Get ready for an attack of extreme wanderlust! TripAdvisor just announced the winners of its 2015 Travelers Choice awards for Destinations — and the top travel destinations in the world are definitely going to make you want to hop on a plane immediately. If you've got a travel bucket list (I know I sure do), be sure to add these places to it.
TripAdvisor used the millions of reviews of hotels, attractions, and restaurants made on the site over the course years of the past year to come up with the final ranking. 25 cities made the grade, and they're all so varied that there's a little something there for everyone. Love metropolitan areas with tons of cultural hotspots? TripAdvisor has you covered. Big on the great outdoors? There are plenty of places for adventurers, too. History buff? Got that. Have an eye for romance? Got that, too.
According to Business Insider, this is the first year Marrakech, Morocco took the top slot; last year, it came in at number six. Other newly-minted top travel destinations for 2015 include Cusco, Peru and Queenstown, New Zealand — aaaaaaand now I have two more places I definitely want to visit before I die. Just sayin'.
Check out the top 10 travel destinations below, and head on over to TripAdvisor to see all 25.
1. Marrakech, Morocco
Morocco has been near the top of my travel bucket list for ages — hopefully one day I'll finally be able to get there. True, you can only see the interior of the city's beautiful mosques if you're Muslim; there's still plenty to experience, though, including the Jardin Majorelle and a huge array of markets.
2. Siem Reap, Cambodia
The two main reasons to visit Siem Reap? Ankgor Wat and Angkor Thom. Stunning sights, amazing history… how could you pass that up?
3. Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul's Grand Bazaar took the number one slot in Travel and Leisure's ranking for the 50 most visited tourist attractions in the world last year; as such, it's not surprising to see the city score so highly here, too. Oh, and also? Two words: Turkish. Baths.
4. Hanoi, Vietnam
The capital city of Vietnam, Hanoi is over 1,000 years old — and, as TripAdvisor puts it, it has aged well, too. The Old Quarter has been preserved while still allowing for modern developments to spring up alongside it; the final effect combines the very old with the very new.
5. Prague, Czech Republic
This right here? That's the Prague astronomical clock. It was first installed in the city's Old Town Square in 1410; the third oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one that's still actually working. You heard me: The thing still ticks. That alone would be the price of admission, as far as I'm concerned.
6. London, UK
Ah, London! I miss the UK; I'd move back in a heartbeat if I could afford to. Do yourself a favor and skip the tourist traps like the London Dungeon; do, however, take advantage of the fact that all the museums are free (I'm fond of the Tate Modern, myself), visit the historical sites (the Tower of London is kind of touristy, but the history is fascinating), and see as much theatre as you possibly can. If you're into Renaissance drama, there's Shakespeare's Globe during the warmer months and the newly-opened Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in the colder ones. Trust me: Nothing beats seeing this stuff in those spaces.
7. Rome, Italy
The coolest part about Rome? You'll be walking or driving along an incredibly modern-looking city street… and then you'll turn and see ancient ruins off to the side. Just y'know… leave your selfie stick at home, and for the love of all that is holy, do NOT scratch your initials into the side of the Colosseum.
8. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fun fact: The tango was born in Argentina. Well, on the border between it and Uruguay — but regardless, be sure to check out a performance while you're here. The dancers here definitely know what they're doing.
9. Paris, France
Confession: Somehow, of the many places in Europe I went when I was studying abroad back in college, I never managed to get to Paris. One day, though! Everything sounds fun: The art, the monuments, the food, the cathedrals, the Catacombs (which, by the way, I would love to explore — I find them both fascinating and terrifying)… everything. Yes please — or perhaps more accurately, oui oui!
10. Cape Town Central, South Africa
Cape Town's natural features are a big draw: TripAdvisor cites the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, Table Mountain, and the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve as must-sees for hikers and other outdoor lovers. There's also, of course, a lot of history to be found — Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held for 27 years, is near Cape Town.
To see the full list of all 25 top travel destinations worldwide, head on over to TripAdvisor.
Images: marcp_dmoz, sachman75, if you love me, archer 10, leiabox, Dietmar Temps/Flickr; Getty Images (4)
