Where to travel in 2023: The best destinations to visit - CNN

(CNN) — New twelvemonth equals caller outlook. Apply this look liberally to question readying successful 2023.

After astir 3 years of question disruptions and complications, galore countries person dropped astir of their pandemic restrictions. People are traveling internationally successful ample numbers, and there's plentifulness of pent-up request to dispersed astir the world.

International tourism was expected to scope 65% of pre-pandemic levels by the extremity of 2022, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, with immoderate areas precocious reaching levels person to 80% oregon 90% of their 2019 arrivals. And experts are cautiously optimistic astir a continued question rebound.

Many travelers are charging afloat steam up into the caller twelvemonth -- with bully reason.

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

Poland

We could database caller openings successful Poland -- specified arsenic Hotel Verte, the caller Autograph Collection spot successful Warsaw, which threw unfastened its gilded doors (it's successful a humongous Baroque palace) successful August. But the crushed you should sojourn Poland successful 2023 isn't for the accidental to enactment successful a spot acceptable for royalty. It's to amusement solidarity with a state which has, successful turn, shown solidarity to the radical of Ukraine.

Sharing a 300-plus-mile borderline with a state nether onslaught has meant that Poland has taken successful much Ukrainian refugees than anyplace else. Add to that plummeting tourer numbers (though they're connected the emergence again), and you person a tricky situation.

So whether you fancy that Warsaw palace, a metropolis interruption to the likes of Krakow, Gdansk, Wrocław oregon Poznań -- each hundreds of miles from the Ukrainian borderline -- oregon to get distant from it each successful the forests, lakes and mountains of the countryside -- now's your accidental to bash immoderate bully by taking a vacation. -- Julia Buckley

Western Australia

On April 20, 2023, a full solar eclipse volition beryllium disposable implicit the northwestern borderline of Australia.

For an lawsuit that volition apt past astir 1 minute, the municipality of Exmouth and the greater Ningaloo Peninsula connected which it sits person been readying for much than a year. There volition beryllium outdoor viewing platforms wherever spectators tin safely ticker the star miracle (with protective eyewear, of course) arsenic good arsenic philharmonic performances, acquisition opportunities to larn astir subject and astronomy, and a three-day Dark Sky Festival.

But the authorities of Western Australia offers overmuch much than immoderate 60 seconds of wonder.

Spanning one-third of the full continent of Australia, it stretches from the lively, increasing state superior of Perth crossed deserts including the Great Victoria and Great Sandy to the vino state of Margaret River, the melodramatic clifftops of the Kimberley and the quokka-covered Rottnest Island. -- Lilit Marcus

Liverpool, England

England's larboard metropolis of Liverpool, champion known astir the satellite arsenic the birthplace of The Beatles, is adding different section to its philharmonic legacy.

In May, it volition beryllium the big metropolis of Eurovision 2023, the spangly extravaganza of opus that brings an influx of thousands of flag-waving fans from crossed the continent. It's an accidental for the metropolis to bounce backmost aft the ignominy of being stripped of its UNESCO World Heritage presumption successful 2021.

In June, the metropolis volition observe 25 years of the Liverpool Biennial modern ocular arts festival, arsenic much than 30 planetary artists and collectives instrumentality implicit spaces successful the metropolis until September.

England is besides marking the Year of the Coast successful 2023, with nutrient festivals and formation cleans taking spot on the country's shores. Just a fractional hr from Liverpool metropolis halfway by train, Crosby Beach is the imperishable location of sculptor Antony Gormley's "Another Place," wherever 100 cast-iron figures basal facing retired to sea. -- Maureen O'Hare

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston parades its past similar nary different US city, but it often glossed implicit the past of its Black residents. It's been taking steps to hole that.

Enter the International African American Museum, which promises to marque an opening announcement "soon" for 2023 aft pushing backmost its January date. The depository volition beryllium acceptable connected the shoreline of the Cooper River successful the spot wherever galore Africans archetypal acceptable ft successful North America. It volition research the lives of slaves and their descendants.

Visitors successful precocious May and aboriginal June tin bask the world-renowned Spoleto Festival featuring opera, theater, dance, philharmonic acts and creator talks. And foodies should people March 1-5 connected the calendar for the Charleston Wine and Food Festival and illustration Lowcountry favorites.

Can't marque the festival? You'll inactive beryllium well-fed. For fancier Southern fare, effort Magnolias. Opened successful 1990, it helped spur the city's culinary renaissance. For thing informal, effort Bertha's Kitchen successful North Charleston, wherever reddish atom with sausage, fried chickenhearted and lima beans rule. The eatery adjacent caught attraction of "Roadfood" writer Michael Stern. -- Forrest Brown

Vilnius, Lithuania

Self-effacing Vilnius admitted successful an ad run this year that cipher truly knows wherever it is. If their superb video didn't marque you privation to publication a travel determination immediately, possibly this will: the superior of Lithuania celebrates its 700th day connected January 25, 2023.

To people the milestone, there's a yearlong program, including euphony festivals and exhibitions. But usage the day arsenic a propulsion to sojourn alternatively than pursuing a programme religiously.

The entire metropolis center is simply a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- putting it up determination with its chap V-cities, Venice and Vienna. Vilnius makes it connected the database acknowledgment to its Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings, each sitting connected a medieval thoroughfare plan, but it's champion known for its Baroque architecture.

Don't miss the frothy doorbell operation of St. John's religion (you tin ascent it for sweeping metropolis views) oregon the religion of St. Casimir, topped by a elephantine crown. Got an oculus for societal media? This is Europe's lone superior metropolis that allows blistery aerial balloons to cruise implicit the metropolis skyline. -- JB

Fiji

Brilliant bluish waters, expansive coral reefs and hundreds of peaceful islands: Fiji is not a hard sell. But wherefore spell determination successful 2023? For one, the state lone reopened post-Covid astatine the end of 2021, meaning that visitant numbers to the South Pacific paradise person yet to afloat rebound.

While the state is spoiled for underwater beauty, instrumentality an accidental to research its above-ground treasures, too. The country's lone UNESCO World Heritage tract is the municipality of Levuka, a erstwhile superior and an important port, which is studded with British colonial-era buildings amid coconut and mango trees.

To larn astir the section Indigenous communities, travelers tin instrumentality portion successful a kava welcoming ceremonial -- named for the accepted portion astatine its halfway -- oregon bask a lovo, a repast cooked by blistery coals successful an underground pit covered with banana leaves.

Fiji Airways present has nonstop flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco, making it comparatively casual to get to the islands. As the Fijians say, bula! -- LM

Manaus, Brazil

As the destiny of the Amazon rainforest hangs successful the balance, 2 eco-lodges astir Manaus -- the superior of Brazil's Amazonas state, and gateway to the stream -- person utilized their pandemic intermission to get adjacent much environmentally friendly.

Juma Amazon Lodge, astir 50 miles southbound of the city, is present afloat powered by a caller $400,000 star plant, whose 268 treble panels swagger astir 40 feet into the aerial supra the canopy (meaning nary trees had to beryllium cut). They've besides built a biogas strategy to summation the ratio of integrated discarded treatment, reducing yearly c emissions by 8 tons.

Meanwhile, Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge, northwest of Manaus connected the Rio Negro river, opened an off-grid "advanced base" during the pandemic that's 30 miles from the main lodge and accessible lone via river.

Guests tin instrumentality agelong jungle hikes done territory location to jaguars, pumas and elephantine armadillos successful what's 1 of the Amazon region's astir distant edifice facilities, past walk the day successful a hammock oregon by the pool. For 2023, the lodge is readying overnight stays successful a creekside structure for tiny groups.

Don't miss Manaus itself -- eating behemoth Amazonian food extracurricular the pinkish 1896 opera location is simply a bucket database experience. -- JB

Thessaloniki, Greece

There's been nary shortage of reasons to sojourn Greece's 2nd metropolis successful caller times, with a UNESCO-endorsed section nutrient country that precocious celebrated the refurb and reopening of its century-old Modiano nutrient market.

Throw successful a fashionable waterfront and proximity to beauteous beaches and inland mountains, Thessaloniki is surely a contender for 1 of Europe's champion city-break destinations.

What could marque it adjacent better? How astir a gleaming caller metro system? All being well, November 2023 should spot the opening of the main enactment of an infrastructure megaproject that volition yet link the city's downtown to its planetary airport. Driverless trains volition whisk passengers done tunnels whose excavation has added to Thessaloniki's already affluent catalog of archeological discoveries, galore of which volition beryllium connected show successful specially created depository stations. -- Barry Neild

Rwanda

January 2023 sees the authoritative opening of Rwanda's astir breathtaking edifice yet: Sextantio Rwanda, a postulation of traditionally crafted huts connected an land connected Lake Kivu, 1 of Africa's largest lakes.

It's the archetypal task extracurricular Italy for Daniele Kihlgren, whose part-hotel, part-living past projects support section contented alive. A nonprofit delivering wealth consecutive to section communities, Sextantio volition spot guests sportfishing connected the 1,000-square-mile lake, paddling successful dug-out canoes, trying section banana brew and wildlife-spotting -- and not conscionable the chickens, cows, pigs and goats that roam astir the property.

Of course, you'll privation to spot gorillas. Adjoining Volcanoes National Park, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund opened the 4,500-square metre Ellen DeGeneres Campus successful 2022. Its visitant halfway includes exhibits, virtual world gorilla "encounters" and quality trails.

Over successful Akagera National Park, achromatic rhinos -- transferred from South Africa successful 2021 to assistance conservation -- are already calving. It's easier to get there, too. A caller way from London joins Brussels, Dubai, Guangzhou and Mumbai arsenic the lone nonstop flights to Kigali from extracurricular the African continent. -- JB

Gothenburg, Sweden

Voted the world's astir sustainable destination successful the satellite for six years running, Sweden's second-biggest metropolis is yet emerging from the shadiness of Stockholm.

Once a large trading and shipping town, Gothenburg is present considered to beryllium 1 of the greenest destinations successful Europe, with 274 quadrate meters (2,950 quadrate feet) of greenish abstraction per citizen, portion 95% of its hotels are certified arsenic eco-friendly.

Although Gothenburg officially turned 400 successful 2021, the celebrations were enactment connected crystal due to the fact that of the planetary pandemic. But they're finally taking spot successful 2023, truthful it's a large clip to visit.

Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustav, who celebrates 50 years connected the throne this year, volition beryllium successful municipality connected June 4, Gothenburg's authoritative birthday, and the city's large day festival is being held successful the Frihamnen larboard territory from June 2 to 5, with concerts and creation events among the activities connected offer.

The festivities volition proceed passim the summertime until the September 3 footwear disconnected of Göteborgsvarvet Marathon, a caller 26-mile contention pursuing connected from the city's fashionable fractional marathon, which takes spot connected May 13. -- Tamara Hardingham-Gill

Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

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

But the UAE has a batch to connection quality lovers excessively -- peculiarly the northernmost emirate Ras al-Khaimah, which is aiming to go the Middle East's astir sustainable destination by 2025 acknowledgment to a caller "Balanced Tourism" strategy.

Just 45 minutes from Dubai, it's often called the "adventure Emirate," and for bully reason. Offering beaches, deserts and mountains, outdoor attractions abound, specified arsenic soil boarding, trekking, wakeboarding, skydiving, scuba diving and adjacent the world's longest zipline.

But it's not each astir the adrenaline rush. Ras Al Khaimah is wherever you'll find the highest edifice successful the United Arab Emirates, 1484 by Puro, which sits successful the emirate's Jebel Jais Mountains. Culture seekers tin caput for the historical Dhayah Fort, which dates backmost to the Late Bronze Age (1600-1300 BC).

Where to stay? Luxury hospitality marque Anantara is opening a fabulous caller resort determination successful 2023 that volition connection 174 guestrooms, suites and overwater villas on with specialty restaurants and a spa. -- Karla Cripps

Laos

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

But now, acknowledgment to the 2021 opening of a semi-high-speed railway, it's easier than ever to get astir the state astatine a quicker pace, shaving hours disconnected journeys that antecedently took afloat days to travel.

You're inactive going to person to marque immoderate hard choices -- there's a batch to spot successful Laos.

Towering karst peaks await visitors to adventure-haven Vang Vieng, portion UNESCO-listed Luang Prabang is filled with French-colonial heritage, Buddhist ritual and earthy beauty. (Luxury seekers volition privation to cheque into the Rosewood Luang Prabang, with its stylish hilltop tents)

The mysterious Plain of Jars, a megalithic archaeological site, tin beryllium recovered successful the Xiangkhoang Plateau. For a once-in-a-lifetime acquisition that makes a difference, caput for Bokeo Province and articulation 1 of the Gibbon Experience's overnight treks. Guests of this tourism-based conservation task walk the nighttime successful the world's tallest treehouses -- lone accessible by zipline -- among wild, black-crested gibbons. -- KC

Gruyères, Switzerland

Rolling hills, medieval buildings -- and the officially crowned world's champion cheese. Welcome to Gruyères, Switzerland.

Everywhere you look successful this tiny, hilltop town, there's a antithetic picture-perfect presumption -- from the medieval marketplace quadrate to the turreted 13th-century castle. A doable time travel from Geneva, summertime promises hiking opportunities aplenty, portion wintertime allows for venturing to the adjacent Moléson-sur-Gruyères skis resort.

To sensation Gruyères' namesake fromage, halt disconnected astatine the wood-lined Chalet de Gruyères. And to larn however cheesemakers cleanable this creamy goodness, caput to La Maison du Gruyère factory. For further foodie delights, there's the Maison Cailler chocolate mill -- from the extracurricular it looks similar thing from a Wes Anderson movie, wrong it offers a glimpse into the secrets of Swiss cocoa making.

Gruyères is besides location to the surreal HR Giger Museum, celebrating the enactment of the acclaimed Swiss creator down the eponymous alien successful the 1979 movie "Alien." A portion astatine the museum's bar, designed by Giger successful an eerie skeletal aesthetic, offers an antidote to Gruyères' fairytale vibe. -- Francesca Street

Minneapolis, Minnesota

A modern Indigenous edifice successful Minneapolis has earned 1 of the culinary world's highest honors, and it's not unsocial successful shining airy connected Native communities successful the area.

At Owamni, a James Beard Award victor for best caller restaurant, Indigenous ingredients -- trout, bison, saccharine potatoes and much -- marque up "decolonized" menus wherever ingredients specified arsenic wheat flour and beef are absent. The edifice is simply a concern betwixt cook Sean Sherman, Oglala Lakota and Dana Thompson, who is simply a lineal descendant of the Wahpeton-Sisseton and Mdewakanton Dakota tribes.

One of the pair's community-owned initiatives, Indigenous Food Lab, is readying to open a market successful February successful Minneapolis' Midtown Global Market, a erstwhile Sears gathering lodging businesses that correspond much than 22 cultures.

The open-air Four Sisters Farmers Market (Thursdays June done October) besides focuses connected Indigenous products. And astatine the Minnesota History Center successful neighboring St. Paul, the grounds "Our Home: Native Minnesota" looks astatine thousands of years of Native past successful the state. -- Marnie Hunter

Bogotá, Colombia

Caribbean seashore destinations specified arsenic the Rosario archipelago oregon the UNESCO practice database metropolis of Cartagena are rightly apical of astir Colombia question privation lists, but besides deserving a look-in is the country's somewhat unsung superior of Bogotá.

Yes, it's a messy, traffic-snarled municipality sprawl, but it's besides a high-altitude crucible of civilization and cuisine. There are tours that illustration the city's translation from graffiti chaotic westbound to unthinkable thoroughfare creation gallery.

Equally colorful are the restaurants that marque the astir of Colombia's divers earthy larder of flora connected menus that scope from delicious peasant dishes to mind-blowing Michelin-level gastronomy. And past there's the coffee!

The congestion (except connected regular cycle-only days) thins rapidly connected its outskirts, allowing time trips to spot historical and modern treasures. Itineraries see Lake Guatavita, wherever conquistadors erstwhile plundered sunken golden offerings near by indigenous Muisca people, oregon the majestic subterranean Zipaquirá brackish cathedral. -- BN

Mustang Valley, Nepal

Famed for its upland treks done past trails that erstwhile facilitated commercialized betwixt the Himalayas and India, Nepal's stunning Mustang Valley sits connected the doorstep of Tibet.

Expect to perceive a batch much astir this distant destination successful the coming months acknowledgment to the accomplishment of the soon-to-open Shinta Mani Mustang. Part of the Bensley Collection, this all-inclusive edifice perched supra the tiny municipality of Jomsom successful the Lower Mustang volition connection luxury seekers 29 suites inspired by accepted Tibetan homes.

In summation to trekking, Mustang visitors tin research past villages and Buddhist monasteries. Also not to beryllium missed, the man-made Mustang Caves beryllium supra the Gandaki River and are filled with 2,000-year-old Buddhist sculptures and paintings.

Getting to the Mustang Valley is portion of the adventure. Travelers volition request to instrumentality a 25-minute formation from superior Kathmandu to Pokhara past hop connected different level for the 20-minute travel to Jomsom. The views unsocial mightiness marque this enactment much pleasing to immoderate than the alternate -- a 12-hour thrust from Kathmandu. -- KC

Tanzania

From the spectacular wildlife to the beauteous nationalist parks and beaches, Tanzania is perfectly bursting with ocular splendor.

The East African state holds a seemingly endless database of unthinkable sights, with Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, UNESCO satellite practice tract Serengeti National Park, and the Zanzibar Archipelago, among its galore highlights.

This year, emblem bearer Air Tanzania volition motorboat caller routes to West and Central Africa, on with the UK, successful a bid to alteration the country's largest airdrome successful Dar es Salaam into a transport and logistics hub, portion operation connected the country's archetypal toll expressway is besides scheduled to begin.

Meanwhile, the Delta Hotels by Marriott marque is making its Africa debut with the opening of its Dar es Salaam Oyster Bay spot aboriginal this year. -- THG

Cairo, Egypt

GEM volition beryllium the largest depository dedicated to a azygous civilization, costing astir $1 cardinal and holding the full King Tut collection. See video present of a CNN insider visit.

If you get successful Cairo earlier it opens, the Egyptian Museum successful Tahrir Square tin inactive scratch your antiquity itch.

While the Pyramids of Giza are the city's tour-de-force, there's inactive much to see. Start with Islamic Cairo. This country has 1 of the largest collections of historical Islamic architecture successful the world. While there, sojourn the Al-Azhar mosque, which dates backmost to 970.

The metropolis besides has a affluent Christian tradition. Coptic Cairo, portion of Old Cairo, has a attraction of Christian sites that pre-date the accomplishment of Islam.

If you request a respite from Cairo's cacophony, Al Azhar Park has a bully expanse of greenery and a plan inspired by historical Islamic gardens. And the affluent vicinity of Zamalek, which sits connected an land successful the Nile River, serves up restaurants, antique stores and swanky hotels. -- FB

Naoshima, Japan

Yayoi Kusama has the favoritism of being the best-selling surviving pistillate creator connected the planet. In particular, she has go a planetary icon for her sculptures of elephantine polka-dotted pumpkins, 1 of which was reinstalled astatine the pier of Naoshima, 1 of Japan's "art islands," successful 2022 aft being swept into the oversea the twelvemonth before.

However, Naoshima is truthful overmuch much than its celebrated yellowish gourd oregon its works by Kusama.

There are 5 small, walkable "art islands" successful the Seto Inland Sea, which is located betwixt the main islands of Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku successful southeastern Japan. The largest postulation of things to spot -- not to notation the lone edifice -- is connected Naoshima. Together, the 5 champion modern and modern art, with accent connected Japanese artists.

Don't travel present expecting calligraphy and different classical forms. Instead, beryllium awed by Tadao Ando's monolithic chromatic monoliths, a tiny assemblage wherever patrons tin perceive to thing but the beats of quality hearts, a makeshift thunderstorm created wrong a woody location and an grounds wherever jumping successful and taking a bath is intended to beryllium portion of the creator experience. -- LM

Belize

With nonstop flights to Belize City from astir a twelve North American airports, this Central American state is simply a low-hassle hop for galore travelers during the November to April precocious season.

Most visitors caput straight to Belize's Caribbean coastline. The country's largest island, Ambergris Caye, sits adjacent to Belize Barrier Reef -- the world's 2nd largest coral reef system. Margaritaville Beach Resort is acceptable to unfastened connected the land successful aboriginal 2023, and "eco-luxury" edifice Alaia Belize opened successful 2021.

Farther south, the Great Blue Hole -- a monolithic underwater sinkhole -- is an aquatic magnet for some scuba divers and aerial photographers.

But Belize offers mode much than its enticing islands.

Lush rainforests, cave networks, winding rivers and affluent Mayan archaeological sites invitation exploration successful a state that's had an evolving sustainable tourism maestro program since 2012. Ruins of the Mayan metropolis of Altun Ha are conscionable astir an hr northbound of Belize City. Or farther west, Lamanai is 1 of Belize's largest and astir fascinating Mayan sites. -- MH

Oaxaca, Mexico

Mexico is arguably arsenic affluent successful culinary practice arsenic it is successful Mesoamerican archaeological treasures, and Eva Longoria explores galore distinctive flavors successful her bid "Searching for Mexico," airing connected CNN successful 2023.

The authorities of Oaxaca, which Longoria visits, has an particularly heavy good of culinary traditions. Plus, Oaxaca produces astir of the world's mezcal.

Tlayudas, known arsenic Oaxacan pizzas, are a thoroughfare nutrient staple. A ample maize tortilla is typically layered with lard, beans, accepted Oaxacan cheese, pork and different toppings specified arsenic avocado and tomato. The authorities is besides renowned for its 7 mole sauces, with recipes that whitethorn telephone for dozens of ingredients from chiles and sesame seeds to cocoa and dried fruit.

In the metropolis of Oaxaca, Mercado Benito Juárez is 1 of galore markets crossed the authorities selling items specified arsenic dried chiles, caller produce, handicrafts and crunchy grasshoppers. To illustration the state's progressively fashionable beverage, the municipality of Santiago Matatlán is the spot for mezcal distillery tours and tastings. -- MH

Ottawa, Canada

It doesn't person Montreal's French flair oregon Toronto's planetary oomph, truthful the Canadian superior tin get overlooked. That would beryllium a mistake. Graceful and understated, Ottawa has its ain draws.

Music lovers should instrumentality enactment of 2 Ottawa Jazz Festivals. There's a wintertime variation February 2-3. If you can't grip the cold, there's a summertime variation June 23-30.

If you emotion hockey, ticker the Ottawa Senators bash their NHL happening astatine the Canadian Tire Centre successful the occidental suburbs. If that summons is excessively pricey, cheque retired the Ottawa 67's, a much affordable enactment of inferior men's hockey games astatine downtown's TD Place Arena.

The Rideau Canal turns into the world's largest skating rink from sometime successful January to precocious February oregon aboriginal March, depending connected crystal thickness. It's escaped and accessible 24/7. When it's warmer, it's a large spot for radical and vessel watching.

A don't-miss is Parliament Hill, location to Canada's national authorities and the visually striking Parliament buildings connected a promontory overlooking the Ottawa River. -- FB

Uganda

There's sizeable alteration brewing successful Uganda's question offerings astatine the infinitesimal with the East African state looking beyond the accepted staples of safari and wildlife spotting to entreaty to some determination and planetary visitors.

Keen to revitalize post-Covid tourism successful each corners of the country, not conscionable the big-ticket businesses offering affluent visitors a glimpse of the Big Five beasts oregon upland gorillas, it's turned to marketing its different attributes.

And wherefore not? From the expansive shores of Lake Victoria to the snowy Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda is simply a beauteous wilderness playground, with opportunities for escapade including treks done the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest oregon up to the craters of the Virunga volcano concatenation oregon whitewater rafting on the Victoria Nile.

There's besides an accent connected connecting visitors with Ugandan communities -- promising tastes of Ugandan food, euphony and culture. Last twelvemonth saw the motorboat of the Uganda Cycling Trail, a 1,600-kilometer chiefly unpaved 22-stage way designed to entreaty to each levels of cyclist from hardcore solo bikepackers to fully-guided casual riders. -- BN