3 inspiring city destinations for 2023

Discover the most inspiring destinations at the intersection of creativity, culture and sustainability for 2023.

Each year, the WGSN City by City team highlights the up-and-coming places from around the world in our annual report. See the full list in Cities to Watch 2023, which reflects the bigger trend seen worldwide of the rise in digital nomads post-pandemic, against the backdrop of the cost-of-living crisis. 

Want a sneak peek? Listen to this podcast led by WGSN’s Executive Editorial Director Bethan Ryder, spotlighting the cities that should be on your radar for 2023. Hear the tunes from a live music scene, immerse in the cafe culture and experience the slow living lifestyle through the words of our in-house experts Joanna McGinn, Charlotte Chan and Raeesa Brey.

1. New Orleans, Louisiana

“It has a unique culture that draws on African-Caribbean heritage and voodoo heritage, and lots of places there reflect this energy. One place is Haus of Hoodoo, which is a kind of apothecary shop run by a ‘voodoo priestess’ called Jessyka Winston. It provides an authentic lens into the practices of voodoo, so you can find conjuring candles and ritual baths and even book a spiritual consultation. There’s also a similar feel within the food and drink scene in the city –  a whimsical magical feel runs through it.”
– Joanna McGinn, Editor, WGSN City by City

2. Jeju, South Korea

“Jeju has one of the busiest airline routes during the pandemic globally, the flight from Seoul to Jeju is one of the busiest. When I was there, I could feel the vibe is really different from the busy Korean life in Seoul, in Busan, and it is more aligned with what we’ve mentioned on Insight about conscious travel. It is very focused on local produce.”
– Charlotte Chan, Strategist, WGSN City by City

3. Kigali, Rwanda

“Keep an eye out for Kigali and Rwanda for the sustainability focus from the government. Acting sustainably and just being conscious of those around you to leave the place as if you would find it, that is the mentality in Kigali and Rwanda as a whole.”
– Raeesa Brey, Researcher, WGSN

To hear the full discussion, tune into episode 68 of our Create Tomorrow podcast, Cities to Watch 2023: Voodoo Heritage to Vegan Cuisine, on Anchor, Apple and Spotify.