Welcome to the last month of the year. That means it’s time to start thinking about the year ahead — and, yes, those vacation days. As you may already know, it’s looking pretty sweet next year in terms of long weekends — there are six to look forward to and you can easily stretch them by adding leave days.

As for where to go, countries in the region remain popular picks. A TripAdvisor report on the 10 most popular destinations for Singaporeans in the first quarter of 2016 revealed Bali, Hong Kong, Taipei and Bangkok taking the top four spots, respectively. But as much as we love these cities, there are so many more to explore. How about a trip that is a little more unusual, but ultimately more thrilling and meaningful? Here is our list of where to go next year. The best thing is these six destinations are an easy direct flight from Changi Airport. So just pack your bags, already.

> HELSINKI

You’d probably have read that the Northern Lights will dim after 2016 due to the beginning of a downward leg in its 11-year solar cycle, so if catching the Northern Lights is on your bucket list, fly to Helsinki for a quick connection to Lapland, which is considered one of the best places in the world to see this natural spectacle. That’s not the only reason to head to Helsinki, of course. The city is making a push to woo tourists next year with its StopOver Finland initiative by introducing more than 50 packages for travellers flying through Helsinki International Airport. There will also be an outdoors sea pool, which will be completed next summer, as well as a new city museum opening in May at Senate Square. Style seekers can hole up in the new, soon-to-open hotels such as the Clarion Hotel Helsinki (which houses a restaurant by celeb chef Marcus Samuelsson) and Finland’s first Art Hotel in the Jatkasaari district with rooms done up by Finnish contemporary artists.

> OSAKA

Forget Tokyo. Osaka is the Japanese city to be in. According to data from travel site Skyscanner, the city took ninth spot in terms of flight searches from Singapore for 2016 (a whopping 79 per cent increase from last year). In Lonely Planet’s Best In Travel for 2016, the Kumando Kodo trail, just an hour from Osaka, was mentioned as a “life changing experience”. The city’s food scene is robust and delicious — from fun street food (it’s the takoyaki capital) to udon shrines (make a beeline for the year-old Aozora Blue). Also in its favour: Flights to Osaka are cheaper now that Scoot has launched its service there in July and has been flying to the city six times a week.

> FIJI

The Maldives? So been there, done that. For a dose of exotic island paradise, head to the South Pacific instead. It will be easier to get there come April 5, when Fiji Airways starts its direct flight between Nadi and Singapore. The 10-hour flight will take travellers to the 333 isles and atolls that make up Fiji, aka the “Soft Coral Capital of The World”. Surrounding Fiji’s Kadavu Island is the Great Astrolabe Reef, the world’s fourth-largest reef.

For serious divers, Fiji is also the only country to boast the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, which is set up by the son of legendary scuba-pioneer Jacques Cousteau. And speaking of resorts, accommodation here is among the finest in the world. There are cheap and cheery self-catering beachside bungalows as well as private islands you can have all to yourself. The relatively favourable exchange rate of S$1 to $1.53 Fijian dollars helps stretch the travel budget — always good when feasting on the excellent food cooked in traditional lovo-style (underground and steamed with vegetables).

> DANANG

Vietnam’s third largest city is gaining attention as a convenient gateway to some of the best beaches this side of South-east Asia, scenic UNESCO sites (Hue, Hoi An and My Son) and serious spa indulgence. Harnn Heritage at InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort picked up the Best Asian Spa at the inaugural World Spa Awards held in May this year and The Nam Hai in Hoi An won the Smith Hotel Awards for Best Spa Hotel. The all-villa Fusion Maia Resort in Danang bills itself as Asia’s first all-inclusive spa resort where spa treatments (twice a day) are included with your room rates. Little wonder why it’s the top hotel in Danang on TripAdvisor.

With SilkAir already servicing the route and Jetstar kicking off thrice weekly flights just last month, it’s never been easier — or more affordable — to get your fix of the city’s signature dish of “mi quang” (noodle salad in broth).

> DUSSELDORF

This German city along the Rhine River makes it on our list on the sheer strength of its eclectic nature. That and the fact that Singapore Airlines will be launching flights there come July next year. There’s plenty to like starting with every Singaporean’s hobby of intense shopping — easily achievable at the main boulevard called Koningsallee. It’s the Teutonic equivalent of Paris’ Avenue Montaigne, where you get luxury boutiques such as Jil Sander sitting alongside COS. More offbeat selections abound in the hip districts of Flingern and Lorettostrasse, home to creative lifestyle stores such as Sabas, Tuxedo and Uwe van Afferden.

Not to be missed too is the twisty curvy Neuer Zollhof, Frank Gehry’s eye-candy in the city’s revitalised Media Harbour. The old town of Altstad, with its graceful Baroque buildings and a thriving pub scene, offers a nice contrast too: There are more than 260 pubs in a row, making this the longest bar in the world. How can you resist?

> LUCKNOW

This is the fascinating capital of India’s Uttar Pradesh. and home to some of the most stunning examples of Islamic architecture in India. You don’t even have to go to nearby Agra for the Taj Mahal. Not when you can feast your camera on Chota Imambara, the Bada Imambada and Jama Masjid. The remnants of the British Raj still stand - from the imposing Vidhan Bhawan to the ruins of the British Residency which have been declared a protected monument.

Buildings aside, the city is famed for its love of its melt-in-the-mouth galawati kebabs, in particular the ones from Tunday Kebab. It’s an institution here, for the story goes that the owner had only one hand but made the best kebabs. Lucknowi biryani is another culinary hallmark. It’s slightly different, closer to pulao with a subtler flavour as the meats and rice cooked separately instead of in a dum together. Great food, fine architecture and now a direct connection with TigerAir (starting today, by the way), Lucknow’s looking pretty lucky to us at the moment.