10 Cities I Want To Visit At Least Once In My Lifetime

A sneak-peak at my travel bucket list

“Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you’d drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.”– Ray Bradbury

I want to visit as many countries as possible in my lifetime. After all, there are countless amazing cities around the world I can’t wait to explore.

Here are ten examples:

Sydney, Australia

I’m from the United States, so visiting Australia means traveling to the other side of the world. Still, Sydney, Australia is at the top of my list because there are many parts of the city I want to see.

For example, the iconic Sydney Opera House, the state library, and the botanic gardens. I’m also excited to visit the nearby Blue Mountains because the views are spectacular.

Australia has amazing wildlife that’s completely unique from other parts of the world. Sydney has a huge zoo called Taronga Zoo with a lot of different animals native to Australia like kangaroos, koalas, and platypuses.

While there, I’d also like to go to an AFL game. The Australian Football League is similar to American football, but with “Aussie rules.” I’ve seen a few videos about the games and it looks fascinating.

Plus, I want to try Tim Tams — a popular snack in Australia. I’ve heard people say they are delicious!

Kuah, Malaysia

After visiting the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I would love to visit places further afield. For example, Kuah is the capital of Langkawi, an archipelago off the west coast of Malaysia.

Kuah is home to the Langkawi Sky Bridge, a true feat of engineering. This pedestrian bridge is over 2,000 feet above sea level and has 360° views of Gunung Mat Chinchang, the tallest mountain in Langkawi. To get to the top, you take a cable car and an inclined elevator called SkyGlide.

I can’t deny the ride up to the Sky Bridge would probably be a bit nerve-wracking. But, the views and experience would definitely be worth it.

And that’s not all. In addition to the Sky Bridge and the mountain views, Kuah also has gorgeous waterfalls and beaches. It sounds like a perfect vacation spot.

Singapore, Republic of Singapore

When you fly into Singapore, you’ll probably land at Singapore Changi Airport. Skytrax ranked this airport as the number one in the world — and for good reason. Not only is it one of the busiest airports for international travelers, but it also offers an unforgettable experience to visitors.

This airport has everything from a butterfly garden, a movie theater, a majestic indoor waterfall, fun slides, and even art exhibits. If I ever had a layover in Singapore, I wouldn’t complain.

Of course, Singapore is more than just its airport. The city center is clean and the population is culturally diverse. Singapore hosts one of the best zoos in the world and a beautiful botanic garden. There’s also the Marina Bay Sands hotel that towers over the city. And, Gardens by the Bay is famous for its Cloud Forest and huge “Supertrees.”

Oh, and there’s a daily water and light show every night on Marina Bay. I’ve heard it’s absolutely magical.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro is known for its colossal statue, Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor). It’s located atop Corcovado Mountain and is said to have stunning views of the world below. The statue is nearly 100 feet tall and is on many lists as one of the (new) seven wonders of the world. It’s always been my dream to visit this site and see it in person.

But, there are so many other things in Rio de Janeiro I want to see as well. There’s a beautiful library called the Portuguese Reading Room with over 350,000 volumes of colorful books. As someone who loves reading, this sounds like the perfect attraction to me.

Rio de Janeiro also hosts the popular Escadaria Selarón, which is a set of steps with beautiful artwork. I would liked to visit Parque Lage, a gorgeous public park near Sugarloaf Mountain, too.

Rome, Italy

It’s a cliché answer, but Rome has always been at the top of my list of places to visit.

There’s something incredible about visiting a city steeped with history thousands of years old. I love studying architecture, and I’ve looked at the Colosseum and the Pantheon in countless textbooks and websites. It would be awesome to see those buildings in real life. And, of course, I want to go to Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel too.

I am definitely going to need a few days of sightseeing to visit the major tourist attractions. But, I’m going to plan a visit during the off-season to avoid the (dangerous) summer heat.

Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei City is the capital of Taiwan, and there are tons of fun things to do there.

One of the tallest buildings in the world is located in Taipei, Taipei 101. There’s also a place called Liberty Square that is home to the cultural landmark Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. And, I’d love to go to the historic Bangka Lungshan Temple.

To the north of Taipei City is the awe-inspiring Yangmingshan National Park. And, to the east are the Four Beasts, a collection of mountain peaks connected by hiking trails, named: tiger, elephant, leopard, and lion. If you climb these, you can get a beautiful view of the city below.

I also think it would be incredible to try authentic Asian and Taiwanese food. After all, Taipei is famous for its night markets which have numerous food stalls with different traditional and new cuisine.

Zurich, Switzerland

Whenever I ask my grandfather about travel, he always reflects fondly on his time in Switzerland. So, I would love to visit any of the main Swiss cities in the country, like Zürich, Geneva, or Basel.

Zurich would probably be my first stop. It has a beautiful lake, over fifty museums, amazing castles, and impressive mountain views. Switzerland also has the densest rail network in the world. So, from Zurich, I could travel throughout the country to other major cities and the Swiss Alps. I love traveling by train!

I’m fascinated by the fact that Switzerland has four official languages widely spoken in the country: German, French, Italian, and Romansch. I never want to assume someone in a foreign country knows English (I find that obnoxious). So, I think my knowledge of French could be useful while traveling in Switzerland (especially in the western part of the country).

Switzerland is notorious for being extremely expensive. So, as a budget traveler, I’m not sure when I will be visiting the country. Nonetheless, it’s one I’m looking forward to visiting whenever that may be.

Houston, Texas

I hope to visit all fifty states at some point in my life — but that’s going to take a while. One of the first cities I want to visit in the US is Houston, Texas.

Houston appeals to me for a lot of reasons. One highlight is the Johnson Space Center, home to NASA’s mission control. Next door is the science museum with tons of cool space-themed exhibits.

I want to see astronaut training facilities and the historic mission control for lunar Apollo missions. These tram tours are pricey, but I think the history is fascinating. If you can’t tell, I’m a bit of a space nerd.

I am a football fan, so I’d love to experience either a college or NFL game in person in Houston. I know football is a huge deal in Texas and I’m sure the fan excitement in the football stadium is infectious.

I’d also like to visit Houston to experience some of the cowboy culture in Texas. When I visited Calgary, Canada (which has some cowboy culture), the stampede was one of my favorite parts of the trip. I know Houston hosts The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in February and March, so maybe I would try to visit the city then.

Auckland, New Zealand

Unfortunately, New Zealand is often missing from world maps. But, from what I have researched and heard from friends, it looks like an incredible place to visit.

I would love to go all around the country someday. My first stop, however, would probably be Auckland, a major city on the North Island.

Auckland has a unique skyline with the Sky Tower standing 328 meters (over 1,000 feet). The city is surrounded by water, so it has an amazing harbor. I’d also love to go whale watching, see gorgeous waterfalls, and climb a volcano.

Cape Town, South Africa

I’ve had a few friends visit Cape Town and all of them said the city is amazing.

Cape Town is a port city in the southwest of South Africa. It is home to the massive Table Mountain with sweeping views of the city and waterfront. There’s also a place called Boulders Bay where a colony of African penguins lives. Plus, I have heard there are a lot of safari opportunities nearby.

I love any place where I can have fun nature adventures and see some animals. So, I’m looking forward to visiting Cape Town soon.

What cities do you want to visit?

Ten cities do not even scratch the surface of everywhere I want to go. There are hundreds of places I dream of traveling to one day.

Hopefully, this list can excite you and inspire you to think about the places you want to visit in the world, too.

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