My 10 Favorite Countries in the World (and Why I Can’t Choose Just One)

The family celebrating Yi Peng in Chiang Mai, Thailand

As soon as someone finds out you’ve caught the travel bug and been a few places, there’s one dreaded question that always seems to pop up:

“What’s your favorite country you’ve ever been to?”

I hate this question.

It’s like asking which of my kids is my favorite.

Or which Beatles song I love most.

Or which of my eyes I prefer.

There’s no right answer, and honestly, asking the question is just wrong. Mean.

Which, of course, makes writing this post a glaring act of hypocrisy—proof that even the stubborn fall to peer pressure.

Nevertheless, here we go:

NOTE: It’s All Subjective

Let’s be clear: this is a list of my favorite countries. Not the best countries. Not the greatest. Not the top places you should go. Just the ones I personally love. My opinion. Your mileage may vary—and probably should.

And even that’s slippery. I scribbled this list down a week ago and have already changed it three times. Ask me again in six months and you’ll probably get a slightly different set.

This isn’t a ranked countdown from #10 to #1, but there is some loose order to it. The first four are my top-tier favorites. After that, the rest. And both tiers are simply sorted by alphabetical order.

Also, I’ve left the United States off the list, even though it’s absolutely one of my favorite travel destinations. This list focuses on international travel.

OK, disclaimers over. Let’s dive in.

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My Favorite 10 Countries in the World Part 1: The Top Four

🇮🇳 India

I love India. Everything is more there. The food, the colors, the monuments—India doesn’t do anything halfway. Of course, the poverty, garbage, and bureaucratic tangles are also more. India is simultaneously the best and worst place you’ve ever been. If you can handle that contradiction, it’s an amazing ride.

And it’s huge. The backwaters of Kerala feel like another world compared to the icy slopes and small towns of the mountainous north. As you move across India, everything changes: landscape, language, weather, and food. You might start your day in a chaotic city packed with rickshaws and end it by a peaceful lake, watching for wild tigers.

Also, there’s nowhere in the world where it’s easier to meet locals. If you don’t look South Asian, expect to be approached. People are curious, friendly, and never shy about asking for a selfie.

🇳🇵 Nepal

Nepal shares some things with India, but don’t mistake it for a smaller version of its neighbor. Nepal is much easier to navigate and has an impressive tourist infrastructure—perfect for first-timers easing into the beautiful madness of South Asia.

Yes, it’s a world-class trekking destination. I spent several weeks in the Everest region and it remains one of the greatest travel experiences of my life. Seeing Chomolungma (Everest) in person feels like a sacred pilgrimage for mountain lovers.

But Nepal is more than just mountains. Kathmandu is a vibrant, photogenic mess of history and modernity. You can feed pigeons in Durbar Square, then walk to Thamel for shockingly good Italian food—or yak steak.

And then there’s Bhaktapur. Wandering its alleyways and watching dusk fall over its main square is one of the most atmospheric things I’ve ever done.

🇹🇭 Thailand

If you’ve never been to Asia and want a good place to start, Thailand is it. There’s a reason it’s one of the world’s most beloved travel destinations: it’s beautiful, delicious, affordable, and welcoming.

Some travelers flee Bangkok as soon as they land—too big, too polluted, too chaotic. I get it. But I love Bangkok. The food alone makes it worth your time. Between meals, you can explore canals, marvel at golden temples, wander museums, or chat with some of the friendliest people on earth.

Then, yes, go south to the beaches. I live in Hawaii, so I don’t usually prioritize beaches when I travel. But Thailand? That’s the exception. Crystal blue water. White sand. Lush cliffs. And some of the best diving I’ve ever done.

The north has its own charm: caves to explore, rivers to kayak (sometimes inside those caves!), hill towns to chill in. And if you want to go off the beaten path, head to Issan in the northeast for fiery food and fewer tourists.

🇻🇳 Vietnam

If you’re thinking about Vietnam, stop thinking and just go. The food is out-of-this-world good, the landscapes are jaw-dropping, and the cities strike that perfect balance between chaotic and captivating.

It’s got just enough craziness to make it clear you’re not in Kansas anymore—crossing the street in Hanoi feels like playing irl Frogger—but it also has a great tourism infrastructure that makes travel relatively smooth and easy.

Halong Bay is one of the most stunning places I’ve ever seen. And eating your way through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City is a deeply satisfying mission. Honestly, the street food alone should be on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. There are few things that make me feel as happy as squatting on a tiny plastic stool next to a busy street, slurping noodles out of a broth that has been simmering for who knows how long in a sinister looking cauldron on a Vietnamese street corner.

My Favorite 10 Countries in the World Part 2: the Other Six

So the above four countries are at the top of my list. They have been there for a long time, and I expect they will stay there. Maybe forever. Filling out the rest of my favorite 10 countries in the world is more difficult. More flexible. But here is the list as it is right now:

🇨🇳 China

China isn’t the easiest place to travel (though the camera feature in Google Translate makes it significantly easier now), but the payoff is enormous. The scenery is jaw-dropping in its diversity—from the karst peaks of the Li River, which is another candidate for the most beautiful landscape on Earth, to vast deserts and misty mountains. And the food? Sichuan cuisine alone is worth the flight. And Cantonese. And soup dumplings.

🇺🇬 Uganda

Two words: mountain gorillas. Plus one more: chimpanzees. If you’re into apes, Uganda is your Eden. Sure, you can also go on classic safaris to spot lions, elephants, and hippos in places like Queen Elizabeth National Park, but for me, it’s the great apes that steal the show.

🇪🇬 Egypt

I literally wept the first time I saw the Pyramids of Giza. Egypt might’ve ruined all other archaeological sites for me—nothing else feels as colossal, as ancient, or as impossibly grand as what lines the banks of the Nile.

🇮🇹 Italy

Rome is one of my favorite cities on the planet. How do you top a morning in the Roman Forum followed by a walk along the Tiber and a bowl of cacio e pepe that could make you believe in miracles? Then there’s Florence, the Cinque Terre, Pompeii, Venice, and the world’s best ice cream in gelato. Italy is tourism as art form.

🇪🇸 Spain

With sincere apologies to France and Italy, Spain is my pick for the best food in Europe. I went for jamón ibérico and tapas, but everything I ate blew me away. Add the whimsy of Barcelona, the grandeur of Madrid, and a countryside filled with charming villages, and you've got the full package. But make no mistake—it’s the food that cements Spain on this list.

🇬🇷 Greece

I’ve only been to Athens—and most people will tell you that’s the least impressive part of Greece. But I loved it. I’ve got a degree in classics (meaning I’ve read Homer in the original Greek), and some of my ancestral roots trace back here. That probably helps. But even if I didn’t have the personal connection, the food alone might be enough to push Greece into my favorites. Greek food gives Spain a serious run for its money.

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Just Missed the Cut

While the top four are firmly set, there is a handful of countries that could have shown up in the other six in my top ten. They include:

·      Croatia

·      France

·      Malaysia

·      Mexico

·      Morocco

·      Slovenia

·      Uzbekistan

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I don’t have a favorite country. I have a beloved handful, each one etched into memory for its own reasons—one for the noodles, one for the gorillas, one for the ruins that made me cry. Choosing between them would be like choosing my favorite limb. They’re not interchangeable. They’re not even competing. They’re just… essential to me. And luckily, I don’t have to choose. Because travel is not a competition.