I don’t know what it is about researching the world’s farthest flung places and jotting them in a little faux-leather notebook, but man, I love it. Luckily for you, this obsession means that I’ve worked out some of the absolute best things to do on earth – and now I’m finally ready to share them and inspire bucket lists around the world!

Europe

⬡ Disneyland Paris

⬡ Eiffel Tower, Paris

⬡ Alhambra, Grenada

⬡ Palace of Versailles, Paris

⬡ See the Northern/ Southern lights

⬡ Portmerion, Wales

⬡ Afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason, London

⬡ Climb Mount Snowdon, Wales

⬡ La Tomatina, Spain

⬡ See a German fairytale castle (e.g. Liechtenstein, Eltzm Neuschwanstein_)

⬡ The Alps, France

⬡ Walk the Camino de Santiago

⬡ Interrail around Europe

⬡ Colosseum, Rome

⬡ Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy

⬡ Tulip Fields, Netherlands

⬡ Experience bright Italy (Vernazza, Procida, Burano)

⬡ Do the waltz at a ball in Vienna

⬡ Lavender Fields, the Netherlands

⬡ Go inside the Sistine Chapel, Vatican City

⬡ Consume space cake, Amsterdam

⬡ Stay in the Ice Hotel, Sweden

⬡ Kew Gardens, London

⬡ Visit a German market at Christmas

⬡ Acropolis of Athens

⬡ Camp at the Lake District, England

⬡ Stonehenge, England

⬡ Mont Saint Michel, France

⬡ Visit the Notre Dame de Paris

⬡ Dracula’s Castle, Romania

⬡ Take an outdoor bath in Budapest

⬡ The Louvre, Paris

⬡ Chinatown, London

⬡ Attend a British Music Festival

Asia

⬡ Taj Mahal, India

⬡ Diwali Festival of Lights

⬡ Virapaksha Temple, India

⬡ Stay at an Indian Ashram

⬡ Ride in an Indian tuk tuk

⬡ Walk the Great Wall of China

⬡ Turfan, China

⬡ Zhangjiajie national forest park, China

⬡ Rainbow Mountains, China

⬡ Lantern Festival, Taiwan

⬡ Hagia Sophia, Turkey

⬡ The Grand Palace, Bangkok

⬡ Bagan, Myanmar

⬡ Ride a camel

⬡ Sea of Stars, Vaadhoo Island

⬡ Meenakshi Temple, India  

⬡ See the Meeting of the Waters

⬡ Ride the Trans-Siberian railway

⬡ Swim in Jellyfish Lake, Palau

⬡ Yellow Mountain, Anhui Province, China

⬡ Eat fresh sushi at a stall in Japan

⬡ Go to a Japanese Onsen

⬡ Wisteria Tunnel, Japan

⬡ Stay in a Japanese Monastery

⬡ Hanami, Japan

⬡ Japanese tea ceremony

⬡ Mount Everest, Nepal

⬡ Visit an underground city like Cappadocia, Turkey

⬡ The Angkor Wat, Cambodia

⬡ Phnom Kulen Rong Chen, Cambodia

⬡ Amman, Jordan

⬡ Float in The Dead Sea

⬡ Yaunyang County, China

⬡ Taste tea in Darjeeling

⬡ Terracotta Army, Shaanxi

⬡ Dubai Miracle Garden

⬡ Songkran, Thailand

⬡ Spring Lantern Festival, Hong Kong

Africa

⬡ Visit the Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

⬡ Go on an African safari

⬡ Lalibela, Ethiopia

⬡ Great Zimbabwe

⬡ Abu Simbel, Egypt

⬡ Visit Madagascar’s avenue of ancient baobab trees

⬡ Lake Natron, Tanzania

⬡ Mount Kilamanjaro, Tanzania

North America

⬡ See the Grand Canyons

⬡ The Republic of Molossia

⬡ Actun Tunichil Muknal, Belize

⬡ Go inside the Empire State Building

⬡ Visit Mount Rushmore

⬡ Host a New York tea party

⬡ Antelope Canyon, Arizona

⬡ Drive down Route 66 on an American road trip

⬡ Dive to the Titanic

⬡ Camp in Oregon, Portland

⬡ Yosemite, California

⬡ Niagara Falls, Ontario + New York

⬡ Party in Las Vegas

⬡ The Statue of Liberty

⬡ See Times Square at Christmas

⬡ Death Valley National Park, California

South America

⬡ The Andes, Chile

⬡ Machu Picchu, Peru

⬡ Choquequirao, Peru

⬡ El Mirador, Guatemala

⬡ Carnival Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

⬡ Angel Falls, Venezuela

⬡ Chiapas, Mexico

⬡ Wander the bright streets of Cuba

⬡ Visit Christ the Redeemer

⬡ Welsh Patagonia

⬡ Rio De Janeiro Carnival

⬡ Ik Kil Cenote, Mexico

⬡ Chichen Itza, Mexico

Australasia

⬡ Swim in the Great Barrier Reef (You may also want to take a look at a dive calendar and consider going scuba diving with a group or instructor. There are many different locations and excursions that you may want to consider being a part of. It’s a chance to get some exercise and see some truly unique creatures.)

⬡ Glowworm caves, New Zealand

⬡ See a pink lake (e.g. Lake Hillier, Australia)

⬡ Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge

⬡ See the Red Crab Migration

⬡ See the Moai, Easter Island

⬡ Stay in an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora

Experiences

⬡ Go to Antarctica

⬡ Fly in a hot air balloon

⬡ Go parachuting

⬡ Go tandem biking

⬡ Ride a segway

⬡ Go wild swimming

⬡ Hike a volcano

⬡ Do up an old van and travel across a continent in it

⬡ Go cliff jumping

⬡ Stay in an underwater hotel

⬡ Bungee jump

⬡ Go glass blowing

⬡ Sleep overnight in a lighthouse

⬡ Sleep overnight in a cave

⬡ Sleep overnight on a beach

⬡ Horse ride through the surf

⬡ Milk a cow

⬡ Spend a few months in a completely new country with an equally new language and learn it (Discovering the joys of learning Korean while traveling opens up a whole new level of adventure. Ready to dive in? Check out this Korean level test!)

⬡ Swim with something big (e.g. a whale or shark)

⬡ Sleep outdoors watching the stars

⬡ Go surfing

⬡ Snowboard

⬡ Flyboard

⬡ Ride a pedalo

⬡ Hire a houseboat

⬡ Ride in a sleigh pulled by huskies

⬡ Go hand gliding

⬡ Fly first class

⬡ Skydive

⬡ Go Water-skiing

⬡ Go to a nude beach and blend in 😉

⬡ Bicycle cross-country

⬡ Ride in a yacht

⬡ Go on a cruise

⬡ Drive a helicopter

⬡ Swim in marine phosphorescence

⬡ Swim in an infinity pool

⬡ Throw a dart at a map and go to that place, wherever it lands

⬡ Go on holiday with no luggage

⬡ Ride in a canoe

⬡ Explore an unexplored island

⬡ Go paragliding

⬡ Busk

⬡ Ride in a limousine

⬡ Go rock climbing

⬡ Skinny dip

⬡ Ride a steam train

⬡ Swing through the sky on a trapeze

⬡ Get kissed under mistletoe

⬡ Drive a motorbike

⬡ Get a penpal in another country

⬡ Put a message in a bottle and send it across the ocean

And so, have you guys done many of the things on this list? Will it help inspire your next trip, or is your bucket list already flawless?

Let me know in the comments below!

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Whilst talking to friends and family about some of the best things to do in the city, one key activity that they all seemed to avoid taking part in was flying in a helicopter. Whilst I liked the idea of visiting Madison Ave and Broadway and all of the other tourist hotspots, I knew that the one thing that would really make my trip to NYC complete would be by doing something that I’d never done before – and that, quite frankly, scared the living daylights out of me. For someone who hates flying, it wouldn’t have made any sense whatsoever to go on a helicopter ride – and yet, that’s the exact reason why I wanted to do it. I told my travel partner of my plans, sent her links, and bam, it was settled. We’d be seeing New York from the sky (the best way to see it!) – and it was incredible.

A breeze shook my hair from the open window as we flew over the city, which was swathed in bright sun and was absolutely beautiful. Flying with FlyNYON, with a pilot that both put us at ease and made us laugh out loud, it was a really incredible experience. I think that helicopters are officially my new favourite mode of transport.

Harlem

Brooklyn

Manhattan

Staten Island

From canoeing in the Hudson River, to going on endless food tours, to watching Mean Girls on Broadway, to visiting a rooftop bar and watching the sun set – everything we did in the city was incredible. We stayed at a gorgeous little Airbnb where we became good friends with the hosts and their array of pets, and it truly felt as though we’d walked into a concrete jungle wonderland.

New York quickly became one of my favourite cities in North America – and I even have plans to return next year!

Have you guys ever been to New York, or plan on visiting? Let me know in the comments below!

Eduardo martinho livros

I’m jumping straight into this post with my absolute favourite place in the whole of Lisbon – Eduardo Martinho Livros. My travel companion and I were on our way to the local market when we stumbled across this gem – where we simply couldn’t resist perusing their outside stalls full of old novels and vintage postcards. After discovering several handwritten letters between lovers from many wars ago in one of the baskets, we wandered into the main shop – which unexpectedly led to us spending hours inside the shop, sharing stories and music suggestions. Eduardo, the owner, offered us a couple shots of the classic sugary Portuguese liquor Ginja, and we spent the sunny afternoon just hanging out in the cosy little store. Kicking back with some Sinatra humming in the background and with gorgeous old novels surrounding us, it’s the sort of place you can’t help but fall in love with – and it definitely became a highlight of the whole trip. Why not pop by and say hi?

Livraria Simão

As one of the smallest bookstores in the world, it came as a massive surprise to find out that Livraria Simão stores around 4,000 books. The space was originally occupied by a tobacco shop, but Carneiro, the owner, turned this space into a curious little bookstore. Despite its size, it’s the sort of place you could loiter for a good while, pondering through antique volumes of Saramago, Camões, Queirós, and, of course, Pessoa. Featuring both popular titles and more obscure volumes, the majority of the editions for sale are second-hand, meaning that it doesn’t cost much to simultaneously blag yourself a gorgeous book and also support a (both physically and literally) small business. Another great thing about this place? The owner is tucked away about 14 inches into the store, so if you have any questions then you’re never too far from the answer.

Círculo dos letras

One of the least known places in Lisbon, Círculo dos Letras is a stunning little place in the heart of the city. The store is filled with an extensive collection of literature, with every title being super quirky and interesting – and decently priced. The walls are adorned with pretty artwork, and it’s very cute and well-organised, with seats dotted across the store to sit down and read. The books themselves are entirely random volumes, with novels such as The Art of Bonsai being sat next to a Guide to Jiuzhaigou, tucked beside a book by Ant Middleton. The livraria is such a well-kept secret that it doesn’t even have a website – but follow the Rua Voz do Operário 62 and it’ll draw you right to it!

móveis convento

Whilst located just out of the capital in an absolutely gorgeous town called Mafra, Móveis Convento is a place you absolutely cannot miss visiting. Filled with the most gorgeous antiques (I’m talking intricately painted chests from the Mogul period, and hand-painted golden bowls from underground cities), everything looks like it should be worth millions but instead is on sale for a mere couple of euros. The absolute best part of this place is the little corner where there’s hundreds of old books stacked precariously upon one other, as despite the fact that it’s not a place that specialises in being a livraria, they still possess hoards of gorgeous novels. They sell just about anything to fill your quirky kitsch needs, and along with vintage Portuguese volumes, you can also pick up an Egyptian-style Tiffany or a painting from 1600’s Japan. I can promise that you’ll fall in love instantly.

Bertrand livraria chiado

Any self-respecting bibliophile absolutely has to find themselves at this livraria – simply because of the fact that it’s the longest running bookstore in the world. The Bertrand Livraria in Chiado is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being just that, and purchasing a book here will earn you an official stamp. Made up of several wide-arched concaves joining each section, the inside of the store is super pretty, and the outside is covered in the most beautiful tiles in the city (and we all know how the alfacinhas feel about their azulejos!). After perusing the titles, you can walk down to the end of the bookshop and chill at their cafe – where you’re sure to find the best hot coco in Portugal.

Menina e moca

The first place I visited after stepping foot on Portuguese soil was the gorgeous Menina e Moca, a lovely little bar-cum-bookstore-cum-hangout. I fell in love with everything about the place immediately, from the little indoor leather seats where you are entirely surrounded by literature, to the outside space where you can bask in the sun with a mojito as you look up to read the poetry floating on a wire above your head. The absolute best part about the place, however, is the vast selection of poetry on offer, meaning that you can really lose yourself in the true essence of Lisbon. Apparently they also host epic-sounding events here – so why not visit and tell me all about them?

Livraria sá da Costa

If you’re looking for someplace adorable where you can peruse old leather-bound books with gorgeous spines, baskets full of vintage maps, and wooden hand-carved figurines placed in front of museum-worthy paintings, you’ve certainly come to the right place. Everything about this livraria just screams “organised mess,” and in doing so, immediately welcomes you into cosy, home-like surroundings. Beside gorgeous collectable books, you’ll also find old-fashioned globes and glass cases filled with antique collectors’ novels from the 18th century. For such a stunning place filled with so much poetry and wonderful Portuguese literature, it’s no wonder that it’s located just up the road from the famous Pessoa statue – so why not take a photo with him and one of his novels you’ve purchased from this bookstore?

Ler devegar

Officially the largest bookstore I have ever visited, Ler Devegar is one of the coolest places in the world ever. It’s the sort of place you could spend literal years in, devouring novel after novel without any chance of tiring of them. The building itself is super pretty, located right in the heart of the LX Factory – the hippest, loudest, and best part of the city. The walls are covered in art pieces, and there’s a bar space where you can sit down and have a few drinks whilst taking it all in. There’s a wide variety of languages available, with Portuguese unsurprisingly dominating, but with many other popular languages in stock. Intertwined with the old printing press, the whole place is swathed in history and beauty, and it’s one place you simply cannot miss out on visiting in Lisbon.

Under the cover

Officially the most effortlessly cool livraria in the whole of Lisbon – it houses the sort of chic aesthetic that my 15 year old self spent a ridiculously amount of time trying to attain. From the second you walk in you are  immediately surrounded by glossy copies of journals about tea and almanacs about travel and volumes about art. Located right next to the Gulbenkian Foundation – my favourite museum in the city – it really exudes the essence of this cultural hub. Outside, there’s a cool mirror where you get to witness how happy you look outside the store, and inside is a full-length mirror where you can glance over at yourself holding one of their books and see just how good it looks on you. Their magazines cover pretty much every topic imaginable – from food, travel, art, fashion, and photography, to architecture, culture and music – and everything in between. They offer some absolutely stunning international magazines, and also sell their own merch – the perfect way to show off the fact that you’re both a alfacinha and a massive high-standard bibliophile, probably with a fancy coffee table full of similar indie volumes.

And so, that summarises the absolute best bookstores in the whole of Lisbon – the sort of places your bucket list looks empty without. Have you guys ever visited any of these stores, or plan on doing so? Be sure to let me know in the comments below!

*Although you can thank me, if you really want to. Maybe in the form of book recommendations?

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THE HISTORY

Inching up the stairs of the metro station felt like this gradual lift to this entire new world, enshrouded in antiquity and buildings illustrating the hushed stories of its past. Considering I had rocked up to Amsterdam with limited expectations, the last thing I was envisioning was this history-riddled vibrant wen of a city. From antediluvian structures to some of the best museums on the continent, the city sure has some tales to tell.

LOCALS ARE THE NICEST IN THE WORLD EVER

I know I’ve said it before in regards to the Welsh, but the locals here are literally the nicest, friendliest people I’ve met. From van drivers pausing mid-drive to offer directions with Dutch tongue and hand gestures, to the little old lady shop keeper that enthusiastically gave us advice on the attitudes of the people behind the Red Light District – I’ve never been met with such ferocious care. The weather can get almost unbearably cold, but at least the atmosphere is warm. Everyone is super smiley – although, that may have something to do with the weird tasting cake.

EVERYTHING MOVES IN SLOW MOTION

Amsterdam is the epitome of slow travel, where you really get the opportunity to take in every inch of life before moving on, squeezing out every drop. The fastest things about the city are the bikes, which snap your senses out of a content lull of lust for the quaint and nordic-esque surroundings, with a sudden urge to fling yourself out of the way. It shocks you to realise how fast and stressful life back in cities such as London and Paris are, and leaves you feeling like you’ve had some sort of slow-travel epiphany. It’s great.

FLAWLESS ARCHITECTURE

The buildings lining the streets are some of the most architecturally perfect I have ever seen, with everything looking faultless without pretension. From the passé facades of old houses to the famed bridges and windmills, Amsterdam is the perfect place for someone that appreciates good design. It’s insanely refreshing to be surrounded by so many bewitching edifices.

GORGEOUS WINDING CANALS

Imagine small Venetian canals framed by thin leaning gingerbread-iced buildings, with yellow bikes and red shutters and blue plant pots. It is breathtakingly beautiful to glance out as you stroll amongst the canals – although as a heads up, the wind whips over the water and makes the side streets very cold very quickly during winter months. I hear their famed cookies are very effective at helping avoid the disconnecting cold.

EASY TO GET LOST AMONGST ART

As the prior home to the much-adored art legend Van Gogh, it’s no wonder that people are drawn to the city for its mass of artwork. The galleries work at charming you, and the Van Gogh museum brings a touch of sophistication to the whole experience with tapas and glasses of champagne offered on certain days.

EATING OUT IS AN EXPERIENCE

It borders on exhausting, the sheer amount of love and effort that is put in to their food establishments. For our first morning we decided on visiting this little recommended cafe downtown, where the journey consisted of weaving through shop hideaways parallel to the hidden backstreets of the city. When we arrived, hungry and eager to sightsee, we found ourselves entwined in this stage curtain entrance of a deeply design-conscious food house, where the chill vibe and accompanying music we’d been subject to all evening continued to intrigue. The waiter was overtly welcoming, and pointed to the art-plastered walls and bookshelves. It was wonderful and gorgeous and exhausting – and mirrored our experience in every other restaurant in town.

BEWARE: AMSTERDAM HAS CLAWS

As a side note, I think it’s worth mentioning that whilst you absolutely have to add Amsterdam to your bucket list, be aware that it does have claws. The moment that we found ourselves walking towards the departure gate veeery slooowly as our plane was on the verge of taking off was when we realised we had already adopted the laid-back nature of the locals. My own aversion towards landing back in the UK was so strong, I knew the Netherlands had left its mark on me and would never let go. It’s a dangerous thing when you’re stuck in a foreign country, no money and no cell battery, and you risk losing your plane. That’s when you know they’ve got you.

And so, that concludes why you need to include Amsterdam on your bucket list. Unlike other major cities, the pull of this place comes with an urgency that is hard to bore of. Between the sightseeing, amazing people and even more amazing food in such a slow-paced atmosphere, I think I’ve started to learn to take life a little more slow and purposeful. Amsterdam leaves you feeling like you’ve both learnt and lost something, and that’s a feeling we all need to experience.

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DON’T DWELL ON THE FACT THAT YOU JUST SPENT 80 HOURS OF WAGES IN ONE GO

And you have nothing to show for it. Honestly, you’ll feel a lot better if you ignore that niggling feeling that you could have seen 16 Broadway shows, bought a decent car off Ebay, or taken your best friend on a two week trip around Poland, because if you think about how one beer there is worth five back home, you’ll end up being completely miserable.

MAKE SURE YOU’RE A MILLION PERCENT COMFORTABLE WITH THE PEOPLE YOU GO WITH

I’m pretty lucky that I’m relatively close with the main person I went with, as that meant we could complain about just how goddam much we needed to crap the whole time. Seriously, after the first day it’s all anyone cares about, and if you’re with someone who you feel awkward with then it’s just going to make it super difficult. Either way, if you’re not particularly close before you go, you’ll know everything about their bowel by the end of it.

The small bell tower, the Campanile, is visible from almost every angle of the island, reinforcing the traditional Catholic ideas that Italy has been so historically part of. What most written media on this place doesn’t tell you, however, is that is also leans pretty dramatically to one side, depending on where you view it from. This makes it not only the #1 place to visit due to the colourful cottages, but also pretty up there with the Tower of Pisa. The best views are from the bridges on the East of the island.