World's Greatest Places

How We Chose the 2023 World's Greatest Places

By TIME Staff

Timisoara, Romania

By Monica Suma

Barcelona

By Jessica Benavides Canepa

Sylt, Germany

By Adam Robb
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Berat, Albania

Old stone houses line the banks of the Osumi River in Berat, enveloping visitors in the historical beauty of the town. This year marks the 80th anniversary of German forces arriving in Albania during World...

By Naomi Tomky

Isan, Thailand

Chances are you’ve already tried food from Isan, and you might not even know it. The largest region in Thailand, which hugs the border with Laos and Cambodia in the country’s northeast, has given us...

By Nicholas Derenzo

Luang Prabang, Laos

Turquoise waterfalls, Buddhist temples, and sunset boat trips on the Mekong are just a few of Luang Prabang’s highlights. Despite its remote location in the jungled mountains of Laos, the former royal capital is not...

By Cindy Fan

Giza and Saqqara, Egypt

Find out why Giza and Saqqara, Egypt, is one of the World’s Greatest Places of 2023.

By Johanna Read

Chyulu Hills, Kenya

Kenya’s Chyulu Hills stretch across the plains where Amboseli meets Tsavo, a rugged outcrop of volcanic rock gently blanketed in green, with elephants, zebras, and giraffes roaming along the horizon. A short hop via bush...

By Kait Hanson

Musanze, Rwanda

Musanze is the largest city in northern Rwanda and the gateway to Volcanoes National Park—home of rare mountain gorillas—which recently announced its expansion from 62 to 76 sq. mi. by 2027, an endeavor that will...

By Sucheta Rawal

Rabat, Morocco

Artistic and cultural reinvention is bringing new life to the capital city of Rabat. In 2023, LEED-Gold and HQE-certified Mohammed VI Tower will stand as the tallest tower in Africa, boasting luxury accommodations and a...

By Sucheta Rawal

Dakar, Senegal

Senegal bursts with color, from the bubblegum pink algae that dye Lake Retba to the blue and yellow mini buses, car rapides, that navigate Dakar’s stylish streetscapes. So it’s no wonder Africa’s westernmost capital city...

By Adam Robb

Loango National Park, Gabon

The home of “Africa’s Last Eden,” Gabon, sandwiched between Congo and Cameroon on the continent’s central Atlantic coast, may not have an ecotourism infrastructure like hot spots Botswana or Kenya. What Gabon does have, however,...

By Jessica Shaw

Freetown Peninsula, Sierra Leone

Emerging from the pandemic with the backing of the World Bank to help promote the West African nation’s rich tourism potential—with diverse wildlife, world-class surfing waves, the vibey coastal capital of Freetown, and a brand...

By Terry Ward

The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

Creating an entirely new destination from scratch isn’t easy, but having a vast swath of spectacular natural—and largely untouched—scenery is a good place to start. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is aiming to attract 100...

By Nicola Chilton

Aqaba, Jordan

Find out why Aqaba, Jordan is one of the World’s Greatest Places of 2023.

By Brittany Chrusciel

Jerusalem

While Jesus may have traveled to Jerusalem by donkey, Solomon by mule, and the Prophet Muhammad by a winged Buraq, thousands of years later the holy city has plenty of other methods of transportation to...

By Jessica Shaw

Sharjah, UAE

Bordering Dubai on its southern side, steadfastly traditional Sharjah—the emirate recognized as Cultural Capital of the Arab World by UNESCO in ’98—sets itself apart from its cosmopolitan neighbor with a focus on retaining its Emirati...

By Lauren Jade Hill

Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia

Find out why Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia is one of the World's Greatest Places of 2023

By Terry Ward

St. Moritz, Switzerland

The Swiss Alps are literally hotter than ever; there’s never been more to experience in less time as traditions old and new pack late winter weekends when the ice sheet spanning Lake St. Moritz is...

By Adam Robb
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