World Tourism Day Inspired Bucket List Destinations

Today is World Tourism Day! And what better way to celebrate than to bring our bloggers together to share their bucket list destinations?  

With all that’s happened over the last couple of years, it feels good to celebrate travel again, and consider all the world has to offer. From warm climates to far northern regions, to culinary adventures to rare animal habitat explorations. In today’s post, we’ll venture across the globe to inspire you in the months or years ahead… read on! 

Madrid & Barcelona, Spain

Spain is the newest edition to my travel bucket list. Spain won its spot with its promise of delicious food, beautiful art and rich architectural history. Plus, many travellers have said “no trip to Europe is complete without a visit to Spain”—so, I’m ready to see it for myself! 

As an adventurous foodie, I’m looking most forward to authentic tapas and sangria. A table full of patatas bravas, empanadas, pan y tomate and jamon iberico? Count me in. Not to mention all the made-with-love traditional paellas, and local sparkling wines (known as “cava”). 

After a wicked meal, there’s nothing better than a trip through the surreal. Taking a break from reality at Madrid’s Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, also known as the “Picasso Museum,” is another must for me. It’s home to more than 35,000 pieces of Picasso’s art, and a substantial collection of Salvatore Dalí’s pieces too.  

Barcelona’s iconic cathedral, Sagrada Familia, is next on my list. After more than a century under construction, Gaudí’s biggest and most famous commission is still unfinished. This architectural marvel combines Gothic and Art Nouveau styling to create an otherworldly space.  

The last stop on my bucket list tour is Montserrat mountain, an hour northeast of Barcelona. It’s regarded as the ‘sacred mountain’ by the locals and is topped with the beautiful Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey—a Benedictine monastery dating back to 1150. After a long hike, there’s nothing more peaceful than taking in the breathtaking landscape and viewing the monastery’s robust collection of religious art.  

Norway & Finland, Scandinavia

Scandinavia has more to offer than just Swedish meatballs and Ikea; there’s so much history and it has amazing landscapes. Plus, it’s one of the top sustainable travel destinations in the world!  

I would begin my adventure in Norway. The impressive views from North Cape (NordKapp) are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; and I feel like I couldn’t find anything like this anywhere else. Another stop on my bucket list would absolutely be Bryggen, a harbour district in Bergen. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage list. This is a perfect example of dreamy landscape meets incredible history! 

Finally, this trip wouldn’t be complete without a stop in Rovaniemi, Finland. The name doesn’t sound familiar? It’s home to Santa Claus! But it’s also the ideal location, being the winter-loving traveller that I am, to enjoy a range of unique activities I’ll never find anywhere else: sleeping in a glass igloo to experience the breathtaking Northern Lights, sleigh riding with reindeers and who knows?…Maybe even meeting Santa! 😊 

The Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galápagos Islands are at the top of my bucket list because I’m fascinated by this archipelago, off the western coast of Ecuador. It’s home to a variety of rare animals and plants, many of them only existing there. The Galápagos are designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, known most commonly thanks to Charles Darwin, his research and his theory of evolution. 

From tortoises to turtles, to land iguanas AND marine iguanas, to a variety of unique birds and more, this distinctive, biodiverse set of 19 islands sounds like an animal-lover’s dream vacation! In particular, I would love to see Galápagos penguins! It’s an extraordinary experience to see penguins in their natural environments. (I was fortunate to see Humboldt and Magellanic Penguins on my trip to Chile—an experience I treasure and will never forget!) 

What makes these islands a bucket list destination, unfortunately, also puts some of the natural species there in danger due to over tourism, pollution and other factors. The good news is that conservation efforts are being made to keep this “one of the world’s great ecological wonders,” according to the Galápagos Conservancy.  

Tokyo, Japan 

Tokyo, Japan is definitely at the top of my bucket list. I’ve always been fascinated by Japanese culture, food and history—and Tokyo has all three in spades! 

Tokyo is famous for being a “city of the future”, with advanced technology while maintaining traditional elements. I find that to be an admirable dichotomy and would love to see how that impacts the culture of Japanese society and creativity.  

I’ve caught glimpses of the Shibuya Crossing in films and hope to experience it for myself one day. Shibuya Crossing is one of the world’s busiest pedestrian crossings, with half a million people passing through it daily. It’s located in the heart of Shibuya—Tokyo’s most famous district—and is a significant landmark in Japan. Also, as someone who brings her appetite while travelling, tasting authentic Japanese cuisine in Golden Gai is something I look forward to. 

Are you dreaming of Japan too? We’ve got two more blog posts to inspire you! Check out “My Culinary Adventures in Japan’s Golden Triangle: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka” and “My 15-day Trip to Japan in Photos”. 

Egypt, Nepal & Taiwan

I have so many bucket list destinations on my list, I couldn’t choose just one! 

Egypt 

Egypt has been on my bucket list for a long time. While I’m hesitant to visit because of their LGBT2Q+ right issues, I’d love to see the pyramids and take a cruise on the Nile so I can reach all the amazing historical sites the country has to offer. I’m fascinated by ancient civilizations; I’ve been to Greece and Italy many times, but I feel like Egypt has so much more to offer.

Nepal 

Nepal has also been ranking high on my list for a while. I’m hoping to go in 2024! I can’t wait to experience their rich culture, explore the national parks, trek the Himalayas, and most importantly tune-out from the urban lifestyle for a couple of weeks.

Taiwan

I’m saving Taiwan for my 40^th birthday! Taipei’s vibrant food scene and progressive culture make for a great destination to go on a celebratory trip with a small group of friends. While I’m there, I also want to go to Jioufen, Keelung City, Yehliu Geopark and Hengchun. 

In closing, we hope you’re feeling inspired today on World Tourism Day, and every day, by the travel tips and inspiration we share on the blog.  

What destinations are on your bucket list? We want to hear from you! Share in the comments section below. 

Happy travels,
TuGo’s Bloggers