Culture

The Best Countries to Travel To 

Ranker Travel
Originally by
Updated March 26, 2019 197.4k votes 13.5k voters 188.9k views 242 items

List Rules Vote up the top country to visit on a vacation. Countries only!

Which country is the best to travel to? The options are endless and vary from person to person. Do you prefer to experience great nightlife in the hottest cities, or would you rather explore lush landscapes and the wonders of nature? Help travelers determine which nation is the greatest vacation destination by voting on this list. From American sites to the richly historic landscapes of Europe and Asia, the world is full of great countries to visit and explore.

The European nations have been popular travel destinations for decades. With rich culture, delicious cuisines, and some of the world's greatest museums, France, Germany and Spain are places that everyone should experience. Russia is the largest country in the world and offers exciting opportunities for every traveler. The Kremlin in Moscow is one of the most interesting sites that visitors could hope to take in.

Thrifty travelers have more options than ever in 2015. South Korea is becoming an affordable vacation destination for sportsmen and adventure lovers. The Asian nation offers challenging hikes, green golf courses and ocean waters for fishing. Mexico has beautiful all-inclusive resorts that provide vacationers beach front views for a bargain.

What country is your favorite to travel to? Vote on this list and share your favorite travel destinations in the comments section.
list ordered by
1
Greece is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
Athens

Language: Greek Language

Founded: 1821-03-25

Currency: Euro

Anthem: Hymn to Liberty

Greece has the 11th longest coastline in the world, lending itself to some of the most beautiful beaches. Its rich history of the Greek and Ottoman empires has left behind 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites that tourists travel from all over the world to see, including the Parthenon and the White Tower of Thessaloniki. 

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2
Italy is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
Rome

Language: Italian Language

Founded: 1861-03-17

Currency: Euro

Anthem: Il Canto degli Italiani

Italy is an entire country of picturesque towns, landmarks, and countrysides worth visiting. It's known for its grand architetureal achievements, its famous art and literature, food, and operas.

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3
Portugal is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
amsmaia added Lisbon

Language: Portuguese Language

Founded: 1128-06-24

Currency: Euro

Anthem: A Portuguesa

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4
New Zealand is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
JoséValente added Wellington

Language: Māori language, New Zealand Sign Language, English Language

Founded: 1840-02-06

Currency: New Zealand dollar

Anthem: God Defend New Zealand, God Save the Queen

Because New Zealand was geographically isolate for 80 million years, it was able to harvest unique flora and fauna that are still prevalent on the islands today. There are more penguin species living in New Zealand than any other country today.

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5
Spain is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
llura added Madrid

Language: Spanish Language

Currency: Euro

Anthem: Marcha Real

Spain is the second most visited country in the world and third in the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which is 44. They trail only behind Italy and China. They also have a number of world famous festivals, including the running of the bulls, in which millions from around the world come to celebrate.

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6
Austria is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
Vienna

Language: German Language

Founded: 1955-07-27

Currency: Euro

Anthem: Land der Berge, Land am Strome

Austria is famous for its classical music, as some of the most famous composers were born there, such as Mozart and Beethoven. It also has one of the most multicultural cuisines in Europe, bringing a wide variety and depth to its cuisine. Some of their most famous dishes are strudel, wiener schnitzel, and wheat beer.

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7
Switzerland is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
Bern

Language: Romansh language, French Language, German Language, Italian Language

Founded: 1291

Currency: Swiss franc

Anthem: Swiss Psalm

Because of the Swiss Alps covering much of the country, Switzerland is a popular destination for skiing, hiking, and mountain biking. Folk art is also kept alive by many organizations in Switzerland, displaying their alpine symbolism through music, art, and dance, including yodeling.

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8
Netherlands is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
Amsterdam

Language: Dutch Language

Founded: 1648

Currency: Euro

Anthem: Wilhelmus, Wien Neêrlands Bloed

Netherlands is known as being one of the most liberal countries in the world. It's iconic windmills, tulip fields, and hundreds of national parks make for lovely landscapes and breathtaking views.

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9
Czech Republic is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
beernbugs added Prague

Language: Czech Language

Founded: 1993-01-01

Currency: Czech koruna

Anthem: Kde domov můj?

Prague, the capital of Czech Republic, is the 6th most visited city in Europe, and is considered to be quite safe to walk around in, even at night. The country is known for its puppetry and marionette museums, as well as the several puppet festivals that happen throughout the year.

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10
Australia is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
Trenton Myers added Canberra

Founded: 1901-01-01

Currency: Australian dollar

Anthem: Advance Australia Fair

Recognized as a megadiverse country, Australia has much to offer in terms of tourism. It has 16 natural World Heritage Sites, including the Great Barrier Reef, Shark Bay, and the Gold Coast.

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11
Iceland is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
Reykjavik

Language: Icelandic Language

Founded: 1904-02-01

Currency: Icelandic króna

Anthem: Lofsöngur

Iceland has many active volcanoes and lava flows, as well as several geysers throughout the country. It also has three national parks.

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12
Germany is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
Berlin

Language: German Language

Founded: 1949-05-23

Currency: Euro

Anthem: Deutschlandlied

Between the ancient castles, the modern cities, and the delicious cuisine, there's little Germany can't offer to tourists. In 2013, it was ranked as the most positively viewed country in the world. Its restaurants are the second-most prestigious in the world, only behind France.

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13
Slovakia is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
Trenton Myers added Bratislava

Language: Slovak Language

Founded: 1918-10-28

Currency: Euro

Anthem: Nad Tatrou sa blýska

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14
Denmark is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
jona000f added Copenhagen

Language: Danish Language

Currency: Danish krone

Anthem: There is a Lovely Country

Denmark is one of the most social progressive countries in the world. It's also home to the Vikings, where many ruins and remains can be found there today.

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15
Scotland is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
Edinburgh

Language: Scottish English

Founded: 0843

Currency: UK £

Anthem: Is There for Honest Poverty, Scotland the Brave, Flower of Scotland, Scots Wha Hae, Highland Cathedral

Scotland is best known for its traditional bagpipe music, its ancient castles, and whiskey, which is their largest export. It's also known for sports fanaticism for rugby and football, and it is home to golf. 

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16
Turkey is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
beernbugs added Ankara

Language: Turkish Language

Founded: 1923-10-29

Currency: Turkish lira

Anthem: İstiklâl Marşı

Turkey is the 6th most visited place in the world, making much of its economy dependent on it. It has 11 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the archeological site of the historic city, Troy.

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17
Brazil is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
Trenton Myers added Brasília

Language: Portuguese Language

Founded: 1822-09-07

Currency: Brazilian real

Anthem: Brazilian National Anthem

BRAZIL

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18
Taiwan is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
llura added Taipei

Language: Standard Mandarin

Founded: 1911-10-10

Currency: New Taiwan dollar

Anthem: National Anthem of the Republic of China

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19
Wales is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
BenNicholson added Cardiff

Language: Welsh Language, English Language

Founded: 1056

Currency: UK £

Anthem: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau

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20
England is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
London

Language: English Language

Currency: UK £

With its endless amount of castles, cathedrals, towers, and cobblestone streets, tourists are never short of finding something exquisite to see in England. It also has 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Stonehenge, Tower of London, Jurassic Coast, and Ironbridge Gorge. 

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21
Finland is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
Helsinki

Language: Swedish Language, Finnish Language

Founded: 1809-03-29

Currency: Euro

Anthem: Maamme

Finland's tourism has been growing rapidly in the past few years, largely because of its modernization and globalization. It also has 37 national parks, full of virgin, pristine land and forests.

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22
Peru is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
Lima

Language: Spanish Language

Founded: 1821-07-28

Currency: Peruvian nuevo sol

Anthem: National Anthem of Peru

Peru is most famous for its ancient ruins, Machu Picchu, which sits high up in the Andes  mountains and is the most iconic image of the Incan civilization.

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23
Republic of Ireland is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
Dublin

Language: English Language, Irish

Founded: 1916-04-24

Currency: Euro

Anthem: Amhrán na bhFiann

While Dublin is the visited area in Ireland, the country has three World Heritage Sites to boast, as well as many historical landmarks, including Glendalough and Clonmacnoise, the latter dating back to the 1st century. Its old castles and rich history are still vital to modern-day Ireland, creating a colorful culture and an exciting destination for tourists.

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#66 of 275 The Prettiest Flags in the World #30 of 165 The Most Beautiful Countries in the Worldlisted on Countries with Best Sanitation Facilities

24
Hungary is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
Budapest

Language: Hungarian language

Founded: 0895

Currency: Hungarian forint

Anthem: Himnusz

Hungary sit on top of high quality thermal water, making it home to more than 1500 thermal springs and 450 public baths throughout the country. It also has the largest bath house in Europe, The Széchenyi Thermal Bath.

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25
Bulgaria is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Best Countries to Travel To
PeterPetrov added Sofia

Language: Bulgarian Language

Founded: 0681

Currency: Bulgarian lev

Anthem: Mila Rodino

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