Dubai Remains World’s Most Popular Destination for 2nd Year in a Row
To commence the 2023 travel and hospitality awards season, Tripadvisor®, the world’s largest travel guidance platform, reveals its Travelers’ Choice® Best of the Best Destination Awards. Every year, Tripadvisor analyzes the millions of reviews submitted on its platform over the past 12 months by a global community of hundreds of millions of travelers to uncover the best guidance for everyone looking to make amazing memories on their next holiday or vacation. Dubai beats top destinations such as Bali, London and Paris.
World’s Most Popular Destination Dubai
Rather than relying on a cadre of tourism editors to tout what they believe are the best destinations worldwide for a vacation, Tripadvisor’s rankings are based on insights from millions of real travelers who visited these destinations in the past year and left their feedback on Tripadvisor.
“We saw a resurgence of travel demand in 2022, and the outlook for this year is bright,” said Sarah Firshein, the Head of Editorial at Tripadvisor. “Long-haul trips have made a comeback, and we’re seeing a lot of Americans excited to plan trips to Asia and the Pacific region for the first time in several years. Cities like Paris and London, which may have taken a backseat to less populous destinations throughout the pandemic, are back on travelers’ minds, while places like Alaska and Cuba are also piquing a lot of interest.”
This year, the Travelers’ Choice Destinations span six subcategories: Popular Destinations, Trending Destinations, Food Destinations, Best Places to Ski, Nature Destinations and Best Places for Culture.
On Tripadvisor’s perennial Popular Destinations list, showcasing travelers’ favorite destinations overall from the past year, Dubai maintains its No. 1 spot for the second year in a row. As a global hub of luxury hospitality and cutting-edge architecture, the “City of Gold” offers world-class retail and culture catering to the wants and needs of travelers from all over. If you are planning a travel to Dubai, here you will find some of the best tours. In the U.S., New York City is back on top after dropping to No. 5 last year as a result of the pandemic.
Cuba is the No. 1 Trending Destination in the world for 2023; this category reveals destinations with the greatest year-over-year growth in interest on Tripadvisor, indicating new hotspots on the rise. Since the U.S. eased some travel restrictions in May, and with the addition of new direct flight routes, appetite among travelers for Cuba has been surging on Tripadvisor. Known for old-world architecture and rich history, the island offers fascinating opportunities for cultural exchange. This is followed by Hoi An, Vietnam, at No. 2 and Mauritius at No. 3. Asia is the top trending region in this category, taking half of the top 10 spots. Closer to home, Juneau, Alaska, made its debut as the No. 1 Trending Destination in the United States for 2023. Located at the base of Mount Juneau, this is the perfect place for a journey into the gorgeous Alaskan wilderness. World’s Most Popular Destination Dubai
In addition to popularity, Tripadvisor is also awarding destinations based on top travel interests: food, skiing, nature, and culture. As many plan trips around opportunities to enjoy cuisine, we have issued the best Food Destinations list, highlighting locales known for their cuisine as well as those known for their burgeoning dining scenes. Unsurprisingly, Rome is the No. 1 Food Destination for 2023, while New Orleans tops the U.S. list. World’s Most Popular Destination Dubai
A particularly timely category, with droves of travelers currently in search of epic ski trips, Tripadvisor unveils the Best Places to Ski, according to those who hit the slopes in 2022. With its stunning landscape and down-to-earth mountain culture, Whistler, Canada, is the No. 1 Ski Destination in the world this year. Meanwhile, Jackson, Wyoming, is the best in the U.S. (No. 2 in North America) for the second consecutive year. From regular, cross-country, snowcat, and even heli-skiing, Jackson has it all.
New for 2023: the best Nature Destinations. It’s no secret that destinations abundant in fresh air and pristine nature rose in popularity throughout the pandemic, and although big cities are back, the appetite for outdoor adventure remains strong. In this inaugural category, Mauritius is the No. 1 Nature Destination. A tropical island paradise 1,200 miles off the coast of southeast Africa, Mauritius is home to waterfalls, wildlife areas, and national parks, making it a nature lover’s perfect getaway.
Another new category this year is the Best Places for Culture, celebrating the top places people visit to engage with local history and cultural activities. While every city has its own unique culture, this list reveals travelers’ absolute favorite getaways for a cultural trip, headlined by Fes, Morocco, at No. 1. This walled city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site harkening back to medieval times with ancient maze-like quarters of the Medina to Fes el-Bali and the four imposing Gates of Fes, with their distinctive Moroccan tile work.
“Above all, travelers are seeking out new adventures this year, and our Travelers’ Choice 2023 Destinations list reflects the very best places chosen by our devoted community,” Firshein said. “The diverse range of choices offer opportunities for cultural immersion, incredible culinary experiences, awe-inspiring natural wonders, and more—it’s really the ultimate reference guide for travelers dreaming about where to go next.”Â
Top 10 Trending Destinations in the World
1. Cuba
Don’t miss: wander around the charming streets of Old Havana
2. Hoi An, Vietnam
Don’t miss: explore Market Tour, Basket Boat Ride and Cooking Class
3. Mauritius
Don’t miss:Â Full-Day Cruise to Ile aux Cerfs with BBQ Lunch Included
4. Siem Reap, Cambodia
Don’t miss: Angkor Wat: Highlights and Sunrise Guided Tour
5. Chiang Mai, Thailand
Don’t miss: Chiang Mai: Small Group Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Tour
6. Grand Cayman, Caribbean
Don’t miss: Grand Cayman Ride ‘n’ Swim
7. Fes, Morocco
Don’t miss: Fes Medina guided Tour
8. Baku, Azerbaijan
Don’t miss: From Baku: Full-Day Guided Tour of Gobustan and Absheron
9. Kathmandu, Nepal
Don’t miss: From Kathmandu: 1 hour Panoramic Everest Flight
10. Krakow, Poland
Don’t miss: Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour Hotel Pickup & Lunch Options
Top 10 Trending Destinations in the U.S. World’s Most Popular Destination Dubai
1. Juneau, Alaska
Don’t miss: Whale Watching Cruise with Refreshments
2. Page, Arizona
Don’t miss: Page: Antelope Canyon X Entry Ticket and Guided Tour
3. Salem, Massachusetts
Don’t miss: Salem: Ghosts, Witches, & Warlocks Guided Walking Tour
4. Sonoma, California
Don’t miss: San Francisco: Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine Tour
5. Tierra Verde, Florida
Don’t miss: St. Petersburg, Florida: Sunset and Skyway Lights Boat Tour
6. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Don’t miss: Philadelphia: Double-Decker Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour
7. San Juan Island, Washington
Don’t miss: San Juan Islands 3-Day Sailing/Camping Trip
8. Camden, Maine
Don’t miss: Camden: Sunset Sailing Cruise Aboard Appledore II
9. Chicago, Illinois
Don’t miss: Chicago: Willis Tower Skydeck and The Ledge Ticket
10. Yellowstone, Montana
Don’t miss: West Yellowstone: Yellowstone Park Tour with Local Guide
See all of the best places to travel for 2023, across all six subcategories here:Â tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Destinations