These Were the 10 Most Talked About Travel Destinations of 2023

People traveled all around the world in 2023, from domestic trips to visit family or friends, work trips across continents, or destination vacations internationally. By September alone, travel spending had reached $104 billion.

Whether you’re an avid traveler or looking to step up your travel game, check out the top 10 travel hotspots of 2023.

London has always been a major tourist destination, and that didn’t change in 2023. It was one of the most frequently searched spots this year and had an estimated 37.5 million overseas visitors.

The city is rich in history and tourist destinations, from Big Ben and the Tower of London to the London Eye. Be ready to walk a lot or learn how to use public transport, though.

Another hot destination this year was Dubai. The bustling city was also frequently searched this year and saw 13.9 million visitors by October.

There’s no end to the things you can experience and places you can explore in Dubai, from visiting the beaches, adventuring in the desert, scuba diving, and more.

Paris is one of the most consistently popular tourist destinations, especially in 2023. With 42.6 million visitors in the first quarter of the year alone, the romance capital of the world was the third most in-demand city by internet search this year.

Visit the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, take a stroll by the Seine, indulge in local cuisine and culture, and more. Just be wary of pickpockets, which run rampant in the city.

No one is surprised to see New York City on a list of the most buzzworthy tourist spots. The Big Apple was Google's fourth most in-demand and frequently searched destination in 2023.

Estimations project that there will be 51.1 million domestic tourists and 10.8 million international visitors this year.

What can’t you do in New York City? Visit famous historical landmarks, check out iconic restaurants, or enjoy the vivid nightlife. Just be aware of pickpockets and other petty criminals, though crime is going down overall in the city.

The fifth most in-demand, highly searched city in 2023 was Amsterdam. The Netherlands capital was projected to host as many as 20 million visitors this year, locally and internationally.

If you’re planning a 2024 Amsterdam trip, check out the Van Gogh Museum, take a canal tour, or entrench yourself in history at the Anne Frank Museum.

Thailand is a beautiful country to visit, and its capital city, Bangkok, was particularly buzzed about this year. By October, the city had hosted over 20 million visitors.

Bangkok is a city with rich historical and cultural landmarks, a vibrant food scene, and bustling nightlife, making it a wonderful site for next year’s travel bucket list.

Another popular, noteworthy travel site this year was the capital of Bali — Denpasar. Aside from being frequently searched online this year, the city saw around five million visitors.

If you make a trip to the Indonesian city in 2024, check out the various beaches, museums, monuments, markets, festivals, and more the destination offers.

Another city steeped in history and highly sought after this year was Istanbul. Ranking at number eight on Google’s top trending cities globally, the Turkish city welcomed at least 1.63 million guests this year.

History buffs and culture enthusiasts will benefit from taking a trip to Istanbul in 2024, enjoying sites including palaces, historical mosques, bazaars, and more.

Rome is another major European travel destination and was particularly buzzworthy in 2023. The city was projected to return to pre-pandemic levels of tourism this year.

Aside from indulging in delicious local cuisine, visitors next year should be sure to visit some of the most famous landmarks in the world, including the Vatican, the Colosseum, and St. Peter’s Basilica.

Barcelona was also discussed a lot this year, ranking 10 in Google’s destination insights for 2023. Spain, in general, saw a boom in tourism this year, particularly popular amongst English, French, and German tourists.

Barcelona is a hub of history, rich cuisine, and vibrant culture. Relax at the beaches or check out any number of the city’s archeological feats, like the Sagrada Familia.

There’s no shortage of countries and cities to explore, but it can be hard to narrow down where to begin.

Take a page from this year’s travelers and consider seeing some buzzworthy sites in 2024. And make sure you book using one of the top travel credit cards to help you earn travel rewards and other perks.