Almost everyone I know has a Bucket list. Whether it’s in their head or written down we all have a list of things we want to do and experience in our lives. We are going to share our bucket list (the list is very long and grows every day), how you can create yours, and we hope this gives you tons of travel bucket list ideas.
There is no “right” time to start traveling and crossing things off your bucket list. Bucket ideas can be endless. By having a bucket list you have set travel goals for yourself. So don’t wait, start your bucket list today.
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Contents
1. No Dream is too Big!
Would you believe me if I told you that you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down? Well, it’s true! I know for me I’m way more likely to get things done if I write myself a to-do list.
Write down anything that comes to mind big or small. There is so much of the world to see. I have huge travel dreams that I can’t wait to accomplish. When you see our list you may think I’m crazy. But again, we have to strive to achieve our dreams. Seeing them on paper makes me want to work harder to cross them off my list.
2. Get a Travel Journal
Ok, it can actually be any journal. I just feel more inspired when I’m writing in a cute notebook. Keeping your ideas in a notebook keeps your ideas all together (duh) and it makes it easy to take with you so you can write down more bucket list ideas whenever they come to mind.
If you aren’t a pen and paper kind of person you can always type your bucket list ideas. Although, didn’t we just say that it’s better to write them down? Do what’s best for you. I prefer pen and paper but I also have them typed in a Google doc.
3. Organize your Travel Journal
Divide your journal into sections and label each section by continent. You could even go as far as to write down each country every few lines (in the corresponding continent, of course.) That will make it easier and more organized for when you decide to visit a country you have everything in the same spot. This will help you plan your trips easier.
4. Brainstorm
Now we’re getting into the fun stuff. Get a separate piece of paper and brainstorm. I don’t do this in my journal because I like to keep it clean and organized. Only the final bucket list experiences I want to have are written in my journal.
Write down your past travel experiences. Places you’ve already been and things you’ve already done. Doing this helps you figure out what you like most when traveling. Do you like camping or do you prefer staying in a luxury hotel? Would you rather go hiking or spend your vacation laying on the beach? This will also help decide if you want to visit some destinations again or if you never want to visit a destination again.
After you write down your past experiences start jotting down all the places you’ve wanted to visit and things you’ve wanted to experience. Remember no dream is too big. Write down everything that comes to mind.
Now circle the things you want to add in your journal. This can be all the ideas you have written down or just some of them. Once you’ve done this you can start adding your ideas in the correct sections of your journal. I like to add experiences not just destinations. Why do you want to visit a certain destination? It’s much more meaningful to write “take a pasta class in Rome” than it is to write “Rome, Italy”. Anyone can write down every city in the world. We want to strive for the experiences. Yes, I’d love to travel to every state in the U.S. but I strive to experience hiking in the Grand Canyon.
5. Research
Now comes my favorite part, RESEARCH. This is not a onetime only step. The research is never over. I see new things to add to my list every day. Go Crazy! Look up all the amazing things you’ve heard of and see what interests you. You can also utilize Pinterest. There is an unlimited amount of ideas out there.
Note: Don’t think about money when doing this. You can always save money for travel. If you need some tips on how to save money for travel check out our post here. Also, remember you aren’t checking off all these things at once. You have time to plan and save money for them.
6. Prioritize Your Bucket List Ideas
Once you have written down a ton of ideas you need to prioritize. Circle or highlight (I prefer highlighting) your top bucket list ideas. We all want to achieve everything on our bucket list, but sometimes life happens and we can’t do everything. Highlight your top things in each destination. This will especially help when planning a trip. For example, you are going to Italy next month and you are trying to plan your trip. This is just an example, don’t wait till the month before to start planning your trip. What cities will you visit? What will you do and see? Well, maybe you have 4 bucket list items that are in Rome. So make Rome a must-stop on your list and cross off all 4 of those items in one trip.
You should also set goals. Yes, it’s hard to try and plan these things out. It’s hard to know what will happen and when you will be able to travel to Finland to see the northern lights from a glass igloo. (It’s a real thing and one of my top bucket list goals). But again writing down your goals helps you achieve them. Be realistic though. You don’t want to wait till your 80 years old to climb Mt. Vesuvius. Although there were some older people climbing up to the top like it was nothing. Meanwhile, I was struggling. Take all of this into account when you prioritize and set your goals.
7. Our Bucket List
Now here is our Bucket List, organized by Continent and Country, with 187 bucket list ideas that we hope will inspire you. I have crossed out things that we have done so you can follow along as we check off our bucket list. Like I said this list is huge and gets longer every day so I will keep updating this post when we cross something off or add a new adventure.
Africa
Egypt
See the Great Pyramids of Giza
See the Sphinx
Visit Valley of the Kings
Visit the Luxor Temple
Explore Cairo
Kenya
Visit the Giraffe Manor Hotel
Morocco
Explore Casablanca
Explore the blue city Chefchaouen
Hike the Gorges of Dades
See the Ouzoud Waterfall
South Africa
Explore Cape Town
Climb Table Mountain
Take a safari ride
Tanzania
Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro
Stay in the underwater room at Manta Resort
Tunisia
Tour the El Djem Amphitheater
Relax on Djerba Beach
Explore Sidi Bou Said
Seychelles
Visit Anse Source d’Argent Beach
Meet the giant tortoises at the conservation center
Scuba dive
Antarctica
Visit the research station
See the colony of penguins
Send a postcard from the Penguin Post Office
Asia
China
Hike the Great Wall of China
Explore the Harbin’s snow and ice festival
Visit Beijing’s Big 3: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Summer Palace
Take a calligraphy class
See the Giant Leshan Buddha
Try Jianbing street food.
India
Visit the Taj Mahal
Explore the Temples
Visit the Botanical Gardens
Celebrate the Holi Festival
Indonesia
Enjoy a floating breakfast in Bali
See the Borobudur Temple
Visit Devils Tears Bay
Walkthrough the Rainforest Canopy in Kalimantan
See the pink beach of Komodo
See the Ubud’s Rice Terraces
Explore Black Sand Beaches
Chase Hidden Waterfalls
Japan
Soak in the open hot air Spring
Wander through the Flower Tunnels
Eat my weight in Sushi
Walkthrough the Bamboo Forest
Explore the teamLab Borderless Museum
Take a Sushi Making Class
Visit Shitenoji Temple
See Mt. Fuji
Explore Tokyo
Jordan
Explore the Roman ruins of Jerash
Walk the rock bridges
Float in the Dead Sea
Malaysia
Explore Langkawi Beach
Explore Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park
Trek in Taman Negara National Park
Maldives
Snorkel
Stay in an Overwater Villa
Philippines
Visit White Beach on Boracay Island
Explore Manila
Visit Manila Ocean Park
See Mt. Mayon Volcano
View the Chocolate Hills
Take a trip to Coron, Palawan Island
Thailand
Explore and snorkel on the Phi Phi Islands
Go, Island Hopping
Ride in a Tuk Tuk
Visit a floating market
Explore the White Temple
Eat my weight in Pad Thai
Get Drinks at a Sky Bar in Bangkok
Take a Cooking Class
Visit the famous Maya Bay
Stay in an Overwater Bungalow
Visit the Temples
Attend Chang Mai’s Lantern Festival
Turkey
Ride in a Hot Air Balloon in Cappadocia
Relax in the Thermal Pools in Pamukkale
Europe
Austria
See Austria’s Tallest Waterfall
Explore the Ice Caves
Walk across the World’s Largest Suspension Bridge
Explore Hallstatt
Croatia
Explore Plitvice Lakes, National Park
Czech Republic
Explore Prague
Finland
Visit Santa Clause Village
Watch the Northern Lights in a Glass Igloo
Meet Reindeer
France
Climb the Eiffel Tower
Take a trip to Versailles
Explore the French Alps
Germany
Climb to the top of St. Petersburg Church
Enjoy a Beer at Hofbrauhaus
Watch the Glockenspiel in Marienplatz
Eat at the Zugspitze Panorama Restaurant
Walk the Berlin Wall
Hike to the Ice Cave at Berchtesgaden National Park
Greece
Island Hop around Greece
Watch the Sunset in Oia
Explore the Acropolis
See the Meteora
Iceland
Explore Thingvellir National Park
Visit Lake Myvatn
Relax in the Blue Lagoon Spa
See the Northern Lights at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Go Glacier Hiking
Ireland
See the Blarney Stone Castle
Watch a Riverdance Show
Visit the Guinness Storehouse
Explore the Cliffs of Moher
Do a Pub Crawl
Spend St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin
Italy
Climb Mt. Vesuvius
Explore Pompeii
Take a Tuscan Wine Tour
See the Sunflowers in Tuscany
Eat Pizza in Naples
Take a ride in a Gondola
Take the Ferry to Capri
Explore the Blue Grotto
Make a Wish at the Trevi Fountain
Relax in the Hot Springs in Tuscany
Eat my weight in Gelato
Netherlands
Visit the Keukenhof in Spring
Celebrate Carnival
Enjoy a beer at the Heineken Brewery
Try an authentic Stroopwafel
Norway
Climb the Highest Peak
Hike to Troll’s Tongue
Hike into Blue Ice Glacier Caves
Poland
Tour the Wieliczka Salt Mines
Hike in the Tatra Mountains
Switzerland
Stay on Lake Blausee
Aescher Restaurant and hike
Explore St. Moritz
Take a ride on the Glacier Express
United Kingdom
Explore Westminster Abby
See Big Ben
Take a ride on the London Eye
Visit the Owl conservation (Kyle is obsessed with owls and we actually send money to sponsor one of their owls.)
Walk over the Tower Bridge
See Stonehenge
Kinloch Rannoch/ Rannoch Moor
Midhope Castle
Have Tea in London
North America
Bahamas
Snorkel
Visit Pig Beach
Visit Pink Sand Beach
Ride a personal Underwater Sub
Go down the Atlantis Leap of Faith Waterslide
Scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef
Belize
Sky Dive into the Blue Hole
Bermuda
Explore the Crystal Caves
Canada
See the Northern Lights
Hike the West Coast Trail
Eat Poutine
Try Tim Hortons
Visit Hopewell Rocks
Explore Banff National Park
See the Polar Bears in Manitoba
See Niagara Falls
El Salvador
Hike the Santa Ana Volcano
Take a tour of coffee plantations
Mexico
Visit Tulum
Explore the Teotihuacan Ruins
Enjoy a Tequila Tasting
Eat my weight in Tacos
Take a Cooking Class
Turks and Caicos
Stay in an All-Inclusive Resort
United States of America
Take a Cross Country Road Trip
Watch the Ball Drop in New York
Attend Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Hike in every U.S. National Park
Soak up the nightlife on the Vegas Strip
Attend the Hot Air Balloon Festival in New Mexico
Take an Alaskan Cruise
See all 5 Great Lakes
South America
Peru
Explore Machu Picchu
See Sacred Valley
Hike Rainbow Mountain
Oceania/ Australia
Australia
Watch Sunrise at Ayres Rock
Swing through the Jungle on Minjin Swing
Meet the Kangaroos at Kangaroo Island
Hang out at Bondi Beach
New Zealand
Jump off the Sky Tower
See the Hobbit House
Go Zorbing ( If you haven’t heard of this look it up, it’s amazing)
Lake Tekapo
I warned you that our Bucket List was long! We hope this gives you tons of Bucket List Ideas and inspires you to travel the world. Do you have a Bucket List? Is it written down or in your head?
Yay! Glad to see Australia is in here!
Might I suggest adding in climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge! That’s the ultimate Aussie Bucket list item!
Author
Yes! Australia has been on my Bucket List forever. I will have to add that!
Some great spots when visiting Canada. If you’re in Banff, you should also pop by the Wolf Sanctuary, then make your way to Edmonton to explore Whyte Avenue, take the cable car over the river! It’s amazing and inexpensive!
Author
That sounds amazing. I’m going to have to add that to the list. I would love to visit a Wolf Sanctuary. Thanks so much!
What a thorough list. I do believe that I did not see Israel on it. If you want history, and undeniable scenery. Don’t skip it. Israel is life changing.
Author
I will have to add it to the list! Thanks, Trina.
This is so inspiring! Glad to see Egypt on top of your list! I’m a native Egyptian, if you need help with planning in the future, feel free to reach out.. My blog also has some information that’ll come in handy, so care to check it out as well if you’d like some inspiration 🙂
Author
Yes, Egypt is at the top of my list. I will absolutely check out your blog and may take you up on the help with planning when I finally get the chance to go. Thanks so much.
Love this list! My favorite part of the process is also research – I could research destinations for days!
Author
Hey, Olivia thanks for reading. Yes, I could spend all day researching places to visit and explore.
What a list! I love bucket lists. Actually, I just like lists, so this really just speaks to me. I have my travel journal and constantly write ideas down as I come across them. There are some on your list that I really need to add to mine now
Author
Yay! Lists are the best. I’m so glad this gave you a few more things to add to your bucket list.
A wonderful list! I need to add a few items to my own list now, thank you for that! And I am very proud that I could already see a few of the listed places
Author
So happy to hear that, Paula. My list grows longer by the day.
I’m so happy to see that “eat my weight in gelato” is checked off. This was totally on my list for my first trip to Italy and I’m happy to report that my gelato eating efforts were delicious and I hope yours were too! Antarctica is hanging around the top of my ever fluctuating travel bucket list but the cost is always so high, but one day I’ll fork over the cash to make my dream of seeing penguins and the research station come true!
Author
Hey Molly! Yes, my gelato was amazing. Italy was one of my favorite destinations. Antarctica looks amazing, the landscape and the penguin post office, I hope to get there one day soon.
I LOVE THIS LIST. There are so many amazing places! Chang Mai’s Lantern Festival has been on my bucket list a long time too. We planned our entire 2 week Thailand trip around the full moon party on Koh Phangan… and me/most of the group didn’t even go lol We were staying on Koh Tao, and everyone got SO SEA SICK on the ferry there, that no one wanted to get back on another one a few hours later to head over to the party. I don’t regret it though, from what the girls that did go said it was a bit of a shit show lol
Author
Oh no! That stinks. I don’t blame you getting seasick is the worst. I remember when we took the ferry to Capri it was so rough. Everyone around us was puking. It was making us feel even worse. I could have kissed the ground when we got off haha.
I’ve never written a bucket list, it is always marketed as something you do later on in life but I’m with you, writing things down make it a lot more likely! I might have to start my own
Author
Yay! I’m so glad to hear that. Yes, write it down and look at it every once in a while. It will keep you motivated to keep striving for those goals.
I love this list. I always say I have a bucket list, but I haven’t written it down officially. Now would be a perfect time. I want to see the Northern Lights and go to the Kentucky Derby. And then a million more.
Author
Those are awesome bucket list ideas! I hope you are able to make a list and then check everything off.