Lonely Planet Where to Go When: the ultimate trip planner for every month of the year: 2

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If visitors to France fancy something other than the Olympics, the region of Normandy is hosting the Normandy Impressionist Festival from March to September next year to celebrate 150 years of Impressionism. The event will bring visitors into the heart of a 19th-century movement that turned art on its head with its radical, soulful focus on outdoor scenes and the effects of light. The program includes open-air theater performances and dance cafes, art exhibitions and workshops, plus forest walks, stargazing, sound- and-light shows and romantic picnics straight out of a Renoir. Spain South India's Hindu temples are a joyous celebration of the divine, decorated inside and out with vividly colorful depictions of deities and supernatural beings, both fearsome and sublime. In the southern city of Madurai , the towering gopurams (gateway towers) of the Meenakshi Amman Temple provide a three-dimensional guide to the main deities of the Hindu pantheon. Planning tip: Have a lunchtime visit to Mercat de la Boqueria – it's when the unassuming places to eat, run by charismatic owners, start to open up. 3. San Sebastián

It’s almost impossible to move through the narrow streets of Croatia’s historic cities and old towns at the height of summer without jostling elbows with fellow tourists. Go in early June instead, when you’re almost guaranteed sun-kissed weather and you’ve a better chance of snagging a spot at a popular attraction or restaurant without agonizing queues. Now that Croatia is officially in the eurozone, you can easily enter from most other EU countries without changing currency. Basque Country, SpainWales’ southwest is far less crowded with tourists than the north – and has an air of the untouched and untamed. The best period to visit starts in April, when rainfall is low and temperatures milder. A hike along the Wales Coast Path is the best way to explore this protected shore. Palau

In 2024, Greenland will get two new airports, in Nuuk and Ilulissat, allowing for direct flight connections between this icy land and North America. Once there, you can enjoy unique local experiences. For dog-sledding and the northern lights, spring is the ideal time to visit – and coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Arctic Sounds music festival next April. If you’re looking for outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, wildlife-spotting and endless hours of sun, though, you can’t go wrong in August. Poland The ultimate trip planner for every month of the year: discover the best places to visit throughout the seasons. March days are rainy and chilly in the interior and the north of Portugal, though the south sees ample sunshine. Prices and visitor numbers remain low. The long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum is set to open its doors in 2024, offering a tantalizing immersion in Egypt’s ancient treasures. What’s more, budget travelers will have more options, with the potential launch of low-cost flights from Ryanair and Air Sphinx. Unsure when to visit? October is usually a great time, as crowds thin out, temperatures remain balmy and the light provides excellent photography opportunities. PatagoniaThere’s hardly a wrong time to visit the Caribbean – yet February sees a high influx of visitors hoping to escape cold-weather countries. St Lucia’s independence from British rule in 1979 is celebrated on February 22, and marked by parades and celebratory events island-wide. Come prepared to party. Hokkaido, Japan To get a feel for Bodhgaya’s rhythms, come early to the Mahabodhi complex and settle in beside chanting Tibetan pilgrims to meditate on the nature of impermanence. Travel experiences don’t get much more profound than this. Top tip: At night seek out a ‘ ruin pub’– an atmospheric drinking venue artfully housed in a once-abandoned building. 3. Witness the northern lights in Abisko, Sweden