Before jetting off to Paris, Madrid or Rome, American holidaymakers should consider a trip to Birmingham, according to a new list of places to visit in 2012.

根据新发布的2012年旅游地排行榜，在飞往巴黎、马德里或罗马之前，美国的度假者应该先考虑去伯明翰旅行。

The New York Times' "45 Places to Go in 2012", published last week, finds room for England's much maligned¹（恶意的） second city at number 19, ahead of the likes of Vienna, Jordan, Dubrovnik and Antarctica, while the Italian, Spanish and French capitals missed out entirely².

Birmingham made the list after it was named Britain's "foodiest town" by Olive, BBC's food magazine, in October. The New York Times highlights four restaurants run by local chefs: Lasan, Opus, Edmunds and Loves, as well as three Michelin-starred establishments: Purnell's, Simpsons and Turners of Harborne. It also mentions Birmingham's famous Balti Triangle, and its no-nonsense culinary heritage – the city is the birthplace of Typhoo Tea, Bird's Custard and HP Sauce.

Panama topped the New York Times list. The country is recommended for its raucous³ nightlife, good snorkelling⁴（用水下通气管潜航） and trendy, up-and-coming capital city.

Helsinki, designated the World Design Capital for 2012 by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design, and Myanmar, now back on travellers' itineraries⁵（旅游活动日程） after Aung San Suu Kyi withdrew her opposition⁶ to independent tourism last year, completed the top three.

Neil Rami, Chief Executive of Marketing⁷ Birmingham, which manages Birmingham Food Fest – noted⁸ in The New York Times listing - said:

"Birmingham has worked hard to improve its reputation as a visitor destination in recent years by showcasing amongst other attributes, our fantastic and diverse foodie offer.

"Our Michelin star chefs and fine dining restaurant scene have catapulted the city into the culinary（厨房的） spotlight⁹."

Other British destinations to feature were London, at number four, Glasgow, at number 12, and Wales, at 31.

London is recommended for its public spaces, shopping centres and Georgian architecture. Visitors to the capital should head to the recently-renovated Charles Dickens Museum, take the Warner Brothers Studio Tour (on the edge of Watford), and stay at the Waldorf Astoria, according to the New York Times.