North Macedonia

CREDIT: ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

Refreshingly free of big-box chains and tourists (fewer than 1.5 million visitors were recorded in 2018), the Republic of North Macedonia won’t fly under the radar for much longer. The newly renamed country has a wealth of historic sights, like the Kale (or fortress) in the capital, Skopje; Kokino, a megalithic observatory; and the ancient city of Heraclea Lyncestis, on the outskirts of Bitola. In Ohrid, the new Sky Corner Hotel will add more rooms and a restaurant later in 2020. Record enthusiasts will relish the Skopje Vinyl Convention, where there will be concerts, workshops, and the chance to add some rare discs to your collection. And in June, Bitola will host the Slow Food festival Terra Madre Balkans. Held in rotating European countries, the biannual event brings in chefs and experts to celebrate the movement with regional cooking and round table discussions. —Courtney Lichterman