Hello dear reader, I have traveled all the continents but I have not visited all the countries in the world. I have visited more than 60 countries from my list of 100 countries and things to do before you die. In this article, I will give you a list of the most beautiful countries in the world according to me.
Essential to remember
According to international rankings and my experience after 70 countries: Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, Vietnam, and Iceland form a top 7 that is hard to contest. Each deserves at least 2 weeks.
The most beautiful countries in the world
People may have different opinions depending on the criteria or experiences you have had. I will give you 5 countries but there is no order of beauty or preference.
I exclude France because if I had to choose, I would give it first place without hesitation since we have beautiful landscapes, the best cuisine, a ton of cultural and historical things :D.
Here is my list of the most beautiful countries in the world.
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Australia: the most beautiful country in the world for adventure
It is the first country in the selection where I spent the most time (15 months), there is so much to say about Australia with the Great Barrier Reef, one of the most beautiful cities in the world: Sydney, Ayers Rock (the rock in the middle of Australia) which means a lot to the Aboriginal people, all the national parks so different from each other, and Tasmania which is a jewel and a concentrate of Australia.
Did you know?
Italy has 60 UNESCO World Heritage sites: it is the country with the most in the world, ahead of China (59) and Germany (54). To be put into perspective with its modest area of 301,000 km².
The problem with this country is that you would need at least 6 months to visit everything or 4 months if you go quickly and it is on the other side of the world. Besides the landscapes, you can also get to know the animals, emus, koalas, kangaroos, wombats, Tasmanian devils, dingoes, etc.
This country will please nature lovers and lovers of wide open spaces, hiking, and beaches.
It is also an ideal country for partying or doing a road trip in a van or car.
If you want to know more about Australia, here are some articles:
| Country | Strong point | Ideal duration |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | Heritage + cuisine | 2-3 weeks |
| Japan | Contrast tradition / modernity | 3 weeks |
| New Zealand | Varied landscapes | 1 month |
| Peru | History + nature | 2-3 weeks |
| South Africa | Safari + coasts | 3 weeks |
The best activities in Australia,
The most beautiful places on the Australian west coast.
The downside: the size of the country.
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Iceland: the most beautiful country in the world in terms of wild and natural landscapes
The country that surprised me the most and it is also the country that is closest to France. In Iceland, there is a contrast between hot and cold with hot springs, volcanoes, geysers, glaciers, glacial lagoons, and even ice caves.
The advantages are that you can go there for a weekend or for several weeks of vacation because it is 3 hours flight from Paris, there is no need to take a 10-hour flight to see exceptional beauties. There are activities in winter as well as in summer, for example searching for the northern lights in winter or hiking on glaciers, or boat cruises in summer.
It is a country for adventurers as much as for calm people seeking a change of scenery. It is possible to do a road trip by car, wild camping, or even a bike tour.
If you want to know more about this country:
The northern lights in Iceland.
What to do in Iceland in 3 days?
The downside of the country: the cost of the country
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Brazil, one of the most beautiful countries in the world for culture and diversity:
I have been to Brazil twice, and I can’t wait to go back to this country. It is a country with a mixture of cultures, very diverse landscapes, with the Amazon rainforest, the dream beaches of the state of Bahia or Rio de Janeiro. It is in this place that there is one of the 3 largest waterfalls in the world, the Iguaçu Falls.
The best thing compared to other countries is that this country has a very welcoming and warm people.
My experience
If I had to choose a single country to live in for 6 months without getting bored, it would be Japan. Tokyo for modernity, Kyoto for tradition, Hokkaido for nature, Okinawa for the beach. It’s the only country that condenses so many different worlds.
You can learn to dance the Samba, go to the Rio Carnival, party Brazilian style, visit animal reserves (the Pantanal), experience the Amazonian forest or even go to the stadium to feel the passion of Brazilians who are all about “women” and “football”.
Other articles for your reading:
Countries to visit in South America.
The downside of the country: security
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China: one of the most beautiful countries in the world for exoticism
The country with the most history, tradition, and culture is truly an incredible place not to be missed. You will go there and come back completely changed. You can visit historical places like the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Summer Palace, or the Terracotta Soldiers in Xi’an.
The country also has stunning landscapes such as mountains including part of Everest, part of the Gobi Desert, the Guilin area which is a mix of mountainous landscapes and rivers, and you can also go to Tibet.
There are also interesting cities like Hong Kong or Shanghai, and you can also visit Asia’s Las Vegas by going to Macau. The Chinese food is also a delight and there is also very exotic food, like shrimp dumplings, pork, and Peking duck, etc.
The country also has a tropical part for those who prefer warmth. It is the country where you will be most disoriented because it is such a different world. You really have to go there without judgment.
Advantages
- Inspiration for future bucket lists
- Objective comparison between destinations
- Help planning your next trips
- Discovery of little-known countries
- Reminder that travel is as much cultural as geographical
Weaknesses
- Inevitable subjectivity of rankings
- Sometimes overwhelming tourism in top destinations
- Variable security depending on the country
- Visa and budget to anticipate
Personally, I speak Mandarin and Cantonese, so I have a different perspective from the French tourist, but I have no doubt that China can offer you a lot to see the way of life in other countries.
Additional articles to read:
The downside of the country: people only speaking Chinese, manners and politeness.
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South Africa: the most beautiful animal and wildlife paradise
It is the only African country in the selection. I really hesitated to include this country, but it is full of so much beauty, such as the mountains (the Drakensberg, or Table Mountain), water activities like swimming with seals or sharks, canoeing, surfing, or diving.
In fact, I loved this country so much that instead of staying 1 month, I stayed two months doing a road trip from Cape Town to Johannesburg. You can also see the world of wildlife animals in their natural habitat and visit nature reserves.
South Africa is also a country full of history, the history of Apartheid and the mix of many tribes. There are unique places such as Kruger Park, or the Townships of Johannesburg. It is also a country passionate about rugby, and barbecues.
The classic trap to avoid
Don’t rely solely on Instagram rankings or Lonely Planet to choose your next trip. Cross-check multiple sources, read recent accounts, and see if the destination matches your travel style (slow travel, backpacking, luxury).
The advantage of the country: It is the cheapest country in the selection.
You can rent a car and travel along the coast as I did.
If you want to know more:
Here is my review of South Africa
The downside of the country: security
To delve deeper into the subject, the guide on 2 countries the offers additional practical advice. You will also find interesting leads in our article on most beautiful landscapes, and if you are preparing the next part of your trip, the one on most beautiful places is perfect.
I randomly chose 5 countries on 5 continents, where it is possible to take 2 to 3 trips to discover them. You can spend 3 months in Australia, China or Brazil.
I could very well have also given you New Zealand (but it looks a lot like Iceland), Argentina but I had to choose Brazil in South America, or even replace Australia with the USA. I might also have included India but I haven’t visited it yet, maybe one day.
Japan has everything too (culture, change of scenery, beautiful landscapes, good food). Mexico is also part of my selection but I would put it in the top 10. In Europe, Italy and Spain should not be overlooked.
I chose these countries not only for the landscapes but also for everything—the culture, history, food, people, and change of scenery. There are also very beautiful landscapes depending on the activity you like.
Other countries could be honored and will have their place in my top 10: Jordan, Costa Rica. The landscapes in France should not be overlooked especially Corsica!And you? What would be your selection of the 5 most beautiful countries in the world?
What is the most beautiful country in the world?
Subjective question. The countries that appear most often in rankings: Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Peru.
How many countries are there in the world?
197 countries recognized by the UN (193 members + 2 observers + 2 partially recognized states).
How to choose your next country to visit?
Cross budget, season, interests (nature, city, beach), and level of logistical difficulty. Don’t rush based on rankings alone.
