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Whether you write things down or keep a mental list, most people have some idea as to things they want to do before they die. I’ve had a list for as long as I can remember and it’s evolved over time. (‘Be in a music video’ isn’t really a top priority anymore as it was when I was 13) Mostly, my bucket list ideas have evolved into having experiences. And nothing excites me more than learning about all the crazy things there are to do in this world. So, here are some amazing bucket list ideas for those who are obsessed with travel:
1. See the Pyramids of Egypt
The Pyramids of Giza are iconic and your travel bucket list wouldn’t be complete without them! Of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (not to be confused with the 7 New World Wonders), they are the only one still standing.
2. Climb a Volcano
Sure, you can climb a mountain, but a unique experience is climbing an active volcano. Indonesia happens to have several great volcano hikes (like this one from Mount Batur!) with epic views from the top.
3. See the Northern Lights
The Northern Lights, aka Aurora borealis, are such a crazy phenomenon. This natural light show occurs in the sky when there’s a disturbance in the magnetic poles. They can apparently occur in the south as well but are predominantly seen in the north. Some of the best places to see the Northern Lights are in Norway and Finland!
4. Float in the Dead Sea
Between Israel and Jordan, you’ll find the Dead Sea, a huge lake with an incredibly high salt content. It also happens to be the lowest place on earth. What makes it special is that you can literally float without trying to and the mud is mineral-rich, aka really good for your skin. Beware though, the salt water can burn!
5. Go Scuba Diving in the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is a diver’s (and drone pilot’s) dream. It’s the largest coral reef in the world and is of course a popular place to swim, snorkel and dive.
6. Gamble in Las Vegas
Vegas is…Vegas. And it may not be your cup of tea but it is definitely worth visiting at least one. It’s been the backdrop for numerous movies and walking down The Strip is bucket list worthy. But what’s Vegas without a little gambling? Just to say you did ;).
7. See All Seven Wonders of the World
In your search for bucket list ideas, look no further than the 7 Wonders of the World. Unlike the Ancient Wonders of the World (in which only the pyramids are still standing), the New World Wonders are all standing and were in fact, voted on in 2007 to make the list.
-Christ the Redeemer in Rio
(1) Up first is the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The idea was to build the nearly 100 ft. statue on top of a mountain so that it could be seen anywhere in Rio. And just look at that view!
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-The Great Wall of China
(2) The Great Wall of China is a must-see landmark. Construction of the wall dates all the way back to BC and building was continued throughout several dynasties. Today, there are many sections that have been restored (this one is Mutianyu).
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-The Colosseum
(3) Roman history is not complete without the Colosseum. I don’t know how obsessed you are with Gladiator but that movie alone defines why the Colosseum is on this list. (Don’t tell me that you haven’t seen it and certainly don’t tell me that it’s just a movie and not real. “Are you not entertained?!” Russell Crowe is just as iconic as the Colosseum itself. Ok, I’m done.)
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-Chichen Itzá in Mexico
(4) Chichen Itzá is a large complex of ancient ruins in Mexico that was once a Mayan city. El Castillo, also known as the Temple of Kukulcán, is the largest step pyramid there. Once upon a time, you were able to climb the very steep stairs and sit on the edge but I cannot show you that picture of my 11 year old self. Nor can you climb the pyramid today.
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-Taj Mahal
(5) One of the most iconic buildings in Asia is the Taj Mahal in India. The white marble building is a beautiful piece of architecture and is actually a mausoleum built in the 1600s.
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-Machu Picchu
(6) Machu Picchu in Peru has a well-deserved spot on the list of world wonders. It was an Incan city built on top of a mountain in the Andes. Over time, it became overgrown and was lost to civilization until it was discovered by an explorer in 1911. Imagine discovering this.
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-Petra
(7) Another ‘lost city’ is Petra in Jordan. It’s a city carved into STONE walls and is another explorers dream (Remember this from Indiana Jones?). It was once a trading epicenter but eventually declined and was left to be forgotten.
8. Soak in the Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa and a must-do while in Iceland. The water is a milky blue surrounded by volcanic rock. It also has a white spa-like mud that people put on their faces while swimming over to the bar that’s in the middle of the water.
9. Hike the Grand Canyon
Arguably the most famous canyon in the world is the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA. The canyon walls are layered with geological history. No Arizona/Utah Road Trip is complete without it.
10. Take a Road Trip
It seems simple but often people just drive to and from a place, rather than actually taking a road trip. Stopping along the way, eating at mom and pop restaurants and finding a random hotel or camping spot are what make the trip!
READ MORE: US Road Trip Ideas
11. Visit Giant’s Causeway in Ireland
Ireland is full of beautiful castles but it also has a really unique landscape called the Giant’s Causeway. The basalt columns are the product of a volcanic fissure eruption from long ago.
12. Go on an African Safari & See the Big 5
Africa has some beautiful scenery and going on an African safari gets you up close and personal with animals in the wild. See if you can spot the big 5 on safari: lion, elephant, leopard, rhinoceros and Cape buffalo.
13. Explore the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia
Salt flats are a very strange phenomenon. The salt crystals form shapes in the ground and they seem to go on forever. If you can’t get to the world’s largest salt flats in Bolivia, try the Bonneville salt flats in Utah!
14. Drink Beer at Oktoberfest
Lederhosens? Beer? And lots of drunk Germans? Sounds like a must-do for me and apparently 6 million people agree with that each year. Oktoberfest is known for its beer tents and debauchery but it has become so famous that lots of places hold their own mini Oktoberfest celebrations.
15. Visit St. Basil’s Cathedral in the Red Square
Now, there’s cathedrals and then there’s cathedrals. Have you ever seen such a colorful cathedral before? St. Basil’s in Moscow, Russia looks like a candy creation and is located in the famous Red Square.
16. Learn a Foreign Language
Unlike the other bucket list ideas, this one takes a little more work. But learning a foreign language is a great way to learn about another culture and can be really useful!
17. Go See the Moai Statues on Easter Island
The Moai Statues on Easter Island are quite the mystery. Who put them there and why? What adds to the mystery is that the statues actually have bodies that are just underneath the ground.
18. Stand on the Equator
There’s only a few places in the world where you can stand on the equator. One of them happens to be in Ecuador. There’s a monument called Mitad del Mundo that lies on the equator and has a line drawn down the middle so you can walk the line!
19. Go to the Top of the Burj Khalifa
This one is not for those with a fear of heights, but Dubai has the tallest building in the world. The Burj Khalifa is 2,722 ft (829.8 m) tall. Head to the top to stand above the clouds and get a steep look down to the ground!
20. Walk Along the Rice Terraces in Vietnam or Bali
You can find rice terraces all over Asia but some of the most popular are in Sapa, Vietnam or Bali, Indonesia. There are some beautiful locations and it’s a great way to see the countryside a bit.
21. Swim in an Infinity Pool
There’s nothing like swimming to the edge of a pool that overlooks an entire city. But that’s exactly what you can do in Singapore which has one of the most famous infinity pools. It’s located at the top of the Marina Bay Sands hotel which was also a filming location for Crazy Rich Asians.
22. Attend One of the World’s Largest Festivals
There are a lot of ways to knock this idea off your bucket list. Attend Songkran or the lantern festival in Thailand, Carnival in Brazil, Holi festival in India, La Tomatina in Spain, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Mexico or the world’s largest ice festival in Harbin, China.
23. Take a Ride in a Seaplane
Taking off and landing on the water is pretty awesome. It also makes you feel a little fancy. You might be surprised on how much it costs in different places. We found you could ride in a seaplane for about $50 per person in Croatia!
24. See/Photograph an Endangered Species
There are a lot of endangered species in the world. You may have to visit an off the beaten path with a guide or visit a special facility to see them, but it is always neat when you see an animal you’ve never seen before.
25. Explore the Ruins of Angkor Wat
The ruins of Angkor Wat are absolutely incredible. Of course, the main temple is famous for its sunrise shot but the ruins are extensive and make you feel like Lara Croft exploring. My favorite bucket list ideas might be when you can explore ancient cities and temples like this!
26. Step Foot on Antarctica
This is probably one of the most ambitious ideas to add to your list, since it’s not an easy place to get to nor inexpensive. It will take a little extra planning but how epic would it be to step foot on Antarctica?
27. Take a Boat Ride in Palawan
If you read Conde Nast, you might have heard of Palawan because it keeps landing on the top of the ‘most beautiful islands in the world’ list. Beautiful, indeed! The boat trips are phenomenal and breathtaking.
READ MORE: The Ultimate Travel Guide to the Philippines
28. Go Up the Eiffel Tower
One of the most recognizable landmarks in the world is the Eiffel Tower in Paris. If you can make it work (read–afford it), there are two restaurants in the Eiffel Tower. If that’s not in your budget, you can simply go up the Eiffel Tower to get views of the city of love.
29. Stay in an Overwater Bungalow
Turquoise water beneath you and a private villa are what dreams are made of. While more and more options are starting to appear on scene, the Maldives are most known for their overwater bungalows.
30. See the Tulip Fields in The Netherlands
The Netherlands are famous for their tulips and in the Spring, you can see rows of different colors in bloom. The Keukenhof gardens outside of Amsterdam are one of the popular places to see them.
31. See Victoria Falls or Iguazu Falls
They are two of the biggest waterfalls in the world. Victoria Falls is in southern Africa between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Iguazu Falls is located between Argentina and Brazil.
32. Throw a Coin in the Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is located in Rome and it’s tradition to throw a coin into the fountain. One coin means you’ll return to Rome, two means you’ll return and fall in love, and three means you’ll return, find love and marry.
33. Tour a Winery
Wineries are typically in beautiful places and it’s a great way to be outside and be social. And of course try different wines and (hopefully) cheeses!
34. Visit the Temples of Bagan
Myanmar is where you can find the temples of Bagan. They span across the area and you can see the tops of the temples above the trees. The best part is that there are hot air balloon rides at sunrise over the temples.
35. Camp in the Wilderness
Bucket list ideas for being in the wilderness are some of the easiest to accomplish. It’s inexpensive and you don’t have to travel far. If you’ve never been camping before, it’s something you should try at least once. There are some beautiful places to camp and there’s nothing like being out in nature, cooking outside and sleeping under the stars.
36. Stand in Times Square in New York City
Times Square is crowded, bright, busy and a must-see when going to New York. It’s one of those places that you just need to stand in the middle of and take it all in.
37. Ride a Gondola in Venice
Venice is a great city to explore but it’s of course known for its waterways, so hop on a gondola and explore by water! It gives you a different perspective.
38. Fly First Class
This is another bucket list idea that may not be for everyone. But all airlines are not created equal and all seats are not created equal either. If you get the chance to fly first class on a long flight, by all means take it.
39. See the Neuschwanstein Castle
You all know the Disney castle but did you know it was actually inspired by the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany? This real-life version is high up in the hills and a beautiful castle.
40. Go to a Theme Park
If Disney’s not your thing, I get it. I tried going as an adult without kids and it was a regret. HOWEVER, there are so many other options now and they have pretty awesome rides. Plus, the Harry Potter sections in Orlando are incredible and make you feel like a wizard.
41. Visit ZhangJiaJie National Forest
If you’ve seen Avatar, the landscape was inspired by Zhangjiajie National Forest in China. The jagged mountain pillars are often surrounded by clouds or mist and really gives it an enchanted feel. Plus, the cable car goes right up through them!
42. Touch the Western Wall
The Western Wall in Jerusalem is one of the most famous religious sites in the world. It’s the only surviving section of the Holy Temple which was destroyed by the Romans.
43. Walk the Canals of Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a beautiful city in the Netherlands and has canals and bridges all throughout. It’s inundated with bicycles but it adds to the city’s charm. My parents have traveled to many places in Europe and Amsterdam is their favorite!
44. See Rainbow Mountains
There are many ‘viral’ rainbow mountains. The most popular are the rainbow mountains in Peru or in China. But there are several places that have different colored mountains (that vary in how colorful), including Utah and even in South Dakota.
45. Go on a Cruise
I’ve only been on one cruise so I can only base it off my 18 year old self cruising around the Mediterranean but it was incredible. We took small boats to the Greek islands and it was just a different experience arriving by boat and exploring that way. There’s also nothing like being surrounded by open water and sleeping on a boat.
46. Explore the Rocks at Stonehenge
I don’t know about you but mysterious places intrigue me. The rocks at Stonehenge are a lot larger than I thought, which makes the mystery that much more puzzling. Who put them there and how?!
47. Walk Around Cinque Terre in Italy
When it comes to colorful, quaint, coastal towns for your bucket list ideas, Cinque Terre is a must. There are actually 5 cities that comprise Cinque Terre and they are each worth exploring. There are cliff side hiking trails, small beach coves and the colorful buildings that have made it famous.
48. Ski in the Swiss Alps
The Swiss Alps are a beautiful mountain range that go through several European countries. European ski culture sounds fun (according to my European husband) but the views would be worth it alone.
49. Take a Ride on the Orient Express
Train travel (and travel in general) used to be a lot more glamorous. The Orient Express allows you to get a taste of that old, glamorous travel style. And you get to take in views of the countryside along the way. Watch Murder on the Orient Express and it will give you an idea of luxurious train travel.
50. Walk Through the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Japan
The Fushimi Inari Shrine in Japan is one of the most photographed places in Japan. There are over 1,000 torii gates along the main path that create an orange tunnel to walk through.
There are so many places around the world that it was hard to narrow it down to 50. Honestly, I could probably go to 100 because there are so many unique places out there. But I hope these 50 bucket list ideas will help you get started on creating your own list so you can start knocking things off!
What do you have on your list?
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