3. Paro

Set in the delightful Paro Valley, the second city of Bhutan is the first place you will see when you enter the country, since it is where the only international airport is situated. Lying alongside the Paro River, the site has been the location of a monastery of one kind or another since the 10th century, and was the northern stronghold of Bhutan against invasion from Tibet. The main street of the city is filled with rich and complex architecture, with traditional Bhutanese houses and shops vying for space with cafes and restaurants. Paro is also a good place for unique antiques and Buddhist souvenirs, as well as many prayer-related artifacts, although antiques cannot be taken out of the kingdom.