30 Dream Travel Destinations Around the World

If you were to close your eyes and picture your dream travel destinations, where in the world would they be? Assuming money is no object (I’m still wishing for a money tree), I put together a list of dream vacation destinations to get your travel inspiration flowing. Hopefully the list will motivate you to update your bucket list and share some of your favorites with me! I love hearing about new destinations!

1 | Bora Bora

You know what I’m talking about…the gorgeous over-water bungalows and crystal clear water. I’m not sure how you leave this island off your list of dream travel destinations! Top activities (aside from straight up chilling) include jet skiing, snorkeling with sharks, and swimming with whales. Even just writing about this one has me googling flights to Bora Bora…be right back!

2 |Patagonia

Glaciers, mountains, and outdoor activities, oh my! Patagonia has so much natural beauty, plus a ton of awesome looking activities from white water rafting to hiking to kayaking.

3 | Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An has always been near the top of my list for Vietnam. As a bustling little city, I’d love to try a classic Vietnamese food tour, try out basket boating, and ride a motorbike through the Vietnamese countryside.

4 | Lofoten Islands, Norway

Head to Norway’s Lofoten Islands for some out of this world beauty. If you opt to go in the summer, enjoy plenty of hiking, boating, and fishing. On the other hand, the winter will offer you the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights! I can’t wait to do this one day, but am unsure how to mentally prepare myself for a Nordic winter…

5 | Banff, Canada

Yes, this is where you can see the beautiful blue Lake Louise! I’d love to kayak hike, or even do a combo tour of both Banff and Jasper National Parks. In just a day, you can see icefields, glaciers, and beautiful waterfalls.

6 | Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena’s colors and vibrancy know how to draw a person in. Plus, they have tapas, which makes me soooo happy! Not only could you spend days exploring the city itself, but you could also opt to check out the gorgeous Playa Blanca or the mud baths at Totumo Volcano. I’m not super into mud or being dirty, but the idea of a mud bath sounds super relaxing.

7 | Italy’s Amalfi Coast

The rugged cliffs and pastel colored villages have long caught my eye on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. It’s no wonder this area if one of the top dream travel destinations! Whether you opt to sail along the coast or cruise while sipping Limoncello, you can’t go wrong. In addition to sailing the Amalfi Coast, I’ve previously spent some time in Venice, Burano, Florence, and Cinque Terre (all of which I recommend!), so you might as well just block your calendar for a few weeks to explore Italy.

8 | Antarctica

With more and more Antarctica tours popping up, this may be the time to book your journey! Kayak past icebergs, make friends with the penguins, and watch the seal pups.

9 | Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Head down to the Galapagos of Ecuador for some awesome wildlife viewing. On this 5-day tour of the Galapagos, visit the turtle reserves, lava tubes, befriend the sea lions, and check out Darwin’s research station! For those interested in evolution, science, or wildlife, this is definitely one of the top vacation destinations.

10 | Seychelles

A thousand miles from civilization, these islands are out-of-this world beautiful. Relax on the beaches, take a sail, and soak in paradise.

11 | South Africa

From Table Mountain in Cape Town to seeing a lion in Kruger National Park, South Africa has quickly jumped up my bucket list. I’ve never been on a safari, plus I hear the wine is fantastic. What more could I ask for?

12 | Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

I have spent 3 days in Switzerland previously and absolutely loved Lucerne, Bern, and Interlaken and the surrounding areas. Next time, I plan to spend some additional time in the smaller mountain villages like Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, and Murren. At the top of the bucket list for next time is a glacier helicopter ride!

13 | Cappadocia, Turkey

Cappadocia is best known for the unique spot in Turkey with all of the hot air balloons…definitely one of my dream vacation destinations. Take a hot air balloon flight, or start in Istanbul and do a multi-day tour of the region and check out the famed fairy chimneys in Devrent Valley.

14 | Chefchaouen, Morocco

The classic blue houses have always tempted me in Chefchaouen. It’s probably not the only reason to fly to Morocco though…check out Morocco, Casablanca, and Fes. Then take a full day trip to Chefchaouen and enjoy this photographer’s paradise!

15 | Tatra Mountains, Slovakia

The High Tatras are Slovakia’s highest range and one of the most dramatic and beautiful mountain regions in Europe. Hike along the jagged granite peaks, frolic in green meadows, and take in the unique Alpine flowers.

16 | Grand Canyon, USA

There are so many places to visit abroad, it’s easy to lose sight of the amazing places in the good old USA. One of my all-time dreams is to go white-water rafting through the area, but I suppose I could settle for exploring the South Rim and doing some hiking too. It still blows my mind that these landscapes are in my country!

17 | Costa Rica

So I couldn’t narrow it down to just one place in Costa Rica because there are SOOOO many things I want to see and do there. Check out the sloths at Manuel Antonio National Park, horseback ride through the Cloud Forest, or go on an all-out adventure around the Arenal Volcano!

18 | St. John, USVI

A hidden gem of the Caribbean, St. John is the smallest of the US Virgin Islands (no passport for me!) The pristine water and white sandy beaches are definitely calling my name…plus, snorkeling in the Caribbean is one of my all-time favorite activities.  For more Caribbean inspiration, check out my suggestions for the Bahamas, Barbados, and St. Bart’s.

19 | Havana, Cuba

Havana is still a relatively new destination for most Americans, and I’m obviously still completely intrigued by it. On my ideal trip to Cuba, I’d spend some time exploring Old Havana, take a ride in those classic cars (for the Insta, of course), and visit the beautiful Viñales Valley. Now doesn’t that sound like it should be on a list of dream travel destinations? For my first trip to Cuba, I spent 3 days in and around Havana, and I would highly recommend going.

20 | Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia

The Uyuni Salt Flats have been drawing me in with their other-worldly looks, but I’d also love to check out La Paz and Isla del Sol. Spend a couple weeks in Bolivia to see the highlights of the country!

21 | Petra, Jordan

Petra is known for its rick-cut architecture and proximity to Wadi Rum, the largest valley in Jordan. Make a long weekend of your visit and hit up Petra, Wadi Rum, and finish it off with a float in the Dead Sea. If you have a full week, make sure you check out my bucket list of the top 10 tourist attractions in Jordan (all tried and tested by yours truly)!

22 | Koh Samui, Thailand

Koh Samui is definitely an adventure hot spot in Thailand, and I do love adventures. You can just lounge on the beach….but you could also hop on a catamaran, go kayaking, go fishing, or even become PADI certified and a scuba expert! This is my goal; I can’t wait to enjoy the mermaid life!

23 | Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Head over to Cairns to experience the majestic Great Barrier Reef. Whether you opt to take a catamaran cruise, jump in and snorkel, or go bungee jumping (my personal choice!), it will be beautiful!

24 | Machu Picchu, Peru

Hiking the classic Machu Picchu trail is a must, and Rainbow Mountain is on my list too! Plus, I’d love to befriend some llamas (hello llama selfies!), and explore the salt mines and hot springs.

25 | Iceland’s Ring Road

So full disclosure: I’ve already been to Iceland once. I explored Reykjavik, the Golden Circle, the Blue Lagoon, and Iceland’s South Coast on my 4 day itinerary around Iceland. However, Iceland was SOOO beautiful that I need to go back and follow the Ring Road around the entire country. The icebergs at Jökulsárlón and the crystal ice caves are way up there on my list of things to see next time!

26 | Santorini, Greece

I think Santorini is probably on everyone’s list for dream travel destinations, and for good reason. With the iconic blue roofs, sparkling Mediterranean, and delicious food, what could be better? My perfect day in Santorini includes exploring a volcano, wine tasting, and capping it all off with a sunset cruise.

27 | Zanzibar, Tanzania

Aside from being drop-dead gorgeous, Zanzibar has plenty of awesome activities for you. Learn about Zanzibar history in Stone Town, take a boat ride off the beautiful African shoreline, or venture into the Jozani Forest to get up close and personal with some of the native animals.

28 | Oahu, Hawaii

I’ve spent some time on the big island of Hawaii, but have never made it to Oahu. Not only can you visit Pearl Harbor and learn about an important time in US history, but Oahu offers plenty of fun activities too. Try going diving with whale sharks or snorkeling with turtles!

29 | New Zealand

From jaw-dropping mountains to beautiful lakes, I can’t help but drool over photos of New Zealand. Road tripping around the country, visiting Hobbiton, zip lining, and bungee jumping make New Zealand near the top pf my list for dream travel destinations.

30 | Malta

A tiny island in the Mediterranean, the capital, Valetta, has plenty of local gems. Take a wine tour, visit Malta’s famous Blue Lagoon, or take a crazy fun party cruise, complete with a midnight swim!

And there you have it…the top travel destinations around this world. I hope this gave you some travel inspiration for your next trip! I know I’m currently counting how many vacation days I have left this year. What are some of your dream vacation destinations? I’m always looking for some new bucket list destinations!

P.S. This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I might make a little extra spending money, at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own.  These products/services have been useful during my travels and come highly recommended to you from yours truly!

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