My 2023 trips: a year in review
Another year is about to go by, and it’s time to reflect on the destinations that I visited this year and to start dreaming about the ones I’ll be exploring in 2024. The last twelve months were incredibly busy year in terms of trips. Here’s my 2023 travel review of the year!
***
***
Check out all the Lonely Planet travel guidebooks that I’ve used for my trips. They’re great for inspiration and preparation before heading to your next destination!
My year in review: 2023 travel recap
Before diving into the details of each destination I traveled to this year, let me break down those trips month by month for a quick overview.
👇 Below is a recap of my 2023:
- January 🎿: I kicked off the year with a friend visiting my new place. I took him to San Sebastián to celebrate the Tamborrada and eat at a traditional ´sidrería´. I also traveled to Jaca and Formigal in Aragón (Spain) to ski with my family.
- February 🎉: I went on a weekend trip to Vitoria, and I celebrated Carnival as well as a family birthday in Barcelona (Spain).
- March 📸: I spent a couple of weeks exploring the fascinating country of Ethiopia 🇪🇹 with some friends and on our way back, we stopped over in Istanbul.
- April 💃: being able to blend in as a ‘sevillana’ during the Feria de Abril in Sevilla was an absolute highlight! I also went to a show in Biarritz and we celebrated one of my favorite traditions: ´opilla´.
- May 👩💻: I traveled to Bilbao (Spain) twice, first to attend a concert and then on a work trip.
- June ☀️: I spent a week on holidays in Mallorca with my family, and we also celebrated San Marcial back in my hometown, Irún 🔴⚫⚪.
- July 🥾: we welcomed the Tour de France, I hiked three stages of the Camino del Norte and I was busy the remainder of the month hosting and catching up with friends.
- August 🚗: this was also a hectic summer month with a number of friends and family members visiting from Córdoba, Valencia or Valladolid. I took them around the Basque Country and Navarre.
- September 🎈: this is typically a month of celebrations, including my birthday and the Alarde in neighboring Hondarribia🥁.
- October 🍕: I finally returned to my beloved Italy, including Sicily and Rome, after way too many years! I also made short stopovers in Barcelona and Santander.
- November 👣: I spent five days exploring Barcelona (Spain) at my own pace.
- December 💻: I traveled to Washington DC (USA) on a work trip and I wrapped up 2023 in Andalusia with my family.
In terms of destinations, here´s the full list sorted by country and also including the regions that I visited. You will also find them color-coded in a map under the section ´Where I traveled in 2023´.
Countries traveled in 2023: 6 (see below)
- Ethiopia: Addis Ababa, Lalibela, Omo Valley.
- France: Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
- Italy: Lazio, Sicily.
- Spain: Andalusia, Aragón, Balearic Islands, Basque Country, Catalonia, Navarre.
- Turkey: Istanbul.
- USA: District of Columbia, Virginia.
🗓️ After spending most of 2022 at home because I was busy renovating my apartment in Irún, this year was all about enjoying life, welcoming family and friends at my new place and traveling around the world again like in the good old days. 🙂
As a result, 2023 has been an extremely BUSY year to say the least, filled with new adventures, attending my fair share of concerts, exploring countries old and new and reuniting with loved ones along the way. Here´s the reels video recap on my Instagram account in case you´d like to take a look.
Browse my other travel recaps.
My 2024 trips: a year in review
Nordic countries travel guide: top things to do in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden
2023 year in review, trips by month
Now, let´s dive into the details of each specific month. For your ease of reference, for each month I included the countries and regions I visited.
January 2023: Spain 🇪🇸 (Aragón)
To kick off a busy year at my brand new place, I welcomed a friend from the Canary Islands that I met during my days in Washington DC. While he was here, we explored the nearby French Basque Country, ate ´pintxos´ (the equivalent of tapas) and dined at a traditional ´sidrería´ in Astigarraga (Ipintza), where you can taste the Basque gastronomy at its best. We also celebrated the Tamborrada in San Sebastián, a yearly drum festival that takes place in the capital of Guipúzcoa and lasts for 24 hours, from midnight on January 19th to January 20th. This vibrant and iconic drum parade honors the city’s patron saint, Saint Sebastian. Kids, men and women dress in colorful, traditional costumes, marching through the city representing different gastronomical associations (called ´sociedades´) or schools.
I also started a photography course in my hometown (Irún), which was a lot of fun despite the freezing winter temperatures!
Towards the end of the month, I traveled to Jaca and Formigal in the Spanish region of Aragón to ski with my family.
Browse these other ski destinations.
February 2023: Spain 🇪🇸 (Basque Country and Catalonia)
At the beginning of February, I went to Vitoria on a weekend trip to visit a good friend of mine. If you´ve been following me for a while, you might recall she´s actually the one I visited in California when I was living in Washington DC. 🙂
Literally the week after, she stayed at my place in Irún and we went to another ´sidrería´ (Altzueta in Hernani) to take advantage of the cider season. I also headed to San Sebastián to see a cousin of mine.
We celebrated Carnival back home, and then I spent a few days with my family in Barcelona to celebrate my Dad’s birthday together with his twin brother. This would be my first visit out of the three trips I did to Catalonia this year! This time around, we basically ate delicious homemade food and had fun together since the weather was not so great.
During our stay in Barcelona, we visited Abadía de Montserrat, an abbey built in the 11th century on top of the imposing Montserrat mountain range. Pilgrims and tourists alike flock to this site to venerate Our Lady of Montserrat, also known as La Moreneta (the dark one) and listen to the prestigious boy’s choir. You can reach the top by foot, car, train or cable car. Don’t forget to enjoy the view when you finally get there!
Read more Catalonia content.
Where to eat and drink in Barcelona: my favorite spots (+map)
March 2023: Ethiopia 🇪🇹 & Turkey 🇹🇷
After months of planning and dreaming about this trip, I finally managed to visit Ethiopia with a couple of friends from my expat years in Washington, D.C.. It was a memorable adventure to say the least!
Unsurprisingly, this landlocked African country lived up to the hype. Indeed, Ethiopia has a lot to offer, from ancient heritage and fascinating culture, to breathtaking landscapes and delicious food. During our 2-week itinerary, we visited the bustling capital of Ethiopia (Addis Ababa), the spiritual city of Lalibela and its famous rock-hewn churches considered a UNESCO site, as well as various national parks in the southern part of the country and the tribal villages of the Omo Valley. On our way back, we stopped over in Istanbul.
Throughout the trip, I used this Ethiopia & Djibouti guidebook by Lonely Planet to plan our stay and make the most out of it. I hope you’ll find it helpful too!
Browse my Ethiopia destination page for more content about this fascinating country!
Ethiopia itinerary in 2 weeks & travel tips
Ethiopia trip highlights: my top 7 experiences
Exploring southern Ethiopia: ethnic tribes of the Omo Valley & safaris in national parks
Lalibela, a mystical UNESCO World Heritage site
What to do in Addis Ababa, the bustling capital of Ethiopia
April 2023: Spain 🇪🇸 (Andalusia)
Every year, Sevilla becomes the city that never sleeps for a week. During those days, locals and visitors flock to ‘El Real de la Feria‘, a vast outdoor complex set for the occasion, to enjoy life dancing sevillanas, drinking rebujito and meeting with friends and family. I spent four days in Sevilla during the Feria de Abril, and I had a blast with my friends!
During that month, I also went to a show in Biarritz and we celebrated one of my favorite traditions: ´opilla´. This special cake is given (or baked) by godmothers to their godchildren on April 25 while they are single.
Browse all my posts on Andalusia.
A guide to the Feria de Abril in Sevilla (Spain)
El Caminito del Rey: the most popular hiking trail in Málaga
El Saltillo: hiking the Gran Senda de Málaga from Canillas de Aceituno
Top things to do in Málaga, the capital of Costa del Sol (+ map)
Top things to do in Sierra de Aracena (Huelva): travel guide + map
What to see in the Málaga province: 12 destinations inland & along Costa del Sol
May 2023: Spain 🇪🇸 (Basque Country)
Over the month of May, I traveled to Bilbao twice, first to attend a Hans Zimmer concert with some friends and then on a work trip on the occasion of a Conference.
This is actually the capital of the Vizcaya province and the largest city in the Basque Country; a few attractions worth mentioning here include the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum or the Deusto University.
Curious about my other work trips?
Cote d’Azur: 7 places to visit along the French Riviera from St-Tropez to Menton
European escape (part I) – Vienna
Galicia: Santiago de Compostela, la Coruña and Pontevedra
Things to do in Marseille, the Mediterranean capital of the Provence–Alpes–Côte d’Azur region
June 2023: Spain 🇪🇸 (Balearic Islands)
Every two years, we spend a week on holidays in Mallorca with my family. It´s always a joy to travel to the Balearic Islands, take it easy and enjoy the Mediterranean weather before the busy summer seasons kicks off.
Browse these Mediterranean destinations to get inspired.
France (Provence–Alpes–Côte d’Azur)
Spain (Andalusia, Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Valencian Community)
UK (Gibraltar)
When we came back from Mallorca, it was already the best time of the year, at least in my humble opinion. During the month of June my hometown slowly but surely gets into celebration mode. Every June 30th, we mark San Marcial in Irún. This military parade commemorates the victory of Spanish troops over the French enemy back in 1522. If you’d like to know more about this historic celebration, including key words and dates to be aware of and how to get dressed for this special occasion, you can read my post about the ´Alarde´.
July 2023: summer staycation in Spain 🇪🇸 & France 🇫🇷
Despite being officially on holidays, July was a busy month with lots of reunions with friends, both at home and in the surrounding area.
To start off, we welcomed the Tour de France as it passed the border between Spain and France. It was incredible seeing the professional bikers even for a fraction of a second! As you may know, this biking competition ends every year at the famous Champs Élysées in Paris.
Then, I had the chance of joining some friends along the first stages of the Camino del Norte for three days, from Irún to Deba. Out of the many routes that make up the legendary Camino de Santiago, this leg (also known as the Northern Way) is one of the most primitive trails. The itinerary runs along the Atlantic coast in northern Spain until Galicia, before turning southwest all the way to Santiago de Compostela.
Moreover, I had great fun catching up and welcoming friends during the summer. I visited San Sebastián various times, including a few Jazzaldia concerts and discovering San Telmo Museoa, a local gem. I also hosted my girlfriends from the Ethiopia trip earlier this year; we had a blast going to the beach in Hendaye, wandering around Hondarribia, the French Basque Country and Pamplona or exploring the medieval castle of Olite in Navarre.
Check out these beach destinations around the world!
A fun Memorial weekend in Philadelphia, Six Flags & Rehoboth Beach
Spring break road trip (part III): northern Florida
The perfect summer day trip: Bidart & Biarritz
What to do in the Cádiz province (Costa de la Luz): Barbate, Tarifa, Trafalgar & Vejer
August 2023: summer staycation in Spain 🇪🇸 (Basque Country and Navarre)
Pretty much as in July, the month of August was also a busy one with a number of friends and family members visiting from Córdoba, Valencia or Valladolid.
I took them around the Basque Country, including the beach in Hondarribia or the city of Vitoria and the nearby reservoir of Ullibarri-Gamboa, and Navarre, where we enjoyed exploring the villages of Arantza, Bera, Elizondo, Etxalar, Lesaka, Urdiain or Ziga at a tranquil pace.
Get inspired by these destinations I visited in the summer.
Family road trip: New York + Long Island, Boston, Niagara Falls, Amish territory + Philadelphia, Toronto
Top things to do in Sierra de Aracena (Huelva): travel guide + map
September 2023: celebrating life at home (Spain 🇪🇸 & France 🇫🇷)
This is typically a(nother) month of celebrations, including my birthday and the Alarde in neighboring Hondarribia🥁. Other than that, I also went to the beach in Hendaye (my favorite spot on earth!) and I wandered around San Sebastián during the International Film Festival taking place in the city.
In other news, it was time to bid farewell to the summer period and welcome the fall!
Visit these destinations during the crisp fall season.
Biking along the C&O Canal in the fall
Fall vibes: Montreal in a weekend
October 2023: Spain 🇪🇸 & Italy 🇮🇹
After way too many years, I finally returned to my beloved Italy in October!
With a short stopover in Barcelona to attend a Blink 182 concert first, I then traveled to Sicily with my family. During our 8-day Sicilian itinerary, we explored the capital city of Palermo, as well as Monreale, Agrigento, Caltagirone, Modica, Ragusa, Noto, Siracusa, Catania, Taormina and Cefalú. We ate our way through this Mediterranean island while enjoying an extended summer. 🙂
A few days after our return, I flew from Santander to Rome with one of my best friends. As you may recall, I spent a year living in the Italian capital thanks to an Erasmus fellowship and we hadn´t had the chance to come back since 2009! It was incredible to reminisce so many memories while walking around the beautiful squares and monuments, eating delicious food and gelati, and enjoying panoramic views of the Eternal City.
Read all my posts about Italy!
12 things to see and do in Rome
The best panoramic views of Rome
What to see in Sicily (Erasmus edition)
November 2023: Spain 🇪🇸 (Catalonia)
In November, I went on my third trip to Barcelona in 2023 after the previous ones back in February and October. This time around, I spent five days exploring the city at my own pace while crashing at a friend´s. I loved being able to enjoy mouthwatering places to eat, discover hidden gems and visit breathtaking museums.
Get to know other regions throughout Spain!
December 2023: USA 🇺🇸 & Spain 🇪🇸
To wrap up an intense 2023, I organized a family gathering in Irún with some of my cousins. It was great to be reunited after so long, since a few of them live in Barcelona or Madrid.
In mid-December, I traveled to Washington DC for a work retreat in the USA. I loved catching up with colleagues and friends for a few days while enjoying the Christmas lights and decorations throughout the city. I also wandered around Alexandria, a perfect day trip when visiting the nation’s capital if you ask me!
Read all my posts about Washington DC & Alexandria!
9 things to see and do in Alexandria (Virginia)
10 series & films to travel while binge-watching
Biking along the C&O Canal in the fall
Embassy Row & the National Cathedral
Exploring Georgetown (part II)
The beautiful Cherry Blossom in Washington DC
The Memorials along the Tidal Basin
Last but not least, I couldn’t find a better way to bid farewell to this busy 2023 than by traveling again 😉. This time around, I did a family trip to Andalusia, in southern Spain. During our week there, we visited the beautiful cities of Granada and Málaga, as well as the coastal villages of Benalmádena, El Rincón de la Victoria and Mijas. To finish on a high note and enjoy the sunny weather in Costa del Sol, we also hiked to El Saltillo suspension bridge from Canillas de Aceituno. It was the perfect day trip before heading into 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣ !
Where I traveled in 2023
For your ease of reference, in the map below you will find all the destinations mentioned throughout this post, sorted and color-coded by country.
My travel plans for 2024
After an intense year of traveling back and forth around the world, I feel like I need to slow down in 2024. That’s why I’m planning on venturing less during the next few months and actually catch up on publishing new content on this blog. Stay tuned!
Nevertheless, below are some of my tentative trips for 2024. I can’t help it! 🙂
- A ski trip somewhere in Spain or France.
- Reunion with our Erasmus crew, ideally back in Rome.
- Visiting friends and family in Argentina, Austria (Vienna), Belgium (Brussels) and Spain (Cuenca, Guadalajara, Madrid, Valencia, the Canary Islands).
I hope you also had a wonderful year full of travel adventures around the world and that you enjoyed this year in review. Which were your favorite trips in 2023, and what you are up too next? Wishing you all the very best for 2024!
***
✈ Stay tuned by following me on social media (Facebook, Instagram, X) and subscribe to my newsletter for regular updates!
In the meantime, safe travels around the world!
***
| GET READY FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP! |
|---|
| Browse my travel resources page to plan your upcoming trip. |
| Feeling adventurous? Book any outdoor activities worldwide with Manawa! |
| Get medical or health insurance via SafetyWing for extra peace of mind. |
| Looking for sports equipment? Feel free to browse my Decathlon profile for inspiration. |
| Use the comprehensive and helpful Anaya Touring or Lonely Planet travel guidebooks to plan your trip. |
| Book memorable activities and tours around the world with Get Your Guide. |
