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Travelling as a family, with your partner or alone is such an exciting thing. I have been doing some research for a long time now and I have come up with a list of the most amazing bucket list ideas for you to add to yours. I have included places I’ve been to and places I want to go to. These are the 10 most beautiful places to visit before you die.
With lockdown going now, now is the perfect time to have a little look at all the amazing places you could plan to go to once this is over!
(Please note most of this is based on research and not my actual experience)
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Overview: The most beautiful places to visit before you die
- Bali, Indonesia
- New York, USA
- Caves in Algarve, Portugal
- Navagio Bay, Greece
- Amsterdam
- Preacher’s Pulpit Preikestolen, Norway
- Santorini, Greece
- Blue Lagoon, Iceland
- Budapest, Hungary
- Grand Canyon
Bali, Indonesia
Bali is now a very popular tourist destination and is high on my list of places I want to go to. There are so many interesting things to do including surfing, visiting Ubud, going to the beaches, seeing the lakes, having a look at the volcanoes and rice terraces, visiting the Bali temples and going on the Bali swing. You can even get a boat to see the Gili islands from Bali.
I have found that June to August is the best time to go, when it’s not raining. As many of the activities are outside so you would not want them being cancelled by the rain.
The Bali Guide, a website that can give you some more information on hotels and taxis. They also have 100 tips you must know which offer some extra information.
New York, USA
Having been to New York myself I can safely say it lived up to my expectations and more. There are hundreds of things you can do in New York it is impossible to try everything in one day so if you were only there for a short time, I would advise planning ahead.
New York is a must to place on your bucket list ideas.
My top 5 things to do would be: visit the statue of liberty
- Go to the top of the Empire State Building
- visit the 9/11 museum
- See Times Square, there are so many things you can do whilst in Times Square, you can watch a Broadway show or visit the Rockefeller centre and go ice skating
- Central park – this was my favourite thing i did. I definitely recommend hiring a bike and doing a lap of the park. It takes about 1 hour to get all the way around.
- Walk the high line.
You can check out my post about Top favourite things to do in New York and see all the things I did!
Caves in Algarve, Portugal
The coast of Portugal is known for its cave formations. The most popular cave is the Benagil Cave which is right next to Benagil beach. You have to access it by boat, but it is possible to swim to it.
You can get some amazing pictures around the caves.
I have been to Albufeira in Portugal which is just a half an hour bus ride from the Benagil Caves. Being on the Albufeira beach, you can walk onto of all the rock formations but you have to watch out for the tide coming in.
I will link the Algarve Cave website where they go through in more detail about all the different caves.
Navagio Bay, Greece
Navagio bay is also known as Shipwreck beach or smugglers cove. It is not possible to walk down to the beach as it is surrounded by vertical cliffs. You can access it by boat. The water is super clear and very blue.
Right to left: my photo, photo by Lloyd Dirks on Unsplash
I visited the beach in 2018 and I have to say it was the most amazing little beach. I have never seen the sea to be that colour ever before. We took a little boat ride to get there. I have to say we did not have the best luck with the weather, it was leading onto a storm. So the waters started to get really choppy and in the end, we had to pull over and switch to a coach to take us back. I have to say it was a little scary.
We still managed to see the beach and the coves on the way so it was all okay in the end. So I’d have to say it was definitely worth it.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a typical cheap weekend away. I still cannot believe I haven’t been yet! I have heard amazing things about Amsterdam, so I have been doing a lot of research and I’ve found the best places too go to if you are only there for the weekend:
- Anne Frank House – museum
- Cycle around and take a typical photo of one of the bridges
- A’ dam Lookout
- Vondelpark
- Heineken experience
I will leave the Iamsterdam website link so that you ca have a browse around all the possible opportunities and activities you can do.
Preacher’s Pulpit Preikestolen, Norway
Next for my bucket list ideas is Norway. If you are more into going for walks rather than lying on beaches, then visiting the Pulpit rock is an amazing experience. It is a 6km hike starting from the mountain lodge and it takes an average of 4 hours to get to the top of the rock. It is possible to do the hike all year round.
If you are in Stavanger then there are a couple bus companies that can get you to the hiking trail.
What’s recommended is starting the hike at night-time as it will be less busy and you will get to see the sunrise in the morning.
The Visit Norway website gives you a great guide on how you can hike the rock.
Santorini, Greece
Santorini is famous for its views and its sunsets from the town. It is actually the remains of a volcanic crater. The Greek island is twice as expensive as Athens. Tourists stay in Oia or Fira.
Fira is the capital where you can find the white and blue houses and take amazing pictures down the alleys. You can enjoy the nightlife in Fira with the best bars and restaurants.
Oia is known for its sunsets. Most of the restaurants and bars ask for a minimum order amount per person.
There are many tourist activites that they put on such as:
- A free hike from Fira to Oia – which is highly recommended as you can see more of the island without paying – it will take about 2 hours
- Take a jet ski to tour the volcano
- visit the beaches, the Kamari Beach and Red Beach are free
- Amoudi Bay is a small fishing village, you can get there for Oia
- Winery tours
- Boat trip around Santorini
- Open-air cinema
Blue Lagoon, Iceland
The Blue Lagoon is a spa in Iceland which is open all year round. Imagine being able to swim in the Blue Lagoon! This is something I want to do so bad. The water is rich with minerals so it is good for your skin. You can choose to visit in the day or even at night. I’ve been told if you want to go at night you have to book early.
The official Blue Lagoon website offers day visits, accommodations and dinning information.
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is next on my list. It is famous for being one of the most photogenic places in Europe. It is said you need at least 2 days to be able to see the whole city and do all the tourist activities.
The most common things to do include:
- Visiting Heros square
- Taking a walk across the Szechenyi Chain Bridge
- Going to the great market
- Riding the Buda Castle Hill Funicular
- Visiting the outdoor spas – one of the things I most want to do!
The Budapest website gives you all the information on the things you can do including walking and boat tours.
Right to left: Photo by Keszthelyi Timi on Unsplash, Photo by Emma Fabbri on Unsplash, Photo by Victor Malyushev on Unsplash
Grand Canyon
Lastly, for my bucket list ideas, is the Grand Canyon. The south rim of the park is open all year round. The north rim closes for the winter. You don’t have to take a tour when you enter the park, the south rim is a “do it yourself route”. If you want to drive to the grand canyon and park your car is it $30 per vehicle for a permit.
The most popular things to see at the Grand Canyon is:
- Grand Canyon Village – a free neighbourhood area
- Grand Canyon Skywalk
- Havasupai Falls – free, to get there you have to hike about 10 miles but you will see the blue waters
- Bright Angel Trail – a free steep trail where you can get great views of the river
- Helicopter tours – $199 on average per person
- Desert View Drive
- North Rim – less crowded than the south
The Grand Canyon Tours are a company who can sell you some tours and can help with visitors guides.
About the Author
Thank you for reading about the most beautiful places to visit before you die!
. So, what’s on your bucket list? Let me know!
If you want to find out more check out my about me page. My name is Amber Page and I run The Unpredicted Page. You can find me over on:
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All great suggestions! I’m soo desperate to visit Iceland x
I’m itching to travel again 💙 thank you for these tips!
Unrelated note, I want to see if you’d consider posting about growing your socials (particularly ig as that one is so hard to grow). Look up to you!
I am currently writing a post about how I grew on IG so look out for that!
Budapest is so beautiful and I’d love to do the hike to Preacher’s Pulpit in Norway!
Great list. I was hoping to visit Portugal and Greece this Fall. Now, with the pandemic, it doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen. Maybe I’ll try traveling domestically and hit up the Grand Canyon! Thanks for suggesting things to do while there.
I’ve only been to Budapest out of this list and I would definitely love to visit the rest of them. I guess Santorini is the highest on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing!
Anda
I will be adding some of these to my bucket list in my notes app! Amsterdam is one I would love to go to; unfortunately I can’t go to the places I was planning to this year so the list is just growing bigger for next year! Thanks for sharing x
Paige // Paige Eades
Ive been to Norway and done that hike it was seriously amazing once you got to the top! I am dying to go to iceland and go to the blue lagoon, defo need to make that happen soon! This is such a great post!
This post is making me really want to travel again! I’ve been to the Algarve a few times but never got round to seeing the caves, so I’ll add them to my list for next time! New York, Bali, Iceland and Budapest are high up on my bucket list!
Serena / http://www.ramblingsofanotherunigraduate.com
Wow so many amazing places, where to put it in my time? Bali, I’ve just been
in the winter, I’ll come back. Algarve is just fascinating. I would like to explore
more Greece and Iceland.
What I wouldn’t give right now to jump on a plane to any one of those suggestions!
Wonderful list, really could go to any of those and be very happy x x
Such a great list. The Blue Lagoon in Iceland has been on my bucket list for a while!
So many amazing places on this list, I want to visit all of them! Especially Bali and Iceland, they look incredible
You and I have similar ideas for our bucket list! I’m Hungary for a trip to Budapest. I was meant to go this summer as part of a interrail-like trip but the pandemic obviously halted that.
I had NYC in mind for the end of this year but I’m not sure I’ll go because of the pandemic, the cases that are increasing continuously over there and I have serious doubts on whether I’ll be safe as a black man knowing the police brutality and violence that black people are more likely to suffer there.
A 2nd visit to Amsterdsm is well overdue for me too. I want a boat trip through the canals badly, and spend an afternoon cycling through the city too!
Johnny | Johnny’s Traventures
Beautiful places. I have been to two of them. Another must-see place I would add to any list is Niagara Falls.
These are great suggestions. I would love to go to Iceland and to the Blue Lagoon. I think this is something I might start to plan.
Some incredible places here Amber! I’m itching to go to Santorini so badly! I’d love to go there before I turn 30 in a few years time! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Great list! I’ve been to about half of them, and the others are definitely on my list! I had not heard of the location in Norway, thanks for sharing 🙂
Indonesia, Norway and Iceland have just been added to my bucket list! Thank you so much for these suggestions🙊✨
Great post! These places look beautiful! I especially want to go to New York, Bali and Amsterdam.
Such a great list! I only went to the Grand Canyon and it was an incredible experience! I hope to go to the rest in the very distant future. x
Hey Amber – it’s a good bucket list. I’ve been to Amsterdam and New York – two stunning cities, of very different charm. I prefer the easy going style of Amsterdam and its history. NY is fast-paced, but still awesome, especially the night life, the theater, and the food variety!!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing your suggestions, I have been to a couple of these on your bucket list 🙂
Nic | Nic’s Adventures & Bakes
I went to school in New York and I’d say go to Washington Square Park, too! It’s small but full of life. Great ideas!
This type of lists never feel to cease and there may be another 10 to 100, but the list looks great with some incredible pictures. Love to visit few..
Can’t believe I’ve never been to Amsterdam either! I think it’s a must visit for anyone who lives in Europe!
This post has taken my brain away on a dream of adventure for the first time in ages. I really hope that we can travel next year, I’d love to get some adventure under my belt. My cousin went to Bali and had the best time, her photos were something out of a magazine!
Rosie
I would never imagine New York being beautiful but then I remember the snow fall they get and the beautiful fairy lights everywhere! Lovely list!
Such a great article. I would like to visit one of them soon.
Such great list and pictures. Thank you for sharing the post.