Douro, Portugal, is among the best destinations in the world to visit in 2020
This is the conclusion of magazine Travel+Leisure which also left several recommendations for cruises and accommodation in the city of Porto.
Douro is among the best destinations in the world to visit in 2020 / Photo by Svetlana Gumerova on Unsplash
8 January 2020, Redaction
What are the top reasons for a city to deserve a visit? Gastronomy, culture, history and landscapes are some of the key factors, according to Travel+Leisure magazine, which has drawn up a list of the 50 best holiday destinations for 2020. And there's Portuguese DNA on the list: the Douro River comes in 18th place, inviting you to discover the country's northern region through a boat trip.
"Portugal continues to be a popular refuge - and in 2020, it's about trying it out from the water", reads the publication. Travel+Leisure highlights these specific cruises: Viking Helgrim, AmaDouro and Andorinha, all of which take to the Portuguese waters. Don't forget the vineyards of Quinta do Portal and Quinta do Seixo, which serve "light reds, vinho verde (literally green wine - a Portuguese wine that originated in the historic Minho province in the far north of the country) and the all-important port", the "charming" Le Monumental Palace or Torel 1884 which is "full of art and whose 12 rooms and 11 independent apartments present art inspired by fabrics, materials and spices from distant lands".
First on the list is Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, followed by Arequipa in Peru and Asheville in the USA. In the fourth spot is Austria and then the Eastern Cape of Baja Sur in Mexico. Barbados, Beijing (China), Big Island (Hawaii), Botswana and Boston (USA) round off the Top 10.
Click to see the full top 50 destinations: The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020 (Travel + Leisure)
Portuguese cities