12 Best Countries to Visit for Vacation
We've been traveling the world together for more than a decade. Here's a list of our twelve favorite countries. Get inspired by our favorite countries we've visited so far and start planning your big trip right now!
When traveling extensively, or at least a bit more than the rest of the population, there is one question popping up more often than others. We cannot even count how many times we were asked what is our favorite country to travel in the world.
Even though it might seem like a straightforward question, the answer is actually not that easy. Every country we've been to was unique in some way, and it is really hard to make a relevant list of the best countries.
We are aware that the list of favorite countries is very subjective. It happened to us that we enjoyed our time in a country for no obvious reason.
For example, Paraguay does not have that many top things to do, but we were in a mood to take a rest and soak up the atmosphere therefore, this South American country is quite high on our list, although it did not make it to the top 12.
If you are looking for an inspiration for the next destination to visit, keep on reading.
We've put together the list of our 12 favorite countries we've traveled to.
We are not saying that the top twelve won't change, so we reserve the right to update this post from time to time as we plan to keep on traveling in the future.
But even though there are so many countries in the world worth exploring, we are pretty sure that most of the places we picked here will stay on the list as they are truly amazing.
This means only one thing, we will have to create a completely new list of our favorite countries in the world sometime in the future!
Do you think that twelve is just a weird number? Well, it kind of is.
Originally, I planned to write our top ten favorite countries to travel, but then I found out I am not able to squeeze all our all-time favorites there. So here you go.
Even though we usually try to visit new countries every year and are reluctant to travel to foreign countries more than once (except when we are traveling in our home country) as there would simply not be time (and money) to travel to the unknown countries, these places are definitely the ones we would not mind to visit one more time.
NEW ZEALAND
We spent more than a year in New Zealand on WHS visas, so we had plenty of time to see the best this country has to offer. New Zealand had everything we hoped for.
Stunning mountains, a large number of hiking trails and cheap mountain huts, beautiful lakes, winding roads, scenic landscapes, and tasty wine.
Even though we also experienced hard times in New Zealand - it is not that easy to sleep in a small car for a year - we think that even this experience, when looking at it retrospectively, makes New Zealand so appealing for us.
New Zealand is one of the most sought-after destinations in the world, and we can only recommend you to put this country on your bucket list. To help you plan your trip to NZ better, check out this perfect 4-Week New Zealand itinerary.
It's been a while since we visited the country of long white cloud, but we still keep fond memories not only of the wonderful nature but also of the friendly and helpful people.
As we love outdoor adventures, New Zealand was the real paradise for us, and during the fifteen months, we did a large portion of the most popular NZ hikes, including Great Walks such as the iconic Milford Track.
New Zealand, as a travel destination, has many highlights, but there are a few downsides as well. First of all, maybe except for Australians, the rest of the travelers have to undergo a tiring journey to get to the country.
Second of all, New Zealand is not the cheapest country in the world, but based on our experience, we know it is possible to get around New Zealand on a budget as well.
Either way, even though we made this list without any intention to rank the countries, and I wrote the top twelve as the countries started popping in my head, New Zealand is for sure very high on the list of our favorite countries we've ever visited.
JORDAN
We came back from Jordan only a few weeks ago, but this small Middle Eastern country quickly became one of our all-time favorites.
We had never been to this part of the world before, so we were not sure what to expect. It turned out, that Jordan was the right choice.
Jordan is yet another country perfect for road tripping (you might have already noticed that we are slightly obsessed with this way of transport), and thanks to its size, it is easily navigable. On top of that, driving in Jordan was not bad as you would expect.
Jordan is also a perfect travel destination for those of you who do not have a lot of time off.
Because of its compact size, Jordan can be explored in only seven days (of course, the more, the better). For inspiration, you can read our one-week Jordan itinerary.
During this time we had enough time to visit the absolute highlights such as Lost City of Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, or Jerash.
We enjoyed here the friendly atmosphere - almost every person we met greeted us with words Welcome to Jordan - but also the food.
Yes, another reason to visit Jordan, except for the stunning landscapes and cities carved into the rock, is the cuisine.
Food in Jordan is delicious, and good news for budget travelers, it is reasonably priced. When in the country, you must try falafel, hummus, or baba ganoush.
CANADA
After New Zealand, Canada is the second country where we lived for a year. Even though it was a bit different, as in Canada, in Calgary to be precise, we did not combine work and traveling as much as in New Zealand, but we still had enough time to explore the country.
Or at least its western part. Canada is a vast country, and it is almost impossible to see it all.
One of the most popular destinations in Canada is the Canadian Rockies, and it is also one of the places where we spent the majority of our time.
If you love road tripping, insanely blue lakes, and snow-capped mountains, we are pretty sure you must put Canada on your bucket list.
As we've traveled more extensively only in Alberta and British Columbia, we are hoping to come back to Canada one day, and travel the off-the-beaten-path.
Are you still wondering why Canada is one of our favorite countries in the world? Well, then you must check out our posts, for example, about Moraine Lake, Mount Assiniboine, or Icefields Parkway.
We hope the photos will persuade you to book your trip straightaway.
Canada, especially the Canadian Rockies, has been recently very popular, so it is good to know that the summer season needs to be booked well in advance, both accommodation and rental car.
PERU
We spent more than two months in Peru, and it quickly became one of our favorite countries in South America. When we were planning our trip to this continent, we had high expectations for this country, and it really did not disappoint.
Peru is a large country, so traveling around by night buses was quite a nightmare, but all the struggles and nights when we did not get much sleep was absolutely worth it.
What we loved the most about Peru?
Well, first, we cannot fail to mention the mountains. If you are reading our blog regularly, you've probably noticed that we usually prefer mountains over the sea and beaches. That's why we found our paradise here in Peru.
We did many hikes in the Huaraz area, such as a hike to Laguna Paron or Laguna 69. Here we realized, that we will never get tired of crystal clear lagoons high in the mountains.
Peru is popular because of the Incan citadel Machu Picchu. Visiting the site is a real highlight, and we saw it not once, but twice.
Once when we hiked the Salkantay Trek, and the second time as part of one of the best-known hikes in the world, Inca Trail.
But the true reason why we enjoyed Peru so much lies in diversity.
You can decide to relax on a beach, take a flight over Nazca lines, see Colca Canyon, which is one of the deepest canyons in the world, stroll around lovely colonial cities such as Arequipa, or even spend some time in the jungle - read more about our epic adventure: seven-day camping in Pacaya Samiria.
Now we hope it is not that hard to see why Peru made it in our top 12.
ARGENTINA
One of our biggest travel dreams was to get to Patagonia one day. Patagonia is a region shared by two countries, Argentina and Chile. It was a hard decision to choose only one country but after a lot of thinking, we opted for Argentina.
This country has so much to offer, that it is not possible to see it all in only one trip. We do not want to repeat ourselves again, but the main reason why we enjoyed our time in Argentina so much was because of the mountains, glaciers, and lakes.
Why should you put Argentina on your list of must-visit places?
Perito Moreno Glacier, El Chalten, often nicknamed like a hiking capital of Argentina, an uncountable number of hikes, such as Laguna de Los Tres Hike.
Add a lively city of Buenos Aires, or Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city, and you will have a few more reasons why you should consider Argentina worth visiting.
Tourist services in Argentina have high quality, so getting around is quite comfortable.
The only downside is the prices, especially in the remote parts of the country.
On the other hand, we do not regret a single penny we spent in Argentina.
If you are planning your visit already, make sure you pack proper gear for Patagonia, as it is often windy and cold in this region, but that's not anything that should put you off your trip.
AUSTRALIA
Let's jump to a different continent. Australia is one of our all-time favorite countries, and because of its vastness, we hope there will be a chance in the future to see the part of Australia where we did not make it during our first visit.
We arrived in Australia after living in New Zealand without any plans on what to see.
Luckily, after a week we spent in Sydney, we came up with a perfect 4-week Australia itinerary.
We decided to start at the south of the country, explored Great Ocean Road, and then headed northwest to Grampians National Park, visited the opal capital Coober Pedy, until we finally reached Australia's Red Center.
Here we found the biggest highlight of our road trip, a huge monolith called Ayers Rock in Kata Tjuta National Park.
Traveling through Australian outback was very intense for many reasons.
The landscape was very photogenic, the scenery changed slowly as we traveled from south to north, and also the hot weather was challenging.
Even though nowadays we are pretty confident about how to plan the perfect travel itinerary, here in Australia we were caught off guard, and we experience pretty hard times because of it.
First of all, it did not cross our minds that searching last minute for a rental car during the holidays in December won't be that easy (and cheap) task.
And also, we did not know that in Australia's Northern Territory the heat and humidity at the end of the year will be almost unbearable. Luckily, Litchfield National Park and Nitmiluk National Park made our suffering more bearable.
Despite some issues, we still have fond memories of Australia, and it is one of our favorite countries we've ever visited.
MALAYSIA
Malaysia was the first country in Southeast Asia where we traveled together, and even though it's been a while since we made this trip, this country remains deep in our hearts.
Why we rate Malaysia so high among the countries we've ever been to?
Street food is the answer. Every single meal we had in Malaysia was delicious. Well, at least the ones that don’t contain dried fish.
We loved the flavors, spices, and the mix of Chinese, Indian, and Malay cuisine. If you consider yourself a foodie, you cannot miss Malaysia, especially destinations such as Penang or Melaka.
Malaysia is also our favorite country thanks to its authenticity and diversity.
The capital Kuala Lumpur, at least its city center is modern, but the country also offers island retreats such as Tioman Island, Perhentian Islands or developed Langkawi.
If you want to cool down a bit, put Cameron Highlands on your itinerary, and to spice up your travels a bit, head to Taman Negara National Park or visit the cave temples in Ipoh.
Malaysia is an exotic destination, and thanks to cheap prices, safety, and relatively good transport, it’s, after Thailand, usually one of the next places to travel to for first-time visitors to Southeast Asia.
If this all sounds good to you, check out our Malaysia itinerary.
CZECH REPUBLIC
It is impossible to be unbiased here, so we do not even try. The Czech Republic is our home country, and we would really like to inspire you to put it on your bucket list.
The small country in Central Europe is famous for Prague, and we know that it is often the only destination people visit.
We also know that Prague is often only a one day stop on a packed European travel itinerary.
Usually the itinerary looks like Berlin - Dresden - Vienna - Prague - Budapest, but we think it is really worth it to slow down and enjoy more moments in Czechia. Three days in Prague would be perfect.
There are so many things to see and visit in Prague such as Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, or Vysehrad, but you should also consider taking a one-day trip to Karlovy Vary, Cesky Krumlov or Terezin.
And if time allows, you can visit more cities in Czechia such as Ostrava, Brno or Plzen.
No, the Czech Republic does not have high mountains (the highest mountain is 1602 meters above sea level) or the sea, but it has a pretty rural landscape and is rich in medieval castles and ruins.
The infrastructure here is perfect, so it is easy to get around.
Do you need one more small reason why to travel to the Czech Republic?
What about the best beer in the world? Travelers from all around the world never forget to mention beer when we talk with them about our home country.
Put together beer, fulfilling meals, history, castles, and loads of legends and stories, and you have your next perfect vacation planned.
PHILIPPINES
Island hopping is a synonym for the Philippines. The country in Southeast Asia consists of thousands of islands, and we really enjoyed the freedom of choosing the places we wished to visit.
We praise the Philippines for the wonderful snorkeling, fun island-hopping adventures, beautiful white sand beaches, but also for photogenic rice terraces in Banaue, unusual Chocolate Hills on Bohol Island, or the most touristy place (that did not lose its appeal), El Nido.
When we think of the Philippines, we all of a sudden, feel no stress.
The atmosphere on the islands was so laidback, that we could only relax, eat delicious exotic fruits, and swim in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.
We would recommend the country to all holidaymakers, but also adventure travelers. The Philippines really has a lot to offer to every type of traveler, and the great news is, that traveling here is pretty cheap.
You only have to plan your itinerary carefully, otherwise, you will spend a lot of money on flight tickets and time on getting between the islands.
If we were looking for a destination to unwind and to enjoy time on the beach, we would again think of the Philippines. What would we do this time differently?
We would bring a waterproof action camera to capture underwater photos and incredible marine life.
ECUADOR
We know that Ecuador usually does not make it on the list of must-visit places, but it's gaining popularity slowly. The small South American country really surprised us, in a good way.
We must admit, before our visit, we did not know much about Ecuador. We knew it is on our way from Colombia to Peru, but at first, we did not plan to spend here a lot of time.
But since we crossed the borders from Ecuador from Colombia and arrived in a market town of Otavalo, our Ecuador itinerary changed quickly. And we had such a great time in Ecuador.
The colorful country has new roads, so it is easy to get around, at least when you travel the well-trodden tourist path, and we could not believe how much this country has to offer.
You will find here colonial towns such as Cuenca, towering volcanoes, amazing multi-day treks, cloud forests, or Incan ruins.
The highlight of traveling in Ecuador was the visit to the Galapagos Islands.
We know that for many people the Galapagos Islands is the only reason to visit the country, and even though Ecuador for sure has more top attractions, this time, we do not blame them.
We would go back to the Galapagos in a heartbeat. Why?
We've never experienced anything similar, and probably never will as the archipelago is absolutely unique, especially because of the wildlife.
Once we got back from the cruise, we rounded up 10 Reasons to visit the Galapagos Islands.
We know that the Galapagos Islands is not a budget-friendly trip, but this once in a lifetime opportunity is not to be missed.
Check out our best Galapagos Islands photos we took on the islands, hopefully, you will understand why this place is one of the favorite destinations in the world.
NEPAL
Hiking among 8000 meters high giants, mild altitude sickness, and dal bhat. This is what we imagine when we hear Nepal. This country is incredibly wonderful.
Several trails in Nepal do not require climbing, and we opted for Annapurna Circuit Trek. Even though it is not the only must-do multi-day trek in this country, we can only recommend it to you.
It took us around two weeks to finish the hike and the feeling when we finally reached the top of the Thorong La Pass, 5416 meters above sea level, is one of the happiest ones we have from traveling.
Often traveling is not only about lazing on a beach, but also about challenging yourself and overcoming your fears.
Our 2-week Annapurna Circuit adventure had everything.
The weather was great, and the towering mountains around us were incredible. And the trek was hard.
We already have at least two more treks in Nepal on our to-do list, so hopefully, it will not take long, and we'll land in Kathmandu again.
A few years ago Nepal was hit hard by a deadly earthquake, but the country has been healing ever since, and it is waiting for travelers with arms wide open.
The capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu, will welcome you with the traditional noise and smells, and it will be the place where you will prepare for the hike of your choice.
When we think of it, Nepal rightfully belongs among our favorite countries ever.
COLOMBIA
Tourism in Colombia is booming. Long gone are days when travelers were afraid to travel to this South American country, and we are glad that the situation in Colombia is much better than it used to be.
Not only because of us, travelers, but mainly because of the locals, who can finally live more peaceful lives.
Of course, the situation in the country is still far from being perfect and the recovery will take time, but we should be grateful for even the small improvements.
Colombia was the first country we visited in South America, and thanks to the warm welcome we fell in love with the whole continent. There are just so many amazing places in Colombia.
And why is Colombia one of our favorite countries in the world?
It has a bit of everything.
We spent a lot of time in colonial cities such as Villa de Leyva, Jardin or Barichara, visited the iconic cities such as Medellin or Cartagena, or enjoyed street art in Bogota.
We also had a wonderful time on the beaches in Tayrona National Park, saw tall wax palms in Cocora Valley near Salento, and climbed a glacier in Los Nevados National Park.
As you can see Colombia is a diverse country, and when you add to the country's flavor the omnipresent smell of freshly roasted coffee, you will never be willing to leave.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
