Good Hope The 12 most beautiful places in the World

All of the Greek islands are undeniably beautiful, but head to the hillside town of Oia for some of the best views of the bright blue Aegean Sea.

While Japan is beautiful year-round, the few weeks each spring when cherry trees across the country explode with blossoms is a particularly pretty time to visit.

Located at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, Marrakesh has changed little since the Middle Ages. You could spend days here wandering around maze-like alleyways discovering the city’s colourful souks, palaces and gardens.

With turquoise lagoons, coral reefs and overwater bungalows, this small island in the South Pacific is basically heaven on Earth.

Most travellers head to North India for its Mughal palaces and forts, but the Southern state of Tamil Nadu is where most of the country’s major Hindu temples are found, including the brightly coloured Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple seen here and the Meenakshi Temple Complex, which is so large it’s referred to by some as a mini city.

If you’re looking to get off the grid, head to Chile’s Patagonia region for some of the most beautiful mountain views you’ll ever see.

Located in the centre of Beijing, the Forbidden City was the imperial palace of China’s emperors for five centuries and is one of the most beautifully preserved examples of ancient Chinese architecture.

There are so many beautiful places in Italy it’s hard to pick just one – but the Amalfi Coast’s idyllic hillside towns, including Positano, bump it to the top of our must-see list.

Located on southern Thailand’s west coast, this province’s coastline is dotted with limestone cliffs and hundreds of islands just offshore in the Andaman Sea, making it one of the world’s most popular beach-holiday destinations.

Each year starting at the end of November and peaking in beauty in early December, fields of bright-purple Russell Lupins bloom across New Zealand’s South Island. One of the most beautiful spots to go Lupin-spotting is in Fiordland National Park, home to the equally gorgeous Milford Sound.