LIFESTYLE

Lonely Planet names Canada top country, Bordeaux top city for travel

Relaxnews Published Tuesday, October 25, 2016 7:21AM EDT Last Updated Tuesday, October 25, 2016 10:28AM EDT

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The French city of Bordeaux is Lonely Planet's top urban destination for 2017.

With a high-speed rail link due mid-2017 and the Cité du Vin wine museum attracting fans of the tipple from all over the world, it's no surprise to see the famous travel guide pick the French city as its hottest urban destination for 2017.

From new hotels and improved transportation to new options for tour operators and hidden gems, Lonely Planet examines a host of factors when selecting its annual list of must-visit destinations for the coming year.

The high-speed rail line linking Paris to Bordeaux in just two hours no doubt plays a major role in bringing the French city to the forefront of the tourism scene.

The city's new wine museum and cultural space, called the Cité du Vin, which opened in June, is another draw for travellers keen to sample the region's specialties and its gastronomic restaurants. The urban landscape has also been transformed, with the freshly-renovated banks of the river Garonne and the regeneration of the right bank. "A sleeping beauty has awoken," says Lonely Planet.

In the cities category, Bordeaux is followed by Cape Town, South Africa, in second place, and Los Angeles, U.S., in third. The 10-strong list also features two relatively little-known destinations on the global travel scene: Ohrid in Macedonia (fifth) and Pistoia in Italy (sixth).

Pacific destinations on trend for 2017

Who hasn't dreamed of dipping a toe into the turquoise waters of the world's biggest ocean? Pacific destinations are by no means passé, still riding high in Lonely Planet's rankings, particularly those in Oceania. Taranaki, New Zealand, comes second in the list of best regions to visit in 2017, and South Australia comes fifth.

This Australian state, with its rocky coastlines, breathtaking shores, vineyards and natural parks, and its coastal capital Adelaide, could be set to rival the Red Center and its desert landscapes, the bright lights of Sydney and the cultural haunts of Melbourne as an Ozzie destination. The list of top regions also features the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia in seventh place.

As for countries, Lonely Planet puts Canada in the top spot for 2017, followed by Colombia (second) and Finland (third).