Travel Bucket List for Every Country in the World

My life goal is to visit every country in the world! Here is my wacky and wild bucket list of everything I want to accomplish as I make my way through the countries of the globe. So far, I've been to 16/196 countries, and 26/1073 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

How to read the list:

I have categorized everything by continent, and then by country. If I've been to a country, you can click through on the image to read all the blog posts associated with that country. Bold items be clicked on to read all about each individual adventure.

Europe

Aland Island

- attend a Maypole Midsummer's Eve Festival
- explore the medieval Franciscan monastery ruins of Kokar
- go biking through the Archipelago

Albania

- go on a boat trip of Lake Koman
- explore the ancient ruins of Apollonia
- visit the Blue Eye natural springs pool

Andorra

- travel by dog sledge at Vallnord
- go hiking through the valleys

Armenia

- explore the monastery of Tatev
- take in the views from the Haghpat Monastery bell tower
- wander through the epic spires of Goris
- attend a Mozart dinner concert at the Siftskeller St. Peter
- take in the view of Innsbruck from the top of the Hafelekar
- hike through the Karwendel region

Belarus

- visit the UNESCO 15th century Mir Castle

Belgium

- wander through the Grand Place flower carpet in Brussels
- walk through the UNESCO historic centre of Bruges
- take part in the Ghent Celebrations in July in Ghent
- visit the world's first casino in Spa, built in 1763
- hang out in the waterfalls of the Grotto of Dinant

Bosnia Herzegovina

- cross over Old Bridge Mostar
- visit the world's only city-waterfall, the Jajce Waterfall of the Pliva River
- explore Europe's largest spring at Buna
- swim in the Kravice Waterfalls
- cross the Sokolovic Bridge, completed by the Ottomans in 1577

Bulgaria

- explore the Seven Rila Lakes
- visit the Rhodope Mountains
- experience the history of Bulgarian Communism at the Buzludzha

Croatia

- visit Plitvice Lakes National Park
- wander through the historic port of Hvar
- explore the ancient Dioceltian Palace
- go island hopping through some of Croatia's over 1000 islands
- visit Dubrovnik, the filming location of King's Landing in Game of Thrones

Gibraltar

- see Africa from Europa Point
- climb to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar

Greece

- watch the sunset over the white buildings in Santorini
- walk down the Epidaurus Theater steps
- visit the Acropolis of Athens
- see the Parthenon
- hike from Fira to Oia

Guernsey

- walk the perimeter of Herm Island

Hungary

- swim in the Széchenyi thermal baths

Iceland

- swim in the Blue Lagoon
- explore Skaftafell Ice Cave
- roadtrip the Ring Road
- see the waterfalls at Gullfoss, Skogafoss, and Seljalandsfoss

Ireland

- spend St. Patrick's Day in Dublin
- go on a road trip around Killarney National Park
- feel the wind at the Cliffs of Moher
- visit Giant's Causeway
- roadtrip the Ring of Kerry
- explore the beauty of Kylemore Abbey
- visit Europe's highest cliffs at Slieve League
- kayak at sunrise on Lake Killarney

Isle of Man

- bike around the island
- visit Laxey Wheel, the world's largest working waterwheel

Italy

- take a gondola ride in Venice
- attend Carnival of Venice
- eat pizza in Naples
- eat gelato in Cinque Terre
- visit the Colosseum in Rome
- take an optical illusion photo at the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- hike between the five towns of Cinque Terre
- make a wish at the Trevi Fountain
- visit St. Peter's Basilica, the world's largest
- see Michelangelo's work at the Sistine Chapel

Jersey

- walk over the causeway at Elizabeth Castle

Kosovo

- explore the Mirusha Waterfalls

Latvia

- explore old city Riga

Liechtenstein

- visit Vaduz Castle

Lithuania

- visit the geographic centre of Europe in Purnuskes
- visit old Lithuania in Trakai

Norway

- ride the Oslo-Bergen rail line
- perch 800 meters above Lysefjord on Pulpit Rock
- hike up to Trolltunga
- stand on Kjeragbolten, a glacial deposit between a Kjerag mountain crevasse
- feel the spray from the Latefossen Waterfall

Poland

- visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum

Portugal

- visit the starting point of Vasco da Gama's world voyage at Belem
- climb Serra de Sintra by the colourful National Palace of Pena
- watch the sunset at Costa Vincentina National Park
- ride the tram in Alfama
- swim through Ponta da Piedade
- look down into the Boca do Inferno or the Mouth of Hell

Romania

- visit Bran Castle, commonly known as Dracula's Castle

Russia

- travel on the Trans-Siberian Railway
- walk across the world's longest pedestrian bridge in Sochi
- explore the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg
- visit the Moscow Kremlin
- watch a ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre
- stand in the Red Square in Moscow, home to Lenin's Mausoleum
- see the lights on the Cathedral of Christ the Savior

San Marino

- take a picture with the Guard of the Rock
- climb Monte Titano adorned with Three Towers to take in the view

Scotland

- ride the Hogwarts Express over the Glenfinnan Viaduct
- walk part of Hadrian's Wall
- look for the Loch Ness Monster in the Highlands
- swim in the fairy pools on the Isle of Skye
- visit Fingal's Cave on the Isle of Staffa
- hike Ben Nevis
- drive the North Coast 500 Road through the Highlands
- drive the Wester Ross Coastal Trail

Serbia

- explore the fortress of Petrovardin

Slovakia

- explore Devin Castle
- walk through St. Elizabeth's Church with the beautiful blue walls
- walk under Michael's Gate
- hike through Tatras National Park

Slovenia

- take a boat across Lake Bled to Bled Castle
- appreciate the murals of Hrastovlje
- look down into Vintgar Gorge
- explore the caves of Postojna

Spain

- attend the tomato fight La Tomatina in Bunol
- swim in the Balearic Islands
- wander through the Alhambra
- visit the futuristic city of Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias
- walk through the Mezquita de Cordoba
- visit the historic city of Toledo
- see the famous river gorge at the Ciudad de Ronda
- take in the views of the Picos de Europa
- hang out in the Canary Islands
- visit the old Moorish fort of Alcazar
- eat at the oldest restaurant in the world: Sobrino de Botin

Svalbard

- see the northern lights

Sweden

- wander through the Djurgarden
- stay in the world's largest ice hotel
- visit the art studios of Visby

Switzerland

- visit the Zermatt Matterhorn
- sing the Sound of Music in the Alps
- watch the sunset at the Chateau de Chillon on the edge of Lake Geneva
- hike through the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area
- appreciate the beauty of Lake Luzern
- take a train on the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula Bernina Landscapes
- hike Piz Bernina
- visit Europe's largest waterfall at the Rhine Falls
- trek Mont Blanc

California

- camp under the stars in Death Valley
- visit Lake Tahoe
- go hiking in Yosemite National Park
- roadtrip Highway 1 down to Big Sur
- hug a Redwood Tree
- walk through the outdoor lamps at LA County Museum of Art
- hike to view the Hollywood sign
- ride a cable car in San Francisco
- explore Calico Ghost Town
- bike across the Golden Gate Bridge
- find Salvation Mountain
- visit the world's largest tree at Sequoia National Park
- drive through the USA's deepest canyon in Kings Canyon National Park

New York

- spend Christmas and New Year's in NYC
- watch the sunrise from the top of the Empire State Building

Northwest Territories

- see the Northern Lights in Yellowknife

Ontario

- cross the Rainbow Bridge over Niagara Falls
- lean off the CN Tower Edgewalk

Oregon

- visit Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach
- take in the beauty of Multnomah Falls

Prince Edward Island

- re-live Anne of Green Gables
- cross Confederation Bridge

Quebec

- walk around Old Quebec City

South Dakota

- see Mount Rushmore

Texas

- swim in Jacobs Well
- attend a rodeo

AUSTRALIA and OCEANIA

American Samoa

- hike the Tuafanua Trail of the Eastern District
- take in the view of Pola Island from the Pola Island Trail
- enjoy the views over the tropical rain forests from the top of Tumu Mountain

Antarctica

- see wild penguins
- visit the South Pole

Australia

- climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
- watch an opera at Sydney Opera House
- scuba dive the Great Barrier Reer
- learn to surf at Bondi Beach
- watch the sunrise at Uluru
- watch the sunrise at Byron Bay
- ride the world's steepest railway in the Blue Mountains
- sail the Whitsunday Islands
- see the pink waters of Lake Hillier
- watch the sunset at Loch Ard Gorge
- roadtrip the Great Ocean Road and see the 12 Apostles

Cook Islands

- snorkel the Aitutaki Lagoon
- swim at One Foot Island
- hike up Mount Maungapu with views of the surrounding lagoons and islands
- conquer the Te Rua Manga Needle hike

Fiji

- go sand-boarding
- take a nap in a hammock

French Polynesia

- swim with sting rays in Bora Bora
- watch the Tiarei Araho Blow Hole in Tahiti
- swim in the Bora Bora Lagoon

Guam

- climb Mount Lamlam, technically the tallest mountain in the world

Kiribati

- explore the ecological beauty of Christmas Island

Marshall Islands

- relax on the beaches of Amo Atoll

Nauru

- take in the view of the entire country from the top of Command Ridge

New Caledonia

- dive the underwater structures of Aiguille de Prony
- hike through Parc Provincial de la Riviere Bleue

New Zealand

- explore the hobbit holes
- explore the Glowworm Caves in Waitomo
- take in the beauty of Milford Sound
- roadtrip from North to South
- hike Ben Lomond
- dance through the lupines

Niue

- swim with humpback whales

Northern Mariana Islands

- snorkel the World War II shipwrecks

Palau

- swim in Jellyfish Lake

Pitcairn Islands

- hike through the ecologically diverse UNESCO Henderson Island
- camp out on Oeno Island

Samoa

- swim in the To Sua Ocean Trench swimming hole
- take in the views of the Sopoaga Waterfall
- sit on the cliffs high above Fuipisia Falls
- hang out in the swimming holes of the Togitogiga Waterfall
- experience the massive jets of water propelled from the Alofaaga Blowholes

Solomon Islands

- climb the cone-shaped Kolombangara Volcano and camp overnight in the rainforest
- explore the boulders of Mataniko Falls

Tokelau

- swim in the largest lagoon on Nukunonu

Tonga

- explore the Mapu'a a Vaea blowholes, known to the locals as the Chief's Whistles
- hike up Mount Talau for stunning island views
- go snorkeling and swimming with whales

Tuvalu

- explore Funafuti by motorcycle
- snorkel and scuba dive the stunning reefs and lagoons of Funafuti atoll

Vanuatu

- swim in the cascades of Mele

Wallis and Futunua

- take in the view of the perfectly circular natural Lake Lalolalo
- swim in the crater Lake Lanutavake

SOUTH and CENTRAL AMERICA

Argentina

- explore Iguazu Falls on the border with Brazil
- trek all through Patagonia (also in Chile)
- try out the tango
- hike through the Andes - especially Cerro Aconcagua
- explore Glaciar Perito Moreno
- take a glimpse of the mysterious Tierra del Fuego

Belize

- scuba dive the Great Blue Hole
- jump into Butterfly Falls
- explore Xunantanich ruins
- spend the day on Caye Caulker

Bolivia

- bike down Death Road
- hang out on Isla Incahuasi
- explore Valle de la Luna
- visit Salar de Uyuni

Brazil

- attend Carnival in Rio
- get a selfie with Christ the Redeemer
- head up to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain
- explore Iguacu National Park
- visit Baia do Sancho
- hike the Morro da Urca

Chile

- explore Easter Island
- watch the sunset in the Atacama Desert
- hike the full circuit of Torres del Paine
- take in the views of Santiago from Sky Costanera
- watch the Geyser del Tatio

Colombia

- spot a pink dolphin in the Amazon River
- trek to the Lost City of Teyuna
- explore the walled city of Cartagena
- visit Laguna de Guatape

Costa Rica

- go zip-lining through the forest canopies
- hang out in Tabacon Hot Springs, fed by volcanoes
- explore the bridges of Monteverde Cloud Forest

Ecuador

- go snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands
- stand on the equator at Mitad del Mundo
- visit the Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus in Quito
- explore El Cajas National Park
- wander through Quito Old Town
- hike up to Laguna Quilotoa
- take a swing in Banos

El Salvador

- zipline over the Apaneca coffee plantations
- hike through the Parque Nacional El Boqueron
- visit the Santa Ana Volcano
- explore the gorgeous Lake Coatepeque

Falkland Islands

- visit the penguins of Bluff Cove Lagoon

French Guiana

- explore Devil's Island

Guatemala

- visit the famous market at Chichicastenago
- wander the cobblestoned streets of Antigua
- hike up the Pacaya Volcano
- take in the views of Lake Atitlan

Guyana

- spot the stunning Kaieteur Falls
- visit the cathedrals of Georgetown

Honduras

- scuba dive the Great Mayan Reef
- visit the Little French Key island
- swim in the turquoise waters of West Bay

Mexico

- bike around the Isla Mujeres
- explore Chichen Itza
- swim in Cenotes

Nicaragua

- go volcano boarding on Cerro Negro
- hang out on Ometepe Island
- go cliff jumping at Somoto Canyon
- see bubbling lava at Masaya
- swim in the volcanic lake Laguna de Apoyo

Panama

- take a boat on the Panama Canal
- wander along the Avenida Balboa
- bike the Amador Causeway

Paraguay

- visit La Santisima Trinidad de Parana historical site

Peru

- take a boat trip down the Amazon River
- trek the Inca Trail
- watch sunrise at Machu Picchu
- visit the historic centre of Cusco
- take in the view from Huayna Picchu
- explore the Sacsayhuaman ruins
- visit the Monasterio de Santa Catalina
- explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas
- hike through Huascaran National Park

South Georgia & Sandwich Islands

- hang out with the king penguins

Suriname

- visit the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral in Paramaribo

Uruguay

- walk through the Barrio Historico in Sacramento
- visit La Calle de los Suspiros
- hang out in Montevideo's Plaza Independencia

Venezuela

- visit Angel Falls, the world's highest waterfall
- conquer the summit of Mount Roirama
- swim at Cayo de Agua

AFRICA

Angola

- hike up to Kalandula Falls, the second largest waterfall in Africa

Burundi

- go on a walking tour of Kabira National Park and see chimpanzees up close

Egypt

- watch the sunrise at the Pyramids of Giza
- camp under the stars in the White Desert
- explore the Sultan Qalawun Mosque in Old Cairo
- wave to the Great Sphinx of Giza
- enter the tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Queens
- explore the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa
- visit the Cairo Citadel

Gambia

- wave to a crocodile in the Kachikally Sacred Crocodile Pool
- experience a Moroccan Hammam at the Coco Spa

Madagascar

- walk down the Avenue of the Baobabs

Mali

- explore the legendary city of Timbuktu

Mauritius

- walk through the inland sugarcane fields

Morocco

- stroll through the Blue Streets of Chefchaouen
- spend the night in the Sahara Desert
- wander through the Marrakech Markets

Mozambique

- explore the old Portuguese trading counter, the Island of Mozambique

Namibia

- wander the iconic red dunes in Sossusvlei

Saint Helena

- walk up Jacob's Ladder

Senegal

- swim in Pink Lake that appears bright pink due to high salt content

South Africa

- go on a safari in the Kruger National Park to see the Big 5
- go sky-diving
- visit Robben Island, the site of Mandela's imprisonment
- take a cable car to the top of Table Mountain
- hike Lion's Head

Swaziland

- climb Sibebe Rock, the 2nd largest exposed granite dome in the world
- witness traditional song and dance in the Shewula Mountain Camp

Tanzania

- climb Mount Kilimanjaro

Uganda

- visit the source of the Nile in the town of Jinja

Zambia

- see Victoria Falls, the world's largest waterfall

Zimbabwe

- swim in Devil's Pool above Victoria Falls

ASIA and MIDDLE EAST

Afghanistan

- visit the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley
- swim in the lake of the Band-e-Amir National Park

Azerbaijan

- swim in the Caspian Sea

Bhutan

- visit the Paro Takstang Monastery on the cliffside of Paro Valley

Cambodia

- walk around Angkor Wat

China

- walk along the Great Wall
- visit Tiananmen Square

East Timor

- sleep in a beachside hut on Atauro Island

Hong Kong

- wander down Temple Street Night Market

India

- visit the Taj Mahal
- watch the sunrise over the Ganges
- attend the Holi Festival

Indonesia

- visit the rice-fields in Bali
- swim in Lake Toba, the world's largest crater lake

Iraq

- visit the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Israel

- visit the Old City of Jerusalem

Japan

- visit Mount Fuji
- walk through the Wisteria Flower Tunnel

Jordan

- float in the Dead Sea
- wander around the old city of Petra

Kyrgyzstan

- travel along the ancient Silk Road

Macau

- bungee jump the highest jump in the world

Maldives

- see the glowing blue tide at the Vaadhoo Island Sea of Stars

Mongolia

- travel on the Trans-Mongolian Highway
- ride a camel at Khongoryn Els

Myanmar

- cross the U Bein Bridge, the longest teak bridge in the world

Nepal

- reach Mount Everest Base Camp
- visit Lumbini, Buddha's birthplace

Pakistan

- camp in Fairy Meadows at the base of Nanga Parbat

Papua New Guinea

- hike Mount Trafalgar
- trek the Kokoda Track

Philippines

- take a boat trip down the Puerto Princesa Sunterranean River
- swim in the waters of Borocay
- explore El Nido

Saudi Arabia

- visit Mecca

Taiwan

- attend the Taiwan Lantern Festival

Thailand

- explore Phang Nga Bay by longtail boat
- look around the Amphawa Floating Market

United Arab Emirates

- go to the top of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai
- visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Vietnam

- explore Ho Chi Minh by scooter
- swim in Halong Bay
- hike through the Sapa hills
- climb to the top of Chiang Mai's Doi Suthep Temple

CARIBBEAN

Bahamas

- hang out with the swimming pigs at Pig Island

Barbados

- swim with turtles

British Virgin Islands

- swim in the Virgin Gorda Baths

Cayman Islands

- swim with sting rays at Sting Ray City

Cuba

- wander through Old Havana
- visit the UNESCO Parque de Vinales
- explore the iconic San Pedro de la Roca Castle

Dominica

- swim in the Emerald Pool

Dominican Republic

- descend the 27 waterfalls of Damajagua

Jamaica

- climb 600 feet up through Dunn River Falls
- swing on the beach at Frenchman's Cove
- raft down the Rio Grande
- explore the caves at Reach Falls

Puerto Rico

- take an eco-excursion through the Camuy Caves

Saint Lucia

- have a Sulphur Springs Mud Bath

St Vincent and the Grenadines

- visit Waillilabou Bay where Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed

How to read the list:

Europe

Aland Island

Albania

Andorra

Armenia

Austria

Belarus

Belgium

Bosnia Herzegovina

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

England

Estonia

Faroe Islands

Finland

France

Germany

Gibraltar

Greece

Guernsey

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Isle of Man

Italy

Jersey

Kosovo

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Macedonia

Malta

Moldova

Monaco

Montenegro

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Russia

San Marino

Scotland

Serbia

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Svalbard

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

Ukraine

Wales

NORTH AMERICA

Alaska

Alberta

Arctic

Arizona

British Columbia

California

Colorado

Florida

Greenland

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Kentucky

Louisiana

Massachusetts

Montana

Nevada

New Mexico

New York

Northwest Territories

Ontario