Gold

GREECE

Greece takes the crown as our Wanderlust readers' Most Desirable Country in Europe. With mainland treasures, from Athens to Olympia, and more than 200 inhabited islands and islets, Greece is a country that has it all. Extraordinary history, vibrant culture, natural wonders and plenty of beach escapes. The difficulty is deciding where to explore first.

Silver

SPAIN

Bronze

FRANCE

4. Italy

5. Croatia

6. Switzerland

7. Scotland

8. Germany

9. Portugal

10. Austria

Gold

COSTA RICA

Is there anywhere quite like Costa Rica? We don't think so, and that's why this Wanderlust favourite has taken the top spot for our readers' Most Desirable Country (Rest of World). This Central American gem is a pioneer of eco-tourism, with its extraordinary rainforest and coastal environment home to more than 500,000 species, including sloths, toucans and sea turtles.

Silver

CANADA

Bronze

AUSTRALIA

4. New Zealand

5. USA

6. Japan

7. Peru

8. South Korea

9. South Africa

10. Jordan

Gold

DUBROVNIK

Croatia's walled city has received a staggering amount of attention in the past decade, and it looks like its popularity is only increasing along with the rest of Croatia. Its copper-coloured rooftops and cobbled streets give it a fairytale appearance, but there's much more to Dubrovnik than its looks. Here, you can relive history at its war museums and monasteries, then enjoy some of the country's finest hospitality at a cliff bar to enjoy a sundowner by the sea. What's not to love!

Silver

TALLINN

Bronze

LISBON

4. Istanbul

5. Seville

6. Ljubljana

7. Bordeaux

8. Copenhagen

9. Salzburg

10. Mostar

Gold

NEW ORLEANS

Louisiana's largest city has a distinctive vibrancy, which is why it has deservedly won this year's Wanderlust award for Most Desirable City (Rest of World). Music is its beating heart, with jazz, blues, reggae and rock filling the streets of the Marigny neighbourhood. Mardi Gras is one of the biggest carnivals outside Rio and unique to the 'Big Easy'. And don't get us started on the cuisine: gumbo, jambalaya and deep fried southern chicken are main hitters on the menus that reflect the city's melting pot of cultures. We predict New Orleans joining many travel bucket lists in years to come.

Silver

TOKYO

Bronze

CARTAGENA

4. Singapore

5. Quito

6. Melbourne

7. Rio de Janeiro

8. Montreal

9. Cape Town

10. Marrakech

Gold

NORMANDY

With 640 kilometres of incredible coastline featuring beaches and chalk cliffs, plus having some of France's most fascinating historic sites, Normandy is more than a worthy winner of the Wanderlust award for Europe's Most Desirable Region. Its highlights include the remarkable Mont-Saint-Michel: the tidal island even featured on the cover of our February/March issue in 2022. Normandy also has a fantastic mix of quirky towns and cultural cities, with its capital Rouen straddling the River Seine and featuring a gothic cathedral towering over the city.

Silver

ANDALUCIA

Bronze

GREEK ISLANDS

4. Azores

5. Brittany

6. Tirol

7. Lombardy

8. Bavaria

9. Algarve

10. Provence Alps Cote d'Azur

Gold

FLORIDA

Yes, the Sunshine State has far much more than Disney World. Florida, with its buzzing cities, paradise beaches and extraordinary nature has been pulling in a different type of crowd in recent years. For example, star-studded Miami has far more than meets the eye with a growing foodie scene and fantastic cultural museums. Whereas the Florida Keys, an archipelago of tropical islands, is a magnet for both wildlife lovers and literary greats of the past. Let's not forget Everglades National Park; this spectacular wetland has just celebrated its 75th anniversary. And we've only just scratched the surface!

Silver

NEW SOUTH WALES

Bronze

BRITISH COLUMBIA

4. Abu Dhabi

5. Galapagos

6. Western Australia

7. Patagonia

8. California

9. Hokkaido

10. Sabah

Gold

IRELAND

Our Wanderlust readers have selected Ireland as the island they're dreaming about the most in Europe. Marking the western edge of the continent, the Emerald Isle calls out to travellers looking for fantastic natural landscapes, historic cities, and epic road trips to connect it all. Dublin, sitting on the east coast, is known for being the home to Guinness - best experienced in the cobbled riverside neighbourhood of Temple Bar. While the Wild Atlantic Way is a fantastic tourist trail stretching 2,500 km along the entire western coastline of Ireland, linking County Donegal to County Cork.

Silver

MALTA

Bronze

CRETE

4. Sicily

5. Madeira

6. Spitsbergen

7. Hvar

8. Isle of Skye

9. Tenerife

10. Jersey

Gold

PALAWAN

Are you ready to escape to paradise? The Philippines is an archipelago with more than 2,000 inhabited islands, yet Wanderlust readers have selected Palawan to be not just be the best in the country, but the best in the world. The scenery here is heaven on earth with sparkling waters and white sand beaches. One of the most photographed sites is Kayangan, a dazzling freshwater lake with spectacular rock formations above and below the surface. Elsewhere on the island you can explore one of the world's longest underground rivers, enjoy a spot of twitching, or fuel up with some delicious cuisine in the island's capital of Puerto Princesa. Take us there now!

Silver

TOBAGO

Bronze

VITI LEVU

4. Cuba

5. St Helena

6. Rapa Nui / Easter Island

7. St Lucia

8. Zanzibar

9. Bali

10. Tasmania

Gold

GEORGIA

This little-visited country has been voted the most desirable emerging destination in the world. We at Wanderlust have had Georgia on our radar for a while now, as we've explored its Caucasus mountains, Black Sea beaches and thriving wine scene. In fact, archaeologists have even traced the world's first wine creation back to 6,000BC Georgia. Of course, we can't forget its historical capital Tbilisi, with its eclectic mix of architecture reflecting the city's complex past. Georgia is certainly a rising star in travel, and we're sure it's going to shine brightly.

Silver

BELIZE

Bronze

SAUDI ARABIA

4. Azerbaijan

5. Panama

6. Guyana

7. Greenland

8. Ethiopia

9. Bolivia

10. Qatar