Must-visit hotspots around the world for the best sights, eats and attractions in 2024

2024 is set to be a record-breaking year for travel, and destinations around the world are pulling out all the stops to welcome visitors, be it scaling blockbuster exhibitions, opening brand new museums or putting a fresh spin on existing attractions.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a longtime fan, there’s something new awaiting you on your next visit to these trendsetting places. So put them on your travel bucket list and get started on planning that trip you’ve been dreaming about:

1. Refreshed cultural sites and art aplenty in the City of Light

Book a flight to: Paris

On top of the 2024 Summer Olympics, this year sees the reopening of the Notre-Dame cathedral in December and the Grand Palais in the summer.

In spring, Musée d’Orsay will host a major exhibition that commemorates the first Parisian Impressionist exhibition 150 years ago. Photo: Shutterstock

Art aficionados can marvel at various landmark exhibitions – from the ongoing Marc Chagall showcase (until 26 February) at the Pompidou Centre and Mark Rothko retrospective (until 2 April) at the Louis Vuitton Foundation to the upcoming blockbuster exhibition (26 March to 14 July), “Paris 1874”, at the Musée d’Orsay that celebrates the 150th anniversary of the first Impressionist showcase.

2. Natural wonders and premium villas galore in Southern New Zealand

Book a flight to: Christchurch

Famous for its glacial valleys, hot springs and International Dark Sky Reserves, New Zealand’s South Island remains one of the best places to experience nature in its purest, most untouched form.

The Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track is a 3-day hiking loop along the southern coast of New Zealand. Photo: Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track

Explore the upcoming Pounamu Pathway, a network of four linked visitor experience centres, and traverse the Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track, which is being upgraded in anticipation of being crowned the country’s 11th Great Walk later this year.

Late 2024 will also welcome the unveiling of 14 luxury villas and a new restaurant at Flockhill Lodge near Arthur’s Pass. Set within a working sheep station, the chic property offers magnificent vistas of the surrounding landscapes including Lake Pearson and Sugarloaf Mountain.

3. A booming restaurant scene in Southwest America that will whet your appetite

Book a flight to: Houston

Although foodies visiting the United States often make a beeline for New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, Houston is the oft-overlooked home to a diverse and burgeoning culinary scene.

Popular joints Gatlin’s Fins & Feathers and El Hidalguense clinched spots on The New York Times’ list of best restaurants in America for 2023, and locals will claim that the barbecue in Houston is second to none.

In other news, a number of city parks such as Guadalupe Plaza Park and Hermann Park will receive upgrades in 2024, creating more green spaces for tourists and locals alike to play and relax in. And if you happen to be in town on 8 April, you’ll have a front-row seat to the total solar eclipse.

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4. A must-visit museum for video-game buffs opens in the ancient Japanese capital

Book a flight to: Kyoto

Many flock to Kyoto during peak cherry blossom season or to witness the vivid autumn hues in all their glory. But in 2024, there’s even more reason to visit this historic Japanese city. Work on the highly anticipated Nintendo Museum is scheduled to be finished this March, where iconic products from the company’s illustrious gaming history will be on display.

Nintendo Museum. Photo: Nintendo via Nintendo Life

As far as accommodations go, you’ll be spoilt for choice with five-star properties Six Senses Kyoto and Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto both planning to throw open their doors this spring.

5. Thrilling family-friendly attractions spring up in the Lion City

Book a flight to: Singapore

The Little Red Dot has no shortage of activities for the entire family. Notable recent openings include Bird Paradise, Asia’s largest bird park that houses 3,500 birds from 400 species, and Trifecta, a sports and lifestyle complex in the heart of town where adrenaline junkies can skate, surf and snowboard to their heart’s content.

Families enjoying the special wildlife shows at Bird Paradise. Photo: Mandai Wildlife Group

Meanwhile Sentosa island, one of Singapore’s top tourist destinations, continues to delight with its variety of offerings. Check out a special musical fountain show at the new Central Beach Bazaar or take on the electric go-kart circuit and mini-golf course at The Palawan @ Sentosa.

6. West End musicals and picturesque day trips from London

Book a flight to: London

From the West End debuts of acclaimed musicals Hadestown (February) and Mean Girls (June) to the upcoming Museum of Shakespeare, London continues to deliver on the cultural front.

A rendition of how the Museum of Shakespeare is expected to look when it opens later this year. Photo: Cain International via The Stage Shoreditch

It’s also a great base from which to explore neighbouring towns. Visit Lewes, just over an hour from Central London by train, to check out Charleston, a recently launched gallery and community space. You can also hop on the new Sussex Art Shuttle or attend a summer opera festival in Glyndebourne, located a 10-minute drive from Lewes.

There’s also the charming seaside locale of Ramsgate (the fastest train from Central London will get you there in under 1.5 hours) where there are independent boutique stores to be explored alongside a meal at buzzy new venue Seabird. This cosy spot serves creative cocktails, natural wines and seasonal dishes featuring fresh and local produce.

Singapore Airlines will begin direct flights to and from London’s Gatwick Airport from June 2024 onwards, in addition to its flights to Heathrow Airport. For more information, visit the official website. 

7. Revamped tourist draws and luxurious stays at Angkor Wat’s door

Book a flight to: Siem Reap

While travellers have long made the voyage to Siem Reap to wind their way through Angkor Wat’s ancient ruins, the past couple of years have seen new attractions opening and old ones getting a much-needed refresh.

Visitors can discover an array of traditional plant species at the Angkor Botanical Garden or swing by the Angkor Green Gardens, which houses a wax museum and 12 heritage villages. As for where to stay? Premium resort Angsana Siem Reap is set for a 2024 unveiling.

8. Your ticket to South Australia’s scenic countryside

Book a flight to: Adelaide

Besides new hotel openings and a vibrant restaurant and bar culture, Adelaide is the gateway to some of Australia’s most splendid landscapes and unique wildlife sightings. Board a ferry or short flight to Kangaroo Island to spot native animals in its protected nature reserves, and stay at beautiful boltholes such as the newly reopened Southern Ocean Lodge.

Golden hour arrives at a gorgeous vineyard in Adelaide Hills. Photo: Shutterstock

The lush greenery and rolling vineyards of Adelaide Hills, named a trending destination for 2024 by American Express Travel, are a mere 30-minute drive away.

9. Artsy adventures and wildlife encounters in a rising Sichuan province

Book a flight to: Chengdu

Beloved for its fiery cuisine and quaint teahouses, this city in China’s Sichuan province is fast becoming a cultural destination.

2023 marked the arrival of the Zaha Hadid-designed Chengdu Science Fiction Museum, an aptly futuristic build that houses equally avant-garde content. Meanwhile, contemporary art nonprofit M WOODS opened its latest outpost, M WOODS People’s Park, on the historic Citang Street, where it continues to champion local artists.

The Chengdu Science Fiction Museum is a futuristic masterpiece. Photo: Arch-Exist

While you’re in town, a must-visit for wildlife lovers is the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where you can catch a glimpse of the adorable creatures.

For more information on Singapore Airlines flights to the above destinations, visit the official website. 

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The Westin Jakarta

Slated to be the highest hotel in Indonesia, The Westin Jakarta is a five-star establishment occupying the 50th to 69th floors of the Gama Tower. With 255 guestrooms offering breathtaking city views, each equipped with signature Westin amenities like the Heavenly® Bed and Heavenly® Bath, guests can enjoy a revitalising experience during their stay. The hotel boasts four unique dining venues, including all-day dining restaurant Seasonal Tastes serving buffet and a la carte options, and Henshin, a game-changing Nikkei Cuisine restaurant. Additional highlights include the Heavenly Spa, indoor swimming pool, and state-of-the-art fitness studio. The luxury hotel has recently been awarded as Indonesia’s Leading Business Hotel by World Travel Awards 2023.

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Reading the tea leaves on Sri Lanka’s next chapter

The open-side jeep hugs the hillside, trundling up an unpaved road to a height of nearly 1,500 feet above sea level. The engine whines, and the gearbox crunches, as our driver nonchalantly navigates the narrow curves. Through the jeep’s canvas flaps, a sea of emerald tea plantations undulates hundreds of feet down to the manmade Castlereagh Reservoir.

We grind to a stop and continue our climb on foot. Two men in crisp grey shirts and chequered black-and-white sarongs climb the rock steps ahead of us, carrying stacked steel tiffin and a large cooler. 

Finally, my partner and I arrive at our destination: a thatched-roof hut with a dirt floor, a wooden bench and a sweeping view of the fabled tea country in Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands. It’s the kind of makeshift hut that estate managers of colonial-era tea plantations would shelter in at mid-day, to survey their workers over a packed lunch.

The view over Castlereagh Reservoir. Photo: Resplendent Ceylon

Our lunch today is far more luxurious. Our tiffins unstack to reveal crunchy green salad, warm multigrain rolls and a fillet of barramundi, poached in a curry broth and served on a bed of high-quality local vegetables. To drink, our servers have popped open a light red, a bottle of local Lion beer and sparkling water. 

Called the Planters’ Lunch, this is an exclusive guest experience offered by Ceylon Tea Trails, a luxury property that manages five restored tea planters’ bungalows scattered across Bogawantalawa Valley. This picnic outing is a nod to the country’s colonial-era tea history – as is much of the experience during our stay. 

A Planter’s Lunch with a view. Photo: Mrigaa Sethi

Our suite back at Castlereagh Bungalow, for instance, is furnished with a four-poster teak bed draped in fine netting, rose-upholstered wingback armchairs and an enormous bathroom with twin sinks and black and white tiles. 

Our days are punctuated by high tea in the garden, cocktail hour in the parlour and made-to-order dinners on the veranda, while the charismatic Singh Daniel, our personal butler, sees to our meals and activities. In this remote corner of Sri Lanka that few get to see, we find ourselves ensconced in the creature comforts of a complicated chapter in local history. 

Daylight filters into an English-inspired suite at Ceylon Tea Trails. Photo: Resplendent Ceylon

Tracing the legacy of tea 

Sri Lanka’s coffee, and then tea, industries were established during the 19th century by the British during colonial rule. Since then, the tea industry has been and remains an essential part of Sri Lanka’s development. Sri Lanka is the second-largest exporter of tea in the world today, after China. The industry indirectly employs close to a million people. And as the economy claws its way back from a pandemic, political upheaval and crushing inflation, the tea industry accounts for 12–14% of export revenue and 4% of the GDP. 

Malik Fernando, managing director of Resplendent Ceylon, the Sri Lankan hospitality group that owns and operates Ceylon Tea Trails as well as two other luxury properties, comments, “Many of our railways, roads and harbours, as well as banks and insurance companies – all of that was developed on the colonial roots of tea. This was our history. And now, it’s being used for what is genuinely a very Sri Lankan enterprise.”

Malik Fernando is the second-generation owner of Resplendent Ceylon, the group that owns and operates Ceylon Tea Trails. Photo: Resplendent Ceylon

Malik is referring not only to Ceylon Tea Trails, but also its parent company, Dilmah Tea Company, the 10th-largest tea brand in the world. Founded in 1988 by Merrill Fernando – Malik’s father, who passed away in 2023 – the company eschewed producing wholesale tea for international corporations and instead built a high-value Sri Lankan brand with international prestige.

“Adding value to Ceylon tea was driven by the need to make a margin in order to give back,” Malik explains. That giving back has happened in many ways. Dilmah Tea Company has founded charitable subsidiaries such as the MJF Foundation, which works with vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka, and the wildlife-focused Dilmah Conservation. A private consortium of tea companies in the area – including Dilmah – have established the Peak Ridge Corridor, an 18km strip of land above the plantations that connects much-needed leopard habitats.

The trickle-down effect of tea’s continued success also boosts tourism, another major industry in Sri Lanka. Tea is, in fact, the basis of the visitor experience at Ceylon Tea Trails. In addition to the Planters’ Lunch we enjoy, guests can tour Dilmah’s nearby Dunkeld Tea Factory, where tea leaves are processed end-to-end, and enjoy an elaborate guided tea tasting. There’s also the option of a multi-course tea-infused dinner, and scenic walks through tea country, thanks to a handful of signposted walking trails.

And while the trappings of the bungalows are decidedly British, local pride – and Resplendent Ceylon’s investment in Sri Lankan talent – is front and centre during our stay. The staff we encounter – from butlers Singh Daniel and Priyadarshana Somarathna to operations manager Chaminda Keragala – are all Sri Lankan. Our butler at Castlereagh Bungalow, Samantha Wijekoon, started as a house attendant seven years ago, and worked his way up to the top job. 

The future of tea, boosted by tourism

One misty morning, we take a pre-breakfast walk on the eponymous tea trails. Unlatching a green gate on the edge of Castlereagh Bungalow’s lawns, we amble out onto narrow trails that wind and rise sharply towards the forested ridge. 

The cool mountain air is tinged with wood smoke, and children in white uniforms seem to float among the tea bushes their way to school down the hill. Some stop to wave and say hello, both shy and eager. We spot a pair of women in crisply pleated saris clutching satchels over their shoulders, and guess that they are teachers. Downhill from our bungalow, long rows of houses, shops and tuk-tuks mark the significant tea-picking communities that live on and around the estates. 

Later in the morning, just a short walk uphill from Castlereagh Bungalow, our guide Hashan Hettiarachchi walks us through Dilmah’s Dunkeld Tea Factory. As with the rest of our experience at Ceylon Tea Trails, the tour feels like a time warp, albeit more industrially inflected. 

Hashan Hettiarachchi shares about the tea plantation processes. Photo: Mrigaa Sethi

Vast, rattling machines – each bearing the name of the veteran worker responsible for its day-to-day performance – dry out freshly picked tea leaves before grinding and sifting them into various grades. In the lush estate surrounding the factory, ageing female tea pickers pluck their daily quota of leaves just as they have done for over a century.

After the tour, over a sun-drenched tasting of various grades of Sri Lankan tea, Hashan sheds light on the changing social and economic conditions impacting tea pickers and the industry as a whole. Robust union bargaining has long safeguarded entitlements for tea pickers such as fixed wages, output caps and basic necessities. Dilmah Tea Company, for example, pays pickers a daily wage of US$3, and provides twice-weekly rations, housing and electricity, primary school education for children and a doctor on site.

But with easy access to towns and cities, growing job opportunities and, most recently, devastating inflation from last year’s economic crisis, there’s a steady exodus from the isolated life of the tea estate. Where once it was common for daughters to take up tea-picking from their mothers, young women are increasingly choosing to work in hospitality, garment manufacture and other fields.

A woman picks tea on a plantation in Nuwara Eliya. Photo: Shutterstock

At the same time, changing market landscapes and Sri Lanka’s ancient heavily regimented tea auction system make it difficult for tea producers to make a profit, and cost-cutting measures are unsavoury. “We can’t replace workers with machines,” Hashan says, “or else too many jobs will be lost.”

Worker welfare aside, a large part of both luxury and budget tourism continues to rely on the romance of Sri Lanka’s tea country.

Tea, trails and an evolving tourism landscape

The recent launch of the Pekoe Trail, named after the highest grade of South Asian tea, is one example of how tourism is linked to Sri Lanka’s tea heritage. This 300km-long walking trail winds through the country, and takes hikers through tea plantations, river valleys and forested hills. 

In doing so, it opens up opportunities for travellers to encounter the eco-lodges, bungalows and hotels dotted across the country – diversifying tourism options beyond the lure of Sri Lanka’s tried-and-true coastal beaches and wildlife parks.

Ceylon Tea Trails’ bungalows are themselves close to the Pekoe Trail route, with the closest one – Norwood Bungalow – being nine minutes’ walk from the trailhead of Stage Eight of the trail. 

Flower gardens at Castlereagh Bungalow. Photo: Resplendent Ceylon

As Sri Lanka finds its footing in its post-bailout, post-pandemic reality, it may be that the entwinement between its past and present, tea and tourism, that reveals a way forward – even as it offers visitors like me an idyllic, romanticised moment in the past. 

For more information on Singapore Airlines flights to Colombo, visit the official website. 

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Celebrate Chinese New Year with these heritage icons

Produced by SilverKris for Kele, Kwong Cheong Thye, Aunty Hong, Old Seng Choong, Shede Spirits, Orchid Live Seafood, Shisen Hansen and Robert Catering

With Chinese New Year just around the corner, there’s no time like the present to get started on gift shopping and reunion-dinner plans. Whether you’re keeping things traditional or want to put a contemporary spin on your gift-giving or dinner plans, here’s a selection of some of Singapore’s most beloved heritage brands and their special Lunar New Year offerings. 

Kele

For the gift of good fortune

When it comes to Chinese New Year treats, few delicacies are quite as iconic as the pineapple tart. Since 1983, Kele has been crafting premium local treats including their signature pineapple tarts that have been voted “best pineapple tart in Singapore”. Called “ong lai” in Cantonese and Hokkien, it directly translates to “fortune come”, which makes it a popular seasonal gift that symbolizes luck and good fortune. Kele’s tarts are known for their remarkably buttery, melt-in-the-mouth pastry and rich, tart pineapple jam filling. The brand has also earned its “Made With Passion” thanks to their exceptional local snacks and treats.

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Kele’s pineapple tarts were voted best in Singapore. Photo credit: Kele

Kwong Cheong Thye

For timeless flavours done the traditional way

Chinese cooking is the sum of all its parts, and quality soy sauce is the backbone of some of the season’s most iconic dishes. If you’re putting together a feast to impress your friends and family, build it upon Kwong Cheong Thye’s high-quality sauces. The brand’s dark and light sauces are naturally brewed with the finest ingredients using a family recipe that’s been passed down since the company’s formation. Their sauces are ideal for use in stir-frying, braising and as a condiment.

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Cook up a storm with Kwong Cheong Thye’s traditionally brewed soy sauces. Photo: Kwong Cheong Thye

Aunty Hong

For festive sweets and savouries

No Chinese New Year celebration is complete without a spread of festive snacks. Handmade with love by Aunty Hong herself and her team, the brand’s festive treats are made using tried-and-tested family recipes and premium ingredients. Sweet tooths will enjoy the crispy and fragrant signature love letters as well as the handmade emping belinjau cookies which offer a harmonious bitter-sweet flavour. For something a little more savoury, opt for crowd-pleasing favourites like the premium prawn rolls, shrimp fries and the sweet and spicy belinjau keropok. For easy gifting, you can also order beautifully packaged gift sets with personalised messages for your loved ones.

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Aunty Hong’s special gift sets make for memorable Lunar New Year gifts. Photo: Aunty Hong

Old Seng Choong

For timeless heritage snacks

Kuehs (pastries) and cakes are an essential part of any Chinese New Year spread. Baking quality heritage snacks since 1965 (the year of Singapore’s founding!), Old Seng Choong’s enduring popularity stems from its premium ingredients, adherence to tradition and intricately balanced flavours. All-time favourites include the original kueh lapis (layered, colourful cake) as well as the prune kueh lapis which features tart and tender slivers of prune. Another must-try is the delicately flavoured pandan chiffon with hints of gula melaka (palm sugar) which was a collaboration between Founder Daniel Tay and chiffon cake expert Susanne Ng.

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Kueh lapis and pandan chiffon are specialties at Old Seng Choong. Photo credit: Old Seng Choong

Shede Spirits

For a traditional toast to prosperity

When you’re toasting to the coming year, you’ll want to have a quality baiju (Chinese liquor) on hand. One of China’s leading brands for strong, aromatic baiju, Shede, has pulled all the stops with its premium Founder’s Tribute edition. This expression of their baiju sacrifices 98% of the raw spirit leaving only the highest grade 2% to make up the bottle. What remains is aged for a minimum of six years, resulting in a crystal clear spirit with a delicate floral aroma and hints of pineapple, liquorice, pepper and anise. This special edition of the Shede Baiju comes in a Yin-Yang-inspired bottle and is available exclusively at Lotte Duty Free stores in every Changi Airport terminal.

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Toast to good fortune with a fine glass of baiju. Photo credit: Shede

 

Orchid Live Seafood

For a reunion dinner sans the stress

Reunion dinners are one of the highlights of the festive season, whether at home or your favourite restaurant. Founded in 1999, Orchid Live Seafood is a homegrown Teochew restaurant famed for its signature live lobster porridge, as well as other classics like Teochew cold crab, chilli crab (a Singapore favourite), and Steven Chicken – a sweet and savoury dish unique to Orchid Live Seafood with a 20-year old recipe. Live seafood is a highlight here so you can pick from a variety of lobster breeds including Australian lobsters, Boston lobsters and tropical rock lobsters. You can also opt for their special Chinese New Year menu which features a selection of their Chinese New Year exclusive dishes.

2 Yishun Walk, #03-01 HomeTeamNS Khatib. Make a reservation here.

Orchid Live Seafood offers a variety of lobsters done your way. Photo: Orchid Live Seafood

Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro

For decadent dine-in and takeaway dishes

Ring in the year of the dragon with a delightful feast from the acclaimed Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro. This year, the restaurant has put together an elegant dine-in and takeaway menu featuring Szechuan-inspired classics and gussied-up versions of classic Chinese New Year dishes. The restaurant will offer a selection of lunch and dinner set menus. along with a la carte options. Enjoy signature dishes like the crab roe foie gras chawanmushi with bird’s nest and the delightfully savoury braised pork ribs in red glutinous rice wine with red dragonfruit-infused mantous. Prefer a more intimate experience? You can also opt for a selection of set menus for just two people.

333 Orchard Road, Level 35 Hilton Singapore Orchard. Make a reservation here.

Shisen Hanten offers festive feasts for dine-in and takeaway. Photo: Shisen Hanten

Robert Catering

For a sumptuous buffet spread at home

If you prefer to host your reunion dinner at home but rather not deal with the hassle of cooking, Robert Catering is an excellent choice. The catering company offers a broad, varied menu that includes buffets, high tea, tingkat delivery and special festive menus for Christmas and Chinese New Year. They also offer convenient delivery right to your doorstep.

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Robert Catering offers a variety of celebratory dishes. Photo: Robert Catering

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Kunsthaus Bar

Switzerland’s biggest art museum, the Kunsthaus, recently unveiled a striking David Chipperfield-designed extension across from the original building. Within the extension is the Kunsthaus Bar, a local favourite for savouring a glass of prosecco, champagne or Swiss wine, before a night out. While the bar has some notable artworks, including Pétales et jardin de la nymphe Ancolie by Max Ernst, it’s easy to take in more masterpieces at the Kunsthalle itself – join the museum’s Art Aperitif on Thursdays, which combines an aperitif and museum entry.

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