The 23 Best Places to Go in 2022

Although countries and sites continue to open and close to travelers and travel rules keep changing depending on what is going on with the pandemic, travel legitimately reopened in 2021 and continues to be more open now than it was a year ago. It’s likely that most of us travelers are going to travel in 2022, even if plans are on pause for the moment. So we all still are looking for recommendations on where to go in the coming year.

If you haven’t read this in previous years (see 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018), here is how it works. Every year I compile the “where to go lists” from Lonely Planet, National Geographic, Travel and Leisure, CNN, and The New York Times into one massive list. Any place that multiple organizations mention are then placed on my greatest hits lists, including if one publication lists a subsection of an area recommended elsewhere (ex. if one publication says Colorado, and another says Denver, it counts). This process weeds out the more idiosyncratic choices and leaves only the places that the Travel Powers That Be agree you should visit for a given year. They are not my personal recommendations.

This year The Travel Powers that Be are particularly recommending places international trips close to home (for Americans) and of course Europe has more than it’s fair share of recommendations. There are almost none in Asia, possibly a consequence of the fact many countries, particularly in East Asia, have been largely closed off from tourism since the pandemic began, and South America was largely ignored.

Enjoy and stay safe and healthy as you travel this year  

Naples, Italy
With Naples, it’s less a question of why go, than why wouldn’t you go. The city is one of CNN’s and the NYT’s top places to visit in 2022, with old areas getting new appreciation from the public, and the unveiling of additional archeological sites showing the city’s Greek and Roman history. There are newly excavated ruins in Pompeii as well. In the Bay of Naples, less than an hour out by ferry, there is the island of Procida, one of National Geographic’s picks and the Italian capital of culture for 2022. Procida plans to spread its festivals and art exhibits across the entire year, to create a more responsible and sustainable travel experience.  

Belize
National Geographic, Lonely Planet, and Travel and Leisure all recommend the small country of Belize for 2022. Belize is home to the second-largest coral reef in the world, with hundreds of species of tropical fish. On land, 2021 saw the creation of the Belize Maya Forest Reserve. The new reserve protects an extremely bio-diverse rainforest and the country now has a contiguous protected rainforest area that covers nearly one tenth of the country. The NYT suggests checking out the Elijio Panti National Park, which is on the border with Guatemala and comanaged with the local Mayan community. The park has a series of trails focused on medicinal plants, with signs that display the names and uses of nearly 100 native plants.

Palau
Palau, a small country in Oceania, is one of the top picks for 2022 from both CNN and National Geographic. The archipelago is committed to sustainability and environmental protection with all travelers required to sign the Palau Pledge in their passport upon entry, in which you pledge to “tread lightly, act kindly, and explore mindfully.” Palau’s National Marine Sanctuary protects more than 700 species of coral and numerous shark species and be sure to visit the UNESCO-listed Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, for everything from dugongs to giant clams to jellyfish.   

Chile
CNN chose Chile, the long and narrow South American country, as one of it’s top picks for 2022. Chile is known for many things, but is particularly well known for its natural sites, and ecotourism, and spans a huge variety of ecosystems. At the northern end of the country is the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world and one of Lonely Planet’s picks. The Atacama Desert is known for its fantastical landscapes and rock formations. It is also one of the best places in the world to see the stars. In the far south of the country, thousands of miles away, is Cerro Castillo National Park, a NYT pick. Cerro Castillo National Park is located in Patagonia and provides habitat for the endangered South Andean deer, or huemul. And if you want to go even further south, visit the icebergs and mountains in the far, far southern Torres del Paine National Park. 

Atlanta, GA
A hub for history, civil rights, and according to some, the de facto capital of the South, Atlanta is a top choice for 2020 by Lonely Planet and National Geographic. Historical sites include the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. But Atlanta isn’t just the past, the historic neighborhood the Old Forth Ward has restaurants, green spaces, and the newly-opened Biggerstaff Brewing Company.  

Danube River
2022 is the year to take advantage of one of Europe’s greatest rivers and explore the Danube, according to National Geographic. The river makes it way through 10 different countries in Europe, starting in southwestern Germany and ending in the Black Sea. National Geographic suggests taking a Danube cruise, which would stop in several countries and allow tourists to take advantage of the river’s natural beauty as well as the cities and towns all along it. If the sheer size of the Danube River is too much for one trip, Travel and Leisure suggests checking out Budapest. The Hungarian capital straddles the river and is full of history ranging from castles to the Communist government in the 20th century. It’s also a great place to check out Hungarian wine – such as the country’s famed sweet botrytised wine Tokaj.

Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
My very first international trip, part of a family road trip through the Pacific Northwest when I was 9, was to Vancouver Island, a Lonely Planet and NYT pick for 2022. Check out the Butchart Gardens in the city of Victoria (which I still remember fondly decades and many botanical gardens later) and the Royal BC Museum. The Royal BC Museum is currently working with indigenous communities in British Columbia regarding its collection of indigenous artifacts, including working on cooperative management and active repatriation. The NYT suggests getting out of the city and visiting the old-growth rainforests on the island, such as MacMillan Provincial Park, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, and Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve.

Puerto Rico
The US territory of Puerto Rico is one of Lonely Planet’s top pick for 2022, and I can understand why. The territory has so much to offer: historical sites and architecture, particularly in San Juan, great food, and excellent beaches, like those in Vieques which is particularly known for its bioluminescent bay. If music is your thing, Puerto Rico is the birthplace of reggaeton and one of, if not the, best places to experience it. The New York Times specifically recommends checking out El Yunque National Forest, an extremely biodiverse rainforest that has hundreds of unique species.

Malaysia
The Southeast Asian country of Malaysia is one of Travel and Leisure’s top places to visit in 2022. The county has long but a cultural cross-roads, with strong Chinese, Indian, and Malay influences seen all over the country but especially in the food. That mix of culinary influences is a major part of CNN’s suggestion to visit the island of Penang, in the Andaman Sea. Both Penang and the rest of the county also have a number of protected biospheres and tropical rainforests. My personal suggestion for Malaysia - the town of Malacca, an historic trading hub and melting pot from traders and conquerors for centuries.

Victoria, Australia
The Southeastern state of Victoria in Australia is one of National Geographic’s choice for sites to visit in 2022. Victoria includes the city of Melbourne, which is known for its food and arts scene. National Geographic focuses on nature though, and the Great Ocean Road which winds its way along the coast. New wildlife sanctuaries in the area provide home for numerous native species. The NYT recommends checking out the Summerland Peninsula, home to the world’s smallest penguin species. The state government has been working to return the area to it’s natural habitat, to help protect the penguins. Just make sure while you watch the “parade” of them at the end of the day to remember they wild animals and don’t bother them or damage their habitat.

Anguilla
If your vacation goals include a luxurious trip to the Caribbean, Lonely Planet and Travel and Leisure suggest that this year you visit Anguilla. Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory in the Eastern Caribbean with snorkeling in the island’s coral reefs, gorgeous beaches, and luxury resorts with high end restaurants. In addition, there are two protected Amerindian petroglyph sites on the island, Big Spring Heritage Site and Fountain Cavern National Park.

Chimanimani National Park, Mozambique
If you want to go to Southern Africa this year, National Geographic and the New York Times suggest visiting Mozambique’s newest national park, Chimanimani. The county’s wildlife population has been decimated by poaching over the years, but the park is part of ongoing conservation efforts to save the region’s biodiversity. The park promotes sustainable activities such as birdwatching, hiking to forest waterfalls, and overnighting at a community ecolodge. There are also ancient rock paintings and sacred mountains (as always – be respectful of sacred sites). Mozambique has also seen grass-roots efforts to train local women as game wardens.

Burgundy, France
As someone who just spent all fall studying wine, I wholeheartedly concur with the recommendation to visit Burgundy (Bourgogne), France. Burgundy’s vineyards have UNESCO world heritage status, and the region is particularly known for its reds, which are typically made of Pinot Noir, and whites, particularly Chablis, which are made from Chardonnay. To ground yourself before exploring all the wine and food Burgundy has to offer, CNN suggests starting in the town of Dijon. In May 2022, the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin will open there, which is a complex of renovation of historic buildings from the 16th to the 18th centuries devoted to French food and wine, including a cooking school, restaurants, and a massive wine cellar.

Queensland, Australia
Queensland in northeastern Australia is one of Travel and Leisure’s top recommendations for 2022. The state is home to the Great Barrier Reef which has been hugely impacted by climate change. Over the past couple years region has been focused more and more on conservation efforts and new tours work with the Aboriginal peoples both on conservation efforts, and to promote more Aboriginal guides. The NYT lists Daintree Rainforest, a UNESCO site that was recently returned to the Eastern Kuku Yalanji, an Aboriginal people who are estimated to have lived in the area for 50,000 years. Lonely Planet recommends visiting the Scenic Rim, an arc of mountainous rainforests crossed with dozens of hiking trails. At the opposite end of the spectrum is CNN, which recommends the Munga-Thirri-Simpson Desert National Park. The country’s newest National Park is a remote area of the Australian Outback that stretches into Queensland. Basically, Queensland has a little bit of it all.

Egypt
One of the top places for 2021, and, lets be honest, one of the top places to visit at any time, Lonely Planet lists Egypt as one of its top places to visit in 2022. Just the city of Cairo had the Pyramids at Giza, Coptic Christian churches and sites, and its Islamic Historical area. Travel and Leisure recommends taking a cruise up the Nile River. A cruise gives you an opportunity to not just the famous cities, but island temples and the Temple of Kom Ombo is Aswan and just sail and spend time in one of the world’s greatest rivers. And the NYT suggests checking out the Red Sea Mountain Trail. The trail crosses 100 miles of Egypt’s Eastern Desert along the ancient footpaths of the Bedouin Ma’aza tribe, and is wholly managed by the tribe, who organize hikes for tourists and provide a (mandatory) guide.

Yucatan, Mexico
The Yucatan is far more than Cancun, and it’s the rest of the region that makes it one of the top places to go according to Travel and Leisure. Both T&L and Lonely Planet recommend checking out the city of Merida, the cultural capital of the region. The city boasts amazing food and restaurants, along with colonial-era architecture. Check out the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, before heading out further into the region and seeing the Mayan ruins and archeological sites for yourself.

Norway
Norway, a Lonely Planet pick, evokes one immediate image: fjords. The country’s coastline is famous for its narrow and beautiful fjords and visiting them is an absolute must for every visitor to the country. But there is more Norway than just boat trips. CNN recommends visiting the city of Oslo which is opening two new major museums. The Munch Museum, devoted to the celebrated painter (he painted the Scream) reopened in October 2021. And in June 2022 the National Museum, which will house traditional and contemporary art, and craft and design, is slated to open.

Alaska
The vast northern state of Alaska is one of Travel and Leisure’s top picks for this year. The state has some of the most pristine wilderness in the United States and you can do everything from whale-watching to trekking deep into the national parks. If you want to take a cruise, check out Alaska Dream Cruises, which is a small-cruise experience company and the only cruise line owned by Native Alaskans. The NYT recommends visiting the town of Hoonah, in the south-east part of the state. The town is half Huna Tlingit and is working to create a more sustainable cruise/tourist experience for visitors, while bolstering their traditional arts and language.

South Africa
Beaches, wildlife, great wine, it’s no wonder CNN and the NYT both listed South Africa as one of their top destinations this year. The country has many wildlife reserves and parks, such as iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which is a UNESCO-site on South Africa’s eastern coast. The park is home to elephant, leopards, rhinos, the unusual suspects, but also supports an environmental education program that involves more than 150 schools. Also, there are penguins on the southern coast. Penguins! South Africa is also well known for its wine, particularly in the Stellenbosch. And that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of the country, its history, or the people there.

Jordan
Jordan, with great food, wadis, and famous historical sites, is one of CNN’s top picks for 2022. Petra is the star attraction of course, and understandably so. But there are excellent Greek and Roman ruins in Jerash and Umm Qais, along with Crusader-era castles, such as Karak Castle which was built in the 12th century. The NYT recommends visiting the Dana Biosphere Reserve. Dana, reserve’s associated village, boasts numerous Ottoman-era stone houses, a number of which have been turned into ecolodges. The village is also the starting point for the 9-mile Wadi Dana hiking trail.

Greenland
Greenland, one of the NYT’s picks for this year, is being heavily impacted by global climate change. The Danish territory (it’s technically part of the Kingdom of Denmark) is working to create a sustainable, holistic approach to tourism and to combatting climate change. In southern Greenland, you can visit Kutjataa, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which was a site of Norse settlement in the area in the 10th century. CNN recommends visiting Disko Bay on the western coast and a different UNESCO site, Ilulissat Ice Fjord. The area is home to enormous icebergs but is also heavily impacted by climate change and a key research site for studying climate change. The recently opened Ilulissat Ice Fjord Center focuses on the key role ice plays in the region, as well as the stories and culture of the indigenous Inuit people.

Bahamas
Travel and Leisure really thinks people need a relaxing Caribbean get away to decompress from the past two years. As such they recommend the Bahamas as one of their top places to visit in 2022. If you do visit the Bahamas, the NYT suggests you go to the Lucayan Archipelago. The archipelago, which is partially in the Bahamas and partially in Turks and Caicos, is a key shark habitat. The area has begun shark preservation efforts to boost the population and push the governments to establish legal protections. Sharks are a key part of the shallow sea ecosystem and helping them is helping the health of the entire habitat.

Slovenia
Every year there is a top place to visit in the Balkans and this year Lonely Planet and the NYT have chosen Slovenia. The capital city, Ljubljana, has been garnering some attention for a few years as an alternative to overtouristed parts of the region. One of the most famous sites is Lake Bled, in the Julian Alps. The island in the middle of the lake has a 17th century church that as been the site of a number of pilgrimages. Slovenia is also getting more and more attention for its cuisine, which is influenced by both Slavic and Mediterranean cuisine, and the country’s top restaurants focus on local ingredients from Slovenian farms.