50 bucket list adventures from 50 countries

Heavily updated January 2023

So far, we have visited 50 countries. These are our adventure bucket list ideas for all of them.

Our name is bucketlist2life so of course we thrive on bucketlists. Logically, we have to share 50 fun adventures from every country we have visited so far. Admittedly, they are not all super crazy things to do but we have tried and tested them all ourselves and can 100% recommend them. We have listed them in alphabetical order because we could not possibly decide on the best adventure ideas.

Adventure Bucket List Map

Adventurous Bucket List

1. Albania: Go legally wild camping

Albania is the only country in the Mediterranean where it is allowed to wild camp. You can choose to stay at the beach or in the mountains, in cities or in the countryside.

Wild camping in Albania

2. Austria: Taking the boat from Vienna to Bratislava

Did you know that Vienna and Bratislava are the two European capitals closest together? They are linked by the Danube. Taking a fast boat between the two cities is a great adventure.

3. Belgium: Beer tasting

Belgium does the best beer in the world. If we as Germans say so you have no choice but to put a Belgian beer tasting on your bucketlist.

4. Belize: Go snorkelling at the Blue Hole

Snorkelling or scuba diving is the best thing you can do in Belize. Worry not if you cannot make it to the Blue Hole. Other places in Belize have amazing snorkelling opportunities as well. For example, we found Manatees at Caye Caulker!

Snorkelling with nurse sharks and rays in Caye Caulker

5. Bulgaria: Hike the Seven Rila Lakes

The hike to the Seven Rila Lakes is the best thing we have done in Bulgaria. Where else can you see 7 stunning mountain lakes in a row? The landscape is stunning and seems to get better with every turn and every new lake you discover.

Hike the Seven Rila Lakes

6. Costa Rica: Spot Tapirs at Corcovado National Park

Corcovado National Park is one of the most bio-diverse regions on earth. Seeing Tapirs in the wild is a real highlight.

Tapir in Corcovado National Park

7. Croatia: Blue cruise

The Croatian coast is stunning. Of course, one of the best adventures you can have here is a boat trip. On a blue cruise, you will sail the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea on a small boat for several days and nights.

8. Cyprus: Cross the border in Nicosia

Cyprus is currently the only place where you can cross from one country to another within the capital.

Nicosia

9. Czech Republic: Bathe in beer in Prague

The Czech Republic, among other things, is known for its great beer. You can drink it affordably all around the Czech Republic and Prague - and you can bathe in it. In the beer spa, you'll get your private room with a bathtub full of beer. Right next to that tub is a tap, where you can draw your own Pilsener and dark beer - as much as you like! To rest you'll have a bed made of straw with a view of a romantic fireplace. And you'll have a private sauna, where you can sweat out some of that alcohol.

Beer Spa, Prague

10. Denmark: Explore the bunkers on Thyborøn beach

This is probably more of a personal highlight: On the coastline of Denmark, you can find a series of World War II bunkers. We love to travel there with our families and explore this historic site right on the beach.

Thyborøn beach

11. Dominican Republic: Bacardi Island

If you’re old enough to remember the TV advertisement for Bacardi rum, you might be interested to learn that the beach really exists. It’s the nicest beach in the Dominican Republic and is located on the island of Cayo Levantado.

Bacardi Beach, Dominican Republic

12. Egypt: The pyramids

No shit Sherlock, the pyramids are the best thing you can do in Egypt. The thing is: they live up to there hype. One of my best birthday adventures ever.

Pyramids of Giza

13. El Salvador: Swim in a hot waterfall

Where else in the world can you swim in a hot waterfall? Salto Malacatiupan is an easy day trip from Santa Ana and thus can be easily incorporated into your El Salvador itinerary.

14. Estonia: Enter a submarine

The Seaplane Harbour Museum is one of the coolest museums ever. It looks like a supervillain’s lair and you can enter a real submarine. It’s definitely one of the best things to do in Tallinn.

Seaplane harbour, Tallinn

15. Finland: Sweat in a Sauna

Sauna and Finland belong together. Since 2020, Finnish sauna culture has even been an Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. It becomes an adventure once you hop into the freezing cold Baltic Sea to cool off after the schvitz.

Sompa Sauna, Helsinki

16. France: Visit the catacombs in Paris

The catacombs are underground ossuaries, which house the remains of over 6 million Parisians. A 1.5 km (0.9 miles) circuit leads you through the catacombs. It feels a bit like a horror movie

Catacombs, Paris, France

17. Germany: Have a boozy hike in the Black Forest

The Black Forest (or Schwarzwald as we say in German) in Baden-Württemberg is known for its ham, its gateau, and its scenic mountain views. But not many people know that the Black Forest is a wine region and is also known for homemade liquors and spirits. The beautiful town Sasbachwalden, full of half-timbered houses, boasts the unique opportunity to go on an immensely scenic hike through vineyards and along waterfalls - interrupted every few 100 meters by a well, offering ice-cold beverages. Every fountain is filled by a different owner with their own delicious schnapps that tastes like cherry, blueberry, eggnog, Jerusalem artichoke, pear, and so on...

Sasbachwalden, Germany

18. Greece: Food adventures

We love Greek food. If you ask us, a food tour is the best adventure you can have in Athens or Thessaloniki.

Little Kook, Athens

19. Guatemala: Sleep on an active volcano

Yes, the hike to Acatenango is super challenging but will be the highlight of your Guatemala itinerary. You can watch it all night as it erupts. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to see lava.

View from Acatenango to Fuego volcano

20. Honduras: Scuba diving on the Bay Islands

Utila is one of the prime places worldwide to get certified as a scuba diver. It’s super beautiful and affordable. Go put it on your Honduras itinerary!

Fun diving on Utila

21. Hungary: Heviz thermal lake

Did you know that the thermal lake in Hevíz is the largest natural and biologically active thermal lake in the world, where you can swim all year round? It has an area of around 4.4 hectares and is fed by a thermal spring from a crater at a depth of 38 meters (125 ft). Of course, it’s also super healthy to swim in the thermal waters.

22. Iceland: Swim between continental plates

Iceland is where the North American and Eurasian Plate meet. The Silfra Fissure is located at the place where they diverge. It’s filled with crystal clear water you can swim in. You might want a dry suit though because it’s fricking cold.

Between two continents in Iceland

23. Indonesia: Seeing the burial rites of the Tana Toraja on Sulawesi

In Tana Toraja in Indonesia, burials are something else. Here, the funeral is the main event in life. In other words: it is very expensive. And if the family doesn't have the money for a big funeral, the body gets embalmed until they do. It gets to stay inside the house and is treated as if sick: the clothes are changed and they are bathed and fed. The actual burial celebrations last for several days on specially constructed sites. The whole family and community congregate and many buffalos and other animals are sacrificed. The last step is to carry the body to its final resting place in elaborate, building shaped coffins. This whole unique process is much better to be experienced than to be read upon!

Rantepao, Sulawesi

24. Israel: Float in the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is one of the most unique places on earth. Floating in hyper-saline water is like nothing we’ve ever experienced.

Me floating in the Dead Sea

25. Italy: Island hopping in Venice

Venice does not have to be expensive - especially when you take the public boats or Vaporettos. You can even do some budget island hopping and explore Murano, Burano, and more.

26. Jamaica: Visit the birthplace of Reggae

Jamaica is more than just stunning beaches. Visiting the capital Kingston will give you a whole new appreciation for Raggae music and a deeper understanding of Rastafari culture.

Trench Town & Culture Yard Museum, Kingston, Jamaica

27. Jordan: Sleeping INSIDE a Beduin cave in the archaeological city of Petra

Yes, you heard right. You can sleep IN the ancient ruins of Petra. In a cave. Need I say more? If so maybe the fact that you will be the first one exploring Petra in the morning and the last one exploring in the evening (because you don't have to leave!) will convince you. Additionally, you'll get great Beduin style breakfasts and dinners cooked over a fire in front of your cave. And you'll get to experience the famous Beduin hospitality. A must for your Jordan bucketlist.

Petra, Jordan

28. Latvia: Ride a bobsleigh in Sigulda

Where else can regular people go down an Olympic bobsleigh track? It’s an easy day trip from the capital Riga to Sigulda.

Sigulda

29. Lithuania: Europe’s second largest sand dunes

Vising the sand dunes in Nida on the Curonian Spit was the biggest adventure we had on our Lithuania backpacking trip.

Curonian Spit

30. Luxemburg: Casemates du Bock

The Casemates of Luxembourg are caves and passageways carved into the rock, built for defensive purposes from the 17th century and originally forming part of the Luxembourg Fortress. Nowadays they are open for the public to explore.

31. Mexico: Swim in pink lakes in Yucatan

You've heard all about Tulum, the lovely hipster beach town on the Riviera Maya in Yucatan. But have you ever heard about Las Coloradas - the pink lakes in the town of Rio Lagartos in the north of the Yucatan peninsula? There, you can go on a boat tour, visit a huge colony of flamingos, coat yourself in healing mud - and visit the pink lakes. Yes, they really are pink! The colour originates from a high salinity as well as bacteria and algae. This will definitely be one of your most unique picture spots!

Las Coloradas, Mexico

32. Morocco: Sleep in the Sahara desert

What could be a greater adventure than taking a camel into the desert and sleeping under clear night skies?

Sahara desert, Morocco

33. Netherlands: Ride a Tandem

The Netherlands themselves are not the most adventurous country but riding a tandem is a romantic hidden gem that belongs on your adventure bucketlist.

Bike, The Netherlands

34. Nicaragua: Volcano boarding at Cerro Negro

Volcano boarding might be the most adventurous thing you can do in Nicaragua but if we did it so can you!

Cerro Negro

35. North Macedonia: Take a boat through a Canyon to a cave

At Matka Canyon, you can hop on a boat and the ride will take you through a picturesque canyon to a beautiful cave. It’s an easy day trip from the capital Skopje.

Matka Canyon

36. Panama: Experience Gunma culture on the San Blas islands

On the San Blas islands in Panama, you can do some world-class island-hopping and combine it with learning more about the indigenous Guna Yala culture.

Beach on the San Blas islands

37. Poland: Canoe tour on the Czarna-Hańcza

Our favourite Poland adventure has nothing to do with its amazing cities or the beautiful Baltic Sea. It’s a canoe tour on the Czarna-Hańcza a true hidden gem adventure.

38. Portugal: Benagil cave beach

Benagil cave beach is one of our favourite beaches worldwide and does 100% belong on your Portugal itinerary. You can either take a boat, rent a kayak or if you’re adventurous (read stupid) like us, swim.

Benagil cave beach

39. Romania: carriage ride in the Danube Delta

The Danube Delta is one of the best spots in Europe to spot birds and other wildlife. A horse carriage ride through the delta is a romantic hidden gem and belongs on every Romania itinerary.

Danube Delta, Romania

40. Slovakia: Have a drink in a UFO

Well, maybe it’s not a real UFO but it does look like one. It also offers great views over the capital Bratislava and is a very romantic hidden gem.

Bratislava, Slovakia

41. Slovenia: Take a train in a cave

The Postojna karst area is home to the second-largest stalactite caves in the world that are accessible to tourists. Where else in the world do you get to drive a train inside a cave? It’s next to the Predjama Castle, the largest cave castle in the world and belongs on every Slovenia itinerary.

Predjama Castle

42. Spain: Party on Mallorca

Germans be Germans. Ibiza might be more famous for partying but parties on Mallorca are definitely wilder, more of an adventure, and more affordable.

43. Sri Lanka: Hike the Nine Arches bridge, Ella

Yes, the bridge itself is Instagram-famous. You probably did not know that you can hike across the bridge and all the way to town on the train tracks.

Nine Arches bridge, Ella

44. Sweden: Spend a week in the wild

In Sweden, you can rent a canoe and gear and wander off into the wilderness by yourself for as long as you like. Swim, sleep under the stars and cook over an open fire!

A lake in Sweden

45. Switzerland: The most powerful waterfall in Europe

The Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen is the most powerful waterfall in Europe and a sight to see.

46. Thailand: Spend time with elephants

To be 100% clear, we do not recommend riding elephants. That’s just animal cruelty. But to visit an elephant sanctuary and spend some time with these giants is a one of a kind adventure!

Elephant sanctuary, Chiang Mai

47. Turkey: Cross the Bosporus

In Istanbul, you can cross the Bosporus Strait otherwise known as the boundary between Asia and Europe.

48. United Kingdom: London Eye

We have visited the UK a ton of times but riding the London Eye might have been quite frankly the most adventurous thing we’ve done there.

49. United States of America: The crown of the Statue of Liberty

The United States of America are such a huge country and still what could be more quintessential than the Statue of Liberty? Visiting the statue itself is pretty basic. But did you know that you can enter the statue and even go all the way up to her head? It does not cost much more, you just have to book a ticket in advance!

Crown of the Statue of Liberty

50. Vatican City: Views from the roof of St. Peter's Basilica

The Vatican itself is a pretty special place to visit. The highlight for us was visiting the roof. It gives you an idea of the scale and you can peep into the areas that are closed to the public.

View from St. Peter's Basilica