May 20, 2014
May 14, 2014
10 Most Visited Countries in 2013
10. MALAYSIA: 25.7 million tourists in 2013
Malaysia is far much developed than its neighbors. It is a multicultural country with many things to offer. It is also a big airhub and business hub. If you fly with Air Asia (the cheapest way to get across Eastern Asia) you will probably end up in Kuala Lumpur at one point. I used it as my base to fly to many places in Asia, but I also stayed for a while in here. And it is pretty cool.
The capital city of this former British colony is fun and cosmopolite. Malaysia is a Muslim country, so don't come during the ramadan, for it will be less fun.
Borneo is full of opportunities if you like adventure and wildlife. It is the last tropical frontier, full of great national parks, orangutans, very nice beaches and highlands very well worth a trip. You can also find great beaches and jungle in the Peninsular part of the country.
The capital city is fun as cosmopolite, a popular to place to do business in.
Borneo is full of opportunities if you like adventure and wildlife. It is the last tropical frontier, full of great national parks, orangutans, very nice beaches and highlands full of longhouses and indigenous cultures very well worth a trip.
You shouldn't miss: The wild Sabah and Serawak provinces in the island of Borneo, just beware of wild animals' attack (lol).
9. MEXICO: 27.3 million tourists in 2013
2013 was the best year in touristic terms for Mexico. And the numbers are expected to grow in 2014 to more than 30 million. The government is making big investments in touristic infrastructure, which will help increase the numbers, and Mexico is becoming à la mode again after 6 years of drug-trafficking related violence that affected tourism.
When you come, you will realize why will Mexico climb each time higher in this list.
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Mexico is absurdly appealing for travelers. Destinations inside this country are infinite, regardless if you're looking for top luxury, adventure, off the beaten track places, or literally whatever other thing it may occur to your mind.
No one wants to leave once they're here. We have some of the best beaches that can be concieved, ridiculously gorgeous colonial villages and cities, vibrating and exciting cosmopolitan cities, top end gigs and cultural events for all tastes in Mexico City, Puebla, Playa del Carmen, Guadalajara, etc.
A diverse and vast culture, dozens of different indigenous groups who still speak their own language and carry with their ancestral traditions, mesmerizing archaeological sites everywhere (in the South), endless mountains and canyons full of secrets... Our cuisine is hands down among the best in the world, and as diverse as the Chinese or the French.
Should I carry on? JUST COME. That's my best advise.
You shouldn't miss: Mexico City, constantly overlooked by travelers and with an undeserved reputation of being dangerous and polluted. Come and see with your own eyes everything this wonderful nation's capital city has to offer.
8. UK: 29.3 million tourists in 2012
UK is a classic in a Eurotrip. London is magnificent, needless to say. It is the base of Easyjet and Ryanair. That means a very cheap place to fly in, though not cheap at all as a destination. It has great museums, architecture, business, shopping, cultural events and nightlife though. Endless possibilities like in every city this big and this important.
England has some of the best universities in the world.
Despite its famous bad weather, there are many beautiful places to visit further North, so as in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland with it's highlands. It is well connected to the rest of Europe. So get an umbrella and come.
7. GERMANY: 30.4 million tourists in 2012.
Like the Western EU countries, Germany is very touristy. It used to be separated into hundreds of different princedoms during much of its history, so sightseeing is not a problem here.
European and International visitors flock into this country full of history and amazing sights. The EU free transit politics have boosted European tourism, and its quite cheap compared to it's Northern and Western neighbors.
Berlin is very cheap and it has turned one of the top European destinations. And its' popularity has not ceased to grow, it is by far the most visited city in the country. After Berlin, München and Hamburg attract the most visitors. I have already mentioned that Berlin is among my favorite cities, expect a post about it soon.
You shouldn't miss: Berlin. Do I need to say why? Go and discover the rest of the country and you'll be surprised by its beauty.
6. TURKEY: 35.7 million tourists in 2012
This country is truly astounding. With a culture that is present and living since the beginnings of history, a vast littoral full of beautiful beaches and high mountains with many astounding cities and landscapes, Turkey never fails to impress.
Istanbul was the capital of the former Ottoman Empire that extended from Bagdad to Vienna in the 17th century. The "Rome of the East" is as chic as Paris or Rome, and it doesn't lack landmarks, or delicious cuisine, or good parties. It has nothing to envy to any city of the world, it is a perfect synthesis of the Asian and the European, and Thanks to Turkish Airlines, a very cheap destination, with cheap flights to many destinations in Asia and Europe. The world's biggest airport is currently being built in Istanbul.
In 2013, this only city received 10 million visitors.
You shouldn't miss: Eastern Anatolia and the Kurd region are full of secrets and virtually not visited by anybody. Cities hundreds of years old, very high mountains and lakes, only waiting to be discovered. Go East!
1. FRANCE: 83 million tourists in 2012
Ma douce France. It is no surprise it is the #1 tourist destination in the world.
A truly beautiful country, very big and diverse for European standards.
Plus, the Frenchmen are people who are quite easy to get along with (some may disagree with this, lol).
Having spent more than 4 years in this country, and having travelled through almost every region in it, I can only strongly recommend you to do the same.
My opinion may be subjective because I love this country almost as much as my own, but when you'll travel there, you'll find out this country is NOT overrated.
France is a very beautiful country, you will find pretty villages, pretty cities and pretty landscapes anywhere you go. Everything is pretty.
You shouldn't miss (besides Paris):
The Rhone-Alpes region is my personal favorite for the incredible beauty of it's landscapes (not to mention Lyon, where I lived in). I also recommend the regions of Midi-Pyrénnées and Aquitaine, in the South, where you have fabulous cosmopolitan cities (Bordeaux, Toulouse), incredible mountains (the Pyrenees), nice beaches and fairytale-like villages. Without mentioning the excellent food and wine.
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Cheers to everybody and keep traveling!
All photos in this article were taken by me and are my property, please contact me before using them.
Malaysia is far much developed than its neighbors. It is a multicultural country with many things to offer. It is also a big airhub and business hub. If you fly with Air Asia (the cheapest way to get across Eastern Asia) you will probably end up in Kuala Lumpur at one point. I used it as my base to fly to many places in Asia, but I also stayed for a while in here. And it is pretty cool.
The capital city of this former British colony is fun and cosmopolite. Malaysia is a Muslim country, so don't come during the ramadan, for it will be less fun.
Borneo is full of opportunities if you like adventure and wildlife. It is the last tropical frontier, full of great national parks, orangutans, very nice beaches and highlands very well worth a trip. You can also find great beaches and jungle in the Peninsular part of the country.
The capital city is fun as cosmopolite, a popular to place to do business in.
Borneo is full of opportunities if you like adventure and wildlife. It is the last tropical frontier, full of great national parks, orangutans, very nice beaches and highlands full of longhouses and indigenous cultures very well worth a trip.
You shouldn't miss: The wild Sabah and Serawak provinces in the island of Borneo, just beware of wild animals' attack (lol).
9. MEXICO: 27.3 million tourists in 2013
2013 was the best year in touristic terms for Mexico. And the numbers are expected to grow in 2014 to more than 30 million. The government is making big investments in touristic infrastructure, which will help increase the numbers, and Mexico is becoming à la mode again after 6 years of drug-trafficking related violence that affected tourism.
When you come, you will realize why will Mexico climb each time higher in this list.
Mexico is absurdly appealing for travelers. Destinations inside this country are infinite, regardless if you're looking for top luxury, adventure, off the beaten track places, or literally whatever other thing it may occur to your mind.
No one wants to leave once they're here. We have some of the best beaches that can be concieved, ridiculously gorgeous colonial villages and cities, vibrating and exciting cosmopolitan cities, top end gigs and cultural events for all tastes in Mexico City, Puebla, Playa del Carmen, Guadalajara, etc.
A diverse and vast culture, dozens of different indigenous groups who still speak their own language and carry with their ancestral traditions, mesmerizing archaeological sites everywhere (in the South), endless mountains and canyons full of secrets... Our cuisine is hands down among the best in the world, and as diverse as the Chinese or the French.
Should I carry on? JUST COME. That's my best advise.
You shouldn't miss: Mexico City, constantly overlooked by travelers and with an undeserved reputation of being dangerous and polluted. Come and see with your own eyes everything this wonderful nation's capital city has to offer.
8. UK: 29.3 million tourists in 2012
UK is a classic in a Eurotrip. London is magnificent, needless to say. It is the base of Easyjet and Ryanair. That means a very cheap place to fly in, though not cheap at all as a destination. It has great museums, architecture, business, shopping, cultural events and nightlife though. Endless possibilities like in every city this big and this important.
England has some of the best universities in the world.
Despite its famous bad weather, there are many beautiful places to visit further North, so as in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland with it's highlands. It is well connected to the rest of Europe. So get an umbrella and come.
7. GERMANY: 30.4 million tourists in 2012.
Like the Western EU countries, Germany is very touristy. It used to be separated into hundreds of different princedoms during much of its history, so sightseeing is not a problem here.
European and International visitors flock into this country full of history and amazing sights. The EU free transit politics have boosted European tourism, and its quite cheap compared to it's Northern and Western neighbors.
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| The abandoned Tempelhof Airport. |
You shouldn't miss: Berlin. Do I need to say why? Go and discover the rest of the country and you'll be surprised by its beauty.
6. TURKEY: 35.7 million tourists in 2012
This country is truly astounding. With a culture that is present and living since the beginnings of history, a vast littoral full of beautiful beaches and high mountains with many astounding cities and landscapes, Turkey never fails to impress.
Istanbul was the capital of the former Ottoman Empire that extended from Bagdad to Vienna in the 17th century. The "Rome of the East" is as chic as Paris or Rome, and it doesn't lack landmarks, or delicious cuisine, or good parties. It has nothing to envy to any city of the world, it is a perfect synthesis of the Asian and the European, and Thanks to Turkish Airlines, a very cheap destination, with cheap flights to many destinations in Asia and Europe. The world's biggest airport is currently being built in Istanbul.
In 2013, this only city received 10 million visitors.
You shouldn't miss: Eastern Anatolia and the Kurd region are full of secrets and virtually not visited by anybody. Cities hundreds of years old, very high mountains and lakes, only waiting to be discovered. Go East!
5. ITALY: 46.4 million tourists in 2012
One of my favorite. A magnificent country. History is always present, in every corner. Gorgeous cities seem unlimited in this country and its capital city is too incredible and magnanimous to be true. Well connected the rest of Europe, and with such a touristic potential, no wonder it is number 5 on the list.
Italy has existed as a country only for 150 years. Before its unification, it was divided into dozens of different states, which happened to be quite prosperous in many periods of history, so the cultural heritage in this country is gargantuan. The cuisine is divine.
You shouldn't miss: Anywhere. Every region has lots to offer. Toscana is a classic. The Alps are amazing. The touristy cities are so very touristy for a reason. Italy is sublime everywhere.
One of my favorite. A magnificent country. History is always present, in every corner. Gorgeous cities seem unlimited in this country and its capital city is too incredible and magnanimous to be true. Well connected the rest of Europe, and with such a touristic potential, no wonder it is number 5 on the list.
Italy has existed as a country only for 150 years. Before its unification, it was divided into dozens of different states, which happened to be quite prosperous in many periods of history, so the cultural heritage in this country is gargantuan. The cuisine is divine.
You shouldn't miss: Anywhere. Every region has lots to offer. Toscana is a classic. The Alps are amazing. The touristy cities are so very touristy for a reason. Italy is sublime everywhere.
4. SPAIN: 56.7 million tourists in 2012
Spain will always feel familiar to us Latinos, but yet it feels so different as well. It is a big and diverse country, like France, with the advantage of having heaps of sunny days a year (for European standards) and a rich culture, with many beautiful cities and regions to visit.
Tourists from the EU flock there in winter and summer for a dose of sun.
Moreover, like in all Western Europe, touristic infrastructure is amazing, which makes it easy to travel around in here. It is also cheap compared to the Northern neighbors, with big big parties year round. Only Barcelona gets more that 8 million visitors a year. I haven't traveled in this country as I would like to, so I won't say much more about it. I will just absolutely recommend it.
You shouldn't miss: Barcelona is a must, a truly remarkable city. Needless to say. But as Paris or London, it has many different faces, so take your time to discover it. You wont get bored.
3. CHINA: 57.7 million tourists in 2012
Big China is a universe of its own. A vast and complex civilization and country that totally differs from ours, with wild, wild places truly far off the beaten track, and many other nations living inside its boundaries. Almost with the same size as the USA, this country recently passed Italy and Spain to be #3 in the list.
Business, low costs flights and a big investment in the tourist industry have contributed to put China in this place, not to mention the easing of restrictions to enter the country. Besides, there is a huge Chinese diaspora that numbers 50 million people approx. living abroad in several countries around the world, and some of them must come visit from time to time (don't they?).
You shouldn't miss: The Far West, if you like truly desolate, exotic, wild and off the beaten track destinations.
2. USA: 67 million tourists in 2012 (sorry guys, I got almost no pictures available from here atm)
The big ol' USA, our big brother in the North. I have had the chance to visit this country several times in my life, and it always feels good to be there. It was my first international destination, such as for most Mexicans. So USA always feels familiar. Spanish is widely spoken there.
I think pretty much everybody imagines how the USA are. You have probably already been there at least once, so no surprise it is the 2nd place on the list. There is a huge amount of tourist destinations in this country, worldwide famous cities like New York, L.A., Las Vegas... USA is the capital of the Occidental civilization, culturally, economically and politically.
Nowhere like the USA to do business.
You shouldn't miss: The great national parks and the countryside, so different than the stereotypes we got in Mexico about the USA.
Spain will always feel familiar to us Latinos, but yet it feels so different as well. It is a big and diverse country, like France, with the advantage of having heaps of sunny days a year (for European standards) and a rich culture, with many beautiful cities and regions to visit.
Tourists from the EU flock there in winter and summer for a dose of sun.
Moreover, like in all Western Europe, touristic infrastructure is amazing, which makes it easy to travel around in here. It is also cheap compared to the Northern neighbors, with big big parties year round. Only Barcelona gets more that 8 million visitors a year. I haven't traveled in this country as I would like to, so I won't say much more about it. I will just absolutely recommend it.
You shouldn't miss: Barcelona is a must, a truly remarkable city. Needless to say. But as Paris or London, it has many different faces, so take your time to discover it. You wont get bored.
3. CHINA: 57.7 million tourists in 2012
Big China is a universe of its own. A vast and complex civilization and country that totally differs from ours, with wild, wild places truly far off the beaten track, and many other nations living inside its boundaries. Almost with the same size as the USA, this country recently passed Italy and Spain to be #3 in the list.
You shouldn't miss: The Far West, if you like truly desolate, exotic, wild and off the beaten track destinations.
2. USA: 67 million tourists in 2012 (sorry guys, I got almost no pictures available from here atm)
The big ol' USA, our big brother in the North. I have had the chance to visit this country several times in my life, and it always feels good to be there. It was my first international destination, such as for most Mexicans. So USA always feels familiar. Spanish is widely spoken there.
Nowhere like the USA to do business.
You shouldn't miss: The great national parks and the countryside, so different than the stereotypes we got in Mexico about the USA.
1. FRANCE: 83 million tourists in 2012
Ma douce France. It is no surprise it is the #1 tourist destination in the world.
A truly beautiful country, very big and diverse for European standards.
 |
The view of Fourvière from my room, in Lyon. Lyon is by far my favorite place in this country, truly underrated and sometimes even avoided by tourists, it happens to be probably as beautiful and "cool" as Paris. |
Having spent more than 4 years in this country, and having travelled through almost every region in it, I can only strongly recommend you to do the same.
 |
| The Alps are gorgeous, full of adventure. |
France is a very beautiful country, you will find pretty villages, pretty cities and pretty landscapes anywhere you go. Everything is pretty.
 |
| The famous Tour Eiffel |
The Rhone-Alpes region is my personal favorite for the incredible beauty of it's landscapes (not to mention Lyon, where I lived in). I also recommend the regions of Midi-Pyrénnées and Aquitaine, in the South, where you have fabulous cosmopolitan cities (Bordeaux, Toulouse), incredible mountains (the Pyrenees), nice beaches and fairytale-like villages. Without mentioning the excellent food and wine.
 |
Or by sharing the posts in any social media, if you liked them.
Cheers to everybody and keep traveling!
All photos in this article were taken by me and are my property, please contact me before using them.
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