As the world becomes a safer place to travel again following the disruptions caused by COVID-19, many people are starting to think about where they can travel to next.
It’s hard to believe that we can really sit back and start thinking about traveling abroad again.
With so many options, many are thinking ‘where can I go on holiday?’ Or ‘where’s the safest places to travel after COVID’? There are plenty of great destinations to visit that can be done lavishly or very affordably—or even a mix of both!
We’ve all been stuck inside for far too long. It’s time to treat ourselves to the most memorable vacation ever.
There are so many top-tier places around the world that many have forgotten about,that want to welcome visitors like yourself with open arms.
Whether you’re looking for great holidays for families, friends, or even an epic solo adventure, keep reading to be inspired for your next vacation after COVID-19!
Alta,Norway
Located in northern Norway above the Artic Circle, Alta is a great destination if you’re looking for a winter wonderland without the large groups of tourists seen in Oslo or Bergen.
Known as the “town of Northern Lights,” you won’t want to miss this natural wonder that dances across the night sky in the winter months.
You can also visit in the summer if you’ve ever wanted to experience the midnight sun, which is the time of year when the sun never sets above the Artic Circle.
Besides the Northern Lights—which you absolutely will need to see—you can try your hand at dog or reindeer sledding, stay in an igloo hotel, or get outside and see nature either with snowshoeing or snowmobiling.
If you’re looking for some aquatic adventures, you can see how lucky you are with either ice fishing or whale watching.
While Alta isn’t a large city, you won’t run out of things to do here.
This town would be a great destination if you and your crew are looking to get outside, see some natural wonders and then curl up with a hot chocolate by the fireplace. This type of vacation would be more suited for children that are a little older, since many of these activities involve walking and patience.
Lake District, England
Found in Cumbria, Lake District is aptly named for its 16 glacial lakes that flow through countless rivers and richly green valleys.
You can also find the tallest mountain in England here—Scafell Pike.
There’s a National Park—Lakes District National Park—that takes up most of this area. Many tourists will choose to stay in the southern half of Lake District, where you will hear about the area’s literary influencers, such as Beatrix Potter, John Ruskin and Williams Wordsworth.
In the northern half, hikers and nature lovers can enjoy peace, quiet and breathtaking views of England.
Some of the top lakes to hike up to include Lake Windermere, Derwentwater, Helvellyn, Ullswater and Coniston Water.
The Visit Lake District official website has amazing resources to help you plan, stay safe and make the most of your time here.
If you want to take yourself on a long hike over rolling green hills, head to the Catbells High Ridge Hike. This hiking trail is known for being accessible by all ages and skill sets. It will take you about half a day to climb up to the peak, but you’ll be greeted by views for miles.
If you want more of a challenge, the trail does go on for an additional 14-kilometers, giving hikers dramatic views.
And if you’re visiting to learn more about the literary influences in the area, you can visit Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top House, or William Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage or his Rydal Mount and Gardens home. There is a stone circle hedge, made up of 38 stones. This circle is estimated to be one of the oldest examples of Neolithic sites in England.
Kotor, Montenegro
Located in the fjord-esque Bay of Kotor next to Mount Lovcen, Kotor is a city straight out of a fairy tale story.
Dating back to the medieval times, you can walk along the city walls and look out over the Adriatic Coast and see the countless forts, Churches and cafes (that you can visit).
It’s a common spot for cruise ships, you can definitely spend a couple of days here really exploring and learning about the city’s history.
The first thing you need to do once you’re in Kotor, is walk up the city walls and get a panoramic view of Kotor.
You can do a self-guided tour which will tell you all what you will be seeing as you climb more than a thousand stone steps—be careful, it does get steep at points! As you climb, you’ll be able to visit the River Gate, Our Lady of Health—a location that helped with plague victims—the Castle of San Giovanni and the Chapel of St. Ivan!
If you want to get out of the city for a day, a great day trip would be to head to Lovcen National Park.
Even the road you’ll take when traveling out of Kotor will be mind-blowing. You can try hiking a little, but this spot is known to be used for picnics and to escape Kotor’s heat instead of exploring the woods.
Or you can head to Perast, in the northwest corner of Kotor. You can see the deep blue waters along this ancient city and join the locals in sunbathing along the jetties when the summer heat starts to hit you.
Canary Islands, Spain
Do you think you want more of an island vacationing, laying out on a white, sandy beach before heading up for drinks in the evening?
Consider heading to the Canary Islands! The Spanish islands are located between southern Spain and northern Morocco, you’ll fall in love with the Canarian culture as you explore the islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
You can visit these islands year-round since the temperature is like a perpetual springtime.
Visit Tenerife and climb to the third highest volcano in the world in Teide National Park.
You can either see the crater from the Teleferico cable car, or you can hike along the lava fields and read about the flora and topography that lays in front of you.
You can visit another volcano in Lanzarote, in Timanfaya National Park. The last time this volcano erupted was between 1730 and 1736, where multiple eruptions buried 11 villages and the gardens that this island was known for.
If you’d rather enjoy the beach during your visit, go to the beaches of Gran Canaria. Visit the largest beach, Maspalomas, and walk along the sand dunes or take a camel ride and feel like you’re in the Sahara.
If you have children in tow, they’ll love going on a dolphin and whale watching tour. Most of these port out of Tenerife and some offer snorkeling experiences.
You’ll need a place where you can discover more about the islands, including which one you think will be best for you. Hello Canary Islands is a brilliant website dedicated to these islands. They have a passion and are seriously knowledgeable about all things Canary!
There are also the very engaging museums in Tenerife, such as the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Nature and Man, which teaches visitors about the native people of the islands and the European settlers that came over to the islands.And you have to visit Loro Park, a wildlife park in Puerto de la Cruz that has the world’s largest collection of parrots, a dolphin tank, and a large aquarium with a shark tunnel.
Tiqets have a great selection of these things that you can compare, book and enjoy. They’re careful to only pick the most quality and well-received experiences. Give it a try, never hurt to browse!
Bratislava, Slovakia
A city with a thousand years of history lining the streets - the capital city of Slovakia is known for its powerful position on the Danube and the intricate castles and churches throughout the city.
Even as a smaller city, you’ll still be able to fill up a whole trip with things to do—and it’s a very affordable city too!
You must visit Bratislava Castle, with its four large towers that stand out against the sky. On a clear day, you can see out to Austria and Hungary! Walk past the city’s oldest city gate, Michael’s Gate, from the 14th century and walk through the exhibits of weapons, documents, and models.
Try to catch a show at the Slovak National Theater and see operas, the ballet, and drama.
You can spend a whole day walking along the Danube River. Europe’s second longest river, its shores are lined with floating restaurants, hotel, and tons of spots to stop and take in the sights and sounds around you.
If you’re visiting in the summer, see if you can hop on a boat and head to either Vienna or Budapest as you travel past gardens and beautiful architecture.
And for the history buffs in your group, go to Devin Castle. Construction on this now-ruined structure started in the 800s and went on until the 1600s.
Close to the Austrian border, the castle became the ruins you see today when it was bombed during the Napoleonic Wars. You can walk through the staircases, walls,and courtyards and pretend that you are in a fairy-tale before heading back to the city center!
New York, USA
The city so nice they named it twice!
New York city is known to be a cultural hub where any type of traveler can find what they are looking for.
Families can spend their time in Central Park or catch one of the kid-friendly shows on Broadway. Couples can eat their way through the city at famous restaurants before catching a concert at Madison Square Garden.
Solo travelers can walk through the villages in the lower parts of Manhattan and see the brownstone buildings every literary work based in New York talks about.
There are some things and places that everyone who visits New York City certainly needs to try and go.
Take the subway uptown and go to a New York Yankees game as you eat a classic hot dog. Or head to the very southern part of the city and take a ferry around Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
You can also head up to the Bronx and spend a day visiting the Bronx Zoo and seeing animals such as polar bears. If you’re younger and looking for live music in quirky locations, you will love walking around Brooklyn on a weekend afternoon and evening and just popping into bars as you hear something captivating.
Or you can simply walk around midtown and see where the day takes you—there is always something happening in New York, the city that truly never sleeps.
No matter where you are looking to go on your epic post-COVID adventure, be sure to check out trips to these six awesome places so you can start creating vacation memories again with your loved ones!
