Lonely Planet Lonely Planet's Where To Go When: The Ultimate Trip Planner for Every Month of the Year

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Chile’s frenetic capital is a cultural powerhouse whose historic center is filled with world-class museums, stately theaters and palm-lined plazas. Key neighborhoods for travelers include Barrio Yungay (for street art), Barrio Italia (for shopping), Lastarria (for strolling), Providencia (for sleeping) and Vitacura (for dining). Come nightfall, neighborhoods like Bellavista and Barrio Brasil explode with energy as Chileans party until sunrise at clubs blasting everything from Latin trap to K-pop, EDM and Reggaeton.

Liguria’s remote Cinque Terre area is coastal Italy at its most spectacular. Five seaside villages wedged between cliffs, encircled by a national park and connected by clifftop footpaths, this is a place where humanity has lived in symbiosis with nature for thousands of years. People have chiseled terraces into the steep cliffs and grown wine here since Roman times; until the 20th century, the locals got about by sea or footpath. Why now? Ski Wyoming’s snowy slopes before warming chilly fingers and toes around the region’s geothermal geysers and hot springs. Why now? To see millions of monarch butterflies take flight in the Michoacán Province’s Oyamel fir forests. Planning tip: Naples becomes less chaotic from the water. Taking the ferry isn’t only an option if you’re going to islands like Ischia and Procida – you can also take a boat from the city to Sorrento, Positano and the Amalfi Coast. 10. Venice Pompeii, pizza and a whole lot of panache – Naples is a city like no other. Layered like lasagna, each strip of history on top of the last, this is a place where (underground) you can walk along ancient Greek and Roman roads, while at street level there are sumptuous churches, baroque palaces and Maradona – Maradona everywhere.

All major cities light up with Christmas decorations starting as early as November and Christmas markets, with live music, ice skating and stalls selling roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and other seasonal treats, take place throughout December in many public squares. One of the best is the Weihnachtsmarkt in Merano.

This is the most intoxicating time to visit the heart of Argentinean wine country. Vineyards dominate here – every hillside is scored with vines – and in hot, sunny February they’ll be healthily heavy with fruit in anticipation of the March harvest. A festive atmosphere reigns, with every bodega (and there are around 900) open for tours, tastings and celebrations. The leafy, plaza-dotted city of Mendoza makes a good base. Singapore This tiny volcanic outcrop in the middle of the vast Pacific has an outsized reputation around the world thanks to the 887 monolithic human statues (known as moai) that guard its azure shores. The mystery of how the ancient Rapa Nui people were able to build and move such massive structures has fascinated travelers for decades. So how do you decide where to go? It all depends on what you’re looking for in your Italian odyssey, whether that’s history, art, beaches, hiking or even food. No matter your passion, our list of 15 must-see places in Italy should be your starting point. 1. Rome Why now? Bask in near permanent daylight in this enormous white wilderness at the end of the world. If visitors to France fancy something other than the Olympics, the region of Normandy is hosting the Normandy Impressionist Festival from March to September next year to celebrate 150 years of Impressionism. The event will bring visitors into the heart of a 19th-century movement that turned art on its head with its radical, soulful focus on outdoor scenes and the effects of light. The program includes open-air theater performances and dance cafes, art exhibitions and workshops, plus forest walks, stargazing, sound- and-light shows and romantic picnics straight out of a Renoir. SpainParts of Italy – especially coastal destinations – seem to go into hibernation during winter months, but the coldest season of the year affects each region differently. Late December to March is high season in the Alps, where snow-covered slopes attract skiers from all over Europe. Italy's top ski resorts are in the northern Alps and the Dolomites, but you'll also find resorts in Friuli, the Apennines, Le Marche and even Sicily. Often considered the best time to visit, spring offers the ideal mix of good climate and bearable tourism flows. Nature blooms as the snow melts in the mountains and the rolling hills of the central Italian countryside come to life after the chilly winter. The ultimate trip planner for every month of the year: discover the best places to visit throughout the seasons. Think cherry blossoms only pop in Japan? Think again. South Korea puts on equally dazzling displays come springtime. Several flower-related festivals are held in capital Seoul in April; wander beneath dreamy blooms at Seokchon Lake, on Yeouido Island and through the grounds of 15th-century Changgyeonggung Palace. Further south, around Busan, the port city of Jinhae is as pretty as a picture. Gyeongju hosts an annual Cherry Blossom Marathon in early April. The former capital of the ancient Silla dynasty, the city is also home to more temples, tombs, pagodas and palaces than anywhere else in the country. Dominica

It’s not unknown for the mercury to top 50°C (122°F) in Death Valley during July. That is emphatically not the time to visit. Better to wait until November, when the average high in this lowest, hottest, driest of national parks is a pleasant 25°C (77°F), all the campgrounds are open (camping season runs mid-October to April) and it’s quieter than spring. Indeed, these conditions are ideal for cycling. A Mexico visit in January or February means dry and relatively cooler days, providing some relief in humid coastal destinations. It’s also whale-watching season along the Pacific Coast. In Mazatlán, February is carnival time: the 2024 festival is the 126th edition. Kangaroo Island, AustraliaSantiago makes a great base as there’s plenty to do within an hour of city limits. You can raft whitewater in Cajón del Maipo, swirl Cabernet in the Maipo Valley or snowboard at some of the biggest (and best!) ski resorts in the Southern Hemisphere. Why now? Head to the bodegas of Mendoza, Argentina for a beefy malbec against incredible landscapes. Planning tip: Entrance to Kumana National Park is through the village of Okanda. Prearranging a guided jeep safari is best for enjoying the park. 12. Adam’s Peak The northernmost, easternmost Canary Island laughs at the idea of hibernating for winter. With November temperatures still reaching 23°C (73.4°F) on land and 22°C (71.6°F) in the ocean, Lanzarote continues to be brilliant for water-based fun. Sailors, surfers, kite surfers and kayakers can keep practicing all year long; it’s a good place to learn new skills, too, as conditions are reliable and many operators offer lessons.