100 Places to Visit Before You Die: The List That Actually Delivers

The World Is Bigger Than You Think

Most people visit fewer than 20 countries in their lifetime. The world has 195. Most people see the same dozen destinations — Paris, Rome, New York, Bali, Thailand — and miss the extraordinary places that lie just beyond the tourist trail.

This list is not a ranking. Every place on it is extraordinary in its own way. It is an invitation to travel more widely, more curiously, and more deeply.

Europe

1. Santorini, Greece — The caldera view from Oia at sunset is one of the most beautiful sights in the world. The white-washed buildings, the blue-domed churches, and the volcanic cliffs create a landscape of extraordinary drama.

2. Amalfi Coast, Italy — The drive along the SS163 — clinging to the cliffs above the Tyrrhenian Sea — is one of the great road experiences in Europe. The towns of Positano, Ravello, and Amalfi are extraordinary.

3. Dubrovnik, Croatia — The walled city of Dubrovnik, perched on a limestone promontory above the Adriatic, is one of the most beautiful urban landscapes in the world. Walk the walls at sunset.

4. Hallstatt, Austria — A village of extraordinary beauty on the shore of a glacial lake in the Austrian Alps. The salt mine above the village has been worked for 7,000 years.

5. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia — Sixteen terraced lakes connected by waterfalls, in colours ranging from azure to emerald. The wooden boardwalks give the impression of walking on water.

6. Cinque Terre, Italy — Five fishing villages clinging to the cliffs of the Ligurian coast, connected by hiking trails with views of extraordinary beauty.

7. Lofoten Islands, Norway — Red fishing cabins reflected in mirror-still fjords, with the midnight sun or the Northern Lights above. One of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe.

8. Faroe Islands — Dramatic sea cliffs, waterfalls that fall into the ocean, and a landscape of extraordinary wildness in the North Atlantic.

9. Kotor, Montenegro — A perfectly preserved medieval walled city on a bay of extraordinary beauty, with fortress walls that climb the mountain behind the town.

10. Ronda, Spain — A white hilltop town perched on a 100-metre gorge in Andalusia, with the oldest bullring in Spain and views of extraordinary drama.

11. Matera, Italy — One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth, carved into the ravines of Basilicata. The sassi (cave dwellings) have been inhabited for 9,000 years.

12. Sintra, Portugal — A mountain town of royal palaces, Moorish castles, and 19th-century follies, 40 minutes from Lisbon.

13. Ghent, Belgium — Belgium's most underrated city: a medieval centre of extraordinary beauty, with three towers visible from a single viewpoint.

14. Valletta, Malta — The smallest capital city in the EU: a Baroque masterpiece built by the Knights of St John, with a Grand Harbour of extraordinary beauty.

15. Tallinn, Estonia — One of the best-preserved medieval old towns in Europe, with towers, churches, and merchant houses that have barely changed since the 15th century.

Middle East & Africa

16. Petra, Jordan — The rose-red city carved from the rock by the Nabataean people 2,000 years ago. The Treasury, revealed at the end of the Siq gorge, is one of the most extraordinary sights in the world.

17. Wadi Rum, Jordan — A desert of red sandstone and granite, used as a location for Lawrence of Arabia and The Martian. Sleeping under the stars in a Bedouin camp is extraordinary.

18. Pyramids of Giza, Egypt — The last surviving wonder of the ancient world. Standing at the foot of the Great Pyramid and looking up is a genuinely humbling experience.

19. Serengeti, Tanzania — The greatest wildlife spectacle on earth: 1.5 million wildebeest, 500,000 zebras, and 250,000 gazelles moving in an annual circuit across the savanna.

20. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania — Africa's highest peak (5,895m) is climbable without technical equipment. The view from Uhuru Peak, above the clouds, is extraordinary.

21. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia — The largest waterfall in the world by volume: 500 million litres of water per minute falling 108 metres into the Zambezi Gorge. The spray is visible from 50km away.

22. Sossusvlei, Namibia — The red sand dunes of the Namib Desert, some of the tallest in the world, with the dead trees of Deadvlei creating one of the most extraordinary landscapes on earth.

23. Marrakech, Morocco — The medina of Marrakech — the souks, the Djemaa el-Fna square, the riads — is one of the most extraordinary urban experiences in the world.

24. Sahara Desert, Morocco — Sleeping in a luxury camp in the Sahara, watching the stars from the top of a sand dune, is one of the most extraordinary experiences available.

25. Cape Town, South Africa — Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula, the Winelands, and the extraordinary food scene make Cape Town one of the world's great cities.

26. Zanzibar, Tanzania — Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the beaches of the north and east coasts are among the finest in the Indian Ocean.

27. Okavango Delta, Botswana — The world's largest inland delta: a wilderness of channels, islands, and floodplains that supports an extraordinary density of wildlife.

28. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda — Home to half the world's mountain gorillas. Spending an hour with a gorilla family in the forest is one of the most moving experiences in travel.

29. Socotra Island, Yemen — The Galápagos of the Indian Ocean: an island of extraordinary endemic species, including the dragon blood tree, found nowhere else on earth.

30. Lamu, Kenya — A UNESCO World Heritage Site: a Swahili island town of extraordinary beauty, with no cars, narrow streets, and a culture that has barely changed in 700 years.

Asia

31. Angkor Wat, Cambodia — The largest religious monument in the world: a temple complex of extraordinary scale and beauty, built by the Khmer Empire in the 12th century.

32. Ha Long Bay, Vietnam — 1,600 limestone karst islands rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Sleeping on a junk boat among the islands is extraordinary.

33. Bali, Indonesia — The rice terraces, the temples, the surf, and the food make Bali one of the world's great travel destinations.

34. Raja Ampat, Indonesia — The best diving destination on earth: 1,500 species of fish, 600 species of coral, and more marine biodiversity per square kilometre than anywhere else in the ocean.

35. Kyoto, Japan — The former imperial capital of Japan: 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 1,600 Buddhist temples, and 400 Shinto shrines.

36. Tokyo, Japan — The world's greatest city: ancient and futuristic, chaotic and serene, with the best food on earth.

37. Mount Fuji, Japan — Japan's sacred mountain, visible from Tokyo on clear days. Climbing it at night to watch the sunrise from the summit is a rite of passage.

38. Taj Mahal, India — The most beautiful building in the world: a mausoleum of white marble built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

39. Varanasi, India — The holiest city in Hinduism: a city of ghats, temples, and the Ganges River, where life and death are conducted in public with extraordinary intensity.

40. Bhutan — The last Himalayan Buddhist kingdom: a country of extraordinary natural beauty, ancient monasteries, and a philosophy of Gross National Happiness.

41. Luang Prabang, Laos — A UNESCO World Heritage Site: a town of extraordinary beauty at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, with Buddhist temples, French colonial architecture, and the alms-giving ceremony at dawn.

42. Bagan, Myanmar — A plain of 2,000 Buddhist temples, built between the 9th and 13th centuries. Watching the sunrise from a temple roof, with hot air balloons drifting above the plain, is extraordinary.

43. Cappadocia, Turkey — A landscape of fairy chimneys, cave churches, and underground cities, with the world's most spectacular hot air balloon flights at sunrise.

44. Pamukkale, Turkey — White travertine terraces formed by calcium-rich hot springs, with the ancient city of Hierapolis above. One of the most extraordinary natural formations in the world.

45. Sigiriya, Sri Lanka — A 200-metre rock fortress built by King Kashyapa in the 5th century, with frescoes, water gardens, and views of extraordinary beauty.

The Americas

46. Machu Picchu, Peru — The Inca citadel perched on a ridge above the Urubamba River, surrounded by cloud forest and dramatic mountain peaks. One of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in the world.

47. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador — The most extraordinary wildlife destination on earth: animals that have no fear of humans, in a landscape of volcanic drama.

48. Iguazú Falls, Argentina/Brazil — The largest waterfall system in the world: 275 individual falls spread across 2.7 kilometres. Eleanor Roosevelt said: "Poor Niagara."

49. Patagonia, Chile/Argentina — The last great wilderness: granite towers, electric-blue glaciers, and pumas at dawn.

50. Amazon Rainforest, Brazil — The lungs of the earth: a forest of extraordinary biodiversity, with more species of plants, animals, and insects than anywhere else on earth.

51. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia — The world's largest salt flat: a mirror of extraordinary beauty after rain, reflecting the sky and the clouds in a landscape of surreal perfection.

52. Torres del Paine, Chile — The granite towers of Patagonia: one of the most dramatic landscapes on earth.

53. Cartagena, Colombia — A perfectly preserved colonial city on the Caribbean coast, with colourful buildings, flower-draped balconies, and a vibrant food scene.

54. Cartagena, Colombia — A city frozen in time: vintage cars, crumbling Baroque architecture, and a music scene of extraordinary vitality.

55. Chichen Itza, Mexico — The most important Maya city: the El Castillo pyramid, the ball court, and the Sacred Cenote are extraordinary.

56. Antelope Canyon, USA — A slot canyon of extraordinary beauty in the Navajo Nation, with shafts of light illuminating the sandstone walls.

57. Grand Canyon, USA — One of the world's great natural wonders: a canyon 446km long, 29km wide, and 1.6km deep, carved by the Colorado River over 5 million years.

58. Yellowstone, USA — The world's first national park: geysers, hot springs, and wildlife of extraordinary richness.

59. New York City, USA — The greatest city in the world: Central Park, the High Line, the Metropolitan Museum, and the energy of 8 million people living at full volume.

60. Banff, Canada — Turquoise lakes, Rocky Mountain peaks, and wildlife of extraordinary richness in Canada's oldest national park.

Oceania & Pacific

61. Sydney, Australia — The Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, and the beaches of Bondi and Manly make Sydney one of the world's great cities.

62. Great Barrier Reef, Australia — The world's largest coral reef system: 2,300km of coral, fish, and extraordinary marine life.

63. Uluru, Australia — The sacred sandstone monolith of the Anangu people: a rock of extraordinary presence that changes colour throughout the day.

64. Fiordland, New Zealand — Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, and the Kepler Track: a wilderness of fjords, mountains, and rainforest of extraordinary beauty.

65. Queenstown, New Zealand — The adventure capital of the world: bungee jumping, skydiving, jet boating, and skiing, with the Remarkables mountain range as a backdrop.

66. Bora Bora, French Polynesia — The most beautiful island in the world: a turquoise lagoon, overwater bungalows, and Mount Otemanu rising above the reef.

67. Palau — The best diving destination in the Pacific: Jellyfish Lake, the Blue Corner, and the extraordinary marine biodiversity of the Rock Islands.

68. Vanuatu — Volcano trekking on Tanna, diving on the SS President Coolidge wreck, and the extraordinary culture of the ni-Vanuatu people.

69. Fiji — The friendliest country in the world: white sand beaches, warm turquoise water, and a culture of extraordinary warmth and hospitality.

70. Easter Island, Chile — The most remote inhabited island on earth: 900 moai statues, carved by the Rapa Nui people, standing on the slopes of extinct volcanoes.

Natural Wonders

71. Northern Lights, Iceland/Norway — The aurora borealis: one of the most extraordinary natural spectacles on earth.

72. Midnight Sun, Norway — The sun that never sets: 24 hours of daylight in the Arctic summer.

73. Zhangjiajie, China — The floating mountains of Avatar: thousands of sandstone pillars rising from the forest floor.

74. Jiuzhaigou, China — Coloured lakes of extraordinary beauty in Sichuan province.

75. Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand — A cave ceiling covered in thousands of glowworms, creating a galaxy of blue-green light.

76. Marble Caves, Chile — Caves carved from solid marble by the action of General Carrera Lake, with turquoise water reflecting off the walls.

77. Chocolate Hills, Philippines — 1,268 perfectly conical hills on the island of Bohol, turning chocolate brown in the dry season.

78. Fly Geyser, Nevada, USA — An accidental geyser created by a drilling operation in 1964, now encrusted with extraordinary mineral formations.

79. Dallol, Ethiopia — The most alien landscape on earth: a hydrothermal field of yellow, green, and orange mineral formations in the Danakil Depression.

80. Salar de Atacama, Chile — The world's largest lithium flat, with flamingos feeding in the brine pools and the Andes rising above.

Cultural Experiences

81. Carnival, Rio de Janeiro — The greatest party on earth: five days of samba, costumes, and extraordinary energy.

82. Diwali, India — The Festival of Lights: millions of oil lamps illuminating the streets, temples, and rivers of India.

83. Cherry Blossom Season, Japan — Two weeks of extraordinary beauty: the sakura bloom transforms every park, temple, and riverbank into a pink cloud.

84. Day of the Dead, Mexico — A celebration of extraordinary beauty and meaning: altars, marigolds, and the belief that the dead return to visit the living.

85. Burning Man, Nevada — A temporary city of 70,000 people in the Black Rock Desert, dedicated to art, self-expression, and radical inclusion.

86. Holi, India — The Festival of Colours: a celebration of spring in which participants throw coloured powder at each other in a riot of joy.

87. Songkran, Thailand — The Thai New Year: a three-day water fight of extraordinary scale and good humour.

88. Oktoberfest, Munich — The world's largest beer festival: six million visitors, 7.5 million litres of beer, and a celebration of Bavarian culture.

89. Alms-Giving Ceremony, Luang Prabang — Buddhist monks collecting alms at dawn: a ceremony of extraordinary beauty and serenity.

90. Sumo Tournament, Tokyo — The ancient Japanese martial art: 15 days of competition in the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena, with extraordinary ritual and ceremony.

Food & Drink Experiences

91. Omakase Sushi, Tokyo — A chef's choice sushi meal at a counter in Tokyo: the finest expression of Japanese culinary culture.

92. Truffle Season, Périgord, France — The black truffle of Périgord: the most expensive food in the world, at its best in January and February.

93. Wine Harvest, Douro Valley, Portugal — The grape harvest in the Douro Valley: one of the most beautiful wine regions in the world, at its most dramatic in September.

94. Seafood in Galicia, Spain — The octopus, percebes (barnacles), and Galician empanada of the northwest coast of Spain: some of the finest seafood in the world.

95. Street Food, Penang, Malaysia — The hawker centres of George Town: char kway teow, laksa, and cendol at prices that make fine dining look expensive.

Adventure Experiences

96. Everest Base Camp Trek, Nepal — The 14-day trek to the foot of the world's highest mountain: one of the great walking journeys on earth.

97. Inca Trail, Peru — The 4-day trek to Machu Picchu: through cloud forest, Inca ruins, and mountain passes of extraordinary beauty.

98. Diving the Great Blue Hole, Belize — A 300-metre wide, 125-metre deep underwater sinkhole off the coast of Belize: one of the world's great dive sites.

99. Hot Air Balloon over Cappadocia — Floating above the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia at sunrise: one of the most extraordinary experiences in travel.

100. Sleeping Under the Stars in the Sahara — A night in a luxury camp in the Sahara Desert, with the Milky Way above and the silence of the desert around you: the most extraordinary way to end a bucket list.