The Ultimate Travel Bucket List: 58 Places To See Before You Die

I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.

If you think about this quote as much as I do, then I hope you will enjoy this (expanding) list of travel destinations and that you will add some of them to your travel bucket list.

What is a bucket list?

A bucket list is a list of things to do before you die. The term bucket list has become popular after the 2007 film The Bucket List, which illustrates 2 old friends having the best time of their lives as they cross things off their bucket list before they die.

Hence, we are going to be talking about the Ultimate Travel Bucket List, or we can just call them places to see before you die! Let’s see what made it on the list, and hopefully, you will get some bucket list ideas.

I made this Ultimate Travel Bucket List to give you ideas about where to travel on special occasions, and the best months to travel to each place. Let’s see what these must-see places in the world are.

North America Ultimate Travel Bucket List

Banff National Park

Canada’s Banff National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that measures over 6,600 square kilometres. Millions of visitors are attracted by its alpine landscape, glaciers, forests, ice fields, and the famous turquoise lake.

Location: the province of Alberta in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

Best Months to Visit: June, July (the warmest month), August

Niagara Falls

The three Niagara Falls are famous natural landmarks that attract 28 million tourists yearly. Horseshoe Falls is the largest and most spectacular of the three falls and has been featured in numerous movies over the years.

Location: Located on the Niagara River, at the border between New York, U.S.A, and Ontario, Canada.

Best Months to Visit: June to August, the warmest summer months

Nova Scotia

The second most populous region in Canada, Nova Scotia, is revered for its remarkable history. Nova Scotia was the location of the first French settlements in North America, it is the home place of the indigenous population of the Miꞌkmaq, and was once the capital of the French colony of Arcadia.  

Location: Eastern Canada

Best Months to Visit: May through October

New York City

The most populous city in the United States of America, New York, is one of the most famous cities in the world, as well as a hub for commerce, arts, sports, and fashion. Comprised of five boroughs, the romance of New York City attracts more than 60 million visitors every year.

Location: New York City, where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean

Best Months to Visit: April to June

Grand Canyon

This well-beloved landmark stretches over a distance of nearly 500 km with a width of 29 km. The image of the Grand Canyon is etched on the very fabric of American identity and, so, attracts more than 5 million visitors every year, many of them American. 

Location: By the Colorado River in Arizona 

Best Months to Visit: March through May and September through November

Antelope Canyon

The breathtaking Antelope Canyon it known for its beautiful passageways and natural arches were created by frequent floods. Antelope Canyon is accessible only through guided tours and is a location favoured by photographers. 

Location: Located on Navajo land in the region of Arizona.

Best Months to Visit: End of March and early October

Las Vegas

The city of Las Vegas has enjoyed incredibly accelerated growth since the 1960s, mainly through activities connected to gambling and entertainment. Often featured in media, Las Vegas is visited by millions of people attracted by the city’s famous casinos and numerous modern buildings. 

Location:  Located in the state of Nevada

Best Months to Visit: March to May and from September to November

Los Angeles

The city of Los Angeles is known throughout the world as being a hotspot for the creation of entertainment. A varied cultural heritage and its healthy economy also make Los Angeles a frequent location for important events such as the 2028 Summer Olympics. 

Location: California, USA

Best Months to Visit: Spring or Fall season in order to avoid bad weather

Pyramid at Chichen Itza

The Temple of Kukulcan, known also as the Pyramid at Chichen Itza, is a step pyramid that was classified by UNESCO as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Mayan temple served religious purposes and could also house up to 50.000 people in its inner city. 

Location: In the Mexican region of Yucatan

Best Months to Visit: November through March

Tulum, Mexico

The Caribbean city of Tulum is known for its crystal blue waters, silky coastline, and for being one of the most well-preserved pre-Colombian Mayan sites. It’s no wonder that it draws millions of tourists from all over the world.

Location: In Mexico’s Yucatan region 

Best Months to Visit: October to December

Hawaii

The island of Hawaii has the distinction of being the only U.S. island situated outside of the North American continent. Hawaii is the largest island chain in the world. Only 7 of its 132 islands are inhabited and are a popular tourist destination.

Location: In the Pacific Ocean

Best Months to Visit: April, May, September, and October

New Orleans, Louisiana

The city of New Orleans is a place where a unique culture has remained largely undisturbed for hundreds of years. Its nightlife, famous jazz style, its cuisine, and the Mardi Gras festival paint a truthful and lively picture of New Orleans. 

Location: Louisiana, USA

Best Months to Visit: February to May

South America Ultimate Travel Bucket List

Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are known, among other things, for the large number of endemic species that were studied by Charles Darwin and served as the model for his groundbreaking work On the Origin of the Species. The archipelago consists of 13 larger islands and 6 smaller ones. All islands are governed by Ecuador

Location: In the Pacific Ocean, Ecuador
Best Months to Visit: June to November

Christ the Redeemer Statue

The Statue of Christ the Redeemer is a famous symbolic protector of the people. Built back in 1931, the famous South American statue stands at 30 metres in height, 28 metres in width and looks on over the Brazilian people from the vantage point of Mount Corcovado. 

Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Best Months to Visit: December to March

Amazon Jungle

The Amazon Jungle is one of the largest ecosystems in the world. It contains countless species that provide perfect test subjects for the medical and pharmaceutical fields. It is estimated that over half of the world’s plants and animals live in the Amazon Rainforest. 

Location: Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and other South American countries

Best Months to Visit: May and June

Cartagena, Colombia

The historic walled city of Cartagena is known for its history evinced through its complex architecture. Castles, colourful buildings, and a powerful sense of history make it a top destination for tourists from all over the world. 

Location: The Caribbean coast of Colombia

Best Months to Visit: June to August

Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina

Perito Moreno has the distinction of being the only glacier in the Los Glaciares National Park that can be visited. Named in honour of explorer Francisco Moreno, the glacier represents the third largest reserve of freshwater in the world. 

Location: The Los Glaciares National Park in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina

Best Months to Visit: November to March

Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu, the 15th-century citadel, is the most famous symbol of ancient Inca civilization. Standing 7000 feet above sea level, the famous landmark was inducted by UNESCO as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. 

Not only did I get to visit Machu Picchu on my own, but I avoided taking the expensive tourist train and drove there (almost) and walked the rest of the way. What an experience that was. I have a video to show you how I almost drove off the mountain trying to get to Machu Picchu on my own.

Location: Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru

Best time to visit: March, April, May and September

Huacachina, Peru

The only natural desert Oasis in South America, Huacachina, is well-known for its scenic dunes, for once being the centre of Peruvian aristocracy, and, naturally, for housing an oasis inside the desert.

In 2024, I made it to Huacachina Oasis on a day trip I took from Lima, Peru.

Location: Southwestern Peru

Best time to visit: March to December

Mount Fitzroy, Argentina

Cerro Fitz Roy is one of the most instantly recognizable mountains in the world and, also, one of the most dangerous to climb. However, those who have, and who are usually hiking enthusiasts, claim that Fitz Roy possesses one of the most beautiful trails possible. 

Location: Patagonia, the border between Argentina and Chile

Best time to visit: Late December to February

Easter Island, Chile

Easter Island is renowned for its millennium-old statues, locally referred to as moai. While their meaning isn’t entirely known, their mystery has always fascinated travellers. Since 1995, Easter Island has been a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. 

Location: Volcanic island in Polynesia

Best time to visit: December through February

Angel Falls, Venezuela

Angel Falls has garnered a reputation as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. It is the highest uninterrupted waterfall in the world. Tourists travel here to take a relaxing hike through the mountain jungle beside the falls, or to take part in extreme sports. 

Location: Venezuela

Best time to visit: June to November

Antarctica

The coolest and least hospitable place in the world, Antarctica, the southernmost continent, is an interesting traveling destination for adventurers wishing to personally come into contact with the largest ice-covered surface in the world. Through the ages, famous explorers have tried to do the same. 

Location: Antarctica, the southernmost continent

Best time to visit: November to March

Salt Flats, Bolivia

Salt Flats or Salar de Uyuni covers more than 4000 square miles of land and is the largest salt flat in the world. The remarkable images tourists see before they were created as a result of the prehistoric lakes running dry countless years ago. 

Location: The Andes mountains, Southeastern Bolivia

Best time to visit: May to November for the warmest weather. January to April for the scenic beauty captured during the rainy season

La Paz, Bolivia

The capital city of Bolivia, La Paz, is the highest capital in the world, situated at 3500m above sea level. La Paz’s cable car system, the longest in the world, offers stunning views while sights such as the San Francisco Church and the Metropolitan Cathedral provide a glimpse into the complex culture of Bolivia.

Location: Bolivia

Best time to visit: May to October

Atacama Desert

The desert plateau of Atacama, thought to be 3 million years old, is one of the driest places on Earth. Furthermore, it stands at over 4000 metres above sea level, with the Andes running alongside the desert and providing a natural cover from the Amazon. The Atacama rarely sees rain ,and as one of the most inhospitable places in the world, it presents complex lessons to travellers venturing here. 

Location: Between the Andes and the Chilean Coast Range, South America

Best time to visit: September to November and March to May

Europe Ultimate Travel Bucket List

Colosseum

The Colosseum is a limestone amphitheater in the centre of Rome, and could hold up to 80000 spectators. It was used for gladiator battles and public spectacles during the Roman Empire.

Location: Rome, Italy

Best time to visit: any time of year

Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher face the Atlantic Ocean and offer an iconic natural landscape that can’t be missed if you’re in Ireland. The Cliffs rise to 702 feet (214 m) at their highest point and range for 8 km (5 miles) over the Atlantic Ocean. 

Location: Galway, Ireland

Best time to visit: April to September

Silfra Ridge (or Fissure)

Silfra is one of the most precious wonders of Iceland, where you can dive to see the spring water-filled fissure at the boundary of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Silfra is a famous dive and snorkel place, where you can literally dive between two continents.

I wrote all about this in my detailed guide about visiting the Thingvellir National Park in Iceland.

Location: Thingvellir National Park, Iceland

Best time to visit: There is no best or worst time to dive Silfra.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

The oldest and largest national park in Croatia, Plitvice Lakes National Park, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park offers lakes, waterfalls, and cool boardwalk trails, and you can easily spend 2 days exploring the park.

Location: Croatia

Best time to visit: April, May, September, October

Acropolis of Athens

The Acropolis is the ancient citadel of Athens, and it contains the remains of ancient temples. One of the most famous buildings is the Parthenon, the temple built for the goddess Athena.

Location: Athens, Greece

Best time to visit: March to May & September to November

Alhambra Palace

The Alhambra Palace is one of the most important Islamic architectural complexes. The name Alhambra comes from Arabic, and it means red castle.

Location: Granada, Spain

Best time to visit: Spring and fall

Asia Ultimate Travel Bucket List

Coron Island, Philippines

Coron Island is part of Palawan, the area of the Philippines which is famous for the numerous underwater wrecks. Coron Island is the most popular destination for wreck diving in the world.

Location: Palawan, Philippines

Best time to visit: in the Dry Season (from October to mid-June )

Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

In the centre of Singapore, a 101-hectare (250-acre) nature park, called Gardens by the Bay, stands as a result of the country’s plans to transform Singapore into a City in a Garden. The complex consists of two parts, the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest. The Flower Dome is the largest greenhouse in the world.

Location: Singapore

Best time to visit: in the Dry Season (from October to mid-June )

Komodo Dragon National Park

Komodo Dragon National Park is a national park in Indonesia, where you will find over  5,700 giant lizards (the world’s largest lizard), called Komodo dragons. Komodo National Park is considered one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Location: Indonesia

Best time to visit: March – December

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat, which translates as Capital of Temples, is the largest religious monument in the world. The grand temple, admired by tourists from all over the world for its bas-reliefs and decorations, was originally a Hindu temple and was later transformed into a Buddhist temple by the end of the 12th century.

Location: Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia

Best time to visit: Dry season (late November to early April)

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal translates as the Crown of the Palace and is a white marble mausoleum, which was commissioned in 1632 by a Mughal emperor for his wife’s tomb. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, and represents a symbol of India’s history. Read more about Taj Mahal, India.

Location: Agra, India

Best time to visit: October to March

Forbidden City

The Forbidden City consists of a complex of palaces, which have been the homes of the Chinese emperors and was the political centre of China for almost 500 years. The Forbidden City consists of 980 buildings and it’s spread over 72 hectares (over 180 acres). 72 hectares (over 180 acres) is a World Heritage Site and has the world’s largest collection of ancient wooded structures according to UNESCO.

Location: Beijing, China

Best time to visit: late March to early June; from late August to late November

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is the longest wall in the world and represents an ancient series of walls and fortifications located in northern China, built around 500 years ago.

Location: starts from Hushan, Liaoning in the east and ends at Jiayuguan Pass, Gansu in the west

Best time to visit: Spring (April – May) & Autumn  (September – November)

Petra

Petra is a 264 square kilometres city built by the Nabataeans, a civilization that lived there around 7000 BC. They left behind temples, tombs, storerooms, and palaces.

Location: Wadi Musa, Jordan

Best time to visit: Spring (April – May) & Autumn  (September – November)

Mount Fuji

The cultural icon of Japan, Mount Fuji (3,776.24 m (12,389 ft)) is the highest volcano in Japan, and can be seen from Tokyo on a clear day, although it stands at over 100 km away. Mount Fuji is part of the World Heritage list since 2013.

Location: ‎Chūbu region‎, ‎Honshu‎, Japan

Best time to visit: Between October and February; December and January offer the best visibility

Bali

Bali is Indonesia’s main tourist attraction, and it is the only island that adheres to Hinduism. Bali is famous for traditional and modern dance, sculpture, painting, leather, metalworking, and music. Foreigners enjoy the tropical beaches of Bali or the tropical Ubud for a more spiritual experience.

Location: ‎Indonesia

Best time to visit: April to October

Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army is a huge, life-size collection of terracotta sculptures in battle. The Terracotta Army is considered the most famous archaeological site in the world.

Location: ‎Xi’an, Shaanxi, China,

Best time to visit: March through May or September through October

Cappadocia

The historical region of Anatolia, Cappadocia, is famous for its fairy chimneys, but also for its historical and cultural heritage. Another famous feature of Cappadocia is its hot-air ballooning activities, which start at sunrise when over one hundred balloons rise at the same time.

Location: ‎ Ürgüp, Göreme, Ihlara Valley, Selime, Guzelyurt, Uçhisar, Avanos and Zelve

Best time to visit: April to May and September to October

Yangon, Myanmar

Yangon is the largest city in Myanmar and the former capital of the country. The main tourist attractions in Yangon are the four million pagodas (domes), and the most famous one is the Shwedagon Pagoda.

Location: ‎Myanmar

Best time to visit: dry season

Africa Ultimate Travel Bucket List

Victoria Falls

The world-famous waterfall, Victoria Falls, or Mosi-oa-Tunya, as locals call it, can be visited from either the Zambia or Zimbabwe side.

Location: Mosi-o-tunya Road, Livingstone, Zambia

Best time to visit: February to May

Lake Abbe in Djibouti

Lake Abbe, or Lake Abhe Bad as it is also known, is a salt lake, considered by many to be one of the least accessible points in the world. The travellers that have made it here have described the experience as other-worldly and the landscapes as mysterious and alluring 

Location: The Ethiopia-Djibouti border

Best time to visit: November to March

La Digue, Seychelles 

La Digue is one of the most tourist-friendly places in Africa, having undergone a major transformation in recent years. The deep blue waters and smooth sandy beaches make it seem like a tropical paradise and a perfect location for relaxation.

Location:  Seychelles, Indian Ocean, near East Africa

Best time to visit: April, May, October, and November

Kalandula Waterfalls in Angola

The large horseshoe-shaped Kalandula Falls presents itself in all its awe-inspiring glory with a 344-foot drop, making it one of the most powerful waterfalls in all of Africa. 

Location: Malanje Province, Angola

Best time to visit: February to April, in spite of this being the rainy season in Angola

Pyramids in Egypt

One of the most recognizable edifices in the world, the mysterious Egyptian pyramids have greeted millions of visitors over the years. With colossal importance to Ancient history, the eighty pyramids offer a glimpse into the rituals and beliefs of the venerable Egyptian civilization.

Location: Giza, Egypt

Best time to visit: October to April

Boulder’s Beach, South Africa

Boulder’s Beach is a world-renowned colony for its colony of African colonies. While they are, sadly, on the verge of extinction, this particular breed of penguins can only be found on the coastlines of Southern Africa, making visitors particularly attracted to this tourist destination.

Location: The Cape Peninsula, near the Western Cape province of South Africa

Best time to visit: October to March

Danakil Depression in Ethiopia

Danakil is a natural depression that was caused by the continental drift of tectonic plates. Besides its beauty, the Danakil Depression is also a highly inhospitable place, with an almost complete absence of breathable oxygen. Still, the scenery has been described as alien-like, and yearly visits are conducted by daring visitors.

Location: Afar Depression in Ethiopia

Best time to visit: November to February

Australia & Oceania Ultimate Travel Bucket List

Royal National Park

Known to natives as Nasho or the Royal, this is the second-oldest national park in the world, having been established all the way back in 1879. The beautiful and tranquil location is a popular destination for relaxation, physical activities, and even whale watching. 

Location: Eastern Australia 

Best time to visit: May to August

Sydney Opera House

One of the most famous pieces of architecture in the world, the Sydney Opera House has been the Australian city’s landmark building since its grand opening in 1973. Besides the building’s beauty, it is also a refuge for culture and art. 

Location: Sydney, Australia

Best time to visit: October, November, February, and March

Great Barrier Reef

A natural construction comprised of billions of tiny living organisms, the Great Barrier Reef is known to be the largest structure made by living organisms. Two million tourists flock to this incredible ecosystem each year.

Location: Queensland, Australia

Best time to visit: June to October

Uluru

Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a place of deep, sacred significance for the Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara native people of Australia. The rock formation is known to appear to change colors depending on the season, or even the hour of the day. While climbing the rock is not prohibited, the Aboriginal people ask tourists that they remain respectful of their heritage. 

Location: Central Australia

Best time to visit: May to September

Tasmania

Tasmania is beloved by tourists because of a great number of things. We are talking about the wildlife, the eventful history, and the great cuisine. Besides all of this, Tasmania is known to have the cleanest air in the world, as well as scenic national parks and reserves. 

Location: Island beside the South coast of Australia

Best time to visit: May to July and September to November

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora is the most famous island of French Polynesia and of the South Pacific, surrounded by a barrier reef. Bora Bora is commonly referred to as a luxurious place, of turquoise lagoons and soft white sands, where many resorts offer the perfect paradise vacation. 

Location: French Polynesia

Best time to visit: November and April

This was the bucket list travel destination edition, which I personally composed (and have all of these places on my bucket list). What other must-visit places in the world are on your travel bucket list?

Ultimate Travel Bucket List Map

If you want to save these places for later, I have marked them all on Google Maps, so we can all use it to see and explore these travel bucket list places.