The best cities to visit in 2023 and why to go there.

Planning ahead is half the fun of traveling, for us anyway. That’s why for the past several years I have created ‘Top 10 Cities To Visit’ articles to inspire ourselves and our readers to explore the world.

So far we have only visited two of the places mentioned in last years Top 10 Cities To Visit, but hey, you have to start somewhere. Who knew that we would get the chance to be living and working as caretakers on the Big Island of Hawaii, or that we would be able to live in Germany for three months. We are always very excited to spend extended quality time with family and friends in my hometown. Now, read on to learn about our top 10 cities to visit.

Hiking on the Big Island, HI

Did you know? One of the biggest travel trends for 2023 is still working remotely.

Due to online freelancing, mobile tech and co-working spaces, more and more travelers are earning on the road. For these ‘digital nomads’, the world is a gig and anywhere is your office. Get inspired to travel more and maybe even work remotely. Check out this travel guide by Lonely Planet for awesome money saving tips:

Here are the Top 10 Cities To Visit and Why:

#1 Bordeaux, France

Why go? The new LGV Sud-Ouest line, a high-speed railway line was completed around 2017. It cuts travel time from Paris to just two hours. Its timing is perfect! The recently opened Cité du Vin continues the impressive redevelopment of the Garonne riverfront with a state-of-the-art wine-lovers’ experience, and the city’s gastronomic revolution keeps building on its own success.

#2 Los Angeles, USA

Why go? Despite its reputation as a land of celebrities, health fanatics and all-around superficiality, LA has been gaining steam as a cultural destination while becoming more accessible than ever. The Metro expansion has made getting from Downtown to Santa Monica and everywhere in between much easier; city initiative Car Free LA helps tourists navigate without wheels; and almost 50 new hotels are in the works.

This isn’t just a beach town, either; it’s a commerce capital, where movie producers and finance types mingle over sashimi and kale salads.

#3 Merida, Mexico

Why go? On any given day you’ll find a dizzying array of live music, art shows and dance performances, and the booming culinary scene is hotter than a Habanero pepper. Mérida has been designated the American Capital of Culture, meaning visitors can expect a ginormous cultural extravaganza as organizers stage a series of large-scale events. And here’s the kicker: the so-called White City ranks among the safest places in Mexico nowadays.

#4 Ohrid, Macedonia

Why go? Overlooking the extraordinarily blue waters of its eponymous lake, Ohrid enjoys a stunning position that is best viewed from a boat. From the water you’ll see the town’s terracotta roofs broken up by centuries-old church spires (the city claims once to have had 365) and overlooked by the turreted walls of Car Samoil’s Castle.

Ohrid has transformed itself from Macedonia’s religious center to its busiest holiday resort, and its beaches are the best by far in this otherwise landlocked nation.

#5 Pistoia, Italy

Why go? People sometimes refer to Pistoia as ‘little Florence’ for its concentration of art and architecture. And yet, despite its charms, this Tuscan town sees just a fraction of Florence’s tourists.

Pistoia earned the title in recognition of its impressive cultural credentials and devotion to grass-roots ideas and local entrepreneurship. In return, the award offers the city an opportunity to showcase an alternative side to Tuscany: one that eschews grand-slam sights in favor of thriving small towns full of personality and dynamic, living culture. We hope to visit this beautiful city while visiting Europe next year.

#6 Lisbon, Portugal

Why go? Another city on our own bucket list. It’s got sights, culture and cuisine, yet Lisbon’s rarely mentioned alongside southern European heavyweights such as Barcelona or Rome. If this mystifying lack of recognition is what helps the Portuguese capital remain a bargain, long may it continue. Add the weakness of the euro, and the city looks like an unbeatable deal. Should you need more persuasion, though, consider the museums: from Egyptian artefacts at Museu Calouste Gulbenkian to pop art at Museu Colecção Berardo, Lisbon groans with them, but the appetite appears unsated.

#7 Cape Town, Africa

Why go? Cape Town’s deceptively laid-back folk have been working hard to add cultural and culinary cred to the Mother City’s famous natural charms, cementing its reputation as an African city with a global outlook. Local gastronomy is as impressive as Table Mountain’s flat-topped mass, with historic wine estates in every direction, hip markets selling the fruits of the Cape’s fertile terrain, and inventive restaurants winning global plaudits.

#8 Moscow, Russia

Why go? Russia may not have revealed all its Revolution-centennial plans, but it’s as clear as a crenelated Kremlin façade that there will be radical changes in Moscow. The new Ramenskoye Airport and a new metro line will mean an all-time high in the city’s connectivity, and Moscow will gain a blockbuster attraction in the Polytechnic Museum and Educational Centre, relocated to a dramatic building in the Vorobyovy Gory hills.

#9 Portland, Oregon, USA

Why go? I was lucky enough to visit Portland back in the early ’90 and have been wanting to go back ever since. Portland doesn’t try to impress anyone and so impresses everyone. It’s America’s city of the future: a friendly, sustainable, ethical place that values good living and leisure over acquisitiveness and ambition. Maybe just stay out of the downtown areas for now.

Bisected by the Willamette River and surrounded by peaks, it is also a preternaturally attractive place. What better spot could there be for viewing one of nature’s great spectacles: a solar eclipse. Drive a few miles south into the Willamette Valley or hike up Mt Hood and you’ll be cast in the moon’s deep umbra..

#10 Seoul, South Korea

Why go? For over a decade Seoul has been striving to become a greener, more attractive and user-friendly metropolis. Following on from successful projects such as the Cheonggyecheon, where an aging elevated highway was torn down and replaced with a central park and waterway, the city unveiled in the latter part of 2017 the Seoul Skygarden. This time, the old highway in question became the platform on which trees, shrubs and flowers were planted to create an arboretum of local species. Sounds very awesome!

We hope you enjoyed learning about the best 10 Cities to visit and our travel recommendations will help point you towards your next vacation or travel adventure.

Before you go to make your next travel arrangements, check out our 4 Favorite Travel Books

Have you been to any of the 2023 Top Ten Cities? Leave us a comment below.