One of the best ways to determine whether a travel experience is worth it is by reading its reviews. Sure, reviews are always based on different expectations and points of view, but when you have a collection of them, they can help paint a picture of what the experience is like so you can determine if it’s what you’re after.
Travel review site and booking platform Tripadvisor analysed thousands of reviews on experiences left by travellers from around the world in the last 12 months to rank the top-rated experiences. The result? Tripadvisor’s 2023 Travellers’ Choice Awards, which includes 11 categories with “best of the best” winners in each, including Top Overall Experiences, Bucket List Experiences, and Top Attractions.
“Experiences turn travellers into adventurers, connecting them with the local community and giving them unforgettable stories for years to come,” says Kate Urquhart, General Manager of Tripadvisor Experiences.
“These awards are a testament to the businesses dedicated to ensuring travellers enjoy the most memorable trips, and we’re grateful to everyone who took the time to share their reviews and help fellow travellers plan their next escape.”
Highlights from Australian experiences include the Sydney Opera House being crowned as the number 1 Top Attraction in the South Pacific, while Sydney Harbour ranked number 3 and Sydney Harbour Bridge number 5. On the Top Wine Experiences list, which ranked experiences globally, Barossa Valley took the number 18 spot, while Margaret River ranked number 20 and Hunter Valley number 25.
Ahead, we share some of the full lists.
Bucket List Experiences
- Dubai: Red Dunes ATV, Sandsurf, Camels, Stargazing & 5* BBQ at Al Khayma Camp, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching, Juneau, Alaska
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Cappadocia Balloon Ride and Champagne Breakfast, Goreme, Türkiye
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Lan Ha – Ha Long Bay 1 Day boat trip – Kayaking from Cat Ba, Cat Ba, Vietnam
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Swim with Manatees – Trip Advisors “Travelers Choice Award”, Crystal River, Florida
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Silfra: Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates, Reykjavik, Iceland
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Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner, San Jose, Costa Rica
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Tandem Paragliding Fethiye, Oludeniz, Oludeniz, Türkiye
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Ziplining Forest Adventure – The Original Canopy Tour Rotorua, Rotorua, New Zealand
- Zipline Tour On Oahu’s North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii
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Angkor Wat Sunrise, Siem Reap, Cambodia
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Zipline Tour On Oahu’s North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii
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Abu Dhabi: 7-Hours Desert Safari with BBQ, Camel Ride & Sandboarding, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Top 10 Experiences
- Grand Circle Island and Haleiwa Tour, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Thai Cooking Course, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Ubud Tour – Best of Ubud, Ubus, Bali
- Red Dunes ATV, Sandsurf, Camels, Stargazing & 5* BBQ, Dubai, UAE
- Best DMZ 3rd Infiltration Tunnel Tour from Seoul, Seoul, South Korea
- Reykjavik Food Walk – Local Foodie Adventure, Reykjavik, Iceland
- Amsterdam Luxury Guided Sightseeing Canal Cruise, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour, Siem Reap, Cambodia
- San Juan Guided Snorkel Tour, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Hanoi Jeep Tours, Hanoi, Vietnam
Top 10 Attractions
- Basílica de la Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
- Colosseum, Rome, Italy
- Anne Frank House, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- The Dubai Fountain, Dubai, UAE
- Empire State Building, New York City, USA
- Musée d’Orsay, Paris, France
- Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
- Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
- Central Park, New York City, USA
- Plaza de Espana, Seville, Spain
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