Travel + Leisure announces winners of 2023 World’s Best Awards revealing the top cities, islands, hotels, cruise lines and more
Travel + Leisure announces the best travel destinations and organizations across the globe, according to the results of the 2023 World’s Best Awards’ reader survey. The 28th edition of the World’s Best Awards highlight the leaders in travel, including top cities, islands, hotels, cruise lines, airlines, airports and more. The complete survey results are available now on TravelandLeisure.com and in the August issue of Travel + Leisure, on newsstands July 21.
Spanning 122 category lists, this year’s survey results yielded many surprises, including a new airline claiming the #1 spot for Best International Airline for the first time in 28 years and a new winner in the Best Mega-Ship Ocean Cruise Line category. Two categories were introduced this year, Best Luxury Villa Rental Companies and Best Trains, to reflect changes in the way we travel now.
Highlights from worldwide rankings include Best Cities Overall with Oaxaca, Udaipur and Kyoto claiming the top three spots. The winners of the Top 100 Hotels Overall span 32 countries across 5 continents, with the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet emerging at the top. Domestic lists cover the Top Islands in the Continental U.S. with Georgia’s Golden Isles landing at #1, as well as the Top City and Resort Hotels in destinations such as New York, Chicago, Charleston, Vegas, and Miami. The Peninsula Chicago was named the Top City Hotel in the Continental U.S., and the Goldener Hirsch, Auberge Resorts Collection named the Top Resort Hotel in the Continental U.S.
“For 28 years, Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards have served as a reliable resource and guide for remarkable destinations and exceptional experiences,” said Jacqui Gifford, Editor in Chief of Travel + Leisure. “This year’s awards reflect the ever-evolving landscape of travel, with new categories and new winners capturing the changing preferences of modern travelers. We hope this list will inspire our audience to embrace the transformative power of travel.”
Additional highlights from this year’s World’s Best Awards are as follows:
Top 10 World’s Best Cities 2023
- Oaxaca, Mexico
- Udaipur, India
- Kyoto, Japan
- Ubud, Indonesia
- San Miguel de Allende, México
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Tokyo, Japan
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Mumbai, India
Top 10 U.S. Cities 2023
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Savannah, Georgia
- Chicago, Illinois
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- New York, New York
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Alexandria, Virginia
- San Antonio, Texas
Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2023 Winners Overall
- WORLD’S BEST CITY: Oaxaca, Mexico
- WORLD’S BEST HOTEL: Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet
- WORLD’S BEST HOTEL BRAND: Capella Hotels & Resorts
- WORLD’S BEST LUXURY VILLA RENTAL COMPANY: Tuscany Now & More
- WORLD’S BEST ISLAND: Great Barrier Reef Islands, Australia
- WORLD’S BEST MEGA-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE: Virgin Voyages
- WORLD’S BEST LARGE-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE: Cunard
- WORLD’S BEST MIDSIZE-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE: Viking Cruises
- WORLD’S BEST SMALL-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE: Viking Cruises
- WORLD’S BEST INTIMATE-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINE: Quasar Expeditions
- WORLD’S BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE: Aqua Expeditions
- WORLD’S BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE: La Compagnie
- WORLD’S BEST DOMESTIC AIRLINE: Hawaiian Airlines
- WORLD’S BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Singapore Changi Airport
- WORLD’S BEST DOMESTIC AIRPORT: Manchester-Boston Regional Airport
- WORLD’S BEST SAFARI OUTFITTER: Alluring Africa
- WORLD’S BEST TOUR OPERATOR: ATJ
- WORLD’S BEST RENTAL CAR COMPANY: National Car Rental
- WORLD’S BEST INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION SPA: The Ranch Italy at Palazzo Fiuggi
- WORLD’S BEST DOMESTIC DESTINATION SPA: The Ranch Malibu
- WORLD’S BEST U.S. NATIONAL PARK: Yellowstone National Park
- WORLD’S BEST TRAINS: Rocky Mountaineer, North America