The world’s best travel attractions for 2023 revealed
Tripadvisor has unveiled its list of the best experiences and attractions
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The world’s best travel attractions have been revealed in a new ranking.
Tripadvisor has unveiled its list of the best experiences and attractions in the Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Things to Do awards for 2023.
Data from global travellers’ reviews was analysed between May 2022 and April 2023 to compile the list of winners.
The awards cover the main accolade, Top Overall Experiences, plus 10 other categories including Top Attractions, Amusement Parks and Water Parks, Bucket List Experiences, Sailing and Day Cruises and Family-Friendly Experiences.
A full day tour of Hawaiian island Oahu has been awarded 2023’s best experience in the world. A Thai cooking course in Chiang Mai, Thailand was found to be the second most popular experience, followed by a tour of Ubud in Bali, which came in third.
Meanwhile the top attraction in the world for 2023 is Basílica de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain. The Colosseum in Rome, Italy follows in second place, while Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, was third.
When it comes to the top experiences in the UK, Tripadvisor awarded the Historical Pub Walking Tour of London, High-Speed Thames River Cruise and The Chocolatarium Chocolate Tour Experience in Edinburgh first, second and third place respectively.
The top three UK attractions were named as Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh, National Gallery in London and the Tower of London.
The UK is also featured several times in the list of best global Amusement and Water Parks for 2023. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is in eighth place, jumping six spots higher than last year. The Milky Way Adventure Park in Clovelly, Devon is at number 10, while Alton Towers Resort and Drayton Manor Theme Park have been named 12th and 20th respectively.
In the other award categories, Niagara Falls American-Side Tour with Maid of the Mist Boat Ride in New York took first place for Sailing and Day Cruises, while Red Dunes ATV, Sandsurf, Camels, Stargazing and 5-star BBQ at Al Khayma Camp in Dubai was named the best bucket list experience.
“Experiences turn travellers into adventurers, connecting them with the local community and giving them unforgettable stories for years to come,” Kate Urquhart, general manager of experiences at Tripadvisor said.
“With more than 300,000 bookable experiences in over 250,000 destinations worldwide, Tripadvisor helps people access the best things to do globally, and we’re committed to expanding that number of tours and attractions across every destination.
“These awards are a testament to the businesses dedicated to ensuring the Tripadvisor community enjoys the most memorable trips, and we’re grateful to everyone who took the time to share their reviews and help fellow travellers plan their next escape.”
Top 10 experiences in the world
- Grand Circle Island and Haleiwa Tour, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Thai Cooking Course, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Ubud Tour - Best of Ubud, Ubud, Bali
- Red Dunes ATV, Sandsurf, Camels, Stargazing and BBQ, Dubai, UAE
- Best DMZ 3rd Infiltration Tunnel Tour from Seoul, Seoul, South Korea
- Reykjavik Food Walk - Local Foodie Adventure, Reykjavik, Iceland
- Amsterdam Luxury Guided Sightseeing Canal Cruise, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour, Siem Reap, Cambodia
- San Juan Guided Snorkel Tour, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Hanoi Jeep Tours, Hanoi, Vietnam
Top 10 experiences in the UK
- Historical Pub Walking Tour of London, London
- High-Speed Thames River Cruise, London
- The Chocolatarium Chocolate Tour Experience in Edinburgh, Edinburgh
- Tour for Muggles, London
- Famous Black Taxi Tours Belfast, Belfast
- Celtic Park Stadium Tour, Glasgow
- Oxford University Walking Tour With University Alumni Guide, Oxford
- The Jack The Ripper Walking Tour, London
- West End Musicals Silent Disco Walking Tour, London
- Gander Walking Tours in Glasgow, Glasgow
Top 10 attractions in the world
- Basílica de la Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
- Colosseum, Rome, Italy
- Anne Frank House, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- The Dubai Fountain, Dubai, UAE
- Empire State Building, New York City, NY
- Musée d’Orsay, Paris, France
- Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
- Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
- Central Park, New York City, NY
- Plaza de Espana, Seville, Spain
The top 10 attractions in the UK
- Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh
- National Gallery, London
- Tower of London, London
- National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
- The British Museum, London
- Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh
- Tower Bridge, London
- The Roman Baths, Bath
- York Minster, York
- The Real Mary King’s Close, Edinburgh
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments