23 Best Destinations to Travel in 2023

As the peak holiday season approaches and the world eases Covid-19 restrictions, travel enthusiasts shouldn't miss out on some of CNN's top picks.

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, in the first quarter of 2023, international tourism recovered 80% compared to pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels, with about 235 million visitors.

After a long period of "closed doors and locked doors", the demand for foreign travel among travel enthusiasts is very high, many hotels in famous destinations have announced full rooms.

Below are some ideal destinations in 2023 suggested by CNN .

CNN: 23 điểm đến tốt nhất để du lịch năm 2023

As the country with the longest history in Europe, Poland possesses majestic ancient cultural heritages and beautiful landscapes. Famous tourist destinations in Poland include: the world's oldest salt mine Wieliczka, the ancient city of Krakow, the capital Warsaw, the old town of Warsaw, Malbork Castle ...

Western Australia covers a third of the entire Kangaroo Nation mainland, stretching from the vibrant state capital of Perth, through the Great Victoria and Great Sandy deserts, to the Margaret River wine country and the dramatic cliffs of the Kimberley... Pictured is Rottnest Island in this region.

The English port city of Liverpool is famous for being the birthplace of music legend The Beatles. It is also the host city of Eurovision 2023, the 67th Eurovision Song Contest with thousands of fans. In June 2023, Liverpool will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Liverpool Biennial contemporary visual arts festival. More than 30 famous international artists will attend, promising to bring an attractive visual "feast" to viewers.

Charleston is one of the best preserved cities in America, with a wealth of historic architecture, brick shops and a rich culinary culture. There are more than 1,400 historic homes and churches that have been in use for over 200 years, some of which are over 300 years old. It was also the first city in America to pass a preservation law to protect its buildings, requiring that any exterior changes be approved by the city's architectural board. Colonial and pre-Civil War structures still stand. This allows tourists to visit America's first theater, which still lights up every night.

Vilnius is the largest city and capital of Lithuania, famous for its Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings. The entire city centre of Vilnius was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Before World War II, Vilnius was one of the largest Jewish centres in Europe. Vilnius is the only European capital that allows hot air balloons to fly over the city.

Fiji is famous for its brilliant blue waters, vast coral reefs and hundreds of idyllic islands. In addition to its stunning ocean views, the South Pacific paradise also boasts terrestrial treasures such as Levuka, Fiji’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site. Levuka is Fiji’s former capital and major port, with colonial British buildings nestled among lush coconut palms.

Manaus is the largest city in the Brazilian Amazon. Nestled in the heart of the jungle, Manaus is the perfect starting point for a trip into the Amazon jungle. This tourist city has a lot to offer, from lavish buildings to expansive colonial plazas. Here, visitors can visit Teatro Amazonas, a neoclassical opera house dating back to 1896. Manaus is also home to the Adolpho Duque Botanical Garden and Bosque da Ciência. These two destinations offer easy access to Brazil’s natural and scientific landscapes.

Thessaloniki is the second largest city and capital of the Macedonia region in northern Greece. Its vibrant festivals, social events and vibrant nightlife have made it the cultural capital of Greece. Thessaloniki is a wonderful blend of modern and ancient beauty. In the historic city centre and commercial district, Thessaloniki attracts visitors with its famous Byzantine walls, the White Tower and Turkish baths, colorful food markets, museums and art galleries.

Rwanda is a must-see destination for animal lovers in Africa. Rwanda is the only country in the world that reinvests 10% of its tourism revenue into national parks and local communities to protect and maintain gorilla habitat. In addition to the wildlife experience, Rwanda’s capital city of Kigali is incredibly beautiful despite the painful traces of past genocides, a testament to the strong vitality of its people. The Rukari Museum is a cradle of Rwandan culture, trade and art.

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden, a popular tourist destination. Known for its harmonious blend of modern, dynamic city life and green living in harmony with nature, it has been voted the world's most sustainable destination for six consecutive years. Not only that, Gothenburg also has the wild beauty of the West Swedish coast. Culture is the highlight of Gothenburg. It is home to Scandinavia's largest film festival, as well as many other art forms and art events such as painting, music, etc. In addition, there are many architectural works with unique and impressive designs.

When it comes to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), visitors often think of the skyscrapers of Dubai. However, the UAE has plenty to offer nature lovers, especially the northernmost emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, which aims to become the most sustainable destination in the Middle East by 2025 thanks to a new “balanced tourism” strategy. Just 45 minutes from Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah is often called the “Adventure Emirate” due to its beaches, deserts and mountains, with plenty of outdoor activities such as sandboarding, trekking, surfing, skydiving, scuba diving and the world’s longest zipline. Not only that, Ras Al Khaimah is where you’ll find the UAE’s highest restaurant, 1484 by Puro, located in the Jebel Jais mountain range. Culture lovers can visit the historic Dhayah Fort, which dates back to the Bronze Age (1600-1300 BC). Pictured, Dhayah Fort in Ras al-Khaimah is one of the few remaining hill forts in the UAE.

Laos is an ideal destination in the journey to conquer the beauty of Southeast Asia. Known as the "Land of a Million Elephants" with a unique culture long influenced by Buddhism, this is an ideal pilgrimage destination for spiritual travelers. Coming to Laos, you will be captivated by ancient cities, Buddhist structures and ancient heritages. Visitors can conquer the towering limestone peaks in the "adventure paradise" of Vang Vieng, or explore the ancient city of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO-listed place with French colonial heritage, Buddhist rituals and natural beauty, visit the mysterious Plain of Jars, a megalithic archaeological site, which can be found on the Xiangkhoang Plateau. In the photo, the three-tiered Kuang Si Falls are located just south of Luang Prabang.

Gruyère is a small, peaceful town of about 2,000 people, in the Swiss canton of Fribourg. This town is located in the valley of the Saane River, next to the majestic Alps. Its name is associated with the world's best cheese brand Gruyère. In this small town on the top of the hill, no matter where you stand, you will see a picture-perfect scene. Coming to Gruyère, you cannot help but visit the castle of the same name, which is a symbol of this town. The ancient Gruyère Castle was built in the 13th century (1270-1282) and is one of the most famous castles in Switzerland. The Tibet Museum, a surprising spot in the small town of Gruyères with an attractive collection of more than 300 items, including Buddhist statues dating from the 6th to 7th centuries. It also houses a variety of sculptures, drawings, paintings, religious and ritual objects of significance to Buddhism.

Minneapolis is the largest city in the state of Minnesota (USA), and is also the capital of Hennepin County, located on both banks of the Mississippi River and bordering the city of Saint Paul. Minneapolis is known as the city of lakes because it has 10,000 large and small lakes. Minneapolis attracts tourists with its dense river system and works of art. Notable destinations in Minneapolis: Minnehaha Park, Mill Ruins Park, Saint Mary's Church, Walker Art Center, Mall of America, Minneapolis Institute of Art and Weisman Art Museum...

Bogota is the capital and largest city of Colombia. Visitors will never be bored in Bogota, with plenty to see and do, from exploring the colorful Spanish-style streets to visiting Lake Guatavita, where sunken gold offerings left by the indigenous Muisca people were buried, to exploring the majestic underground salt cathedral of Zipaquirá. Bogota’s funicular and cable car system will give visitors a more impressive view of the city.

Mustang Valley (Nepal) is famous for trekking through ancient trails that once facilitated trade between the Himalayas and India. Nepal's beautiful Mustang Valley, located right on the "doorstep" of Tibet, is considered the best preserved example of Tibetan life in the world. Coming to Mustang, visitors can explore ancient villages and ancient Buddhist monasteries. Also not to be missed is the man-made Mustang Caves located on the Gandaki River, filled with 2,000-year-old Buddhist sculptures and paintings.

From its spectacular wildlife to its beautiful national parks and beaches, Tanzania is a must-see destination in Africa. The East African nation boasts a list of incredible attractions including Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Serengeti National Park, and the Zanzibar Islands. Another must-see in Tanzania is Chumble Island, a luxury resort nestled in the lap of nature. In 2011, Chumble Island became the first island to receive the highest certification for conservation of nature, biodiversity and culture with commercial tourism by the Global Ecosphere Retreat.

Naoshima Island is located off the southern coast of Kagawa Prefecture in the Seto Inland Sea (Japan), famous for its unique contemporary art and architecture. In 2000, Naoshima was named one of the 7 wonders of the world by Conde Nast because it possesses many contemporary art spaces. At the same time, Naoshima is also an ideal destination for visitors to open their hearts in the open, peaceful natural space and freely explore art.

World famous for its many beautiful beaches, mysterious tropical forests, poetic waterfalls, colorful coral reefs, rich and diverse flora and fauna, Belize is one of the most popular tourist paradises. Not only that, Belize also attracts culture lovers because it is also a major center of the Mayan civilization. There are many ancient architectural works remaining from the legendary Mayan empire.

As the capital of the state of the same name, Oaxaca is located on a plateau with the largest population of Native American communities in Mexico. After more than 300 years of being influenced by Spanish culture, the lives of 17 Native American tribes in this land still retain many traditional customs and lifestyles. Each tribe has its own style, all creating a unique colorful picture of life that can only be found in Oaxaca. In the middle of the city with its elegant European architecture, the colorful flared skirts of indigenous women and the colorful markets of spices and folk handicrafts create a scene that is both poetic and full of life. In addition to the beautiful villages, around the city of Oaxaca there are many carefully preserved Native American relics. The most famous is Mitla with its massive stone walls carved with meticulous patterns. Not far away is Yagül, an ancient citadel that holds 10,000-year-old hieroglyphs, and Dainzú, an intact pyramid.

Cairo is a large city located in the northern region of Egypt and is also the capital of Egypt. Cairo is located right next to the legendary Nile River, a place with a long history with ancient Egyptian civilization. In addition to the famous Giza pyramids, Cairo also has one of the largest collections of historical Islamic architecture in the world, the Al-Azhar Mosque, dating back to 970. When coming to Cairo, visitors cannot miss the GEM museum, which houses the entire collection of King Tutankhamun.

The sophisticated space of Montreal or the splendor of Toronto, the capital of Canada, Ottawa, is beautiful in its own way. Ottawa is known as the most livable city in the maple leaf country because of its peaceful scenery, with a slow and quiet pace of life. The landscape of Ottawa is full of green trees with large parks and natural forests, the air is extremely fresh and the scenery is like a painting. Besides, Ottawa also owns unique works of art such as a system of historical museums, art galleries, national art centers... preserving unique cultural values over hundreds of years. Not only that, Ottawa also leaves a special impression on visitors thanks to its ancient castles with hundreds of years of history. The most typical is the ancient Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel built in the 19th century.

Uganda “The Pearl of Africa” is blessed with a wide variety of habitats and corresponding flora and fauna. The diversity of large wildlife reserves and stunning landscapes make Uganda the number one tourist destination in East Africa.