Travel hotlist 2020

Planning your holidays? From city breaks to indulgent beach retreats and active outdoor getaways, we reveal the foodie destinations to visit this year

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Sharing a border with California, this Mexican peninsula has long played host to holidaying stars, but its pristine beaches and medalwinning wineries have meant that it has more recently become a sought-after destination for tourists worldwide. Set between the Gulf of California and the Pacific, the Mexican state of Baja California is a long, mountainous spine punctuated by deep turquoise bays. This is the place to swim with sea turtles, indulge in fresh fish tacos and locally-brewed ale. There are over 150 wineries, where tastings and fine-dining restaurants are on offer. At Baja’s almost tropical southern tip, the resorts of Los Cabos have seen a slew of upscale beach hotel openings championing local food in recent years.

Lyon, France

If you need an excuse to visit France’s de facto culinary capital, the launch of the country’s first International City of Gastronomy is it. UNESCO granted French gastronomy Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity status in 2010, encouraging the establishment of four cities of gastronomy: Dijon, Tours, Paris-Rungis and now, Lyon. Launched in October, Lyon’s debut is permanently set in the 12th-century Grand HÔtel-Dieu, a historic building that’s more of a culinary centre than a museum (citegastronomielyon.fr). It houses exhibits on nutrition, interactive features for kids and wannabe cooks, show kitchens that host demos and tastings led by guest chefs, and showings of foodie French movies. While there, make a pilgrimage to the late Paul Bocuse’s crucible of nouvelle cuisine, l’Auberge du pont de Collongnes (bocuse.fr) or the food stalls of Les Halles de Lyon (halles-de-lyon-paulbocuse.com).

Scotland