My 19 favourite new destinations of 2019

2020 has already arrived and left behind a wonderful and busy travel year. In 2019, I visited 19 countries and territories in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and North Asia, and eight of them were new!

Every year, I revisit the places I’ve been throughout the year through my pictures and posts and make a list of my favourite new destinations. In 2015, some of my favourites were Latvia, Andorra and Poland. In 2016, my favourites included Taipei in Taiwan, Hokkaido in Japan and the Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan. In 2017, some of my favourites were Kandovan in Iran, Berat in Albania and Vianden in Luxembourg. And in 2018, some of my favourites were Moscow in Russia, Kish in Azerbaijan and Nuuk in Greenland.

I’ve seen so many incredible new places in 2019, so narrowing it down to just 19 favourites was tough. But I managed to find them in the end, and they are listed below in chronological order. And remember – this list only includes places that I visited for the first time in 2019, so places like Nuuk in Greenland, Nólsoy in the Faroe Islands and the Scottish Highlands are not included.

1. Seltjarnarnes, Iceland

After spending all of January in Nuuk, I flew to Reykjavík, Iceland, for four days on my way home to Denmark. During one of my days there, I decided to take an early morning stroll to Seltjarnarnes to watch the sunrise.

Seltjarnarnes is a small municipality located west of Reykjavík with just over 4.400 inhabitants. It’s located on the tip of the peninsula with the same name, and is known as a popular nesting area for over 106 bird species.  Home to the tiny island of Grótta with a lighthouse from 1947, the Bakkatjörn lake and the Nesvöllur Golf Course, there is plenty to see in the area as well as plenty of opportunities to spot the nesting birds.

Seltjarnarnes is a wonderful half-day trip from Reykjavík. It can easily be done by foot, and I recommend going early, so you can experience the beautiful sunrise over the ocean.

Read more: Sunrise at Seltjarnarnes: A brisk morning walk out of Reykjavík

2. Edinburgh, Scotland

I went to Scotland with my family in 2004, but we didn’t visit the nation’s capital, Edinburgh. So when my younger brother moved there earlier this year, it was the perfect excuse for me to finally go. I spent a week in the city with my own personal tour guide!

Just as expected, I was blown away by the city’s historic atmosphere, beautiful buildings, endless hiking opportunities and the countryside vibes in Duddingston Village and Dean Village. No trip to Scotland is complete without a stop in Edinburgh – and make sure not to miss a hike up Arthur’s Seat for an incredible view of the city!

Read more: Out of Edinburgh: From Arthur’s Seat to Duddingston Village

3. Kyiv, Ukraine

Ukraine was the first new country that I visited in 2019. I took a one-week trip with my mum in March, where we based ourselves in the capital, Kyiv.

Kyiv is an incredible city with so much to offer. The city is full of interesting places to see, from the famous golden-dome churches and an atmospheric open-air museum to cozy cafés and underground shopping malls. It’s also the starting point of tours to Chernobyl and its ghost towns, which definitely shouldn’t be missed when in Kyiv!

Read more: 14 places to discover in Kyiv, the city of golden domes

4. Ven, Sweden

Before summer arrived in Europe, I took a day trip with a friend to the Swedish island of Ven. Located between Sweden and Denmark in the Öresund Strait, Ven is the perfect merge of the two countries. It’s only a few hours away by boat from Landskrona, Råå and Helsingborg in Sweden and Copenhagen and Rungsted in Denmark, making it the perfect short getaway.

The best way to explore Ven is to hike the 12 km trail around and through the island, which is part of the 1000+ km Skåneleden hiking trail.

Read more: In the footsteps of Tycho Brahe on the Swedish island of Ven

5. Stepnoye, Russia

I spent five weeks during the summer in a small village in rural Russia – Stepnoye in Plastovsky District, Chelyabinsk Oblast, located on the forest steppe on the border between the Ural Mountains and Siberia and Europe and Asia.

Most of the time was spent excavating a Bronze Age site, but I did get some time to explore this little gem of a village and it’s beautiful hilly surroundings. Stepnoye is home to 4000 people, and is divided into two parts with a river separating the two. It’s a cute little town with many colourful and detailed houses and lots of animals roaming the streets; cows, chickens, ducks, dogs and a few cats.

Very few tourists visit this spot, and those that do usually go straight past the village to visit the well-known Stepnoe settlement site, the northernmost settlement of the middle Bronze Age Sintashta Culture (ca. 2100–1800 BC), located a few kilometers from the village.  Stepnoye is probably very similar to other villages in the region, but to me it holds a special place in my heart. If you’re ever in the area, I recommend stopping in at least another village, if not Stepnoye itself!

Read more: Welcome to Stepnoye: Five weeks await on the Eurasian forest steppe

6. Chelyabinsk, Russia

Chelyabinsk is the seventh largest city in Russia, located to the east of the Ural Mountains on the border between Europe and Asia. While the city is rather unknown to the rest of the world, in Russia it is well known for being one of the most important industrial centers in the country. It was once named the most polluted city in the world after the secret Kyshtym nuclear disaster in 1957 which happened in a village nearby and contaminated the entire area.

Being the closest large city to Stepnoye, I had to fly into and from Chelyabinsk, and I got to spend a day in the city at the end of my time in Russia. Despite its bad reputation, I actually really enjoyed Chelyabinsk!

The city was founded in 1736 at the site of an old fortress when it was an important part of a trade route from Europe to India. The old buildings and cobbled streets of the center are the only remains from this time, and the rest of the city is made up of Soviet-style and modern buildings. This mix makes for an interesting city that is well worth exploring if you’re ever in the area!

Read more: Chelyabinsk: The surprising beauty of an industrial city in Russia

7. San Marino

San Marino is the third smallest country in Europe and the fifth smallest in the world. It’s an enclaved microstate on the northeastern side of the Apennine Mountains, surrounded completely by Italy.

I visited this tiny nation during my summer travels through Southern Europe, and focussed mainly on the capital, which is located on top of Monte Titano, 749 meters above sea level. The views from the capital are incredible, going on forever across the low-lying parts of the tiny nation, Italy and out to the Adriatic Sea.

San Marino is an easy one- or two-day getaway from Italian cities such as Milan, Bologna and Rimini, and in my opinion, it deserves way more visitors than it gets.

Read more: San Marino: The small mountain country surrounded by Italy

8. Nice, France

Nice is the seventh-largest city in France, located on the Mediterranean Coast, just 13 kilometres from the tiny nation of Monaco. I went to Nice primarily to go to Monaco as accommodation is much cheaper in Nice, but I ended up liking Nice much more than Monaco!

There is a lot to see in Nice, including the beautiful Basilica of Notre-Dame de Nice, the shopping street of Avenue Jean-Médecin, the main square of Place Masséna and the famous Promenade des Anglais by the ocean, but my favourite place was Parc de la Colline du Château, a beautiful lush park located above the old town with amazing views of the city.

So my advice is to not skip Nice when visiting Monaco – in fact, I’d recommend spending more time in Nice than Monaco!

Read more: A nice afternoon in Nice, a city full of surprises

9. Melilla, Spanish Morocco

The most interesting destination of 2019 was Melilla, without a doubt. It’s one of the most unknown cities in Europe – perhaps because it’s actually located in North Africa. Despite being officially claimed by Morocco, which is the only country it shares a border with, Melilla belongs to Spain. It is one of Spain’s two exclaves in North Africa, both of which I visited this summer. The other one, Ceuta, is just an hour away from the mainland, and therefore receives a lot more visitors than Melilla, which is seven hours away by ferry.

In light of the immigration crisis of the recent years, Melilla has gotten a really bad reputation due to the rough handling of the thousands of immigrants who have attempted to smuggle themselves across the border fence. Therefore, I wasn’t exactly expecting to like the place, but as it often happens, I was surprised, and I ended up not wanting to leave!

I spent two days exploring this interesting city full of well-preserved Art Nouveau buildings and an intriguing mix of Spanish and Moroccan culture. Where Ceuta felt like any other Spanish city, Melilla truly made me feel like I’d travelled to a different world. If you’re interested in unusual travel destinations, I highly recommend going to Melilla – it’s an easy ferry ride from popular Málaga!

Read more: Inside Melilla, Europe’s last frontier in North Africa

10. Sevilla, Spain

Sevilla is the largest city in the Spanish region of Andalusia, and easily my favourite out of the five cities that I visited this summer.

With its three UNESCO World Heritage sites, an atmospheric old town, an interesting history with remnants from both Roman and Islamic periods, colourful architecture, large and lively plazas and flamenco dancing on the streets, Sevilla is the perfect introduction to Andalusia!

Read more: Sevilla: Flamenco and spectacular architecture in Andalucía’s capital

11. Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, was a city that I had little to no expectations to, mainly because I knew nothing about it before arriving in August. But once again, I was pleasantly surprised.

I discovered a vibrant and charming city, full of interesting sights to see and incredible views to be found all over. Being the second-oldest capital in Europe (after Athens), there is enough history to indulge in. My favourite parts of Lisbon were the Belém suburb with its two UNESCO World Heritage sites and the São Jorge Castle, which stands high above the old city centre.

Read more: The pastel city: Discovering Lisbon, Portugal’s charming capital

12. Sintra, Portugal

Sintra is every Disney-loving persons dream! With its picturesque palaces and castles located high above the village, Sintra is like a fairytale come true, like something out of a dream or a different planet.

I spent an entire day hiking from castle to castle, exploring nature parks and discovering large wells and architectural beauties at Quinta da Regaleira. I could’ve spent way longer, had I had more time!

Sintra is the perfect day trip from Lisbon and should absolutely not be missed! I recommend hiking around for the best views, but it’s also possible to take busses to the different castles and parks.

Read more: Sintra, Portugal: Chasing castles in a fairytale landscape

13. Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain

Bilbao was one of the places I was most exciting about visiting this summer. Despite having my bag stolen (and thankfully retrieved!), I really loved exploring this unusual city.

From the eccentric Guggenheim Museum to the quaint streets of the city center to the unique Vizcaya Bridge, Bilbao offers so much to the visitor that the two days I spent there were nowhere near enough.

Bilbao is the gateway to the beautiful Basque Country, and the perfect introduction to the region. Someday, I hope to return to see more of both the city and the region!

Read more: Bilbao: The first meeting with the Basque Country

14. Kapisillit, Greenland

Deep in the Nuuk Fjord lies a small village of just 63 inhabitants. Close to nothing but ice, ocean and mountains. This village was the end destination for a four-day trek that I went on with two friends in September.

It was the toughest physical challenge I’ve ever done due to incredibly rough terrain, so finally getting to Kapisillit after trekking 74 km was magical. Unbelievable even.

We spent the next few hours in the colourful village, exploring a little, relaxing mostly. The village houses are spread out over a large area, all with an amazing view of the fjord. Just 7 km away is the Nuuk Icefjord, a place I’m dreaming of hiking to on my next visit to Kapisillit.

Read more: Into the Greenlandic wilderness: A four-day trek to Kapisillit

15. Kulusuk, Greenland

Kulusuk is a small village in East Greenland, home to just over 260 inhabitants. It’s also home to the only airport in Southeast Greenland, so it gets a fair share of visitors every year.

Kulusuk was always my dream destination on Greenland’s East coast, and this year, I got to visit the village twice, on two stopovers to and from Tasiilaq. During my first visit, I only had time to hike to a viewpoint of the village, but on my second visit, I had time to spend 45 glorious minutes exploring the village.

Surrounded by high mountains on all sides and dotted with colourful houses, Kulusuk is a feast for the eyes. I love the atmosphere in this isolated spot, and someday I hope to return to explore the village and the surroundings much more.

Read more: The return to Kulusuk: Goodbye East Greenland

16. Tasiilaq, Greenland

During the autumn, I spent eleven weeks in Tasiilaq, the largest town on Greenland’s East coast, so it’s a place I know very well. I’ve walked all the streets, hiked in all the valleys and climbed all mountains in close proximity to the town.

Despite having only 2000 inhabitants, Tasiilaq has a lot to offer, including a large supermarket, some smaller stores, two clothing/souvenir shops, a café, a FREE fitness center, a youth cultural center, a church and a local museum, where I had my internship.

There’s a lot to see and do as a tourist, especially if you enjoy outdoor activities. Tasiilaq is also the perfect starting point for explorations of other places in Southeast Greenland, such as the smaller villages in the area or the nearby Sermilik Icefjord.

Read more: Welcome to Tasiilaq, my home for the Autumn

17. Tiniteqilaaq, Greenland

Another one for the Greenland list – as you can tell, I’m pretty smitten with this beautiful country! This one is the most beautiful village I’ve been to in Greenland so far – Tiniteqilaaq. Home to just 150 souls and located 40 kilometers north of Tasiilaq, in the middle of the Sermilik Icefjord, the village is quite isolated. But I honestly can’t imagine a more stunning location for a village!

I went there on a day trip with two friends, where we sailed through an icefjord full of seals before approaching the beautiful village. We spent the next four hours exploring every street, waving at local children and hiking up to the perfect viewpoint of the village.

If you’re ever in Tasiilaq and want to do a day trip, I 100 % recommend this one. You get to sail through the most beautiful fjord and then arrive at this magical village. It can’t get any better than this!

Read more: Through the icefjord to Tiniteqilaaq: An East Greenlandic sailing adventure

18. Jerusalem, Israel

Oh Jerusalem. What a place. How do I even begin to describe it?

I love history, religions and archaeology, so it’s no wonder that Jerusalem stole my heart. For five days, I roamed the streets of this holy city, exploring Jewish, Arab and Christian neighbourhoods, learning about three of the world’s biggest religions, eating more falafel and hummus than ever before and feeding every street cat I came by.

Jerusalem is one of those cities that everyone should see in their lifetime. It’s so full of history that has shaped today’s society that it shouldn’t be ignored. Do yourself a favour and go NOW, experience the wonderful merge of cultures for yourself!

Read more: The wonderful diversity of Jerusalem’s old city

19. Bahá’í World Centre (Haifa & Akka), Israel

I might be biased with this one as I’m a Bahá’í, but how can you not love beautiful gardens, marble buildings and endless views?

I spent nine days at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa and Akka this December, visiting the majority of the Bahá’í Holy Places and exploring the amazing gardens. Tourists cannot walk around as freely as pilgrims can, but it’s still worth going to learn about the Faith and to see these magnificent views.

Other new places that I visited in 2019

Portobello, Scotland; Chernorechye, Russia; Plast, Russia; Sanarka, Russia; Milan, Italy; Monaco; Málaga, Spain; Gibraltar; Ceuta, Spanish Morocco; Algeciras, Spain; Córdoba, Spain; Huelva, Spain; Ayamonte, Spain; Évora, Portugal; Madrid, Spain; Masada, Israel; En Gedi, Israel; Kalia Beach, Israel and Tel Aviv, Israel.