Travel
Places and journeys worth crossing the world for. · 10 ideas
-
1
See the northern lights
Head to Norway, Finland, Iceland or Canada between September and March for the best chance.
-
2
Visit all seven continents
From Europe to Antarctica: the ultimate long-term travel goal.
-
3
Take a road trip without a plan
Pick a direction, pack the car and decide where to sleep each evening.
-
4
Ride the Trans-Siberian Railway
Over 9,000 km from Moscow to Vladivostok, one of the longest train journeys on earth.
-
5
Watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat
See the temple silhouette appear against the sky in Cambodia.
-
6
Walk on the Great Wall of China
Choose a quieter section, such as Mutianyu or Jinshanling, for the best views.
-
7
Island-hop in Greece
Take the ferry between the Cyclades and find your own favourite island.
-
8
See Japan in cherry blossom season
Late March to early April turns parks and temples pink.
-
9
Travel solo at least once
Going alone teaches you more about yourself than any other trip.
-
10
Visit 30 countries before 30
Or 40 before 40: a travel goal that keeps you exploring.
Adventure
For the moments your heart beats a little faster. · 10 ideas
-
11
Go skydiving
A tandem jump needs no experience, just courage.
-
12
Scuba dive on a coral reef
Get certified and explore the Great Barrier Reef, the Red Sea or the Maldives.
-
13
Climb Mount Kilimanjaro
Africa's highest peak can be reached without technical climbing skills.
-
14
Hike to Everest Base Camp
Two weeks through the Himalayas to the foot of the world's highest mountain.
-
15
Go on a safari
See the Big Five in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana or South Africa.
-
16
Take a hot-air balloon ride
Float over the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia at sunrise.
-
17
Go white-water rafting
Tackle the rapids of the Zambezi, the Colorado or a river close to home.
-
18
Do a bungee jump
Jump from a bridge, a crane or a dam — and conquer your fear of heights.
-
19
Go paragliding
Fly like a bird over the Alps or the coast with an experienced pilot.
-
20
Sleep in an ice hotel
Spend a night in a hotel made completely of snow and ice in Sweden or Finland.
Nature & outdoors
The wonders of the natural world, up close. · 10 ideas
-
21
Sleep under the stars in the desert
No light pollution, just the Milky Way above you.
-
22
Watch a total solar eclipse
A few minutes of darkness in the middle of the day you will never forget.
-
23
Walk the Camino de Santiago
Follow one of the ancient pilgrim routes through Spain or Portugal.
-
24
See an active volcano
Visit Etna, Stromboli, Iceland or Hawaii and see the earth at work.
-
25
Swim under a waterfall
Find a hidden waterfall and take a dip in its pool.
-
26
See bioluminescent waves
Watch the sea glow blue at night in the Maldives, Puerto Rico or California.
-
27
Watch whales in the wild
Spot humpbacks, orcas or blue whales from a boat or the shore.
-
28
Go wild camping
Pitch a tent far away from everything, where it is allowed, and wake up in nature.
-
29
Visit a famous national park
Yellowstone, Torres del Paine, Banff or Plitvice — choose your favourite.
-
30
Kayak among icebergs
Paddle between the ice in Greenland, Alaska or Patagonia.
Food & drink
Experiences for every taste. · 10 ideas
-
31
Take a cooking class abroad
Learn to cook the local cuisine from the people who grew up with it.
-
32
Eat at a Michelin-starred restaurant
Treat yourself to a tasting menu at least once in your life.
-
33
Go on a street food tour
Bangkok, Mexico City, Istanbul or Taipei: eat like a local.
-
34
Make fresh pasta in Italy
Roll and cut your own pasta with an Italian nonna.
-
35
Do a wine tasting at a vineyard
Visit Bordeaux, Tuscany, Rioja or the Napa Valley.
-
36
Bake your own sourdough bread
Grow a starter and bake your first loaf from scratch.
-
37
Grow your own vegetables
Start with tomatoes or herbs on a balcony and taste the difference.
-
38
Try a dish from every continent
Explore the world from your own kitchen or local restaurants.
-
39
Host a dinner party for ten
Cook a full menu for friends and family and enjoy the evening together.
-
40
Visit a famous food market
La Boqueria, Tsukiji Outer Market or Borough Market: go hungry.
Learn something new
Skills and knowledge you will keep for life. · 10 ideas
-
41
Learn a new language
Get to a level where you can have a real conversation with a native speaker.
-
42
Learn to play an instrument
Piano, guitar or ukulele: play one song from start to finish.
-
43
Read 50 books in a year
That's about one a week — and a lot of new worlds.
-
44
Take a photography course
Learn to shoot in manual mode and take photos you are proud of.
-
45
Learn first aid
A short course can help you save a life.
-
46
Learn to dance
Salsa, tango or swing: take lessons and hit the dance floor.
-
47
Learn to sail
Get your sailing certificate and take a boat out on your own.
-
48
Learn sign language
Open up conversations with a whole new community.
-
49
Take a university course
Study a subject you have always been curious about, online or on campus.
-
50
Learn to code
Build your own website or app, step by step.
Creative
Make something that didn't exist before. · 10 ideas
-
51
Write a book
A novel, a memoir or a children's book: start with one page a day.
-
52
Paint a self-portrait
No talent required, just curiosity and a mirror.
-
53
Start a podcast or blog
Share what you love with people who love it too.
-
54
Make a photo book of your best year
Turn the photos on your phone into something you can hold.
-
55
Take a pottery class
Throw your own mug on the wheel and drink from it every morning.
-
56
Perform at an open mic
Sing, play or tell a story on stage — just once.
-
57
Make a short film
Write, shoot and edit a film with nothing more than your phone.
-
58
Build a piece of furniture
A table, a shelf or a bench: something you made with your own hands.
-
59
Write a letter to your future self
Open it in ten years and see how much has changed.
-
60
Knit or sew something you wear
A scarf, a sweater or a bag you made yourself.
Health & sport
Challenges for body and mind. · 10 ideas
-
61
Run a marathon
Or start with a 5K and a half marathon: 42.195 km is a goal for life.
-
62
Complete a triathlon
Swim, cycle and run, one after the other.
-
63
Learn to surf
Catch your first wave in Portugal, Bali or Costa Rica.
-
64
Go on a yoga retreat
A week of yoga, rest and good food to recharge.
-
65
Cycle up a famous mountain pass
Conquer the Mont Ventoux, the Stelvio or the Alpe d'Huez.
-
66
Swim in open water
Cross a lake or take part in an open-water swimming event.
-
67
Do 100 push-ups in a row
Train step by step until you hit the magic number.
-
68
Do a digital detox for a week
No social media, no news, just real life.
-
69
Walk 10,000 steps a day for a month
Small daily habit, big difference.
-
70
Climb a via ferrata
Scale a mountain wall safely with cables and ladders in the Dolomites.
Together
With your partner, friends and family. · 10 ideas
-
71
Travel with your parents or grandparents
Take them to a place they always dreamed of.
-
72
Recreate your first date
Same place, same order, with all the years in between.
-
73
Go on a road trip with your best friends
One car, one playlist and a lot of stories.
-
74
Have a family reunion
Bring everyone together, from the youngest to the oldest.
-
75
Cook your grandmother's recipe together
Learn the family recipe before it gets lost.
-
76
Write down your family history
Interview your relatives and save their stories.
-
77
Plan a surprise for someone you love
A party, a trip or a small gesture they will never forget.
-
78
Celebrate a festival in another culture
Holi in India, Día de los Muertos in Mexico or Midsummer in Sweden.
-
79
Have a professional family photo shoot
A photo everyone will treasure in twenty years.
-
80
Make a bucket list together
Share goals with your partner or friends and tick them off as a team.
Give back
Leave the world a little better than you found it. · 10 ideas
-
81
Volunteer for a cause you care about
Locally or abroad, for a day or for a year.
-
82
Donate blood
One donation can help several people.
-
83
Plant a tree
Or a hundred — and come back to see them grow.
-
84
Mentor someone
Share what you know with a student, a colleague or a starter.
-
85
Raise money for charity
Run, cycle or swim for a good cause.
-
86
Register as an organ donor
A small decision that can save lives.
-
87
Do a random act of kindness every day for a week
Pay for a stranger's coffee, write a note, help a neighbour.
-
88
Clean up a beach or park
Join a clean-up or organise one yourself.
-
89
Adopt a rescue animal
Give a pet from a shelter a second chance.
-
90
Help build a home
Join a building project for families who need it.
Small joys
Simple things that make life a little brighter. · 10 ideas
-
91
Watch a meteor shower
The Perseids in August are a great one to start with.
-
92
See your favourite artist live
Sing along, front row if you can.
-
93
Go to a music festival
Three days of music, mud and new friends.
-
94
Watch the sunrise and sunset on the same day
Spend a whole day following the light.
-
95
Attend a big sporting event
The Olympics, a World Cup match or a Grand Slam final.
-
96
Celebrate New Year somewhere new
Fireworks in Sydney, Edinburgh or on a quiet beach.
-
97
Spend a day without any plans
No alarm, no schedule, see where the day takes you.
-
98
Try karaoke
Pick your song and give it everything.
-
99
Go to the opera or ballet
Dress up and experience a night of classical performance.
-
100
Ride the world's biggest rollercoaster
Hold on tight and scream as loud as you like.
From idea to achieved goal
Pick what excites you
Choose ideas that you really want to do, not the ones that look good on a list.
Make it personal
Add who, where and when. A specific goal is much easier to plan.
Break it into tasks
Research, save, book: small steps make even big dreams doable.
Do it together
Share your bucket list with your partner, friends or family and achieve goals as a team.
Frequently asked questions
What should I put on my bucket list?
Put anything on your bucket list that you really want to experience, learn or achieve. A good list mixes big dreams, such as travelling to a far-away country, with smaller goals you can do soon, such as learning a recipe or seeing a band live.
How many items should a bucket list have?
There is no fixed number. Some people have ten goals, others a hundred. What matters is that every item means something to you; you can always add more later.
What are some cheap bucket list ideas?
Many great ideas cost little or nothing: watch a meteor shower, sleep under the stars, learn a language online, donate blood, plant a tree, write a letter to your future self or spend a day without any plans.
What are good bucket list ideas for couples?
Popular ideas for couples are recreating your first date, travelling somewhere neither of you has been, taking a dance or cooking class together and making a shared bucket list you work on as a team.
How do I keep track of my bucket list?
Write it down somewhere you will see it often. A bucket list app such as iBucket lets you add goals, break them into tasks, track your progress and share lists with others.
Turn these ideas into your bucket list
Download iBucket for free, add your favourite ideas and start working on them, on your own or together.
