Top destinations for 2014 named by Lonely Planet

Adelaide is often maligned by the bigger and trendier eastern capitals, but it may have just got the last laugh by being named by travel publisher Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 cities to visit in the world in 2014.

Adelaide ranks ninth on the list which is headed by Paris, Trinidad and Cape Town.

The top-ranked cities have been revealed in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2014 book released on Tuesday.

Who's laughing now? Adelaide has been named as one of the world's top cities to visit in 2014 by Lonely Planet.Credit: James Davies

"Adelaide is effortlessly chic – and like a perfectly cellared red, it's ready to be uncorked and sampled," Lonely Planet says.

The book also lists the top countries to visit (Brazil is No. 1) and the the top regions (the Kimberley is No. 2).

The Greek Islands have been named as the best-value destination for 2014.

The Fringe Festival is one of Adelaide's major attractions.Credit: SATC/Brett Sheridan

Lonely Planet says that Adelaide has lived in the shadow of its "gregarious eastern-seaboard cousins" but that the city of churches has been quietly loosening its shackles.

"The year 2014 beckons big changes for the city's heart with the completion of the multimillion-dollar refurbishment of the Adelaide Oval, which will link central Adelaide with the oval and its beautiful surrounding parklands, and historic North Adelaide further on."

The book says the Kimberley is one of the most starkly beautiful regions on the planet.

"How long this area will remain below the radar is up for debate. Last year the resources-rich Kimberley narrowly missed out on becoming the site of one of the largest natural-gas projects to be given government approval in Australian history. Explore the area now, before big business encroaches further."

The Best in Travel recommendations are drawn from ideas submitted by Lonely Planet's staff, authors and community of bloggers and tweeters. Their suggestions are refined by a panel of in-house travel experts, based on scores for topicality, excitement, and "X-factor".

It is the ninth-annual collection of travel recommendations.

Last year Hobart, buoyed by the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), was seventh on the top 10 city list but it does not make the grade this year.

Top 10 cities

1. Paris, France
2. Trinidad, Cuba
3. Cape Town, South Africa
4. Riga, Latvia
5. Zurich, Switzerland
6. Shanghai, China
7. Vancouver, Canada
8. Chicago, USA
9. Adelaide, Australia
10. Auckland, New Zealand

Top 10 countries

1. Brazil
2. Antarctica
3. Scotland
4. Sweden
5. Malawi
6. Mexico
7. Seychelles
8. Belgium
9. Macedonia
10. Malaysia

Top 10 regions

1. Sikkim, India
2. The Kimberley, Western Australia
3. Yorkshire, England
4. Hokuriku, Japan
5. Texas, USA
6. Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe
7. Mallorca, Spain
8. West Coast, New Zealand
9. Hunan, China
10. Ha'apai, Tonga

What do you think of Lonely Planet's 2014 list? Will you be visiting any of these destinations next year? Post your comments below.