187 Travel Bucket List Ideas

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.

Journal for Bucket List Ideas

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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.

 

Bucket List Ideas

 

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.

 

Research Bucket List Ideas

 

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

 

Egypt

 

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

 

Penguins

 

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

 

Mt. Fiji

 

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

 

Thailand bucket list ideas

 

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

Attend Oktoberfest in Munich

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

 

Pretzel at Oktoberfest is as big as my head

 

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

 

Trevi Fountain

 

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

 

London Eye

 

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

 

Banff

 

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

 

Grand Canyon

 

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

 

Kangaeoo Beach Bucket list ideas

 

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?

 

Bucket List Pin Bucket List Pinterest

Bucket List Pinterest

22 Comments

  1. Chelsea
    April 27, 2020 / 3:21 pm

    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!

    • hharris11
      Author
      April 27, 2020 / 3:37 pm

      Yes! Australia has been on my Bucket List forever. I will have to add that!

  2. April 27, 2020 / 8:13 pm

    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!

    • hharris11
      Author
      April 27, 2020 / 9:00 pm

      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!

  3. April 28, 2020 / 3:14 am

    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.

    • hharris11
      Author
      April 28, 2020 / 6:32 pm

      I will have to add it to the list! Thanks, Trina.

  4. April 29, 2020 / 11:49 am

    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 🙂

    • hharris11
      Author
      April 29, 2020 / 7:36 pm

      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.

  5. April 29, 2020 / 4:14 pm

    Love this list! My favorite part of the process is also research – I could research destinations for days!

    • hharris11
      Author
      April 29, 2020 / 7:38 pm

      Hey, Olivia thanks for reading. Yes, I could spend all day researching places to visit and explore.

  6. April 29, 2020 / 4:24 pm

    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

    • hharris11
      Author
      April 29, 2020 / 7:40 pm

      Yay! Lists are the best. I’m so glad this gave you a few more things to add to your bucket list.

  7. April 29, 2020 / 5:01 pm

    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

    • hharris11
      Author
      April 29, 2020 / 7:44 pm

      So happy to hear that, Paula. My list grows longer by the day.

  8. April 29, 2020 / 5:47 pm

    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!

    • hharris11
      Author
      April 29, 2020 / 7:48 pm

      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.

  9. April 30, 2020 / 2:29 pm

    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

    • hharris11
      Author
      April 30, 2020 / 6:28 pm

      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.

  10. April 30, 2020 / 4:10 pm

    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

    • hharris11
      Author
      April 30, 2020 / 6:30 pm

      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.

  11. June 6, 2020 / 11:27 am

    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.

    • hharris11
      Author
      June 7, 2020 / 1:23 pm

      Those are awesome bucket list ideas! I hope you are able to make a list and then check everything off.

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