Donegal named as the world's 'coolest destination' for 2017

Donegal is now officially a must-see after the county topped National Geographic Traveller's 'Cool List: 17 for 2017'.

It appears in the January/February edition of the magazine, which was published yesterday and the list captures "top culture capitals, hipster hotspots, wild escapes and places generally keeping it cool".

Pat Riddell, editor of National Geographic Traveller commented to the Irish Times: "We considered many destinations for our Cool List 2017, but we felt Donegal was in a real sweet spot - off-radar and hard-to-access, but on the cusp of a breakthrough".

Besides its sea stacks, beaches and offshore islands; the array of reasons to visit may had something to do with last summer's filming of Star Wars: Episode VIII on the Inishowen Peninsula.

"On the one hand, you have big pushes like the Wild Atlantic Way and the recent visit of Star Wars; on the other you only have to drive a few miles to have a beach or a road completely to yourself", Riddell continues.

The magazine also described the county as "a land that feels undiscovered".

The Chilean capital of Santiago come second on the list followed by Helsinki. Greenland, Peru, Aarhus, Canada, Portland, India and South Africa also make the top 10.