The Best Places I Visited in 2022

2022 has been an incredible year for travel. After two difficult years during the pandemic, travel is back with a vengeance – and I took some of the best trips of my life this year! I always like to write up one of these yearly recap posts about the best places I visited during the year. (You can also read my top travel experiences and worst travel moments in 2022, too!) There’s no specific criteria for what makes the list. They can be a city or a country or a region, they can be a destination I’ve never been to before or one I’ve already visited. I just have to have enjoyed visiting them.

In 2016, I chose Zambia and New York City for my top picks. In 2017, it was Russia and the Lake District in England. For 2018, I picked Georgia and Iceland. In 2019, I loved my trips to Albania, the Isle of Skye in Scotland, and the Canadian Rockies. I didn’t write yearly recap posts for 2020 or 2021, for obvious reasons, so this is my first roundup in a few years. Here are the best places I visited in 2022!

Orkney, Scotland

Orkney is now probably my favorite place I’ve been in the world. It’s not all that easy to get to, but if you make the trip there you’ll certainly be rewarded. After driving up the north coast of Scotland, I took the ferry to Stromness for just over a week exploring the Mainland, Hoy, Papa Westray, and Westray. There is so much ancient history here, plus beautiful coastal hikes, stunning beaches, and the friendliest people. Island life is different to what I grew up with, but it’s simply the most unique place to visit in the UK. I can’t say enough good things about Orkney – just go. You won’t regret it, I promise.

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Greece

I waited a long time for my trip to Greece. The trip was booked twice and canceled twice before I finally set off for the trip of my dreams in September 2022. I spent a week and a half in Athens, Santorini, and Paros, and absolutely need to go back and see more. I loved the history of Athens, the picture-perfect caldera villages on Santorini, and the pristine beaches on Paros. There is a reason why everyone wants to go island-hopping around Greece – because it’s simply amazing. I know that Greece will be a destination I keep returning to, year after year.

Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

I spent six days roadtripping, wild camping, and hiking around the Cairngorms over Easter. It was my first trip to this part of Scotland – and there truly is so much to see and do around here! The scenery is stunning, all rugged mountain peaks and pretty lochs. I couldn’t do as many mountain hikes as I originally wanted due to snow and weather, so I know I’ll be back again. It’s a fantastic choice for spending time outdoors and going off the grid. I loved staying in so many bothies on this trip, too!

The Scottish Highlands

While I feel like this is a cop-out, I also can’t write a post like this without talking about my hike along the West Highland Way. This 96-mile trail starts outside Glasgow, in Milngavie, and finishes in Fort William – deep in the Scottish Highlands. If you haven’t been to this part of Scotland yet, have you really experienced the Highlands?! Dramatic scenery, lochs and glens and moors, interspersed with cozy villages and towns. While I’ve driven through this route before, hiking it was even better. The descent into Glencoe, with the sun streaming through the jagged mountain peaks, on a path lined with purple heather, was a moment I’ll never forget.

New Orleans, USA

There’s a reason everyone wants to visit NOLA – it’s SO MUCH FUN! What a wild destination. There’s nothing like listening to jazz music here, and you can find good music around any corner. The food scene is unreal – beignets, po’boys, muffalettos, plus Southern classics like gumbo, jambalaya, banana fosters, and turtle soup. There’s no party like a Bourbon Street party. If you want to get a taste of European architecture in the US, wander around the French Quarter – then head to the Garden District and pretend you’re rich enough to buy all the pretty houses there. New Orleans is probably my top pick for a long weekend trip in the US.

Marrakech, Morocco

I booked my trip to Marrakech because it had the cheapest flights on the days I wanted. I wanted to visit a new country, and I wanted it to be warm. So off I flew to Marrakech, and WOW! The city is chaotic and overwhelming, but full of history and beautiful architecture. I loved listening to the call to prayer from my hostel rooftop around sunset each night. I spent one day in the Atlas Mountains and the Agafay Desert, learning about Berber culture and riding a camel for the first time ever! This was truly a different destination for me, but I’m so glad I went.

Lake District, England

Of course, this post wouldn’t be complete without a mention of the Lake District, my favorite place in the world. I had two wonderful trips to the Lakes this year, both of which were excellent (as always). I bagged Wainwrights and wild camped in July, before spending my 30th birthday popping a bottle on top of a mountain in September. I visited Kentmere, an entirely new area for me, and returned to Wasdale – somewhere I haven’t been since 2018. I swam in Derwentwater and Wastwater and stunning waterfalls. I could spend a lifetime here and still not get sick of it. To me, it’s the most beautiful place on earth.

Howgills/Cumbrian Yorkshire Dales, England

Despite the fact that this area is just over 2 hours from where I live, I’d never been to this part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. I had the best weekend hiking the Howgill Fells and exploring the Cumbrian part of the national park. Nine Standards Rigg, Wild Boar Fell, Cautley Spout, the Calf, Sedbergh, and Kirkby Stephen were all major highlights from my trip here. I definitely need to come back here!

Farne Islands, England

Located just off the coast of Northumberland, the Farne Islands are famous for one main reason: seabirds. This is one of the top spots for birdwatching and wildlife spotting in England, with seabirds returning each year to nest along the coasts. I loved getting to see all the puffins here – there are so many here, it’s just unbelievable! But even if you don’t like puffins or birds, it’s still fun to take the boat trip out and walk around the islands.

York, England

And of course, there’s no place like home. This year marked 6 years of me living in York, the most beautiful city in the world. I’m so grateful to call this place home. The historic architecture and charming cobblestone streets wow me every day. I still haven’t normalized it – living and breathing amongst so much beauty. I am still discovering new places in the city, still finding places I haven’t been. It truly has so much to offer, whether you live here or are just visiting for a short time. If you haven’t been yet, now is the time to go!

Read More: All of my York posts!

A lot of my travels in 2022 were closer to home, in the UK. But those trips were just as meaningful and adventurous as some of my experiences further abroad! With an exciting new adventure on the horizon as I head to Australia at the beginning of 2023, I know there will be lots fun destinations to explore soon.

Thank you for following along with all my adventures this year!

What were the best places you visited in 2022?

You might also like my posts:

My Top Travel Experiences of 2022

My Worst Travel Moments of 2022

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