I took my first international trip when I was fourteen. I went on a volunteer trip with my youth group to Monterrey, Mexico, and it changed my life. How cliche right? But it doesn’t make it less true. This trip opened my eyes and for the first time I had my own experience exploring a new culture and understanding how other people around the world live. It ignited the fire that lit my passion to travel and explore the world. After getting to see how other people live my curiosity started growing and I started to wonder how other cultures live. I would read books about other cultures and would spend time Googling images of far away places, but that was not enough. I wanted more. I wanted to see and feel what it’s like to be in the photos on Google. I wanted to know what it’s like to smell the fresh yet salty air of the Pacific Ocean, I wanted to know what food tastes like on the other side of the world, and I wanted to know what it would feel like to admire the craftsmanship of breathtaking architecture of the Colosseum with my own eyes.
Since then, I have traveled to 23 countries expanding over 6 continents. I have finished my original bucket list and now I am constantly adding new experiences and crossing them off. I think that everyone should travel, because travelling opens your mind and teaches things that you aren’t going to learn in a classroom, workplace or being surrounded by people who look, think and act like you do.
I have been to some amazing locations, and have lived some wild adventures. I have put together a list of my top ten favourite cities to visit all around the world, to inspire your bucket list and get you motivated to see the world. Grab a cup of tea or a glass a wine and keep reading to find out where I recommend you travel to and why.
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Colorado Springs, USA.
Why: Colorado Springs is my number one favourite city to travel to because it’s an outdoor lover’s paradise. I love hiking and the city is home to a wide range of trails suitable for every skill level. A big reason why Colorado Springs is my top favourite city is because it’s beautiful and is home to the Rocky Mountains. Getting to explore the Rocky Mountains is never a disappointment. Colorado Springs is also home to some great Craft Beer and delicious coffee which are too drinks that I enjoy. Colorado Springs also has some friendly people in it. I truly believe that the people make a place and the lovely Coloradans in the Springs do a great job representing their state.
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Sunshine Coast, Australia.
Why: Ever since I was ten years old I have wanted to travel to Australia and live out my surfer fantasies. When I was 18 I visited Australia, and had the opportunity to explore a lot of the beautiful country. I visited Sunny Coast and fell in love with it. The Sunshine Coast is literary heaven! It is a beautiful city, filled with surfers, friendly people, good vibes and is right on the beach. There are many different beaches in the area, all which are perfect! It’s a great location to learn to surf and enjoy the beach life.
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Cape Town, South Africa
Why: Cape Town is a beautiful city filled with a lot of exciting adventures like, surfing, hiking, whale watching, shark cage diving, safaris and more. It is also home to stunning beaches, and wildlife including penguins. Cape Town has delicious food, in fact, it has some of the best food that I have ever eaten. It is also a fairly, inexpensive place which makes it an awesome location for any budget.
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Perth, Australia
Why: Perth is the perfect mix of a beach town and a vibrant city. There are so many fun activities to do in the city but if you need a break from the hustle and bustle, beautiful white sandy beaches are only minutes away. The people are very laid back and friendly, which is pretty common for Australia.
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Chiang Mai, Thailand
Why: I love Thailand! One of the friendliest countries in the world, Thailand is known as the land of smiles. Thai culture is pretty unique and interesting, and I had a great time diving into it. Chiang Mai is in the North of the country and it has made my list of top cities to visit because it’s a city filled with a lot of fun activities, including an energetic night market that has hundreds of vendors selling delicious food, clothing, bags and more. During the day the city is pretty quiet but as soon as night falls it comes alive with locals and tourist roaming the streets enjoying themselves.
[su_quote]I would read books about other cultures and would spend time Googling images of far away places, but that was not enough. I wanted more. I wanted to see and feel what it’s like to be in the photos on Google.[/su_quote]
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Montreal, Canada
Why: Canada’s bilingual city, Montreal, is a beautiful mix of hipster trends and European flare. I love Montreal because it has delicious food, like poutine, Montreal smoked meat, and Montreal bagels. It is also one of Canada’s art capitals and is home to art galleries, fashion boutiques and musicians. Montreal has spectacular neighbourhoods including Old Montreal, and Le Plateau Mount-Royal, which was voted one of the top hipster neighbourhoods in the world.
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London, England
Why: Visiting London was a dream come true. It’s a city that I learned about in school, always watched in movies and made my bucket list at an early age. I visited London two weeks before Christmas and it was magical! The whole city was decorated in Christmas lights, the temperature was cool, but not freezing. (Keep in mind I am used to Canadian winters.) It was amazing getting to see iconic sights, such as the London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and of course Platform 9 3/4.
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New York, USA
Why: Like London, visiting New York was a dream come true. While I was walking around the streets of the city, I felt like I was in a movie. Walking along the Brooklyn Bridge, was probably the highlight of my trip. I had seen that bridge in countless movies and frequently in my favourite TV show at the time, Gossip Girl, and getting to see it with my own eyes made me so incredible excited. There is so much going on in New York, there are endless adventures.
9. Transylvania, Romania
Why: Ok, ok I know that Transylvania isn’t a city but I absolutely love this whole area. It’s beautiful beyond belief, with lush green rolling hills, enchanted forests, and mountains. It also has a haunted history, which I find super interesting. It’s a great place to hunt vampires, as it’s home to Bran’s Castle aka Dracula’s castle. However, if you look into Transylvania’s past, you will discover a lot darker stories than the ones written about a fictional vampire. Transylvania is the perfect location to travel to for anyone who loves history, nature and dark tourism.
10. Cusco, Peru
Why: Cusco is one of my top cities that I’ve travel to because of its rich, ancient culture and history. Cusco has a lot of great hiking trails that lead to ancient Inca ruins, including the beautiful Machu Picchu. It is a beautiful city filled with alpaca sweaters, fun backpackers, and cobblestone streets.
Those are my top cities that I have visited! Of course this list could go on for days- with Amman, Tiberius, Rome, Athens, Dublin, Los Angeles, Brisbane and more included. What city would you add to the list and why? Let me know in the comments!
Wishing you love and peace while exploring,
