Lisette Poole / New York Times News ServiceA car passes by colorful homes in Havana, part of a restoration project underway. The opening of Cuba to American tourists should make the island a popular travel destination in 2015.

Untrammeled oases beckon, once-avoided destinations become must-sees, and familiar cities offer new reasons to visit. Here is a list of 15 places to visit in 2015.

1. Cuba

Cuba has long been the forbidden island, a tropical bastion of communism whose mystique was amplified by the fact it was off limits to Americans. Now, as part of the détente between the United States and Cuba, Americans will be able to go there more easily, provided they spend their time interacting with or supporting ordinary Cubans rather than lazing on a beach. The opening comes as life on the island is gradually changing — not fast enough for many Cubans but slowly enough that those wanting to glimpse a crumbling socialist system, see the miles of undeveloped, glittering coastline and strike up a conversation in the back of a battered Oldsmobile still have time.

The good news, for Cubans and their visitors, is that the economic reforms — however limited — have created a constellation of privately run restaurants and bars in Havana and provincial towns, many of them in beautiful, restored homes. An effort by the government to reinject life into Havana’s cultural scene has spawned vibrant new venues such as the Fabrica de Arte Cubano, where the young, hip and better-off line up on weekends. Given the sharp rise expected in the number of Americans visiting, travelers should book early if they want somewhere to sleep during the 12th Havana Biennial, May 22 to June 22, an event that — as if to prove Cuba still operates at its own pace — rarely happens at two year intervals.

—Victoria Burnett

2. Greenland

Visitors to Greenland often go for whale-, iceberg- and glacier-watching tours, but active overland travel (beyond dog-sledding) is now becoming more enticing. Working farms sit among the fjords of southern Greenland, where a changing climate and a longer growing season have fueled interest in the new Greenlandic cuisine. Hikers can walk along trails between farms near Qaqortoq and Narsarsuaq for rustic beds and unusual farm-to-table meals such as whale skin with angelica herb, garlic and rosemary pickles. One farm, the Ipiutaq Guest House, recently won Greenland’s first concession for exclusive access to a world-class arctic char fishery. Land a fish, and French chef Agathe Devisme will prepare it with wild herbs collected from the property.

— Tim Neville

3. Philadelphia

A series of projects has transformed Philadelphia into a hive of outdoor urban activity. Dilworth Park, formerly a hideous slab of concrete adjoining City Hall, reopened this past autumn as a green, pedestrian-friendly public space with a winter ice-skating rink (and a cafe by the indefatigable chef Jose Garces). Public art installations, mini “parklets” and open-air beer gardens have become common sights. The Delaware River waterfront was reworked for summer 2014 with the Spruce Street Harbor Park (complete with hammocks, lanterns and floating bar) becoming a new fixture, after the renovation of the Race Street Pier, completed in 2011, and offers free yoga classes on a bilevel strip of high-design decking and grass. To top it off, this spring, Philadelphia will get its first bike share program, making this mostly flat city even more friendly for those on two wheels.

— Nell Mcshane Wulfhart

4. Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park will get a major lodging upgrade with the $70 million redesign of the largest accommodation complex in the park, Canyon Lodge and Cabins, with more than 500 rooms. Near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, five new sustainably built lodges, three of which will open in spring, will replace outdated cabins, and new walking and biking paths will link the village with the park’s North Rim Drive. If you’re heading to the park this winter, before those open, you can explore the frosty, untrafficked landscape with the nonprofit Yellowstone Association, which is offering two-day/three-night cross-country ski and wildlife-watching trips.

— Elaine Glusac

5. Elqui Valley, Chile

The deserts of northern Chile, whose dry, clear skies and high altitude make for unmatched stargazing, have long been home to some of the world’s largest research telescopes. Those stunning starscapes, as well as more down-to-earth charms, have lately proved a draw for travelers, too. The heart of the astrotourism boom is the Elqui Valley, a 100-mile strip of vineyards and orchards on the southern edge of the Atacama Desert, dotted with colonial towns and pisco distilleries. At least a half-dozen small observatories now cater to stargazers, while family-run hotels offer special domed and glass-ceilinged suites and in-room telescopes. But visit soon: Light pollution from new tourist infrastructure has already begun to dim Elqui’s magnificent skies.

— Remy Scalza

6. Singapore

Singapore is turning 50 in 2015, and the ambitious little city-state is pulling out all the stops to celebrate. Festivities began on New Year’s Eve with a huge fireworks display set to music over Marina Bay. That will be followed by the riotous Chingay Parade in February, featuring thousands of colorfully dressed performers. In the fall, a 5-mile historic public art trail called the Jubilee Walk will be inaugurated, and the National Gallery Singapore opens in the grand former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings, where it will house one of the largest collections of Southeast Asian art in the world. The showcase event will be the National Day parade at the site where Singapore’s independence was declared in 1965.

— Justin Bergman

7. Durban, South Africa

No one has bad things to say about Durban, per se; they will agree that its beachfront promenade is lovely and the weather is pleasant year-round. And yet Durbs, as it is affectionately called, is often scoffed at by Capetonians and Joburgers for being a touch gauche. Well, enough of that. The city’s creative set is staking its claim on a hefty share of the country’s cool quotient. The reinvention of Rivertown kicked things off: The city enclave is now home to a popular market, beer hall and, coming soon, a raft of boutiques showcasing proudly local brands. The beloved but dated Durban beachfront is also getting a serious upgrade, courtesy of new dining spots such as Afro’s Chicken, California Dreaming and Surf Rider’s Cafe. Not sure where to start exploring? Order a bunny chow, the quintessential Indian-South African fast food (Durban is home to one of the world’s largest Indian communities), and join a city walk led by Beset Durban.

— Sarah Khan

8. Bolivia

Bolivia’s days of relentless transportation strikes and roadblocks are mostly behind it. And travelers who try the now tourism-friendly infrastructure will be rewarded with new attractions once they arrive. Claus Meyer’s 2-year-old fine-dining restaurant, Gustu, and the Melting Pot Foundation are helping set a new culinary tone around the country by starting an official street food tour in La Paz, Suma Phayata, and renewing interest in high-altitude wine routes in the Tarija region. Adventure excursions also abound, from luxe tent camp trips led by the Chilean operator Explora across the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flats, to community tourism projects on coffee farms in the Yungas region, where a road to Caranavi, expected to open this year, will cut the travel time drastically from La Paz.

— Nicholas Gill

9. The Faeroe Islands

The Faeroe Islands, an archipelago in the North Atlantic, has emerged in the last five years as possibly the most secluded destination for avant-garde food. Leading the way is Koks, a signatory of the New Nordic Kitchen Manifesto, which stresses modern cuisine made from local, seasonal ingredients, and Aarstova, a French restaurant using Faeroese ingredients. In 2015 Aarstova’s new fish house, Barbara, will serve the only yearly harvest of the incomparable Faeroe Bank cod. In addition, the islands are drawing food enthusiasts for their local cheeses and raest, a fermented mutton dish that is a local delicacy. Although isolated, the Faeroe Islands — an autonomous part of Denmark — are a short flight from Copenhagen and Reykjavik.

— David Shaftel

10. Macedonia

First came Croatia, then Montenegro — even Albania is gaining traction on the western Balkan travel circuit. Macedonia is next. Known for its moody monasteries and sparkling Lake Ohrid, this former Yugoslav republic is making a play for adventure foodies, too. It makes sense. Places such as the Shar Mountains abound in Alp-like hiking while Macedonia’s wine industry — once responsible for the bulk of Yugoslavia’s supply — is enjoying a rebound with local producers. Scores of smaller hotels serving traditional soups and pastries such as pastrmajlija, a meat pie, have opened to replace cold socialist haunts. Old establishments including the Hotel Montana Palace in cheese-friendly Krusevo offer newly renovated settings at low Balkan prices. And Macedonia is one of the few places without a McDonald’s — they all closed in 2013.

— Tim Neville

11. Medellín, Colombia

Medellín’s been getting a lot of attention lately for its spectacular urban renewal efforts. Many of the once legendary slums have been transformed through some astonishing architectural gems, like the Biblioteca España, a hypermodern public library and community space in the low-income Santo Domingo neighborhood. The city’s Metrocables (aerial gondolas) and 1,300 feet of outdoor escalators, developed to integrate the poorer hillside neighborhoods with the city center, are global milestones in smart public transit. And an ambitious contemporary expansion to the Museo de Arte Moderno, housed in a former steel mill in the up-and-coming Ciudad del Rio neighborhood, is scheduled for completion this year.

— Nell Mcshane Wulfhart

12. St. Vincent and the Grenadines

A new airport and dive center await. The largest development project undertaken in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the new $240 million Argyle International Airport, will open this year, offering nonstop jet service from North America and Europe to the 32-island nation dotting the Lesser Antilles between St. Lucia and Grenada. Travelers traditionally come to scuba dive or snorkel the island chain’s reefs, and the private island resort of Petit St. Vincent just added a new dive center run by the marine conservationist Jean-Michel Cousteau, with plans to lobby for a marine preserve nearby. Palm Island Resort manages to preserve the peace for which travelers come and serve social needs with a new weekly Silent Cinema night on the beach, in which guests watch a movie projected on a big screen while listening via wireless headphones, and a similar Silent Disco dance party held monthly on the shore.

— Elaine Glusac

13. Orlando, Florida

Disney World will no doubt remain the biggest draw to Orlando, but the city is growing up thanks to a string of civic developments, including the $429 million Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center, the 62-mile long SunRail commuter train, both opened last year, and a coming 19,500-seat soccer stadium set to open in 2015. But the most surprising development is the food scene. East End Market, and its stalls selling locavore fare and artisanal baked goods, opened in 2013. Last year saw the opening of Txokos Basque Kitchen, whose chef was nominated for a James Beard Award. Not to be outdone, two fellow Beard nominees, James and Julie Petrakis (Ravenous Pig, Cask & Larder), announced the February opening of Swine & Sons Provisions, their market/restaurant hybrid. Theme parks are expanding adult options as well: The elegant Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World opened in August 2014 and features a golf course, a rooftop lounge and an adults-only pool.

— Adam H. Graham

14. Zimbabwe

This country’s beauty and bounty have been overshadowed by political unrest and economic collapse over the last few decades, but today, the government is finally stable, the overinflated Zimbabwean dollar is gone, and the prices are low. An international terminal at Victoria Falls Airport set to open in July will make it far easier to get to, and new trips from outfitters such as Red Savannah and Cox and Kings give travelers a way to explore the many riches: There’s the spectacular Victoria Falls, the Zambezi, UNESCO World Heritage sites like the granite landform Matobo Hills and the colonial charm of cities like Harare. The biggest draw, however, might be the abundance of game, including hippos and lions, on full view on water safaris, like those offered by the new luxury cruiser Matusadona, or the old-fashioned way, by land, at upscale lodges like Bomani Tented Lodge in Hwange National Park.

— Shivani Vora

15. Quebec City, Canada

Long overshadowed by nearby Montreal, Quebec City is stocking up on attractions and seeking an NHL team to again call its own. The city has been building Quebecor Arena, a state-of-the-art stadium costing an estimated $400 million to open before the 2015 season. It might take years to score an NHL franchise, but even without a big-time team to cheer, the capital of Quebec — and French Canada — has many new draws to keep visitors entertained, from the newly hip St.-Roch neighborhood to innovative restaurants serving nouveau Québécois cuisine to rival its neighbor’s finest.

— Ingrid K. Williams