The list was compiled by its international network of correspondents and contributors, and, says TIME in a statement, “with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences.”
The 50 destinations to make the cut include both classic big-hitters and less-explored spots, but what unites them is them that they are “thriving, growing and changing,” says TIME, “charting a path to economic recovery” and “investing in sustainability.”
North America
In the United States, TIME is recommending the hip West Coast centers of Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco, the Florida coastal cool of Miami, and Michigan’s “Comeback City” Detroit. The winter skiing destination Park City, Utah, also gets a nod.
The ever-popular beach destinations of Jamaica and Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit also make the 2022 list.
South America
The city of Salta, in Argentina’s mountainous northwest, and the village of El Chaltén, in the country’s Los Glaciares National Park, caught TIME’s eye this year.
Chile’s Rapa Nui — better known as Easter Island — and Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands are two volcanic wonders to have made the list.
The buzzing metropolises of Bogotá, Colombia, and São Paulo, Brazil, are two more of TIME’s urban recommendations.
Europe
In Britain, the bucolic charms of the English county of Devon and the town of Portree, on the Scottish Isle of Skye, get the thumbs up this year.
The Western European cities of Marseilles (France), Copenhagen (Denmark), Skellefteå (Sweden) and València (Spain) all receive a nod.
Then there’s the Italian region of Calabria, the ancient Greek city of Thessaloniki, the Portuguese region of Alentejo and the archipelago of Madeira.
The little Czech ski resort of Dolni Morava and the Lithuanian fortress city of Kaunas make the list, as does the historic splendor of Turkish capital Istanbul.
Asia-Pacific
India’s Kerala and Ahmedabad are among the Asian recommendations, as are the Japanese islands of Setouchi and Kyushu.
The South Korean capital of Seoul is a top tip, as is the Indonesian province of Bali and the central Philippines island of Boracay.
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the port city of Fremantle both get nods, as does New Zealand’s Queenstown, a hub for adventure sports on South Island.
Finally, Bhutan’s Trans-Bhutan Trail and the historic Silk Roads of Uzbekistan are some of the less traveled ground in this year’s picks.
Middle East
Qatar and its capital Doha have everyone’s attention this year, due to hosting the 2022 World Cup this December, while the emerging adventure ports destination of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates also made the cut.
Africa
The Kenyan capital of Nairobi and the Rwandan capital of Kigali are TIME’s urban picks from Africa. South Africa’s Franschhoek, known for its wineries, and Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park are also recommended.
Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park is the final selection from the continent.
The great beyond
For the most intrepid of travelers, TIME’s 2022 picks also include the Arctic polar region and the International Space Station, which just makes the list criteria by being in low Earth orbit.
Top image: The bell tower in the town of Ponta do Sol, Madeira (Francisco Correia/Courtesy Visit Madeira)
