Introduction
If you’re like me, you’ve got a list of bucket list destinations that’s long enough to be the next Great American Novel. Whether it’s visiting every country in Europe, seeing all seven continents (I always meant to!), or spending 600 days at sea in an RV with your best friends, there are plenty of places around the world that I want to see before I die. But how do you know where to start? If only there was an app for this!
There is: Bucket List Destinations—a digital guide that helps travelers find their personal top 20 travel destinations. It can be used by anyone who wants to plan their own dream trips but doesn’t know where exactly they should go. The app includes detailed maps with all locations on Earth marked so users can quickly find what they need when they need it most.
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and was built over 2,000 years ago to protect China from invaders. It’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it’s still awe-inspiring to see this massive wall that stretches for over 5,000 miles across northern China.
The Colosseum in Rome
The Colosseum is one of the world’s most famous buildings, built in the first century AD. It was originally an arena for gladiators and wild animals, but later became a popular tourist attraction after it was converted into an amphitheatre. The Colosseum is also known as “The Flavian Amphitheatre”, after Emperor Vespasian who rebuilt it in 80 AD; however, some historians believe this name came from Emperor Nero who had his own name inscribed on its walls (Rome wasn’t even called “Rome” at this time).
Today, you can enjoy tours around Rome’s most popular tourist attractions such as St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City or Castel Sant’Angelo.
The Taj Mahal in Agra, India
The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is located on the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.
The Taj Mahal was commissioned by Shah Jahan and completed after twenty years of construction work between 1632 and 1654 AD. Built entirely out of white marble quarried from nearby Rajasthan state (now part of modern-day Pakistan), it has been described as being one of the seven wonders of the world.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris
The Eiffel Tower is a symbol of Paris, France. It was built for the 1889 World’s Fair and was originally intended to be temporary. It remains one of the world’s most recognizable structures and has become a major tourist attraction in its own right, with more than 9 million visitors annually.
The tower stands 324 meters tall (1,063 feet). The metal structure consists of two interwoven triangles: an iron lattice framework that supports four large metal legs; three pairs of crossed suspension cables that connect two sides together; two pairs of cantilevered arms for supporting radio antennas; and finally a glass dome on top that houses elevators used by visitors going up or down inside it (although these elevators can also be accessed via stairs).
The Statue of Liberty in New York City
The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and democracy. It was a gift from France to the United States, and was designed by French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. It was dedicated in 1886, although construction on it wasn’t completed until 1902.
The statue’s crown has 13 copper plates that represent individual states in America at the time (hence why there are so many provinces here). Each plate features either an eagle holding arrows or an olive branch with two wings flanking what looks like a shield with stars on it!
Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel situated on a mountain ridge above the Sacred Valley in Peru. It is a popular tourist destination, known for its sweeping views of the surrounding area.
Machu Picchu was built by the Incas as an estate for their ruler Pachacuti (father of Huayna Capac). The site was abandoned after his death and it remained hidden for centuries until it was rediscovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911.
The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
The Pyramids of Giza are the only remaining of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and they’re located on the outskirts of Cairo. The pyramids were built as royal tombs for Pharaohs during the 4th Dynasty and are still standing today.
The Great Pyramid has been estimated to have taken 20 years to build; however, there’s some debate about whether or not this estimate is accurate.
Petra, Jordan
Petra is a city in Jordan. It was built by the Nabataeans, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petra was built over 1,000 years ago, from around 100 BC to 300 AD. The rock-cut architecture of Petra has been preserved for thousands of years because it was protected from erosion by sandstone cliffs and water conduit systems that channeled rainwater into cisterns below ground level.
Petra has been called “the rose-red city” because of its red sandstone walls that were painted with white paint when they were first discovered by European explorers beginning in 1812 CE (Common Era).
Uluru (Ayers Rock), Australia
Uluru (Ayers Rock) is a large monolithic rock formation in the heart of Australia’s Outback. It’s sacred to the Anangu people, who believe it to be a living thing and have made offerings of food and water to it. Uluru is also one of Australia’s most popular tourist attractions, with more than 700 people visiting every day during peak season (October–March).
Uluru has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986 because it represents an example of “a unique combination between cultural traditions and natural features.”
Krak de Chevaliers, Syria
The Krak de Chevaliers, also known as Crac des Chevaliers or Krak des Chevaliers, is a Crusader castle located in Syria. It was built in 1142 by King Fulk of Jerusalem and his son Baldwin IV with the help of 200 knights.
The castle is considered one of the best preserved castles in the world and it’s listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1986.
Chich’en Itza, Mexico
Chich’en Itza is an ancient Mayan city in Mexico that was built by the Mayans between the 5th and 10th centuries. Located in the Yucatán Peninsula, it is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico.
The ruins have been restored and are now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; they were declared a site of cultural importance by UNESCO in 1987. The name “Chichen Itza” means “the mouth of Itza.”
Iguazu Falls, Brazil
Iguazu Falls is a waterfall system located on the border of Brazil and Argentina. There are over 275 falls that are more than 60 meters high, making this one of the largest waterfalls in the world. These unique sights can be found in Iguazu National Park, an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The area offers visitors great opportunities for hiking through stunning terrain with clear views at every turn!
Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System
The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the second largest barrier reef in the world. It’s also known as one of the most diverse places on earth, with an estimated 5,000 species of fish and other marine life.
The reef is home to many different types of coral that you can see at any time – black coral, white corals and more!
It’s also home to endangered green sea turtles who lay eggs on some beaches every year.
Table Mountain National Park, South Africa
To get to Table Mountain, you need to take a cableway up. The cableway is one of the most popular ways to visit Table Mountain, and it has been operating since 1889. It’s known for its breathtaking views of Cape Town and Table Bay, as well as its history as an important military installation for both British and Dutch settlers during colonial times.
There are several hiking trails on top of Table Mountain that lead visitors through forests, farms and valleys before reaching their destination at the top!
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the most populous city in the world and one of the largest urban areas on Earth. It’s also a major global financial center, home to many corporate headquarters for multinational companies like Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Corporation (Mitsubishi Electric) and Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corporation (NTT DOCOMO).
In addition to these giants from around the world, Tokyo offers plenty more activities for tourists to enjoy during their stay here. Whether you’re looking for something more casual or want something more active than shopping at Shibuya district or eating ramen at Tsukiji Market Hall; there should be something that appeals to you!
Madrid, Spain
Madrid is the capital of Spain and one of the largest cities in Europe. It is also a major financial center, with many multinational companies based there, including Santander and Telefonica. Madrid’s population is over 3 million people, making it the 15th largest city by population in Europe behind London (8 million) and Paris (10 million).
In addition to being home to many international companies like Telefonica, Real Madrid football club has its headquarters in Madrid as well as other sports teams like FC Barcelona or Atletico Madrid who play at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium which seats nearly 80 thousand fans every match day
St. Petersburg, Russia
St. Petersburg is the second-largest city in Russia, with a population of 5 million people. Located on the Gulf of Finland, it was founded by Peter the Great in 1703 as a naval base and became an important port on the Baltic Sea. The city has been home to many famous buildings and monuments from different eras including Russian Revolution Square (formerly known as Admiralty Square) which was built during World War II as part of Stalin’s plan for world domination by having one square for each country he invaded or conquered.
The most famous landmark in St Petersburg is Palace Square or Nevsky Prospekt where there are many historic buildings such as Hotel Astoria where Ernest Hemingway stayed while researching his novel “The Sun Also Rises.”
Venice, Italy
Venice is a city in northern Italy. It is built on 118 small islands linked by bridges. The city is known for its canals, gondolas and masks.
In the center of Venice, you will find St Mark’s Basilica (also known as San Marco). This church was built in 1094 after it was destroyed during an earthquake. The interior of this cathedral has been restored several times over the centuries so that today you can see different styles of architecture such as Gothic and Renaissance plasterwork paintings on its walls along with mosaics made from colored marble stones which were added later during renovations done by Pope Paul III between 1540-1549 AD when he added decorative designs into his design plans for this building project
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat is a temple complex in Cambodia. It’s the largest religious monument in the world, with an area of 4 hectares (10 acres). It was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II as a Hindu temple to honor his father and grandfather, who had both died fighting enemies near Angkor Wat.
The site has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992 and is one of three World Heritage Sites in Cambodia along with Preah Vihear Temple and Banteay Chhmar Temple.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains. It was built as an estate for Pachacuti, the third Sapa Inca (ruler). The site was never conquered by Spanish forces, and it has remained largely untouched since its construction.
Machu Picchu is one of Peru’s most popular destinations for tourists because of its unique architecture and stunning views. The ruins were built at an elevation of 3,000 meters above sea level—making it one of the highest human constructions ever made!
Rome, Italy
Rome is the capital of Italy, home to one of the world’s most famous monuments—the Roman Colosseum. The city was founded in 753 BC by Romulus and Remus, who were suckled by a she-wolf; according to legend, this made them founders of Rome.
Rome is one of Europe’s oldest cities and has been ruled by many different cultures over time: Greeks followed by Romans; then Byzantines (who took over after Rome fell); then French merchants who built up their own cultures within what was once called “The Eternal City”. Today it’s known as “La Città Eterna” (“The Eternal City”).
Because it’s such an old city with so much history behind it (and because there are so many things you can do here), we recommend visiting during your stay in Europe!
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
San Francisco is a city located in California. It is the most populous city in California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City. San Francisco has a population of 804,000 residents and 1,550 square miles (3,900 km2). It has been ranked as one of the world’s most expensive cities by Forbes magazine for five consecutive years from 2011 to 2016. The city was rated “World’s Most Livable City” by Livability Magazine in 2016.
The Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
The Serengeti National Park is a national park in the northern Tanzania. It is one of the largest game reserves in Africa and covers an area of 14,763 square kilometers.
The park was established in 1952 by government decree as a wildlife preserve for elephants, buffalo and other animals. This protected area now hosts more than 1 million wildebeest every year during their migration from grasslands to lakes and rivers during wet seasons (July until October), when they graze on annual plants such as cacti or shrubs that grow within its borders
Sydney Opera House, Australia
The Sydney Opera House is a performance venue in Sydney, Australia. It was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, who won the international design competition for the opera house in 1957.
The building was completed in 1973 and officially opened on 20 October 1973 by Queen Elizabeth II. The main concert hall can seat up to 1500 people but there are additional spaces for other uses including conventions, special events and exhibitions. It has won many awards including being designated as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites (2003).
Fiji, Oceania
Fiji is a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It’s made up of more than 300 islands and has a population of just over 800,000 people.
Fiji has been popular with tourists ever since it was discovered by Europeans in 1568, but it’s really only been a popular tourist destination since the 1990s when hotels started popping up on the main island of Viti Levu and other nearby islands. The country is now home to many luxury resorts that cater to wealthy travelers looking for an opportunity to get away from their daily lives and relax at someplace pretty remote with stunning views all around them—like this one:
A bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you die.
A bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you die. It can help you get the most out of life, achieve your goals, and live a more fulfilling life.
If you’re already working on one or two items from your bucket list but want more ideas for where to go next, check out these travel destinations that are sure to make your travel dreams come true.
Conclusion
There are a ton of other places to visit on this list, but these 20 have been our favorites. If you’re planning a trip, we recommend starting with the Great Wall of China and then going from there. You can find out how much time it takes to travel between countries in our post “How Long Does It Take To Reach All These Places?”
