Dublin has been named as one of the top three cities in the world to visit, according to Lonely Plan

Dublin has been named as one of the top three cities in the world to visit, according to Lonely Planet's 'Best in Travel 2016'.

The renowned travel guide put Dublin as the third most desirable city in the world to visit behind Kotor in Montenegro and Quito in Ecuador. It finished ahead of George Town in Malaysia and Rotterdam in the Netherlands in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2016 is a collection of the world’s hottest trends, destinations and experiences for the year ahead which highlights the top ten countries, cities and regions to visit in 2016.

In its description of Dublin, the guide mentions that the city is on the recovery from an "economic slump", and that it "pulsates with youthful vibrancy, optimism and creativity."

Fáilte Ireland’s Head of Dublin, Orla Carroll said that Lonely Planet is one of the premier sources of information for many tourists and that it will place Dublin in the minds of these people.

"More than that, it reinforces Dublin as a ‘must-visit’ destination which offers an incredible variety of experiences to its visitors," said Carroll.

The accolade comes not long after Dublin was voted second-friendliest city in the world by readers of the influential travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler.