Best Vacation Spots for 2023: The Top 10 Places You Should Go This Year
Main Image courtesy of Travel and Leisure.
Are you interested in finding a new vacation spot this year? Now is a great time to finalize the plan for your next spot.
The world is wide, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the number of places to go and stick to the most common, most famous places. Vacationing is a special time of the year, and as you look through our 10 best vacation spots of 2023, think about what you want to experience on your vacation. New cultures and countries await an international flight, but there could be a city or National Park just a few hours away that would be an amazing place to visit. Our list will go into some of the best vacation spots worldwide.
Where Should I Vacation in 2023
We’ve curated our list to include a place for everyone! We will highlight some famous destinations, some within the United States and others worldwide. They are all extraordinary places to vacation. While we picked out our 10 favorite places in the world, if you narrow your search to, for instance, a specific US state or country, then many more spectacular spots will be revealed. Now, without further ado, let’s get into the best vacation spots of 2023!
1. Glacier National Park, Montana
There are a ton of national parks in the United States, and all of them have their own charm and unique features. At the top of our list, we wanted to highlight Glacier National Park in Montana as a great place to road trip. This is an amazing part of a national parks tour or a place to spend a long weekend relaxing, hiking, and enjoying the calm beauty of this place. There are lakes, hiking trails, mountain ranges, and many places to stay, from cozy cabins to luxurious hotels.
This is a fantastic stop on a road trip through the United States and the perfect chance for us to talk about road trips — an excellent type of vacation this year. If you want to try something new on your vacation, a road trip could be for you. Plan out a few day-trip destinations, find car or train activities, and explore!
2. Perth, Australia
The city of Perth is one that you may not have heard of, but it is the bustling capital of Western Australia that hosts many fun activities. If you want to visit Perth, Australia, we recommend planning a long vacation due to the long travel to and from this amazing island continent. Once you are in Australia, it is easy enough to visit a few cities or sites throughout the country during your stay. There are deserts upon which you can travel and tour, a large wine country near the Margaret River, and countless other destinations to make this a trip of a lifetime.
Vilnius University is one of the oldest universities in the world. Image courtesy of Go Vilnius.
3. Vilnius, Lithuania
Now Vilnius might not be a place you’ve heard of before, but visiting Vilnius, Lithuania, is an exceptional way to spend your vacation in 2023. The Lithuanian capital city just celebrated its 700th anniversary and has a packed program of music festivals and exhibitions held throughout the year. These festivals are a bonus, but Vilnius is an amazing city in its own right. The entire city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque buildings and medieval history. The bell tower at St. John’s church affords you an amazing view of the entire city, and hot air balloon tours depart regularly and give you a birds-eye view of all this amazing architecture.
Outside of the city’s architecture, it is full of a fun culture and food scene that you do not want to miss.
4. Cairo, Egypt
Located along the Nile River, Cairo will be an amazing travel destination in 2023. To start things off, a grand, decade-long project is approaching its conclusion. The Grand Egyptian Museum will open its doors sometime this year, showing over one million square feet of exhibition space. This includes treasures from ages long past, a deep dive into Egypt’s rich history, beautiful gardens, and spectacular views of the surroundings.
The Nile River is a short hop away when you visit Cairo, Egypt, and there are many luxurious tours along this famous river. The vibrant Egyptian culture is a new and exciting shock from what we know in the United States. You will not regret a trip to this part of the world! From Cairo, you can travel throughout Egypt or to other African countries if you wish. This vibrant city has enough exciting activities to keep you occupied throughout your journey.
5. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park is another of our absolute favorite national parks in the United States. Visiting a National Park is a fun way to spend a family vacation and a nice change of pace from classic vacations to touristy international destinations. Yellowstone is renowned for being one of the first national parks in America and a great place for nature lovers. It opened on March 1, 1872, so everyone could experience the unique geological and hydrothermal features like hot springs.
The summer is the busiest season as everything is open, but you may want to take advantage of fewer people in the winter as the snowy landscape is beautiful. You can go snowmobiling, snowshoeing, skiing, stay overnight at Old Faithful, and more.
Visit one of the many hot springs like Emerald Pool, one of the most colorful ones. You can go on a guided horse ride, bike in the park, hiking, and camping. You can stay close to the park and Headwater's Lodge & Cabins at Flagg Ranch or Lake Yellowstone Hotel.
You may also want to check out the mountain town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming to do some shopping and dining. You can ski in the winter and visit the Jackson Food & Wine Summer Festival each year. Jackson Hole has plenty to do if you want to walk the hiking trails, go mountain biking, or hit the shops.
Restored castles look over the city of San Juan, displaying the rich history of Puerto Rico. Image courtesy of Encyclopedia Britannica.
6. San Juan, Puerto Rico
If you're looking for a Caribbean island with pristine beaches, San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the place to be. El Yunque Rainforest has many trails that take you up and down the mountains through the beautiful Caribbean rainforest. The city proper of San Juan has shopping districts, excellent restaurants, and tours through their historic districts. The island is home to many beautiful beaches like Luquillo, where the water is crystal clear. There are many hotels throughout the city, all-inclusive resorts, and Airbnb locations. There are several great golf courses, and you can travel to the Maji Lina Gallery & Art Center, one of the premier art galleries in the area.
7. The Hudson Valley, New York
Next on our list is another excellent destination in the United States. We wanted to highlight some of New York State’s beauty. NYC is a classic vacation destination, but the hustle and bustle of the big city is not for everyone. Just a bit north of the big city is the Hudson Valley, which has slowly become a luxury destination for everyone wanting to escape city life. The Wildflower Farms is a collection of 60 cabins and cottages that allow guests to enjoy the area's picturesque countryside and high-class cuisine. Countless stunning restaurants provide meals. Alongside that is a sprawling art district with many amazing galleries.
The Hudson Valley, an amazing vacation destination in its own right, pairs like a fine wine with a trip to New York City. Spend a few days in the city, seeing the sights and living the big-city life before traveling a bit upstate to enjoy miles and miles of beautiful nature.
8. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is an exciting vacation destination within the United States for a week of fun and festivities. It has a vibrant culture (more than simply sports fans!) with a stellar collection of museums, restaurants, shops, and more. Start your trip with a few museums, including the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Andy Warhol Museum, and the renovated childhood home of playwright August Wilson. If you are interested in visiting Pittsburgh, excellent hotels and plenty of rental homes are dotted throughout the city.
Three rivers cross through the city of Pittsburgh. The Ohio, the Allegheny, and the Monongahela meet next to the football and baseball stadiums. Sit and watch the water at the Point State Park or book one of many boat tours on the three rivers. On the Gateway Clipper, guests are treated to a multi-course meal as they meander through town.
The city has several lovely parks where you can enjoy miles of trails, such as Shenley Park in Oakland and Frick Park in Squirrel Hill. There are many unique districts of the city, each with their own charm.
9. Alberta, Canada
Alberta, Canada, is another one of our favorite places to visit because of the snow-peaked mountains and gorgeous turquoise lakes. The city itself, however, has much to offer as well. Fort Edmonton Park is the largest living history museum in Canada. It’s home to the 30,000-square-foot Indigenous Peoples Experience, an exhibit that immerses you in the Métis and First Nations culture. The rich history and historic sites make Alberta a great place to visit. Visitors happily spend weeks exploring the city, seeing the sites, going on tours, and trying out the amazing cuisine in the area.
You can also visit the dark sky preserve in Jasper National Park for the annual festival in October. If you want to stay near the festival, consider finding a room at Pursuit, a new wilderness-themed hotel. Within a short distance from Alberta, there are countless natural treasures. Mountain ranges, sprawling lakes, and the Banff National Park provide amazing experiences for all of Alberta’s visitors.
Nearby is the town of Banff and the Banff National Park. Ride the Banff Gondola, stroll the Johnston Canyon Icewalk, and enjoy the unique national park experience. Nature enthusiasts can't get enough of this location.
10. Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, is an excellent place to vacation on the East Coast. They have a great number of museums, such as the International African American Museum, and a wide array of excellent festivals throughout the year. Staying in their Historic District lets you find a place that’s close to many shops and restaurants, and there are many hotels from which you can choose. Our favorites are The Loutrel and the Harbor View Inn.
Plus, there's not just one beach town, but 5 located in Charleston, so hitting the beach can be another fun activity in this port city. This city is full of amazing culture, cuisine, and history. There are more than enough activities to stay a week in the city, splitting your time between scheduled, touristy activities like tours and just wandering through the city and seeing what you find!
Final Thoughts on the Best Vacation Spots for 2023
There are so many unbelievable destinations throughout the world. We wish you the best of luck choosing one from this great list! Whether you want to visit a national park, remote islands, historic buildings, luxury resorts, or be one with nature, every place on this list is a worthy destination. These are some of the best vacation spots for 2023, whether you want to get away for a family vacation or travel alone.
Experience everyday life in someone else's world, visit fun tourist attractions, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Also, if you know someone going on a fun family vacation, consider getting them a Visa or Mastercard gift card to take on vacation. That would make a great present for someone special or a last-minute gift idea.