Bali beats London to title of world’s most popular destination in 2021 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards, with Cornwall’s St Ives No5 in ranking of best places to visit in the future

Bali is the most popular destination in the world, according to the 2021 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards. It has risen from fourth last year, dethroning London from the top spot to second place.

The awards reveal where travellers ventured in 2020, while travel was open, as well as where they dreamed of going while the pandemic kept them stuck at home. The other categories are Trending and Emerging destinations around the world. And at a time when travellers are enjoying the great outdoors more than ever, 2021 brings with it a new category – National Parks.

Here the Yorkshire Dales National Park has been named No1 in Europe and 11th-best in the world, with Serengeti in Tanzania claiming gold globally and Grand Teton National Park America’s top entry, in fourth place. Another notable accolade for the UK goes to Cornwall’s St Ives, named fifth in the worldwide Emerging Destinations ranking. Topping the list is the Caribbean island of Martinique, followed by Panama City Beach in Florida and Brazil’s Armacao dos Buzios in third place.

Bali has been revealed as the most popular destination in the world, according to the 2021 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards

London has been dethroned by Bali and knocked into second place on the Popular Destinations list 

TRIPADVISOR TRAVELLERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2021: MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS

WORLD

1. Bali

2. London

3. Dubai

4. Rome

5. Paris

6. Hanoi

7. Crete

8. Bangkok

9. Barcelona 

10. Istanbul

11. Hoi An, Vietnam

12. Siem Reap, Cambodia

13. Marrakech

14. Phuket

15. New Delhi

16. Cancun

17. Playa del Carmen, Mexico

18. Florence

19. Dominican Republic

20. Tenerife

21. Lisbon

22. New York City

23. Edinburgh

24. Jaipur, India

25. Cusco, Peru

EUROPE

1. London

2. Rome

3. Paris

4. Crete

5. Barcelona

6. Istanbul

7. Florence

8. Tenerife

9. Lisbon

10. Edinburgh

11. Amsterdam

12. Corsica

13. Madrid

14. Prague

15. Majorca

16. Budapest

17. Rhodes

18. Krakow

19. Naples

20. Athens

21. Venice

22. Porto

23. Santorini

24. Berlin

25. Madeira

26. Dublin

27. Goreme, Turkey

28. Malta

29. Split, Croatia

30. Dubrovnik 

31. Liverpool 

32. Vienna

33. Reykjavik

34. Kas, Turkey

35. St Petersburg, Russia

UNITED STATES

1. New York City

2. Maui, Hawaii

3. Las Vegas

4. New Orleans

5. Key West, Florida 

6. Oahu, Hawaii

 7. Island of Hawaii 

8. San Diego

9. Savannah

10. Kauai, Hawaii

11. Nashville

12. Sedona, Arizona

13. Charleston

14. Orlando

15. Chicago

16. Branson, Missouri

17. Asheville, North Carolina

18. Miami Beach

19. Washington DC

20. Austin

21. San Francisco

22. Seattle

23. Los Angeles

24. Denver

25. Boston

SOUTH PACIFIC

1. Sydney

2. Queenstown, New Zealand

3. Auckland, New Zealand

4. Melbourne

5. Gold Coast, Australia

6. Port Douglas, Australia

7. Bora-Bora, French Polynesia

8. Christchurch, New Zealand

9. Hobart, Australia

10. Cairns, Australia

11. Rotorua, New Zealand

12. Brisbane, Australia

13. Margaret River, Australia

14. Wanaka, New Zealand

15. Nelson, New Zealand

16. Airlie Beach, Australia

17. Paihia, New Zealand

18. Adelaide, Australia

19. Taupo, New Zealand

20. Noosa, Australia

21. Moorea, French Polynesia

22 Kerikeri, New Zealand

23. Cromwell, Central Otago, New Zealand

24. Byron Bay, Australia

25. Viti Levu, Fiji

ASIA

1. Bali

2. Hanoi

3. Bangkok

4. Hoi An, Vietnam

5. Siem Reap, Cambodia

6. Phuket

7. New Delhi

8. Jaipur, India

9. Kathmandu, Nepal

10. Beijing

11. Ho Chi Minh City

12. Chiang Mai, Thailand

13. Chengdu, China

14. Singapore

15. Shanghai

16. Da Nang, Vietnam

17. Hong Kong

18. Goa, India

19. Udaipur, India

20. Colombo, Sri Lanka

21. Bophut, Thailand

22. Lombok, Indonesia

23. Tokyo

24. Kyoto

25. Pokhara, Nepal

Source: Tripadvisor. The Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards honour travellers’ favourite destinations worldwide based on reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants, and things to do in destinations worldwide over a 12-month period (December 1, 2019 – November 30, 2020) from Tripadvisor travellers. The awards take into account the quality and quantity of traveller reviews and ratings.

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The Emerging Destinations list is based on spots around the world travellers are ‘saving’ on Tripadvisor.

Hayley Coleman, Tripadvisor spokesperson, said: ‘These are destinations that travellers want to visit next – whether an existing tourism gem, or an off-the-radar spot not yet firmly on the map for international travellers. It is no secret that St Ives is a well-loved and long-established tourist haven, with its picturesque harbour, beautiful beaches and buzzing art scene, but its place on this list shows just how much travellers are missing it and longing to visit again, once Covid-19 restrictions ease.’

The rest of the top 10 in this category comprises Holbox Island, Mexico (fourth); Mazatlan, Mexico (sixth); Colorado Springs, U.S (seventh); Shoalhaven in New South Wales, Australia (eighth); Wroclaw, Poland (ninth), and Mudgee, New South Wales (10th).

TRIPADVISOR TRAVELLERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2021: TRENDING AND EMERGING DESTINATIONS, AND MOST POPULAR NATIONAL PARKS 

TRENDING DESTINATIONS – WORLD

1. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

2. Corsica

3. Doha, Qatar

4. Sanya, China

5. Gatlinburg, Tennessee

6. Queenstown, New Zealand

7. Tulum, Mexico

8. Natal, Brazil

9. Kas, Turkey

10. Guadeloupe

11. St Thomas, Caribbean

12. Cairo

13. Colombo, Sri Lanka

14. Goreme, Turkey

15. Chengdu, China

16. Amman, Jordan

17. Matera, Italy

18. Shenzhen, China

19. Udaipur, India

20. Campos Do Jordao, Brazil

21. Abu Dhabi

22. York

23. New Delhi

24. Hurghada, Egypt

25. St Augustine, Florida

TRENDING DESTINATIONS – UNITED STATES

1. Gatlinburg, Tennesee

2. St Augustine, Florida

3. Fort Myers Beach, Florida

4. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

5. Moab, Utah

6. Marco Island, Florida

7. Estes Park, Colorado

8. Hilton Head, South Carolina

9. Clearwater, Florida

10. Jackson, Wyoming

11. Breckenridge, Colorado

12. Eureka Springs, Arkansas

13. Palm Springs, California

14. Scottsdale, Arizona

15. Camden, Maine

EMERGING DESTINATIONS – WORLD

1. Martinique

2. Panama City Beach, Florida

3. Armacao dos Buzios, Brazil

4. Holbox Island, Mexico

5. St Ives, Cornwall

6. Mazatlan, Mexico

7. Colorado Springs, Colorado

8. Shoalhaven, Australia

9. Wroclaw, Poland

10. Mudgee, Australia

11. Annecy, France

12. Jeju Island, South Korea

13. Tromso, Norway

14. Ubatuba, Brazil

15. Dresden, Germany 

16. Elba Island, Italy 

17. Maastricht, Netherlands

18. La Rochelle, France

19. Lugano, Switzerland

20. Male, Maldives

21. Miyakojima, Japan

22. Tobermory, Canada

23. Alexandria, Egypt

24. Mar del Plata, Argentina

25. Dunedin, New Zealand

POPULAR NATIONAL PARKS – WORLD

1. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

2. Jim Corbett National Park, India

3. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

4. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

5. Kruger National Park, South Africa

6. Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

7. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

8. Zion National Park, Utah

9. Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

10. Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

11. Yorkshire Dales National Park

12. Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania

13. Bandhavgarh National Park, India

14. Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

15. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam

16. Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

17. Vatnajokull National Park, Iceland

18. Freycinet, Australia

19. Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

20. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

21. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

22. Westland National Park (Te Wahipounamu), New Zealand

23. Banff National Park, Canada

24. Peak District National Park

25. Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, Brazil

POPULAR NATIONAL PARKS – EUROPE

1. Yorkshire Dales National Park

2. Vatnajokull National Park, Iceland

3. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

4. Peak District National Park

5. New Forest National Park, Hampshire

6. Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, Spain

7. Sierra Nevada National Park, Spain

8. Uludag National Park, Turkey

9. Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park, Spain

10. Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, Italy

POPULAR NATIONAL PARKS – UNITED STATES

1. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

2. Grand Canyon National Pak, Arizona

3. Zion National Park, Utah

4. Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

5. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

6. Glacier National Park, Montana

7. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

8. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

9. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

10. Yosemite National Park, California

Source: Tripadvisor. The Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards honour travellers’ favourite destinations worldwide based on reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants, and things to do in destinations worldwide over a 12-month period (December 1, 2019 – November 30, 2020) from Tripadvisor travellers. The awards take into account the quality and quantity of traveller reviews and ratings. 

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Pictured here is Martinique in the Caribbean, the top-ranked Emerging Destination

Panama City Beach in Florida, pictured, is No2 on the worldwide Emerging Destinations list

Brazil’s Armacao dos Buzios, pictured, takes the bronze podium position in the Emerging Destinations category

Cornwall’s St Ives is named fifth in the worldwide Emerging Destinations ranking. ‘St Ives is a well-loved and long-established tourist haven, with its picturesque harbour, beautiful beaches and buzzing art scene,’ Tripadvisor said

Sixth on the Emerging list is Mazatlan in Mexico, pictured. It boasts 20km (12 miles) of inviting sandy beaches

The Popular Destinations category ‘honours the locations that are the most popular among Tripadvisor reviewers’. The methodology ‘takes into account quality and volume of reviews to surface destinations that consistently deliver the best overall experience for travellers’.

In third place in this category is Dubai, followed by Rome (fourth), Paris (fifth), Hanoi (sixth), Crete (seventh), Bangkok (eighth), Barcelona (ninth), and Istanbul (10th).

The highest-placed U.S destination on this list is New York, in 22nd.

The Trending Destinations category ‘honours the locations that showed the greatest year-over-year increase in positive traveller reviews and ratings for accommodations, restaurants, and things to do’. Cabo San Lucas in Mexico (pictured) tops the world list

The French island of Corsica, pictured, is No2 in the global Trending Destinations ranking

Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is the top U.S Trending destination and comes fifth on the global list

Queenstown in New Zealand, which sits amid truly jaw-dropping scenery, is sixth in the Trending ranking worldwide

Matera in Italy comes 17th on the worldwide Trending list. It’s regarded by many as one of Italy’s most breathtaking places

The Trending Destinations category ‘honours the locations that showed the greatest year-over-year increase in positive traveller reviews and ratings for accommodations, restaurants, and things to do’.

In another victory for Yorkshire this year, York ranks 22nd on this list. Cabo San Lucas in Mexico tops the world list, while Corsica in France and Doha in Qatar take second and third place respectively.

Fourth on this list goes to Sanya in China, with Gatlinburg in Tennessee – home to a ski resort and the longest footbridge in the U.S – claiming fifth. 

The rest of the list comprises Queenstown, New Zealand (sixth); Tulum in Mexico (seventh); Natal in Brazil (eighth); Kas in Turkey (ninth) and Guadeloupe in the Caribbean (10th).

Serengeti National Park in Tanzania claims gold in the National Parks list

Grand Teton National Park is ranked No1 in the National Parks category for America, and fourth globally 

The Yorkshire Dales National Park (pictured) has been named the No1 national park in Europe and 11th-best in the world

And looping back to the National Parks category, Tripadvisor reveals that the Peak District National Park places fourth in Europe and 24th in the world, with the New Forest National Park in Hampshire taking the fifth spot among Europe’s best.

The rest of the world top 10 National Parks category is made up of the Jim Corbett National Park in India (second); the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya (third); Kruger National Park in South Africa (fifth); Arenal Volcano National Park in Costa Rica (sixth); Grand Canyon National Park in the U.S (seventh); Zion National Park in the U.S (eighth); Torres del Paine National Park (ninth) and Fiordland National Park in New Zealand (10th).

Hayley Coleman said: ‘With indoor activities mostly off the table in 2020, travellers headed for the great outdoors and according to a recent survey of Tripadvisor travellers, more than half (52 per cent) say they are more likely to take an outdoor or nature trip than they were before the pandemic. With this in mind, it seemed timely to introduce this year’s new category, National Parks. While the pandemic has been incredibly tough in lots of ways, one positive that we can take away is that it has unleashed a newfound love of getting back to nature for many of us.’