As the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence offers incredible sights at every turn, from marble basilicas and ancient churches to sculptures by masters like Michelangelo. It’s the kind of place where you could wander down a cobblestoned side street and stumble upon a 15th-century palazzo—making it a destination ripe for adventure and discovery. Moreover, if you stay at one of Florence’s best hotels, you’ll uncover a “hidden” side to the ancient city.

Africa is a continent of varied landscapes, ranging from the stunning vineyards of South Africa to the otherworldly dunes of Namibia and the white-sand beaches of Zanzibar. These are settings you have to see to believe, and the array of luxurious resorts in Africa makes it possible.

When it comes to urban charms,GoTravelDailyreaders just can’t get enough of Mexico. San Miguel de Allende, which topped our list for the past two years, may have been unseated this time around — it now comes in second — but it still draws gushing admiration. One reader called it “a unique art community in the mountains, with a mix of rich history and amazing food.” Another fan of the city praised its architectural diversity: “Gorgeous, sumptuous modern interiors are mixed with 500-year-old façades. You never know what delights you’ll find behind one of the beautifully carved doors.” Another town with a long and complex history and vibrantly colored buildings, Oaxaca (No. 5), gets raves for its sublime food scene, as well as its cooking schools. Mexico City leaped up our chart — last year’s No. 11 is now No. 4: “One of the most exciting cities in North America,” wrote one reader. “I go at least once per year, and every time I do it’s a new and exciting experience.” Another voter added, “The restaurants were excellent, from the corner taquerias to the upscale places.”

GoTravelDaily is exploring America one three-day weekend at a time. Here’s how to pack in the best of New York’s food and cultural attractions into a short trip.

Fifty dollars; 3230 roubles; 1.2 million Vietnamese dong; in some cities this amount of money can bankroll a miscellany of merriment and memorable cultural experiences, in others it will barely cover lunch.

It was one of those unbelievable evenings straight out of a J.M.W. Turner painting, the sky flushing peach over the gilded treetops of the English countryside. I was wandering the grounds ofthe Newt in Somerset, a 23-room hotel in southwestern England. The estate grounds are open to the public during working hours, but the last day-tripper was long gone—dusk had all but fallen—as I swung open a wrought-iron gate and stepped through a door in a high brick wall.