There is no universal list of the best countries to visit: the right choice depends on the season, your budget, how long you have and what you enjoy. This guide helps you choose among countries worth visiting at least once, grouped by type of trip, with a link to our full guide for each.
We do not publish a ranking based on reviews that cannot be checked. We start from concrete criteria (scenery, heritage, beaches, wildlife, ease of travel, season) and from the destinations we have documented one by one, with their month-by-month climate and entry requirements. For comparison, we also list the most visited countries in the world according to UN Tourism. To go beyond this selection, all our travel destinations are organized by continent, with the same level of detail on climate and entry requirements.
Key points for choosing a country to visit
- Start with the date: a country that is superb in the dry season can be disappointing during the monsoon.
- Match the distance to the time you have: with less than a week, stay within your own region or a short flight away; allow two weeks or more for far-flung destinations in Asia, Oceania or South America.
- Check entry requirements: several countries require a visa or an electronic travel authorization depending on your nationality (for example Australia, India, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom).
- Check your government’s official travel advice before booking (for example the U.S. State Department or the UK FCDO): safety advice changes.
- Compare budgets on the ground: Southeast Asia and Latin America often remain more affordable than Oceania or Scandinavia.
The most visited countries in the world
The number of visitors does not say everything about a country’s beauty, but it points to the destinations that are easiest to reach and best equipped. Here is the 2024 ranking published by UN Tourism:
| Rank | Country | International arrivals 2024 (millions) | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 102.0 | France |
| 2 | Spain | 93.8 | Spain |
| 3 | United States | 72.4 | United States |
| 4 | Turkey | 60.6 | Turkey |
| 5 | Italy | 57.7 | Italy |
| 6 | Mexico | 45.0 | Mexico |
| 7 | United Kingdom | 41.8 | United Kingdom |
| 8 | Germany | 37.5 | Germany |
| 9 | Japan | 36.9 | Japan |
| 10 | Greece | 36.0 | Greece |
Countries to visit for culture and heritage
- Japan: temples in Kyoto, the megacity of Tokyo, food and fast trains; see when to go to Japan.
- Italy: art cities, ancient sites and varied landscapes, ideal for a short trip.
- India: Rajasthan’s palaces, temples and strong regional diversity; check the visa requirements (an e-visa system exists).
- Peru: Inca sites, the Andes and the Amazon, best in the dry season.
- Jordan: Petra, the Wadi Rum desert and the Dead Sea, on a one-week circuit.
- Mexico: Maya and Aztec cities, colonial towns, Yucatán beaches.
Countries to visit for nature and wide-open spaces
- Iceland: volcanoes, glaciers and waterfalls; a chance of northern lights in winter.
- Norway: fjords, the Lofoten Islands and the far north.
- New Zealand and Australia: long road trips, best planned over three weeks or more.
- Canada: the Rockies, lakes and forests; see our guide to the Canada eTA.
- Chile and Argentina: Patagonia, the Atacama Desert, vineyards.
- Costa Rica: rainforests, volcanoes and wildlife over short distances.
Countries to visit for beaches
- Thailand and Indonesia: Southeast Asian islands and beaches, often at a moderate budget; compare with Vietnam in our Thailand or Vietnam comparison.
- The Maldives and Mauritius: lagoons and resorts, for a honeymoon or a relaxing stay.
- Greece and Portugal: European beaches, best in summer and the shoulder season.
- French Polynesia: Pacific lagoons in a French overseas territory.
Countries to visit for wildlife and safaris
- Tanzania and South Africa: major wildlife parks; see our guide to an African safari.
- Namibia: deserts, dunes and wildlife, ideal for a self-drive trip.
- Sri Lanka: elephant and leopard parks, beaches and temples in a single trip.
Easy countries for a first big trip
For a first trip outside your home region, favor destinations that are easy to get around and have plenty of accommodation: Morocco, Thailand, Japan (very safe and well organized) or Costa Rica. To travel alone, read our guide to solo travel; to string several countries together, see our round-the-world trip guide.
Choosing a country by month
The season changes everything: monsoon, cyclones or extreme heat can spoil a trip. Our monthly selections show the countries with good weather in each period: where to go in January, where to go in March, where to go in October or the general page where to go by month. If you are torn between two countries, our destination comparisons compare them criterion by criterion.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most visited country in the world?
France, with 102 million international arrivals in 2024 according to UN Tourism, ahead of Spain and the United States.
What are the most beautiful countries in the world?
It depends on your criteria. For scenery, Iceland, Norway or New Zealand are often cited; for heritage, Japan, Italy or Peru; for beaches, the Maldives or Thailand.
Which country should you visit for a first trip outside your home region?
A nearby or well-organized country: Morocco, Thailand, Japan or Costa Rica, where transport and accommodation are easy to book.
Which country should you visit on a small budget?
Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand) and parts of Latin America often have a lower cost of living on the ground. The price of the flight, however, weighs on the total budget.
Do you need a visa for these countries?
Some require a visa or an electronic authorization, depending on your nationality: United States (ESTA), Canada (eTA), United Kingdom (ETA), Australia, India. Always check your government’s official travel advice and the destination country’s official immigration site before booking.
Our sources
- UN Tourism, International Tourism Highlights 2025 (2024 arrivals), via Wikipedia, « World Tourism rankings », consulted on 14 October 2026.
- Our country guides and « when to go » pages (climate normals and entry requirements sourced on each page), consulted on 14 October 2026.
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026.