Thimphu

Set in a lush valley, Thimphu is Bhutan’s capital and, famously, the only one in the world without a single traffic light, a fact that says something about how the city still moves at its own pace. It mixes ancient monasteries and weekend markets with a growing scene of contemporary art galleries. Spend a morning at the markets and an afternoon in the hills above town, and Thimphu reveals itself as a capital still finding its balance between tradition and change.