The 52 most incredible places to visit in 2018

The Big Easy takes the No. 1 spot this year.

The city is well-known for its vibrant music and arts scene, kicking creole cuisine and lively Mardi Gras celebration. And this year, the city turns 300.

In honor of New Orleans' big year, special events have been scheduled throughout 2018, and the government is planning a major $6 million makeover to its famous Bourbon Street.

Colombia's combination of vibrant cities and gorgeous natural landscape makes this a top pick.

Take a tour through the capital city of Bogota, or visit natural marvels like the lush Pacific Coast rainforest and red-tinged river Caño Cristales.

This little-known stretch of southern Italy has been lauded for its beautiful beaches and ancient villages.

The picturesque town of Matera is set to host the European Capital of Culture in 2019.

Some of the Caribbean's most beautiful islands were devastated in 2017 by hurricanes Irma and Maria. The storms crippled the tourism industries there, but places like Puerto Rico have declared they are open for business — and tourists — even as it struggles to recover.

Vierwaldstattersee, also known as Lake Lucerne, is a picturesque and popular lakeside mountain town undergoing major development.

To encourage travel to the area, visitors in the colder months will automatically receive the William Tell Pass, which can be used for a variety of transportation options in the region.

Chile has become a travel mecca with its rich history and natural beauty.

The Patagonia region is renowned for its spectacular and challenging hikes. 2018 marks the year the 1,500-mile stretch of trail will become the Route of Parks.

The Gangwon Province in South Korea will soon be a major global hotspot when it hosts the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

The area is also known for its whitewater rafting and hiking, in addition to winter sports.

Cincinnati opened three new theatres to entice travelers looking for a dose of culture.

The iconic Music Hall underwent a $143 million renovation, as did the Ensemble Theater and Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, which both saw major face lifts in preparation for 2018.

Bhutan is breathtaking, given its glorious mountain ranges and nearly untouched local culture.

In 2018, luxury hotel developer Six Senses will open five high-end retreats across Bhutan, combining Bhutan's natural beauty with indulgent travel.

Scotland's trendy locale Glasgow is set to see a major revival.

Some 250 architectural projects are set to open through 2025, including hotels, shops, and residences, according to The New York Times.

Cabo is best-known for its party scene filled with Western transplants.

Neighboring East Cape and Corridor are set to become competitors in 2018 with the opening of several contemporary restaurants and hotels to liven up the coastal strip.

Australia's Top End, the northernmost part of the remote Northern Territory, has seen an influx of tourists looking to get a feel for the rich, aboriginal culture and history there, according to The New York Times.

Cambodia's lesser-known beaches and white-sand coastline will likely become a tourist hub with the opening of new routes and direct flights to Sihanoukville International Airport in the popular coastal city.

This region has stepped up its conservation efforts with the help of the non-profit African parks, and opened up a permanent camp in 2017 called King Lewanika Lodge where visitors can see the second-largest wildebeest migration in the world each November.

The city celebrates the 200th birthday of Maryland-born abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass and will be jam-packed with cultural events throughout 2018.

2018 marks the 100th anniversary of Estonia's founding.

The newly opened Estonian National Museum is a great place to start before exploring the country's budget-friendly capital Tallinn.

China's Gansu province has much to offer, including the gorgeous hike through sand dunes to the Crescent Moon Spring, named for its unique moon-like shape.

Art enthusiasts have much to explore in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan with the opening of the Remai Modern museum, which houses several great works of art.

Lonely Planet named Seville, Spain, the best city to travel to in 2018.

A brand-new Four Seasons Hotel made its debut in December on the gorgeous island.

Small-town Branson boasts big-city thrills. It's Silver Dollar City attraction will add the world’s tallest, steepest and fastest spinning coaster called Time Traveler.

This small island nation off the west coast of Africa was designated a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, with several bird species among its protected wildlife.

Germany's western states have plenty of natural beauty, like the ancient Ice Age cave art in the Jura Plateau which was listed as a Unesco’s World Heritage site in 2017.

Fiji has several stunning islands, including Turtle Island which only allows 28 guests at a time.

Several new restaurants and music venues have opened up at the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel located in this off-the-beaten-path Southern destination.

The new Havnepromenaden, or Harbour Promenade, has several shops and a sea-water pool right in the country's capital.

Japan's biggest island, Honshu, will see the world's largest art fair, the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale.

Arles is set to see a huge art makeover in its city. Five former industrial buildings will be transformed into galleries, parks, and exhibition halls over the next two years, according to The New York Times.

Kuélap is referred to as "the fortress in the clouds," and hosts the site of a breathtaking pre-Incan settlement built by the “Cloud Warrior” people of the northern Andes.

A cable car system that runs two and a half miles was installed in 2017 to enable visitors to travel to the nearest town of Nuevo Tingo in just 20 minutes.

Denver is becoming a bustling city for art, and will reopen the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art in March.

Kigali, Rwanda's capital, is a sleek and modern city quickly becoming one of Africa's friendliest tourist destinations.

Serbia is quickly rising as one of Europe's most up-and-coming travel destinations, with its vibrant nightlife and emerging fashion scene.

Australia's southern island state has risen up in the culinary ranks, thanks to chef David Moyle's Franklin ;now one of Australia’s top-rated restaurants

Stunning Iceland is an expensive destination, but cheap flights will now be offered by Icelandic carrier Wow Air to Reykjavik from a variety of cities in the US.

Oregon is renowned for its beautiful natural scenery, and Rogue River is no exception. Rafting trips are available through Rogue's forests and canyons, and a 40-mile-long trail is available to those who prefer to tackle the place by foot.

Lithuania, which boasts a UNESCO listed world heritage site in its capital of Vilnius, celebrates its 100th birthday since restoring itself as an independent democracy in 2018.

Three new breweries and two new luxury hotels, the Hotel Henry and the Curtiss Hotel, just opened in New York City's northern neighbor.

Also, the $27 million children’s museum will open downtown, making Buffalo a more family-friendly location.

La Paz offers a new and expanding cable-car system to see the city from a bird's-eye view.

Lonely Planet named it one of the best value places to visit in 2018.

The Czech Republic was founded in 1918, and this year marks its 100th birthday.

Prague, the capital city, will be celebrating with plenty of concerts, events and exhibitions.

Italy's little gem is Emilia Romagna, a seaside town that boasts hillside views and plenty of delicious hole-in-the-wall spots to eat at.

Just outside of Bologna, FICO Eataly World a new 25-acre Italian Smorgasburg will be opening.

Disney Springs is Disney Land, but upgraded to cater for adults.

Guests can eat at several restaurants owned by prominent chefs likeRick Bayless Masaharu Morimoto Wolfgang Puck and Art Smith, and a sommelier-curatedwine bar will be opening in spring 2018.

Megeve is a ski resort village in the alps of southeastern France.

A new 55-room Four Seasons opened up, bringing a touch of luxury to this quaint shop-filled location.

Northern India's Chandigarh is a well-kept secret for modern art and architecture in the country.

The city boasts many pop up art exhibits, and the Capitol Complex, a government compound designed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2016.

Seattle is best-known for its towering Space Needle, which stretches 605 feet.

Beginning in 2018, the Needle will see major renovations that include a revolving restaurant.

New Zealand boasts stunning natural beauty, and it's renowned for its geothermal mud baths.

Rotorua hosted the first-ever annual Mudtopia Festival in December, and celebrated with mud-themed games and massages.

Ypres is a beautiful city located in the Flemish part of Belgium.

This year, it celebrates the 100-year anniversary of the end of World War I, and will be hosting memorial services to mark the occasion.

Morocco is best-known for its sprawling markets and colorful tiled buildings.

Tangier is undergoing some modernization, with an all new waterfront and marina, and the first high-speed rail line in Africa set to debut in 2018, which will connect Tangier with Casablanca and Rabat.

Spain's Ribera Del Duero is best-known for its wine and gorgeous hilly landscape.

Montgomery has a robust and troubled history that stretches back nearly 200 years, but the state seeks to reinvent itself in 2018.

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice will be opening up, and will commemorate 4,000 victims of slavery and racial prejudice.

Italy’s autonomous German-speaking Südtirol has become a wellness destination for traveling yogis seeking time away from the hustle and bustle.

New properties including the Seehof Nature Retreat, Montchalet and the Alpenroyal Hotel, have been set up to ease worried minds in Italy's remote region.

Bristol is a hipster's paradise, with a thriving street-art scene and gorgeous annual festivals.

The city hopes to step up its art game in 2018. One of Britain's oldest theatres,Bristol Old Vic is set to upgrade to 188-seats, and St. George’s Bristol concert hall is slated to add modern fixtures as well.

Laos is set to revamp its Luang Prabang region in 2018 with several modern luxury resorts.

More flights from most major Asian cities and a train link to China are in the works to make the UNESCO site more accessible.