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 young adulthood and 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 it. 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.

Score: 12/30

What should be on my must see list for this next decade of life? Comment below!