This Ontario City Was Named One Of The Best Travel Destinations In The World For 2023

It's the only Canadian spot to make the list.

Parliament Hill over the Ottawa River. Right: The Rideau Canal downtown Ottawa.

Parliament Hill over the Ottawa River. Right: The Rideau Canal downtown Ottawa.

Staff Writer

It's a new year which means new adventures and CNN Travel just released a list of 23 top destinations in the world to visit in 2023.

There is only one Canadian city to grace the list of best places in the world to travel and it's none other than the capital city of Ottawa.

CNN Travel notes that while Ottawa "doesn’t have Montreal’s French flair or Toronto’s international oomph," it is "graceful and understated" and "has its own draws."

The list highlights a few reasons to visit this Ontario city and you may want to plan a trip this winter. The Rideau Canal is mentioned as a must-visit if you travel to Ottawa in the winter as it turns into the world's largest outdoor skating rink. Depending on the weather, the canal typically opens for skating from January until March.

The Rideau Canal is also a picturesque spot to relax in the warmer months and you can people-watch and admire boats on the water. The Ottawa Jazz Festivals are fun events for music lovers to enjoy in the capital and there is both a winter version in February and a summer event in June.

Ottawa is also home to the NHL hockey team the Ottawa Senators and you can catch a game at the Canadian Tire Centre in the city's west end. The Ottawa 67's are a junior hockey team if you're looking for a more affordable ticket and they play at TD Place Arena in the city centre.

You should also check out Parliament Hill which is home to Canada's federal government and features views of the Ottawa River.

Some of the other places around the globe that are considered top cities to travel to this year include Naoshima, Japan; Cairo, Egypt; Gruyères, Switzerland; and Thessaloniki, Greece, among others. It might be a great time to start looking at flights and plan some 2023 trips.

  • Ottawa Staff Writer Megan Johnson was an Ottawa Staff Writer for Narcity Canada. Prior to joining the Narcity team she founded Ottawa River Lifestyle, a blog to promote the Capital Region and small towns along the Ottawa River. In addition to writing about Canadian businesses, local events and outdoor adventures, Megan has created content for Canadian brands and tourism boards. She has her B.Sc. in Honours Biochemistry and has always enjoyed various forms of writing and travel.

Ontario's weather forecast for February reveals that there'll be snowstorms on these days

February will be one of the coldest and snowiest parts of winter in Ontario! 🥶❄️

This little-known Canadian passport rule could ruin your 2026 travel plans

You might get refused entry, if you don't check this. 👇✈️

Tim Hortons is bringing back this donut but you can only order it for a few days

The special donut is on the menu for just a weekend! 👀🍩

Government of Canada jobs for nurses pay you up to $109,000 to travel and work from home

This federal department is hiring community health nurses. 🩺

Canada's tax rates vary so much by province — Here's who pays the most (& the least)

You could be paying thousands more than your provincial neighbour!

5 beautiful small towns in BC that are cheaper to live in than Vancouver

All the beauty of B.C., without the city price tag.

'Big daddy' Mark Carney has gone viral worldwide after doing the Heated Rivalry 'leg thing'

It's raised questions about Canada's level of "media training." 💀