If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you know I’m officially “over the hill”: that’s right, I turned 40 this year!
There was a time I got stuck in that Thought Catalog warp where 30 was *officially* entering into adulthood and it was like a race to accomplish everything I’d dreamed of before completion of my twenties. A decade later, I know that while your thirties are a very formative decade in your adulthood, bridging the gap between being a young adult and reaching middle age, life is barely over at 30. In fact, I’ve enjoyed that decade more so than any other.
I completed a 30 before 30 travel challenge blog several years ago and decided it was time to revisit is. Only this time, I’d break the rules and change it into a 30 before 40 list. I hunted for one and found a decent list from the online magazine, About Time. I’ve reimagined this as a Places to Visit Before You Turn 40 list. Let’s…go!
1/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Paris, France
Yes, and it was so nice, I had to go twice! This was supposed to be my 30th birthday trip, but because I didn’t plan ahead, it got too expensive. I initially visited in 2014 and travelled to the French Riviera, as well as Provence. I returned in 2019 after getting married and will just say that the second time was a charm!
2/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Rome, Italy
As I’d mentioned, I got priced out of France, but the price was right for Italy for my 30th birthday. I flew into Rome and flew out of…
3/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Venice, Italy
Venice! I began my Italy trip in Rome, travelled south to Naples and Capri, went north to Florence, hit up Verona and Padua, with Venice as my final destination. Rome > Venice without a debt, in case you’re wondering.
4/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: New York, USA
I’ve lived in and around New York City almost my entire life. Do I get extra credit for this one? Even so, there are still so many places I’ve never gone…like the Statue of Liberty!
5/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Prague, Czech Republic
This is one spot I’ve not been to. I have no expectations and have yet to explore Eastern Europe, which brings us to…
6/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Budapest, Hungary
Budapest. I will eventually make it there, I’m sure of it. I think I’ll do an Eastern Europe trip and hit a few cities at once.
7/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Florence, Italy
This was also part of my 30th birthday Italy trip. In case you’re wondering Rome > Florence > Venice.
8/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Copenhagen, Denmark
This was a trip that led to a new trend for me: long weekend trips. I went over Thanksgiving in 2013 to tick Northern European Christmas markets off my bucket list. I made it a two-fer, making a day trip to Malmö, Sweden (which I preferred, by the way.)
9/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Lisbon, Portugal
You’d think. I get a feeling Lisbon will be checked off in the next few years.
10/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Berlin, Germany
Only if you count living vicariously through my husband, who completed the 2022 Berlin Marathon. I have been to Munich, Nuremberg, and Bamberg.
11/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Sydney, Australia
You know what? I’ve never had an intense itch to visit. I sense that I will eventually, but it’s not a priority.
12/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Bali, Indonesia
Save for a miracle where I win the lotto and magically acquire 3 weeks PTO , this will only remain a wish. Besides, from what I can gather, Eat, Pray, Love did to Bali what Sex and the City did to New York. The shortest route is 22 hours+ and requires a layover…yikes!
13/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Tokyo, Japan
I did technically land here at Narita Airport on the trip back to New York from Bangkok (BKK – DRT – JFK > BKK – DOH – JFK any day, for what it’s worth!)
14/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Dublin, Ireland
I’ve been here twice, actually just last year for my anniversary over Thanksgiving week. I may or may not have mentioned it, but my family’s Irish, albeit not from Dublin.
15/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Barcelona, Spain
Yes. This was 2015, I believe. I landed in Madrid, took a day trip to Toledo, stayed a few days in Valencia, and ended the trip in Barça. If I may be honest, I preferred Valencia out of any of them — fight me.
16/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Reykjavik, Iceland
It would have been a pretty easy trip, right? I will eventually, but it’s just not on the top of my bucket list. The 5 hours 40 minute flight is comparable to much of Latin America and screams “long weekend getaway.”
17/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Auckland, New Zealand
No. But I think I’d hit Auckland if and when I ever get out to Australia.
18/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Ibiza, Spain
No, and to be 100% honest, I’m not sure I ever will. I think there are many other places worth seeing before this.
19/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Dubrovnik, Croatia
This is definitely on my list, though not at the top.
20/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Las Vegas, USA
I went in 2005 and…I don’t see any need to ever go back. See it once, if you want. Plus, for that amount of flight time, I could visit anywhere in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America.
21/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Koh Samui, Thailand
Surprisingly, this was one of the most recent trips. I travelled to Bangkok on this trip (obviously) as well. Maybe one day I’ll write about it.
22/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Santorini, Greece
One day, just not any time soon.
23/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Malta
I think I’d prefer Malta to any of the Greek Islands — it’s so much more obscure.
24/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Amsterdam, Netherlands
I visited in 2017 on a trip where I also visited Belgium. I definitely liked the vibe there, but what I really liked was Utrecht, a small city about 45 minutes away.
25/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Newquay, Cornwall
This is a place that I don’t know has even crossed my mind. Worth it?
26/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Val d’Isere, France
Not a fan of skiing. Never say never, but the idea of sliding down a hill on snow with no breaks isn’t all that enticing. Where is the nearest airport, even?
27/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Cancun, Mexico
Only the airport, technically. I’ve visited the Yucatán and Quintana Roo circuit twice, including Tulum, Playa Del Carmen, Valladolid, and a day trip to Cozumel.
28/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Krakow, Poland
This is on my “eventually” list.
29/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: The Maldives
I have mixed feelings about anywhere that is primarily comprised of tiny islands with little more 35 minute flight, I’ll just go to St. Bart’s.
30/30 Places to visit before you turn 30: Giza, Egypt
Egypt isn’t high on my list for a multitude of reasons, but I feel like eventually I’ll check it off the list.