The best travel experiences in the world in 2023 /

Tripadvisor®, the world’s largest travel guiding platform, has announced the winners of the Travelers’ Choice® Best of the Best “Things to Do” Awards 2023. As the summer travel season gets underway, these are Tripadvisor’s favorite activities – reviewers from all over the world who make every holiday an unforgettable trip.

Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best “Things to Do” analyzes 12 months of Tripadvisor review data (May 1, 2022 – April 30, 2023) from millions of travelers around the world and is a definitive list of extraordinary experiences for travelers seeking create unforgettable moments. The list includes the very best activities and excursions – from bookable tours and experiences to top attractions for travelers to visit on the go.

In addition to the overall top experiences, Tripadvisor offers 10 more subcategories, including Top Attractions, Theme & Water Parks, Bucket List Experiences, Cultural & Historical Tours, Food & Culinary Experiences, Nature & Outdoor Activities, Sailing & Day Cruises, Snorkeling & Water Sports, and Wine Experiences. New for 2023 are Family-Friendly Experiences, activities that are perfect for children and their parents.

According to Tripadvisor’s most recent Seasonal Travel Index, nearly a third (28%) of travelers are motivated by the opportunity to experience something new, and just under half (44%) want to make memories with family and friends on vacation. With experiential travel at its heart, Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best “Things to Do” is an essential guide for travelers looking to do something different on their next trip.

Kate Urquhart, General Manager, Experiences at Tripadvisor, said: “Experiences turn travelers into adventurers, connecting them to the local community and providing them with unforgettable stories for years to come. With more than 300,000 bookable experiences in more than 250,000 destinations worldwide, Tripadvisor helps people access the best things to do around the world, and we’re committed to expanding that number of tours and attractions to every destination. These awards honor those companies who are committed to ensuring the Tripadvisor community enjoys the most memorable trips, and we are grateful to everyone who has taken the time to share their reviews and help fellow travelers plan their next vacation.”

Delving into the collective wisdom of the travel community, the best experience in the world is this year’s full-day tour of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. On the Grand Circle Island and Haleiwa Tour, travelers visit all of the island’s top attractions, including the impressive Hālona Blowhole and Byodo-In Temple, as well as the island’s most beautiful beaches and surf spots. The rest of the Top Overall Experiences are a diverse list, ranging from an Icelandic food tour in Reykjavik to sandsurfing the desert dunes of Dubai.

According to Tripadvisor reviewers, Oahu is the place that has left the most impression on travelers, with parasailing adventure Xtreme Parasail in Honolulu and Deluxe USS Arizona Memorial and Historical City Tour also coming in at No. 6 and No. 7 in Top Overall Experiences in the US

With half of international travelers prioritizing visiting attractions on their upcoming trips this summer, Tripadvisor has compiled a list of the world’s best, according to Tripadvisor’s Summer Travel Index. Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia retains the top spot as the number 1 top attraction in the world for the second year in a row, followed by Rome’s Colosseum, which also took second place in 2022. Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and The Dubai Fountain in the UAE are new additions to the 2023 world list, taking third and fourth place respectively.

In the U.S., the Empire State Building maintained its top spot among the top U.S. attractions, and New York came out on top with Central Park second, The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum fourth, and the Brooklyn Bridge sixth .

This year’s awards include a new sub-category, Family Friendly Experiences, which highlights the most loved days out by parents and children alike. The No. 1 world experience in this inaugural category, in both the world and US lists, is a private boat tour in South Carolina. Private Dolphin Tour on Hilton Head Island. This trip was “the highlight of our family vacation” for one reviewer and others highlighted the captain’s knowledge, noting “there were no dolphin or wildlife questions he couldn’t answer.” Other winners include a wizard’s walk in York, UK, and a Roman gladiatorial school in Italy.

Amusement parks and water parks: The best places to scream, splash and get your adrenaline rush, according to travelers who like a good thrill.

• No. 1 in the world: Siam Park–Tenerife, Spain.
• No. 1 in the US: Silver Dollar CityBrandon, Missouri.

View all winners here.

Bucket list experiences: Unique things to do that make your trip and give you the best stories for later.

• No. 1 in the world: Red Dunes ATV, Sandboarding, Camels, Stargazing and 5* BBQ – dubaiUAE.

View all winners here.

Cultural and historical tours: Discover a new city on foot, by bike or even Vespa(!) with the best guides in the game.

• No. 1 in the world: Ubud Tour – The best of Ubud –Ubud, Bali.
• No. 1 in the US: Salem History and Ghosts Guided Walking Tour – Salem, MA.
• View all winners here.

Food and Culinary Experiences: Tours and experiences known for great taste (literally).

• No. 1 in the world: Reykjavik Food Walk – Local foodie adventure in Iceland – Reykjavik, Icelandfor the second year in a row!
• No. 1 in the US: Eating and walking in Little Havana Miami – Miami, Florida.
• View all winners here.

Nature and outdoor activities: Fresh air, new heights, wildlife sightings – the greatest outdoor adventures start here.

• No. 1 in the world and US: Grand Circle Island and Haleiwa Tour – Oahu, Hawaii – also No. 1 Top Experience in the World and the US for 2023.
• View all winners here.

Sailing and day cruises: Take to the open water on expeditions loved by travellers.

• No. 1 in the world and the US: Niagara Falls American-Side Tour with Maid of the Mist boat ride – New YorkUS
• View all winners here.

Snorkeling and water sports: From snorkeling and scuba diving to kayaking and surfing, these are the best things to do under and above the sea.

• No. 1 in the world: San Juan guided snorkeling tour – San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• No. 1 in the US: Xtreme Parasail inside Honolulu – Oahu, Hawaii (also No. 6 Top Experience in the US).
• View all winners here.

Wine experiences: Sip your way through these top-rated tours and tastings.

• No. 1 in the world: Chianti Safari: Tuscan Villas with Vineyards, Cheese, Wine and Lunch – Florence, Italy.
• No. 1 in the US: Traverse City Wine Tour: 4 wineries on Old Mission Peninsula – Travers City, Michigan.
• View all winners here.

View all winners in subcategories here.

Travelers’ Choice methodology

Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best “Things to Do” awards are determined based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings for experiences, tours, activities and attractions on Tripadvisor during the 12-month period from May 1, 2022 Through April 30, 2023specific to each award subcategory, as well as an additional editorial process.

Tripadvisor is proud to serve a broad and diverse community of travelers from around the world. As such, Tripadvisor reserves the right to determine whether any property, business, destination or place of interest listed on Tripadvisor is eligible for a prize based on additional factors that reflect Tripadvisor’s business policies and values.

Experiences are classified as bookable tours and activities on Tripadvisor. Non-bookable experiences or attractions are activities on Tripadvisor that travelers can visit without booking a ticket. Nine of the Best of the Best Things to Do subcategories are limited to experiences, except Top Attractions and Amusement & Water Parks, which include rides, for a bigger picture of travelers’ favorite things to do.

Methodology of the Tripadvisor Seasonal Travel Index

A Tripadvisor consumer sentiment survey, based on data from an online survey of more than 2,400 consumers, in partnership with Qualtrics, conducted between March 17-27, 2023 in six countries – Australia, Italy, Japan, SingaporeUNITED KINGDOM UNITED STATES

Site Behavior Data sourced from first party traffic data on the Tripadvisor platform, collected between January 102023-April 10, 2023for traveler searches in the US, UK, Australia, Japan And Singapore for travel between June 1 through August 31, 2023.