrines and superb food in the world's biggest city.

• City break
• Food
• Culture

The 'Pink City' of terracotta brick, home of Airbus, with the Canal du Midi running through it.

• City break
• Aviation
• Food

A Channel Island of a pretty harbour town, cliff paths and ferries to Herm and Sark.

• Coast
• Walking
• Islands

A green waterside city of coffee, ferries and a famous market, with Mount Rainier on the skyline.

• City break
• Food
• Outdoors

The airport for Limerick, the Cliffs of Moher and the limestone landscape of the Burren.

• West of Ireland
• Cliffs
• Castles

The Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and ferries across the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia.

• History
• Food
• City break

Georgian squares, the bridges over the Liffey, Trinity College and a pub on nearly every corner.

• Pubs
• Live music
• City break

The colonial Bund, futuristic skyscrapers, old lanes and great food.

• City break
• Food
• Architecture

The TT motorcycle races, Celtic heritage and a coastline of glens and harbours. No passport needed.

• Coast
• Motorsport
• Short hop

The largest Channel Island: sandy bays, the Jersey War Tunnels and Mont Orgueil castle. No passport needed from the UK.

• Beaches
• History
• Short hop

Music City: country music legends, honky-tonks on Broadway and hot chicken.

• Music
• Nightlife
• Food

An Edwardian city hall, the shipyard where Titanic was built, and the pubs and live music of the Cathedral Quarter.

• City break
• History
• Short hop

Ireland's second city, with the English Market, Blarney Castle nearby and the coast of West Cork.

• Food
• Coast
• Short hop

The only completely intact walled city in Ireland, with the Peace Bridge across the Foyle.

• History
• City walls
• Short hop

The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre, with cafés on every corner and Disneyland Paris east of the city.

• City break
• Museums
• Food

Ireland West Airport opens up Mayo: Westport, Clew Bay and the climb up Croagh Patrick.

• West of Ireland
• Walking
• Coast

Canals instead of streets, St Mark's Square, and the islands of Murano and Burano by water bus.

• City break
• Canals
• Art

A green city between sea and mountains, with beaches, forest trails and skiing nearby.

• Outdoors
• City break
• Skiing

The Duomo and its rooftop terraces, Leonardo's Last Supper and the shops of the Quadrilatero. Lake Como is an hour away by train.

• City break
• Shopping
• Art

Two football clubs, the Northern Quarter's bars and street art, and museums that are free to enter.

• City break
• Football
• Nightlife

The castle on its volcanic rock, the Royal Mile running down to Holyrood, and Arthur's Seat to climb.

• History
• City break
• Festivals

A walled old town under flame-shaped towers on the Caspian Sea.

• City break
• Architecture
• History

Victorian architecture, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, free museums and one of the UK's best live music scenes.

• City break
• Live music
• Museums

Porticoed streets, Europe's oldest university and the food capital of Italy: mortadella, tortellini and ragù.

• Food
• City break
• History

Ornate metro stations, huge bazaars and the gateway to Samarkand and the Silk Road.

• History
• Culture
• Silk Road

America's capital, with grand monuments and mostly free museums along the National Mall.

• City break
• Museums
• History

France's food capital, with a Renaissance old town, Roman theatres and the Festival of Lights in December.

• Food
• Old town
• City break

The capital of the Highlands, on the doorstep of Loch Ness and the Culloden battlefield.

• Highlands
• Lochs
• History

The Tyne bridges, the Quayside, the Angel of the North nearby and a famous night out.

• Nightlife
• City break
• Football

Sulphur baths, carved wooden balconies and a wine tradition said to go back 8,000 years.

• Wine
• Food
• City break

The Granite City, close to Royal Deeside, Balmoral and the castles of Aberdeenshire.

• Castles
• Coast
• Short hop

Seventeenth-century canals, the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, and a city best seen by bike.

• City break
• Museums
• Cycling

The Grand-Place, the Atomium, and Belgian beer, waffles and chocolate.

• City break
• Beer
• Chocolate

The Rhine promenade, the Altstadt's 'longest bar in the world' and its own dark beer, Altbier.

• City break
• Beer
• Shopping

A Gothic cathedral beside the Rhine, chocolate and beer museums, and one of Germany's biggest carnivals.

• City break
• Christmas markets
• Beer

The Balkans' party capital, with a riverside fortress, bohemian streets and floating clubs on the Danube.

• City break
• Nightlife
• Food

The birthplace of the United States, with historic sights, big museums and cheesesteaks.

• History
• City break
• Food

The lakeside Jet d'Eau, a compact old town, and the Alps close by for skiing in winter.

• Lake
• Skiing
• City break

An Austro-Hungarian upper town, the Museum of Broken Relationships and lively cafés.

• City break
• Christmas markets
• Quirky

One airport, three countries: it serves Basel in Switzerland, Mulhouse in France and Freiburg in Germany.

• Art
• Rhine
• Christmas markets

Vineyard hills, palaces and the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche museums.

• Cars
• Museums
• Wine

A green city with baroque gardens, a domed town hall and a long British royal connection.

• Gardens
• City break
• History

Skyscrapers, Central Park, Broadway and food from every corner of the world, across five boroughs.

• City break
• Shopping
• Museums

Imperial palaces, the opera house and coffee houses that have served cake since the 1800s.

• City break
• Music
• Christmas markets

A huge port, the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, the warehouse district and the St Pauli nightlife.

• City break
• Music
• Nightlife

Beer halls, the English Garden, Oktoberfest in autumn and day trips to Neuschwanstein Castle.

• Beer
• City break
• Castles

The Charles Bridge, a castle complex above the river, and a beer culture that goes back centuries.

• City break
• Beer
• Old town

A fortress city on a gorge, with walks along the old ramparts and free public transport.

• City break
• History
• Short break

The home of LEGO, with the original LEGOLAND, the LEGO House and a big water park.

• Family
• Theme parks
• Short break

A lakeside city with an old town on both banks of the river and the Alps within easy reach.

• Lake
• Mountains
• City break

The gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Roman ruins in the metro and Vitosha mountain above the city.

• City break
• History
• Mountains

Mozart's birthplace, a clifftop fortress, and the setting of The Sound of Music.

• Music
• Old town
• Christmas markets

The colourful harbourfront at Nyhavn, Tivoli Gardens and a city where everyone cycles.

• City break
• Design
• Food

The base for the Golden Circle, the Blue Lagoon and, in winter, the chance of the Northern Lights.

• Northern Lights
• Hot springs
• Nature

The Brandenburg Gate, the remaining stretches of the Wall, Museum Island and a famous club scene.

• History
• Nightlife
• City break

Steaming outdoor thermal baths, the Parliament on the Danube, and ruin bars in old courtyards.

• Thermal baths
• City break
• Nightlife

Sweden's second city, with canals, seafood and car-free archipelago islands.

• City break
• Seafood
• Islands

The Palace of the Parliament, one of the largest buildings in the world, and the lanes of the old town.

• City break
• History
• Nightlife