Condé Nast Traveler - The 23 Best Places to Go in 2023

1. Visit Auckland NEW ZEALAND

The Auckland metropolitan area, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world. In Māori Auckland's names are Tāmaki Makaurau, and the transliterated version of Auckland, Ākarana.

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2. Visit British Columbia CANADA

British Columbia is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, forests, lakes, mountains, inland deserts and grassy plains, and borders the province of Alberta to the east and the Yukon and Northwest Territories to the north. With an estimated population of 5.3 million as of 2022, it is Canada's third-most populous province. The capital of British Columbia is Victoria and its largest city is Vancouver. Vancouver is the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada; the 2021 census recorded 2.6 million people in Metro Vancouver.

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3. Explore the Central California Coast CALIFORNIA

The Central Coast is an area of California, roughly spanning the coastal region between Point Mugu and Monterey Bay. It lies northwest of Los Angeles County and south of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, and includes the rugged, undeveloped stretch of coastline known as Big Sur. From south to north, there are six counties that make up the Central Coast: Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz.

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4. Visit Egypt

Egypt is a country located in North Africa that is rich in history and culture. It is known for its ancient landmarks, such as the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx, as well as its vibrant cities and beautiful beaches. Some things to do while traveling in Egypt include visiting the ancient pyramids, taking a cruise down the Nile River, and exploring the bustling markets and souks. Other popular activities include visiting the many museums and galleries in Cairo, such as the Cairo Museum and the Egyptian Museum, and exploring the many temples and tombs scattered throughout the country. Egypt is also home to a number of natural attractions, such as the Red Sea, which offers opportunities for snorkeling and scuba diving, and the Sinai Peninsula, which is home to Mount Sinai, a sacred mountain in the Abrahamic religions.

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5. Visit Galilee ISRAEL

Galilee is a region located in northern Israel and southern Lebanon. Galilee traditionally refers to the mountainous part, divided into Upper Galilee and Lower Galilee.

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6. Visit Kenya

The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. Lying along the Indian Ocean to its southeast and at the equator, Kenya is bordered by Somalia to the northeast, Ethiopia to the north, Sudan to the northwest, Uganda to the west and Tanzania to the south. Lake Victoria is to the southwest and is shared between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Kenya has numerous wildlife reserves, containing thousands of animal species. The capital city is Nairobi.

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7. Visit the Loire Valley FRANCE

The Loire Valley, spanning 280 kilometres (170 mi), is located in the middle stretch of the Loire River in central France. Its area comprises approximately 800 square kilometres (310 sq mi). It is referred to as the Cradle of the French Language, and the Garden of France due to the abundance of vineyards, fruit orchards, and artichoke and asparagus fields, which line the banks of the river.

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8. Visit Marrakech MOROCCO

Marrakech or Marrakesh, known as the "Red City", is an important and former imperial city in Morocco. The city of Marrakech is the capital of the mid-southwestern economic region of Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. Like many North African cities, the city of Marrakech comprises both an old fortified city and an adjacent modern city (called Gueliz) for a total population of 1,070,838.

Marrakech is home to the largest traditional market in Morocco, where you can find everything from spices to handmade crafts.

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9. Visit Melides

Melides is a small village located in the Alentejo region of Portugal, known for its beautiful beaches and laid-back atmosphere. The main beach in Melides is Praia da Comporta, which stretches for over 3 kilometers and is surrounded by sand dunes and pine forests. The village is also home to the Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Luz, a 16th century chapel located on a hill overlooking the village, and the Feira de Artesanato, a weekly craft market where visitors can purchase handmade pottery and other locally made items. In addition to its cultural attractions, Melides also has several restaurants and cafes serving traditional Portuguese cuisine as well as international dishes. Despite its small size, Melides has a lot to offer visitors seeking a relaxing beach holiday in a charming and unspoiled corner of Portugal.

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10. Visit Memphis TENNESSEE

Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers. Memphis had a population of 662,897 at the 2010 census, making it the largest city in the state of Tennessee, the third largest in the Southeastern United States, and the 20th largest in the United States.

Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion in Memphis is the second most-visited private home in the United States, after the White House.

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11. Visit Mendoza ARGENTINA

Mendoza is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes. As of the 2001 census, Mendoza's population was 110,993. The metropolitan population was 848,660 in 2001, making Greater Mendoza the fourth largest census metropolitan area in the country. Ruta Nacional 7, the major road running between Buenos Aires and Santiago, runs through Mendoza.

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12. Visit Mustang NEPAL

Upper Mustang is an upper part of Mustang District, which is located in Nepal. The Upper Mustang was a restricted kingdom until 1992 which makes it one of the most preserved regions in the world, with a majority of the population still speaking traditional Tibetic languages. Tibetan culture has been preserved by the relative isolation of the region from the outside world. Life in Mustang revolves around tourism, animal husbandry, and trade.

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13. Visit Ollantaytambo PERU

Ollantaytambo is a town and an Inca archaeological site in southern Peru some 72 km (45 mi) by road northwest of the city of Cusco. It is located at an altitude of 2,792 m (9,160 ft) above sea level in the district of Ollantaytambo, province of Urubamba, Cusco region. During the Inca Empire, Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti, who conquered the region, and built the town and a ceremonial center. At the time of the Spanish conquest of Peru, it served as a stronghold for Manco Inca Yupanqui, leader of the Inca resistance. Located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, it is now an important tourist attraction on account of its Inca ruins and its location en route to one of the most common starting points for the four-day, three-night hike known as the Inca Trail.

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14. Visit Sharjah, the “Cultural Capital of the Arab World” UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Sharjah is the third-most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, after Dubai and Abu Dhabi, forming part of the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area.

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15. Visit Queensland AUSTRALIA

Queensland is the second-largest and third-most populous state of Australia, located in the northeast of the country. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, southwest and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean. Queensland has a population of 4,580,700, concentrated along the coast and particularly in the state's South East.

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16. Visit Srinagar INDIA

Srinagar is the largest city and the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It lies in the Kashmir Valley on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus, and Dal and Anchar lakes. The city is known for its natural environment, gardens, waterfronts and houseboats. It is known for traditional Kashmiri handicrafts like the Kashmir shawl, and also dried fruits. It is the 31st-most populous city in India, the northernmost city in India to have over one million people, and the second-largest metropolitan area in the Himalayas.

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17. Visit Taiwan

Taiwan is an island nation of about 36,000 km² located off the coast of southeastern China, southwest of Okinawa and north of the Philippines. The island is governed by the Republic of China or ROC. Shaped roughly like a sweet potato, the nation is home to more than 23 million people and is one of the most densely populated places in the world. Besides its crowded cities, Taiwan is also known for steep mountains and lush forests. In addition to the island of Taiwan, the Republic of China also governs the Pescadores (Penghu), Quemoy (Kinmen/Jinmen), and While the political status of Taiwan is a somewhat controversial and sensitive issue, from a traveller's point of view, Taiwan is under the ''de facto'' control of a different government from mainland China, and in practice operates as a separate country.

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18. Visit Turks and Caicos

The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory consisting of the larger Caicos Islands and smaller Turks Islands, two groups of tropical islands in the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean and northern West Indies. They are known primarily for tourism and as an offshore financial centre. The resident population in July 2021 was put at 57,196, making it the third-largest of the British overseas territories by population.

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19. Visit Vienna AUSTRIA

Vienna is the capital of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.7 million (2.3 million within the metropolitan area, more than 25% of Austria's population), and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre. It is the 10th largest city by population in the European Union.

Visiting the stunning Schönbrunn Palace, the former imperial summer residence, is a must-do when in Vienna.

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20. Visit Wales

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has an estimated population of three million and is officially bilingual with the Welsh and English languages having equal status. The Welsh language is an important element of Welsh culture. Its decline has reversed over recent years, with Welsh speakers estimated to be around 20% of the population of Wales.

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21. Visit Western Japan JAPAN

Western Japan is a region located on the main island of Honshu and includes the prefectures of Fukui, Ishikawa, Gifu, Aichi, Mie, and Shiga. It is known for its mountainous terrain, beautiful lakes, and hot springs. The region is home to a number of famous landmarks and cultural attractions, including the city of Kyoto, which is known for its temples, shrines, and gardens; the city of Nagoya, which is home to the Toyota Museum and the Atsuta Shrine; and the city of Osaka, which is known for its lively atmosphere and delicious food. Western Japan is also home to a number of national parks, including the Japan Alps National Park and the Chubu Sangaku National Park, which offer opportunities for hiking, mountain climbing, and skiing.

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22. Visit the Yucatán Peninsula MEXICO

The Yucatán Peninsula is a large peninsula in southeastern Mexico and adjacent portions of Belize and Guatemala. The peninsula extends towards the northeast, separating the Gulf of Mexico to the north and west of the peninsula from the Caribbean Sea to the east. The Yucatán Channel, between the northeastern corner of the peninsula and Cuba, connects the two bodies of water.

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23. Visit Zamora SPAIN

Zamora is a city and municipality of Spain located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is the capital of the province of Zamora. The city straddles the Duero river. With its 24 characteristic Romanesque style churches of the 12th and 13th centuries it has been called a "museum of Romanesque art". Zamora is the city with the most Romanesque churches in all of Europe. The most important celebration in Zamora is the Holy Week.

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