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There are nearly 200 countries in the world. Each with dozens of towns and cities that are worth visiting. That’s a lot of places to travel!
How do you decide where to go? Start with this list of 27 places to visit.
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Cape Town, South Africa [Africa]
Cape Town is an easy city to fall in love with. There’s SO MUCH to do, you’ll want to spend longer here than other cities.
Cape Town offers something for everyone – from stunning nature (and all the activities that go along with it) to all the urban delights (museums, street art, shopping, and more).
All in all, Cape Town is worth a visit for anyone. What are you waiting for? Book that ticket!
Cairo, Egypt [Africa]
Cairo is a sprawling metropolis, but the main draw is its proximity to the Pyramids. When planning a trip to Egypt, that’s what you want.
There are other places in Egypt worth visiting, and many travelers recommend using a tour company.
Madagascar [Africa]
Madagascar is a remote country (which makes flights rather pricey). This keeps tourism numbers significantly lower – which is a bonus. Madagascar is a great place to travel for a lot of reasons.
Madagascar is home to some awesome sights that aren’t swarmed by tourists (yet). Take advantage and book yourself a flight to see Baobabs, pristine beaches, lemurs, stunning scenery, and more!
Marrakech, Morocco [Africa]
Marrakech (or Marrakesh) is a popular city for tourists to visit because of its proximity to a large number of Morrocan tourist attractions.
Marrakech is a unique city where you can find a little bit of everything. There’s plenty to do and you won’t regret making the trip.
Tanzania & Zanzibar [Africa]
Zanzibar is a tiny island country just off the coast of Tanzania. It’s home to some of the most stunning beaches in the world.
Tanzania is a country full of wildlife like giraffes, elephants, lions, and more.
Visiting Tanzania & Zanzibar is great for beach, nature, and animal lovers. Start planning your trip today!
Bangkok, Thailand [Asia]
My first ever solo travel trip started in Bangkok. It was phenomenal and it’s held a special place in my heart ever since. However, it can be an overwhelming, messy, difficult to navigate city and that turns a lot of people off.
Bangkok’s tourist attractions are spread around the city. Rather than hopping around, do a little bit of planning before you get started so you can see all the sights in each area.
I’d highly recommend traveling by water taxi whenever possible (it’s public transit that’s dirt cheap and a lot of fun).
Da Nang, Vietnam [Asia]
Da Nang is a seriously underrated destination in Vietnam. The nearby town of Hoi An (which is lovely and worth spending a day or two in) gets all the attention.
Don’t skip Da Nang! There’s tons of awesome stuff and it’s a lot less crowded than neighboring Hoi An.
Palawan, Philippines [Asia]
Palawan is a Philippines island in the South-West. It has some of the most beautiful scenery you’ll find. Palawan would be my top destination for beach lovers.
That being said digestive issues are extremely common in El Nido. I’d still recommend going, but be a little more vigilant about what you’re eating/drinking.
The island tours in Port Barton are better than the ones in El Nido (but El Nido is still stunning). When I was there, there was only 1 scuba company in Port Barton and they were booked (so book in advance if you’re heading that way). Scuba diving in El Nido was phenomenal!
Taipei, Taiwan [Asia]
Visit Taipei. Seriously. It’s my absolute favorite Asian city and one of my favorite places to travel overall!
Taipei is a wonderful melting pot of old meets new.
It’s a large city that feels like a midsize town. It’s so easy to get around, the transit is wonderful, cabs are inexpensive, walking is possible (if you’re not leaving a neighborhood).
The night markets are amazing. Especially the food. So much delicious food.
Tokyo, Japan [Asia]
Tokyo is a vibrant, unique city. There’s tons of cool stuff to do (a lot of which would be uncommon or unavailable in other cities).
Tokyo Tower was inspired by the Eiffel Tower (and is pictured all lit up above). It’s the second tallest structure in Tokyo but worth a visit. Try to go around sunset so you can see the city in daylight and night.
Amsterdam, Netherlands [Europe]
Amsterdam is a popular European city for good reason. It’s a mecca of food, history, art, and more.
Make sure to give yourself ample time to explore the canals (on foot and take a cruise).
Brussels, Belgium [Europe]
Brussels is a beautiful, inexpensive European city with a lot to offer.
Brussels is the ‘capital’ of the EU but there’s a lot more to the city than just politics. It has fabulous architecture, delicious food, and a lot of attractions. Plus, it’s significantly less expensive than a lot of other European cities.
Budapest, Hungary [Europe]
Until 1873, Budapest was two separate cities: Buda and Pest. The former cities were separated by the Danube River which still runs through the center of the city.
There are tons of things to do in Budapest. It’s one of Europe’s most charming cities. Try taking a night cruise along the Danube to get great views of the city lit up at night.
Prague, Czech Republic [Europe]
Prague is a city of gothic architecture and poetic skylines. But that’s not all it is!
There are so many amazing things to see and do in Prague. It’s also a budget-friendly European city.
Spend some time walking the city on foot and keep your eyes open for interesting architecture.
Vienna, Austria [Europe]
Vienna is a large city in a small country – nearly 1/3rd of Austria’s population resides in Vienna & it’s surrounding metro area.
Mozart & Freud were both from Vienna. Be sure to check out Mozarthaus Vienna (where Mozart lived) and the Sigmund Freud Museum while you’re in Vienna.
Alaska, USA [N. America]
Alaska is a state in the USA and not just any state, the largest. Alaska is so big that if it was a country it would be the 33rd largest country in the world!
Alaska is also a remote country with extreme winters. These three things (size, location, season) are important to consider when planning a trip. But you should plan a trip here. Alaska is one of the best places to travel in the USA.
Alaska is a stunning place with rugged mountains, beautiful coastlines, and the opportunity to see the Northern Lights (aka the Aurora Borealis).
Hawaii, USA [N. America]
Hawaii is an island state in the USA. It’s made up of 8 official islands (plus numerous unofficial ones).
Oahu is the most visited island but it’s not the only one you should consider visiting. In fact, one of the biggest bucket list items (volcano!) for people is on the Big Island.
Oaxaca (City), Mexico [N. America]
Oaxaca is a city in Southern Mexico. It’s the capital of the Oaxaca province and it’s important not to confuse them. The province is home to miles of beautiful coast and stunning beaches but the City of Oaxaca is a far ride from the coast.
The City of Oaxaca has a lot of amazing, authentic things to do. It’s a large city that has a small-city feel.
One of the top reasons to visit is the proximity to some amazing ruins. The ruins of Monte Alban are a full day-trip from Oaxaca but it’s worth it. Seriously, go!
Quebec City, Canada [N. America]
Quebec City is the capital of the province of Quebec in Canada. The official language of Quebec is French. People will speak English in the city and anywhere frequented by tourists.
Be sure to check out the Ramparts (fortified city walls). They’re the only remaining ones in Canada and the USA and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Roatan, Honduras [N. America]
Roatan is a very popular dive island. Most of the tourists to Roatan arrive for diving or on a cruise ship stop.
This makes sense since you’ll find the world’s second-largest coral reef on Roatan. If you’re not interested in Scuba Diving, you can see the reef by snorkeling.
There are plenty of non-diving activities on Roatan, but they’re almost all water-based. If you’re not interested in the beach and water activities, you might want to give Roatan a pass.
East Coast, Australia [Oceania]
The east coast of Australia stretches from Cairns in the north to Sydney in the south (about 600km / 375 miles).
It’s popular for tourists (on longer trips) to drive the entire east coast of Australia. You can rent a car, camper van, take the bus, or a tour.
There’s so much to see and do in Australia. Check out the whole east coast or choose a city or two to base yourself in.
North Island, New Zealand [Oceania]
The North Island of New Zealand is underrated by tourists (who typically flock to the South Island). It’s a shame because the North Island is spectacular.
The most famous attraction on the North Island is the Hobbiton movie set. But that’s not the only thing to do on the North Island. Be sure to check out some of the stunning beaches, waterfalls, and hiking options.
Cartagena, Columbia [S. America]
The city of Cartagena is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and with good reason. Cartagena offers it all – beaches, urban sights, history, architecture, nature. You name it and you can find it in Cartagena.
Cusco, Peru [S. America]
Cusco is (another) UNESCO World Heritage site. Most people end up in Cusco as the starting point to Machu Picchu. While you should definitely go to Machu Picchu, don’t let that be the only reason you visit Cusco.
Cusco offers plenty of things to do in the city and a lot of options for day-trips. You should try to make time for the Salinas de Maras (Salt Mines of Maras).
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador [S. America]
The Galapagos Islands are known as an expensive destination but that doesn’t have to be the case.
Most of the activities on the Galapagos involve beaches, nature, and water. There’s beautiful snorkeling (and diving), cool wildlife, and amazing scenery.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [S. America]
Rio de Janeiro is a breathtaking city that has everything (including a rainforest). It’s one of the most popular cities in South America for a reason.
Do you like Central Park in New York? Then you definitely shouldn’t miss Tijuca Forest in Rio. Tijuca Forest is a man-made National Park that contains a number of attractions (and cool wildlife). Check it out when you’re in Rio de Janeiro!
Santiago, Chile [S. America]
Chile has a reputation as an expensive destination. And it is expensive by South American standards. However, it’s cheaper than a lot of European cities.
Santiago is surrounded by the Andes mountains which means the scenery is stunning everywhere! Santiago has great tourism and plenty of things to do.
How Many Places to Travel for You?
This is by no means a complete list of places to travel. There are hundreds (or thousands!) more options out there.
But these 27 places all offer something amazing that you won’t regret. So get out there. Book a flight and go to one for your next vacation!
Not sure where to begin? Why not start with the 19+ Best Things to do in BANGKOK, THAILAND first.
Have you been to any of the places on this list? Let me know what you thought in the comments!
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