Top Travel Destinations for 2023

It's that exciting time of year again: the 'Where to Go' season! Dinogo is unveiling our handpicked selection of the best places to visit in the upcoming year. How do we decide? Our editorial team connected with writers, journalists, and correspondents worldwide to curate a list of 12 global destinations for 2023, places that are destined to be in the spotlight: vibrant cities, coastal villages, breathtaking national parks, and other awe-inspiring locations. Keep reading, and get ready to set off on your next adventure...

1. Tasmania, Australia

In this remote and stunning island state near Melbourne, creativity and boldness are in full force.

It was my first journey to Australia—my very first international trip—in 2001. I arrived in Melbourne as a nervous, wide-eyed university student, filled with excitement and ready for any adventure that came my way. Show me the city! I silently demanded of our study-abroad leaders. Let me explore! We toured the quirky St. Kilda neighborhood on the south shore, learned the ins and outs of Australian rules football, and took a ferry to Phillip Island, where we watched the adorable nightly parade of tiny penguins racing from the sea to the shore at dusk, their arrival greeted with collective 'awwws' from all of us with a soft spot for wildlife.

Those attractions were pleasant, but they were safe. A beginner's guide to Australia. What if I had known about an island just a few hundred miles from Melbourne, known for its daring art scene? What if I had discovered its raw, breathtaking landscapes, world-class single-malt whisky, and seafood so fresh it asks you to choose your catch of the day? What if I had visited Tasmania?

For the full story from Laura Redman, read Eclectic Art, Fresh Seafood, and Wild Landscapes—Why You Should Add Tasmania to Your Travel List.

2. Ruaha National Park, Tanzania

In a secluded area of Tanzania's Ruaha National Park, visitors can experience a wealth of wildlife without the crowds—and contribute to vital conservation efforts.

Covering an impressive 7,700 square miles in southern Tanzania, Ruaha is the country's second-largest national park. However, it attracts only a small fraction of the visitors who head to the more popular Serengeti in the north. This low visitor rate makes Ruaha a paradise for wildlife lovers: the park's diverse ecosystems, from expansive savannas to lush wetlands, give it the feel of a private game reserve, and you can go for days without encountering another vehicle.

In one of the park's less-explored regions lies the Usangu wetlands, once a hunting reserve and home to the Wasangu tribe for generations. These wetlands feed the Great Ruaha River, a crucial water source for local communities, wildlife, and the hydroelectric dams powering much of the country. Wildlife surveys have identified cheetahs, leopards, and lions here, while herds of topi antelope can number over 1,000 individuals at a time.

In 2017, the Tanzania National Parks Authority, Tanzanian Wildlife Research Institute, and the eco-tourism company Asilia Africa teamed up to create a tourism model that channels visitor revenue into funding research, management, and conservation efforts. Asilia's Usangu Expedition Camp, which opened its doors in 2022, is the only accommodation for over 30 miles in any direction. The camp’s four spacious rooms feature towering ceilings, king-sized beds, rain showers, and panoramic mesh walls that offer stunning views of the acacia-studded wilderness. It provides a chic home base for exploring in two upcycled vehicles that run on ethanol derived from the sugar cane waste of a nearby plantation. Guests also participate in data collection from camera traps by day and thermal monoculars by night.

The region’s conservation efforts are brought to life by the largely local staff, including Wasangu guide-in-training Anderson Pakomyus Mesilla, whose family has lived in Usangu for generations. 'I’m working to preserve my ancestral land, but this wetland also provides power to a large part of the country, including my own village,' he shared. 'We all benefit from protecting the river's source.'—Jennifer Flowers

3. Graz, Austria

A do-it-yourself ethos breathes life into a historic city, blending yoga, silent discos, and experimental music into a vibrant tapestry.

Located just over 100 miles south of Vienna, in the Mediterranean-like climate of Austria's Styrian wine region, lies the country's second-largest city. Here, a fairytale mix of baroque and Renaissance buildings clusters at the base of the Schlossberg, a hill once home to Graz’s greatest defense. In medieval times, a towering fortress stood atop it, though Napoleon had it dismantled. Still, the colorful facades and terracotta roofs that emerged below continue to shine in the southern Austrian sun. On the east side of the Mur River, Graz's rich past is alive and well.

Crossing the river, you’ll encounter Graz’s future. While the districts of Lend and Gries might lack in classical architecture, they more than make up for it with innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. At Bo Suppe, Arnd Hoffmann serves up a variety of homemade soups from his kitchen window (don’t miss the vegan pumpernickel Bolognese). Meanwhile, at Managerie, Maria Reiner runs a quirky 'kiosk shop' in the front of her apartment, selling drinks and crocheted lampshades. Daily life revolves around the Lendplatz morning market, and small businesses thrive in an atmosphere of creativity, marked by a full calendar of events: backyard flea markets, walking tours, yoga in the park, and knitting circles. The Annenviertel project, launched by local activists in 2014, has helped revitalize the Annenstrasse shopping street and surrounding neighborhoods. Live music at Café Wolf, a 1930s bar, ranges from Israeli space-rock to a trio of improvisational autoharp players. Each May, the Lendwirbel festival transforms empty storefronts into a hub for art installations, silent discos, workshops, and discussions.

The Kunsthaus Graz, a modern art museum, has inspired many creatives to set up shop here. Stroll down Mariahilferstrasse, the main shopping street, and you’ll discover a mix of jewelers, fashion boutiques, and homeware stores. The city also thrives on a spirit of social entrepreneurship: One of Graz's trendiest accessory shops, tag.werk, has provided hundreds of young people with employment opportunities by teaching them trades and life skills. Come to Graz for its history—but stay for its hopeful vision of the future.—Emma John

4. Great Lakes, USA

From picturesque lakeside towns to thrilling expedition cruises, there are plenty of reasons to explore the Great Lakes.

As a Michigan native, I share an unbreakable bond with the Great Lakes—the magnificent five that stretch across two countries and eight states, from New York in the east to Minnesota in the west. Michigan, with its shores touching four of the five lakes, always felt like both the heart of the region and a distant peninsula, surrounded by its natural wonders. In high school, after my family moved to a home near a smaller lake that connects to the Greats, I would drift to sleep to the low hum of freighters’ foghorns, the haunting calls of vast inland seas that were both familiar and enigmatic.

Years later, the Great Lakes are still a place to wade into calm, shallow waters in summer or test your nerve by kayaking their waves. In winter, they transform into ice caves and are home to iceboats—sailboats on blades. The word “Great” reflects not only their size but also their profound impact on culture, history, and the future of our climate.

For the complete article by Elaine Glusac, read The Great Lakes: A Rich Tapestry of Culture, History, and One of the World’s Most Extraordinary Ecosystems.

5. Cambutal, Panama

For adventure seekers and community-driven tourism, the southern coast of Panama’s Azuero Peninsula is the place to be.

Few visitors to Los Santos, one of Panama’s least-explored provinces, make it to the end of the solitary road that leads south. But for those who do, Cambutal awaits, a beach town 228 miles from Panama City, quickly gaining recognition from both Panamanians and adventurous travelers from around the world.

Nestled along a serene, uncrowded black-sand beach, Cambutal offers perfect waves for surfers. Beyond the shore, the surrounding jungles are home to rivers, canyons, natural pools, and stunning multi-tiered waterfalls.

Having spent much of his childhood on the southern Azuero Peninsula, Panama-native Bryan Goldner founded Azuero Adventures in November 2020 to guide visitors safely through the region. As Cambutal's sole registered tour operator, the company began by offering horseback rides across grassy hills to view ancient petroglyphs created by Indigenous peoples.

In 2022, Azuero Adventures expanded to offer multi-day trips to Cerro Hoya National Park, located just west of Cambutal. Spanning over 80,000 acres, the park is inaccessible by road and can only be reached by boat, horseback, or 4x4 vehicle, making it one of Panama's most remote national parks. The largely untouched land is home to diverse wildlife, including endangered species like the great green macaw and the Azuero spider monkey. Guests can stay in private oceanfront cabins or choose an immersive camping experience, which includes a hike through the cloud forest at over 4,200 feet above sea level.

With sustainable and community-focused tourism at the heart of his business, Goldner collaborates closely with the people of Cambutal—a vision that aligns with the Panama Ministry of Tourism’s efforts to bolster rural and community-driven tourism ventures.

“We hire local captains and guides,” Goldner explains. “The goal is not to import outside resources, but to tap into the rich community that's already here.” —Jessica Poitevien

6. Transylvania, Romania

In one of Europe’s last truly wild regions, nature and tradition flourish.

It’s been 125 years since Bram Stoker penned Dracula, forever associating Transylvania with a land of darkness, bloodthirsty counts, and a fear of holy water. While no other book has so thoroughly shaped the world’s view of a place, Stoker did capture one truth about the region: its untamed wilderness. North of Bucharest, nestled in Romania, Transylvania is home to one of Europe’s last untouched natural areas: a vast expanse of alpine meadows, jagged limestone ridges, and ancient forests that stretch across the land, blanketed in juniper, spruce, beech, and fir trees.

These rugged mountains are home to Europe’s largest population of large predators—brown bears, wolves, and lynx. The nonprofit Foundation Conservation Carpathia (FCC) is working to create a sprawling reserve to protect these wild lands for future generations. This ‘European Yellowstone,’ as FCC’s executive director Christoph Promberger describes it, will span almost 618,000 acres across Romania’s Southern Carpathian Mountains.

For the full story by Keith Drew, read This Romanian Region, Often Misunderstood, Is Becoming Known as “European Yellowstone.”

7. Bangkok, Thailand

Young, ambitious Thais are leading a cultural revival in one of the globe’s most popular cities.

From the edge of an L-shaped bar, I watched as three chefs in black caps meticulously plated what looked like mounds of snow. The loud music inside drowned out the noise of the bustling Bangkok street outside. “Alright, this one’s called ‘Daft Punk Is Playing in My Mouth,’” said chef Sareen Rojanametin as he placed the strange dish in front of me. Just as he spoke, the thumping beats of the LCD Soundsystem song “Daft Punk Is Playing at My House” blared from the speakers.

The first bite hit like a revelation. At Small Dinner Club, a place that ‘deconstructs, challenges, and reinvents Thai cuisine,’ there’s no menu. The 12-course experience is a thrilling surprise, with inspiration notes from the 32-year-old chef who opened this secret gem in February 2022. “This dish represents the heart of Thai food,” he wrote. I expected coconut or lime—but instead, an explosion of Thai green chile took over. My eyebrows began to sweat. I mixed it all together: frosty ice, delicate fish, watermelon, and a luscious black sesame sauce. It was a whole new musical arrangement of Thai flavors. Rojanametin, who spent two years in a forest monastery before launching the restaurant, shared with me, “The city has evolved so much in the past four years. People are now much bolder.”

For the full story by Kathryn Romeyn, read Just When You Thought You Knew Bangkok, Thailand’s Most Visited City Rewrites Itself.

8. Salvador, Brazil

Salvador, Brazil is an essential destination for anyone interested in engaging with the country’s Black history, with exciting new cultural experiences to explore.

Salvador, a historic port city on Brazil’s northeastern coast, doesn’t just preserve its past—it lives it. More than 4 million Africans were forcibly brought to Brazil, where they worked on coffee and sugar plantations. The strongest echoes of this painful history are felt in Bahia, where 80 percent of the population is Black or of mixed race. Today, the descendants of enslaved peoples continue to celebrate their heritage through vibrant music, food, and culture in Salvador, making it a living testament to resilience and tradition.

The tour company Guia Negro offers English-language guided tours exploring Brazil’s Black heritage, including visits to the locations where Michael Jackson and Spike Lee filmed the 1996 music video for “They Don’t Care About Us,” featuring the renowned Afro-Brazilian drum group Olodum. The Casa do Carnaval da Bahia is a museum dedicated to the rich history of Brazil’s carnival traditions. Meanwhile, the City of Music of Bahia museum, opened in 2021, lets visitors immerse themselves in over 800 hours of Bahian music, introducing them to genres like pagode—a style of samba—and axé, a fusion of Afro-Caribbean sounds that originated in Bahia.

Pelourinho, Salvador’s historic old town, is named after its dark past as the site of slave auctions. Today, its cobblestone streets are lined with vibrant houses, bustling restaurants, and bars. At Di Janela, chef Nara Amaral serves dishes that celebrate the flavors of Bahia, including roasted garlic with octopus, lobster with spicy potatoes, and moqueca, a traditional seafood stew. Meanwhile, at Zanzibar, Ana Célia Santos offers various takes on the dish—one made with shrimp, stingray, and crab, and another vegetarian version featuring rice and farofa, toasted cassava flour.

For an authentic Salvador experience after dark, head to ABOCA Centro de Artes, a venue where Afro-Brazilian musicians like Mariene de Castro and Mateus Aleluia perform live. There’s no better way to conclude a day in the city than by enjoying the music that forms the heart and soul of Salvador.—Kayla Stewart

9. Sharjah, UAE

With its thought-provoking art and architecture, Sharjah stands out as an emirate with cultural depth, often overshadowed by its more glamorous neighbors.

Since moving to the United Arab Emirates seven years ago, I’ve developed a deep fondness for Sharjah. While it may not boast the towering skyscrapers of Dubai or the majestic palaces of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah is home to some of the region’s most vibrant cultural institutions. And 2023 is shaping up to be a banner year for the emirate, with major events shining a spotlight on two of its standout qualities: art and architecture.

The 15th Sharjah Biennial will run from February to June, showcasing the work of over 150 artists from more than 70 countries. The event will feature thirty newly commissioned pieces, including works by Moroccan photographer Hassan Hajjaj and British Palestinian multimedia artist Mona Hatoum. The exhibition theme, “Thinking Historically in the Present,” will unfold across 16 venues, each of which is a gem in itself—from historic coral-stone houses to the quirky Sharjah Art Foundation’s Flying Saucer, a UFO-shaped building that once hosted a French patisserie and a fast-food chicken restaurant.

For the full story from Nicola Chilton, read Sharjah Is One of the Most Exciting—and Overlooked—Cities in the UAE.

10. Baltimore, USA

Major renovations to key downtown landmarks are transforming Charm City into a dynamic center for food and entertainment.

From its early days as a bustling seaport to its current reputation as a seafood haven, Baltimore continues to evolve. Recently, a $45 million revamp of Lexington Market, the nation’s longest-running public market (dating back to 1782), unveiled a spacious, modernized interior. The market is now illuminated by 16-foot murals from local artist Ernest Shaw Jr. and striking photos by Shan Wallace, which celebrate Baltimore’s rich Black food culture. After all, this is a city where the majority of the population is Black, and their culinary contributions are at the heart of the local dining scene.

The developer’s comprehensive renovation of the historic market has reimagined it as a vibrant community hub, revitalizing the space that had fallen into disrepair. Benches line the central staircase, offering ideal spots for people-watching, while an outdoor plaza hosts events and performances. Input from local residents shaped the diverse mix of over 40 market stalls, including Black-owned businesses such as Black Acres Roastery and the family-run Sunnyside Café. True to the market's maritime roots, it also features beloved seafood spots like Faidley’s Seafood, famous for its crab cakes, and Cho’s Sea Garden, a Korean-owned family restaurant.

Just a few blocks away, the CFG Bank Arena is set to reopen with a $200 million renovation, bringing state-of-the-art upgrades including new concessions, sound systems, and lighting. The venue will host college basketball tournaments in February and a near-sellout Bruce Springsteen concert in April. The renovation project has backing from celebrity investor Pharrell Williams and NBA star Kevin Durant’s investment firm, ensuring the arena is now equipped to compete with the best venues in the region.

Noteworthy for 2023: an exhibition of Baltimore native John Waters’s personal art collection at the Baltimore Museum of Art (running through April 16), and the return of Artscape, the city’s signature cultural festival in September. Past festivals have included such quirky features as car art displays. For festival-goers, the newly opened Ulysses boutique hotel offers a literary escape, with 116 rooms that honor both the James Joyce novel and a ship that brought Bavarian immigrants to the city.—Julekha Dash

11. Prince Edward Island, Canada

Stretching 435 miles, this new hiking and biking route offers a leisurely, scenic way to explore Canada’s charming, small province.

Prince Edward Island (PEI), located off Canada’s eastern coast, is a land of lush landscapes and captivating rural beauty. From sprawling potato and strawberry fields to endless sandy beaches, from the quaint villages that inspired the 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables to the iconic red-and-white lighthouses, PEI is a dream for nature lovers. The newly introduced Island Walk offers a 435-mile route that encircles the island, giving travelers a chance to slow down and immerse themselves in its tranquil beauty on foot or by bike.

My husband and I cycled 180 miles of the Island Walk in June 2022, starting in Charlottetown, the island’s compact capital, and spending six days exploring the central part of the province. From Charlottetown, we pedaled along tree-lined red-dirt roads, quiet country lanes, and crushed-gravel trails. After checking into the Orient Hotel in the picturesque village of Victoria-by-the-Sea, we wandered through local shops, chatted with fishermen unloading their daily catch, and enjoyed a barefoot stroll on a secluded beach. The tide rolled in as I savored what might have been the best lobster roll I’ve ever had—sweet lobster served in a buttery toasted bun with house-made mayo—at the Lobster Barn restaurant.

For the full story from Debbie Olsen, read Idyllic Villages, Fresh Lobster Rolls, and a New Trail—Why Now Is the Time to Visit Prince Edward Island.

12. Brescia & Bergamo, Italy

Discover centuries of history paired with modern cocktails in two Italian cities united by a scenic cycling trail.

What makes la dolce vita so sweet? Picture golden sunlight illuminating ancient stone buildings, a lively piazza full of chatter during aperitivo hour, and narrow streets made for a leisurely passeggiata to help you digest it all. Welcome to Brescia and Bergamo, two northern Italian cities in Lombardy that have been named 2023’s joint Italian Capitals of Culture. If you only associate them with the dark days of the pandemic, prepare to be amazed by the resurgence and charm these cities now offer.

Bergamo is the more renowned of the two cities, with its historic Città Alta (Upper City) perched nearly 300 feet above the modern lower town. The Bergamaschi are passionate about the outdoors, often relaxing in deck chairs at the 17th-century gardens of Palazzo Moroni, which opened to the public for the first time in 2020. New tuk-tuk rides now navigate the Città Alta’s UNESCO-protected 16th-century city walls. The fountain in Piazza Vecchia, surrounded by lions and sphinxes, has been restored, and new walking routes connect Bergamo’s historic and modern areas. Both travelers and locals alike can explore the nearby Val d’Astino valley, where vineyards, wildflower-filled meadows, and a 12th-century monastery await.

A new 47-mile cycling route, opening ceremoniously in early 2023, will take riders from Bergamo past the serene Lake Iseo and through the rolling vineyards of Franciacorta wine country, all the way to Brescia, a city known for its vibrant Roman history just north of Rome.

While Bergamo thrives on outdoor living, Brescia’s charm is found indoors. Enjoy gourmet pizza tasting menus at Inedito or Roman-inspired cocktails at Massenzio. Try the Domitilla, named after the wife of Emperor Vespasian—a refreshing blend of berry gin, grapefruit, rosemary syrup, and egg white. For a stylish night’s stay, book a room at the Areadocks Boutique Hotel, where the modern art and vintage furnishings are available for purchase. In northern Italy, la dolce vita has never been sweeter.—Julia Buckley