2023 was an exciting and super diverse travel year! From North to South, and several trips West – there was a lot! Each place is obviously unique in its own way, and ratings are highly subjective. Nevertheless, keep reading because in this post I will be rating places that I visited in 2023.
Tromsø, Norway
My trip to Tromsø was my first trip into the arctic circle! As someone that lives in Switzerland, snowy landscapes are not new to me. Nevertheless, this trip was truly breathtaking! The way the snowy, soft mountains contrast with the deep blue water of the fjords is super unique. The city is also a great starting point for Northern Lights excursions and Sami culture / reindeer farm visits. It’s really a winter wonderland, which will make you forget about reality 🙂 The only downside I can mention is that if you are visiting with the goal of seeing Northern Lights, you might be disappointed. The activity is highly weather dependent, and you can’t control the weather. For more info about this trip, check out my post here.
Rating: 9/10 (only deduction because of the possibility of not actually seeing the Northern Lights)
Oslo, Norway
Oslo is such a vibrant city, I was amazed! I visited late in May, when the weather was already quite warm. I was pleasantly surprised to see how outdoorsy the Oslo lifestyle is. People meet up in parks, chill in outside coffeeshops and bars, go on boat rides, relax at outdoor saunas, chill by the beaches… It’s a very pleasant city where you will not get bored! Check out the post here.
Rating: 9/10 (a great part might have been due to the amazing weather, but my rating stands)
Madrid, Spain
Madrid is a beautiful European city with so much to offer! It is one of those cities where you can just wander off, take any left or right street and you are guaranteed to see stunning architecture and/or a lively square. The city is great for arts lovers, foodies, people looking to party, shopping, etc… I am sure that everyone can find something they love in Madrid! The mild climate and many sunshine hours also make it a great weekend trip almost year round 🙂 For Madrid travel tips, check out my post here!
Rating: 8/10 (minor deductions because I personally prefer coastal cities and I was missing the sea 🙂 )
Amalfi Coast, Italy
This is a destination that I had seen SO many times on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest… pretty much everywhere! Hence, expectations were high. I don’t know if that was the reason why we were so disappointed in the end, but we were! The place is truly so overrun, and doesn’t really feel authentic anymore! The locals were not friendly at all in my opinion, and most places overpriced and the quality is mediocre. Don’t get me wrong, the place is BEAUTIFUL and mostly looks like in the pictures, but the whole circus around it kind of takes away the magic. Would not necessarily recommend! If you still want to go, you’ll find more infos here.
Rating: 4/10 (too crowded, unorganized, unfriendly and touristy – but still some points because it is very pretty…)
Skopje, Macedonia
Skopje is where half of my family is, hence I always like coming back here. Besides family visits, the city also has some things to offer. The center is lively, and there are many affordable restaurants to choose from. It can’t compare with all the famous European cities though…
Rating: 6/10 (it’s very affordable and there is culture here, but not too much to do…)
South Africa
This was the most stressful trip for me this year. Africa is a continent that I have little experience with thus far, and I went into the trip largely unprepared. Hence, there were some things that caught me off guard, which influenced my rating. Other than that, the country is stunning! Cape Town is so unique, and going on my first Safari was UNREAL!! I’d love to go back in the future, better prepared and more relaxed 🙂
Rating: 7/10 (Cape Town and Kruger are amazing, as a first time Africa traveller the trip felt a little stressful)
Costa del Sol, Spain
The Costa del Sol has so much to offer! When we were there we rented a car and drove up and down the coast visiting a bunch of different cities. Malaga, Marbella, Estepona, Gibraltar… Enjoy your time wandering the streets, eating tapas, and if it’s summer hanging by the beach. Oh, and drinking Sangria!
Rating: 8/10 (I prefer places where renting a car is not mandatory, hence the slight points reduction)
California, USA
I was soooo excited for this trip, and it definitely didn’t disappoint!! California is so diverse, from impressive and over-the-top cities, to hilly mountains, to deserts… With such different vibes all across the state, I feel like I lived through 4 different holidays in one. My personal favourites were Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park. Oh, and as a Friends fan the Warner Bros studios are also a must 🙂 Check out my itinerary here.
Rating: 8/10 (only a slight reduction because distances are HUGE)
Texas, USA
This one was not a destination I necessarily had high up on my bucketlist, but I’m glad I got to experience the “everything is bigger in Texas”. We visited the state for a wedding in Dallas, and then embarked on a little road trip down to Austin, San Antonio and Fredericksburg. I loved San Antonio, the rest was also nice but nothing I would be super mad about if I had missed it…
Rating: 6/10 (San Antonio is nice, the rest doesn’t have too much to offer IMO, distances are even BIGGER than in Cali)
Bordeaux, France
This was an impromptu weekend trip for me, because I was feeling a little down. Wow, it was really the perfect city for a getaway! The architecture is amazing, there are so many bars and restaurants, parks and walkways along the river… And the surroundings, wow! Wine tasting and Dune climbing, it was truly so much more than I expected! Check out my post here.
Rating: 10/10 (such a fun city!!)
I want to repeat once again, that ratings are highly subjective, and my experiences might be very circumstantial! I still hope that this was interesting for you, and that you take away some inspiration for your own travels for this!
Have you been to any of these places, what is your opinion? Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear your experiences!
P.S. I book ALL my hotels through booking.com, and for organised activities such as the reindeer farm visit I use GetYourGuide.