In pictures: Travel hot spots for 2011

Published on 23/01/2011 13:00

Spectrum Magazine profiles ten of the most exciting holiday destinations in the world in 2011...

Thrsmrk, Iceland

With Iceland Express announcing new flights from Scotland to Reykjavik this summer, there's never been a better excuse to get in on the action.

While Reykjavik is widely considered the main draw, it's just a short bus trip to some of the most charmingly rugged and majestic sights Iceland had to offer, namely Thrsmrk.

Known to locals as Iceland's Eden, it offers visitors an almost other-worldly opportunity to hike on glaciers or trek up canyons and waterfalls.

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Auckland, New Zealand

There's nothing quite like a global sports event to put a country on the map, and this year it's the turn of New Zealand. Its cities look more than ready to take on the onslaught of the Rugby World Cup, before a return to Middle Earth with the release of The Hobbit next year.

And no city more, it seems, than Auckland, which takes on the main thrust of the rugby action. Picturesquely surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Hunua Ranges and Manukau Harbour, it showcases beaches, islands, bays and harbours. A popular spot with watersports fans, visitors can try their hand at sailing, surfing, diving and more.

Culture vultures can opt for the revamped Auckland War Memorial Museum or, for laughs, the Classic Comedy and Bar, offering a roster of live acts. Elsewhere, even the less sports-savvy should be interested in Eden Park, which hosts the World Cup opening ceremony.

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New York, USA

New York prepares to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks this September. A multimedia event will be unveiled at Ground Zero and the Port Authority has committed to opening memorial pools in the original Twin Towers footprints.

The city is a constantly changing, cosmopolitan playground. While Fifth Avenue is Manhattan's most obvious shopping Mecca, the West Village and Soho are on hand for more vintage, one-off pieces.

For good eats and eclectic watering holes, the East Village, once the stomping ground of hippies and beatniks, has transformed into a place to see and be seen.

The more discerning culture buff should head for the Lower East Side, complete with indie movie theatres and the famous Bowery Ballroom. No trip would be complete without a walk through Central Park, by the Hudson River, or down to Battery Park – for stunning views of the Statue of Liberty as well as a trip on the (free) Staten Island ferry.

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Tokyo, Japan

Forget Lost In Translation. Tokyo looks set for an altogether glossier big-screen makeover in 2011 as Hugh Jackman sharpens his claws for the return of comic book hero Wolverine, directed by Darren Aronofksy, the man behind Black Swan.

A stunning backdrop for any story, the city effortlessly meshes the traditional with the uber-hip - as seen by a 2011 events calendar that weaves from rocking out at All Tomorrow's Parties through to serene Cherry Blossom Festivals.

From the neon sheen of its shopping emporia to its peaceful spirituality, this is a city to immerse yourself in from dawn to dusk.

Look out for growing architectural achievement the Tokyo Sky Tree, a burgeoning skyscraper in the heart of the city. Boasting a height of 634m, it will be one of the world's tallest skyscrapers when it's completed in spring 2012.

Don't miss the Ameyoko Arcade, an old-fashioned open-air market complete with clothes, spices and memorabilia. For high end fashion, Omote-Sando gives any capital a run for its money.

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Lake Baikal, Russia

Russia may be best known, for now, as the controversial thorn in England's side when it came to hosting the next World Cup, but there is so much more to this vast country than first meets the eye.

Most surprising, perhaps, in a country renowned for its distinct art and extraordinary history, it is surprising how many seemingly untouched wide open spaces it can offer the unsuspecting tourist. Lovingly referred to by locals as the Galapagos of Russia, Lake Baikal, the world's oldest lake, is one of the country's lesser known treasures.

A Unesco World Heritage Site since 1996, the last two years have welcomed the emergence of a 100km Frolikha Adventure Coastline Track, with hoteliers becoming increasingly aware of the area's potential.

Referred to as a natural paradise, with its fresh blue water and lush mountain ranges, boat tours in the warmer months showcase the lake in all its glory, while offering great access for hiking in the forests, streams and waterfalls of Baikal's national parks.

Sitting on the border between Siberian Russia and Mongolia, this untapped tourist spot features lush beaches, picturesque walks, bird watching, hiking and so much more.

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Bahamas, Caribbean

While Johnny Depp's chiselled features and Penelope Cruz's heaving bosom are unlikely to be in attendance, fans can always watch them on the big screen in this year's Pirates of the Caribbean before catching a flight and seeing the stunning surroundings for themselves.

While the Caribbean boasts over 700 islands, the Bahamas have proved a particularly popular hot spot with the celebrity set, with Sir Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Tiger Woods, John Travolta and the Depps themselves all owning property or - in some cases - their own islands here.

For those without the requisite multi-millionaire film star credentials there's still ample to enjoy, whether it's snorkelling, dolphin watching, scuba diving or rum tippling at the local distillery.

Thanks to warm weather the vast majority of the calendar, this is essentially a year-round retreat, complete with sandy, unspoilt white beaches, remote coral reefs and stunning boutique hotels. For nightlife and outdoor markets head to downtown Nassau to eat, drink and party the night away.

Alternatively, plan a trip around the Bahamas International Film Festival, in December, which last year showcased a stunning array of films, before closing with the Oscar-tipped The King's Speech.

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Berlin, Germany

Once a city divided by the atrocities of war, Berlin has emerged as one of Europe - if not the world's - coolest capitals. A cluster of neighbourhoods, each boasting its own unique charm for eating, drinking, dancing and culture-hopping, 2011's festival calendar merely hints at the gems this incredible city has to offer.

From the Berlinale, a two-week film festival in February, and Maerzmusik, an intoxicating brew of contemporary music in March, to June's popular summer festival The Carnival of Cultures, and Art Forum Berlin, showcasing artists from around the world in September, Berlin is seeping with possibilities and building on its charm year on year.

With cheap direct flights from Scotland, the easy-to-navigate city has much to explore however long your stay, from historical stomping grounds like the Brandenburg Gate, the Wall, Checkpoint Charlie and the TV Tower to cutting-edge cultural hangouts like the Alte Nationalgalerie and Museum Island.

Those looking for a more relaxed meander should head to the south-west of the city for some top-notch forest walks and vast green spaces; or go east to Mitte for the best of boho-chic, both in boutique shops and fine drinking and dining.

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A colour palette of sun, sea and high-octane shenanigans, Rio is perhaps best known for its electrifying annual carnival. Loved for its gritty authenticity, its backdrop of stunning rainforests, blue seas and gargantuan mountains, never mind its cultural kudos and laidback vibe, keep visitors coming back year on year.

Already the most visited city in the southern hemisphere, a trip in 2011 before its facelift in time for the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016 could not be better timed - catching the country on a natural high before any dank commercialisation kicks in.

Shake some moves in Lapa or Po de Acar in one of the area's more famous dance halls or people-watch courtesy of one of the city's incredible open-air cafes. Beach bunnies can head to the world-famous Copacabana or Ipanema beaches, while the more active visitor can opt to Tijuca's rainforests for some stunning hikes.

Culture lovers shouldn't miss out on landmarks such as the Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue or a trip on the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain.

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Turku, Finland

Finland's culturally gregarious Turku is this year's European Capital of Culture.

Highlights of the specially commissioned programme include a Dracula-inspired circus spectacular and a theatrical version of Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov.

Elsewhere, it continues to showcase the annual festivals that helped win it the title in the first place. Must-sees include The Ruisrock Music Festival, which last year featured Belle & Sebastian and Florence and the Machine; the summertime jamboree; Medieval Market; and Turku Music Festival, the oldest music festival in Finland. Those looking for something a bit more low-key can enjoy trips to Turku Castle and Kauppatori market.

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Venice, Italy

Italy prepares to celebrate its 150th year as a unified country this year. and , Venice seems to get more interesting with every rising of the tide.

Water boats take visitors around the city, while adventurers on foot can traverse some of its 409 bridges en route to the country's finest gelato bars and pizzerias, as well as its most famous landmarks, including St Mark's Basilica and the Grand Canal.

Look out for free lunchtime concerts in some of Venice's smaller churches or, better still, don your mask and plan your trip to coincide with February's Carnevale, the world's largest masked ball, complete with a colourful display of Italian theatre, music and arts.

Those tripping later in year can enjoy Venice Film Festival, the oldest in the world. Or just make like Daniel Craig and check out the 17th-century Palazzo Pisani, used for the shoot-out at the end of Casino Royale.

This article was first published in Scotland On Sunday, 23 January, 2011