Fremantle named in list of world's top 10 cities to visit in 2016

Fremantle is beloved in Western Australia for its cappuccino strip, fishing boat harbour, historic prison, architecture, markets and arts culture.

Now, travel guide Lonely Planet has recognised the port city as one of the world's top 10 cities to visit next year.

Best In Travel 2016 is Lonely Planet's 11th annual collection of the best trends, destinations, journeys and experiences for the forthcoming year.

Ranked seventh on the list of cities, Fremantle is described as a "raffish harbour town with sea-salty soul to burn".

"Fremantle thrums with live-music rooms, hipster bars, boutique hotels, left-field bookshops, craft-beer breweries, Indian Ocean seafood shacks, buskers, beaches and students on the run from the books," Lonely Planet says.

The travel guide noted Fremantle hosted the America's Cup yacht race in 1987 and then reinvented itself with investment in the arts, the establishment of Notre Dame University and the consolidation of the city's waterfront at the fore.

"In 2016, Freo is bearing the fruits of this process, with thriving urban culture and a string of awesome arts events celebrating the city's essence," Lonely Planet said.

Australia also makes the cut for the top 10 countries of 2016, ranking sixth on the list.

The Best In Travel recommendations are drawn from submissions by Lonely Planet staff, authors and extended community of travellers, bloggers and tweeters, before being refined by a panel of in-house travel experts.

LONELY PLANET'S TOP 10 CITIES FOR 2016:

1. Kotor, Montenegro

2. Quito, Ecuador

3. Dublin, Ireland

4. George Town, Malaysia

5. Rotterdam, the Netherlands

6. Mumbai, India

7. Fremantle, Australia

8. Manchester, UK

9. Nashville, USA

10. Rome, Italy