National Geographic's 25 most incredible places on the planet for 2023, from Manchester to Utah

The 25 most incredible places on the planet for 2023 named by National Geographic, from Manchester and the Scottish Highlands to Utah and a James Bond filming location in ItalyThis annual ‘Best of the World’ inventory will ‘help you get a jump on planning for the year ahead’ The list is grouped into five categories: Family, Adventure, Culture, Nature and, new for this year, CommunityThere are lesser-known gems on the list, inspiring alternatives to destinations that are now overcrowded

By Ted Thornhill, Mailonline Travel Editor

Published: 15:22 EST, 8 November 2022 | Updated: 15:23 EST, 8 November 2022

Wanderlust petered out? National Geographic’s list of the 25 most incredible places on the planet for 2023 might just reignite it.

This annual ‘Best of the World’ inventory will ‘help you get a jump on planning for the year ahead’ and contains destinations – from the Scottish Highlands to Utah, and from a James Bond filming location in Italy to the Dodecanese Islands in Greece – that most inspired Nat Geo’s writers and editors this year.

The list is grouped into five categories: Family, Adventure, Culture, Nature and, new for this year, Community – locations doing ground-breaking work in eco-tourism.

‘”Best of the World’ is Nat Geo’s annual love letter to the most incredible places in the world, both near and far,’ said Nathan Lump, National Geographic’s Editor-in-Chief. ‘We couldn’t be prouder to shine a light on these 25 extraordinary places that most inspired us this year, and which we know will define travelers’ itineraries for years to come.’

National Geographic Senior Editor Amy Alipio added: ‘We took a deeper dive into places all over the globe that are providing experiences that are unique and beneficial for both locals and travelers: locations where visitors ultimately sustain and support – not damage – the destination’s environment and community. We also worked hard to provide lesser-known gems on the list, equally inspiring alternatives to destinations that have become overcrowded (think Choquequirao vs. Machu Picchu in Peru).’

Scroll down for a sneak peek at some of the locations that made the cut.

APPIAN WAY, ITALY: This is Europe’s ancient ‘superhighway’, says Nat Geo. Pictured above is the Ponte dell’Acquedotto, near the Via Appia’s path in the Italian town of Gravina in Puglia, which featured in the James Bond film No Time to Die

UTAH: Utah’s rugged landscapes invite adventurous outdoor recreation, such as paddle-boarding down the Colorado River in Moab, says National Geographic

SWITZERLAND: ‘Ride the rails to quaint Alpine towns for chocolate, hiking, and skiing,’ says Nat Geo. Above is Switzerland’s Train des Vignes, which offers ‘spectacular views’ over Lake Geneva as it travels between Vevey and Puidoux through the Unesco-listed Lavaux vineyards

AZORES: Dozens of waterfalls plunge down the green volcanic slopes of the Azores, including Ribeira Grande on Flores Island

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS: One of the highlights of the Highlands is the Alladale Wilderness Reserve (above), which ‘encompasses nearly 40 square miles of dramatic glens, moody lochs, and winding rivers’, says National Geographic, adding: ‘The reserve is part of a “rewilding” initiative that is reintroducing original flora and fauna of the Highlands’

CHOQUEQUIRAO, PERU: Hidden in the Peruvian Andes, the Inca ruins of Choquequirao are reachable only on foot — for now, notes Nat Geo

DODECANESE ISLANDS, GREECE: A small white chapel perches on the peak of Mount Profitis Ilias on Karpathos, one of the lesser-known islands in Greece’s Dodecanese archipelago. Here, says Nat Geo, ‘women-led ventures are leading the charge in sustainable tourism’

MANCHESTER: ‘Home to famed soccer teams and pop culture stars (hello, Harry Styles), Manchester is also the site of the most visited public library in the UK, the circular Central Library,’ notes Nat Geo

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S 25 BEST PLACES IN THE WORLD FOR 2023, FROM SCOTLAND TO UTAH

Culture

Appian Way, Italy

Busan, South Korea

Longmen Grottoes, Henan Province, China

Egypt

Charleston, South Carolina

Nature

Scottish Highlands

Botswana

Slovenia

Big Bend National Park, Texas