Gallery: Lonely Planet’s top 10 cities

1. Paris, France: The world's most beautiful city has been reborn after a number of architectural marvels were restored to their former glory.

2. Trinidad, Cuba: Tiny Trinidad is a sherbet-tinged, time-trapped Unesco World Heritage Site, bulging with the best of architectural and decorative wealth from the 19th century. - lonelyplanet.com. Picture: Nouhailler, flickr.com

Relax on the beach (with or without penguins).

4. Riga, Latvia: Today, Riga is reclaiming its rightful title as the cosmopolitan cornerstone of the Baltic.

5. Zurich

Shanghai, China: It's the city everyone wants to see and be seen in.

7. Vancouver, Canada: Earning the nickname, the City Of Glass, Vancouver offers high-rise buildings and spectacular natural scenery.

Chicago. Picture: Sally Scott

They go beyond simply showing the way to the waterfalls by mixing in plenty of information about the flora and fauna, and time for wildlife spotting.

Auckland showing Devonport to the right, the naval base. New Zealand February 2012.