To commence the 2023 travel and hospitality awards season, Tripadvisor® today reveals its Travelers' Choice® Best of the Best Destination Awards. Every year, Tripadvisor analyzes the millions of reviews submitted on its platform over the past 12-months by a global community of hundreds of millions of travelers to uncover the best guidance for everyone looking to make amazing memories on their next holiday or vacation.

Rather than relying on a cadre of tourism editors to tout what they believe are the best destinations worldwide for a vacation, Tripadvisor's rankings are based on insights from millions of real travelers who visited these destinations in the past year and left their feedback on Tripadvisor.

"We saw a resurgence of travel demand in 2022, and the outlook for this year is bright," said Sarah Firshein, the Head of Editorial at Tripadvisor. "Long-haul trips have made a comeback, and we're seeing a lot of Americans excited to plan trips to Asia and the Pacific region for the first time in several years. Cities like Paris and London, which may have taken a backseat to less populous destinations throughout the pandemic, are back on travelers' minds, while places like Alaska and Cuba are also piquing a lot of interest."

This year, the Travelers' Choice Destinations span six subcategories: Popular Destinations, Trending Destinations, Food Destinations, Best Places to Ski, Nature Destinations and Best Places for Culture.

On Tripadvisor's perennial Popular Destinations list, showcasing travelers' favorite destinations overall from the past year, Dubai maintains its No. 1 spot for the second year in a row. As a global hub of luxury hospitality and cutting-edge architecture, the "City of Gold" offers world-class retail and culture catering to the wants and needs of travelers from all over. In the U.S., New York City is back on top after dropping to No. 5 last year as the result of the pandemic.

Cuba is the No. 1 Trending Destination in the world for 2023; this category reveals destinations with the greatest year-over-year growth in interest on Tripadvisor, indicating new hotspots on the rise. Since the U.S. eased some travel restrictions in May, and with the addition of new direct flight routes, appetite among travelers for Cuba has been surging on Tripadvisor. Known for old-world architecture and rich history, the island offers fascinating opportunities for cultural exchange. This is followed by Hoi An, Vietnam, at No. 2 and Mauritius at No. 3. Asia is the top trending region in this category, taking half of the top 10 spots. Closer to home, Juneau, Alaska, made its debut as the No. 1 Trending Destination in the United States for 2023. Located at the base of Mount Juneau, this is the perfect place for a journey into the gorgeous Alaskan wilderness.

In addition to popularity, Tripadvisor is also awarding destinations based on top travel interests: food, skiing, nature, and culture. As many plan trips around opportunities to enjoy cuisine, we have issued the best Food Destinations list, highlighting locales known for their cuisine as well as those known for their burgeoning dining scenes. Unsurprisingly, Rome is the No. 1 Food Destination for 2023, while New Orleans tops the U.S. list.

A particularly timely category, with droves of travelers currently in search of epic ski trips, Tripadvisor unveils the Best Places to Ski, according to those who hit the slopes in 2022. With its stunning landscape and down-to-earth mountain culture, Whistler, Canada, is the No. 1 Ski Destination in the world this year. Meanwhile, Jackson, Wyoming, is the best in the U.S. (No. 2 in North America) for the second consecutive year. From regular, cross-country, snowcat, and even heli-skiing, Jackson has it all.

New for 2023: the best Nature Destinations. It's no secret that destinations abundant in fresh air and pristine nature rose in popularity throughout the pandemic, and although big cities are back, the appetite for outdoor adventure remains strong. In this inaugural category, Mauritius is the No. 1 Nature Destination. A tropical island paradise 1,200 miles off the coast of southeast Africa, Mauritius is home to waterfalls, wildlife areas, and national parks, making it a nature lover's perfect getaway.

Another new category this year is the Best Places for Culture, celebrating the top places people visit to engage with local history and cultural activities. While every city has its own unique culture, this list reveals travelers' absolute favorite getaways for a cultural trip, headlined by Fes, Morocco, at No. 1. This walled city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site harkening back to medieval times with the ancient maze-like quarters of the Medina to Fes el-Bali and the four imposing Gates of Fes, with their distinctive Moroccan tile work.

Top 10 Popular Destinations in the World

1. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2. Bali, Indonesia
3. London, United Kingdom
4. Rome, Italy
5. Paris, France
6. Cancun, Mexico
7. Crete, Greece
8. Marrakech, Morocco
9. Dominican Republic
10. Istanbul, Turkiye

Top 10 Popular Destinations in the United States

1. New York City, New York
2. Las Vegas, Nevada
3. Oahu, Hawaii
4. Maui, Hawaii
5. Miami Beach, Florida
6. New Orleans, Louisiana
7. Key West, Florida
8. Charleston, South Carolina
9. Nashville, Tennessee
10. Chicago, Illinois

Top 10 Trending Destinations in the World

1. Cuba
   Don't miss: wander around the charming streets of Old Havana
2. Hoi An, Vietnam
   Don't miss: explore Ba Na Hills and the picturesque Golden Bridge
3. Mauritius
   Don't miss: enjoy a Catamaran cruise to Ile aux cerfs
4. Siem Reap, Cambodia
   Don't miss: sunrise tour of Angkor Wat
5. Chiang Mai, Thailand
   Don't miss: take a Thai and Akha cooking class
6. Grand Cayman, Caribbean
   Don't miss: snorkel Stingray City
7. Fes, Morocco
   Don't miss: take a walking tour through the charming walled city
8. Baku, Azerbaijan
   Don't miss: explore the Absheron peninsula's diverse attractions on a full day tour
9. Kathmandu, Nepal
   Don't miss: hop on a flight for close-up views of Mount Everest
10. Krakow, Poland
    Don't miss: dive into Polish culture and cuisine with a vodka tour

Top 10 Trending Destinations in the U.S.

1. Juneau, Alaska
   Don't miss: enjoy a whale watching & Mendenhall Glacier tour
2. Page, Arizona
   Don't miss: explore Antelope Canyon
3. Salem, Massachusetts
   Don't miss: join a historian for a history and hauntings tour (pick a nighttime tour for a spookier experience)
4. Sonoma, California
   Don't miss: take a wine tasting through Sonoma Valley
5. Tierra Verde, Florida
   Don't miss: immerse yourself in the marine life with a clear kayak tour
6. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
   Don't miss: take a walking tour around the USA's original capital
7. San Juan Island, Washington
   Don't miss: go whale watching from Friday Harbor
8. Camden, Maine
   Don't miss: relax on a sunset sail around scenic Camden Harbor
9. Galena, Illinois
   Don't miss: try a specialty cocktail at Blaum Bros. Distilling Co.
10. Whitefish, Montana
    Don't miss: explore Glacier National Park

Best Food Destinations in the World

1. Rome, Italy
2. Crete, Greece
3. Hanoi, Vietnam
4. Florence, Italy
5. Paris, France
6. Barcelona, Spain
7. Lisbon, Portugal
8. Naples, Italy
9. New Orleans, Louisiana
10. Jamaica

Best Food Destinations in the United States

1. New Orleans, Louisiana
2. Charleston, South Carolina
3. New York City, New York
4. Savannah, Georgia
5. Maui, Hawaii
6. San Diego, California
7. Nashville, Tennessee
8. Boston, Massachusetts
9. San Francisco, California
10. Asheville, North Carolina

Best Places to Ski in the World

1. Whistler, British Columbia
2. Jackson, Wyoming
3. Zermatt, Switzerland
4. Chamoniz, France
5. Livigno, Italy
6. Trento, Italy
7. Park City, Utah
8. Anchorage, Alaska
9. Lake Tahoe, California
10. Durango, Colorado

Best Places for Nature in the World

1. Mauritius, Africa
2. Kathmandu, Nepal
3. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
4. Hurghada, Egypt
5. Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara
6. Kauai, Hawaii
7. Majorca, Balearic Islands
8. Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
9. Corsica, France
10. Koh Tao, Surat Thani Province

Best Places for Culture in the World

1. Fes, Morocco
2. Jerusalem, Israel
3. Athens, Greece
4. Dublin, Ireland
5. Jaipur, India
6. Cuba
7. Budapest, Hungary
8. Berlin, Germany
9. Seville, Spain
10. Colombo, Sri Lanka