Top 10 Destinations That Will Exceed Your Expectations In 2023

Have you ever gone to a place that wasn't on your "bucket list" but was so great that you were blown away? It's a great time that you should have again and again. That's why a recent study looked at more than 825,000 TripAdvisor reviews from more than 100 of the world's most visited cities to find out which ones exceeded expectations the most. From the obvious to the less well-known, here are the top 10 places to visit in 2023 that will blow your mind.

Chain bridge in Budapest, looking down the length of the bridge, with the city in the background.

10) Sydney, in Australia

Australia got rid of all covid restrictions over the summer, and Sydney is a great place to stay while you explore the country. About 95.44% of the reviews of the city on TripAdvisor are positive. Be sure to see a show at the famous Sydney Opera House, where you can eat at world-class restaurants before the show.

Spend a day at one of Sydney's beautiful beaches, such as Bondi or Manly. Sydney has a lot to do, so visitors won't be bored.

A sailboat sails in front of the Opera House in Sydney, Australia.

9) Auckland, New Zealand

New Zealand was a little slower to remove restrictions, but travelers can now enjoy Auckland without any problems. Auckland is New Zealand's largest city and a great place to start exploring the rest of the country. As the largest city in New Zealand, it is also home to the country's busiest airport, with direct flights from Houston and San Francisco, among other U.S. cities.

Take a day trip to Waiheke Island, which can be reached by ferry in about 40 minutes from downtown. Spend the day enjoying the beautiful beaches, award-winning wineries, or high-adrenaline activities like jet skiing and ziplining. 95.45% of the reviews of Auckland on TripAdvisor had something good to say. If you go, you'll probably agree.

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Travelers walking along Mount Eden, with the skyline of Auckland, New Zealand, in the background.

8) Nice, France

France got rid of its restrictions in August, and Nice is a great place to visit in 2023 that not many people know about. Nice is on the French Riviera and has a lot of history, great food, and beautiful scenery.

On their way to Castle Hill, tourists love to walk through Old Town and look at the unique buildings. From Castle Hill, you can get a great view of Nice that is great for taking pictures. 95.63% of the reviews on TripAdvisor for Nice were positive, which is more proof that it is a place that will exceed expectations.

A cafe in an old street alley in Nice, France, is a good example of a destination.

7) The city of Mexico City

Mexico City is often in the news, and a lot of digital nomads choose to live there. But they're not the only people who love this city! People go on vacation to Mexico City because it has great food, beautiful colonial architecture, great music, great weather, and is close to great day trips like Teotihuacán. 95.74% of reviews from travelers had nothing but good things to say about Mexico City, which is another reason why it's on this list.

The Mexico City Basilica, with people walking on the streets in the background.

6) Lisbon, Portugal

This year, Portugal was one of the most popular places to visit, and Lisbon was one of the best places to see. At the same time, 95.74% of reviews for both Lisbon and Mexico City were positive. The city is great for people on a budget who want to see Europe. Lisbon is cheaper than a lot of other cities in western Europe. The prices are even better than the weather and food. It's no wonder that so many travelers have been surprised by what they found here.

From the air, you can see that there is water in the foreground and that the sun is hitting the buildings.

5) Lima, Peru

Peru was one of the places that took a long time to open up, but on November 1, this year, the country was fully open again. 95.87% of reviews from travelers were positive about Lima. Lima was once called "The City of Kings," and it has a lot of beautiful colonial architecture and historical sites. This includes the center of Lima, which has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The historic city center of Lima, Peru, is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

4) Ireland, Dublin

Dublin is a must-see when you go to Ireland, and recently, new flights from the U.S. were added. Dublin is full of things to do, and the area around it is full of great day trips like Glendalough, a glacial valley south of Dublin with beautiful landscapes that make you feel like you're in a fairy tale.

Make sure to visit Dublin Castle while you're in the city. It's one of the most popular places to visit there. Dublin gets good reviews from 95.90% of travelers, so you should definitely go there.

In Dublin, Ireland, tourists walk along Grafton Street.

3) Zurich, Switzerland

Even though Zurich is a bit more expensive than some other cities, visitors are always pleasantly surprised by this Swiss gem. Depending on when you go, you can go swimming in Lake Zurich or sit at one of the bars or cafes along the shore and have a drink while looking at the water.

Zurich has a lot to do at night, so if you like to stay up late, you'll feel right at home. Even though Zurich is more expensive than many of the other places on this list, 96.02% of travelers liked it.

Zurich, Switzerland, seen from above and in the fall.

2) Brussels, Belgium

96.04% of travelers' expectations were surpassed in Brussels, making it the second best place in the world overall. Brussels has plenty to keep travelers entertained. Travelers love this city because it has so many museums, a lively nightlife, great street art, and delicious food.

In Brussels, Belgium, a rainbow forms above the historic Grand Place.

1) Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is a great place to visit for a long or short time. It is thought to be one of the cheapest places in the world for digital nomads. 96.17% of the reviews on TripAdvisor for Budapest were positive, making it the city where travelers' expectations were exceeded the most. People who have traveled also said that Budapest is the "most beautiful" city on the list.

Budapest is a great place to go to get the most for your money in Europe because it has many of the things that bring people to western European cities, but at much lower prices. As the spa capital of the world, visitors can spend the day relaxing in an old thermal spa before going out for a night of great food and music. Take a river cruise at night to see the parliament building in a beautiful way.

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