Your 20’s are the perfect time to get out of your comfort zone, explore different cultures, work on your personal growth and make incredible memories. As someone who’s in her 30’s I created this ultimate bucket list before 30 focused on travel ideas to inspire you to book a plane ticket and explore the world. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
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My experience
I’m going to be honest with you. I didn’t do everything on this list in my 20’s since I was too focused on my studies and corporate career path. Only to realize in my early 30’s that I hate my life and this life that I put so much hard work into is not for me.
I needed a fresh start. So I left everything behind, I quit corporate and I became a full time travel blogger and social media content creator. It was the best decision I’ve ever made. I finally love my everyday life and I am able to enjoy each and every moment of it.
Now I travel to many different countries, I seek amazing experiences, and I meet new people along the way. I have more free time, I prioritize my mental health, and I focus on personal growth. I really love the person I’m becoming.
So my advice to you is to seek joy. Find what makes you happy and pursue it. Turn your life upside down if you have to, but never settle. And don’t forget to prioritize fun experiences along the way. Those moments are what makes life so amazing.
Feel free to come up with your own idea of a bucket list for travel. But I thought I would share a few things with you, in no particular order, as a source of inspiration.
1. Go on an African safari
I can’t even put into words what a transformative experience a trip to Africa is. Everything from the nature in national parks, the wild animals in their natural habitat, and cultural immersion to see the reality of people in Africa with your own eyes will leave a huge impact on you.
I traveled to Kenya and it was one of the best trips of my life. I usually travel solo, but I joined a group trip to Kenya since it’s such a different country compared to where I traveled to up until then.
Kenya group trip for solo travelers in their 20’s and 30’s
I traveled with Indy Escapes, an amazing tour company that organizes small group trips for solo travelers in their 20’s and 30’s.
Lucas founded Indy Escapes almost 10 years ago. He is an Australian traveler who already visited 130+ countries and plans to see every single country. He still runs these group trips himself because he enjoys sharing some of his favorite destinations with new people every year.
This trip was such a dream! Besides spotting the Big 5 on multiple game drives, we visited a local Maasai Village, we went on a hot air balloon ride over the Maasai Mara, we biked in Hell’s Gate National Park, explored Lake Navaisha by boat to see hippos, and volunteered with the Ruben Center and Edmund Rice Centre Nairobi.
It was the trip of a lifetime. I explored a new country and I also listened to the life experiences of local people. It gave me a whole new perspective about life and it made me very grateful for everything I have. It also inspired me to help others more and to make sure I have a positive impact as often as I can.
If you want to join the same Indy Escapes trip I went on, you can use the code SOLOINSTYLE for $50 off.
2. Visit New York City
I lived in NYC for about 10 years, so I am very familiar with the city. There’s no better place than NYC when you’re in your 20’s. I love its diversity, I love its energy, and I love how all cuisines in the world are a few subway stations away.
New York City truly has it all: great food, great entertainment, and a plethora of attractions waiting to be explored. You can visit top attractions like Times Square, Central Park, and the Statue of Liberty. And also some hidden gems like the Ford Foundation indoors garden or Greenacre Park. I wrote this guide with all my NYC recommendations.
I think NYC can be a great destination for a first solo trip. Or a great way to celebrate your 30th birthday.
3. Go on a road trip in Romania
I am Romanian. I lived in Romania until I was 18, then I moved to the US for 14 years, and now I’m back in Romania.
Romania is a gorgeous country with stunning landscapes, and it offers something to all types of travelers. And contrary to the stereotypes that float around, it is safe for solo travelers.
Things to do
The medieval charm of Transylvania is guaranteed to make you fall in love with Romania. There are so many well-preserved medieval towns, castles (make sure to visit Dracula’s Castle and Peles Castle!), and fortresses in this area.
You can also go on a bear watching tour since Romania has one of the largest Brown Bear populations in Europe.
If you like to learn about the culture of the places you visit, you can also immerse yourself in our rich cultural heritage and go to a cooking workshop in a village, visit a sheepfold and sample some cheese, or visit a gypsy community.
Transfagarasan is the most beautiful road in Romania and one of the most impressive roads in the world. It is a road that goes through the Carpathian Mountains, so the scenery is unmatched. Driving on this road should be a bucket list item.
The Danube Delta is such an underrated attraction in Europe. It has one of the most unique floras and faunas in Europe, with numerous rare species. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Romania group trip
However, if you still don’t want to travel solo to Romania, then you can join my group trip August 30-September 6. This is a group trip for solo travelers in their 20’s and 30’s.
I am incredibly excited to show you my country! I personally created the itinerary so you can explore the best parts of Romania.
We will visit Bucharest, Brasov, Sighisoara, Salina Turda, Bran Castle, Peles Castle, go on a bear watching tour, hike in the Carpathian Mountains, visit a gypsy community, do a cooking workshop in a village, visit a sheepfold, and more.
The trip costs 1,590 euros. The first 5 people who book can get 100 euros off by using discount code SOLOINSTYLE. Only a 300 deposit is due at booking and the final payment will be made on June 25.
This trip is an epic Romanian adventure and I hope you can join me.
4. Sail the Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is one of the best European summer destinations. The small towns with cobblestone streets that are perked up on cliffs are so pretty.
There are stunning beaches in every town. And of course, the food! Pizza, pasta, limoncello, gelato. So delicious!
Plus, the Italian people are all so friendly and nice. And that dolce far niente style of living in the summer is always a good idea.
Things to do
The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline in the South of Italy and it includes multiple towns: Amalfi, Sorrento, Ravello, Ischia, Positano being some of them.
The best way to experience the Amalfi Coast is on the water. A sailing trip here is perfection. That’s because of a few reasons.
First, you can visit multiple towns. You don’t have to worry about train schedules, booking train tickets in advance, and sitting in crowded cars until you get to your next stop.
Second, you can admire the magnificent views from the water, something you can’t easily do if you just visit the towns by land.
Third, you can sleep outside on the yacht and enjoy the most charming views. How many people have that sleeping arrangement? It’s such a dream to see the flickering lights on the cliffs, to feel the gentle breeze on your skin, and to hear the sounds of the sea.
Sailing Amalfi group trip
If you want to experience the Amalfi Coast by yacht, you can join my Amalfi group trip June 15-22. It’s a trip for solo travelers in their 20’s and 30’s.
It’s a sailing trip on a private 10-people yacht along the Amalfi Coast with stops in Sorrento, Salerno, Amalfi, Positano, Capri, Ravello and Ischia.
The trip costs 2,225 euros and there is a payment plan available.
5. Explore the ancient wonders of Egypt
Egypt is an amazing destination. It has so much to offer: ancient temples, ancient history, a vibrant culture, cruising on the River Nile – just to name a few.
For me, it’s one of those destinations that you just have to visit in this lifetime. I’ve heard of it since I was a kid and it has been on my bucket list ever since.
However, many women said they had negative experiences when they went on an Egypt solo travel due to unwanted attention and sexual harassment. That’s why, in my opinion, Egypt is one of the destinations that is best suited for a group trip.
I will be joining the group trip organized by Indy Escapes, the same company I traveled to Kenya to, this year in September 27 – October 5. I think this trip is the perfect opportunity to explore all the magic of Egypt while being in a safe environment.
What I like about this trip is that it has an awesome itinerary that includes Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, The Valley of the Kings, Hurghada. It allows you to see so many new places and experience fun things with a group of like-minded travelers.
There are still a few spots left on this trip in case you want to join. You can take $50 off with code SOLOINSTYLE.
6. Explore the underwater world in the Maldives
The Maldives have the best beaches and most clear waters in the world. No wonder it’s a bucket list destination for so many people.
Now you might be thinking of Maldives as a honeymoon destination, but I’m here to tell you that it can be the perfect destination for solo travelers in their 20’s.
You don’t have to wait to get married to go on a trip here. And you don’t have to break the bank either.
You can join Indy Escapes’ group trip which is packed with cool activities. And it only costs $1,490 (you can take $50 off with code SOLOINSTYLE)!
The itinerary includes swimming with whale sharks, having lunch on a sand bank, swimming with manta rays, scuba diving, taking a day trip to a 5 star resort with overwater bungalows to take pictures and explore, parasailing, kayaking, paddle boarding.
I can’t wait to go on this trip myself! It’s too cool of an opportunity to pass it up.
7. Go on a local food tour in Athens
Greek food is so delicious! One of my favorite activities in Athens was going on a food tour. I am a big foodie and I love to try local foods whenever I travel.
There are a lot of food tours in Athens, but I signed up for an alternative, truly authentic food tour in secret Athens. This tour didn’t take place in the most touristic neighborhoods of Athens like Plaka or Monastiraki, but in Pangrati.
I wanted to experience how locals eat and explore tavernas and eateries where you don’t find a lot of tourists. And boy, I’m so glad I picked this tour. Nikolas was the best guide.
Athens food tour itinerary
We started the tour at a cafe where we had the option to choose from a traditional Greek coffee and a freddo. Greeks are serious about their coffees. They drink it even at dinner time. When I asked them if they had trouble sleeping because of this they started laughing. As if that’s an option. They are so used to drinking coffee at night that they probably wouldn’t sleep well without it. It was pretty cold that night, so I opted for a traditional hot coffee. We also tried a traditional pastry filled with cheese and drizzled with honey. A fantastic start to the night.
Then we continued walking in Pangrati and started walking uphill on these little streets. It turns out that Nikolas took us to the top of the Panathenaic Stadium. We could see the entire marble stadium and the olympic circles from up close. It was such an amazing view. While we were there, he gave us all the details about this stadium. For example, I didn’t know that a private Greek investor paid for its renovation. This tour was not just about food, but it was also about the history of the neighborhood. Nikolas was born and raised in Pangrati, so I couldn’t have asked for a better guide to introduce me to this beautiful neighborhood.
Panathenaic Stadium stop during the Athens food tour
After spending some time at Panathenaic Stadium we continued to tour and stopped at a local shop to get some snacks: pistachios from Aegina, raisins, white figs, and melomakarona, a traditional Greek Christmas cookie. Everything was delicious and tasted so fresh.
Then we continued our walk and stopped by a bakery to get spanakopita. This was the best spanakopita I had in Athens. It had so much feta and spinach filling and the dough was delicious. Nikolas was telling us how he used to get spanakopita from this shop on his way to school back in the day. So wholesome! It truly felt like I was getting to know the neighborhood small businesses and support them in the process.
After trying the spanakopita we went to a local taverna to eat a family style meal. Everyone was a local there, it felt so authentic. The food was so delicious. We ate tirokafteri (a spicy feta spread), eggplant, beets, zucchini croquettes, and chicken soup. And we drank taverna wine. This meal was the highlight of the tour for me. It felt like this Greek family welcomed me into their home for dinner. Plus, the conversation with Nikolas was great. By the end of the night we were friends.
After the meal we made one last stop at a local bar. We tried two different drinks to cleanse the palate and we ate portokalopita for dessert. I can’t recommend going on a food tour enough. The food is some of the best you’ll ever have, the guide is so welcoming and friendly, you will learn a lot about the local culture, and you will be supporting small neighborhood businesses in the process. 10/10 experience.
8. See the Northern Lights
The Aurora Borealis is a very special natural phenomenon in my opinion. Seeing those colorful lights dancing in the sky makes you feel like you’re part of a fairytale.
And this year and next year is when the Northern Lights are the strongest, according to scientists. So it’s the perfect time to book a trip to Finland, Iceland, Norway, or Sweden to see them.
If you want to spend a night of luxury make sure you book an iglu cabin with a glass ceiling so you can see the lights from the warmth and comfort of your room.
9. Visit Machu Picchu
Visiting one of the wonders of the world is one of those new experiences that is guaranteed you’ll remember forever.
Peru is an incredible country and there are so many things to do: exploring the capital city of Lima, visiting the Rainbow Mountain, spending time in Cusco, taking cooking classes to learn how to make their delicious food, taking some cool pics with llamas.
Machu Picchu and Peru in general should be on any ultimate bucket list of things to do before you turn 30.
10. Watch a flamenco show in Madrid
Flamenco is a traditional Spanish dance. It’s a dance full of passion. It’s a combination of live folkloric music, expressing profound emotions using the arms and a rhythmic stomping of the feet, and unique fashion.
Gitanos of the Romani ethnicity have contributed significantly to the origins of this dance and to turning it into such a popular art form in Spain, especially in the Andalusia region of Spain.
You must go to a flamenco show while in Madrid. I went to this one and it was amazing. It’s located in a historic vaulted cave from 1850 and they don’t use any microphones or speakers during the performance so it’s a truly authentic experience.
You will also get a glass of sangria before the show (it’s included in the ticket). The dancers were super passionate and you could feel how much they love what they are doing. I had the best time at this show.
Need inspiration for your next trip? Check out some of my other articles.
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Ioana was born and raised in Romania, lived in NYC for 14 years, and is now back in Romania. She fell in love with traveling when she was little and used to visit her aunt in Vienna. Then in high school she was able to visit Siberia, Turkmenistan, Istanbul, and Tokyo through chemistry competitions. As an adult she started to travel solo once she turned 30 and visited 20+ countries so far. Ioana is a full time travel blogger and content creator with an audience of 75K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.