Tenth place Toronto, Canada, is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, with more than 140 languages spoken on its streets. The Pan American/Parapan American Games promises to up the ante with an expected 250,000 visitors in 2015. 
With the opening of the Chennai Metro Rail, expect the spotlight to shine more brightly on ninth place Chennai, India. It has Dravidian temples to explore, institutes dedicated to the study of Indian classical dance, India's second largest movie industry and a beach that's packed with residents at all hours of the day and night. 
Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Ringstrasse, Vienna's grand boulevard built by a Hapsburg monarch, when you visit the city that came in eighth place. Celebrations are scheduled to mark the special occasion. 
A lovely slice of England, seventh place Salisbury will mark the 800th anniversary of signing of the Magna Carta in 2015. A quintessential English city, Salisbury is worth its own visit when you see Stonehenge (and its new visitors center). 
Sixth place Plovdiv, Bulgaria, is that rarest of beasts: a genuine hidden gem in Europe. It dates back to pre-Roman times, a significant crossroads of Eastern and Western cultures. It's now a joyous mix of ancient and modern architecture. 
Fifth place Valletta, Malta, will mark 450 years since the Great Siege in 2015. That's when a small number of Christian Maltese knights battled the Turks, with much bloodshed on each side. Some 17th century architecture still remains, and modern design is also taking over the city. Of note: architect Renzo Piano's parliament building, a gateway to the city, and his open-air auditorium. 
Fourth place Zermatt is classic Switzerland, with the Matterhorn, dramatic alpine vistas and winter sports galore. This is a true Swiss winter sports town, and it will be marking the 150th anniversary of the successful Matterhorn climb of English mountaineer Edward Whymper. These days, the town's nightlife is hopping, too. 
Third place Milan is all elegance and refinement but it will welcome the masses with Expo Milano 2015 between May and October to celebrate food, drink and culture. Be sure to visit Duomo di Milano no matter what time of year you go. The Dumo took six centuries to complete and includes hundreds of carved statues and spires. 
Second place El Chalten, Argentina, is more village than city. Although it turns 30 years old next year, it's already significant to travelers heading to South America to go trekking. Head to Los Glaciares National Park to hike and explore these amazing glaciers. (Don't wait too long. More tourists will discover this spot soon.) 
The undisputed star of the television hit "House of Cards" and the United States' power center, Washington topped Lonely Planet's list of the top 10 cities for 2015. Tour the White House, with its recently re-opened visitors center, visit any of the Smithsonian's spots; or check out the New Year's Day outdoor National Hockey League game at Nationals Park.
- Lonely Planet picks its top 10 cities for 2015
- One country's capital city took the top spot
- Hidden gems are also tucked into the list
(CNN) -- Whether you want a cosmopolitan city, a central spot from which to explore nature or a hidden gem not yet discovered by great hordes of tourists, Lonely Planet's top 10 cities for 2015 has a spot for you.
Lonely Planet's 10 picks include well-known favorites with something extra to share, smaller cities known only to locals and a select few tourists and cities you simply must visit.
To compile the annual top 10 list, Lonely Planet asked its worldwide staff, contributors and authors for their well-known and lesser-known recommendations, and spots that have something special to offer in 2015.
The top spots in Europe
It must be worthy of the traveler planning his or her special vacation for the following year, says Tom Hall, Lonely Planet's digital editorial director.
"It's the one time each year that Lonely Planet applies its collective brainpower to pick recommendations and rank their recommendations," Hall says. "I'm excited by this year's list of cities. There's a good mix of obvious places to visit and less-obvious ones."
Click through the gallery to see which city took the top spot, and which made the rest of the Top 10 list.
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