Trending destinations for 2023 revealed: 8 places to visit this spring and summer
Believe it or not, 2023 is just around the corner, and if you’re anything like us, you’re more than ready to ring in the new year with new and unforgettable adventures. (Plus, you might already have your eye on our Black Friday sales.) Before you book, take a look at the top travel destinations for 2023 so you know the best tours for next spring and summer.
1. Chart toppers: European combination
European tours are popular every year—and 2023 is no exception. Specifically, multi-country Europe trips are on the rise. Our top trending tours are full of some heavy-hitters: Greece, Italy, and France, which are three great options for spring and summer travel.
Europe in the springtime is a lot like the American Northeast at the same time of year. Temperatures can sit comfortably in the high 50s—not hot, but definitely warming up post-winter. Summer in these regions will be hotter, and ideal for being waterside.
Because of the weather, the sights, the food—everything, really—European combination trips are the most popular for 2023. Here are a few that our travelers love:
Grand Tour of Italy & Greece → Don’t miss historical sites, like the ancient Temple of Zeus in Athens, or views of otherworldly, black-sand beaches on Santorini.
Paris & Rome → While the Eiffel Tower is the first thing most think about when planning for Paris, we love Versailles Palace and Gardens. And when in Rome, Saint Paul’s Basilica is a must-see.
Barcelona, Southern France & the Italian Riviera → Four words: UNESCO World Heritage sites. You’ll see two on this tour, as well as architectural icons, such as Gaudi’s House of Bones in Barcelona, and the Duomo in Florence.
See all our Multi-Country Tours→
2. Close second: Great Britain and Ireland
Great Britain and Ireland are among the best places to be in spring and summer. Warming spring temperatures and rain create all those lush greens of the islands’ landscapes. As is the case in Greece, Italy, and France, these two countries get hotter in the summertime, but temperatures don’t typically rise beyond the 70s.
Although these countries ranked second on our list of trending destations for spring and summer 2023, the race to the number-one spot was tight.
Highlights of England, Scotland & Ireland → We take you to the Tower of London, which is a treasure trove of history and ghost stories, and home to the crown jewels. In Edinburgh, you’ll see a monument dedicated to the writer Sir Walter Scott—the largest of its kind in the world.
Ireland for Solo Travelers → Step into the past when you visit Kilkenny, Ireland’s best-preserved medieval town. You can also stroll along the wind-swept Cliffs of Moher on the same trip.
Ireland: A Feast of Culinary Flavors & Local Traditions → This tour is everything its name promises: a journey of delicious Irish food and drink. You’ll get to do things like enjoy a Guinness directly from the brewery, learn how to make cheese, and tour the Dingle distillery.
Explore our Great Britain and Ireland tours →
3. Always hard to beat: Italy
Gelato. Gondolas. Focaccia. These are just a few of our favorite reasons to visit Italy, and we aren’t alone—the country comes in at a close third on our list of trending travel destinations for 2023.
While there is so much to love about visiting Italy in 2023, some of our can’t-miss tours include Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, and Milan. Booking tours to these locations for the spring and summer ensures ideal Italian weather (about 50 and 60 degrees in the spring and high 70s and up through the summer). Sound pretty nice? Pack your SPF and make your way to the Amalfi Coast.
Here are the top three tours to book for yourself this spring and summer in Italy. (Don't forget to shop our Black Friday deals for the best bargain when you book these trending destinations.)
Tuscany Adventure: Lucca, Siena & Maremma → Highlights of this tour include cycling through Lucca and marveling at 16th-century frescoes in the Piccolomini Library. (You don't have to be an art aficionado to appreciate their bright colors and lifelike details.)
Food & Wine: Campania, Puglia & the Amalfi Coast → It’s hard to beat the teal-blue waters of Lake Como, but learning how to make focaccia and pasta and tasting local olive oil come pretty close.
Journey through Italy: Milan to the Amalfi Coast → This is a tour of iconic cities. We love that you can see Venice and Lake Como—not to mention Milan, the capital of fashion—on the same trip.
Find your Italy tour →
4. Rising star: Asia
Asia tours have grown in popularity this year. With so many destinations worth writing home about, it’s easy to see why. The continent is brimming with diverse countries, cities, and cultures, all full of experiences to offer our eyes, our taste buds, and our hearts.
Here are three of the most enchanting tours that land Asia in the number four spot on our travel trends in 2023 list:
Grand Tour of Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket → See the hauntingly beautiful Wat Rong Khun (the “white temple”) in Thailand before you meet Buddhist monks and dine in a floating restaurant on Phuket Island.
JJapan: Kyoto, the Japanese Alps & Tokyo → Experience the humbling majesty of the Japanese Alps, tour the regal halls of Osaka Castle, and pay respects at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima.
Highlights of Japan: Tokyo to Kyoto → Take a Japanese cooking class and visit Kyoto’s unparalleled Open-Air Museum, which houses more than 700 Picasso pieces.
Explore our Asia tours →
5. New head-turners: Central America & Caribbean
Speaking of increasing popularity, several other dream destinations have caught on this year, making them worthy candidates for travelers who are wondering where to go in 2023. Those travel gems are our Central America and Caribbean trips.
These destinations are making the list for spring and summer 2023 because the weather will be a gradual change from warm to hot, with easy access to the water, while being within a rainforest, and nearby some of the most amazing ancient ruins you can hope to see in your lifetime. That’s what we call a travel trifecta.
Still undecided? Our two most popular tours to Central America and the Caribbean might seal the deal.
A Week in Belize: Ruins, Reefs & Rainforests → Eat dinner on mythical-looking white beaches, explore Mayan ruins that are more than 4,000 years old, and learn from locals how cacao is produced.
Highlights of Central America: Costa Rica & Panama → Orchids, crocodiles, monkeys, tropical birds—the list of wildlife you'll likely see on this tour goes on and on. Hike the Cloud Forest in the daytime and nighttime, meet local textile makers, and sail the glittering waters of Gatun Lake.
Learn more about traveling in Central and South America →
6. Power duo: Spain and Portugal
Spain and Portugal tours are also proving to be top trending destinations for 2023. They’re particularly showing a rise for the next six months, whereas they were once booked out much farther in advance. What that means: This spring and summer, Spain and Portugal are where you’ll want to be.
Our top three tours for this power duo visit some of the best places in the countries. Whether you’re looking for a wine tasting, architectural masterpieces, or local cuisine, these three tours offer what you need. Go ahead, drink it all in:
Portugal for Solo Travelers → Cruise the shimmering waters of the Douro River, sip port wine, and stroll the seaside town of Lagos.
Barcelona: The City Experience → Marvel at the Gothic Quarter—and all the other world-renowned architecture in this unforgettable and inspiring city.
Food & Wine: A Taste of Spain → Taste your way through La Rioja wine region, sip a selection of Cavas, and taste tart, Basque Country cider—lucky you!
Explore all of our Spain and Portugal tours →
7. Continuous chart climber: the Middle East
The Middle East continues to grow in popularity, as it has for the last few years. So, if you’re thinking of visiting the Middle East in 2023, you’re not alone.
The best seasons to visit the Middle East for cooler weather are spring and autumn. However, summertime in the Middle East is a popular time to visit, too. If you want to avoid crowds and don’t care much for the heat, we recommend traveling to the Middle East in spring. Regardless of when you go, you’ll get to experience this region’s ancient sites, religious artifacts, delectable foods, and bustling marketplaces.
More good news: Because it’s so large, the Middle East is another area on our list that has a huge inventory of different cultures, natural wonders, and plenty of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Here are our top Middle East tours of 2023:
A Week in Egypt: Giza, Nile River Cruise & Cairo → Don’t miss cruising the Nile River on a felucca—complete with pillows and food service, or visiting the Temple of Kom Ombo (among other important archaeological sites).
The Wonders of Ancient Israel: Christian Heritage → Visiting King David’s tomb, on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, is surreal and awe-inspiring, to say the least. You can even see the Upper Room, site of the Last Supper.
Find your dream Middle East tour →
8. Always in our hearts: France
France, one of our favorite places to visit, closes out our list of trending places to visit in spring and summer 2023. If you’ve been taking notes, you’ll remember that a France tour appeared in this lists’s top spot, too. The country is so popular among travelers that three France tours made it onto the list of 2023 travel trends.
We love France in the spring and summer because the weather goes from warm to hot—but it never gets too hot for us. Both seasons see a lot of tourists, but earlier spring will mean fewer tourists if you want to avoid crowds.
Without further ado, here are our most popular France tours:
French Riviera & Provence: Nice, Avignon & Aix-en-Provence → Provence is among our favorite places on the planet, thanks to its sprawling vineyards and colorful lavender and poppy fields (they’ll be in full bloom in late spring). This tour includes the glamorous French Riviera, too. What more could a traveler want?
Food & Wine: A Taste of Bordeaux & Burgundy → Learn the subtle nuances of different grapes and terroirs as you taste your way through two of France’s wine regions.
Paris, Normandy, Brittany Coast & the Loire Valley → Sure, you’ll sip plenty of French wine on this tour, but you’ll take a deep dive into history, too, when you visit the beaches of Normandy. Learn the history of D-Day and the liberation of the first French citizens from the Nazi regime—all while standing where the events unfolded. Anyone else getting chills?
Find your dream France tour →
Which of these trending destinations do you most want to visit in 2023? Let us know on Facebook.
