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MASA
The atlas

Every place we've mapped

197 destinations, each with recorded climate normals, a budget level and a set of researched, fact-checked guides.

Start here

What kind of trip?

Three questions, none of them required. We answer from the guides we have actually published, and the line above the results says exactly what they all have in common.

Where, roughly?
How long have you got?

A short break narrows the list to places we have a weekend or full-day route for. The longer answers do not rule anything out — they move places we have more planned for towards the top.

What feels right?
When?

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Ways in

10 ways to narrow two hundred places down. Each one is worked out from recorded data — station climate normals, the price level we grade a place at, the guides we have actually published — and the rule is printed above every row.

Famous for a reason

The ones everyone goes to

See all 21

The destinations most travellers can place without being told where they are — the anchors of a first trip to a region. An editorial ranking, not a visitor count: we hold no arrivals data and will not invent any.

The Eiffel Tower above the Seine at violet dusk, with river boats moored along the bank
Paris
FranceBest April–June, September–October
Aerial view of London at sunset: Tower Bridge, the River Thames and the skyline of the City
London
United KingdomBest May–September
The Colosseum in Rome at dusk, its arches glowing with warm light under a deep blue evening sky
Rome
ItalyBest April–June, September–October
A ramen bowl seen from above with thin noodles, soft-boiled egg halves, sweetcorn, spicy minced topping and fresh greens in a speckled ceramic bowl
Tokyo
JapanBest March–May (sakura), October–November
Plans that survive a six-year-old

Good with children

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Ranked by our editors for how well a trip actually works with children — shade, short walks, somewhere to swim, a museum that earns an hour. Every one has a published family day plan; the order is our judgement, not a measurement.

Colorful houses along the Inn river in Innsbruck beneath the snow-capped Nordkette mountains
Innsbruck
AustriaA funicular straight to the Alpine Zoo
Colourful houses of the Ribeira district rising above the Douro riverside quay in Porto, with traditional boats on the water
Porto
PortugalTrams, tiles and the six-bridge boat
Close-up of a thick grilled steak with a charred crust being carved on a wooden board, its interior rosy medium rare
Buenos Aires
ArgentinaThe Planetarium and the Palermo parks
The slate rooftops of the Grund quarter of Luxembourg City at dusk, seen from the clifftop old town
Luxembourg City
LuxembourgCasemate tunnels under the old town
Further on the same money

Kind to a budget

See all 33

Destinations we grade as budget: eating, sleeping and moving around cost little by the standards of their region.

A temple complex in Bangkok on a clear day: the gilded Loha Prasat and traditional Thai temple roofs
Bangkok
ThailandBest November–February
The neo-Gothic Hungarian Parliament building on the Danube in Budapest under a dramatic pink evening sky, seen from the Buda side
Budapest
HungaryBest April–June, September–October
The Pyramid of Khafre at Giza under a bright sky, with horses and their handler standing on the sand below
Cairo
EgyptBest October–April
Overhead close-up of a bowl of Vietnamese beef pho: flat rice noodles in clear broth topped with minced beef, fresh herbs, spring onion and chopped scallions in a white bowl
Hanoi
VietnamBest October–December, March–April
Where the room is the point

Worth the splurge

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Destinations we grade as luxury — where part of the reason to go is what you can book when you get there.

Aerial view of the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab on its island off the Dubai coast, with the wave-shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotel in the foreground and Palm Jumeirah behind
Dubai
United Arab EmiratesBest October–April
Aerial view of Marina Bay Sands’ three towers and SkyPark at dawn, with the lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum in the foreground
Singapore
Best Year-round; February–April slightly drier
Colourful gabled townhouses and moored wooden boats along the Nyhavn canal in Copenhagen under an evening sky
Copenhagen
DenmarkBest May–September
Riddarholmen island and its dark church spire under a pink and purple sunset, seen across calm water in Stockholm
Stockholm
SwedenBest May–September
Three days, no planning

Enough for a long weekend

See all 44

Destinations with a published hour-by-hour weekend route, so the trip is already planned when you land.

Rows of freshly baked pasteis de nata with flaky golden pastry shells and caramelised, blistered custard tops
Lisbon
PortugalBest March–June, September–October
Aerial view over Rio de Janeiro with Sugarloaf Mountain rising above Guanabara Bay, Botafogo's boat-dotted cove and the city's white buildings below
Rio de Janeiro
BrazilBest December–March (summer); April–May for clearer air and fewer crowds
The Pudong skyline of Shanghai at night, with the Oriental Pearl Tower and illuminated skyscrapers reflected in the Huangpu River
Shanghai
ChinaBest Autumn and spring
Cloud Gate, the mirrored bean-shaped sculpture in Millennium Park, reflecting Chicago's skyscrapers with visitors gathered beneath it
Chicago
United StatesBest Late spring through mid-fall
Enough to fill a week

Deepest in Europe

See all 96

The European destinations we cover most fully — where the site can plan a whole week.

Aerial view of Barcelona with the Sagrada Família rising from the octagonal blocks of the Eixample grid
Barcelona
SpainBest May–June, September–October
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul with its cascading grey domes and six slender minarets against an evening sky
Istanbul
TurkeyBest April–May, September–November
Aerial view along Charles Bridge crowded with pedestrians, looking across the Vltava towards Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral at golden hour
Prague
Czech RepublicBest April–June, September–October
Vienna skyline at dusk with the illuminated Gothic spire of St Stephen's Cathedral rising above the rooftops of the old city
Vienna
AustriaBest April–June, September–October
A table for two and a long evening

Just the two of you

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Chosen by our editors for a trip with one other person: somewhere to eat well without booking a table for eight, a view worth staying up for, and short enough distances that nobody spends the holiday in transit.

A gondolier steering a gondola on the Grand Canal in front of the white arches of the Rialto Bridge in Venice
Venice
ItalyA city with no cars and no straight lines
A traditional street in Kyoto's Higashiyama district at dusk, wooden houses leading to the Yasaka Pagoda
Kyoto
JapanLantern light on the Pontocho lanes
The iconic blue domes of Oia in Santorini overlooking the caldera and the Aegean Sea
Santorini
GreeceThe caldera, from a terrace, at sunset
Florence Cathedral: Brunelleschi's red-tiled dome and Giotto's bell tower rising above the rooftops of the city
Florence
ItalyRenaissance rooms and an early evening walk
Book the trip around the table

Where the food is the reason

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Destinations where we publish at least two culinary guides, each illustrated with that destination's own food photography rather than a stand-in — the measure of whether we can actually feed you there.

Sydney Harbour seen from above Circular Quay, with the white sails of the Opera House, ferries cutting wakes across the water and the CBD skyline behind
Sydney
Australia2 food guides
The Golden Gate Bridge spanning the strait from the Marin headlands, with San Francisco visible across the water
San Francisco
United States2 food guides
Close-up row of street tacos in corn tortillas piled with meat, cilantro and onion, served with lime wedges, radish and cucumber slices
Mexico City
Mexico2 food guides
Seljalandsfoss waterfall in south Iceland plunging off a green cliff into a wide valley at sunset
Iceland
2 food guides
Older than almost everything

Ancient wonders

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Chosen by our editors: destinations built around a major site of the ancient or medieval world, where the ruin is the reason to go rather than one stop among many.

A classic Greek salad in a blue-rimmed taverna bowl, topped with a thick slab of feta drizzled with olive oil and oregano over tomatoes, red onion, green pepper and cucumber
Athens
GreeceThe Acropolis above a living city
A camel resting on the sand in front of the carved columns and pediment of the Treasury (Al-Khazneh) at Petra
Petra
JordanA city carved into a rose-red gorge
The stone terraces and ruins of Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu peak rising behind, wisps of cloud drifting across the surrounding Andes
Cusco
PeruInca stonework, and Machu Picchu beyond it
The main facade of Angkor Wat with its three lotus-bud towers under a bright blue sky, seen along the palm-lined stone causeway with scattered visitors
Siem Reap
CambodiaAngkor, at sunrise
Up, and then down

Snow and mountains

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Chosen by our editors: destinations where the mountains are the point — a lift or a rack railway out of town, and a season that delivers snow rather than merely cold.

The Matterhorn mirrored in a still alpine lake surrounded by golden autumn larches
Zermatt
SwitzerlandCar-free, under the Matterhorn
Aerial view of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu backed by the Remarkables range, New Zealand
Queenstown
New ZealandSouthern-hemisphere season, June to September
The Sapporo TV Tower rising above Odori Park in central Sapporo
Sapporo
JapanSome of the most reliable snow in Asia
Close-up of broken chunks and shards of dark chocolate piled on a white surface
Lucerne
SwitzerlandRack railways up Pilatus and Rigi
By country
The full atlas

Every destination

Europe

94 places
The Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens, its weathered Doric columns seen from below against a bright sky
Athens
Greece
Barcelona's Eixample rooftops at sunset seen from above, with the Sagrada Família on the hazy skyline
Barcelona
Spain
The sweeping Georgian facade of the Royal Crescent in Bath, fronted by a wide green lawn under a dramatic cloudy sky.
Bath
United Kingdom
The grand Portland-stone facade and green copper domes of Belfast City Hall under a moody sky.
Belfast
United Kingdom
A generous platter of charcoal-grilled meats — skewers, chicken wings, sausages and chops — served over flatbread with roasted peppers, potatoes and bowls of dipping sauces.
Belgrade
Serbia
The colourful pointed wooden facades of Bryggen wharf in Bergen glowing at dusk, reflected in the harbour beneath mist-covered mountains.
Bergen
Norway
The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin seen from Pariser Platz, with the quadriga statue on top and a lone visitor crossing the cobbled square
Berlin
Germany
The curved titanium panels of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Bilbao
Spain
A white bowl of penne pasta coated in a rich meat and tomato ragù, dusted with grated cheese and black pepper, on a rustic wooden table
Bologna
Italy
A glass of red wine standing on a railing overlooking rows of vineyard vines and water beyond
Bordeaux
France
The medieval Belfry of Bruges rising above the Markt square at golden hour
Bruges
Belgium
The monumental triumphal arch and curved colonnades of Parc du Cinquantenaire in Brussels under a blue sky with scattered clouds
Brussels
Belgium

Asia

51 places
The Taj Mahal's white marble dome and minarets under a clear blue sky, with the long reflecting pool and cypress trees in front
Agra
India
Almaty's Kok Tobe TV tower and city skyline against the snow-dusted peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau
Almaty
Kazakhstan
Excursion boats along the stone breakwater of Antalya's old Kaleici harbor beneath the cliffs
Antalya
Turkey
Aerial view of Baku at dawn with the three glass Flame Towers rising above the city and the Caspian shore
Baku
Azerbaijan
Terraced green rice paddies lined with coconut palms in Bali, with a small hut among the trees
Bali
Indonesia
Tuk-tuks parked on Yaowarat Road in Bangkok's Chinatown at night under red neon signs
Bangkok
Thailand
The Great Wall of China snaking along a mountain ridge between watchtowers, surrounded by autumn foliage in shades of orange and gold
Beijing
China
Crispy golden Filipino-style fried chicken pieces served on a fresh banana leaf with a red chili, with side dishes in the background
Boracay
Philippines
A festive platter of long-grain rice pilaf cooked with pieces of meat, garnished with cucumber slices and berries, served on a red cloth
Bukhara
Uzbekistan
The colorful hillside houses of Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan at dusk
Busan
South Korea
Aerial view of dozens of hot-air balloons drifting above the carved valleys and ridges of Cappadocia at first light
Cappadocia
Turkey
The twin royal pagodas of Doi Inthanon standing on a forested ridge above layered mountains at sunset, Chiang Mai province
Chiang Mai
Thailand

North America

17 places
Aerial view of downtown Boston at dusk, with the harbor and wharf piers in the foreground and the lit towers of the financial district beyond
Boston
United States
Aerial view of downtown Chicago's dense skyline at dusk with Lake Michigan stretching to the horizon behind the towers
Chicago
United States
A pink 1950s American convertible parked on a narrow Havana street lined with weathered colonial buildings, with a Cuban flag hanging overhead
Havana
Cuba
A steak-frites plate on a dark wooden table — sliced grilled steak beside a pile of herb-tossed french fries with a knife resting across the plate
Las Vegas
United States
View from behind the Hollywood Sign at sunset, looking down over the hills and the lights of the Los Angeles basin stretching to the horizon
Los Angeles
United States
The Metropolitan Cathedral on Mexico City's Zócalo, with a Mexican flag flying in the foreground
Mexico City
Mexico
Aerial view of Miami's Brickell waterfront, with high-rise towers lining Biscayne Bay and a palm-fringed shoreline drive curving below
Miami
United States
Montreal's downtown skyline at night seen from Mount Royal, with the rotating beacon of Place Ville Marie sweeping the sky above the lit towers
Montreal
Canada
A sunlit French Quarter street in New Orleans with colorful Creole buildings, iron-lace balconies hung with plants, street musicians, and bicycles on the sidewalk
New Orleans
United States
Aerial view of the Midtown Manhattan skyline at sunset, with the Empire State Building rising at the centre
New York City
United States
Two soft corn-tortilla tacos piled with vegetables, herbs and salsa on a white plate at a turquoise wooden table
Oaxaca
Mexico
A takeout tray of poutine — fries topped with cheese curds and gravy — being eaten with a fork outdoors on a cobbled street
Quebec City
Canada

Africa

16 places
The Black Star Gate at Independence Square in Accra, inscribed Freedom and Justice
Accra
Ghana
The Great Sphinx of Giza facing forward with a pyramid rising directly behind it
Cairo
Egypt
Aerial view of Cape Town with the flat summit of Table Mountain behind the city, the round stadium at Green Point and surf breaking on the coastline
Cape Town
South Africa
The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca with its towering minaret and green-tiled roofs above a marble esplanade under a blue sky
Casablanca
Morocco
The African Renaissance Monument silhouetted above Dakar's rooftops at sunset
Dakar
Senegal
Moroccan couscous topped with caramelized onions, carrots, and vegetables served in a traditional patterned ceramic dish
Essaouira
Morocco
Densely packed earth-toned rooftops and terraces of the medina of Fez, Morocco, seen from the surrounding hills
Fez
Morocco
The Johannesburg skyline under a cloudy sky, with the Hillbrow Tower rising above apartment blocks and a curving road below
Johannesburg
South Africa
A silverback gorilla standing upright among dense green tropical foliage, facing the camera
Kigali
Rwanda
Seated colossi of Ramses II and the great pylon of Luxor Temple under a dramatic sky
Luxor
Egypt
The minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech with the snow-capped High Atlas mountains behind it
Marrakech
Morocco
Aerial view of Le Morne Brabant mountain on Mauritius, surrounded by turquoise lagoon, reef, and deep blue ocean
Mauritius
Mauritius

Middle East

8 places
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque illuminated at dusk, its white domes and minarets reflected in a still pool
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
A natural sandstone arch silhouetted against a star-filled night sky in the desert of AlUla, Saudi Arabia
AlUla
Saudi Arabia
Aerial view over the ruins of the Amman Citadel hill with the pale-stone city and modern skyline beyond, Amman, Jordan
Amman
Jordan
Pita wraps stuffed with shaved grilled meat, french fries and red onion, shawarma-style
Doha
Qatar
Dubai skyline at sunrise with the Burj Khalifa rising above the towers and a vast highway interchange in the foreground
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
The blue-tiled minaret and dome of the Al Lawatiya Mosque rising above the Muttrah Corniche waterfront at dusk, Muscat, Oman
Muscat
Oman
The Monastery (Ad Deir) at Petra, its massive facade carved into the ochre rock hillside under a cloudy sky
Petra
Jordan
Red sand plain of Wadi Rum stretching toward jagged sandstone mountains under a hazy sky
Wadi Rum
Jordan

South America

8 places
Aerial view of the white Obelisco monument standing on Avenida 9 de Julio in Buenos Aires, with tree-lined lanes and traffic crossing below
Buenos Aires
Argentina
A row of brightly painted colonial houses with wooden balconies on a Cartagena street in warm evening light, modern towers rising in the background
Cartagena
Colombia
Machu Picchu's stone buildings and green grassed plazas seen from the upper terraces, with the peak of Huayna Picchu towering over the citadel
Cusco
Peru
The high-rise skyline of Lima's Miraflores district on green clifftops above the Pacific Ocean, with waves rolling toward the Costa Verde below
Lima
Peru
Brick houses of Medellín's Comuna 13 climbing the green hillside, Colombia
Medellín
Colombia
Aerial view of the Christ the Redeemer statue on the forested summit of Corcovado, with the Lagoa, Ipanema and the Atlantic haze beyond
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
Aerial view over Santiago's leafy eastern districts, residential towers and a green golf course backed by the dry peaks of the Andean foothills
Santiago
Chile
View down Avenida Paulista in São Paulo, its canyon of office towers, rounded glass high-rise and red-and-white antenna towers under a blue sky
São Paulo
Brazil

Oceania

3 places
Auckland's skyline and Sky Tower at dusk, reflected perfectly in the still water of Viaduct Harbour with moored boats and a lit footbridge
Auckland
New Zealand
A traveller sitting at the end of a wooden jetty on a still alpine lake ringed by steep forested mountains
Queenstown
New Zealand
A barista pouring steamed milk into a flat white, creating latte art in a white cup held in one hand
Sydney
Australia