ginis travel 2023

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SIGMETRICS is the Association for Computing Machinery's (ACM) Special Interest Group (SIG) for the computer performance evaluation community; it holds an annual conference by the same name focused on performance modeling, measurement, and analysis of computer systems. The SIGMETRICS 2023 conference was located in Orlando, Florida from June 19-22, 2023, and co-located with the ACM Federated Computing Research Conference (FCRC), a jointly-hosted set of ACM conferences including (but not limited to) International Symposium on Computer Architecture (ISCA), Programming Language Design and Implementation (PLDI), Symposium on Principles of Distributed Computing (PODC), and SIGMETRICS. 

The SIGMETRICS 2023 Student Travel Grant supported 25 students studying at U.S. universities to attend the conference. In doing so, it fostered intellectual merit and broader impacts within the field. 

Intellectual Merit

The grant enhanced the intellectual merit of the conference by facilitating the participation of 25 students. 

Four of the supported students participated in the second annual SIGMETRICS Student Research Competition (SRC). The SRC not only provided a platform for these students to present their work but also allowed them to receive constructive feedback from experienced researchers, further elevating the intellectual rigor of their projects. These projects spanned many topics, including new analysis techniques for queueing theory, an empirical analysis of neural networks, and tools for private blockchain usage. Three of the four Student Travel Grantees who participated in the SRC won an award, including one undergraduate student. 

Additionally, 12 of the supported students presented papers either at workshops or the main conference. These presentations covered a diverse range of topics, highlighting the grant's success in promoting intellectual diversity. The presentations not only showcased the students' contributions to the field but also stimulated discussions and collaborations among conference attendees. Two of the awardees won best paper awards at the conference (Best Paper and Best Student Paper). 

The intellectual merit of the grant is further demonstrated by the active participation of the attendees in various sessions, workshops, and community events. Engaging with leading researchers and academics at these events provided the students with valuable insights, fostering intellectual growth and expanding their understanding of the latest advancements in their respective fields.

Broader Impacts

The SIGMETRICS 2023 Student Travel Grant helped to encourage broader participation in the SIGMETRICS community. The grant supported conference travel costs for seven non-male students (28% of the awardees) and one student from an under-represented racial minority (4% of awardees). The supported students came from a diverse set of universities and research groups, both in terms of research area (theory, measurement, systems, and learning) and in terms of university size, geographic location, and focus. The grantees also included two undergraduate students (8%) and two Master’s students (8%). The remaining 21 students were pursuing Ph.D.s at the time of the conference. 

Several student grantees, particularly those on the job market, utilized the conference as a platform to network and disseminate their work. The opportunity to connect with established researchers, industry professionals, and peers has the potential to open doors for future collaborations, research opportunities, and career advancements.

The grant's support for students presenting papers at workshops or the main conference not only contributed to the academic discourse within the conference but also allowed the students to share their research findings with a wider audience, due to the conference’s co-location with FCRC.

The Sigmetrics 2023 Student Travel Grant successfully contributed to both the intellectual merit and broader impacts of the conference. By supporting a diverse group of students, fostering high-quality research, and providing opportunities for networking and knowledge dissemination, the grant played an important role in advancing the fields of performance modeling, measurement, and analysis of computer systems. 

Last Modified: 01/04/2024 Modified by: Giulia Fanti

Please report errors in award information by writing to: [email protected] .

Florida quietly removes LGBTQ+ travel info from state website

Hundreds of people line Central Avenue and cheer during the 10th Annual St. Pete Pride Street Festival & Promenade in St. Petersburg, Fla. on June 30, 2012. Leah Millis/The Associated Press

Key West, Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors and St. Petersburg are among several Florida cities that have long been top U.S. destinations for LGBTQ+ tourists. So it came as a surprise this week when travellers learned that Florida’s tourism marketing agency quietly removed the “LGBTQ Travel” section from its website some time in the past few months.

Business owners who cater to Florida’s LGBTQ+ tourists said Wednesday that it marked the latest attempt by officials in the state to erase the LGBTQ+ community. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis previously championed a bill to forbid classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity, and supported a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, as well as a law meant to keep children out of drag shows.

“It’s just disgusting to see this,” said Keith Blackburn, who heads the Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “They seem to want to erase us.”

The change to Visit Florida’s website was first reported by NBC News, which noted a search query still pulls up some listings for LGBTQ+-friendly places despite the elimination of the section.

John Lai, who chairs Visit Florida’s board, didn’t respond to an e-mail seeking comment Tuesday. Dana Young, Visit Florida’s CEO and president, didn’t respond to a voicemail message Wednesday, and neither did the agency’s public relations director.

Visit Florida is a public-private partnership between the state of Florida and the state’s tourism industry. The state contributes about $50 million each year to the quasi-public agency from two tourism and economic development funds.

Florida is one of the most popular states in the U.S. for tourists, and tourism is one of its biggest industries. Nearly 141 million tourists visited Florida in 2023, with out-of-state visitors contributing more than $102 billion to Florida’s economy.

Before the change, the LGBTQ+ section on Visit Florida’s website had read, “There’s a sense of freedom to Florida’s beaches, the warm weather and the myriad activities – a draw for people of all orientations, but especially appealing to a gay community looking for a sense of belonging and acceptance.”

Blackburn said the change and other anti-LGBTQ+ policies out of Tallahassee make it more difficult for him to promote South Florida tourism since he encounters prospective travellers or travel promoters who say they don’t want to do business in the state.

Last year, for instance, several civil rights groups issued a travel advisory for Florida, saying that policies championed by DeSantis and Florida lawmakers are “openly hostile toward African Americans, people of colour and LGBTQ+ individuals.”

But visitors should also understand that many Florida cities are extremely inclusive, with gay elected officials and LGBTQ+-owned businesses, and they don’t reflect the policies coming from state government, Blackburn added.

“It’s difficult when these kinds of stories come out, and the state does these things, and we hear people calling for a boycott,” Blackburn said. “On one level, it’s embarrassing to have to explain why people should come to South Florida and our destination when the state is doing these things.”

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Αναχωρήσεις: 09, 23/07 & 06,13,20,27/08 & 03/09 & 24/10

Ρώμη η “Αιώνια Πόλη” – 5ημ. (28η Οκτωβρίου) (Ιταλία)

Αναχωρήσεις: 24 & 26/10

Κλασικός Γύρος Ιταλίας – 7ημ. (28η Οκτωβρίου – Νοέμβριος – Δεκέμβριος) (Ιταλία)

Αναχωρήσεις: 30/10 & 06,13,20/11 & 04/12

Τυνησία – Ο Μεγάλος Γύρος των Οάσεων – 8ημ. (Μάιο μέχρι Νοέμβριο) (Τυνησία)

Αναχωρήσεις: 18/05, 08/06, 06 & 20/07, 03,10,17,24/08

Βαρκελώνη – Χιρόνα – Φιγκέρες – 4,5ημ. (Οκτώβριος – Νοέμβριος – Δεκέμβριος) (Ισπανία)

SUPER ΠΡΟΣΦΟΡΑ! Αναχωρήσεις: 27/10 & 15,17,22,24,29/11 & 04,11,12,/12

Κλασικός Γύρος Ισπανίας – 7,8ημ. (Οκτώβριος – Νοέμβριος – Δεκέμβριος) (Ισπανία)

Αναχωρήσεις: 27/10 - 8ημ. & 04/11 & 23,30/12 - 7ημ.

Νάπολη – Ρώμη – Μαγευτική Αμαλφιτάνα – Κάπρι – 6ημ. (28η Οκτωβρίου) (Ιταλία)

Μοναδική Αναχώρηση: 23/10

AIΓΥΠΤΟΣ All Inclusive – Κάιρο – Αλεξάνδρεια – Πυραμίδες – Κρουαζιέρα Νείλου – 4ημ. (Οκτώβριο-Νοέμβριο) (Αίγυπτο)

Αναχωρήσεις: 30/10 & 06,13,20/11

Κύπρος – 5ημ. (28η Οκτωβρίου & Νοέμβριος) (Κύπρος)

Αναχωρήσεις: 25/10 & 09, 16, 23/11

Ρώμη-Αναγεννησιακή Τοσκάνη-Απαράμιλλη Cinque Terre – 6ημ. (28η Οκτωβρίου) (Ιταλία)

Αναχώρηση: 26/10

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Φλωρεντία – Ρώμη – 5ημ. (Μοναδική Προσφορά Νοέμβριος & Δεκέμβριος) (Ιταλία)

Αναχωρήσεις: 5,12,19,26 /11 & 03,10/12

Ρώμη Deluxe – 4ημ. (Μοναδική Προσφορά – Νοέμβριος & Δεκέμβριος) (Ιταλία)

Αναχωρήσεις: 09,16,23,30/11 & 07,14/12

Πανόραμα ΠΟΡΤΟΓΑΛΙΑΣ LUX – Πόρτο – Λισαβόνα – 8ημ. (Νοέμβριος) (Πορτογαλία)

Μοναδικές 3 αναχωρήσεις: 6, 13, 20/11

Αυτοκρατορικό Μαρόκο – 8ημ. (Μοναδική Προσφορά) (Μαρόκο)

2 Μοναδικές Αναχωρήσεις: 16 & 30/11

ΒΑΡΚΕΛΩΝΗ – ΒΑΛΕΝΘΙΑ Premium – 6ημ. (Νοέμβριος – Δεκέμβριος) (Ισπανία)

Αναχώρηση: 09/11 & 24,31/12

Μόναχο – Νυρεμβέργη – Πράγα – 6ημ. (28η Οκτωβρίου & Νοέμβριος) (Γερμανία, Tσεχία)

Αεροπορικά ταξίδια ευρώπη, οδικές εκδρομές – grefis travel in velvet, προσφορές εβδομάδας.

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Σας παρουσιάζουμε κάποια από τα σημαντικότερα αξιοθέατα του κόσμου, ποιο είναι το επόμενο που θέλετε να επισκεφθείτε;

Πόρτο Ribeira, Πόρτο

Ιταλία Κολοσσαίο, Ρώμη

Ισπανία Σαγράδα Φαμίλια, Βαρκελώνη

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Ταξιδεύουμε μαζί.

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GREFIS Travel in Velvet Αεροπορικές & Οδικές Εκδρομές σε όλη την Ευρώπη

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The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2023

Where to go in 2023, according to T+L editors — for a breath of fresh air, a big-city adventure, or a glimpse at the future of travel.

Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested trip ideas, in-depth intel, and inspiration at every point of a journey.

With much of the world reopened, 2023 is shaping up to be the year travel officially bounces back. We made our list of the 50 best destinations for 2023 a little differently this year: We asked Travel + Leisure's editors where they want to go in the months ahead. Some are raring to get back to Japan, while others have the Trans-Bhutan Trail on their lists. Still more are planning a sail around Greenland, a wine-tasting trip on California’s central coast, and a visit to France’s next big wine region (which is, as it happens, tiny).

A few up-and-coming culinary destinations made our list, as did a remarkable piece of art, the size and scale of which boggles the imagination. While many of the team’s picks are remote, breathe-in-that-fresh-air kinds of places, our list doesn’t skimp on cities where the hustle and bustle is part of the fun.

But with so many choices now back on the map, there are as many styles of trips as there are places to explore. That’s why, for the first time in recent memory, we’ve broken our list of best places to go into categories.

The hope is that, whatever it is you’re after in the year ahead, you’ll find it in one of these 50 places. And who knows? We may just see you there.

— Edited by Paul Brady and Maya Kachroo-Levine

Destination by Category

For cultural riches, alexandria, virginia.

K. Summerer for Visit Alexandria

With postcard-perfect cobblestone streets and quick access to the wineries of northern Virginia , Alexandria is an easy city to love. But these days, the reason to go is to see how effectively the city is confronting its own history, as destinations across the American South grapple with the legacy of the Confederacy . Alexandria, which was founded as a tobacco port in 1749, was for decades of the 19th century the site of the country’s largest domestic slave trade . Today, the Freedom House Museum has three new exhibitions honoring the people who were forcibly brought here. Meanwhile, the African American Heritage Trail, which opened in 2020, follows the Potomac River and encompasses nearly 200 years of history at 11 stops, such as the Torpedo Factory , where many Black men and women worked during World War II. An extension of the route will debut in February 2023 with 20 new stops, including Waterfront Park, the port from which enslaved people were trafficked to places like New Orleans. At Jones Point Park, visitors can learn about Benjamin Banneker , an inventor, mathematician, and free African American from Maryland who was instrumental in the 1791 surveying team that determined the border of the new U.S. capital of Washington, D.C. (For an even deeper look at the city’s Black experience, book with Manumission Tours , which is run by a fourth-generation Alexandrian .) The city’s most elegant stay is Morrison House Old Town Alexandria, Autograph Collection , which was recently voted one of the best city hotels in the continental U.S. in T+L’s 2022 World’s Best Awards. A new Hotel AKA is slated to open in Old Town in winter 2023. — Liz Cantrell

Cairo and the Nile

Emli Bendixen

It’s almost here: After more than a decade of construction — to say nothing of the hype — the Grand Egyptian Museum may finally open, just a stone’s throw from the Great Pyramids of Giza, this spring. What to expect? More than 1 million square feet of exhibition space, treasures including a 40-foot-high statue of Ramses II, outdoor gardens, and an expansive plaza from which visitors can take in the desert surroundings. Meanwhile, a number of new and luxurious ships have started sailing the Nile: Among the best choices are the Viking Osiris , an all-veranda vessel carrying 82 passengers, and the opulent Sphinx from Uniworld Boutique River Cruises , which has 42 cabins swathed in marble and hand-carved wood, with beds dressed in fine Egyptian cotton sheets. The hotel scene is also, thankfully, getting a refresh with a new Mandarin Oriental slated for downtown Cairo in 2024; the forthcoming 200-room Four Seasons Hotel Luxor is scheduled to debut in 2025 — not that you should wait that long to see the ancient Valley of the Kings. — John Wogan

“City,” Nevada

City, 1970 – 2022 © Michael Heizer. Courtesy Triple Aught Foundation. Photo: Eric Piasecki

Even in a state known for its vast, empty landscapes, Basin and Range National Monument , about a two-hour drive north of Las Vegas, takes “remote” to a new level. The 704,000-acre preserve, created in 2015, provides endless opportunities for hiking, climbing, camping, and cycling; its desert valleys and mountain ranges are also dotted with Indigenous rock art sites. But the reason to go now is “City,” the single largest contemporary artwork in the world, which opened to visitors in September 2022. Made from dirt, rock, and concrete, the monumental open-air sculpture was more than 50 years in the making, a collection of mounds, depressions, and stelae conceived by the artist Michael Heizer . The endeavor — which was made possible by joint contributions from art institutions around the country, including LACMA and MoMA — will open to the public for the 2023 season by reservation only . The mile-and-a-half-long sculpture feels at once ancient and futuristic, a destination just as awe-inspiring as the natural one surrounding it. — John Wogan

Havana, Cuba

Brad Ogbonna

The can-you, can’t-you continues, but the Biden administration has made it a touch easier to visit Cuba as a result of its May 2022 relaxation of some restrictions on travel to the island. These days, Americans can go as part of a group tour or visit individually on a "support for the Cuban people" license, travel advisor Molly Layman told T+L. “It’s one of 12 authorized categories of travel to the island,” she said, adding that “it requires citizens to have a full-time schedule of activities that support the Cuban people, which is easily fulfilled through buying services from Cuban entrepreneurs, staying in local homes, dining in private restaurants, and booking cultural activities.” Those ready to take to the vibrant streets of Havana will also need a visa, said Layman, who works as director of operations at tour company Cuba Candela . Travelers can handle that, she said, “on the day of travel at the airport check-in desk or from a tour provider.” (The cost varies depending on where a visa is purchased but rarely exceeds $100.) While the hoops are undeniable, they may well be worth jumping through in the year ahead. — Christine Burroni

Tangier, Morocco

Issam Elhafti/Getty Images

For decades, this northern Moroccan city has attracted a stream of bohemian expats including, most famously, beat-generation writers Paul Bowles and William S. Burroughs. That’s how it cultivated a reputation as a place where foreigners went to live, rather than simply visit. But Tangier’s reputation could change this spring, thanks in part to the opening of Villa Mabrouka — British designer Jasper Conran’s second Moroccan property, which follows the 2018 opening of L'Hôtel Marrakech . The one-time private residence of fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, the hillside property has gorgeous views over the Bay of Tangier within walking distance to the city’s frenetic medina. Villa Mabrouka joins other newcomers, like the Museum of Contemporary Art , a space displaying work by regional artists, also called the Kasbah Museum, as it's housed in the renovated, 17th-century Kasbah prison. Also new on the proverbial block is the just-opened Fairmont Tazi Palace Tangier , set on a refurbished, century-old estate near the old city. Anticipation is already growing for a recently announced Waldorf Astoria, a 115-room and 21-villa resort set to open in 2025. — John Wogan

Lakes Region, Turkey

Istanbul and Bodrum are both rightly popular, but U.S. travelers will find much to love in other pockets of this diverse country — including this inland part of southwestern Anatolia, which travel advisor Engin Kadaster predicts “will be very popular in the years to come.” Kadaster has been including the Lakes Region on more and more itineraries for her clients, and helped coordinate a story in T+L’s August 2022 issue that included destinations such as Isparta, the region’s largest city and a center of rose and lavender production, and the ancient hilltop city of Sagalassos. The region’s most famous feature — naturally — is a series of tectonic lakes, created by ancient earthquakes, in the foothills of the Taurus Mountains, but it also holds many ancient Greek and Roman archaeological sites. A blessed lack of mass tourism means that this isn’t a hot spot for luxury hotels, but cozy places like Eskiciler Konaği , a renovated century-old mansion near Lake Eğirdir, or Aliya Konak , a seasonal farmstay on a working lavender operation in Isparta, are warm and welcoming. Intrepid travelers can ditch the hotels altogether by camping along the new Pisidia Heritage Trail , a waymarked route that unites the Lakes Region’s splendid nature and unique history as it passes through ancient sites like Kremna, Adada, and Yazılı Canyon. — Hannah Walhout

The United Kingdom

Courtesy of Peninsula London

T+L’s Destination of the Year may be undergoing a once-in-a-lifetime period of transition, but some things never change. For one, the country’s historic cities will always be home to hotels that mix stately grandeur and affable service. This past summer saw the opening of Gleneagles Townhouse , a chic, urban outpost of the iconic Gleneagles resort, in the heart of Edinburgh; next year London will welcome the cool glam of the Peter Marino–designed Peninsula London . Of the U.K.’s many world-class museums, two have recently gotten upgrades: Glasgow’s Burrell Collection , a stunning assortment of international art and artifacts, and the Manchester Museum , which is dedicated to the natural sciences. The Factory , Manchester’s new cultural center, pays tribute to the famous record label behind '80s rock bands the Happy Mondays and New Order. Gourmands (and the just plain hungry) will want to sample the broad range of culinary delights at London’s new Arcade Food Hall at Battersea Power Station, the latest stage in the rehabilitation of the historic building. No visit to the U.K. is complete without venturing out into its peerless countryside, and Scotland’s first rewilding center, Dundreggan , is one noteworthy place to take it all in: Managed by charitable organization Trees for Life , this 10,000-acre estate on the shores of Scotland’s Loch Ness plans to open a visitor’s center by the end of 2023. Meanwhile, the new Two Toms Trail in Lancashire covers 25 miles and features some of England’s most stunning scenery. — Peter Terzian

Getty Images

The perennially popular city made headlines in 2022 for its day-trip entrance fee , which takes effect in January 2023. But why only go for the day? The Venice Architecture Biennale runs May 20, 2023 to Nov. 26, 2023, with global exhibits curated by Lesley Lokko, the first Black architect to organize the event. Architecture lovers will also want to visit the Procuratie Vecchie, the 16th-century building along St. Mark's Square. Though its façade is one of Italy’s most photographed, the public has only recently been allowed inside, after the completion of a five-year refurbishment led by David Chipperfield Architects . Those looking for nostalgic luxury should plan to arrive in the second half of the year, with their bags packed for a train trip: Belmond’s iconic Venice Simplon-Orient Express will unveil two newly restored carriages from the 1920s and ‘30s in June, with opulent suites modeled to mirror the landscapes of Europe. — Nina Ruggiero

For the Food — and Wine

Courtesy of Four Seasons

It may have a reputation as a stopover city, but Athens deserves a closer look — and at least a few nights — in the year ahead. Not far from the Piraeus port , where travelers hop both domestic ferries and cruise ships that criss-cross the Mediterranean, the Athens Riviera has seen a surge of development. Four Seasons Astir Palace , which opened amid the pandemic, has a private beach on the sparkling Saronic Sea and two spaces designed by Swedish architect Martin Brudnizki, including a midcentury modern cocktail bar and Pelagos restaurant, which has already earned its first Michelin star. In the spring of 2023, One&Only Aesthesis will open just a few miles away, also along the waterfront. Next door is the brand-new Experience Park, with trails, fitness classes, fountains, a Zen garden, and bountiful native plants and flowers; it’s part of an $8-billion waterfront green space called The Ellinikon , on the former site of the city’s international airport, that’s still under development. In central Athens, the 2022 opening of the 43-room Xenodocheio Milos hotel in the Pláka neighborhood brings a bit of cosmopolitan verve, from the team behind international restaurant brand Estiatorio Milos . And while the Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the Acropolis isn’t new — the ancient amphitheater first opened about 1,900 years ago — it will bring back a full schedule of shows in 2023 after a pandemic-era slowdown. — Maya Kachroo-Levine

Central Florida

Courtesy of Small World Vacations

This fall, Hurricane Ian took 81 lives and caused $60 billion in damage across Florida. While the hard-hit southwestern part of the state continues to recover, Visit Florida president and CEO Dana Young said in October that other regions are ready to welcome travelers back. Central Florida in particular is worth a closer look, thanks to its ever-growing hospitality scene. Orlando and Tampa recently won a combined 14 Michelin accolades in 2022, when the guidebook publisher released its first-ever guide to Florida restaurants. The area’s family-friendly draws are better than ever: Disney’s recently opened, highly immersive Star Wars : Galactic Starcruiser is a two-night adventure that takes themed entertainment to the next level by allowing guests to eat, sleep, and breathe Star Wars with lightsaber training, out-of-this-world dining (blue shrimp, anyone?), and a trip to Batuu at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Meantime, Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebrations continue through March 2023, with limited-time eats, nighttime spectaculars, and festive décor. In Tampa, the latest Edition Hotel just opened with a sprawling rooftop pool club and restaurant from chef John Fraser. And getting both to and around Central Florida is easier than ever, with the recent opening of Orlando International Airport’s new 15-gate Terminal C and Brightline rail service connecting Orlando to South Florida destinations including Miami and West Palm Beach beginning in 2023. — Elizabeth Rhodes

The Jura, France

Guillaume Megevand

There’s a tiny French region just west of the border with Switzerland that’s producing some big, big wines. Thing is, only a tiny fraction of those bottles ever make it to the U.S., as T+L recently reported . That means you’ve got to go to the Jura — preferably before everyone gets wise to the area’s seven Appellations of Controlled Origin (AOCs) . Among serious oenophiles, word is already spreading about the vin jaune, “yellow wine,” made from native savagnin grapes and aged in the Jura’s distinct sous voile style, in which the wine matures “under a veil.” Not that wine is the only draw. The Jura also boasts a comté cheese trail — as if the région weren’t French enough — that connects no fewer than 150 fromageries and dairy farms. Hiking in the Jura Mountains, through Baume-les-Messieurs village and to the Hérisson waterfalls , is equally enticing, particularly as an antidote to all the wine- and cheese-focused sightseeing. Most surprising, perhaps, is just how accessible this under-the-radar area can be. Getting to the Jura takes two hours from the French capital by high-speed train , departing from Paris’s Gare de Lyon. — Maya Kachroo-Levine

San Luis Obispo County, California

Courtesy of Visit SLO CAL/Acacia Productions

It’s time to stop sleeping on “SLO.” Once considered a quick Pacific Coast Highway stopover for those visiting Hearst Castle — which reopened this past spring 2022 after a two-year closure — the central coast county is now a draw in its own right. SLO’s seven cities, including Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, and San Luis Obispo, are all buzzing, and the area just earned official American Viticulture Area (AVA) recognition in 2022, thanks to more than 200 wineries, many of which are family owned . Two new Nomada Hotel Group properties opening in 2023 will welcome the inevitable influx of oenophiles: Farmhouse, a collection of 26 rustic-chic cottages with fire pits and hammocks, arrives in January; while River Lodge, a mile from the Paso Robles wine trail, is slated for May. Also being reimagined under Nomada is the Gold Rush–era Pozo Saloon , reopening in the town of Santa Margarita in August with outdoor soaking tubs, live music, trails for hiking and horseback riding, and a glamping site. Paso Robles just notched its first Michelin star ( Six Test Kitchen ), while San Luis Obispo’s SLO Public Market will welcome two new restaurants, All Good Grill and Todo Bueno , in 2023. Nature lovers should make a beeline for the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove : The insects were recently put on the endangered list, but this spot still draws over 10,000 annually. — Nina Ruggiero

Victoria, Australia

Matteo Colombo/Getty Images

Australia has reopened, and this southern state is a particularly appealing corner of the country these days, thanks to hot springs resorts that are poised to make it the next big wine-and-wellness destination: Alba Thermal Springs and Spa on the Mornington Peninsula was the first to open in September 2022, with pools powered by solar and a commitment to achieving climate-positive operations. Metung Hot Springs in East Gippsland is set to follow in late 2022, with updated facilities in an area long known for its thermal waters. Phillip Island Hot Springs , which distinguishes itself with several saltwater features, plans to open in early 2023. Out on the Mornington Peninsula — a destination long popular for its world-class wineries — the InterContinental Sorrento began accepting reservations this past August 2022. Melbourne, Victoria’s appealing capital city, is also expecting new openings, including the intimate, seven-suite Hotel Vera Ballarat by year’s end, followed by the highly anticipated Ritz-Carlton Melbourne , set to open in 2023 in Australia’s tallest tower. Qantas is making it easier to get there, too: By December 2022, the airline will have four nonstop flights a week connecting Dallas and Melbourne, a welcome bridge between Victoria and the middle of the U.S. — Sarah Bruning

For Big-city Thrills

Jonathan Filskov/Getty Images

The eternally cool city will highlight its prowess with all things design, as the official UNESCO World Capital of Architecture in 2023. Venues across Copenhagen — contemporary parks, starchitect-designed skyscrapers, even typically humdrum infrastructure like playgrounds — will host events and visitors for a look at the future of the urban environment. One highlight will be the Copenhill Power Plant, the cleanest waste-to-energy plant in the world — that’s also the site of an artificial ski slope. “We’re going to do a lot of open-house events where 50 different venues are going to be open to the public that are usually closed to visitors,” said Copenhagen’s city architect Camilla van Deurs, who mentioned as examples churches; bridges; and the Danmarks Nationalbank, the central bank building planned in part by Danish design legend Arne Jacobsen. “Superkilen,” van Deurs said, “is a playground for kids and adults — and a cultural hub in the middle of Nørrebro, the most ethnically mixed neighborhood in Copenhagen.” New places to stay in the city also deliver a signature blend of modernism and hygge: Find it at the single-suite Kaj Hotel , which floats on a canal near Copenhagen Opera House, or the colorful new 25 Hours Hotel Copenhagen . — Tim Latterner

Lance Childers/Houston First

The 2020 opening of the Kinder Building, the latest addition to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston , cemented the city’s spot among true international arts destinations. The recent reopening of the Rothko Chapel , after a $35-million renovation, has only reinforced that reputation. Today, a wealth of new ventures is poised to raise the profile of Texas’s largest city in other categories as well. Opening next year, the JMK5 Arena will transform a disused racetrack into a 12,500-seat concert stadium poised to rival the venues of Vegas. It arrives on the heels of the relatively more intimate 713 Music Hall , which has attracted artists ranging from Judas Priest to Lil Nas X. The Houston Zoo is undergoing a much-delayed expansion that will include a Galápagos Islands–themed exhibit, which will feature an underwater tunnel and a penguin habitat. And the Houston Botanic Gardens , which opened in 2020, features 132 acres of diverse ecosystems, from wetlands to prairie. — Peter Terzian

Courtesy of Rosewood Villa Magna

The Spanish capital may finally, thankfully, be shaking off its reputation as the country’s somewhat stuffy business hub. A flurry of tony hotel openings throughout the city has helped, by bringing plenty of personality to what had been a staid scene. It began in 2021 with the arrival of the Mandarin Oriental Ritz ; Rosewood Villa Magna ; and Santo Mauro, a Luxury Collection Hotel . Then came the Edition in April 2022 . Breathing new life into the former Monte de Piedad de Madrid building, the hotel has 177 rooms, 21 suites, and two penthouses, plus two restaurants with food from chef Enrique Olvera and the culinary team behind Mexico City’s acclaimed Pujol . Elsewhere in Madrid, an already electric food scene has only gotten better — particularly in the glamorous Salamanca neighborhood and architecture-rich Chamberi district — with new offerings representing everything from Middle Eastern falafel and Argentinian asado to Spanish-Indian fusion and globally inflected vegan fare. — Sarah Bruning

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

Welcome to the new Nashville. The city’s tourism renaissance is being fueled, in part, by a slew of just-opened hotels, including a Conrad , 1 Hotel , and a Soho House . (A Four Seasons just popped up in the bustling SoBro neighborhood, too.) The newly redesigned Hermitage Hotel , meanwhile, now has the first Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant in the South. The Fifth + Broadway complex has new outposts of old favorites, like fried chicken staple Hattie B’s , and the expansive Assembly Food Hall has dozens of choices, including bars, plural. That inimitable Nashville energy can still be found on Broadway, at honky-tonk bars that go until all hours, but there’s also Justin Timberlake’s sexy Twelve Thirty Club or live events like CMA Fest , which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023. Getting there has never been easier, thanks to low-cost carriers such as Breeze Airways and Southwest, both of which have recently added more flights from both coasts, not to mention places like Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Ohio’s Akron-Canton Airport. — Elizabeth Rhodes

Forget the notion that Steel City is just a town for football and factories. The metropolis is working on new cultural destinations that can’t be missed: While the next lunar lander is currently being built in Pittsburgh, the Moonshot Museum , which opened in October 2022, is putting on display mankind’s history of getting to and exploring the lunar surface. The Carnegie Museum of Art is hosting its 58th Carnegie International Exhibition, a huge temporary show of both historical and contemporary art which runs through April 2, 2023. The childhood home of playwright August Wilson has been restored and turned into a museum, complete with studios for arts programming. The city also has a new spate of hotels and bars drawing crowds, like the modern-chic Joinery Hotel Pittsburgh, Curio Collection by Hilton and The Industrialist, Autograph Collection in the Arrott building, one of the city’s first skyscrapers. Across the river in Allentown, Bottlerocket Social Hall is the perfect place to post up with locals and, yes, watch the game. — Tim Latterner

San Francisco

Ryan White/Parks Conservancy

Despite the so-called national conversation, the apocalypse has not yet come to San Francisco. True, this city had the most extreme wealth divide of any in California in 2020, and the seams here can be especially visible. But all the reasons SF shines — the arts, the nature, the dim sum, the sourdough — haven’t gone anywhere. And a slate of recent infrastructure and cultural projects show that many in the city are working to make it a better place to live and a more compelling destination to visit. The new Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco walks the walk of its focus on equity: the museum is completely free and has opted against a permanent collection in order to direct more funds to artists and staff. The city’s urban national park unit, the Presidio of San Francisco , recently gained 14 acres with the opening of the Presidio Tunnel Tops , a green space designed by James Corner Field Operations, the lead firm for New York City’s High Line, which incorporated input from more than 10,000 residents. Another massive community-led park and mixed-use development is underway in India Basin , with sustainability and affordable housing as stated core values. The hospitality scene is also on the come up: 1 Hotel San Francisco , The Line SF , and Beacon Grand (formerly the Sir Francis Drake) have all opened in the past six months, and Auberge Resorts Collection is slated to debut a new hotel in the Hearst Building in 2023. — Hannah Walhout

Don Eim/Travel + Leisure

American travelers can finally get back to the South Korean capital after years of pandemic restrictions — and there’s plenty to catch up on. The city’s arts scene is buzzing, thanks to new venues such as Konig Gallery , not to mention the announcement from Seoul Museum of Art that three new wings will launch by 2024. (An added boost came from Seoul hosting its first edition of Frieze this past September, during which many commenters asked if K-art may well be the next K-pop.) Meanwhile the destination has seen a number of new hotels open, including the surprisingly trendy Fairmont Ambassador Seoul and Josun Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Seoul Gangnam , with its sweeping views of the globally famous district and stunning public spaces, including 1914 Lounge & Bar. — Tim Latterner

For Moments on the Water

Cape verde, the gambia, ghana, and guinea-bissau.

Arnau Ferrer

Though Ghana has, in recent years, surged in popularity as a destination for American visitors , particularly Black Americans , West Africa remains unfamiliar to many. One solution may be the innovative West Africa Archipelago cruises that Hurtigruten Expeditions aims to launch in November 2023. These two-week trips, aboard the line’s 180-passenger Spitsbergen , will stop in ports in four countries, with a huge array of activities on the expedition schedule: visits to historically important sites including Gorée Island ; wildlife-watching forays to spot hippos and manatees; and adventures such as scaling volcanoes and scrambling across lava fields. Though some cruise lines occasionally stop in West African ports, Hurtigruten’s deep focus on the region represents a step change — one that’s driven by passenger demand, said Asta Lassesen, the CEO of Hurtigruten Expeditions. “These islands are not as known as our other destinations, but they are teeming with unique wildlife, different cultures, and offer completely different experiences than you’d find in a traditional cruise destination,” Lassesen told T+L. — Paul Brady

Coastal Ecuador

Courtesy of Kontiki Expeditions

Many travelers know the historic capital city of Quito and the incredibly biodiverse Galápagos Islands , but now's the time to visit Ecuador’s stunning Pacific coastline. From surf towns like Montañita to the preserved beaches and cloud forest of Machalilla National Park, coastal Ecuador is packed with outdoor adventures and stunning scenery. Kontiki Expeditions unlocks the region with eight-day yacht cruises that visit five of the country’s 24 provinces, hitting destinations including Isla de la Plata and Salinas. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Kontiki Expeditions operates an intimate ship with just nine staterooms, refined outdoor and indoor spaces, and a nearly 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio. (Guests can book an individual room, or charter the entire 18-passenger yacht.) Getting there has gotten smoother, too: U.S. airlines including American, JetBlue, and Spirit now offer direct flights to Guayaquil, from which Kontiki Expeditions trips depart. — Elizabeth Rhodes

The Explora I

Courtesy of EXPLORA I

Just don’t call it a cruise: Upstart travel company Explora Journeys describes its itineraries as “ocean journeys,” nevermind the fact they’re aboard the newly built, 461-suite Explora I . The vessel is slated to hit the water in July 2023, with trips in the Mediterranean that visit popular cruise destinations such as Barcelona and Civitavecchia, near Rome, as well as lesser-visited ports including Patmos, Greece, and St.-Tropez, France. “It’s a new style of ocean travel that connects you with the things that are important,” Explora CEO Michael Ungerer told T+L. “There’s a craving to learn something new and make authentic connections without leaving your tried and tested luxury environment and services behind.” Indeed, life aboard won’t be monastic: Explora I will have 18 restaurants and bars and a massive spa, among other luxuries. Still, should all that ocean journeying become a bit too wearying, guests can always retreat to their suites, all of which have private verandas. In fact, when it debuts, Explora I will have the most space per passenger of any vessel anywhere. — Paul Brady

Antarctica is so last year. While Greenland may not have penguins, it does promise plenty of beautiful landscapes and seemingly endless horizons. The newly christened National Geographic Resolution will sail the Eastern shore of Greenland in June 2023, with opportunities to explore the Rømer Fjord depending on conditions. Ponant has a dozen distinct itineraries scheduled for 2023, including a number of round trips from Kangerlussuaq, in Western Greenland, that explore Baffin Bay. The brand-new Seabourn Venture, the line’s first expedition ship, will also be there in 2023; one particularly compelling August itinerary starts in Iceland, spends nearly three weeks along Greenland’s coast, then continues through the Northwest Passage before wrapping in Anchorage, Alaska. More conventional operators, such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises, are making the polar destination a fixture, too. The Seven Seas Navigator will visit Prince Christian Sound and make calls in Nuuk and Paamiut on a June 2023 sailing between New York City and Reykjavik. — Paul Brady

Hvar, Croatia

Goran Stimac/Getty Images

Those seeking a brighter 2023 will find it on Hvar: This Dalmatian Coast island calls itself the sunniest in Croatia. That means plenty of time for cycling more than 100 miles of bikeable terrain or kayak trips to secluded beaches. At night, those clear skies make for incredible stargazing: Jesla, on the island’s north shore, was named the first International Dark Sky Community in Southern Europe in 2022; and Moeesy , the island’s newest luxury hotel, has one room with an over-the-bed skylight for bedtime viewing. The town of Velo Grablje’s 14th-century charm peaks in July, when the lavender festival blooms with food, drink, and family-friendly activities all centered around the fragrant Mediterranean plant. And in Hvar proper, the harborside Riva Marina hotel reopened in June 2022 with refreshed waterfront terrace suites and a new restaurant and bar concept focused on local ingredients. Just down the block is the island’s first sustainable hotel , Beach Bay , which opened this past summer 2022 with an off-grid solar power system and a commitment to honor UNESCO’s Sustainable Travel Pledge . — Nina Ruggiero

The Path of Totality

©StudioPonant/Laure Patricot

A total solar eclipse, in which the moon blocks the sun and plunges the Earth into momentary darkness, is a “relatively common” phenomenon, NASA heliophysicist Dr. Michael Kirk told T+L. The trick is that most eclipses happen over water or in extremely remote places — which is why spotting the next one, on April 20, 2023, will be all about the chase. The upcoming path of totality will cross the Indian Ocean, graze Western Australia, then sweep across Indonesia and East Timor into the Pacific; astro-enthusiasts can chart its full course with the Totality app . That means the best way to catch the show will be to board a ship , such as the 188-passenger Le Lapérouse, for a Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys cruise from Bali, Indonesia, to Broome, Australia. The new Indonesia-based charter yacht Celestia will also be sailing around the edges of totality, making visits to the islands of Komodo National Park, the Moluccas, and Raja Ampat. The very best odds for viewing, said NASA’s Kirk, will be in Western Australia, where “the Exmouth Peninsula, Barrow Island, and the sea in between should have clear skies.” Eclipse chasers could drive the 750 miles from Perth to Cape Range National Park on the Ningaloo Reef–fringed Exmouth, but Tropical Sails Corp’s Pacific Explorer , which can take you there from Perth on a five-day Indian Ocean sail, seems a far more pleasant journey. — Maya Kachroo-Levine

For Fresh Air and Nature

Courtesy of Pal-Arinsal Ski Resort

This tiny European country, which at 181 square miles is smaller than Chicago, could soon turn into one of the world’s biggest ski destinations. The mountainous country, situated between France and Spain, has long been known for its reliable December-to-April conditions thanks to its high-altitude perch in the Pyrenees. But now, for the first time, three Andorra ski areas have been added to the Ikon Pass , putting a collective 7,600 acres of downhill terrain across 215 runs and 123 lifts into play for holders of the global lift ticket. At the same time, the three destinations of Grandvalira , Ordino Arcalís , and Pal-Arinsal (or, collectively, the Grandvalira Resorts Andorra) will be available on a single local Andorra Pass , which starts at about $50 a day, a bargain by any big-mountain standards. Alternatively, visitors can opt for a newly launched Nord Pass, a multi-day ticket that works at both Ordino Arcalís and Pal-Arinsal for less than $40 per day. So, while these affordable mountains remain a bit of a challenge to reach — Grandvalira can be a four-hour drive from Barcelona — the days of smaller crowds may soon be a thing of the past. — Jamie Aranoff

Asheville, North Carolina

Tim Robison

This flannel-clad city in the Blue Ridge Mountains checks all the boxes, with year-round outdoor activities, sophisticated dining, and easy access, whether you’re driving or flying. (Asheville Regional Airport is on pace for a record-breaking 2022 , with service from 25 destinations.) But the year ahead offers more reasons to visit, starting with some cool new places to stay: Wrong Way River Lodge has a collection of A-frame cabins along the French Broad River that are perfect for white-water rafters. AutoCamp Asheville , another glamping-esque abode with Airstream campers, is slated to open by mid-2023. Downtown, the new Restoration Hotel promises a properly plush stay; its sister property in Charleston consistently ranks in our best hotels in Charleston list . (For those who’d rather be even closer to nature, The Glamping Collective is a newly opened, 160-acre site with domed pods and glass cabins situated a short drive from the city.) Asheville’s food scene has fresh energy from S&W Market , Asheville’s first food hall and the brainchild of award-winning chef Meherwan Irani. For all that’s new, visitors shouldn’t skip the old standbys: French Broad Chocolates is a local fave that’s since gone national, and Battery Park Book Exchange is the prime spot for a late-night glass of Champagne amid dusty bookshelves. — Samantha Falewée

Aysén, Chile

Stefan Ruiz

Chile’s Aysén region lies between two popular destinations — Torres del Paine National Park and the Lake District — with a captivating landscape of hanging glaciers, magnificent fjords, pristine lakes, and jagged peaks. Yet this 41,000-square-mile swath in northern Patagonia — the least populated in Chile — remains largely unexplored by visitors, in part because of its topography. But now, several outfitters and organizations, including Chile’s Route of Parks , are developing more itineraries and ecotourism routes for the non-mountain-scaling adventure traveler, with less-daunting activities like kayaking, hiking, and biking. Not long ago, travel company Explora opened a lodge in Aysén’s Patagonia National Park (working with nonprofit Rewilding Chile to support conservation and educational efforts) and launched eight- to 12-day trips that make travel across the region convenient, with flights, accommodations, and activities included. Factor in loosened COVID-19 restrictions and a newly elected president (the country’s youngest in history) as additional reasons to go now. Then there’s the continually growing partnership between Delta Air Lines and Latam, which allows for mutual lounge access and easy nonstop flights from Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City to Santiago, which is just a short connecting hop from Coyhaique, the gateway to Aysén. — Alisha Prakash

The Hudson Valley, New York

Andre Maier

Yes, the stretch north of New York City and south of Albany, along the banks of the lordly Hudson River, has been attracting enterprising former urbanites — as well as savvy travelers in search of charming towns and idyllic countryside — for the past century or so. But its transition from quasi-rustic to quietly glam marks a new and intriguing chapter. Next summer, The Ranch Hudson Valley , an offshoot of the West Coast’s rigorous retreat The Ranch Malibu, will open on a grand estate built by financier J.P. Morgan (as a gift for his daughter’s marriage to Alexander Hamilton’s great-grandson) and will offer multi-day programs to revive weary New Yorkers. Meanwhile, Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection , a property with 60 freestanding cabins and cottages, will highlight the pastoral side of the region, with a farm-to-table restaurant and 140 acres of orchards and wildflower gardens. The region’s reputation for top-notch cuisine continues with the upscale tavern fare at Merchants Social in Hudson and Stissing House in Pine Plains, the Southern-inflected Darlings in Tilson, and the sweet fantasia of the Catskills Chocolate Co. in Catskill. (Longtime cheesemongers Talbott and Arding have recently moved to a beautiful new space in Hudson, too.) But don’t forget to leave room for culture. In Catskill, Foreland is a self-billed kunsthalle that extends across three 19th-century mills with exhibition spaces and artist studios. And the beloved sculpture park Storm King Art Center is getting a $45-million overhaul that includes an extensive new visitors center. — Peter Terzian

Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia

Thomas Retterath/Getty Images

“Zambia is a destination so many people miss,” said travel advisor Leora Rothschild . “The country’s Lower Zambezi National Park is one of my favorite destinations anywhere. Having a safari on a river adds a dynamic element,” she notes, since being on the water offers a different perspective than travelers get while on a game drive or in camp. Among the best places to take in this wildlife-rich destination is at one of its newest lodges , the luxurious eight-suite Lolebezi , which African Bush Camps opened inside the park and on the banks of the river this past June. It’s an ideal base from which to explore Lower Zambezi, which sits opposite Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to what the agency calls its “ dramatic landscape ” and “huge herds of elephant and buffalo.” Though remote, this corner of Zambia has recently gotten a bit easier to access, as pandemic-era travel regulations have loosened. Air Botswana announced in May 2022 that, following a two-year hiatus, it would relaunch flights from Gaborone, Botswana to Lusaka, Zambia. — Samantha Falewée

Prince Edward Island, Canada

Tourism PEI/Sander Meurs

As Canada’s smallest province, Prince Edward Island might get overlooked in favor of the country’s bigger, badder destinations for outdoor thrills. But this tiny island — known to many as the setting of L.M. Montgomery’s beloved “Anne of Green Gables” series — packs a punch. Here, you’ll find rugged cliffs, red-sand beaches , and a surprisingly robust golf scene, with 27 courses. Perhaps the biggest draw for adventurous travelers right now is the Island Walk , a 435-mile trail that opened in 2021 . Tracing the entire coastline, it passes through dozens of small towns and fishing villages. Walkers can start and end at any point, but the entire loop would take about 32 days, assuming a pace of 12-15 miles a day. Not that you’ve got to be hardcore to enjoy the trail: Towns and villages along the route have plenty to offer even non-hikers, such as the relatively new Slaymaker & Nichols , a cozy inn and gastropub in Charlottetown, the provincial capital. Classic PEI experiences endure, such as the seafood-focused, multi-course “ culinary experience ” from celebrity chef Michael Smith at the Inn at Bay Fortune . — Liz Cantrell

Stephanie Vermillion

When high-speed internet was installed at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest peak, this past August, it was just the latest example of the new era dawning in Tanzania. The leader of the country’s changing face is President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the first woman of color and the first Muslim to lead this country, who took office in 2021. “I never expected that one day I would be president,” President Hassan told PBS . Not that she’s wasting any time. Since taking power, she’s devoted herself to strengthening infrastructure, women’s businesses, education, health care — she received her COVID-19 vaccine on live television to encourage others to get immunized — and sustainable travel. This summer, the Usangu Expedition Camp in Ruaha National Park opened in partnership with the Tanzania National Parks Authority , and the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute ; Selous Safari Company recently refreshed its six-suite private reserve on Fanjove Island, a jumping off point for “marine safaris” by dive boat or kayak. — Samantha Falewée

Uttar Pradesh, India

Luis Dafos/Getty Images

Pummeled by the pandemic, India suffered through a grim 20-month closure, only reopening to travelers at the end of 2021. However, at long last — and with COVID-19 cases now under control thanks to large-scale vaccination programs that have delivered more than 2 billion doses — 2023 is primed to be the year visitors return to this soul-stirring country in full force. While many travelers will opt for Rajasthan’s royal palaces and desert jewels, there’s good reason to discover Uttar Pradesh on your next trip. India’s fourth-largest state is home to classic attractions including the Taj Mahal, in Agra, and the Ganges River ghats of Varanasi, the nation’s holiest city. But the new draws here include Vana, a wellness retreat in the Himalayan foothills of Dehradun. The resort, which is now managed by the World’s Best Award–winning hospitality company Six Senses, has rooms and suites that prioritize the lush landscape with balconies and terraces overlooking the surrounding forest and gardens, offering a true breath of fresh air. — Alisha Prakash

For Beach Vibes

Patrick Michael Chin

Already a favorite weekend getaway for East Coasters, Bermuda will become even easier to get to in 2023. American Airlines resumed flights to the island from New York City's John F. Kennedy International in November, which the carrier had paused in the early days of the pandemic. Upon arrival at L.F. Wade International, travelers are now greeted in a new $400-million terminal with automated immigration gates and preclearance for U.S.-bound passengers — plus unexpected extras like a putting green and an outdoor nature trail. Bermuda’s resort stock is also on the rise. Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa recently debuted a top-to-bottom renovation, adding villas and a Bermudian outpost of Sunken Harbor Club, the tropical cocktail bar above Brooklyn, New York’s wildly popular steakhouse Gage & Tollner. The St. Regis Bermuda is another high-end hotel option, which opened in 2021 with the nation’s first casino and incredible views of Fort St. Catherine. The island recently rolled back all COVID-19 entry requirements, but the Atlantic country’s  remote work program  — which launched in July 2020 and allows for stays up to one year — is still running for anyone looking to make its pink-sand beaches a new home base. — Liz Cantrell

Cayman Islands

Warren Fleming-Hollinger/Getty Images

It just keeps getting easier to visit the Caymans. As of fall 2022, Cayman Airways flies nonstop from Los Angeles International to Grand Cayman, the first direct route from the West Coast to the British territory. “Getting to Hawaii takes longer,” said Kenneth Bryan, Cayman Islands honorable minister for tourism and transport, in an interview with T+L. Wherever they’re flying in from, visitors will find plenty of new offerings along Seven Mile Beach, on Grand Cayman’s west shore. Chief among them is the freshly renovated Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman , which is now outfitted with a La Prairie Spa and Saint June restaurant, complete with a beachfront bar. (The property is thankfully still home to the long-running, annual Cayman Cookout .) For travelers who prefer heart-pumping adventure to pool- or beachside relaxation, the Caymans can deliver: Hiking reserves like the 100-year-old Mastic Trail on Grand Cayman or the Bluff on Cayman Brac may not be as well known as the islands’ beaches — but they should be. Meanwhile a growing art scene is beginning to draw international attention, thanks to shows at the well-established National Gallery of the Cayman Islands as well as the vibey, creative atmosphere at new hotels such as Palm Heights , as T+L recently reported. — Christine Burroni

Coastal Uruguay

© Tali Kimelman/Posada Ayana

The vast skies, empty beaches, and delicious food of Uruguay remain as alluring as they’ve ever been. Still, 2023 promises to be a breakout year for the country’s lowkey coastal destinations, thanks to an ever-growing art scene that adds a layer of culture to this already inviting stretch along the Southern Atlantic. Among the newest must-sees is the Atchugarry Museum of Contemporary Art in Punta del Este, a 90-acre campus that opened in early 2022. Also nearby is artist James Turrell’s “Ta Khut,” an experiential Skyspace that opened in late 2021 at Posada Ayana, a small hotel in José Ignacio. (The seaside village is also home to intriguing contemporary collections at three Vik Retreats properties, including Bahia Vik , with its oceanfront bungalows.) A short drive from José Ignacio, the village of Garzón has lately become a hub for multidisciplinary artists thanks to Campo , an incubator and non-profit that brings creatives to this still-rural corner of Uruguay. — Paul Brady

Lush mountains, bustling beach towns , and idyllic resorts make Guadeloupe the perfect place for adventurous travelers looking for something Caribbean but different. In recent years, though, it’s been difficult for U.S. travelers to reach this French overseas department — particularly after Norwegian ceased its nonstop flights to the destination in 2019. Now, things are looking up again, as JetBlue has relaunched its nonstop service from New York City to the gateway city of Pointe-à-Pitre in November 2022. SkyTeam faithfuls can also now get there on Air France, on nonstops from either Miami or New York; American Airlines also serves the archipelago from Miami. First-timers tend to focus on two of the islands, Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre, the latter of which is home to Guadeloupe National Park. (A local tour company such as Vert Intense can help with the logistics of seeing Carbet Falls and La Grande Soufrière volcano.) Accommodations tend away from big brand names, though — this being France — there is an all-inclusive, beachfront Club Med La Caravelle . Other well-regarded options include the remote, hillside Le Jardin Malanga Hotel , with its dramatic ocean views, or the cliffside villas of the boutique-y La Toubana Hotel & Spa , along the southern shore of Grande-Terre. — Christine Burroni

The Jersey Shore, New Jersey

William Laird

“The real thing is quite different from TV,” George Distefano told T+L. Now a hotelier, Distefano grew up on the Jersey Shore — and today is doing his part to change the narrative around the beloved summer destination. His latest project, The James Bradley , is a 17-room inn that opened in Bradley Beach in August 2022 and is aimed at a crowd that’s perhaps quieter, chicer, and altogether less interesting to MTV producers. In nearby Asbury Park , which has long been a barometer of development, openings of The Asbury Hotel and the Asbury Ocean Club and Residences signal the start of a bougier era. Even Atlantic City is now substantially more chic, after many casino resorts, including Bally’s , Caesars , and Ocean , used the pandemic-induced dip in visitors to undertake hundreds of millions of dollars in renovations. “The area as a whole has had a bit of a renaissance,” Distefano said. One telling indicator of where the Shore is headed next? A Nobu Hotel is slated to open on the boardwalk any day now. — Hannah Walhout

Maui, Hawaii

Hawaii has been in the midst of a multi-year rethink about how tourism impacts the state . “We seek to balance the economic vitality of our industry with the health of our natural environment and the well-being of our communities,” is how Hawaii Tourism Authority President and CEO John De Fries put it this past summer . On Maui, that balance has been struck recently in efforts to renovate and reimagine some of the island’s most popular resorts. The 54-acre Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua , to take one example, is finishing up a major overhaul that includes a reimagined aquatic complex (with three “zero-edge” swimming pools), an expanded Club Lounge , and programming that will include not just cocktail classes and cooking demonstrations but also lei making and musical performances by Hawaiian artists. On the southwest coast of the island, The Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort is in the midst of its own refresh of all 776 guest rooms and suites; some are, happily, already good to go. There’s other progress beyond hotels: e-bikes are now plentiful on Maui, thanks to a recent rule change that allows them on island roads. Companies like RideSmart Maui lend out wheels that make exploring a breeze, whether your interest lies in the historic sites of Lahaina or the beautiful beaches around Wailea. — John Wogan

Riviera Maya, Mexico

Courtesy of Chablé Hotels

This picturesque stretch of the Yucatán peninsula is in the midst of welcoming four marquee hotels. The Waldorf Astoria Cancun just opened, a brand-new build with 173 rooms and five dining venues all overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Casa Chablé and The St. Regis Kanai Resort are slated to open in early 2023, followed by the Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai in spring 2023. Not new but refreshed is Maroma, a Belmond Hotel , which will reopen in May 2023 after a year-long closure with 10 new oceanfront suites and Latin America's first Guerlain spa. Farther south, closer to Tulum, the ultra-luxurious Hotel Esencia has added a posh new 10,000-square-foot, four-bedroom mansion tricked out with fitness and screening rooms, an underground speakeasy, and three pools — the perfect thing for a friends’ getaway. Not that hotels are the only draw: The last section of the new Maya Train project, which connects Cancun and Tulum, is expected to open by the end of 2023 after delays to address environmental and archeological concerns . The route will make several cultural and historic sites , including Chichén Itzá, more accessible and connect travelers to other destinations in the state of Quintana Roo, including Bacalar, Playa del Carmen, and Puerto Morelos. Also on the horizon is the opening of the long-awaited Tulum airport, which Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said will be completed by the end of 2023. — Sarah Bruning

Riviera Nayarit, Mexico

Courtesy of Auberge Resorts Collection

Long a vacationer’s paradise, this section of Mexico’s Pacific coast between Puerto Vallarta and the beach town of San Blas is only getting better in the year ahead. The 59-room Susurros del Corazón , Auberge Resorts Collection, began welcoming guests in November 2022 with experiences that include an introduction to raicilla , a lesser-known agave spirit, and boating excursions in Islas Marietas, a national park known for its biodiversity. On its heels, Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort , which is the second tented camp property from the brand , will open in December 2022. Accommodating just 30 people at a time, the lush 48-acre property is making wellness a key focus, so guests can expect to unwind with options like a temascal ceremony and nocturnal forest bathing sessions. An extra incentive to go? JetBlue launched new nonstop flights from JFK to Puerto Vallarta International, which serves as the gateway to the region. — Sarah Bruning

U.S. Virgin Islands

Courtesy of USVI Department of Tourism; Jamie Aranoff

With no pandemic restrictions, no passport needed, and plenty of inbound flights, the U.S. Virgin Islands are challenging Bermuda for the title of easiest warm-weather getaway for East Coasters. What’s more, the islands just established a Territorial Park System Trust Fund Board which will protect and preserve attractions like St. Croix’s Great Salt Pond and St. John’s Oppenheimer Beach. Caribbean flavors are, once again, another reason to go: The King of the Wing competition on St. Thomas, which celebrates creative chicken cookery, is back after a two-year hiatus; the 23rd annual Taste of St. Croix festival, one of the largest culinary events in the region, happens in April. Carnival , which returned in 2022, will be another event to watch in the year ahead. St. Thomas celebrates from late April through early May with food fairs, pageants, and parades; St. John fetes from late June through July 4, concluding with an Independence Day bash; and St. Croix sparkles from mid-December through Three Kings Day with more traditional, Christmas-centric fanfare. — Jamie Aranoff

For a Look at the Future

This past September, Bhutan, the impossibly scenic country between India and China, reopened to tourists after 30 months. But that’s nothing compared to the 60 years it’s taken to redevelop the 250-mile Trans-Bhutan Trail , which also reopened that month. Once the only way to travel across the Himalayan kingdom, the ancient pilgrimage route is now one of Bhutan’s biggest draws, a must-see for hikers, bikers, and other outdoorsy types. The trail connects 400 historic sites, with museums, fortresses, and temples along the way — plus stunning natural scenery and seemingly endless views. As part of its reopening, Bhutan has ended its policy requiring visitors to be accompanied 24/7 by a guide; instead, the nation has implemented an increased tourism tax, or Sustainable Development Fee, which is intended to fund social and cultural programs, infrastructure improvements, and environmental conservation. (The $200-a-day charge, up from $65, is also deliberately expensive, in an effort to keep visitor numbers low.) On the hotel front, Six Senses opened its fifth and final Bhutan lodge, Six Senses Bumthang , in March 2020, but the eco hideaway tucked in a pine forest in the town of Jakar, of course, has only just become accessible to foreigners. — Alisha Prakash

Boten–Vientiane Railway, Laos

Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua via Getty Images

It’s not every day the world gets a new cross-country railroad. The ambitious Boten–Vientiane railway that stretches across Laos may have opened for business in late 2021, but now’s the time to jump aboard, as travel to Asia reopens to American visitors. The remarkable engineering project is one of many financed by China as part of the country’s Belt and Road Initiative that builds heavy infrastructure across Africa and Asia. In this case, the train has dramatically slashed travel times across the difficult-to-drive if strikingly beautiful landscapes of Laos: Trips that would’ve taken a full day by road can now be done in just a couple hours of train-carriage comfort, as T+L recently reported . The route runs from the northern border town of Boten to Luang Prabang, which is known for its many temples. It then continues on to Vang Vieng, a gateway to some of the country’s most dramatic landscapes, before arriving in the capital, Vientiane, on the border with Thailand. Intermediate stations will help open up to visitors parts of the country that haven’t historically benefited from tourism, as Ruben Derksen, director of product and digital at Bangkok-based tour operator Exo Travel , told T+L. In the years ahead, the 257-mile railway may become even more critical, as just one segment of a Singapore to Shanghai route that will make continent-spanning journeys not just possible, but pleasant. — Paul Brady

Kyoto, Japan

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Kyoto is often thought of as the serene, slowed-down complement to go-go Tokyo. And, certainly, the former Japanese capital has its historic temples, gardens, and teahouses. But since Japan’s October 2022 reopening to independent travelers , this destination and its new draws demand fresh eyes. The city’s famous Gion Matsuri , or festival, is set to return in full force in July 2023 following a pandemic pause, with enormous floats and a wealth of food and drink offerings; the event, which was first held in 869, is said to be Japan’s biggest festival. In August, Kyoto celebrates Gozan Okuribi , a bonfire celebration visible across the city that marks the close of Obon, a festival honoring ancestors. New hotels abound, including hospitality group Banyan Tree’s 138-room Dhawa Yura Kyoto, located in the heart of the city. Another new option is Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto , with 25 rooms set amid lush greenery in front of Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also new — yet firmly rooted in the city’s history — is the recently opened Maana Kiyomizu , where visitors can spend the night in restored machiya, traditional wooden townhouses. Though Japan has only just reopened, it’s already getting even easier to get there, thanks to Delta Air Lines’ brand-new routes from Hawaii to Tokyo plus flights that resumed this fall from Los Angeles. — Alisha Prakash

New Zealand

Barry Tobin; Courtesy of Tourism New Zealand

After a stringent lockdown, New Zealand has at last dropped all travel restrictions. Happily, the country is becoming more accessible than ever, thanks to the nonstop flights between New York and Auckland that Air New Zealand launched in September. (That long haul has also gotten comfier, thanks to the airline’s Economy Skycouch seats.) Wondering if those 17 hours in the air will be worth it? Auckland continues to evolve with no shortage of dazzling new places to stay. The 99-room Hotel Britomart , lined in timber and exuding Zen calm, is at the heart of Auckland’s Britomart District, nine blocks of historic warehouses converted into shops and restaurants. Mawhiti Walheke is a luxurious modern guest pavilion on a vineyard-covered island a short ferry ride from the city. And New Zealand’s spectacular landscape finally has a showstopper of a property to match it: Flock Hill , a fully serviced four-bedroom villa on a sheep ranching station in the Southern Alps region of South Island. — Peter Terzian

Teahupo’o,Tahiti

© Gre goire Le Bacon

The village of Teahupo’o, on the southwestern coast of Tahiti, will take center stage during the 2024 Paris Olympics, despite being 9,800 miles from the French capital. But unless you’re planning to compete, the year ahead is the ideal time for a closer look at this part of French Polynesia, before the world’s attention turns to the South Pacific. Some of the incredible waves here rate among the most fearsome on the planet — hence the name Teahupo’o, which essentially means “wall of skulls” — while others are more rideable for those with some surfing experience. Accommodations such as Tahurai can organize coaching sessions, including some hosted by local surf icon Tereva David. Those more comfortable watching the waves than riding them can get on the water with tour companies such as Teahupo’o Tahiti Surfari , which takes visitors by boat to see the famous Teahupo’o swell, one of the highest and heaviest waves in the world, as well as waterfalls, lagoons, lava tubes, and cliff-diving spots around the island. Meanwhile, it’s gotten easier than ever to reach Tahiti, thanks to Delta Air Lines’ new nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Fa'a'ā International Airport. Air Tahiti Nui has also added connectivity, with the only nonstop flights between Seattle and Tahiti, which took off in October. — Jamie Aranoff

Victoria, British Columbia

Carlina Teteris/Getty Images

What does it look like for a city to meaningfully prioritize “sustainability,” a word that often ends up more “feel-good” than actually “do-good?” Victoria is maximizing its green impact, aiming to make all new buildings carbon neutral by 2025 and halve landfill waste by 2040. Admittedly, few travelers pick destinations based on zero-waste initiatives, but it’s easy to take an environmentally minded trip to Victoria — the city even has suggested “green travel” itineraries , capitalizing on the outdoor beauty of places like Goldstream Provincial Park, one of many green spaces on Vancouver Island. Visitors have their choice of carbon-neutral hotels, such as Inn at Laurel Point and Parkside Hotel & Spa , and can even do carbon-neutral fast food at Big Wheel Burger , Canada’s first such restaurant. Other eco-minded activities include e-biking along the Saanich Peninsula to seaside towns like Sidney — with stops at picturesque wineries or the Butchart Gardens along the way — or hopping aboard an orca-watching cruise with Eagle Wing Tours , which is, of course, part of 1% for the Planet . — Liz Cantrell

JJ Farquitectos/Getty Images

Austria’s capital city may be old — like, Holy Roman Empire old — but 2023 will see neue life in this historic destination. The year ahead is the 150th anniversary of Vienna’s World’s Fair, and the celebrations include 12 months of cultural events. It’s also the 300th anniversary of the opening of the Belvedere, the palatial museum that’s mounting an art nouveau exhibit featuring 90 Gustav Klimt works in February. Adaptive reuse is also on trend here, and the recently opened Rosewood Vienna is but one example, set in a neoclassical building that was once a bank headquarters and, before that, an apartment building where Mozart lived. The now-reopened Reznicek is a contemporary gasthaus inside a 100-year-old inn; Grace's Michelin-starred fare is served in a refurbished wood-paneled café reminiscent of the ‘70s. Not that Vienna is only looking to the past: New initiatives have added 1,000 miles of bike paths, carsharing via WienMobil , a robust network of electric buses, and new development in the fast-growing Aspern neighborhood where every public space and street is named after a woman . Other new additions include Hotel Josefine , with its sultry Roaring ‘20s energy and Hotel Gilbert , with a greenery-cloaked façade and Scandi-inspired design. Nonstop flights from Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Newark, New York City, and Washington, D.C. are always an option but the most au courant way in may be the new Paris to Vienna Nightjet train , which runs three days a week, with private cabins with lie-flat beds and breakfast in the morning. — Maya Kachroo-Levine

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Where to travel in 2023: the best destinations to visit.

The best places to go in 2023

As peak vacation season sails into view and the world shakes off the last shackles of the pandemic, it feels like the appetite for hitting the road has never been greater.

International tourism reached 80% of pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2023, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, with an estimated 235 million tourists traveling internationally in January, February and March. And experts are cautiously optimistic about a continued travel rebound.

Demand is high, with many popular destinations booking out earlier in the year.

Thankfully, there’s so much out there still to see and do.

Here are 23 destination ideas from CNN Travel to get you started:

We could list new openings in Poland – such as Hotel Verte , the new Autograph Collection property in Warsaw, which threw open its gilded doors (it’s in a humongous Baroque palace) last August. But the reason you should visit Poland in 2023 isn’t for the chance to stay in a place fit for royalty. It’s to show solidarity with a country which has, in turn, shown solidarity to the people of Ukraine.

Sharing a 300-plus-mile border with a country under attack has meant that Poland has taken in more Ukrainian refugees than anywhere else. Add to that plummeting tourist numbers (though they’re on the rise again), and you have a tricky situation.

So whether you fancy that Warsaw palace, a city break to the likes of Krakow, Gdansk, Wrocław or Poznań – all hundreds of miles from the Ukrainian border – or to get away from it all in the forests, lakes and mountains of the countryside – now’s your chance to do some good by taking a vacation. – Julia Buckley

Western Australia

Back in April, thousands of people descended on the town of Exmouth and the greater Ningaloo Peninsula , to witness a rare total solar eclipse as it became visible over the northwestern edge of Australia.

Organizers spent more than a year planning for the event, which lasted about a minute, and featured musical performances, educational opportunities to learn about science and astronomy, and a three-day festival.

But the state of Western Australia offers much more than some 60 seconds of wonder.

Spanning one-third of the entire continent of Australia, it stretches from the lively, growing state capital of Perth across deserts including the Great Victoria and Great Sandy to the wine country of Margaret River, the dramatic clifftops of the Kimberley and the quokka-covered Rottnest Island . – Lilit Marcus

Liverpool, England

England’s port city of Liverpool, best known around the world as the birthplace of The Beatles, has added another chapter to its musical legacy.

It’s the host city of Eurovision 2023 , the spangly extravaganza of song that brings an influx of thousands of flag-waving fans from across the continent. The annual event is an opportunity for the city to bounce back after the ignominy of being stripped of its UNESCO World Heritage status in 2021.

This year is the 25 year anniversary of the Liverpool Biennial contemporary visual arts festival, as more than 30 international artists and collectives take over spaces in the city until September.

England is also marking the Year of the Coast in 2023, with food festivals and beach cleans taking place along the country’s shores. Just a half hour from Liverpool city center by train, Crosby Beach is the permanent home of sculptor Antony Gormley’s “Another Place,” where 100 cast-iron figures stand facing out to sea. – Maureen O’Hare

British food: 20 best dishes

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston parades its past like no other US city, but it often glossed over the history of its Black residents. It’s been taking steps to fix that.

Enter the much-delayed International African American Museum , which is now expected to open in late June.

Located on the shoreline of the Cooper River in the spot where many Africans first set foot in North America, it will explore the lives of slaves and their descendants.

Visitors in late May and early June can enjoy the world-renowned Spoleto Festival featuring opera, theater, dance, musical acts and artist talks.

In March, foodies headed to the Charleston Wine and Food Festival to sample Lowcountry favorites.

For fancy Southern fare, try Magnolias . Opened in 1990, it helped spur the city’s culinary renaissance. For something informal, try Bertha’s Kitchen in North Charleston, where red rice with sausage, fried chicken and lima beans rule. The eatery even caught attention of “Roadfood” author Michael Stern. – Forrest Brown

Vilnius, Lithuania

Self-effacing Vilnius admitted in an ad campaign this year that nobody really knows where it is. If their brilliant video didn’t make you want to book a trip there immediately, perhaps this will: the capital of Lithuania celebrated its 700th anniversary on January 25, 2023.

To mark the milestone, a packed program of events, including music festivals and exhibitions, are being held throughout the year. But use the anniversary as a push to visit rather than following a program religiously.

The entire city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – putting it up there with its fellow V-cities, Venice and Vienna. Vilnius makes it on the list thanks to its Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings, all sitting on a medieval street plan, but it’s best known for its Baroque architecture.

Don’t miss the frothy bell tower of St. John’s church (you can climb it for sweeping city views) or the church of St. Casimir, topped by a giant crown. Got an eye for social media? This is Europe’s only capital city that allows hot air balloons to cruise over the city skyline. – JB

Brilliant blue waters, expansive coral reefs and hundreds of peaceful islands: Fiji is not a hard sell. But why go there in 2023? For one, the country only reopened post-Covid at the end of 2021 , meaning that visitor numbers to the South Pacific paradise have yet to fully rebound.

While the country is spoiled for underwater beauty, take an opportunity to explore its above-ground treasures, too. The country’s lone UNESCO World Heritage site is the town of Levuka , a former capital and an important port, which is studded with British colonial-era buildings amid coconut and mango trees.

To learn about the local Indigenous communities, travelers can take part in a kava welcoming ceremony – named for the traditional drink at its center – or enjoy a lovo , a meal cooked by hot coals in an underground pit covered with banana leaves.

Fiji Airways now has direct flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco, making it relatively easy to get to the islands. As the Fijians say, bula ! – LM

Manaus, Brazil

As the fate of the Amazon rainforest hangs in the balance, two eco-lodges around Manaus – the capital of Brazil’s Amazonas state, and gateway to the river – have used their pandemic pause to get even more environmentally friendly.

Juma Amazon Lodge , about 50 miles south of the city, is now fully powered by a new $400,000 solar plant, whose 268 double panels swagger nearly 40 feet into the air above the canopy (meaning no trees had to be cut). They’ve also built a biogas system to increase the efficiency of organic waste treatment, reducing annual carbon emissions by eight tons.

Meanwhile, Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge , northwest of Manaus on the Rio Negro river, opened an off-grid “advanced base” during the pandemic that’s 30 miles from the main lodge and accessible only via river.

Guests can take long jungle hikes through territory home to jaguars, pumas and giant armadillos in what’s one of the Amazon region’s most remote hotel facilities, then spend the afternoon in a hammock or by the pool. For 2023, the lodge is planning overnight stays in a creekside tent for small groups.

Don’t miss Manaus itself – eating behemoth Amazonian fish outside the pink 1896 opera house is a bucket list experience. – JB

Thessaloniki, Greece

There’s been no shortage of reasons to visit Greece’s second city in recent times, with a UNESCO-endorsed local food scene that recently celebrated the refurb and reopening of its century-old Modiano food market .

Throw in a popular waterfront and proximity to beautiful beaches and inland mountains, Thessaloniki is surely a contender for one of Europe’s best city-break destinations.

What could make it even better? How about a gleaming new metro system? All being well, November 2023 should see the opening of the main line of an infrastructure megaproject that will eventually connect the city’s downtown to its international airport. Driverless trains will whisk passengers through tunnels whose excavation has added to Thessaloniki’s already rich catalog of archeological discoveries, many of which will be on display in specially created museum stations. – Barry Neild

Best Greek food: 24 of the tastiest selections

January 2023 saw t he official opening of Rwanda’s most exciting hotel yet: Sextantio Rwanda , a collection of traditionally crafted huts on an island on Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s largest lakes.

It’s the first project outside Italy for Daniele Kihlgren, whose part-hotel, part-living history projects keep local tradition alive. A nonprofit delivering money straight to local communities, Sextantio sees guests fishing on the 1,000-square-mile lake, paddling in dug-out canoes, trying local banana beer and wildlife-spotting – and not just the chickens, cows, pigs and goats that roam around the property.

Of course, you’ll want to see gorillas. Adjoining Volcanoes National Park, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund opened the 4,500-square meter Ellen DeGeneres Campus in 2022. Its visitor center includes exhibits, virtual reality gorilla “encounters” and nature trails.

Over in Akagera National Park, white rhinos – transferred from South Africa in 2021 to aid conservation – are already calving. It’s easier to get there, too. A new route from London joins Brussels, Dubai, Guangzhou and Mumbai as the only direct flights to Kigali from outside the African continent. – JB

Gothenburg, Sweden

Voted the world’s most sustainable destination in the world for six years running , Sweden’s second-biggest city is finally emerging from the shadow of Stockholm.

Once a major trading and shipping town, Gothenburg is now considered to be one of the greenest destinations in Europe, with 274 square meters (2,950 square feet) of green space per citizen, while 95% of its hotels are certified as eco-friendly.

Although Gothenburg officially turned 400 in 2021, the celebrations were put on ice because of the global pandemic. But they’re finally taking place in 2023 , so it’s a great time to visit.

Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustav, who celebrates 50 years on the throne this year, will be in town on June 4, Gothenburg’s official birthday, and the city’s major anniversary festival is being held in the Frihamnen port district from June 2 to 5, with concerts and art events among the activities on offer.

The festivities will continue throughout the summer until the September 3 kick off of Göteborgsvarvet Marathon, a new 26-mile race following on from the city’s popular half marathon on May 13. – Tamara Hardingham-Gill

Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

When travelers think of the United Arab Emirates, the dazzling skyline of Dubai is usually what springs to mind.

But the UAE has a lot to offer nature lovers too – particularly the northernmost emirate Ras al-Khaimah , which is aiming to become the Middle East’s most sustainable destination by 2025 thanks to a new “Balanced Tourism” strategy.

Just 45 minutes from Dubai, it’s often called the “adventure Emirate,” and for good reason. Offering beaches, deserts and mountains, outdoor attractions abound, such as sand boarding, trekking, wakeboarding, skydiving, scuba diving and even the world’s longest zipline.

But it’s not all about the adrenaline rush. Ras Al Khaimah is where you’ll find the highest restaurant in the United Arab Emirates, 1484 by Puro , which sits in the emirate’s Jebel Jais Mountains. Culture seekers can head for the historic Dhayah Fort, which dates back to the Late Bronze Age (1600-1300 BC).

Where to stay? Luxury hospitality brand Anantara is opening a fabulous new resort there later this year that will offer 174 guestrooms, suites and overwater villas along with specialty restaurants and a spa. – Karla Cripps

Sharing borders with Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China and Myanmar, landlocked Laos has long been a must-hit spot for time-rich travelers making their way through the Southeast Asia circuit.

But now, thanks to the 2021 opening of a semi-high-speed railway , it’s easier than ever to get around the country at a quicker pace, shaving hours off journeys that previously took full days to travel.

You’re still going to have to make some hard choices – there’s a lot to see in Laos.

Towering karst peaks await visitors to adventure-haven Vang Vieng, while UNESCO-listed Luang Prabang is filled with French-colonial heritage, Buddhist ritual and natural beauty. (Luxury seekers will want to check into the Rosewood Luang Prabang , with its stylish hilltop tents)

The mysterious Plain of Jars, a megalithic archaeological site, can be found in the Xiangkhoang Plateau. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience that makes a difference, head for Bokeo Province and join one of the Gibbon Experience’s overnight treks. Guests of this tourism-based conservation project spend the night in the world’s tallest treehouses – only accessible by zipline – among wild, black-crested gibbons. – KC

Gruyères, Switzerland

Rolling hills, medieval buildings – and the officially crowned world’s best cheese . Welcome to Gruyères, Switzerland.

Everywhere you look in this tiny, hilltop town, there’s a different picture-perfect view – from the medieval market square to the turreted 13th-century castle. A doable day trip from Geneva, summer promises hiking opportunities aplenty, while winter allows for venturing to the nearby Moléson-sur-Gruyères ski resort.

To taste Gruyères’ namesake fromage, stop off at the wood-lined Chalet de Gruyères . And to learn how cheesemakers perfect this creamy goodness, head to La Maison du Gruyère factory. For further foodie delights, there’s the Maison Cailler chocolate factory – from the outside it looks like something from a Wes Anderson movie, inside it offers a glimpse into the secrets of Swiss chocolate making.

Gruyères is also home to the surreal HR Giger Museum , celebrating the work of the acclaimed Swiss artist behind the eponymous alien in the 1979 movie “Alien.” A drink at the museum’s bar, designed by Giger in an eerie skeletal aesthetic, offers an antidote to Gruyères’ fairytale vibe. – Francesca Street

Minneapolis, Minnesota

A modern Indigenous restaurant in Minneapolis has earned one of the culinary world’s highest honors, and it’s not alone in shining light on Native communities in the area.

At Owamni , a James Beard Award winner for best new restaurant , Indigenous ingredients – trout, bison, sweet potatoes and more – make up “decolonized” menus where ingredients such as wheat flour and beef are absent. The restaurant is a partnership between chef Sean Sherman, Oglala Lakota and Dana Thompson, who is a lineal descendant of the Wahpeton-Sisseton and Mdewakanton Dakota tribes.

Earlier this year, one of the pair’s community-owned initiatives, Indigenous Food Lab, opened a market in Minneapolis’ Midtown Global Market , a former Sears building housing businesses that represent more than 22 cultures.

The open-air Four Sisters Farmers Market (Thursdays June through October) also focuses on Indigenous products. And at the Minnesota History Center in neighboring St. Paul, the exhibit “Our Home: Native Minnesota” looks at thousands of years of Native history in the state. – Marnie Hunter

Bogotá, Colombia

Caribbean coast destinations such as the Rosario archipelago or the UNESCO heritage list city of Cartagena are rightly top of most Colombia travel wish lists, but also deserving a look-in is the country’s somewhat unsung capital of Bogotá.

Yes, it’s a messy, traffic-snarled urban sprawl, but it’s also a high-altitude crucible of culture and cuisine. There are tours that chart the city’s transformation from graffiti wild west to incredible street art gallery.

Equally colorful are the restaurants that make the most of Colombia’s diverse natural larder of flora on menus that range from delicious peasant dishes to mind-blowing Michelin-level gastronomy . And then there’s the coffee!

The congestion (except on regular cycle-only days) thins quickly on its outskirts, allowing day trips to see historic and modern treasures. Itineraries include Lake Guatavita, where conquistadors once plundered sunken gold offerings left by indigenous Muisca people, or the majestic subterranean Zipaquirá salt cathedral . – BN

Mustang Valley, Nepal

Famed for its mountain treks through ancient trails that once facilitated trade between the Himalayas and India, Nepal’s stunning Mustang Valley sits on the doorstep of Tibet.

Expect to hear a lot more about this remote destination in the coming months thanks to the arrival of the soon-to-open Shinta Mani Mustang . Part of the Bensley Collection, this all-inclusive resort perched above the small town of Jomsom in the Lower Mustang will offer luxury seekers 29 suites inspired by traditional Tibetan homes.

In addition to trekking, Mustang visitors can explore ancient villages and Buddhist monasteries. Also not to be missed, the man-made Mustang Caves sit above the Gandaki River and are filled with 2,000-year-old Buddhist sculptures and paintings.

Getting to the Mustang Valley is part of the adventure. Travelers will need to take a 25-minute flight from capital Kathmandu to Pokhara then hop on another plane for the 20-minute journey to Jomsom. The views alone might make this option more pleasing to some than the alternative – a 12-hour drive from Kathmandu. – KC

From the spectacular wildlife to the beautiful national parks and beaches, Tanzania is absolutely bursting with visual splendor.

The East African country holds a seemingly endless list of incredible sights, with Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, UNESCO world heritage site Serengeti National Park, and the Zanzibar Archipelago, among its many highlights.

This year, flag carrier Air Tanzania will launch new routes to West and Central Africa, along with the UK, in a bid to transform the country’s largest airport in Dar es Salaam into a transport and logistics hub, while construction on the country’s first toll expressway is also scheduled to begin.

Meanwhile, the Delta Hotels by Marriott brand made its Africa debut with the opening of its Dar es Salaam Oyster Bay property earlier this year. - - THG

Cairo, Egypt

Could this finally be the year tourists can see the Grand Egyptian Museum ? After delay upon delay, the museum is expecting a 2023 opening .

GEM will be the largest museum dedicated to a single civilization, costing around $1 billion and holding the entire King Tut collection. See video here of a CNN insider visit.

If you arrive in Cairo before it opens, the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square can still scratch your antiquity itch.

While the Pyramids of Giza are the city’s tour-de-force, there’s still more to see. Start with Islamic Cairo. This area has one of the largest collections of historic Islamic architecture in the world. While there, visit the Al-Azhar mosque, which dates back to 970.

The city also has a rich Christian tradition. Coptic Cairo, part of Old Cairo, has a concentration of Christian sites that pre-date the arrival of Islam.

If you need a respite from Cairo’s cacophony, Al Azhar Park has a nice expanse of greenery and a design inspired by historic Islamic gardens. And the affluent neighborhood of Zamalek, which sits on an island in the Nile River, serves up restaurants, antique stores and swanky hotels. – FB

Naoshima, Japan

Yayoi Kusama has the distinction of being the best-selling living female artist on the planet. In particular, she has become a global icon for her sculptures of giant polka-dotted pumpkins, one of which was reinstalled at the pier of Naoshima, one of Japan’s “art islands,” in 2022 after being swept into the sea the year before.

However, Naoshima is so much more than its famous yellow gourd or its works by Kusama.

There are five small, walkable “art islands” in the Seto Inland Sea, which is located between the main islands of Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku in southeastern Japan. The largest collection of things to see – not to mention the only hotel – is on Naoshima. Together, the five champion modern and contemporary art, with emphasis on Japanese artists.

Don’t come here expecting calligraphy and other classical forms. Instead, be awed by Tadao Ando’s massive stone monoliths, a tiny gallery where patrons can listen to nothing but the beats of human hearts, a makeshift thunderstorm created inside a wooden house and an exhibit where jumping in and taking a bath is intended to be part of the artistic experience. – LM

With direct flights to Belize City from about a dozen North American airports, this Central American country is a low-hassle hop for many travelers during the November to April high season.

Most visitors head directly to Belize’s Caribbean coastline. The country’s largest island, Ambergris Caye, sits next to Belize Barrier Reef – the world’s second largest coral reef system. Margaritaville Beach Resort opened on the island in March, and “eco-luxury” resort Alaia Belize opened in 2021.

Farther south, the Great Blue Hole – a massive underwater sinkhole – is an aquatic magnet for both scuba divers and aerial photographers.

But Belize offers way more than its enticing islands.

Lush rainforests, cave networks, winding rivers and rich Mayan archaeological sites invite exploration in a country that’s had an evolving sustainable tourism master plan since 2012. Ruins of the Mayan city of Altun Ha are just about an hour north of Belize City. Or farther west, Lamanai is one of Belize’s largest and most fascinating Mayan sites. – MH

Oaxaca, Mexico

Mexico is arguably as rich in culinary heritage as it is in Mesoamerican archaeological treasures, and Eva Longoria explores many distinctive flavors in her series “Searching for Mexico,” which aired on CNN this year.

The state of Oaxaca, which Longoria visits, has an especially deep well of culinary traditions. Plus, Oaxaca produces most of the world’s mezcal.

Tlayudas, known as Oaxacan pizzas, are a street food staple. A large corn tortilla is typically layered with lard, beans, traditional Oaxacan cheese, pork and other toppings such as avocado and tomato. The state is also renowned for its seven mole sauces, with recipes that may call for dozens of ingredients from chiles and sesame seeds to chocolate and dried fruit.

In the city of Oaxaca, Mercado Benito Juárez is one of many markets across the state selling items such as dried chiles, fresh produce, handicrafts and crunchy grasshoppers. To sample the state’s increasingly popular beverage, the town of Santiago Matatlán is the place for mezcal distillery tours and tastings. – MH

Best Mexican food: 23 dishes to try

Ottawa, Canada

It doesn’t have Montreal’s French flair or Toronto’s international oomph, so the Canadian capital can get overlooked. That would be a mistake. Graceful and understated, Ottawa has its own draws.

Music lovers should take note of two Ottawa Jazz Festivals . The winter edition took place in February, and the summer edition will run from June 23-30.

If you love hockey, watch the Ottawa Senators do their NHL thing at the Canadian Tire Centre in the western suburbs. If that ticket is too pricey, check out the Ottawa 67’s , a more affordable option of junior men’s hockey games at downtown’s TD Place Arena.

The Rideau Cana l turns into the world’s largest skating rink from sometime in January to late February or early March, depending on ice thickness. It’s free and accessible 24/7. When it’s warmer, it’s a great spot for people and boat watching.

A don’t-miss is Parliament Hill , home to Canada’s federal government and the visually striking Parliament buildings on a promontory overlooking the Ottawa River. – FB

There’s considerable change brewing in Uganda’s travel offerings at the moment with the East African country looking beyond the traditional staples of safari and wildlife spotting to appeal to both regional and international visitors.

Keen to revitalize post-Covid tourism in all corners of the country, not just the big-ticket businesses offering wealthy visitors a glimpse of the Big Five beasts or mountain gorillas, it’s turned to marketing its other attributes .

And why not? From the expansive shores of Lake Victoria to the snowy Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda is a beautiful wilderness playground, with opportunities for adventure including treks through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or up to the craters of the Virunga volcano chain or whitewater rafting along the Victoria Nile.

There’s also an emphasis on connecting visitors with Ugandan communities – promising tastes of Ugandan food, music and culture. Last year saw the launch of the Uganda Cycling Trail , a 1,600-kilometer mainly unpaved 22-stage route designed to appeal to all levels of cyclist from hardcore solo bikepackers to fully-guided easy riders. – BN

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The 18 best places to travel in 2023

For many people, this year marked the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic that travel was back within reach. It was a year defined by joyous reunions — reconnecting with friends and family in person, rediscovering favorite destinations and taking stock of this new, changed world.

It was also a year of novel travel challenges . As demand soared, so, too, did prices. We returned to the roads and skies to find a travel industry that could barely keep up with our ravenous appetite to explore the globe.

But somehow, our love of travel has endured, our wanderlust is just as insatiable as ever and destinations around the world are beckoning us to visit.

That's why we're thrilled to share the destinations on our list of the best places to go in 2023. And this year, we've not only tapped our editorial team to contribute their tips and insights but also our extraordinary network of writers from around the world.

Reaching your travel goals has never been easier when you download the free TPG App !

As always, we looked at exciting new hotel openings and boundary-pushing flights, plus the places that embody the travel trends and philosophies we see taking shape in 2023 and beyond: The destinations prioritizing sustainability, focusing on Indigenous and community-based tourism and encouraging travelers to venture beyond the obvious gateway or itinerary.

We also saw a proliferation of innovative new ways for travelers to use their points and miles to experience the world, including exciting ultra-long-haul flights where miles will come in handy and hotels in destinations that previously might have been absent from most reward travelers' maps.

As we head into 2023, get excited (we are!) about embarking on unforgettable journeys to new corners of the globe, prepare to take a second look at places you already thought you knew and connect more personally with the people who call them home along the way. We hope this list of places to visit rekindles your passion for travel and look forward to exploring this wonderful, awe-inspiring planet with you. — By Eric Rosen and Melanie Lieberman

Aotearoa-New Zealand: The future of inclusive travel

Best for sustainability-focused outdoor adventurers and sports enthusiasts.

Laid-back beach towns, award-winning wine, genuine hospitality and outdoor adventure aren't the only reasons why you should put Aotearoa-New Zealand at the top of your 2023 travel list.

Although the country's commitment to sustainability has long, deep roots (more than 33% of its land is protected), New Zealand's tourism industry launched the Tiaki Promise, a sustainability pledge, just prior to the pandemic. The Maori word "Tiaki" means to care for people and places, so the aim of this pledge is to avoid overtourism and encourage visitors to explore lesser-known destinations.

One way to do so is to seek new Maori cultural encounters and experiences, such as a traditional hangi feast in Rotorua, which is prepared in underground pits, after a visit to the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. Or, take an interpretive storytelling trek up Maunga Hikurangi on the North Island's east coast. If you're there in June or July, you can celebrate the Maori New Year, Matariki, which is based on the lunar calendar and became an official public holiday in 2022.

Next year, New Zealand will also co-host the largest FIFA Women's World Cup ever along with Australia. Matches will be played on both the North and South islands. Along with other large sporting events like the Women's Rugby World Cup, it's a clear example of the nation's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion as international visitors return.

A handful of new hotels have opened recently, too, such as the art-filled Park Hyatt Auckland , the environmentally friendly Hotel Britomart in Auckland's central business district and, on the South Island, The Carlin Hotel in Queenstown, which overlooks the Eyre and Remarkables mountain ranges surrounding Lake Wakatipu.

Getting to the country from the U.S. is even easier now with Air New Zealand's new nonstop flights from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Auckland Airport (AKL) and Qantas' launch of the same route starting in March 2023.

TPG tip: If you're staying in Tamaki Makaurau, the Maori name for Auckland, explore one of the towns or nearby islands in the harbor. The ferry ride to Devonport takes 15 minutes, while Waiheke Island is only 40 minutes away by ferry. The latter has fabulous beaches and wineries to explore using a hop-on, hop-off bus. — By Becky Blaine

Orlando: Easy fun with classic experiences

Best for roller coaster riders, of course, but also space geeks and culture freaks.

Whether you want to feel like you're in outer space, watch an actual rocket lift off or catch a concert in one of the world's best theaters, Orlando is the destination to visit in Florida — and 2023 is going to be a banner year for the city.

Many travelers come for the world-class theme parks, but Orlando is undergoing a travel renaissance that includes a just-opened terminal at Orlando International Airport (MCO) and 170 miles of railway that will connect the high-speed Brightline train from Orlando to Miami by mid-2023.

But don't hop the train too fast. Book tickets to a concert at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts' Steinmetz Hall, which opened in 2022 and is rated as one of the world's most acoustically perfect spaces. An urban pocket park downtown called Art2 is also elevating this area of Orlando with can't-miss experiences, including performances and food trucks.

Cape Canaveral, an hour east on the coast, is also now home to Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex, a 50,000-square-foot, multilevel addition to the Kennedy Space Center that's full of interactive exhibits. And that's to say nothing of the full lineup of planned rocket launches travelers can check out over the course of 2023.

Of course, it's always a good idea to visit the theme parks, especially to catch the final months of Disney World's 50th-anniversary celebration , which includes a reimagining of Epcot with that park's first-ever roller coaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind , and the spring 2023 debut of Tron: Lightcycle Run in the Magic Kingdom.

Disney World is also home to the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser , a "Star Wars"-themed journey unlike any other. The immersive, interactive two-night hotel experience (ahem, space mission) opened in early 2022.

Walt Disney World Resort isn't the only theme park behemoth elevating the park experience in 2023. Universal Studios Florida opened the thrilling VelociCoaster ride just last year, and it's keeping the excitement up with an all-new theme park, Epic Universe, already under construction. It will deliver new rides, themed lands, hotels and restaurants.

TPG tip: If you are one of the millions of travelers who rent a car in Orlando each year, there is a new 7-Eleven on the airport property where you can refill your tank at retail prices and make a pit stop to grab snacks for your journey. — B y Summer Hull

Oslo: Europe's coolest art capital

Best for art and design lovers seeking new city-shaping museums and hotels.

Norway continues to claim the attention of travelers, but in 2023, all eyes are on the capital city, which is finally ready to flaunt its latest investments in the arts and hospitality.

Across from the white, angular slashes of the opera house's Carrara marble ramps and staircases is the curving 13-story tower housing the new Munch Museum, which opened in 2021. Even more imposing is the sprawling new National Museum, now one of Europe's largest art museums, which houses works from Edvard Munch's iconic "The Scream" to masterpieces from European artists like Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet and Henri Matisse.

This fall also saw the debut of Sommerro, an art deco hotel packed with contemporary art collections curated by museum director and art critic Sune Nordgren, along with 1930s works by Norwegian master Per Krohg — including a mosaic feature in the restored public baths, which opened in November. There's more to come from the boutique hotel and cultural center next year, including the addition of Villa Inkognito, an 11-suite retreat in a former 19th-century residence.

You can even bookend your trip to Oslo by venturing farther south to Kristiansand, where Kunstsilo, a modernist Nordic art museum, will debut next year inside an award-winning functionalist silo from the 1930s.

TPG tip: It's never been easier to explore beyond Oslo thanks to a flurry of new flights and cruises. Low-cost carrier Norse Atlantic (which began operating in 2022) continues expanding its reach in the U.S. by offering a number of promising nonstop routes, including one between London's Gatwick Airport (LGW) and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) that's coming next year. Norwegian airline Widerøe is connecting Bergen to four new European cities next summer as well. For those interested in heading north, Norway's oldest cruise company, Hurtigruten, is restarting the Svalbard Express next year, while Viking and Disney have announced new itineraries to the remote Arctic region . — By Melanie Lieberman

Jordan: Connections by air, land and sea

Best for travelers who want a taste of the ancient world at the heart of the modern Middle East.

Home to some of the world's oldest pieces of history, Jordan is on many travelers' bucket lists, especially now that there are several new additions on the way. In 2023, this Middle Eastern country is channeling its renowned hospitality to welcome travelers via new flights and a host of new hotels and experiences.

In the capital city of Amman, The Ritz-Carlton is the latest luxury hotel to join the gaggle of points-friendly properties near the city's 5th Circle landmark. Lavish white interiors and crystal chandeliers bedazzle the new hotel, which has 194 rooms and 34 suites with floor-to-ceiling views of the capital's sand-hued buildings. Next summer, Radisson will pump up its Middle East portfolio with Radisson Blu Hotel, Amman Galleria Mall. And across the red sand desert, the Crowne Plaza Resort Petra will reopen after a 10-year renovation and expansion.

Northwest of Amman, the former ancient trading town of Al-Salt became Jordan's sixth and latest UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its reputation as "the city of tolerance and urban hospitality." History and design fans can explore touches of European architecture alongside the city's distinct yellow limestone facades. This city is also a new stop on the Jordan Trail's Thru Hike. Launched in 2017, the trail offers the chance to spend 40 days hiking through eight regions that, together, traverse the entire country. Originally connecting 52 villages, it's recently been upped to 75 different communities.

Nearly 75% of Jordan is covered in pomegranate-hued sand, but head south and the watercolor greens and blues of the Red Sea emerge. Here, cruising is making waves in a country renowned for its mystical desert landscapes. Emerald Cruises recently debuted its first oceangoing yacht the Emerald Azzurra, which sails from the famed seaside city of Aqaba to Athens, Greece. Next year, Windstar Cruises is following suit by launching new itineraries from Amman to Athens and Athens to Dubai, with a stop at Aqaba.

TPG tip: Hopping on a flight to Jordan from select North American cities has just gotten easier. United has launched its first-ever direct flight from Washington, D.C.'s Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Amman's Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) , which departs three times per week. Last summer, Royal Jordanian Airlines, a Oneworld member, also launched a new route from Amman to Toronto via Montreal, and it will be increasing frequencies to Chicago, Detroit, Montreal and New York in the spring and summer of 2023. — By Katie Lockhart

American waterways: Rediscovering our backyard

Best for travelers craving a nostalgic way to see America's small towns.

There's something charming about life along the water — and we're not talking about the swanky condos overlooking Miami Beach or Malibu, California's Billionaires Beach. Think instead of historical small towns like Natchez, Mississippi, and Muskegon, Michigan, as well as industrial cities like Pittsburgh, Milwaukee and Chicago, which have long relied on the nation's waterways.

American lakes and rivers remain key commercial arteries, but the cruise industry has turned them into some of the world's top leisure destinations as well thanks to a slate of new, offbeat itineraries that are only going to draw more passengers in the coming years.

Although Great Lakes and U.S. river cruises have been around for more than a century, 2023 could be one of the best years yet to sail domestically thanks to lines like American Queen Voyages , American Cruise Lines , Ponant , Viking and Pearl Seas Cruises, which are adding more capacity and itineraries along the Mississippi, Ohio, Columbia and Snake rivers; the Great Lakes; and the Chesapeake Bay.

Viking's new expedition arm rolled out its first two ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, which both spent time sailing the Great Lakes in 2022. Next year, travelers can also look forward to two new vessels, American Eagle and American Glory, from American Cruise Lines. The ships will debut along the East Coast and sail exclusively domestic itineraries. Additionally, American Queen Voyages will roll out the longest river voyages to date: 23-day sailings on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers .

If you book a domestic cruise, you'll see unexpected sides to major cities like Cincinnati, where the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center provides a sobering experience, as well as Detroit, which is a staple on many Great Lakes voyages, and New Orleans along the Mississippi. You might also visit towns such as Madison, Indiana, home to stately houses and a historical saddletree museum, that you might not have heard of otherwise. With more itineraries rolling out over time, there will be plenty more destinations to discover along America's waterways.

TPG tip: If you're looking to engage your competitive spirit, book American Queen Voyages' Kentucky Derby Cruise on American Countess. During the sailing on May 3, 2023, the boat will go head-to-head against two other vessels in Louisville, Kentucky's Great Steamboat Race, part of the annual Kentucky Derby Festival. — By Ashley Kosciolek

Los Angeles: In-person events are the hottest ticket in town

Best for travelers seeking a new side to the City of Angels.

Events for sports enthusiasts and tech acolytes will draw big crowds to Los Angeles next year.

In January, the College Football Playoff National Championship will kick off at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, and the 123rd U.S. Open Championship golf tournament will be held at the Los Angeles Country Club in June. A third major event, the 40th Annual Breeders' Cup horse racing world championship, will gallop out of the gate at Santa Anita Park in November. The venue sits across the street from the still-new Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia.

You'll also want to get your virtual reality headset ready, because E3 is getting back in the game, live and in person this June at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The video game industry's biggest annual event was held virtually in 2021 and canceled outright in 2022.

It will at long last be easier to get around Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) , too. After three years of construction, the Automated People Mover at LAX will finally open, connecting all terminals, the Metro Rail and a new rental car center. This state-of-the-art train will reduce travel time both to and within the airport.

Even frequent visitors will find exciting new places to bed down in LA since eight major hotels opened in 2022, including the Hyatt -branded tommie Hollywood, The Shay in Culver City and the adjoining Hyatt Place and Hyatt House LAX/Century Blvd. Two Marriott hotels — a Moxy and an AC — will debut downtown in the 38-story Fig + Pico tower, which sits across from the convention center and Crypto.com Arena. A few blocks away, a $1 billion, Frank Gehry-designed mixed-use development called The Grand LA opened. Here, you'll find Hilton 's splashy Conrad Los Angeles and four new restaurants from chef José Andres.

Also new downtown is the Sixth Street Viaduct, a 3,500-foot-long bridge with an accompanying 12-acre park with walking and bike trails. Spanning the Los Angeles River, this bridge connects downtown's Arts District with the Mexican food hot spot, Boyle Heights.

TPG tip: The Los Angeles Dodgers are considered the early-odds baseball team to beat in the 2023 World Series, so we recommend keeping an eye out for autumn points deals at downtown LA hotels near Dodger Stadium. — By Melanie Wynne

South Africa: More flights to wildlife sites

Best for nature lovers dreaming of visiting the Rainbow Nation.

South Africa has a wealth of natural and cultural riches that travelers never tire of exploring, from the Big 5 of safari lore (elephants, lions, leopards, hippos and buffaloes) to the historic steps of Nelson Mandela's "Long Walk to Freedom." One thing the country has been lacking, however, is direct flights to both Cape Town and Johannesburg via multiple U.S. carriers.

In mid-December, Delta will commence a triangle service, flying the Airbus A350 from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Johannesburg's O.R Tambo International Airport (JNB) and then on to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) with a nonstop return from there. And through a special arrangement with the Department of Transportation , United is now offering nonstop flights between Washington, D.C.'s Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. This is in addition to its nonstop services from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to both Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB).

When they arrive, travelers will find new safari lodges opening next year in some of the best wildlife-viewing destinations. The Tswalu concession in the southern Kalahari Desert is South Africa's largest private reserve — and it's less than two hours away by plane from both Cape Town and Johannesburg. There are few lodges here, though, so the new Loapi Tented Camp opening in 2023 is truly notable. With just six modern, eco-friendly tented micro-camps that are perfect for privacy, it will feel like you have the remote savannah all to yourself as you head out on private ranger-led safari drives to spot African wild dogs and desert black rhinos.

Also set to open in 2023 is The Homestead, a sustainability-focused luxury lodge in the secluded Nambiti Private Game Reserve. Nestled into the mountains of malaria-free KwaZulu-Natal, the lodge is around a three-hour drive from either Johannesburg or Durban. In addition to a dozen sleek safari suites with expansive wilderness views and butler service, expect electric safari vehicles for game drives and innovative energy-saving touches as part of the lodge's larger conservation efforts, such as grass-planted roofs and a solar farm.

TPG tip: Plan a trip around South Africa's epic music festivals, including Johannesburg's Afropunk Festival on Constitution Hill, the seat of the country's lawmakers, in December. In March, the largest music festival in sub-Saharan Africa (the Cape Town International Jazz Festival) takes center stage. And AfrikaBurn, South Africa's answer to Burning Man, sets up on the Eastern Cape in April. — B y Melissa Klurman

Rome: The Eternal City shines anew

Best for history buffs and hotel enthusiasts itching to discover ancient ruins amidst modern luxury.

In 2023, Rome's full historical heritage will be front and center for visitors to enjoy.

A project to open the Sacred Area of Largo di Torre Argentina (where Julius Caesar was assassinated) via a series of elevated walkways is slated for completion next summer. The archaeological site near the Pantheon was unearthed in the 1920s but has been inaccessible for decades. It joins The Mausoleum of Augustus, which reopened in 2021 following an 8 million euro ($8.2 million) restoration, as one of the ancient sites newly accessible to visitors.

Additionally, the Museo dell'Arte Salvata (the Museum for Rescued Art) opened in 2022. Here, precious antiquities that were returned to Italy after being plundered from archaeological sites and trafficked on the black market to auction houses, private collections and even institutions like New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art are on display. The exhibits will change, but you might see sculptures, ancient coins or even an amphora painted with erotic scenes that dates back to the sixth century B.C.

But there are new, modern developments luring luxury travelers back to Rome, too.

The arrival of international brands like W, Soho House, The Hoxton and Mama Shelter, plus boutique hotels like The First Musica and Umiltà 36 have heralded a contemporary hotel boom. Next year's openings will up the ante even more, with arrivals by Six Senses, Edition, Bulgari and Nobu, as well as a renovation of the 19th-century Palazzo Naiadi, a neoclassical landmark on Piazza Della Repubblica, by Anantara.

Rome will also see increased airlift from the U.S., with three daily seasonal flights (up from two) on Delta from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Rome's Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and a new daily seasonal route from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Fiumicino Airport (FCO) on United , both of which will launch on May 25.

TPG tip: The best way to explore the Eternal City is on two wheels. Just in time for the 2023 season, Scooteroma is revamping its popular Street Art Vespa Tour and debuting a brand-new experience focused on the city's oft-overlooked early 20th-century art and architecture, such as the iconic Vittoriano Emmanuel II National Monument in Piazza Venezia. — By Laura Itzkowitz

Bangkok: Setting the table for an epic comeback

Best for passionate foodies and arts aficionados.

For the last few years, Bangkok has been quietly setting the stage for a monumental rebound once the travel floodgates reopened and international tourists returned en masse.

On the Chao Phraya riverfront, a luxury hotel revival led by Capella and Four Seasons outposts has been underway since 2020. Both properties house destination restaurants, including soulful Thai at Capella's Phra Nakhon and the swanky Buenos Aires-themed BKK Social Club at the Four Seasons. This summer, Hong Kong's Mott 32, plus five other dining outlets, arrived at The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon around the corner. Early next year, Southeast Asia's first Soho House opens in Bangkok with multiple bars and restaurants (plus a 39-foot outdoor pool), and an Aman will follow in the coming years.

Hotels aren't the only places for tourists to experience the energy of Bangkok's evolving culinary scene. Innovators all across the city are transforming it into the world's next great food destination. Just this year, a former monk opened Small Dinner Club, which serves offbeat dishes like dessert tom yum, while mixologists at Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar craft boozy, zero-waste concoctions starring an individual element like coconut or squid.

The 2023 Michelin Bangkok guide features 35 starred restaurants (five more than last year). Additionally, both Samrub Samrub Thai and Raan Jay Fai ranked on the World's 100 Best Restaurants list in 2022. Buzz is gathering around watering holes like No Name Noodle, which opened in 2022 and serves just 35 bowls of Japanese soba per day, and chef Arnaud Dunand Sauthier's just-opened, alpine-inspired restaurant Maison Dunand as well.

Bangkok's art scene is also reawakening. Just before the pandemic, 31-year-old Mook Attakanwong founded ATT 19, an exhibition space in a former Chinese school where works broach once-taboo topics like mental health. At Aurum The River Place, exhibits range from street art to a subway car installation.

Airlines are putting flights to Thailand back on their schedules, too. Air Canada's seasonal route from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Bangkok running through March 24 is the first nonstop from North America in more than a decade. Just don't forget to make those restaurant reservations first.

TPG tip: Spend a few days hiking through tropical, UNESCO-listed Khao Yai National Park and stay in a Bill Bensley-designed heritage train car suite at the brand-new InterContinental Khao Yai Resort , which is located just a 2.5-hour drive away from Bangkok. — By Kathryn Romeyn

Panama: Leading the way with homegrown tourism

Best for adventure seekers looking to explore an untouched paradise.

Panama might be best known for its famous canal, but in 2023, all that changes for the Central American country, as previously untouched areas become more accessible to travelers. The country is a hotbed of biodiversity and an eclectic blend of cultures unlike any other in the region. Now, it's easier than ever to experience it all.

Launched in August 2022, Panama's community tourism network, SOSTUR, is a digital platform connecting travelers with rural communities and local tourism businesses. Travelers planning a visit for 2023 can select tours across 10 pilot communities in remote corners of the country. Experiences range from agritourism farm visits to sloth watching in the jungle.

Hikers will love exploring the pristine southern coast of Panama's Azuero Peninsula, which is brimming with tropical flora and fauna, natural caves and hidden beaches. Next year, the tour operator Azuero Adventures — based in the rural village of Cambutal — is introducing its Cerro Hoya Mountain Expedition, a six-day adventure that includes a three-day camping tour in Cerro Hoya National Park, home to some of the last areas of primary jungle on the peninsula.

Bookend your trip with a few days in the capital and a stay at the stylish new Hotel La Compañia, part of Hyatt's Unbound Collection. Also in the city's Casco Antiguo colonial district is the new Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo, an Accor-affiliated property slated to open before the end of the year. It has a desirable location on the water's edge and unobstructed city skyline and Pacific views.

Since Delta launched three new routes from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Orlando International Airport (MCO) and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Panama City's Tocumen International Airport (PTY) late last year, it has gotten that much easier for many flyers to visit Panama.

TPG tip : If you're flying to Panama on Copa Airlines, the nation's flag carrier, consider upgrading to see the new Copa Club lounge in Tocumen International Airport (PTY)'s new Terminal 2. It's a sprawling 21,500-square-foot space with buffet-style dining, leather loungers, a dedicated family entertainment area and a bar. — By Jordi Lippe-McGraw

Bhutan: A legendary trail reopens

Best for adrenaline junkies craving both nature and culture.

When Bhutan reopened for tourism in September 2022, it also unveiled the highly anticipated Trans-Bhutan Trail, an ancient footpath that stretches for 250 miles across the country. Over the previous two years, the trail was carefully restored by people from around the country, connecting the popular western area with the less-traveled eastern edge of Bhutan.

For decades, hiking has lured mountaineers to Bhutan. The tiny Asian kingdom has exceptional trails, especially through the Himalayas, such as the famous Snowman Trek, a demanding 216-mile hike considered one of the toughest in the world. The newly restored Trans-Bhutan Trail, by contrast, has sections that can be tackled in single or multiple days, so it's more beginner-friendly. Hikers wind through forested mountains, rice paddies and bustling villages with new campsites and homestays along the way. While there are still challenging tracts, the intention is to open parts of the country that are less touristed.

As a commitment to a more sustainable tourism strategy, the country also implemented a new, higher $200 daily tourism fee. The tariff (which replaces a daily $65 fee) funds various economic, social, environmental and cultural developments and is partially intended to limit tourist entries to manageable numbers. It also means travelers no longer need to purchase packaged trips, which allows more flexibility to book preferred hotels and tours.

The country has no shortage of luxury lodges (Aman, Como and Six Senses all have properties here), and more are on the way. Next year, andBeyond will unveil the new Punakha River Lodge on the banks of western Bhutan's Mo Chhu River in a bucolic, rice-growing region. It will have tented suites and two villas designed in a traditional Bhutanese architectural style.

TPG tip: Along with the new daily tourism fee, travelers have to adhere to a number of rules, which include hiring a local guide (in certain areas) and not self-driving. The upside is a guide can unlock the country's history and reveal its storied heritage. The roads are also extremely steep and winding, so having someone navigate them for you is a major plus. When planning your trip, keep in mind that there are no direct flights from the U.S. to Bhutan. Most travelers transit via Bangkok or Delhi, both of which have direct flights with Drukair to Paro International Airport (PBH). —By Mary Holland

Mexico's Pacific Coast: Stylish new destinations emerge

Best for swimmers, surfers and sybarites who appreciate design-driven beach resorts.

The roughly 1,200-mile stretch of mainland Mexico's Pacific Coast from Nayarit to Oaxaca is famous for the resort destinations of Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco and Zihuatanejo. But swanky new hotels, major infrastructure improvements and breathtaking natural scenery have brought three very different areas along it into focus for 2023: Riviera Nayarit, Costalegre and Riviera Oaxaqueña.

Beginning just north of Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit is undergoing one of Latin America's biggest luxury hotel booms. This 65-mile string of resort communities includes Punta Mita, already home to Four Seasons and St. Regis properties, as well as the surf town of Sayulita and, farther north, the up-and-coming Mandarina and Costa Canuva developments. Recent openings include the Conrad Punta de Mita , Secrets Bahia Mita, One&Only Mandarina and Auberge Resorts' ultra-exclusive Susurros Del Corazón. Rosewood Mandarina and Costa Canuva's Ritz-Carlton Reserve Riviera Nayarit are coming soon, along with the VidantaWorld theme, water and nature park.

The dramatic headlands and secluded beaches of the 60-mile Costalegre, which is 2.5 hours south of Puerto Vallarta, have drawn celebrities to enclaves like Careyes for decades. The region is about to take off with the opening of a new airport in Chalacatepec and continued improvements along the winding coastal artery, Highway 200. The posh Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo opened in November 2022 with 157 open-air rooms and suites, and the famed Las Alamandas boutique resort recently completed a top-to-bottom renovation. There's also the continued expansion of the 36,000-acre Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve, home to a posh 40-room eco-resort with a Byzantine design.

Served by two smaller airports, including the recently expanded Puerto Escondido International Airport (PXM), Riviera Oaxaqueña is increasingly appealing to visitors seeking an easygoing, mindful vibe (think: yoga retreats and eco-conscious architecture). Grupo Habita's new Hotel Escondido and Hotel Terrestre offer understated luxury, while Puerto Escondido's adults-only Casona Sforza is an idyllic end-of-the-road beach retreat. And just down the coast, the artsy and diverse villages of Mazunte and Zipolite (with its LGBTQIA-popular, clothing-optional beach ) are blissful beach towns for chilling out.

TPG tip: The anticipated early 2023 completion of the Barranca Larga-Ventanilla Highway, which traverses a 10,000-foot-high mountain pass, will cut the drive time from Puerto Escondido to the historic town of Oaxaca, with its art galleries and renowned restaurants, from seven hours to less than three. — By Andrew Collins

Kenya: Africa's top ecotourism destination

Best for wild-at-heart travelers seeking adventure and eco-friendly luxury.

Kenya has long been the standard bearer for sustainable tourism in Africa. The emergence of wildlife conservancies in the 1970s not only prevented poaching and illegal trade but also ushered in a new era of community involvement.

In 2023, Kenya's ecotourism movement will forge ahead with bold new initiatives to protect what is arguably the greatest safari destination on Earth. Kenya's emblematic mountain bongo (a critically endangered, notoriously shy type of antelope) will be repatriated to Mount Kenya from a preserve in Florida in a project spearheaded by the Meru Bongo and Rhino Conservation Trust. Sanctuaries within Mount Kenya National Park will also provide refuge to endangered black rhinos and draw on the knowledge and engagement of local Masai communities.

Points travelers will soon have even more reason to add the East African nation to their travel wish list. In 2023, Marriott will debut its first high-end safari lodge on the continent: the JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge . Its location, at the heart of Masai Mara National Reserve, will ensure optimal wildlife viewing; the park is home to a staggering inventory of more than 450 animal species, including the Big 5. The lodge will feature 20 classic safari-style tents with canopy beds, stone tile floors and Masai-inspired prints and fabrics. Marriott has committed to hiring 50 individuals from the Masai community, too.

Beyond the Masai Mara, Amboseli National Park is home to an extraordinary density of wildlife thanks in no small part to conservation efforts such as the Amboseli Trust for Elephants. Today, the park is one of the best places on the planet to see long-tusked elephants, as well as giraffes, eland, zebras and wildebeest in large numbers. Debuting in November 2023, Angama Amboseli will comprise 10 luxury tented suites located within Kenya's first community-owned conservancy, the Kimana Sanctuary. All tents will frame views of Mount Kilimanjaro, but the main draw here, no doubt, will be the once-in-a-lifetime elephant encounters.

TPG tip: The Billionaire Resort & Retreat Malindi, an erstwhile A-list hangout that opened to the masses in 2022, offers the ultimate safari and Indian Ocean combination without any grueling border crossings. Located in Malindi (75 miles north of Mombasa, Kenya), the resort's opulent villas and gorgeous infinity pool overlook a private white sand beach you won't want to miss. — By Caroline Lascom

Turks and Caicos: Getting out in the archipelago

Best for sun seekers and beach lovers.

Beyond the white sands and aquamarine waters you'll find around the Caribbean, Turks and Caicos offers exciting developments, including new hotels and cruise facilities, plus better airports that will make some of its previously remote islands much more accessible. So, it should come as no surprise, then, that Turks and Caicos has seen the fastest-growing travel demand by Americans year over year, according to TripAdvisor's Fall Travel Index .

To help with the influx of inter-island and private flights, the new South Caicos Airport (XSC) on South Caicos Island — the easternmost island in the Caicos group — will complete construction in June 2023. The government will also break ground on a new-and-improved international airport for Providenciales in early 2023, a project expected to cost $300 million.

Visitors will have plenty of new accommodation options, too. Andaz Turks & Caicos Residences at Grace Bay is targeting a spring 2023 opening and will be the first Andaz-branded resort and residential property in the Caribbean. Also coming in 2023, The Shore Club is adding eight six-bedroom pool villas to its iconic Long Bay Beach property. Travelers can also look forward to boutique-style suites and panoramic views of Grace Bay Beach at The Bight Hotel and Providenciales' newest resort and marina, South Bank Turks & Caicos, both of which are in the pipeline.

A recently completed dock extension at the Grand Turk Cruise Center can now accommodate larger cruise ships, so it's bound to be a port of call on more itineraries. Additionally, $1 million in grants has been distributed to water sports operators and beach vendors to accommodate the projected increase in cruisers.

TPG tip: For the first time since the pandemic, a full lineup of events is planned for Turks and Caicos in 2023. This includes the weekly Island Fish Fry at Bight Park and legendary events like the Conch Festival, the Valentine's Day Cup on Middle Caicos, the Caribbean Food and Wine Festival and the largest festival in Turks and Caicos, Maskanoo, a cultural celebration started by enslaved people in the 19th century mocking the wealthy islanders' costume balls. —By Devorah Lev-Tov

Charleston, South Carolina: A new museum casts light on a dark past

Best for diving deeper into a much-loved city .

Yes, we know. Charleston on a "best of" travel list is a lot like saying "florals for spring" — universally popular but hardly groundbreaking. But in 2023, the International African American Museum will open in Charleston, heralding a new era for cultural tourism in the city. In the works for the past two decades, the museum officially opens its doors on Jan. 21.

The museum will be a powerful lens on the past and is fittingly located at Gadsden's Wharf, where slave ships docked in Charleston Harbor and thousands of enslaved Africans first set foot in North America. The museum is raised off this now-hallowed ground on 18 pillars, each 13 feet high — a monumental structure designed by renowned architect Henry Cobb.

Inside, exhibits explore both the history of enslavement and the stories of African Americans in South Carolina's Lowcountry from the past through the present. There's a genealogical center here as well. Outside, the African Ancestors Memorial Garden includes a reflecting pool facing the harbor and a soundscape that explores the diverse range of African languages.

Beyond the IAAM, Charleston is welcoming new nonstop flights to several cities. Breeze Airlines continues to roll out new flights, including two weekly nonstops each to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and six direct flights per week to Provo Airport (PVU) in Utah, which all commenced in November. Earlier in 2022, Breeze rolled out daily nonstops to Orlando International Airport (MCO) and New York's Westchester County Airport (HPN).

On the hotel front, travelers can stay at the historic Charleston Place hotel, which is under new ownership as part of the Beemok Hospitality Collection and in the midst of a $100 million renovation. Mills House Charleston in the city's French Quarter recently emerged from a complete refurbishment as the city's first Curio Collection by Hilton property. The Loutrel, a new luxury hotel in the heart of Charleston's historic district with a buzzy on-site restaurant, is also worth checking out.

TPG tip: Spoleto Festival USA presents more than 150 performances of opera, dance, theater, classical music and jazz spanning two full weeks from Memorial Day through the beginning of June. It's a fun time to plan a visit, and there are numerous hotel package deals available. — By Melissa Klurman

Ecuador: Coastal towns capture the limelight

Best for travelers searching for new destinations to unlock with points.

Though Ecuador's capital city, Quito, and remote Galapagos Islands may be the first to come to mind, exciting developments along the country's Pacific Coast are drawing a new wave of adventurers to unexpected corners of the nation.

In March of 2022, Kontiki Expeditions launched expeditions aboard the exclusive M/S Wayra, a nine-stateroom yacht that bears the distinction of being the first "water-based" Small Luxury Hotels of the World member, which partners with World of Hyatt . That means travelers can earn Hyatt points while exploring such seldom-visited ports of call as the surf spot San Mateo and Isla de la Plata, often referred to as an inexpensive alternative to the Galapagos.

Travelers eager to connect with Ecuador's overlooked coast can also take advantage of the country's increased airlift: LATAM resumed its route between Miami International Airport (MIA) and Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport (UIO) in October with daily flights, making it altogether easier for Americans to reach Ecuador. American Airlines has also increased the frequency of its flights between Miami and Guayaquil, the gateway to Ecuador's beachy coastline.

Even Ecuador's most famous destination, the Galapagos, continues to see significant travel industry investments. Earlier this year, Ecuador's president expanded the protected Galapagos Marine Reserve by more than 23,000 square miles. Months later, a former boutique eco-friendly hotel was reborn as Royal Palm Galapagos, a Curio Collection hotel, making it possible for travelers to redeem Hilton Honors points in the Galapagos. Standard award nights start around 80,000 points, putting the islands well within reach for many travelers with points and miles stashes.

Plus, a new Hotel Indigo is now accepting reservations for end-of-year trips to the archipelago, unlocking IHG One Rewards points redemption opportunities there, too.

TPG tip: If an eight-day sailing along the coast isn't enough immersion in the culture and wildlife of Ecuador, remote workers can take advantage of Ecuador's new Nomad Visa, which launched in 2022 and allows foreign workers to live and work in Ecuador for up to 24 months. — By Melanie Lieberman

Disney Wish: The most magical place at sea

Best for travelers who want the best of Disney while exploring the Caribbean.

Disney Wish first set sail in mid-2022, but 2023 is going to be the best time to sail on the company's first new cruise ship in a decade.

The itineraries and cabin types (ranging from a first-ever funnel suite to the cleverly designed oceanview staterooms with split bathrooms that help a whole family get ready faster by creating two distinct spaces) are now more widely available than in the first few sold-out months, but the new ship smell and sparkle remain.

Of equal importance, the staff has now had the necessary time to hit their stride with service, including on stage with Broadway-caliber reimaginings of "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin," and in the thrilling all-new restaurants with "Frozen"- and Marvel-inspired dinners (be sure and try the sticky date pudding with vanilla ice cream while in the Worlds of Marvel and Anna's Koldtbord with goodies like smoked salmon, sweet shrimp and dill honey mustard while dining in Arendelle).

With its three- and four-night sailings from Florida's Port Canaveral to the Bahamas, most passengers book Disney Wish to experience the ship itself rather than the ports of call. In fact, many guests don't even disembark in Nassau, preferring instead to take a turn on the AquaMouse slide, book a treatment at the Senses Spa or just have fun with the many Disney characters and themed spaces on board. It's a stress-free alternative to the increasing complexity and cost of indulging in a visit to the Disney theme parks.

TPG tip: There's the magic that's easy to spot on Disney Wish, but then there is more waiting to be discovered. For example, if you enjoy whiskey, don't walk past Hook's Barbery without popping in, as the secret space is far more than just a nook for a shave and a haircut. And if you can stay up late, make your way to the Grand Hall at midnight and look up for a fun surprise. — By Summer Hull

Sydney: Global celebrations abound

Best for travelers eager to say they attended some of the biggest events in 2023.

A fabulous flock of international visitors will descend upon Sydney in February and March to celebrate WorldPride (the first in the Southern Hemisphere) mashed up with the city's Mardi Gras festival. An opening concert headlined by — who else? — the inimitable Kylie Minogue is reason enough to hop on a flight Down Under.

In August, the city's Accor Stadium will host the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final, bringing to an end a month of soccer (sorry, football ) and Australia's shared hosting of the tournament with New Zealand.

Fortunately, getting there will be easier than ever, as Qantas recently announced it would fly from Sydney Airport (SYD) to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) via Auckland Airport (AKL) in June, cutting travel times for East Coasters and heralding a new age of super-long-haul flights.

Arrivals will have a bounty of new hotels to choose from for their visit, too, including the recently opened Kimpton Margot Sydney and Ace Hotel Sydney, as well as a luxurious new Capella opening by Circular Quay early in the year and the forthcoming W Sydney set to debut in October.

Aside from all the sundry Sydney outdoor activities visitors can continue to enjoy year-round, from beach walks to BridgeClimb Sydney, travelers will also be able to explore the Art Gallery of New South Wales' stunning (and eco-friendly) new Sydney Modern Project, which the museum has billed as "the most significant cultural development in the city since the opening of the Sydney Opera House nearly half a century ago."

Opening in December of 2022 and overlooking the lush Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, the complex will comprise both new and historical buildings, performance spaces, creative studios and terraces and gardens. It was designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning architectural firm SANAA and will house specially commissioned works by both international and Australian artists along with rotating exhibitions … so, you never know what you might see on your next trip to Sydney.

TPG tip: Indigenous tourism experiences are flourishing across Australia, including in Sydney, where travelers can learn about Indigenous Australians' way of life on a walking Dreamtime Southern X tour of The Rocks neighborhood or even book BridgeClimb Sydney's popular Burrawa Indigenous Experience guided tour as you scale the Sydney Harbour Bridge. — By Eric Rosen

Feeling inspired? Our sister site, Elsewhere , can help you plan bespoke itineraries to several of these destinations.

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The 23 best places to travel around the world in 2023, chosen by the experts.

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There’s no denying that travel is back in 2023, thanks to a pent-up demand for all those vacations that were put on hold during the pandemic. But what are the best international places to visit? What are the top travel destinations around the world?

Every year, I round up the best places to visit. This year, in honor of Women’s History Month in March, I tapped into leading women travel experts and influencers to find out their choices for the best international places to travel in 2023.

Want to stay closer to home? For ideas of where to travel in America, check out “The Best Places To Travel In The U.S. In 2023.”

Brazil-born, San Francisco-based Catarina Mello (@professionaltraveler) in Oman, one of the best ... [+] places to travel in 2023.

This year, the picks for where to go in 2023 span the gamut from European capitals to exotic beach escapes to sustainable rainforest retreats. Compare these choices to last year’s selections for the best places to travel around the world .

But keep in mind: With travel demand soaring and 31% of travelers saying they intend to spend more on international travel this year, costs on the rise and the airlines encountering record demand , don’t delay. Now is the time to book that bucket list trip of a lifetime.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of September 2023

Best 5% interest savings accounts of september 2023, best places to travel in 2023: europe.

Castell Son Claret in Mallorca.

Where to Go: Mallorca

Chosen By: Heidi Mitchell is a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal , covering an array of topics from cybersecurity to the psychology of work, and is an award-winning travel writer for publications including Travel + Leisure, Town & Country and the Financial Times’ How To Spend It . She lives between Chicago and London, though she will always be a native New Yorker and a global nomad.

Why : With demand soaring, United Airlines has, for the second year, instituted direct flights from JFK to Palma de Mallorca starting again in April. Since the pandemic began, loads of Europeans and Americans have relocated to this Balearic island known for its wide beaches but which actually shines more brightly inland—where new arrivals are rediscovering the work newly-starred chefs like Santi Taura who makes every dish (literally–including the ceramics) by hand nightly at his tiny DINS restaurant , the pleasures of strolling the cobbled streets of Valldemossa in the interior, the expansive winery of José Ferrer in Binissalem and the challenging bike trails that are best enjoyed in spring and fall, when temperatures are deliciously cool. “I didn’t expect the town of Palma to have such a Moorish influence — that 13 th -century cathedral!—nor did I think I’d feel comfortable walking the streets of Palma at night on my own, but it’s so clean, magically illuminated at night, and buzzing with youthful couples strolling hand in hand,” says Mitchell.

In the un-kissed hours, even if you’ve been to Mallorca before, today you’ll find a renewed energy. Paul Skevington, a former executive headhunter, moved from London to open a premium cycling outfitter called Parietti in what he calls “the Mecca of European cycling,” an island roughly the size of Delaware. He also jokes that Mallorca has become “Founders’ Island,” a community where everyone starts his or her own business, be it a precious little gift shop ( Ca Na Toneta ) or an artisanal apothecary ( Arquinesia ).

If you’re looking to stay out of the hubbub of Palma, where most of the half-million residents reside, make Castell Son Claret your home base. Originally built as a 19th-century castle, the 43-room pile sits on 326 acres, populated mostly by sheep. “I loved waking early after nights of long dinners and bottles of wine to run it off on the property, veering between sheep and wild olive trees,” says Mitchell. The new garden suites deliver transporting floor-to-ceiling views of the UNESCO-protected Tramuntana mountain range, while the design is a nod to the glamour of the 1960s jet set, reimagined by Spanish design firm Decagano and Juncosa. Its restaurant, Sa Clastra, is run by native son Jordí Canto, who (word has it) has been tapped to receive his own Michelin star.

“Forget what you have heard about package tourists overrunning the beaches here,” says Mitchell. “In fact, forget the beaches, and pack your hiking shoes and an explorer’s mindset. Mallorca today is practically uncharted territory.”

Nneya Richards with ’N A Perfect World in Ragusa, Sicily.

Where to Go: Noto Valley, Sicily

Chosen By: Nneya Richards is a speaker and travel blogger at ’N A Perfect World , a curated intersection of travel, food, fashion and geopolitics inspired by the global-citizen lifestyle of the millennial. Richards aims to empower young people, especially those of color, to travel, as she believes it is through exploring the world that we will bridge cultural gaps and misunderstandings.

Why: “Film and television tourism has always been a thing. It’s arguably Italy’s best PR asset and there’s no doubt that this summer, the Sicilian town of Taormina will be jam-packed with The White Lotus fans,” says Nneya Richards.

Whether lunching at the Four Seasons San Domenico Palace —the actual hotel of the HBO show—or passing through the colorful streets that Valentina ( The White Lotus manager) strolled through on her way to work, Richards says that “you won’t be disappointed in this romantic and charming town.”

But if you’re up for a more in depth Sicilian tour, replete with beautiful architecture and baroque splendor that will take your breath away, fly into Catania and head south into the heart of Sicilian baroque architecture: the Noto Valley.

“In the southeast of Sicily, Val di Noto boasts eight UNESCO World Heritage sites,” says Richards. “This is where you see the true Kingdom of Sicily, even more so, the history of this area dating back to Magna Grecia.”

With the Ionaian sea and beautiful stretches of beaches sparkling during the day and the lit grandeur of the famed Noto Valley towns at night, there’s something for an entire family. “Chocolate fans? Head to the town of Modica,” says Richards. “Love ceramics? Head to an artisanal shop in Caltagirone. The Noto Valley is a can’t miss.”

Kinloch Lodge on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.

Where to Go: Isle of Skye, Scotland

Chosen By: Jane Anderson is a travel writer and magazine editor based in London. Currently travel editor at Prima magazine , the U.K.’s fifth best-selling monthly lifestyle title, and editor of Companion magazine , a tabloid-style title for guests of 25hours Hotels. She also freelances for the travel sections of The Telegraph and iNews . She is also the co-author of Slow Travel Family Breaks: Perfect Escapes in Britain’s Special Places , recently published by Bradt Guides.

Why: The Isle of Skye became famous as the place that Bonnie Prince Charlie escaped to after the Battle of Culloden, thanks to local hero Flora Macdonald. (It’s also home to “The Skye Boat Song,” composed by Sir Harold Edwin Boulton in 1870s and now beloved of Outlander fans.) Part of the Inner Hebrides, Skye is now a place to escape the pace of modern life and take a breath. “It was, and hopefully always will be, a sanctuary,” says Anderson. “My father was from Edinburgh, a place I love and know well, but it took me until my fifties to explore the West Coast of Scotland, a place he holidayed as a young man, and in particular Skye.”

This year sees the opening of The Bracken Hide Hotel , a one-of-a-kind pod hotel and Nordic sauna retreat with a wild swimming pond on the outskirts of the diminutive capital, Portree. Melding rustic charm with a touch of glamour, its luxury cabins reflect Skye’s wild landscape with views of the Cuillin Hills or the Isle of Raasay. The Hub has a restaurant, whisky bar and screening room.

If you prefer something altogether more old-school, head to Kinloch Lodge . Opened by Lord and Lady Macdonald in 1972, and previously their family home, it’s now run by their daughter Isabella Macdonald, who is related to the aforementioned Flora (whose portrait hangs in the wood-paneled restaurant). Along with head chef Jordan Webb, Isabella has brought the hotel’s ethos back to one of seasonality and sustainability with ingredients home-grown in Kinloch’s polytunnels or foraged from the loch shore and forests. Guests can learn these skills from the hotel’s ghillie, Mitchell Partridge or head out with local wildlife expert Stewart Dawber of Skye High Wildlife to spot deer, otters and Golden Eagle

“A highlight of my stay at Kinloch was a whisky tasting with manager Dan in the historic bar where the Macdonald clan discussed joining the battle of Culloden,” says Anderson. “You have to start with the two local distilleries: Talisker , established in 1830, and newbie Torabhaig , producing its first single malt 2021.” To celebrate the 200 th anniversary of the Excise Act (the so-called Year Zero for whisky), Kinloch Lodge has a new package dedicated to the water of life that includes a tour of Torabhaig distillery, a whisky tasting and a picnic lunch.

And finally, don’t miss a meal at Edinbane Lodge , a derelict hunting lodge until five years ago when chef-patron Calum Montgomery, born and raised on Skye, took it over with his family. Taking the title of Restaurant of the Year at the Scottish Excellence Awards in March, it also has four bedrooms to crash out in after you’ve feasted on hand-dived Isle of Rona scallops with smoked seaweed butter and the like.

A view of Nice from the Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel.

Where to Go: Nice, France

Chosen By: Laurie Woolever is a writer and editor who is the co-author (with Anthony Bourdain) of World Travel: An Irreverent Guide and author of The New York Times bestseller Bourdain: The Definitive Oral Biography .

Why: “Nice is at the forefront of a new era: A new city-wide tram system offers eco-friendly transportation throughout the city, many streets are now open only to pedestrians and its Old Town district is flourishing with new restaurants and boutiques,” says Laurie Woolever.

The arrival of Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel in a rejuvenated 19th century architectural jewel also marks a big moment for Nice and a triumphant return of one of the most storied hotels on the Côte d’Azur. The Belle Époque-era hotel blends old-world elegance with contemporary luxuries, featuring an elaborate spa and signature experiences like “In the Footsteps of Coco Chanel,” which includes a tour of Château de Crémat (the wine estate that inspired Chanel’s famous interlocking-C’s logo) and a tasting of a cuvee that is only available at the Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel.

There’s plenty of exciting food news in Nice, too. “For dining, I love Rouge , a natural wine bar featuring Mediterranean sharing plates founded by a protégé of Yves Camdeborde of Le Comptoir in Paris, and SEEN rooftop restaurant and bar at Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel for its elegant menu and spectacular city views,” says Woolever.

Also notable for 2023: The Monaco Grand Prix will be celebrating its 80th run this May, and this year also marks the 76th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival. Nice is a great home base for both.

The coastal road along Lake Thun in Switzerland.

Where to Go: Interlaken, Switzerland

Chosen By: Susan Portnoy is a freelance photographer, travel writer, content creator and founder of The Insatiable Traveler . Her work has appeared in AFAR and Newsweek, with upcoming articles in Smithsonian, AARP, and Travel + Leisure.

Why: Interlaken, Switzerland has been called the Adventure Capital of the World and it has become an incredible home base for a vast array of year-round outdoor activities—from hiking and biking to paragliding, bungee jumping and mountain climbing.

“The more I travel, the more I want to savor a location instead of approaching my trips like a tasting menu and visiting multiple destinations—I want to experience a region in depth,” says Susan Portnoy. “Interlaken checks all my boxes. In the Bernese Highlands, the landscape’s natural beauty is a winner and so many activities—like hiking in Grindelwald or kayaking on Lake Thun—were either in town or less than an hour away by car or train.”

With responsible travel in mind, Switzerland is also renowned for its sustainability practices. “I’m in love with its train system. You can get almost anywhere by train with little hassle, and the passenger cars deserve extra points for always being nearly pristine,” says Portnoy. “A Swiss Travel Pass is a must. It enabled me to jump on public transportation and get discounts on excursions and entry into more than 500 museums, all with one QR code.”

Beside hiking, biking, skiing, or swimming, Interlaken offers more hair-raising options. “The most unusual for me was the Canyon Swing ,” says Portnoy. “Simply put (and sporting a harness), I stepped off a mountain, free-falling 300 feet at 120 mph. Just before I might have hit the boulders in the river below, I began swinging back and forth in a slot canyon.”

For something more low-key, Portnoy recommends a visit to the Funky Chocolate Factory (“to learn about the history of chocolate in Switzerland and create your own book-sized chocolate bars”), The Carlton-Europe Vintage Hotel (“it opened in 1898 and has wonderful vignettes filled with antiques from its past”), the Harderbahn funicular (“a must-stop for stunning views”) and Ristorante Sapori e Pizzeria (“with towering ceilings, arches and a gorgeous painted ceiling, it has the opulence of Versailles”).

Cycling to the Barbaria Lighthouse on the island of Formentera, Spain.

Where to Go: Formentera, Spain

Why: “In my twenties and thirties, the Balearics were all about partying on the famed White Ilse of Ibiza. And while I still love a dance, I hanker after the mellower vibes of little sister island Formentera,” says Anderson. “Beloved of hippies and creatives since the 1970s, this Green Isle has largely been kept under the radar.”

Resisting the pressure to build an airstrip, Formentera is only accessible via fast ferry from Ibiza or private yacht—if you’re so lucky—though be warned, the strict laws here protecting the seagrass mean that yachts cannot drop anchor. The precious seagrass gives the surrounding waters that iridescent turquoise hue—as vibrant as any Indian Ocean castaway isle.

“Thankfully plastic bags are banned,” says Anderson, “and all hotels must have a circularity plan encompassing aspects like water use and clean energies.” Vehicles are limited during high season to reduce congestion, pollution and maintain the balance between tourism and daily life for residents. There’s also a Sustainable Tourism Tax . And this year Formentera has committed to the Declaration in Defense of the Night Sky and Right to Starlight, the first steps toward UNESCO recognition as a Starlight Tourist Destination.

One of the biggest attractions of Formentera is its 32 ‘Rutas Verdes’ or ‘Green Routes’ that criss-crosses the island. With over 100km, they give the impression of a much larger landmass when you slow down the pace. All are bike-friendly, passing lighthouses, beaches and mighty defensive towers by the coast or swinging in land by dry-stone walls next to salt flats, windmills, vineyards and ancient archaeological sites, with bird watching and insta-worthy views at every turn. “I recommend an ebike tour with Formentera Ebikes Tours , run by local Bartolo Torres who will keep you fueled with aniseed-soaked figs grown on his family farm,” says Anderson.

“My top tip is to come in the shoulder seasons of May/June and September/October when it’s quieter and less expensive, and slightly cooler—the perfect climate for walking and cycling,” adds Anderson, “and stay at Hotel Casbah , a gorgeous rural boutique hotel with local baskets in the room for you to use during your stay.”

“You’ll find one-off souvenirs at the Pilar de la Mola hippie market, such as dresses made from vintage linen, lace tablecloths and old towels by Coser I Cantar or seagrass-inspired jewelry by Enric Majoral . And check out the forthcoming dates for Formentera Astronomica stargazing event if you’re into the solar system.”

Naousa village on the island of Paros in Greece.

Where to Go: Paros, Greece

Chosen By: Laura Begley Bloom, travel expert and author of this column.

Why: When it comes to Greek islands, Santorini and Mykonos usually get all the attention. But another spot in the Cyclades is fast becoming the hot destination for true insiders: Paros. You’ll get quintessential whitewashed villages, stunning white-sand beaches and clear-blue Aegean seas, minus the crowds and the high prices.

With its winding streets, the port town of Parikia (sometimes known as Paroikia) is the town most visitors first encounter. But in the northern part of the island, the soulful village of Naoussa is the go-to for the jet set. At night, tables spill out into the narrow cobblestone streets (don’t miss the well-regarded Yemeni ). Meanwhile, al-fresco restaurants like Tsachpinis Ouzeri Ton Naftikon transform the yacht-filled harbor into a buzzing open-air dinner party.

New to the Naoussa hotel scene is Cosme, a Luxury Collection Resort , set on the outskirts of town. This luxe escape has 40 suites designed with a crisp aesthetic, plus its own private beach club. Another appealing Paros address: Parīlio , a 33-suite retreat characterized by timeless simplicity and surrounded by pastoral landscapes.

Want to bring a piece of Paros home with you? Head to Anthologist , which has jewel-box boutiques at both Cosme and Parīlio, stocking limited-edition items and artisanal objects sourced by Anthologist founder Andria Mitsakos to reflect the authentic ambience of the Greek islands.

Best Places to Travel in 2023: Europe/Asia

Istanbul during sunset.

Where to Go: Istanbul, Turkey

Chosen By: Anya von Bremzen is a three-time James Beard Award–winning author and a contributing writer at AFAR magazine. Anya has published six acclaimed cookbooks and a memoir, Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking . Her new book National Dish will come out in June 2023. She lives between New York and Istanbul, where she owns an apartment.

Why: “With its layered history, magical waterways, and breathtaking vistas, Istanbul has always been known for romance. But this city that straddles Europe and Asia is also a kinetic modern metropolis revitalized recently by a string of ambitious new projects,” says Anya von Bremzen. “One is Galataport , a mixed-use development with a gorgeous waterfront promenade, acres of retail, a futuristic underground cruise port and dining hotspots like the seafood-centric Sait , trendy fusiony Roka and the Populist bar, which serves up local craft beers and incredible views. Also here: the about-to-open Renzo Piano-designed Istanbul Modern museum and the Peninsula Istanbul , which opened last month across several historic buildings, with stunning rooms overlooking the Bosporus.”

Istanbul’s grandest hotel is the Ciragan Palace Kempinski , which incorporates on its grounds a 19th century Ottoman palace. “It’s a local institution and an icon, and by summer it will unveil a super-opulent renovation of its guest rooms and public spaces overseen by designer du jour, Serdar Gulgun,” says von Bremzen.

For thrilling modern takes on Turkish cuisine, von Bremzen suggests the two-Michelin starred Turk , the new Avlu restaurant at the renovated Four Seasons Sultanahmet and classics like Mikla . “I also adore the city’s brilliant female chefs like Burcak Kazdal, who prepares amazing locavore food at her charming Apartiman ,” says von Bremzen.

Come summer, von Bremzen escapes to Bodrum on the Aegean coast. “There, I’ve fallen for a new hotel called Kaya Palazzo Le Chic , located on one of the loveliest stretches of beach in the area,” says von Bremzen. “Its private pier has a great restaurant, and the spa does amazing massages.”

Another reason to head to Istanbul in 2023? “Getting to Istanbul has never been easier,” says von Bremzen. “ Turkish Airlines , the classy award-winning national carrier recently expanded its U.S. getaways with Newark, Dallas and Seattle–Tacoma.” Hot tip: For travelers with lengthy transfer times in its Istanbul hub, the airline is offering the new Istanbul Stopover Program , which includes two complimentary nights at a four-star hotel for economy class passengers and three nights at a five-star hotel for business-class passengers. “Oh, and the airline’s Istanbul business lounge serves some of the tastiest Turkish food in the city,” says von Bremzen.

Best Places to Travel in 2023: Asia

Alyssa Ramos, founder of My Life’s a Movie, in Tokyo.

Where to Go: Japan

Chosen By: Alyssa Ramos, founder of My Life’s a Movie and a solo female travel blogger, content creator, entrepreneur and social media influencer who travels the world full-time and seeks to showcase unique destinations through her unique photography style and honest, detailed travel tips. Her motto is “Dreams Don't Work Unless You Do.”

Why: “With travel almost completely back to normal, it opens up a whole new contender list for best places to go in 2023,” says Alyssa Ramos. “Topping the list is my current location: Japan. After nearly three years of borders being closed for travel, the glorious country has finally re-opened, and it’s even better than ever.”

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, tourism has been spiking since the country reopened in October. “Despite news of foreigners flocking here, or of it being overcrowded, I’m currently finding it quite spaced out and as always, organized—even during the first Sakura (Cherry Blossom) Festival Season since pre-pandemic,” says Ramos, who is excited about destinations like Tokyo, Kyoto and Okinawa.

Some of the big 2023 news in Tokyo includes the opening of Aman Residences, Tokyo —the brand’s first residence-only development—as well as the debut of Aman’s sister wellness-oriented brand at Janu Tokyo and Japan’s first Bulgari hotel . Another big opening: Tokyu Corporation’s new Tokyu Kabukicho Tower , which will be Japan’s largest multi-use hotel and entertainment complex. It will be home to two new hotels: The luxury Bellustar Tokyo (a Pan Pacific Hotel set on the 39th to 47th floors) and the lifestyle Hotel Groove Shinjuku on the 18th-38th floors

When it comes to entertainment, there’s a lot going on in Tokyo, including the soon-to-open Animate Ikebukuro (the world’s largest anime store), digital art collective teamLab’s new immersive production of the Puccini opera Turandot , a new Japanese Cultural and Innovation Center next to Haneda International Airport and Sunshine 60 Observatory in Ikebukuro (which is reopening as an indoor park). Want to see more of Tokyo? Follow Ramos’s guide to how to plan a city self tour by train .

In Kyoto, there’s a ton of news on the hospitality front, including the Ace Hotel (with an outpost of Piopiko from Michelin-starred chef Wes Avila), Marufukuro (in the former Nintendo headquarters) and the Park Hyatt Kyoto (located close to Kodai-ji Temple).

Another one of Ramos’s go-to spots: the islands of Okinawa. “It reminded me of French Polynesia but for a fraction of the cost,” she says. One place to stay is the new Hoshinoya Okinawa , a beachfront island resort in the coastal village of Yomitan. Ramos also recommends the Zamami Islands for the beautiful beaches.

Juliana Broste in Sri Lanka.

Where to Go: Sri Lanka

Chosen By: Juliana Broste is a 12x Heartland Emmy Award-winning travel filmmaker and host, showcasing adventures and fun things to do around the world. Come along for the adventure at @TravelingJules on Instagram or travelingjules.com .

Why : “It’s no secret, Sri Lanka has had a hard time,” says Juliana Broste. “Even with inflation, visitors will find Sri Lanka a spectacular, affordable destination worth the long haul. Loop around the island and you’ll see why this land will keep you guessing—from the hustle and bustle of capital city Colombo to beautiful beaches, rice fields, waterfalls, plains, and mountains.”

There’s a lot to see in a relatively short distance, so have your camera at the ready. “Spotting the wildlife in Sri Lanka is really special,” says Broste, who explored the country on a photo tour . “You can go on safari to an Elephant Sanctuary, go whale watching on the Indian ocean and spy on birds, lizards, jellyfish and monkeys in a mangrove.” On Broste’s bucket list for next time: spotting leopards at Yala National Park.

Sri Lanka has plenty of interesting cultural attractions to explore, including the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Kandy . “Be sure to pack an all-white outfit that covers your shoulders and legs when visiting religious sites,” says Broste. “Catching a traditional Kandyan dance performance is a highlight, seeing men and women in traditional dress telling stories through dance.”

Tucked away in hill country, Nuwara Eliya, known as “Little England,” is a cool climate escape where a famous Sri Lankan export, ceylon tea, is produced. “Winding roads reveal rows and rows of tea bushes on the hillside—be sure to stop in for a cup of tea on your visit to a tea factory and plantation ,” says Broste. “Equally as fun: sampling a king coconut on the side of the road along your adventure.”

For an incredible view of Colombo, head to the top of the shimmering pink Lotus Tower for a bird’s eye view of the city. “It’s a symbol of the city and just a touch taller than the Eiffel Tower,” says Broste. “Another famous viewpoint worth the hike is the ancient city of Sigiriya known as Lion’s Rock, with the ruins of an ancient stronghold located atop a dramatic rock outcrop. It’s wild to think how an entire civilization lived here centuries ago.”

A junk boat crossing Hong Kong harbor.

Where to Go: Hong Kong

Chosen By : Currently exploring South East Asia, India-Jayne Trainor is a travel writer and photographer who has contributed to AFAR , Atlas Obscura and Reader’s Digest , among others. She shares her adventures and tips on Instagram @exploringwithindia .

Why : “Hong Kong’s slogan is ‘Asia’s world city,’ and this couldn’t be more accurate. Each time I visit, I wish I’d spent longer exploring—but with diverse cuisine, a burgeoning arts and culture scene and more than two hundred jungle- and beach-covered islands, you’re constantly discovering new things to see and do,” says India-Jayne Trainor.

There has never been a better time to discover Hong Kong: The city is giving away half a million flights this year. The region recently lifted its final Covid restrictions, and the past three years allowed for the development of new luxury hotels, such as The Regent , The Hari and Fullerton Ocean Park , which are also elevating Hong Kong’s foodie reputation to new heights.

Local teahouses and street food still dominate, but flavors from Asia, Europe and North America can be found in restaurants including Jade , Heimat and Mosu . “Mosu is in one of my favorite neighborhoods, the West Kowloon Cultural District. Home to the new M+ Museum and Hong Kong Palace Museum , it’s a constantly growing arts and culture hub, with theaters, performance spaces, cafes and stunning views of Hong Kong’s skyline,” says Trainor. Art can be found everywhere in Hong Kong, which just concluded Art Basel 2023—from the vibrant street murals in Sheung Wan to the new Tai Kwun buildings.

Although Hong Kong is widely assumed to be densely packed with skyscrapers, its hundreds of islands are just a short ferry ride away. Lamma Island and Cheung Chau have a laid-back feel, with golden beaches and waterfront cafes. For a little more adventure, hiking on Sharp Island or across Hong Kong Island to Repulse Bay offer mountainous views and rewarding beaches. “I love that you can go from bustling city to waterfalls and jungle in less than an hour,” says Trainor. “Despite this, whenever I visit I inevitably return to Hong Kong’s most famous attractions such as Happy Valley, Star Ferry and The Peak—catch the Peak Tram to the top for the best views in the city, ahead of the scenic walk down to Hong Kong Park.”

The Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur.

Where to Go: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Why : Pre-pandemic, Kuala Lumpur was the sixth-most-visited city in the world, and now after being closed for two and a half years, Malaysia’s capital is back and better than ever, with an historic influx of visitors and lots of news for 2023. “I have had plenty of layovers at Kuala Lumpur and always loved the fabulous airport with the mini rainforest complete with waterfall in the middle,” says Alyssa Ramos. “But Malaysia, and specifically Kuala Lumpur, is a destination I am guilty of highly underrating for many years.”

Ramos describes Kuala Lumpur as a “mini Singapore, but for a fraction of the price, with brand-new luxury high rises stretching towards the sky, many with stunning rooftop pools and direct views of the Petronas Towers.”

This year’s big opening is the Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur , which will occupy the top 17 floors of a 118-floor tower overlooking Stadium Merdeka, the UNESCO heritage site where Malaysia declared independence in 1957.

“There are also fantastic restaurants with a wide array of cuisines from all over the world,” says Ramos. Some of the latest hotspots include Sushi Mew at The Westin KL, Jwala for fiery Northern Indian cuisine (the name of the restaurant mens “flame” in Sanskrit) and the Latin American Mano Restaurant .

On the outskirts of town, the Batu Caves are not to be missed. “Just a short ride with Grab (the local rideshare company) will get you to the famous Batu Caves with their hundreds of colorful steps leading up to cave temples,” says Ramos.

Ninh Binh, Vietnam.

Where to Go: Ninh Binh, Vietnam

Chosen By: Brazil-born, San Francisco-based Catarina Mello ( @professionaltraveler ) is an award-winning luxury travel content creator, photographer, entrepreneur and online educator. Since escaping the office and swapping her digital marketing career at Google for a life as a travel creator, Catarina has grown her audience to over 800k followers across platforms.

Why: “Ninh Binh has been named one of the most underrated destinations in Asia, and it’s often referred to as one of the most beautiful hidden gems on the Asian continent,” says Catarina Mello. “It’s rising in popularity on social media, so it won’t stay a hidden gem for too long. Go while it still offers a very authentic Northern Vietnam experience.”

A fun fact: The 2016 movie Kong: Skull Island was filmed in the province of Ninh Binh. What Mello loves about this area: “Only two hours away from the busy capital city, Hanoi, Ninh Binh is an authentic and fascinating place known for its giant limestone karst mountains, lush valleys, miles and miles of rice fields and winding rivers,” she says. “It’s so beautiful you’ll immediately fall in love with it.”

Travelers spend their days biking through rice fields, hiking limestone mountains for incredible views, visiting pagodas and cruising along the scenic countryside and through caves on a local rowing boat. “In Ninh Binh, the cliffs emerge from the valleys covered in rice fields and rivers—and for that reason, the province has the nickname of ‘Ha Long Bay on Land,’” says Mello. “It’s truly magical.”

Where to stay? “ Tam Coc Garden Resort is in an idyllic setting, surrounded by limestone peaks and lush rice fields,” says Mello. “The hotel gardens are beautiful, the swimming pool has magnificent views, and the rooms and villas are full of charm. Not to mention the outstanding service—there’s nothing they can’t arrange or do for guests.

Be sure not to miss Ninh Binh’s special cuisine: mountain goat meat. “The most famous dishes include goat soup, grilled goat meat with five spices and steamed goat meat with ginger,” says Mello.

India's Patrika Gate.

Where to Go: Rajasthan, India

Chosen By: Alyssa Ramos is the founder of My Life’s a Movie and a solo female travel blogger, content creator, entrepreneur and social media influencer who travels the world full-time and seeks to showcase unique destinations through her unique photography style and honest, detailed travel tips. Her motto is “Dreams Don’t Work Unless You Do.”

Why : “In two words, I would describe India as ‘beautiful chaos,’” says Alyssa Ramos. “I put India back on my travel to-go list this year after years of it being closed due to the pandemic, and after my recent trip, I was even more impressed than ever.”

As a solo female traveler, Ramos says she has never felt safer in India and loves visiting places like Delhi’s Kahn Market (“you can find upscale shops and a lot of cute restaurants and bars”) and the Andaman Island s (“one of my top secret gem locations”).

But for 2023, Rajasthan tops Ramos’s India list. “It has beautiful architecture, palaces, a huge fort, tons of market shopping and, of course, delicious food,” says Ramos. “Be sure to stop by The Tattoo Cafe & Lounge , where the most famous photo of the Wind Palace can be taken, and say ‘hi’ to the owners Juhi and Karan for me. Order something to support your cafe, or even better, get a tattoo—like I did.”

The big news in Rajasthan is Jaipur’s Villa Palladio . The colorful high-design hotel set on a gracious country estate is from the same folks behind the city’s legendary Caffé Palladio and Bar Palladio. Another exciting opening: Johri & Sons , a buzzing cocktail bar created in collaboration with gin brand Stranger & Sons and boutique hotel The Johri at Lal Haveli. On the outskirts of town is the newly opened 3,765-acre Amagarh Leopard Reserve , where you can spot 16 leopards, 250 species of birds, hyenas, foxes and more.

Ramos also loves the classic hotels like Udaipur’s Taj Lake Palace (“a former summer palace floating in the middle of a lake”) and Jodhpur’s Umaid Bhawan Palace (“the royal family of Jodhpur lives in a wing there”). “If you want to feel like royalty, you have to stay at one of these properties,” she says.

Best Places to Travel in 2023: Caribbean, Central and South America

Author Peggy Bree in Manizales, Colombia.

Where to Go: Manizales, Colombia

Chosen By: A digital nomad from Toronto, Peggy Bree lives in Colombia with her malti-poo, Chilli, and is growing her bespoke creative outlet, blank room . Follow her Instagram for her faith, digital nomad and brand/business life.

Why: Cartagena, Bogota and Medellin have had their moments in the spotlight. Now trending for 2023: Manizales, a quiet central Colombia town that is known as the “City of Open Doors,” thanks to its welcoming residents.

“Manizales is the place to go that is off the beaten track,” says Peggy Bree. “If I had to describe Manizales in one word, it would be ‘epic.’”

Surrounded by the massive volcanoes of Los Nevados National Park, Manizales is located in the Andes coffee-growing region. It’s got coffee plantations to visit, hot springs to soak in and a cloud forest to explore. “It’s a side of Colombia that is a bit more unique and wild,” says Bree. “I’ve never seen as much greenery—including large waterfalls surrounded by bamboo trees.”

The place to stay: Attraversiamo , a bamboo boutique hotel (see Bree’s video here ). “It was inspired by Bali, which the scenery in Manizales matched,” says Bree. “It’s the perfect place to read a book, study and journal.”

Nneya Richards, a speaker and travel blogger at ’N A Perfect World on Grenada's Grand Anse beach.

Where to Go: Grenada

Why: Grenada, known as the Spice Isle of the Caribbean, offers world-class beaches, picturesque waterfalls and plenty of news for 2023. “Grenadians have kept their beautiful green isle a hidden gem. But I understand—it’s paradise,” says Nneya Richards.

It’s now easier to get to Grenada than ever. “With Jet Blue offering more direct flights to Grenada, you can expand your Caribbean horizons,” says Richards.

This year’s hotel openings include Six Senses at La Sagesse , which will mark the brand’s debut resort in the Caribbean. With its dedication to sustainability, the resort will have a variety of indoor and outdoor restaurants and bars using fresh ingredients grown nearby and seafood from local fishermen. The soon-to-open Beach House by Silversands Grenada is a small luxury boutique hotel with one-bedroom villas and two-bedroom suites on the cliff or overlooking Portici Beach.

Richards is also excited about Sandals Grenada on exclusive Pink Gin Beach. “Think: pools in the sky and living rooms in swimming pools. Private plunge pools, cascading waterfalls and meandering river pools and butler service,” she says. “Speaking of waterfalls, a trip to the island is not complete without a waterfall hike.”

Grenada is also home to some of the best chocolate in the world. “When you go to a chocolate factory in Grenada, you can pick the cacao pod off the tree,” says Richards. “That’s just a tip of the iceberg with how well you’ll eat when you’re in Grenada.”

A Caribbean coastline in Costa Rica.

Where to Go : Caribbean Coast, Costa Rica

Why: The ultimate destination for the eco-traveler looking for a one-of-a-kind trip with a low environmental impact in 2023? Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast.

This less discovered coast is getting a lot of buzz, thanks to its mix of culture and wildlife—without the crowds. It’s the ultimate destination for travelers who are seeking a one-of-a-kind trip with a low environmental impact where eco-lodges, rainforest bungalows and boutique hotels are as easy to find as sloths.

Culture seekers will love the small beach town of Limon , which has become ground zero for travelers in search of snorkeling, surfing and Afro-Caribbean music. Or for a uniquely immersive experience, travelers can stay with the Bri Bri—Costa Rica’s largest indigenous community—in the Talamanca, and discover more about their history and traditions.

When it comes to beaches, must-visit spots include Playa Punta Uva, Puerto Viejo, Playa Cahuita, Playa Cocles and Manzanillo. The coast is also home to a number of national parks that showcase a commitment to conservation, including Tortuguero National Park (a nesting site for green turtles), Cahuita National Park (home to sloths and monkeys), Gandoca-Manzanillo Natural Wildlife Refuge (which is home to natural mangrove oyster beds) and Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge (the second largest rain forest preserve in the country).

Best Places to Travel in 2023: Canada

Kelsey Marie on the Talking Rocks Snowshoe Tour at Elk Island National Park.

Where to Go: Edmonton, Alberta

Chosen By: Kelsey Marie, content creator and writer at Travel Noire .

Why: Edmonton is a vibrant urban center in the heart of the wilderness—the largest northernmost metropolis and the capital of Alberta, Canada. Visitors can discover 18 hours of daylight during the summer and castles made of icicles during the winter. When it comes to Edmonton’s culinary scene, there is always something new to be discovered—from experiencing the cool and creative Chinese fusion at Fu’s Repair Shop to the finest prairie cuisine at RGE RD .

“I had one of the most amazing meals at RGE RD. From the decor to the plating, this place is phenomenal,” says Kelsey Marie. “Another must-try at RGE RD: the Road Trip. Your tastebuds will embark on a journey, and you won’t know what's coming next on this blind-tasting multi-course adventure.”

Edmonton’s craft beer scene has also been exploding. Visitors can explore the new unofficial brewery district, Happy Beer Street , which features seven craft breweries like The Monolith , offering mixed-fermentation beers that take a few years to brew. Happy Beer Street continues to grow with the eighth brewery, Ale Architect , opening April 2023.

Many Indigenous groups reside in Amiskwaciy Waskahikan, also known as Edmonton, and the history of the land is long and vibrant. Visitors can discover Indigenous experiences in and around the city, including art at Whiskeyjack Art House , Bearclaw Gallery and the Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park . And don’t miss Elk Island National Park. “On a snowshoe adventure with Talking Rock Tours , you’ll learn about indigenous culture and surrounding wildlife and have a chance to become one with nature,” says Marie.

The Victoria skyline at night.

Where to Go: Victoria, British Columbia

Chosen By: Corinne Whiting is a Seattle-based writer contributing to outlets like USA Today 10Best, Seattle Times, Seattle Refined and more.

Why: “One of the unexpected joys of living in the Pacific Northwest turned out to be frequent jaunts to charming Victoria,” says Corinne Whiting. “I love the ease of this compact, walkable city and each visit I seem to discover brand-new treasures.”

In 2023, sustainability and respecting and acknowledging local First Nations are at the forefront. Learn about the Songhees Nation at the Songhees Wellness Centre —where people and traditions come to meet—then venture out in a cultural canoe or walking tour departing from the Inner Harbour.

With its impressive natural landscapes, Victoria also takes “green” to another level as an international leader in environmental initiatives . Just recently, Greater Victoria achieved Biosphere certification , marking a major milestone for the destination. Travelers to Victoria can see additional sustainable efforts in action, whether it’s booking a stay at a carbon neutral hotel like Inn at Laurel Point or Parkside Hotel , dining at Big Wheel Burger (Canada’s first carbon-neutral fast-food restaurant) or seeing the iconic Orca Whales with a carbon neutral and ocean-friendly tour operator like Orca Spirit or Eagle Wing Tours .

In June 2023, Fairmont Empress will unveil a multi-million dollar transformation to its signature Fairmont Gold level (the brand’s exclusive lifestyle hotel experience). The renovated Fairmont Gold will feature the addition of 22 guest rooms and a newly renovated Fairmont Gold Lounge, complete with an expanded indoor lounge and outdoor terrace that provides sweeping water views.

For Whiting, other Victoria highlights include First Nations-led tours and kayaking excursions, as well as magical biking adventures peppered with delicious snacks and pints along the way. “And of course it doesn't hurt that Canadians are some of the nicest folks around, too,” she says.

Best Places to Travel in 2023: Africa and the Middle East

Climbing Sossusvlei dune in Namibia's Naukluft National Park.

Where to Go: Namibia

Chosen By: Melissa Klurman is a travel expert and contributor at Reader’s Digest , The Points Guy and Travel Awaits .

Why: “The rolling red sand dunes and remote Skeleton Coast landscapes of Namibia have long been on my Africa bucket list,” says Melissa Klurman, a travel writer and African travel expert who’s been covering the continent for two decades. “This is the year I finally was able to fully immerse in the wonders of Namibia, and it was well worth the wait,” she says.

What made 2023 the perfect time to visit? “ Natural Selection , a safari company that runs stellar, eco-friendly lodges such as the fabulous Shipwreck Lodge, added a flying safari to reach their camps for the first time,” says Klurman, adding, “this is a true game changer for visiting the visually stunning, and very isolated, desert regions of the country.”

While flying safaris are the norm, and quite necessary, in other safari areas of Africa, such as Botswana, in Namibia driving has been the most popular way of getting around. Being able to fly, instead of drive, says Klurman, made all the difference in her itinerary and makes the under-the-radar safari destination much more accessible for travelers. “I was able to visit Etosha Heights in the northern reaches of the country to see wildlife such as elephant, lion, and giraffe, and then fly to the wildly remote Skeleton Coast Shipwreck Lodge, where life seems all but impossible in the massive sand dunes,” says Klurman. “For the rest of the Natural Selection itinerary, a private pilot flew my group to what is now my new favorite lodge anywhere, Hoanib Valley, comprised of just six tents in what feels like another planet, and then on to the Dark Sky Reserve of Kwessi Dunes all the way in the southern NamibRand.”

An itinerary like this could take 13 days driving, but with help from the travel specialists at Audley Travel who helped Klurman plan her itinerary, “Flying, I was able to do the entire thing in half that time,” says Klurman.

Catarina Mello in Oman.

Where to Go: Oman

Why: “If I had to bet on a destination skyrocketing in popularity in the coming years, I’d pick Oman,” says Catarina Mello. “I’ve been to 57 countries, and to say that Oman is the most underrated country I've ever been to is an understatement. Oman is beautiful in every way. The landscapes are spectacular and so diverse: from pristine turquoise beaches with incredible underwater life to beautiful canyons, mountains, wadis that will take your breath away, a glowing orange desert with giant sand dunes and much more.”

There are castles straight out of a fairytale book, stunning mosques, charming mountain villages, souks and markets with local treasures. “Not to mention the rich culture, the cuisine and kindest and most welcoming people you'll ever meet traveling,” says Mello.

The best part? “It’s an extremely safe, welcoming, and relatively small country, making it easy to explore all its different landscapes by car,” says Mello. “It’s the perfect road trip destination.”

Oman has a lot to offer, but Mello’s favorite places include the Daymaniyat Islands right outside of Muscat, Wadi Shab, Bimmah Sinkhole, Sultan Qaabos Grand Mosque, Wahiba Sands desert, Nizwa Fort and Jabreen Castle.

Best Places to Travel in 2023: Oceania

Watching the locals from a bathroom at Tasmania's Kittawa Lodge.

Where to go: Tasmania

Chosen by: Chloe Sachdev is a freelance travel and lifestyle writer. She has lived all over the world—from Singapore and London to Hong Kong—and now calls Sydney’s Bondi Beach home. Her stories appear in print and online for a range of international publications such as Conde Nast Traveller, Travel + Leisure, The Telegraph, The Times and more.

Why: “Tasmania is wild and untouched with a landscape of wind-battered mountains that tumble into a frothy blue ocean, with a world-renowned food and drinks scene steered by this provenance,” says Chloe Sachdev.

A great example of Tasmania’s food scene is found in the heart of Hobart at Omotenashi . “It’s a set-menu experience, with just 12 seats, that riffs on the Japanese omakase experience but showcases Tasmania’s best produce,” says Sachdev. Another must-visit: Institut Polaire , a wine bar and kitchen dedicated to Tasmania’s cold climate biodynamic and natural wines with a seasonal food menu from local growers, fishers and farmers. “They’ve recently opened The Polaire Suite, a sleek one-bedroom short-stay apartment at Hobart’s waterfront precinct,” says Sachdev.

On the east coast in an old oyster hatch is the newly opened Waubs Harbour Distillery in Bicheno. “It’s the world's closest distillery to the ocean, producing a unique maritime Tasmanian single malt whisky,” says Sachdev. “If you can, time your visit during The Great Eastern Wine Week festival in September, a 10-day food and drinks festival showcasing the best of the best from the east coast region.”

Tasmania has always been known for its epic beauty, best explored by foot on a myriad of overland multi-day walks s uch as the Wukalina Walk , a four-day/three-night First-Nations owned and operated guided walk. “For something shorter but with the same Indigenous significance, there is also Blak-led tours , a tourism company based on Tasmanian Aboriginal stories through guided tours and story-telling projects across Tasmania,” says Sachdev.

Beyond the landscape, Tasmania has a thrilling creative scene, thanks to MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) in Hobart. “Although it opened a decade ago, it still pushes the boundaries; the effect can be seen in its Dark Mofo festival held annually in June for two weeks with bonkers public art, live music, performances, and nocturnal revelry around the city of Hobart,” says Sachdev.

There is no shortage of stays in Tasmania, from thoughtfully curated seaside shacks to shipping containers and luxury lodges . “A recent discovery of mine is Kittawa Lodge on King Island off the northwest coast of Tasmania,” says Sachdev. “It’s a chic boutique lodge on the edge of the wilderness. They’ve recently partnered with The Tasman hotel in Hobart, putting together an itinerary for guests to take in the cultural highlights of Hobart, before transferring to King Island.”

Uluru at sunset.

Where to Go: Northern Territory, Australia

Chosen By: Jen Rose Smith , a journalist who freelances for CNN, Virtuoso and National Geographic .

Why: With Australia’s borders open to international travelers since February, visitors have begun to flock back to the land Down Under. For those looking for an off-the-beaten-track outdoor adventure destination, there’s the Northern Territory. With its outback desert landscapes, hidden swimming holes, colorful outdoor markets, Aboriginal rock art, camel rides, traditional art galleries and spectacular Uluru in the red center, the Northern Territory is unlike any other place on earth.

“Visiting the Northern Territory overturned every idea I had about Australia—it’s a mind-expanding encounter with cultures dating back tens of thousands of years,” says Jen Rose Smith.

New for 2023, visitors can experience iconic Uluru in a new light with a state-of-the-art drone and laser light show that will illuminate the desert sky with over 1,000 drones dancing and weaving in a kaleidoscope of color. Called Wintjiri Wiru , the show tells the Mala story, which is sacred to the Anangu Community and traditional owners of Uluru. “Indigenous traditions and creativity are woven into every part of the landscape,” says Smith.

Additionally, world-renowned artist Bruce Munro is launching a new illuminated art piece called Light Towers at Kings Canyon Resort near Watarrka National Park.

Also new to the area: Finniss River Lodge , Australia’s latest experiential lodge near Darwin in the Northern Territory. The lodge has only six suites and offers activities like air boating, fishing and heli-guides, plus a restaurant with dishes made from local produce.

“Everything I encountered left me wanting more,” says Smith. “The landscape goes from red-rock desert to lush, tropical floodplains where I spotted crocodiles, wallabies, and dozens of bird species—it’s constantly changing. This is a place to really slow down, listen and take in some truly remarkable places.”

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Where to Go in 2023: The Most Exciting Destinations to Explore This Year

Our writers and editors rounded up 10 must-visit spots

As we move into the new year, many of us are starting to think about our travel plans for 2023. While 2022 was a year of slow re-opening, travel opportunities for 2023 feel limitless, as old favorites (Japan, anyone?) have finally re-opened, and new frontiers await. Whether you're looking for a relaxing beach vacation, an exciting city break, or an opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture, there are plenty of options from which to choose.

Some of the destinations on our 2023 list may seem overly familiar, we know—Rome? Tulum? Sydney?—but we promise that each has exciting new developments and things to see and do that will make your visit (or re-visit) revelatory. And then, of course, we've also snuck in a few unexpected treasures, like Central Maine and Israel's Western Galilee region, both places that are sure to delight first-time travelers and seasoned jet-setters alike.

Read on to discover the best places to visit this year, and consider adding both some unexpected destinations and old standbys to your 2023 travel bucket list.

Sydney, Australia

With its laid-back outdoor lifestyle and relaxed beachy chic, Sydney's natural assets usually get all the attention. There's the glittering harbor, the coastline strung with world-class beaches , and the stunning World Heritage wilderness on its doorstep. But in 2023, it will be Sydney's new cultural offerings that will steal the show.

For starters, the Sydney Opera House turns 50 in 2023. It celebrates by throwing off the scaffolding of a 10-year, $300-million renovation. Everyone in town is talking about the improved acoustics in the main Concert Hall, and many areas in the enormous building have been made accessible to people with mobility impairments for the first time. The venue will showcase its improvements with a stunning theater, music, and opera programs in 2023. 

Meanwhile, just past the Harbour Bridge , Pier 2/3 opened in 2022 to house the acclaimed Australian Chamber Orchestra in a stunningly repurposed Edwardian-era finger pier extending into the harbor. It's the latest addition to the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, home to nine of Australia's most important performing arts companies, including First Nations contemporary-dance powerhouse Bangarra Dance Theatre and the Sydney Theatre Company —the theater of choice for Australian cinema stars seeking a stint of live performance, such as Toni Collette, Hugo Weaving, Geoffrey Rush, and former artistic director Cate Blanchett. 

Just south of Walsh Bay, Sydney's harbor revitalization is continuing with the massive development of Barangaroo , which transformed a working wharf area into parkland (including a brand-new harbor swimming spot in view of the Harbour Bridge), cultural spaces, and the 889-foot-high Crown casino, which has transformed Sydney's skyline. 

Meanwhile, the $344-million Sydney Modern wing of the Art Gallery of NSW opened in December 2022. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, it’s a sprawling glass-fronted stunner embedded into the Domain parklands over a series of stepped terraces. Inside are landmark collections of First Nations art, an underground gallery in an old World War II oil tank, and a dedicated new-media gallery. 

Australia is a long journey from many places worldwide, but new non-stop flights will make connections easier than ever. Qantas has announced it will link Sydney and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport in a non-stop, 16-hour flight starting June 14, with plans to fly non-stop to London in the future too. 

And although Australia endured some of the harshest lockdowns in the world just a few years ago and closed its international border for almost 600 days, it reopened to international travelers in February 2022. In July 2022, it lifted the requirement for a COVID-19 test before entering the country. Locally, Sydney-siders have rebounded out of the tight restrictions with glee. The town is jumping, with live music pouring out of venues, conversation buzzing in restaurants, and what feels like half the city spreading a towel at the beach. Visitors are being welcomed with a choice of new luxury stays, including Heritage-listed Capella Sydney , opening in March 2023, behind a beautiful sandstone facade once occupied by the Department of Education, and the architecturally adventurous W Sydney , overlooking Barangaroo, in the dining and nightlife precinct of Darling Harbour. — Monique Choy

Central Maine

The classic Maine daydream usually consists of the tried and true elements: lighthouses, sailboats, and the roar of waves crashing into a rocky coast. But approximately one hour north of Portland, nestled in native Eastern white pine, lies a less coastal—and less congested—version of the state’s slogan, The Way Life Should Be.

For a state that has inspired heaping shelves of classic American literature—think “Olive Kitteridge,” “The Cider House Rules,” and, of course, anything by native Mainer Stephen King—it seems apropos that Maine was once a dominant force in the paper mill industry. In the 19th century, paper production consumed nearly half of the annual cut of Maine timber. The state’s abundant woodlands, particularly its plentiful poplar and spruce trees, made it the perfect destination for the industry to boom.  

Today, only six paper mills remain in Maine, and the glory days of its booming mill towns are long gone. While the allure of heavily touristed areas like Rockland, Camden, and Kennebunkport have cushioned the southern end of the state in tourism revenue, towns further away from the coast are finally finding their footing.

Central Maine has become an inspiring model for how to take a negative—defunct former mill towns—and transform them into hyper-local communities that enrich the lives of both natives and starry-eyed vacationers. Towns like Belgrade and Winslow, better known for their lakes than ocean views, offer plenty of outdoor adventure for campers, hikers, skiers, and more. And for those looking for a taste of Maine without breaking the bank, the area still offers the same unrivaled seafood and blueberries that you’ll find down south for a fraction of the price.

In Waterville, visitors walking down Main Street can still see the once-storied Lockwood Mills on the south end of town. The mills, which hung empty over Waterville for years, are now becoming a series of residential units and commercial spaces. It’s not the only thing being revitalized: Waterville-based Colby College has invested $100 million into the city’s downtown area over the past few years, culminating in the summer 2022 opening of the boutique Lockwood Hotel , as well as the Paul J. Schupf Art Center , which debuted in December 2022. 

Head to the bar at the sleek and sophisticated Lockwood on any Friday night in town, and you’ll be greeted by a young and creative crowd sipping craft cocktails by the fireplace. The Schupf Art Center, which spotlights work from local artists, also boasts a brand new cinema set to host a portion of this summer’s Maine International Film Festival . 

That swell of creative energy also extends over to Waterville’s neighboring city, Skowhegan. After securing space in a building once a county jail, co-founder and CEO Amber Lambke launched Maine Grains , a gristmill producing organic and heritage grains solely sourced from the Northeast. The mill just celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2022 and has announced plans to expand to an additional building to accommodate several new product lines and serve as an online fulfillment hub. 

The three-story former jail is also home to a local radio station, a yarn store, a dry goods shop, and an artisanal cheese shop Crooked Face Creamery , founded by local Amy Rowbottom, who handcrafts all of the shop’s offerings from milk sourced from local farms. On weekends, the area around the building buzzes with crowds of locals who drive up for lunch at The Miller’s Table , the gristmill’s onsite restaurant serving sandwiches and pizzas made with dough milled onsite. The menu features no shortage of craft beers from nearby Bigelow Brewing , which has also announced recent expansion plans: the brewery will take over the 80,000 square foot former Solon Manufacturing mill on Skowhegan Island, which had a strong run producing yarn and wood products in the early twentieth century.

Of course, there’s always plenty to do in Maine for those seeking solitude in the outdoors any time of the year. Just 2 miles from Waterville, the Quarry Road Trails offer over 8 miles of singletrack trails for skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Outfitters like Magic Falls and North Country Rivers offer rafting trips on the nearby Kennebec River. And in this part of the state, hiking opportunities, like the lush RiverWalk at Head of Falls or the Kennebec Messalonskee Trails , are abundant—just don’t be surprised if you see a moose or two. All are perfect opportunities for visitors to get up close and personal with the trees that built the state. — Astrid Taran

Western Galilee, Israel

While Tel Aviv and Jerusalem should very well be on your Israel itinerary , devote a few extra days to exploring a side of the country that often gets overlooked—and unfairly so. Western Galilee, also known as the North Coast of Israel, stretches along the Mediterranean Sea from the Carmel Range just north of Haifa to the country’s north-westernmost tip, with rolling mountains and coastal views intermixed with archaeological sites and farm-to-table eats that can’t be beaten.

Start your trip in the port city of Acre (also known as Akko), a UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled at the northern tip of the Bay of Haifa. Conquered by a range of empires and civilizations over its 5,000-year history, Acre is best known for having once been the capital of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. Take a tour of the Hospitaller Fortress , which served as a hospital and hospice to pilgrims en route to Jerusalem in the 12th and 13th centuries, before journeying through the Templars Tunnels. This 492-foot-long underground passage was used to link the Knights Templar's main fortress to the port. Afterward, browse the city’s souk and artisanal shops, including Art 192 , a gallery that sells ceramics, jewelry, and other wares created by Israeli craftswomen from around Galilee and Golan.

Natural beauty is in no short supply here, either. Just south of Lebanon, on the Mediterranean coast, the geologic formation of Rosh HaNikra comprises grottoes and white chalk cliffs that can be accessed via a quick ride down the world’s steepest cable car. Then head to the remains of nearby Keshet Cave: a large natural arch situated on the southern cliffs of the Adamit Mountain Ridge in Adamit Park. Hike the short trail to the top, where you can simply take in the spectacular views or join other adventure seekers in rappelling roughly 130 to 165 feet down to the cave floor.

Meanwhile, the region’s food and drink scene is undoubtedly one to rival Tel Aviv’s. At Alto Dairy Farm , visitors can munch on housemade sourdough bread, a variety of quiches, and fresh cheese produced from Galician goat’s milk, paired with toppings such as silan, tahini, and nuts. If you’re looking to imbibe, sip wine at Kishor Winery , staffed by members of the neurodiverse Kishorit kibbutz, or craft beers at Malka Brewery .

Got a sweet tooth? Look no further than Tosha Bakery in Achziv. Co-owned by Shahaf Avraham and pastry chef Tomer Swisa, who honed his craft in Israel and France, Tosha offers more than 30 delectable pastries and other sweets adapted from recipes Swisa’s grandmother used to make. Pick up a smattering of baked goods to split with the table—from croissants oozing with pistachio crème to mouthwatering mousses and savory bourekas—and order a cup of coffee on the side. If you still have room left for dessert, head to Odette Chocolate & Pralines Boutique for an assortment of delicious confections—including chocolate logs, chocolate-covered nuts, and pralines filled with flavors like hazelnut and olive oil—and chocolate workshops led by owner Dr. Shlomit Zamir.

Don’t leave without signing up for a cooking workshop or home hospitality experience with tour operator Galileat , which offers visitors to the region an opportunity to learn about local culture through food. Through the program, Druze, Muslim, Christian, and Bedouin hosts around Galilee are ready to welcome you into their homes to share their faith and customs, cook you a traditional homecooked meal, and maybe show you how to roll a grape leaf or two.

To truly get a feel for what it is like to live and work on a kibbutz, a collective Israeli community with agrarian roots, round out your trip with a visit to Kibbutz Kfar Masaryk . In addition to tours of the grounds, the kibbutz offers workshops on topics ranging from birdwatching to Rondo and Hora dances, an art gallery, a dining hall with buffet-style lunch, and 20 accommodations where both families and couples can spend the night. —  Elizabeth Preske

Perhaps the most anticipated tourist reopening, Japan is now fully reopened to travelers, making 2023 the year to experience—or perhaps re-experience—the Land of the Rising Sun. Visitors will also be able to take advantage of a weaker-than-usual yen, as the exchange rate in 2020 was an average of 106 yen to $1—the current exchange rate is 127 yen per dollar.

For travelers with kids (or those who are simply young at heart), Tokyo is a must-visit city in 2023, with Tokyo Disney's Toy Story-themed hotel now open. Based on the film series, the hotel offers a unique stay for visitors that includes not just rooms decorated with characters from the franchise on the walls and matching bedding but an entirely immersive experience. If you want a truly magical experience in Tokyo, the 300,000-square-foot Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter opens this summer. The interactive experience allows guests to explore the world of Harry Potter through a behind-the-scenes look into how the films and special effects were created, including a recreation of the indoor soundstage and outdoor backlot used to make the films.

Entertainment lovers will also want to beeline to Tokyu Kabukicho Tower in Shinjuku, set to be the country's largest hotel and entertainment complex. Spanning 48 floors, Kabukicho will comprise two hotels, a movie theater, a massive food hall, and a four-story concert venue that will seat 1,500 people.

And for anime fans, Studio Ghibli has opened its long-awaited new theme park in Nagoya, about three hours by train from Tokyo. The expansive park spans five different themed lands based on fan-favorite films, like "My Neighbour Totoro" and "Princess Mononoke," as well as a life-sized replica of Howl's Moving Castle.

Japan has always been a bastion of luxurious hotels, and now the tony EDITION brand will plant its roots in Ginza, opening an 86-room hotel with three restaurants, including a rooftop bar where you can take in the expansive Tokyo skyline. Meanwhile, local brand Tokyu Hotels opened Hotel Higashiyama last July in Kyoto. Located near Chionin Temple and Heian-jingu Shrine, staying at the hotel is a zen-like experience with rooms arranged around a central courtyard with a Japanese garden. Each room also comes with a box full of original tea utensils that you can use to brew your own Japanese tea.

For families, Hoshino Resorts, which currently operates 58 properties in and around Japan, has just opened RISONARE Osaka , which bills itself as a hub of creativity where children can draw on the walls and windows of their guest rooms with crayons. Marking itself as Japan's first hotel to embrace the Reggio Emilia Approach, an early childhood education program, it hopes to become a hotel that offers value by creating opportunities to nurture children's artistic creativity.

Further north, Club Med has opened its newest ski resort in the area, Club Med Kiroro in Hokkaido. The all-inclusive resort offers up some of the best skiing in the region and will feature a natural open-air hot spring and spa, with all the attractive features the brand continues to be known for .

If you've been saddened by the news of Danish restaurant Noma closing its doors, but don't have plans to visit Copenhagen before then, you may still be in luck. The long-standing "world's best restaurant" is holding a 10-week pop-up in the Ace Hotel Kyoto from March 15 to May 20, 2023, focusing on a tasting menu inspired by the region's distinct ingredients and culinary history.

And, of course, after you've exhausted all the traditional culinary adventures Japan has to enjoy, you can take respite in the comfort food of choice at one of the country's long-standing top hotels: Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo , which features 12 restaurants and bars across its 38 floors. You'll have everything from traditional Cantonese at Sense, upscale French cuisine at Signature, and even Michelin-starred Tapas Molecular Bar. At the end of the night, tuck away to the rooftop Mandarin Bar and admire Tokyo's glittering sprawl. It's good to be back. — Ryan Smith

Thomas Pickard

In unexpected social media trends of the year, the infamous Drake Passage—the notoriously rough body of water that separates South America and Antarctica—has made its rounds on TikTok. And that's because more people than ever are heading to the southernmost destination in the world.

Antarctica is heating up, both figuratively and literally. With the rapid growth of the expedition cruising industry, particularly in the luxury sector, getting to Antarctica has never been easier.

Between 2022 and 2023, nearly a dozen new polar-class ships have been or will be launched by both existing and new cruise lines: Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, Silversea's Silver Endeavor and Silver Nova, Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit, Atlas Ocean Voyages' World Traveller; Aurora Expedition's Sylvia Earle; Albatros Expedition's Ocean Victory and Ocean Albatros; Scenic Eclipse II; and Swan Hellenic's SH Diana, among them. And that's not to mention numerous others that debuted in 2020 and 2021. Between them, you're treated to comforts like high-end spas, toys like helicopters and submersibles, and, of course, fine dining.

What's more, even land-based Antarctic expeditions are growing. Luxury operator White Desert just opened its third space-age glamping facility, Echo Camp , on the continent; to get there, White Desert flies guests from Cape Town to Antarctica via private jet.

With so many options for visiting Antarctica, there hasn't been a better (or at least a more convenient) time to visit the White Continent. But returning to Antarctica heating up, is it ethical to go?

As an icy continent, Antarctica is, perhaps unsurprisingly, directly impacted by planetary temperature change. But Antarctica's climate is complex and dynamic, with dramatic regional differences. East Antarctica, for instance, has seen some cooling trends; the South Pole, which is technically in East Antarctica, had its coldest winter on record in 2021. And long-term Antarctic sea ice trend shows essentially zero change, according to Climate.gov . But the Antarctic Peninsula in West Antarctica, where most expedition cruises sail, is warming dramatically.

It's important to acknowledge that cruising is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, just like flying. Even ships that use liquified natural gas, which is touted as a more sustainable alternative to diesel, contribute to emissions, just in the form of methane rather than carbon dioxide.

But what makes cruising to Antarctica worth the potential environmental trade-off is the continent's ability to turn you into an ambassador for protecting Earth. On one of my trips to Antarctica, a naturalist told us that often people don't care to protect what they don't know. Being able to fully immerse yourself in the wilderness of Antarctica—to hear the thunderous crack of a glacier calving and the roar of the tsunami that follows, to watch an Adélie penguin waddle across your path with a pebble in its mouth to build a nest with its mate, to witness humpback whales lunge feeding in an extraordinary display of graceful choreography—makes you care just so much more about not just Antarctica, but the entire planet.

That's why we encourage you to visit Antarctica, but we implore you to do so with the right intentions. Don't just book a trip to check off your seventh continent. Do your research into the company you book with, ensuring they're a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators . This organization ensures its members adhere to the best practices for protecting wildlife and the environment and take all precautions for human safety. And keep in mind that Antarctica is a remote, extreme, and dangerous place—listen to your guides at all times, and be highly mindful throughout your entire trip. A trip to Antarctica is an extraordinary privilege that shouldn't be taken lightly. Travel with intention, be safe and open yourself up to the wonders of the White Continent. — Stefanie Waldek

Bianca Loðbrók

Rome, Italy

If it seemed like everyone on your Instagram feed was in Italy last year, you’re not imagining things. A 2022 study by Allianz found that demand for Europe travel was up 600 percent, and Rome ranked as the fifth in-demand summer destination. That trend is likely to continue into 2023. A recent survey by the Leading Hotels of the World found that Italy is currently leading the pack for bookings this year.

Rome is called the Eternal City for a reason, but in addition to its many timeless pleasures, it has some compelling new reasons to go in 2023, especially if it’s been a while since your last visit. The Mausoleum of Augustus —the world’s largest circular tomb—reopened to the public in 2021 after an 8 million euros restoration. Also in 2021, the Colosseum opened the underground level known as the hypogeum, allowing visitors to walk the narrow corridors where gladiators prepared for the games and wild animals were kept before being hoisted up to the stage on wooden platforms. To visit the underground level, you must book a guided tour, such as the official Moon over the Colosseum tour , or a private tour with a company like Roma Experience .

Last year saw the inauguration of the Museo dell’Arte Salvata (Museum for Rescued Art), which displays looted or lost antiquities and other artworks that have been recovered before they’re returned to their rightful homes. In addition, a restoration of the Sacred Area of Largo di Torre Argentina —where Julius Caesar was assassinated—is currently underway. When it’s completed, visitors can join the cats at the Largo Argentina Cat Sanctuary and get up close and personal with the ruins, which lay just below street level in an open area in the heart of Rome’s centro storico.

In terms of modern developments, the city’s hotel scene is heating up in a big way, bringing hip new affordable options and luxurious properties by international brands. Already open are the Hoxton Rome and Mama Shelter Roma —where budget-conscious travelers don’t have to sacrifice style—and Soho House Rome and the W Rome , both of which boast rooftop restaurants and pools.

Coming soon are high-end hotels by Six Senses , Edition , Nobu , and Bulgari , in addition to Palazzo Roma, a luxury boutique hotel in a historic palazzo by the Shedir Collection (the company behind Hotel Vilòn and Hotel Maalot)—all slated to open in 2023. Plus, Thai brand Anantara is currently renovating the historic Palazzo Naiadi hotel on Piazza Della Repubblica.

Whether or not you splurge on a room, these new hotels are bringing buzzy restaurants and bars to attract locals and international visitors. The Bulgari Hotel, for example, will have a restaurant by lauded chef Niko Romito. The W has two hot restaurants: Giano by Michelin-starred Sicilian chef Ciccio Sultano and Otto Rooftop, which serves pizzas by esteemed Roman pizzaiolo Pier Daniele Seu, whose pizzeria Seu Pizza Illuminati is ranked number 8 on the list of the 50 Top Pizzerias in the world.

Indeed, it’s a perfect time for pizza aficionados to visit Rome. The city has seen a wave of next-gen pizzaiolos energizing the scene. Top spots include 180 Grammi in the off-the-beaten-path neighborhood of Centocelle, L’Elementare , which has locations in Trastevere and the Parco Appio, and I Quintili by pizzaiolo Marco Quintili, who hails from the province of Caserta, which is known for having some of Italy’s best pizzerias. A visit to Rome in 2023 will be a feast for all the senses. — Laura Itzkowitz

Courtesy of Four Seasons

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Prince got it right, per usual, when he told Oprah in a 1996 interview that he'd always live in Minnesota because "it's so cold it keeps the bad people out." The state's residents are notoriously nice, which makes Minnesota a particularly welcoming place to visit, no matter the weather. With the addition of a luxury hotel, a restaurant at the helm of pivoting American cuisine, and other must-see locales, it's easy to understand why you'd want to visit the land of 10,000 lakes. (Though, as Minnesotans will politely correct you, the state technically boasts 11,842 lakes—but who's counting?)

Start your stay in Minneapolis, the livelier of the Twin Cities. Hop on the light rail at MSP airport, and 30 minutes later, you'll step off in downtown Minneapolis, where you can check in for a stay at the state's first five-star hotel, Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis . Located two blocks from the Mississippi River and four blocks from famed music venue First Avenue, the Four Seasons is within walking distance of all that downtown and its posh adjoining neighborhood, the North Loop, have to offer. That's assuming you can tear yourself away from eating every meal at Mara , the Mediterranean-inspired restaurant by award-winning chef Gavin Kaysen , located within the hotel.

One meal you must venture out for is a dinner at Owamni , the highly-praised restaurant at the center of the Indigenous foods movement. Perhaps you read about Owamni in The New Yorker , or maybe the name sounds familiar from their 2022 James Beard Award win for Best New Restaurant. Every menu item is "decolonized," as co-owner and Oglala Lakota chef Sean Sherman calls it, free of ingredients introduced to North America after Europeans arrived. Forget dairy, cane sugar, black pepper, and wheat flour. You don't need them, at least as far as the Owamni menu (which features dishes like bison stew and blue corn mush) is concerned. The restaurant is just an 11-minute walk from the Four Seasons, so go ahead and indulge in one more glass of whatever you're washing your elk short ribs down with. If the weather allows—always a gamble, though Minnesotans are bred to soak up every warm, sunny day—enjoy your meal on the patio overlooking the Mississippi River.

Add the Minnesota Zoo to your itinerary too. Located just south of the charming capital St. Paul, the zoo is not only home to lions and tigers and bears (oh my!) but also the world's longest elevated pedestrian loop. The Treetop Trail is a 32-foot-high, 1.25-mile walking path through the zoo's various lush landscapes, including a reflection pond, wetlands, and, as the name implies, a forest. The trail's multiple access points, with elevators and ramps, allow guests of all mobility levels to enter and exit in different locations to get a glimpse of their favorite animals. If all goes to plan, the Treetop Trail will open this summer, hopefully just in time to coincide with the zoo's annual and adorable Farm Babies exhibit.

For a more all-encompassing view of the midwest, book Viking's new Great Lakes Collection cruise. The two-week-long excursion travels between Duluth, Minnesota, and Toronto, winding through the Great Lakes with pit stops at iconic locations like Niagara Falls and Mackinac Island.

We like to think Prince would be the first aboard. — Megan McCarty

Maximilian Guy McNair MacEwan

Tulum, Mexico

The city that launched a thousand hashtags and the poster child of boho-chic, Tulum is one resort town where every year brings something new. Between the booming beach clubs and luxurious boutique hotels, there are many reasons why travelers keep returning again and again to this once-sleepy fishing village next to the Mayan ruins. Roughly a two-hour drive from the Cancun Airport, Tulum has always proved rewarding for those willing to go the extra mile, but the coming years are promising an easier way to get there so that you can skip the pricy cab fare or the rental car.

There are two massive infrastructure projects on the horizon in Tulum: the Maya Train and a brand-new international airport. Construction has been underway on the Maya Train, which will connect Tulum to not only Cancun but other major cities on the peninsula like Bacalar and Izamal. The first section of the train line is expected to open in December 2023, but the project has also been controversial, enduring harsh criticism from environmentalists and human rights advocates .

Meanwhile, the new airport will sit 20 minutes south of the city center near the ruins of Muyil. The first route will run between Tulum and Mexico City's brand-new airport, Felipe Ángeles (AIFA), and low-cost airlines are already eyeing the new landing strip. It's been given an opening date of December 2023, but it might take until mid-2024 for the regular service to kick in. Both projects are working towards decongesting traffic from Cancun as more and more holidaymakers are finding their way down to Tulum worldwide. The new international airport will also give travelers a better starting point for exploring the southern reaches of Quintana Roo, like the multicolored lakes of Bacalar (two hours south of Tulum) and the far jungle side of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve.

Tulum's beachfront is stacked with luxury hotels that claim the best location in the city and are always trying to make the biggest splash in art and design. You can find the influencer set lining up for snapshots in front of the "Ven a la Luz" sculpture at the Ahau Tulum Resort or booking the top suite La Valise , where the bed rolls out onto the balcony so you can sleep under the stars. However, Hilton has just opened two new hotels in the area, which will pose shiny new offerings for travelers in 2023. The centrally-located Motto delivers Tulum style with a rooftop infinity pool, and with comparatively affordable rates, it's a good choice for those who plan to bounce between the city center and the beach. Alternatively, the Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya is 20 minutes away from Tulum proper, sitting on the turtle-filled beaches of Akumal, but the resort offers a more traditional Riviera Maya resort experience, but with the Tulum twist of holistic wellness experiences and bass-thumping DJ sets.

As always, Tulum's beaches are the star attraction. The gentle blue waves are watched over by the ruins of an ancient Mayan city, and the wind conditions entice kite surfers to strap on their boards and fly. The only thing that could ruin this picture is the massive clumps of sargassum seaweed that wash up on the shores daily. However, this problem will be mitigated in 2023 thanks to a new 1.4-mile-long anti-sargassum barrier that stops the seaweed before it washes up on the beach.

Tulum is a place that is constantly transforming, and with many promises on the horizon to make it even more accessible, this is a place to watch. — Jamie Ditaranto

Honestly, there is no wrong time to visit Disneyland . But making a pilgrimage to "The Happiest Place on Earth" during 2023 will make your visit extra sweet, and we're not just talking about the consumption of the park's sugar-coated churros.

This year the Walt Disney Company is celebrating a century of creating its unique brand of animated magic. The Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio—which it was initially named—was formed on Oct. 16, 1923, just months after 21-year-old Walt made the move to Los Angeles. There will be a year-long cross-company global observance to honor the centennial, with Disneyland being the centerpiece of the celebration. Beginning on Jan. 27, 2023, the park will feature added entertainment, festivities, and an abundance of razzle dazzle sprinkled throughout the park—all for the Disney100 Celebration , Sleeping Beauty's castle will be given a platinum-hued glow to kick it all off. The castle will also be the focus of the new nighttime extravaganza entitled Wondrous Journeys . This brand new show will use the castle, Main Street U.S.A., Rivers of America, and the facade of "it's a small world" as the canvas for a visual cavalcade featuring snippets and nods to every film that Disney has released during the past hundred years. Meanwhile, over at California Adventure, this year will see the debut of World of Color - ONE , the new water projection show paying homage to Disney classics, both new and old, alongside moments from "Star Wars" and Marvel movies.

Disney parade lovers will be thrilled with the return of the wildly popular " Magic Happens " parade in late February. The over-the-top extravaganza pays tribute to cherished moments from Disney's films from "Moana" to "Frozen" to Pixar's "Coco" with music, dancing, and elaborate floats, all led by an iridescent outfitted Mickey Mouse. But Mickey will have much more than merely a parade presence.

Since "it was all started with a mouse," as Walt Disney once famously stated, it's only fitting that Mickey Mouse will star in this year's most anticipated debut. On March 27, Mickey's Toontown, which has undergone a massive remodel, will reopen to guests. The reimagined land will feature CenTOONial Park, a sprawling grassy knoll, interactive play areas, and a bevy of water features, which will be a welcome addition on those hot southern California days. The highlight of the land is the west coast debut of Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Train , opening on Jan. 27. The attraction—which already exists in Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World—will be housed in the memorabilia-filled El CapiTOON Theater.

Over in Critter Country, big changes are on the horizon. Disney is transforming the wet and wild Splash Mountain into Tiana's Bayou Adventure. While this metamorphosis won't be complete until next year, you can get a taste of the "Princess and the Frog" vibe with the debut of Tiana's Place. The French Market in New Orleans Square, right around the bend from Critter Country, will be reimagined with a menu to reflect Tiana's culinary talents for dishes such as gumbo and beignets.

Speaking of beignets, whenever there is something to celebrate, Disneyland invariably cooks up something tantalizing and wildly creative. The year will be sprinkled with an eclectic array of new treats, both sweet and savory, along with food-centric commemorative souvenirs like the Mickey Mouse popcorn buckets and sippers, to go along with all the other commemorative Disney100 apparel and merch available for purchase.

If you've been looking for a good excuse to visit the "Happiest Place on Earth," partaking in the Disney100 Celebration is a pretty worthy one. Plus, there are churros. — Sunny Chanel

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Few cities in Asia and the world blend an opulent British-colonial past with ever-growing, space-age skylines like Kuala Lumpur, shortened to "KL" by most locals—and now, Malaysia's capital will soon be more accessible than ever to visit.

Expect more seamless connections from the U.S. to this Southeast Asian gateway after the Federal Aviation Administration upgraded Malaysia's air safety rating in October 2022. A coil of highways and light-rail transport systems connects the airport to the former small towns of the Klang Valley, which now function as KL's many thriving residential neighborhoods.

They attract foreigners who find no match for Kuala Lumpur's low cost of living and quality of life. Since last year, Malaysia's De Rantau Pass , Southeast Asia's first full-fledged digital nomad visa, has a rock-bottom income requirement of $2,000 a month and allows stays of up to two years.

Today, the Klang river that marked the city's humble beginnings—Kuala Lumpur means "muddy estuary" in Malay—is strangled by development but still flows by some of the old city's architectural gems, such as the Jamek Mosque and the old Kuala Lumpur Railway, completed in 1916 by the former British colonialists. These old dames rub walls with modern buildings, monorail, LRT overpasses, shopping malls, and futuristic skyscrapers.

The next giant to open mid-2023 is Merdeka 118, the world's second-highest building. Soaring above the tourist enclave of Pasar Seni and Petaling Street, the city's bustling Chinatown, this 118-story, 2,200-foot tall, dark glass tower stretches up to the sky as the supreme example of Malaysia's world aspirations.

Before that, the 88-story, 1,400-foot-high Petronas Towers held the world's record for the tallest building from 1998 to 2003. These futuristic twin towers are the trademark of KLCC, Kuala Lumpur's glitziest and central neighborhood, filled by the city's largest shopping malls and the plushest entertainment and dining options.

Perched on the 48th floor of the Naza Tower, literally "haute" restaurant Dewakan boasts authentic Malaysian dishes prepared with rare ingredients and stunning views of the Klang Valley hemmed by the viridian slopes of the nearby Genting Highlands, the city's quickest getaway to fresh air, shining casinos, and a plethora of resorts.

It's no wonder that in December 2022, Dewakan and the French-inspired DC by Darren Chin earned a star each in the first Michelin guide to Kuala Lumpur and northern sister Penang island. But Michelin's recommendations only scratch the surface of Kuala Lumpur's labyrinthine food scene, which mixes Malay, Chinese, Indian, and international cuisines and boasts some of Asia's best street food culture.

First-time visitors usually spill from bar-and-nightclub strip Bukit Bintang to the adjacent tourist-friendly Jalan Alor, a haven of Chinese seafood and staple dishes like KL Hokkien Mee (noodles smothered in a sweet-salty black soy sauce with prawns, pork belly, and cabbage) and bak-kut-teh (pork ribs cooked in a broth of herbs and spices).

But the savviest local foodies brave the city's eternal traffic jams to venture out of the center to suburbs like Petaling Jaya, where Marriott opened minimal-chic Le Meridien in June 2022, and Subang Jaya—in particular, its SS15 district. From Jibril's irresistible salted egg butter chicken to Uncle Seng's choice of handmake pork and chicken curry noodles, and the zesty pork burgers of Burgertory , this district will add inches to your belt.

When the city becomes too much, one doesn't have to travel far to wind down in nature. The longest trail at Kota Damansara Community Forest Reserve, Denai Tiga Puteri Peak, is a two-hour out-and-back scrawl across the rainforest to a viewpoint overlooking a busy highway and the city's skyline.

For more challenging trails, Bukit Saga in the northeastern area of Ampang has something for every level, from quick strolls to a whole day hike across the connecting Saga and Apek hills. Bukit Gasing in Petaling Jaya is next to the city's heart and can also be visited by car, driving up to a perfect viewpoint to soak Kuala Lumpur's lights come alive after pink-hued sunsets. — Marco Ferrarese

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Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 21, 2024

Angelica Evans, Karolina Hird, Nicole Wolkov, Kateryna Stepanenko, and George Barros

August 21, 2024, 8:40pm ET

Click here to see ISW’s interactive map of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This map is updated daily alongside the static maps present in this report.

Click here to see ISW’s 3D control of terrain topographic map of Ukraine. Use of a computer (not a mobile device) is strongly recommended for using this data-heavy tool.

Click here to access ISW’s archive of interactive time-lapse maps of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These maps complement the static control-of-terrain map that ISW produces daily by showing a dynamic frontline. ISW will update this time-lapse map archive monthly.

Note: The data cut-off for this product was 1pm ET on August 21. ISW will cover subsequent reports in the August 22 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment.

The Kremlin appears to have launched an intricate messaging campaign aimed at justifying to its domestic audience why Russia is prioritizing maintaining the initiative in eastern Ukraine over immediately expelling Ukrainian forces from Kursk Oblast. Russian government sources close to the Russian Presidential Administration told Russian independent outlet Meduza that the Kremlin is actively trying to condition Russian society to accept the limited Ukrainian presence in Kursk Oblast as a “new normal” and downplay the significance of the incursion. [1] The sources noted that the Kremlin will use propaganda to encourage Russians to wait for Russian forces to retake these territories after an “inevitable” Ukrainian defeat in eastern Ukraine. The sources also added that the Kremlin is redirecting Russians’ concerns over Kursk Oblast by preoccupying domestic society with humanitarian assistance drives to assist the affected residents of Kursk Oblast and noted that the Kremlin decided against canceling the upcoming Kursk Oblast gubernatorial elections scheduled for September to minimize panic in the region. [2] The Russian Central Election Commission, however, decided to postpone local elections in the seven raions in Kursk Oblast that are impacted by the Ukrainian incursion due to security risks, and the Kremlin may have decided to maintain gubernatorial elections as scheduled to replace the interim Kursk Oblast Governor Alexei Smirnov, who has overseen much of the local Russian response to the incursion. [3] Meduza also highlighted Russian state media’s coverage of the incursion, which began increasingly portraying Kursk Oblast and its residents as supporting the Russian war effort in Ukraine, despite encountering some mild wartime disruptions to residents’ ordinary lives. [4] The Kremlin may be also attempting to weaponize state media's coverage of its months-long offensive in eastern Ukraine to advance its messaging campaign about the incursion. Russian state TV channels are notably covering Ukraine’s incursion in Kursk Oblast as a limited operation, while actively contrasting it with Russian advances in the Pokrovsk direction, which Russian media is painting as major victories. [5]

The Kremlin may be using this messaging campaign to afford itself time and space to respond to the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast after achieving its offensive objectives in eastern Ukraine. Russian government sources told Meduza that the Kremlin was initially shocked and worried about Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk Oblast but calmed down within a week because Ukrainian forces’ advances were far from more densely populated regional centers such as Kursk City. [6] Meduza reported that all interviewed officials expressed confidence that battles in Kursk Oblast will continue at their current scale for months, indicating that the Kremlin may not be rushing to repel Ukrainian forces from the region and will instead continue to prioritize its offensive operations in eastern Ukraine. A Ukrainian source in the military-political leadership, on the contrary, told Ukrainian news wire RBC-Ukraine that Putin tasked Russian forces with repelling Ukrainian forces from Kursk Oblast by October 1 without re-deploying forces from key frontlines areas – namely from the Pokrovsk and Toretsk directions. ISW previously assessed that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian military command likely view maintaining the theater-wide initiative as a strategic imperative to win the war of attrition against Ukraine and are continuing to prioritize the Russian offensive operations in eastern Ukraine. [7] Putin’s reported October 1 deadline assumes a long time for Russia’s territorial integrity to have been contested given that the incursion began on August 6th. Such a protracted occupation of Russian territory undermines the Kremlin’s longstanding narratives about why Russia is at war in the first place; the Kremlin had been justifying its war in Ukraine as a defensive war that aims to protect Russian sovereignty and territorial integrity. [8] The Kremlin’s relaxed approach to the temporal aspect implies that the Kremlin has decided to prioritize tactical advances in Ukraine over rapidly restoring Russia’s territorial integrity in Kursk, and this apparent decision undermines a series of long-standing narratives about Russian “red lines.”

Putin notably appears to be demanding that Russia defeat Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk Oblast without sacrificing the stability of his regime, deprioritizing the offensive in eastern Ukraine, or firing his incompetent but loyal lieutenants. The results of such a strategy are too early to forecast. Meduza’s sources also noted that the Kremlin also considered the need for a new mobilization wave at the start of the incursion, but that the Russian Cabinet of Ministers and Kremlin-affiliated businessmen immediately opposed general mobilization due to ongoing labor shortages in Russia — although it is unclear whether Kremlin even considered this argument. [9] Meduza’s sources assessed that the Kremlin is much more likely to double down on the use of conscripts in Kursk Oblast, which if true, would mark another example of Putin making unrealistic demands of the Russian military command without providing the command appropriate manpower and resources to achieve its objectives. ISW has repeatedly assessed that Putin has neglected the need to declare general mobilization throughout the course of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine out of concern for his regime’s stability on numerous occasions, and his recent decision to announce a counterterrorism operation in Kursk Oblast (as opposed to declaring war or mobilization) may indicate that he is not prepared to respond to the incursion with mobilization at this time. [10] Meduza’s sources also observed that there are currently no rumors within the Kremlin about the removal of Russian Chief of the General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov due to his ongoing involvement in the Russian offensive in Donbas or the ongoing crisis in Kursk Oblast. The sources noted that the Kremlin might need to appoint a scapegoat for the incursion in the future but is not currently considering placing Gerasimov in that position. ISW cannot independently verify these reports, but they appear to be consistent with ISW's assessments about the Kremlin's prioritization of the offensive in eastern Ukraine and Putin’s, inability to dynamically adjust objectives, and his aversion to taking risks. [11] The Kremlin’s reported approach to command changes appears to be consistent with Putin’s observed pattern of withholding command changes until he is no longer actively facing a crisis. [12]

Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations throughout the Kursk Oblast salient on August 21 and have made additional marginal advances. Ukraine's Special Operations Forces posted footage on August 21 showing Ukrainian strikes on several pontoon bridges and staging areas along the Seim River in Glushkovsky Raion, west of the current Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast. [13] The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces suggested that Ukrainian forces may have used HIMARS in some of the strikes against pontoon bridges, while milbloggers speculated that Ukrainian forces used air-launched small-diameter glide bombs. [14] Geolocated footage published on August 21 shows drone operators of Russia's 155th Naval Infantry Brigade (Pacific Fleet, Eastern Military District [EMD]) striking Ukrainian forces in and around Vishnevka (south of Koreveno and 14km from the international border), confirming that Ukrainian forces have likely advanced into and beyond the settlement. [15] A Russian milblogger claimed that a reinforced platoon-sized Ukrainian element unsuccessfully attacked from Vishnevka towards Komarovka (southwest of Koreveno and 12km from the international border), but that Russian drone strikes and anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) fire stopped Ukrainian forces from establishing positions within Komarovka. [16] Another Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces conducted a platoon-sized mechanized attack towards Korenevo but were unsuccessful. [17] Additional geolocated footage published on August 21 indicates that Ukrainian forces hold positions in forest areas east of Aleksandrovka (northeast of Koreveno and 33km from the international border). [18] Geolocated footage published on August 21 also shows that elements of the Russian 200th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade (14th Army Corps, Leningrad Military District [LMD]) hold positions along the 38H-564 road east of Zhuravli (east of Koreveno and 21km from the international border), indicating that Russian forces either recently retook these positions or that Ukrainian forces have not yet closed the small salient along the 38H-564 road near Zhuravli. [19] Russian milbloggers continued to claim that Ukrainian forces are advancing north of Sudzha near Malaya Loknya and are encircling Russian forces in Martynovka (northeast of Sudzha and 19km from the international border). [20] Elements of the Russian 810th Naval Infantry Brigade (Black Sea Fleet) are reportedly facing encirclement in Martynovka, and Russian milbloggers lauded a soldier from the Russian 11th Airborne (VDV) Brigade for allegedly leading conscripts out of an encirclement in an unspecified area in Kursk Oblast, potentially in reference to the Martynovka pocket. [21] Geolocated footage published on August 21 indicates that Ukrainian forces have advanced into southern Russkaya Konopelka (east of Sudzha and 12km from the international border). [22] The Russian 810th Naval Infantry Brigade appears to be deployed particularly sporadically throughout the Kursk Oblast salient — various Russian sources have reported that its elements are operating as far north as the Kauchuk area (30km from the international border) and between Martynovka and Spalnoye (southeast of Sudzha and 45km away from Kauchuk). [23]

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Republic of Chechnya for the first time in 13 years on August 20, likely in an effort to shift domestic focus away from the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast and posture normalcy and stability. Putin met with Chechen Republic Head Ramzan Kadyrov in Grozny, Chechnya, and praised Kadyrov for his socio-economic development programs. [24] Kadyrov claimed that Chechnya has sent 47,000 military personnel to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, including 19,000 volunteers who trained at the Spetsnaz University in Gudermes, Chechnya. Kadyrov also claimed that Chechnya has "several tens of thousands" of trained and equipped military personnel in reserve. Putin visited Spetsnaz University, which trains military personnel from across Russia and spoke to a group of military commanders, instructors, and volunteers. Putin claimed that all Russians — no matter their ethnicity or religious affiliations — are united by their morals, ethics, love for the Fatherland, respect for elders, respect for Russia's history, and faith in Russia's future. [25] Putin also ostentatiously kissed a Quran to demonstrate his purported respect for the Islamic faith and the people of Chechnya. Putin consistently attempts to portray Russia as a harmonious multi-ethnic and multi-religious country despite growing xenophobia against migrants and ethnic and religious minorities [26] Putin additionally emphasized Russian soldiers' alleged heroism for putting themselves at risk to protect Russia by fighting in Ukraine. [27] Putin also may have intended to use his visit to Chechnya to commend Chechen leaders for dedicating forces to the defensive effort in Kursk Oblast and address concerns about the reportedly significant number of Chechen military personnel that Ukrainian forces have taken as prisoners of war in Kursk Oblast. [28]

Recent US intelligence assessments highlight Ukraine's efforts to develop alternative and asymmetric capabilities in the face of Russian manpower and materiel advantages, as well as Ukraine's continued dependence on Western security assistance. The US Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector General's Office published a series of assessments by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in the DoD's quarterly review of US military assistance to Ukraine on August 15. [29] DIA's assessments largely cohere with trends and phenomena observable in the open source, although it is unclear what conclusions policymakers should draw from DIA's assessments given that some of these assessments assume that certain battlefield conditions are totally static, whereas ISW assesses the same conditions to be in flux.

The DIA assesses that recent US military assistance to Ukraine will "almost certainly" be insufficient in helping Ukraine match or overcome Russia's artillery advantage in Ukraine and the estimated Russian daily fire rate of 10,000 artillery rounds. [30] Ukrainian servicemembers have consistently expressed concern about Ukrainian artillery shortages following significant delays in US aid in Winter 2023–2024 and Spring 2024, and Ukrainian officials have previously acknowledged the impact of artillery constraints on Ukraine's defensive and offensive capabilities, particularly in Donetsk Oblast. [31] Destructive Russian shelling and glide bomb strikes appear to be a fundamental aspect of the Kremlin's theory of victory in Ukraine, which posits that Russian forces can continue slow, grinding advances aided by razing Ukrainian settlements to the ground regardless of Russian manpower losses and premised on the assumption that Russian forces can deprive Ukraine of the ability to contest the theater-wide initiative in perpetuity. [32] Ukrainian forces have, on the contrary, demonstrated their commitment and ability to develop and employ alternative and asymmetric capabilities, namely drones and long-range strikes, to partially counter Russia's artillery advantage in Ukraine and to defend against Russian mechanized and infantry assaults, often to outsized effect compared to the smaller-scale systems Ukrainian forces are employing. Ukrainian forces successfully defended against a series of large-scale Russian mechanized assaults in western Donetsk Oblast in late July 2024 with drone strikes and limited artillery support, and Russian milbloggers have previously warned about the threat of targeted Ukrainian first-person view (FPV) drone strikes throughout the frontline in Ukraine. [33] Ukrainian forces have also used long-range strikes against Russian military targets and oil depots supplying military equipment in Russia to complicate Russian logistics, force Russia to reallocate air defense assets, and disrupt Russia's oil and gas industry. [34] The most recent allotment of US aid to Ukraine is undoubtedly insufficient to address the ongoing artillery disparity between Russian and Ukrainian forces and asymmetric means are not a replacement for artillery and other conventional means, but the US and wider Western alliance remain capable of addressing Ukraine's constraints caused by delays in Western security assistance.

The DIA also assesses that Ukraine "probably" remains capable of continuing defensive operations in Ukraine but is not capable of conducting large-scale counteroffensive operations for at least the next six months. [35] ISW recently assessed that both Russian and Ukrainian forces lack the capability to conduct individual decisive war-winning operations and must instead conduct multiple successful operations with limited operational objectives that, in the aggregate, can achieve strategic objectives. [36] ISW continues to assess that Ukrainian forces could use smaller-scale Ukrainian counterattacks and localized counteroffensive operations to liberate territory while avoiding the challenges associated with conducting large-scale counteroffensive operations amid continued Western delays and hesitancy in allocating further military assistance to Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have conducted several localized counterattacks in northern Kharkiv Oblast and towards Kreminna (in the Luhansk-Donetsk Oblast border area) in recent months, suggesting that Ukrainian forces are already attempting to contest the tactical initiative in select frontline areas. [37] Ukrainian forces have also succeeded in launching a localized offensive operation into Kursk Oblast and seizing the operational initiative in this sector of the frontline, which is drawing Russian forces from other, lower-priority frontline areas in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have identified drawing Russian forces from lower-priority frontline areas as a key goal of Ukraine's incursion into Kursk Oblast, and this effort could force Russia to leave some of these areas vulnerable to further Ukrainian counterattacks. [38] ISW continues to assess that Ukrainian forces can contest the battlefield initiative and eventually set conditions to conduct both limited and eventually large-scale counteroffensive operations provided timely and appropriate Western security assistance. [39] The US and the international coalition supporting Ukraine retain significant influence over Ukrainian warfighting capabilities and Western decisions about Ukraine’s resourcing levels and rules of engagement regarding Russian military targets can substantially alter the trajectory of the war.

Ukraine continues efforts to attrit Russia's air defense and aviation capabilities. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that overnight on August 20 to 21, Ukrainian naval forces and other Ukrainian units conducted a coordinated strike with unspecified weapons and hit a Russian S-300 air defense system's position near Novoshakhtinsk, Rostov Oblast. [40] The Ukrainian General Staff noted that it is still clarifying the results of the strike but reported explosions near the S-300 site. Russian Rostov Oblast officials claimed that Russian air defense forces shot down an unspecified type of missile over Rostov Oblast early in the morning on August 21, and social media footage shows a fire at an oil refinery in Novoshakhtinsk reportedly caused by debris from the downed missile. [41] A prominent Kremlin-affiliated milblogger claimed that Russian forces destroyed a Ukrainian ATACMS missile over Novoshakhtinsk, alleging that this is the first ATACMS strike against Russian territory. [42] ISW has not observed any visual evidence or additional reports of the purported use of ATACMS, however.

Russian opposition sources and milbloggers also claimed that Ukraine conducted a long-range drone strike against targets in Russia's far-northern Murmansk Oblast (nearly 2,000 kilometers away from Ukraine) on August 21. [43] Geolocated Russian social media footage shows Russian forces shooting down a small aircraft-type drone flying at low altitude over Vysokiy, Murmansk Oblast, and Russian sources claimed that this is the fourth day in a row that attack drones have been targeting Murmansk Oblast. [44] The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsya) temporarily restricted the airspace over the Murmansk and Apatity airports on August 21, likely due to the operation of drones in the airspace. [45] Several Russian sources speculated that the drones were targeting Olenya airfield, which is co-located with the village of Vysokiy and from which Russia launches Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 strategic bomber aircraft. [46] Ukrainian sources previously confirmed that Ukrainian long-range drones damaged a Tu-22M3 strategic bomber at Olenya on the night of July 26 to 27. [47] ISW has not observed visual evidence or official Ukrainian or Russian confirmation of drones impacting the Olenya airfield at the time of this publication, however.

Russian authorities may have attempted to block Telegram and other non-Russian internet communications services on August 21. Russian sources stated that Russian internet users reported outages of multiple internet communication, internet streaming, and telecommunication services on August 21. [48] Russian state media censor Roskomnadzor claimed that distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks caused the outages, but that it successfully repelled the attack. [49] Russian activist and Director of the Internet Defense Society Mikhail Klimarev told Russian opposition outlet Agentstvo Novosti that such outages usually occur when Russian authorities activate the "anti-messenger mode" and noted that similar outages occurred during the antisemitic pogroms in Dagestan Republic in November 2023, and during protests in the Sakha and Bashkortostan republics in January 2024. [50] Experts from Roskomsvoboda, an independent Russian organization that supports internet freedom and digital rights, told Agentstvo Novosti that a centralized impact likely caused the outages and assessed that Roskomnadzor attempted to block Telegram, which inadvertently blocked other internet-based services in Russia. The experts also noted that similar outages occurred in 2018 when Russian authorities tried to block Telegram. [51] Russian authorities have also been attempting to further censor the Russian information space by disconnecting Russia from the global internet, and also temporarily disconnected Russia at least partially from the global internet during a test of its “sovereign internet” system overnight on July 4–5, 2023. [52]

The Russian government is reportedly supporting a bill that would allow Russian authorities to draw up administrative protocols against Russian citizens who violate Russian law while living abroad. Kremlin-affiliated business outlet Kommersant reported on August 21 that the bill would allow the Russian government to charge Russian citizens living abroad under vague charges of extremism, abuse of freedom of speech, and discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. [53] Unnamed Russian lawyers told Kommersant that Russian courts have previously prosecuted Russian citizens living outside of Russia for social media posts under similar charges.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and People's Republic of China (PRC) Premier Li Qiang discussed deepening bilateral economic and trade relations in Moscow on August 21. Putin stated that Russia and the PRC have jointly developed large-scale economic and humanitarian plans, and Li stated that the PRC is ready to develop a multifaceted mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia. [54] Li also met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on August 21, and they signed a joint communique that includes a plan for Russian–PRC investment cooperation and 15 other unspecified intergovernmental and interdepartmental documents. [55] Li also noted during his meeting with Mishustin that Russia and the PRC are increasing cooperation in the energy sector. [56]

  Key Takeaways:

• The Kremlin appears to have launched an intricate messaging campaign aimed at justifying to its domestic audience why Russia is prioritizing maintaining the initiative in eastern Ukraine over immediately expelling Ukrainian forces from Kursk Oblast.
• Putin notably appears to be demanding that Russia defeat Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk Oblast without sacrificing the stability of his regime, deprioritizing the offensive in eastern Ukraine, or firing his incompetent but loyal lieutenants. The results of such a strategy are too early to forecast.
• Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations throughout the Kursk Oblast salient on August 21 and have made additional marginal advances.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Republic of Chechnya for the first time in 13 years on August 20, likely in an effort to shift domestic focus away from the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast and posture normalcy and stability.
• Recent US intelligence assessments highlight Ukraine's efforts to develop alternative and asymmetric capabilities in the face of Russian manpower and materiel advantages, as well as Ukraine's continued dependence on Western security assistance.
• Ukraine continues efforts to attrit Russia's air defense and aviation capabilities.
• Russian authorities may have attempted to block Telegram and other non-Russian internet communications services on August 21.
• The Russian government is reportedly supporting a bill that would allow Russian authorities to draw up administrative protocols against Russian citizens who violate Russian law while living abroad.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin and People's Republic of China (PRC) Premier Li Qiang discussed deepening bilateral economic and trade relations in Moscow on August 21.
• Russian forces recently advanced southeast of Pokrovsk, southwest of Donetsk City, and northeast of Robotyne.
• Russian occupation authorities continue to create Cossack organizations in occupied Ukraine, likely to build out Russia's military reserves and law enforcement bodies in occupied Ukraine.

We do not report in detail on Russian war crimes because these activities are well-covered in Western media and do not directly affect the military operations we are assessing and forecasting. We will continue to evaluate and report on the effects of these criminal activities on the Ukrainian military and the Ukrainian population and specifically on combat in Ukrainian urban areas. We utterly condemn Russian violations of the laws of armed conflict and the Geneva Conventions and crimes against humanity even though we do not describe them in these reports.

• Russian Main Effort – Eastern Ukraine (comprised of three subordinate main efforts)
• Russian Subordinate Main Effort #1 – Push Ukrainian forces back from the international border with Belgorod Oblast and approach to within tube artillery range of Kharkiv City
• Russian Subordinate Main Effort #2 – Capture the remainder of Luhansk Oblast and push westward into eastern Kharkiv Oblast and encircle northern Donetsk Oblast
• Russian Subordinate Main Effort #3 – Capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast
• Russian Supporting Effort – Southern Axis
• Russian Air, Missile, and Drone Campaign
• Russian Mobilization and Force Generation Efforts
• Russian Technological Adaptations
• Activities in Russian-occupied areas
• Ukrainian Defense Industrial Base Efforts

Russian Information Operations and Narratives

• Significant Activity in Belarus

Russian Main Effort – Eastern Ukraine

Russian Subordinate Main Effort #1 – Kharkiv Oblast ( Russian objective: Push Ukrainian forces back from the international border with Belgorod Oblast and approach to within tube artillery range of Kharkiv City)

Limited positional engagements continued in northern Kharkiv Oblast on August 21, but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline. Ukrainian Kharkiv Group of Forces Spokesperson Colonel Vitaly Sarantsev noted that Russian forces have decreased their use of tactical aviation targeting Kharkiv Oblast in order to prioritize airstrikes in other areas of the theater and in Kursk Oblast. [57] Sarantsev also reported that a contingent of Russian forces remains blocked in the Vovchansk Aggregate Plant in Vovchansk (northeast of Kharkiv City), but that they are unable to attack their way out of the plant because Ukrainian forces control all logistics routes into and out of the plant. [58] Fighting continued north of Kharkiv City near Lyptsi and Hlyboke and in and around Vovchansk. [59] Elements of the Russian 11th Tank Regiment (18th Motorized Rifle Division, 11th Army Corps [AC], Leningrad Military District [LMD]) and 7th Motorized Rifle Regiment (11th AC, LMD) reportedly continue operating near Hlyboke and Lukyantsi (north of Kharkiv City and east of Hlyboke), respectively. [60]

Russian Subordinate Main Effort #2 – Luhansk Oblast (Russian objective: Capture the remainder of Luhansk Oblast and push westward into eastern Kharkiv Oblast and northern Donetsk Oblast)

Limited positional engagements continued along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line on August 21, but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces attacked northeast of Kupyansk near Synkivka; east of Kupyansk near Petropavlivka; southeast of Kupyansk near Stepova Novoselivka and Berestove; northwest of Svatove near Stelmakhivka; west of Svatove near Andriivka; southwest of Svatove near Serhiivka and Novoserhiivka; northwest of Kreminna near Novosadove, Makiivka, Hrekivka, and Torske; and southwest of Kreminna near Dibrova on August 20 and 21. [61] Elements of the Russian 144th Motorized Rifle Division (20th Combined Arms Army [CAA], Moscow Military District [MMD]) reportedly continue operating in the Lyman direction (west of Kreminna). [62]

Russian Subordinate Main Effort #3 – Donetsk Oblast (Russian objective: Capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast, the claimed territory of Russia’s proxies in Donbas)

Russian forces continued limited offensive operations southeast of Siversk near Spirne and Vyimka and south of Siversk near Pereizne on August 20 and 21. [63]

Russian forces did not make confirmed advances in the Chasiv Yar direction amid ongoing offensive operations on August 20 and 21. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces continued offensive operations near Chasiv Yar; north of Chasiv Yar near Hryhorivka; southeast of Chasiv Yar near Ivanivske and Klishchiivka; and south of Chasiv Yar near Predtechyne on August 20 and 21. [64] A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces consolidated their positions in the forest south of Hryhorivka (north of Chasiv Yar) in an area up to 2.36 kilometers wide and that elements of the Russian Sever-V Brigade (Russian Volunteer Corps) reportedly continued operating near Hryhorivka. [65] A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces advanced southeast of Orikhovo-Vasylivka (northeast of Chasiv Yar), but ISW has not observed confirmation of this claim. [66]

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov claimed on August 21 that Russian forces seized Niu York (south of Toretsk), but Ukrainian military sources continue to report that Ukrainian forces still control 20 percent of the settlement. [67] Belousov credited elements of the Russian 9th Motorized Rifle Brigade (1st Donetsk People’s Republic Army Corps [DNR AC]) for the seizure of Niu York. [68] A source from a Ukrainian brigade operating in the Toretsk direction told Ukrainian outlet Suspilne that the situation in Niu York is very difficult because Russian forces are constantly attacking the settlement in small assault groups but that Ukrainian forces still control about 20 percent of Niu York. [69] Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces advanced in the fields northeast of Druzhba (east of Toretsk); in northwestern Pivnichne (east of Toretsk); and in eastern Toretsk. [70] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces launched assaults near Toretsk; southeast of Toretsk near Zalizne; south of Toretsk near Nelipivka and Niu York; and southwest of Toretsk near Panteleymonivka on August 20 and 21. [71] Belousov claimed on August 20 that elements of the Russian 132nd Motorized Rifle Brigade and 1st Slavic Brigade (both 1st DNR AC) seized Zalizne. [72]

Russian forces recently advanced southeast of Pokrovsk and continued offensive operations in this direction on August 20 and 21. Geolocated footage published on August 20 shows that Russian forces advanced in northwestern Zhuravka (southeast of Pokrovsk), and some Russian milbloggers claimed that elements of the Russian 27th Motorized Rifle Division (2nd Combined Arms Army [CAA], Central Military District [CMD]) seized Zhuravka. [73] ISW had not observed visual evidence confirming Russian advances in the northwesternmost part of Zhuravka, nor to suggest that Russian forces control the entire settlement. Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces advanced northeast of Hrodivka (east of Porkrovsk) and northeast of Novohrodivka, south of Mykolaivka, and north of Ptyche (all southeast of Pokrovsk). [74] Russian milbloggers also claimed that Russian forces seized Komyshivka (southeast of Pokrovsk) but ISW has not yet observed visual evidence confirming these milblogger claims. [75] The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) retroactively announced on August 21 that the Russian Central Grouping of Forces (GoF) seized Zhelanne, and ISW assessed that Russian forces likely seized Zhelanne around August 18. [76] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces continued offensive operations east of Pokrovsk near Vozdvyzhenka, Zelene Pole, Myrolyubivka, Hrodivka, and Kalynove; and southeast of Pokrovsk near Mykolaivka, Novohrodivka, Mykhailivka, Ptyche, and Skuchne. [77] Elements of the Russian BARS-15 unit (Russian Combat Army Reserve) are reportedly operating in the Avdiivka direction, and a drone company of the ”Volga” Brigade is reportedly operating near Novohrodivka. [78]

Russian forces continued offensive operations west of Donetsk City near Krasnohorivka and Heorhiivka on August 20 and 21, but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline in the area. [79]

Russian forces recently advanced southwest of Donetsk City amid continued assaults in the area on August 21. Geolocated footage published on August 20 and 21 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced north of Kostyantynivka and southeast of Vodyane (both northeast of Vuhledar). [80] Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces are also advancing northwest of Paraskoviivka. [81] Russian forces also continued offensive operations near Pobieda on August 21. [82] A Russian milblogger noted that Russian forces recently advanced up to another area of O-0532 (T-0524) Vuhledar-Kostyantynivka highway near Vuhledar, which is consistent with ISW's assessment of Russian advances in the area. [83] Russian forces achieved their longstanding tactical objective of reaching the O-0532 highway and cutting the Ukrainian ground line of communication (GLOC) between Vuhledar and Kostyantynivka on August 2, although these advances have not significantly impacted Russian nor Ukrainian operations in the area in subsequent weeks. [84]

Neither Russian nor Ukrainian sources reported ground attacks in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area on August 21.

Russian Supporting Effort – Southern Axis (Russian objective: Maintain frontline positions and secure rear areas against Ukrainian strikes)

Geolocated footage published on August 20 indicates that Russian forces have recently advanced in western Zaporizhia Oblast to the southern outskirts of Luhivske (northeast of Robotyne). [85] Some Russian milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian forces are preparing for offensive operations in Zaporizhia Oblast, with one milblogger claiming on the evening of August 20 that Ukrainian forces launched an offensive operation near Polohy (in central Zaporizhia Oblast east of Robotyne). [86] Former Roscosmos (Russian space agency) head and Zaporizhia Oblast occupation senator Dmitry Rogozin and several milbloggers denied claims of Ukrainian activation anywhere in Zaporizhia Oblast, however, and accused other Russian commentators of overhyping false information and creating panic in the information space. [87] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces attacked north of Robotyne near Novodanylivka and northeast of Robotyne near Mala Tokmachka on August 20 and 21. [88] Elements of BARS-32 (Russian Combat Army Reserve) are reportedly operating near Enerhodar (west of Robotyne), while elements of the 503rd Motorized Rifle Regiment (19th Motorized Rifle Division, 58th Combined Arms Army [CAA], Southern Military District [SMD]) and BARS-3 are operating in the general Zaporizhia Oblast direction. [89]

Russian forces continued unsuccessful ground attacks in east (left) bank Kherson Oblast on August 20 and 21 but did not make any confirmed advances. [90] Russian forces conducted drone, artillery, and air strikes against settlements and civilian infrastructure in west bank Kherson Oblast. [91]

Russian Air, Missile, and Drone Campaign (Russian Objective: Target Ukrainian military and civilian infrastructure in the rear and on the frontline)

Russian forces conducted a series of missile and drone strikes against Ukraine on the night of August 20 to 21. Ukrainian Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk reported that Russian forces launched two Iskander-M or North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles from Voronezh Oblast, a Kh-59/69 cruise missile from the airspace over Kursk Oblast, and 69 Shahed-136/131 drones from Kursk Oblastand Yeysk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Krasnodar Krai. [92] Oleshchuk stated that Ukrainian forces shot down one Kh-59/69 missile and 50 Shahed drones over Khmelnytskyi, Poltava, Cherkasy, Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kherson, Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Sumy and Chernihiv oblasts. Oleshchuk added that 16 Shahed drones did not reach their targets and likely fell due to Ukrainian electronic warfare (EW) suppression and that another Shahed drone flew from Chernihiv Oblast's airspace into Belgorod Oblast's airspace via Belarussian airspace. The Kyiv City Military Administration reported that Ukrainian forces destroyed up to a dozen drones near Kyiv City. [93]

Russian Mobilization and Force Generation Efforts (Russian objective: Expand combat power without conducting general mobilization)

Russian occupation authorities continue to create Cossack organizations in occupied Ukraine, likely to build out Russia's military reserves and law enforcement bodies in occupied Ukraine. Zaporizhia Oblast occupation administration head Yevgeny Balitsky announced on August 21 that Russian occupation authorities are attempting to recreate the "Zaporizhian Cossack Army" - in reference to the historical Zaporizhian Cossacks (which, ironically, fought against the Russian Empire to exist as an independent and democratic polity) - and will start registering Cossack societies in occupied Zaporizhia Oblast before the end of 2024. [94] Balitsky further claimed that the BARS-32 Detachment of the Sudoplatov Volunteer Battalion already operating in Zaporizhia Oblast is staffed with Cossacks. Kherson Oblast occupation administration head Vladimir Saldo also announced that occupied Kherson Oblast will start registering Cossack societies in October 2024. [95] Saldo claimed that over 18,000 Cossacks are currently fighting in Ukraine and that unspecified Cossack units are operating in occupied Kherson Oblast and on the occupied Kinburn Spit, Mykolaiv Oblast. Russian President Vladimir Putin notably signed a law in March 2024 that authorized members of the All-Russian Cossack Society who are in the Russian military and security services reserves to join the mobilization reserve, and Putin transferred control of the Cossack Cadet Corps to the jurisdiction of the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) in June 2024. [96]

Moscow City authorities are advertising their Military Service Consulting Center, which provides administrative and social services to Russians who signed military service contracts, amid recent reports that Moscow City is struggling to recruit military personnel. [97] Moscow's Military Service Consulting center advertises Russian military contract service and provides contract service personnel with travel and administrative assistance and provides accommodation and food to prospective personnel undergoing selection. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin recently claimed that 43,000 Muscovites are currently fighting in Ukraine and that another 23,000 Muscovites will deploy to Ukraine as volunteers by the end of 2024, although a source within Sobyanin's office told Russian opposition outlet Verstka that most of the recruits registered as being from Moscow actually originate from other regions of Russia. [98]

Russian opposition outlet Verstka reported that 48 high-ranking Russian military officials have resigned or been dismissed since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. [99] Verstka reported that 21 officials left offices within the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD), including former Russian Defense Minister and current Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu and six of his deputies. Verstka also noted that 13 of the 48 senior military officials held leadership positions within the Joint Grouping of Forces in Ukraine, that eight of them were military district commanders, and that five of them held main commands. Verstka reported that Russian authorities have opened criminal cases against at least seven of these officials.

The Russian MoD appointed Former CEO of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Goszagransobstvennost," Yevgeny Logvinov to the position of director of the MoD's Military Property Department. [100]

Russian Technological Adaptations (Russian objective: Introduce technological innovations to optimize systems for use in Ukraine)

Russia continues to find ways to incorporate US-produced electronic components into its weapons and censorship, and surveillance systems. Russian investigative outlet The Insider published a story on August 20 detailing how Russia is importing programmable logic devices (PLDs) for use in missile and drone navigation systems, internet content filtration, and facial recognition, many of which come from US companies. [101] The Insider noted that Russia is using Xilex and Altera integrated circuits, both products of American PLD manufacturers, in the navigation systems for Iskander and Kalibr missiles. The Insider also emphasized that Russia is able to import such PLDs despite extensive international sanctions, largely because many export companies are ignoring international embargoes.

Ukrainian Defense Industrial Efforts (Ukrainian objective: Develop its defense industrial base to become more self-sufficient in cooperation with US, European, and international partners)

ISW is suspending publishing coverage of Ukrainian defense industrial efforts until further notice.

Activities in Russian-occupied areas (Russian objective: Consolidate administrative control of annexed areas; forcibly integrate Ukrainian citizens into Russian sociocultural, economic, military, and governance systems)

ISW is not publishing coverage of activities in Russian-occupied areas today.

Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) Deputy Chief Major General Vadym Skibitskyi reported on August 21 that Russian and pro-Russian actors are conducting an information operation aimed at discouraging Ukrainian refugees in the European Union (EU) from returning to Ukraine and degrading their Ukrainian identity. [102] Skibitskyi stated that pro-Russian journalists are distributing publications in Italy about supposed Ukrainian crimes against civilians in occupied Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

Russian officials continue to seize on the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast as part of a long-standing Kremlin information operation that falsely portrays Ukraine as unwilling to engage in legitimate, good-faith negotiations and places the onus for peace negotiations on Ukraine. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev claimed on August 21 that Russia could have previously fallen into a "negotiation trap" by entering into "unnecessary peace negotiations" with Ukraine, but that the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast has clarified that Russia will not negotiate with Ukraine until Ukraine is "completely defeated." [103] Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed that Ukraine's incursion into Kursk Oblast a priori cancels the possibility of peace negotiations. [104] ISW continues to assess that the Kremlin is only interested in a negotiated settlement that results in complete Ukrainian capitulation and that any Russian statements to the contrary are intended to delude the West into making pre-emptive concessions on Ukraine's sovereignty and territory integrity. [105]

Significant activity in Belarus (Russian efforts to increase its military presence in Belarus and further integrate Belarus into Russian-favorable frameworks and Wagner Group activity in Belarus)

The Belarusian Ministry of Defense (MoD) reported on August 21 that the head of the MoD's First Directorate of the Department of International Military Cooperation, Colonel Dmitry Ryabikhin, visited an unspecified People's Liberation Army (PLA) unit during his visit to the People's Republic of China (PRC). [106]

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko dismissed Major General Igor Butkevich as First Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Border Committee due to Butkevich's age on August 21 and appointed Colonel Andrey Filatov as the new first deputy chairman. [107]

Note: ISW does not receive any classified material from any source, uses only publicly available information, and draws extensively on Russian, Ukrainian, and Western reporting and social media as well as commercially available satellite imagery and other geospatial data as the basis for these reports. References to all sources used are provided in the endnotes of each update.

[1] https://meduza dot io/feature/2024/08/21/v-kremle-schitayut-chto-boi-v-kurskoy-oblasti-prodlyatsya-neskolko-mesyatsev-i-hotyat-ubedit-rossiyan-chto-eto-novaya-normalnost

[2] https://www.pravda dot com.ua/eng/news/2024/08/21/7471267/

[3] https://www.pravda dot com.ua/eng/news/2024/08/21/7471267/; https://t.me/cikrossii/3944

[4] https://meduza dot io/paragraph/2024/08/21/kursk-ne-slomit-kak-v-geroicheskom-1943-m-my-vse-ot-hipsterov-do-vatnikov-dolzhny-ob-edinitsya

[5] https://t.me/warhistoryalconafter/180564

[6] https://meduza dot io/feature/2024/08/21/v-kremle-schitayut-chto-boi-v-kurskoy-oblasti-prodlyatsya-neskolko-mesyatsev-i-hotyat-ubedit-rossiyan-chto-eto-novaya-normalnost

[7] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/assessing-significance-current-russian-and-ukrainian-operations-course-war

[8] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-7-2024

[9] https://meduza dot io/feature/2024/08/21/v-kremle-schitayut-chto-boi-v-kurskoy-oblasti-prodlyatsya-neskolko-mesyatsev-i-hotyat-ubedit-rossiyan-chto-eto-novaya-normalnost

[10] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-26-2023 ; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-12-2023 ; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-10-2024

[11] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/putin-vulnerable-western-policy-masks-russian-weakness

[12] https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-30-2023 ; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-12-2024 ; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-24-2023

[13] https://t.me/ukr_sof/1183; https://t.me/kiber_boroshno/9623 ; https://t.me/WarArchive_ua/19046 ; https://t.me/warhistoryalconafter/180535 ; https://x.com/666_mancer/status/1826175406610829766

[14] https://t.me/ukr_sof/1183; https://t.me/motopatriot/26477

[15] https://t.me/VARYAGI_155/105 ; https://x.com/AudaxonX/status/1826198757483896954 ; https://x.com/AudaxonX/status/1826222767802351867 ; https://x.com/AudaxonX/status/1826225646197952718 ; https://x.com/AudaxonX/status/1826233665426456948 ; https://x.com/AudaxonX/status/1826236574507679841; https://x.com/giK1893/status/1826214202534437305; https://t.me/creamy_caprice/6464

[16] https://t.me/rusich_army/16657

[17] https://t.me/dva_majors/50276

[18] https://t.me/morpexiMO/6306 ; https://x.com/franfran2424/status/1826200674851344588 ; https://x.com/GNovosibir79446/status/1826192342170189845; https://x.com/moklasen/status/1826202988295127510; https://x.com/moklasen/status/1826202992103539130; https://t.me/morpexiMO/6306; https://t.me/creamy_caprice/6462

[19] https://x.com/moklasen/status/1826296192013304096; https://t.me/khornegroup/2556

[20] https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/14331; https://t.me/motopatriot/26459; https://t.me/motopatriot/26447; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/58401; https://t.me/philologist_zov/1260

[21] https://t.me/dva_majors/50306 ; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/75284 ; https://t.me/s/NgP_raZVedka ; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/134360 ; https://t.me/mobilizationnews/19905

[22] https://x.com/EjShahid/status/1826295667318280343; https://t.me/rusich_army/16669

[23] https://t.me/astrapress/62346 ; https://t.me/dva_majors/50306; https://x.com/AudaxonX/status/1825990685901615544 ; https://t.me/dva_majors/50231; https://t.me/control_sigma/33709 ; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/14319

[24] http://kremlin dot ru/events/president/news/74906

[25] http://kremlin dot ru/events/president/news/74904

[26] https://isw.pub/UkrWar103023 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar122023 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar033024

[27] http://kremlin dot ru/events/president/news/74904

[28] https://isw.pub/UkrWar081624 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar081924 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar081424

[29] https://media.defense.gov/2024/Aug/16/2003527561/-1/-1/1/OAR_Q3_JUN2024_FINAL_508.PDF

[30] https://media.defense.gov/2024/Aug/16/2003527561/-1/-1/1/OAR_Q3_JUN2024_FINAL_508.PDF

[31] https://isw.pub/UkrWar061524 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar042024 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar041924 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar020924 ; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-2-2024 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar041924 ; https://www.ft.com/content/daa1a6ad-9ada-42ba-bfb2-2c199118e904 ; https://archive.ph/7LGbR

[32] https://isw.pub/UkrWar060724

[33] https://isw.pub/UkrWar072524 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar073024 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar052124 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar031224 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar121623 ;

[34] https://isw.pub/UkrWar071624 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar071424 ; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-9-2024 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar042324 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar040824 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar032024 ; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-january-29-2024 ; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-january-21-2024

[35] https://media.defense.gov/2024/Aug/16/2003527561/-1/-1/1/OAR_Q3_JUN2024_FINAL_508.PDF

[36] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-17-2024

[37] https://isw.pub/UkrWar071224

[38] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-17-2024

[39] https://isw.pub/UkrWar072424 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar072024

[40] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0xJoc2FgD5hUcErqdGSmku86d2jBJSLAp22DNCGhaDHtvNVkjW5hVySfgxy9PRMbJl

[41] h ttps://t.me/andriyshTime/26252 ; https://t.me/vrogov/17127 ; https://x.com/666_mancer/status/1826251220308430880 ; https://vk.com/wall-90644414_39836 ; https://t.me/golubev_vu/1494 ; https://t.me/golubev_vu/1495 ; https://t.me/etorostov/62864 ; https://t.me/vchkogpu/50118

[42] https://t.me/rybar/62951

[43] https://t.me/sotaproject/85660 ; https://t.me/astrapress/62407; https://t.me/milinfolive/128915

[44] https://t.me/VGrudina/2794 ; https://x.com/666_mancer/status/1826270072307855362 https://x.com/666_mancer/status/1826292246460711184 ; https://x.com/Grimm_Intel/status/1826270127722996150; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/58419 ; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/58417 ; https://t.me/milinfolive/128912%20;%20https:/t.me/milinfolive/128915

[45] https://t.me/tass_agency/267622 ; https://t.me/sotaproject/85664

[46] https://t.me/milinfolive/128915 ; https://t.me/vchkogpu/50145 ; https://meduza dot io/news/2024/08/21/glava-murmanskoy-oblasti-zayavil-ob-ugroze-bespilotnikov-v-regione-mestnyy-aeroport-vremenno-zakryli

[47] https://suspilne dot media/800159-droni-gur-atakuvali-npz-vijskovi-aerodromi-rf-i-poskodili-nadzvukovij-bombarduvalnik-dzerela/ ; https://armyinform.com dot ua/2024/07/27/chorni-dni-rosijskoyi-aviacziyi-detali-atak-na-obyekty-v-tylu-rf/

[48] https://t.me/tass_agency/267588 ; https://t.me/tass_agency/267597 ; https://meduza dot io/feature/2024/08/21/v-rossii-perestali-otkryvatsya-telegram-whatsapp-steam-discord-i-mnogie-drugie-servisy-chto-proishodit-neponyatno

[49] https://t.me/tass_agency/267601

[50] https://t.me/agentstvonews/7046

[51] https://meduza dot io/short/2020/06/18/dva-goda-popytok-blokirovki-telegram-v-rossii-kak-eto-bylo

[52] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-7-2023

[53] https://www.kommersant dot ru/doc/6905653 ; https://www.vesti dot ru/article/4103600; https://meduza dot io/feature/2024/08/21/vlasti-smogut-privlekat-uehavshih-rossiyan-po-politicheskim-statyam-koap-a-razve-ranshe-ne-privlekali-ili-teper-oni-budut-delat-eto-chasche

[54] http://kremlin dot ru/events/president/news/74910

[55] https://t.me/tass_agency/267576

[56] https://t.me/tass_agency/267528

[57] https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/08/21/na-harkivskomu-napryamku-rosiyany-zmenshyly-zastosuvannya-taktychnoyi-aviacziyi/

[58] https://suspilne dot media/817997-zsu-kontroluut-93-naseleni-punkti-v-kurskij-oblasti-trivae-evakuacia-z-pokrovska-910-den-vijni-onlajn/?anchor=live_1724252042&utm_source=copylink&utm_medium=ps; https://armyinform.com dot ua/2024/08/21/v-otu-harkiv-rozpovily-pro-stanovyshhe-okupantiv-na-agregatnomu-zavodu-u-vovchansku/

[59] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02mbcfj2CsF4Zev5JUw6tqFFzHABZsE9uVBhz9tSKev7YcfT8NvQUYajTna6B7vAUQl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02F1pqeXSUWGYRQ1xdb5t2uwAyf9GudeWCy3oNHFZvP775hNmxQpgwqVTfYVPgbnD6l; https://t.me/wargonzo/21670

[60] https://t.me/otukharkiv/841

[61] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02mbcfj2CsF4Zev5JUw6tqFFzHABZsE9uVBhz9tSKev7YcfT8NvQUYajTna6B7vAUQl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02F1pqeXSUWGYRQ1xdb5t2uwAyf9GudeWCy3oNHFZvP775hNmxQpgwqVTfYVPgbnD6l

[62] https://t.me/vysokygovorit/17012

[63] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02F1pqeXSUWGYRQ1xdb5t2uwAyf9GudeWCy3oNHFZvP775hNmxQpgwqVTfYVPgbnD6l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02KwX54hpu7qM9kdUS9qLQhEGJavR3XHNSBMNzsBeoh6Q6oH644FBij6cnaZVo2Cssl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02mbcfj2CsF4Zev5JUw6tqFFzHABZsE9uVBhz9tSKev7YcfT8NvQUYajTna6B7vAUQl

[64] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02mbcfj2CsF4Zev5JUw6tqFFzHABZsE9uVBhz9tSKev7YcfT8NvQUYajTna6B7vAUQl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02F1pqeXSUWGYRQ1xdb5t2uwAyf9GudeWCy3oNHFZvP775hNmxQpgwqVTfYVPgbnD6l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02KwX54hpu7qM9kdUS9qLQhEGJavR3XHNSBMNzsBeoh6Q6oH644FBij6cnaZVo2Cssl

[65] https://t.me/RVvoenkor/75309; https://t.me/voin_dv/10389

[66] https://t [dot] me/motopatriot/26441

[67] https://t.me/mod_russia/42426 ; https://suspilne dot media/817997-zsu-kontroluut-93-naseleni-punkti-v-kurskij-oblasti-trivae-evakuacia-z-pokrovska-910-den-vijni-onlajn/?anchor=live_1724242209&utm_source=copylink&utm_medium=ps

[68] https://t.me/mod_russia/42426

[69] https://suspilne dot media/817997-zsu-kontroluut-93-naseleni-punkti-v-kurskij-oblasti-trivae-evakuacia-z-pokrovska-910-den-vijni-onlajn/?anchor=live_1724242209&utm_source=copylink&utm_medium=ps

[70] https://t [dot] me/z_arhiv/27719; https://t.me/rybar/62934 ; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/75309; https://t.me/dva_majors/50276; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/134415

[71] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02mbcfj2CsF4Zev5JUw6tqFFzHABZsE9uVBhz9tSKev7YcfT8NvQUYajTna6B7vAUQl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02F1pqeXSUWGYRQ1xdb5t2uwAyf9GudeWCy3oNHFZvP775hNmxQpgwqVTfYVPgbnD6l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02KwX54hpu7qM9kdUS9qLQhEGJavR3XHNSBMNzsBeoh6Q6oH644FBij6cnaZVo2Cssl

[72] https://t.me/mod_russia/42396

[73] https://t.me/dva_majors/50276 ; https://t.me/motopatriot/26417; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/75278

[74] https://t [dot] me/z_arhiv/27717; https://t [dot] me/boris_rozhin/134415; https://t [dot] me/z_arhiv/27715; https://t [dot] me/motopatriot/26443; https://t [dot] me/boris_rozhin/134415

[75] https://t.me/RVvoenkor/75281 ; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/14318; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/134415

[76] https://t.me/mod_russia/42412 ; https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-19-2024

[77] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02mbcfj2CsF4Zev5JUw6tqFFzHABZsE9uVBhz9tSKev7YcfT8NvQUYajTna6B7vAUQl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02F1pqeXSUWGYRQ1xdb5t2uwAyf9GudeWCy3oNHFZvP775hNmxQpgwqVTfYVPgbnD6l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02KwX54hpu7qM9kdUS9qLQhEGJavR3XHNSBMNzsBeoh6Q6oH644FBij6cnaZVo2Cssl

[78] https://t.me/ButusovPlus/12923 ; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/58405 ; https://t.me/motopatriot/26423

[79] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02mbcfj2CsF4Zev5JUw6tqFFzHABZsE9uVBhz9tSKev7YcfT8NvQUYajTna6B7vAUQl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02F1pqeXSUWGYRQ1xdb5t2uwAyf9GudeWCy3oNHFZvP775hNmxQpgwqVTfYVPgbnD6l ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02KwX54hpu7qM9kdUS9qLQhEGJavR3XHNSBMNzsBeoh6Q6oH644FBij6cnaZVo2Cssl ; https://t.me/wargonzo/21670 ; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/58402

[80] https://x.com/PuenteUribarri/status/1826153970517029174; https://x.com/klinger66/status/1826174132343517470; https://x.com/klinger66/status/1826188895937020218; https://t.me/creamy_caprice/6461 ; https://t.me/odshbr79/304; https://t.me/creamy_caprice/6452

[81] https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/14324 ; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/134415 ; https://t.me/z_arhiv/27713

[82] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02mbcfj2CsF4Zev5JUw6tqFFzHABZsE9uVBhz9tSKev7YcfT8NvQUYajTna6B7vAUQl

[83] https://t.me/motopatriot/26456

[84] https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-2-2024

[85] https://t.me/operativnoZSU/154906; https://t.me/creamy_caprice/6459

[86] https://t.me/romanov_92/45062; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/14310; https://t.me/sashakots/48517; https://t.me/sashakots/48517

[87] https://t.me/rogozin_do/6326; https://t.me/NgP_raZVedka/18763 ; https://t.me/NgP_raZVedka/18762; https://t.me/NgP_raZVedka/18765; https://t.me/dva_majors/50271 ; https://t.me/romanov_92/45062

[88] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02KwX54hpu7qM9kdUS9qLQhEGJavR3XHNSBMNzsBeoh6Q6oH644FBij6cnaZVo2Cssl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02F1pqeXSUWGYRQ1xdb5t2uwAyf9GudeWCy3oNHFZvP775hNmxQpgwqVTfYVPgbnD6l ; https://t.me/SJTF_Odes/11036

[89] https://t.me/orly_rs/5549;

[90] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02KwX54hpu7qM9kdUS9qLQhEGJavR3XHNSBMNzsBeoh6Q6oH644FBij6cnaZVo2Cssl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02F1pqeXSUWGYRQ1xdb5t2uwAyf9GudeWCy3oNHFZvP775hNmxQpgwqVTfYVPgbnD6l; https://t.me/SJTF_Odes/11036

[91] https://t.me/khersonskaODA/23489; https://t.me/olexandrprokudin/4265; https://t.me/khersonskaODA/23488; https://t.me/khersonskaODA/23482; https://t.me/khersonskaODA/23468; https://t.me/khersonskaODA/23467; https://t.me/khersonskaODA/23459; https://t.me/olexandrprokudin/4268

[92] https://t.me/ComAFUA/393

[93] https://t.me/VA_Kyiv/7492

[94] https://t.me/BalitskyEV/3765

[95] https://t.me/SALDO_VGA/4063

[96] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-23-2024 ; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-24-2024

[97] https://t.me/voenkom_on_line/410 ; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-13-2024

[98] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-13-2024

[99] https://t.me/svobodnieslova/5479 ; https://verstka dot media/chistki-v-minoborony-50-uvoleno

[100] https://www.interfax dot ru/russia/977489

[101] https://theins dot ru/obshestvo/273811

[102] https://t.me/DIUkraine/4274; https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/08/21/operacziyi-proty-ukrayinskyh-bizhencziv-u-yevropi-gotuye-rf-gur/

[103] https://t.me/tass_agency/267509 ; https://t.me/dva_majors/50281 ; https://t.me/medvedev_telegram/523 ; https://t.me/medvedev_telegramE/19

[104] https://t.me/tass_agency/267567

[105] https://isw.pub/UkrWar081324 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar072524 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar072424 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar071924

[106] https://t.me/modmilby/41217

[107] https://t.me/pul_1/13409

Donetsk Oblast

• 2 Understand
• 4.1 Travel from Russia
• 5 Get around
• 9 Stay safe

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The Donetsk Oblast is a region in Eastern Ukraine that is partially occupied by Russia, which claimed in 2022 to have annexed it.

• 48.008889 37.804167 1 Donetsk – primarily known for its plant for the production of sparkling wine bottles the classic way. Former industrial heartland of Eastern Ukraine, now annexed by Russia.
• 48.594722 38.000833 2 Bakhmut – tour the Salt mine and taste the town's sparkling wine
• 48.055556 37.961111 4 Makiivka — an important steel industry and coal mining centre that adjoins the capital.
• 47.130556 37.563889 5 Mariupol – A major industrial center, climatic and mud resort. Part of the Pryazovia area

The eastern and southern parts of the Russian-majority oblast declared its independence from Ukraine in 2014 as Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), following the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the Euromaidan protests in which Ukraine's pro- Russian government was overthrown by pro- EU protesters. The situation in Eastern Ukraine was until 2022 considered to be a "frozen conflict", similar to other post-Soviet breakaway states such as Artsakh, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transnistria, and its sister nation, the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR).

The DPR and the Ukrainian government estimated that around 1,870,000 people (2014) — over 50% of the total population of Donetsk Oblast — lived in DPR-held regions. Of those who lived in the separatist controlled regions before the war, a third had left before the full-scale invasion of 2022, half of them to Russia, the other half to other parts of Ukraine.

In January 2021, the DPR and LPR stated in a "Russian Donbass doctrine" that they aimed to seize all of the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblast under control by the Ukrainian government "in the near future". The document did not indicate any intention of the republics to be annexed by Russia.

The Donetsk People's Republic was recognized by few countries during its existence, even by Russia only in 2022 as part of its invasion against Ukraine. In September 2022, heavily policed referendums were held, in which the population was said to have voted to be annexed by Russia. Immediately after the referendum, Russia formally annexed Donetsk Oblast, including areas not under its control.

In 2014, Ukraine enacted a law making Ukrainian the sole official language. In 2020, the DPR similarly abandoned its policy of Russian and Ukrainian bilingualism, and established Russian as the sole official language. The languages are more or less mutually intelligible and many are bilingual in them.

As per the 2001 census taken in Donetsk, 74.9% of people spoke Russian as primary language, while 24.1% spoke Ukrainian as such.

As the battlefront crosses the oblast, you should choose what side to visit and accordingly enter from Ukraine or Russia. Access to much of the oblast may be restricted.

Before the invasion of 2022 foreigners were allowed to cross checkpoints into/out of the temporary occupied territories of Ukraine in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions provided they meet certain requirements including having an insurance policy certificate issued by a Ukraine-registered insurance company, or a foreign insurance company with an office in Ukraine or a contractual partnership with one of the Ukraine-registered insurance companies. The policy must cover the costs of COVID-19 treatment, observation, and has to be valid for the period of intended stay in Ukraine. See Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more information.

Entering DPR from Russia is illegal under Ukrainian law, and will result on a lifetime ban on entering Ukraine.

As of March 2021, the Donetsk International Airport is not operating.

Travel from Russia

Many Russian tourists and volunteers often visit the DPR and LPR, may it be for fighting in the War in Donbass or going on a vacation in Azov. You can go one a metro ride from Rostov-on-Don to a border village in Rostov Oblast and then visit the border, though Russian border guards usually deny the request. Before the invasion of 2022, access was granted for journalism on the conflict in Ukraine or to join the fight. From the border, you would have entered the Donetsk People's Republic.

• Donetsk Botanical Garden
• Forged Figures Park
• Donetsk Regional Museum
• Donetsk Opera House
• Art Winery in Bakhmut — see sparkling wines produced in vast underground tunnels

The 47.29 38.18 1 Khomutovskaya Steppe Reserve , which is 35 km away from the Azov seashore near the village Khomutovka (about 150 km away from Donetsk city), has more than 500 varieties of steppe plants including rare and endemic plants, and mounds from the Mongol period.

The Ukrainian hryvnia (₴) is more commonly used than the Russian Ruble (₽) due to a lack of low-denomination Rubles, but this may simply depend on proximity to the border.

The conflict in the region is ongoing and violence may erupt at any time. See the article on war zone safety . Your government probably will not be able to provide any assistance if you run into trouble. Lawlessness, arbitrary arrests and human rights violations are widespread.

The other oblasts of Eastern Ukraine border the Donetsk territory, as does Russia . Beware of the battlefront, which may be shifting quickly.

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