Everyone has different opinions on the top travel destinations in the world. When I look for a destination, the main things I look for is the culture, food, and attractions. Sometimes I take trips where I sight see mostly and sometimes I go somewhere just to relax. So my current top 5 destinations in the world list encompasses all these aspects.
5. Taipei
I’ll admit that I’m a bit biased on this destination because I’m Taiwanese American, but Taipei’s food culture is amazing. You are never really hungry in Taipei because you are eating awesome affordable food everyday. People and even taxi drivers are friendly unlike some countries like Hong Kong (which I also like visiting). However, sometimes service can be lacking in restaurants and other service based areas. Taipei’s night life is great with night markets, cafes, and bars open all night. At times it doesn’t feel like there much to do than eat, but there are a few nice things to see like Taipei 101, MaoKong gondola, and museums.
Hiking Elephant Mountain Overlooking Taipei 101
Din Tai Fung Dumplings
Food: A
Culture: B
Attractions: B
4. London
London is an exciting place to visit, especially when the weather is nice in the summer. There’s an endless amount of attractions in London and many of them are free. The culture is rich with history; catch a Shakespeare play at the Globe for only 5 pounds. Visit Buckingham Palace, London Eye, or just stroll through the nice parks and have afternoon tea. If I have to say anything bad about London, the food is pricey and not very tasty. However, I’ve found that sticking with ethnic foods is a good alternative.
Changing of the Guard
London Eye and Big Ben
Food: C+
Culture: A
Attractions: A
3. Tokyo
Tokyo is another city with endless amount of things to do. The Japanese are serious about their food and pride themselves on it. Japanese food is my favorite, so I’m a little biased here again. The culture of Japan is something unique and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The service is top-notch and everyone is polite. I’ve been to Tokyo a few times, but haven’t been through every neighborhood yet. There’s something to discover on every corner.
Food: A
Culture: A-
Attractions: B+
2. Florence
Florence is an absolutely relaxing city where you can walk around everywhere eating gelato or drink coffee. The architecture is out of this world and the atmosphere makes you want to just quit working and enjoy life. Florence has some of the best tasting Italian food and where you can find rich Italian culture. There’s not a ton of attractions, but that’s okay. Just relax.
Food: A
Culture: A
Attractions: B
1. Maui
It’s hard to just pick one place to be my top destination in the world, but Hawaii always feels like a real vacation, especially Maui. There’s no rush to do things and you can always just relax at the beach or go for a swim. Maui isn’t rampant with tourists in a small space like Waikiki. There is still a good amount of things to do such as the Road to Hana, Halekala crater, or snorkel. I love Hawaiian Poke and the shrimp trucks such as Geste Shrimp Truck (rated #50 on Yelp).
Road to Hana
Food: A-
Culture: A
Attractions: A-
I know that many people won’t agree with my top 5 destinations in the world. Also, I haven’t been to every country in the world, so my view might be skewed. I could visit these 5 destinations over and over and I don’t think I’ll be tired of them. It’s hard to visit new places when you love the ones you’ve been to.
What are your top 5 destinations in the world?
