13 travel experiences to have in your 20s
Traveling in your 20s
When you travel in your 20s, you will probably be on a budget and looking to meet new people and have once in a lifetime memorable experiences. This can also be a great time to participate in special events and festivals while you still have the energy to be up all night and you can stay on budget by taking advantage of special discounts for students and young adults.
Whether you are looking to travel alone or with friends, here are 13 fun ideas for places to visit and trips to take in your 20s !
1. Travel Europe on an under 27 Interrail Pass
Travelling by train can be a relaxed and environmentally friendly way to see Europe and you get a discount on Eurail or Interrail train passes if you are 27 or younger. You can either choose a certain number of consecutive or non-consecutive days ranging between 4 days and three months to travel Europe. You can select a single country, group of neighbouring countries or an all-inclusive pass that covers 33 countries in Europe.
Eurail passes are for travellers who live outside Europe (non-European residents) and Interrail passes are for European citizens. Be aware that some high speed trains may still require a reservation, especially in Western Europe, but otherwise the under-27 discount train pass can be a flexible and affordable way to travel around Europe on a backpacking adventure.
As long as you start your trip before you turn 28, you are good to go !
2. Attend a performance with under 30 discount tickets
Did you know that many major performing arts centres will offer discount student priced tickets to anyone under 30 ? If you are visiting a major city, check the ticket policies for theatres and performances and you may be surprised to find some affordable options !
You may be able to attend a ballet, opera, play or musical for a fraction of the regular price. Many theatre performances and musicals will offer any remaining tickets on the day of the show to under 30 visitors at a discount, or will offer tickets in less desirable restricted view seats at a special student price. Even if you are visiting a major city like New York on a budget, most Broadway musicals will offer some discounted ticket options for students and young people, so take advantage of these offers while you can !
3. Budget bacpacking in South-East Asia
Budget backpacking through South East Asia is popular for a good reason, as this region offers affordable hostels and accommodation, cheap and tasty street food, and well connected transportation by taking overnights buses and ferries.
Most budget backpackers choose to visit some combination of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos for between 6 weeks to 6 months which covers major cities like Bangkok and Hanoi, more relaxed cities like Chiang Mai, Hoi An and Kampot, famous landmarks like the Angkor Wat temples and rice terraces of Sa Pa, island hopping in Thailand or cruising Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, along with fun activities like a cooking class or SCUBA diving lessons and special events like the Full Moon Party.
Many travellers also add a stop in Malaysia, Bali or Singapore on the way over or the way home. While you can enjoy a visit to South East Asia no matter your age, the budget backpacking experience is definitely most popular with under 30 travellers. This backpacking route is so popular that it is almost guaranteed that you will meet other travellers along the way, and you may run into the same people multiple times throughout your trip !
Be aware that you may need a visa to enter some countries in this region, but this part of the world is generally quite safe, even for solo and female travellers.
If you would like to learn more about visiting South East Asia with a tour group, check out some reviews below of the experiences I had on small group tours of Vietnam, Bali, Cambodia and Thailand !
4. Croatia Sail and Yacht Week
Would you enjoy living on a boat for a week ? Imagine waking up and starting every day going swimming in clear blue water and then sailing down the coast of Croatia to stop in a new destination every day, and you only have to unpack once !
Trips typically depart from Split or sometimes Zadar or Dubrovnik and last 7-8 days. Most packages are sold all-inclusive, with accommodation aboard the boat, all breakfasts and lunches and some dinners. Stops will include a mix of bigger cities like Split, Zadar and Dubrovnik, beach towns like Makarska, different islands like Hvar, Pag and Korcula and even national parks like Krka and Mljet.
You can either sign up with a group of friends to rent out an entire boat or join a pre arranged tour where you will be joining other travellers, and some companies offer age limited under 30 or under 35 tours so that you be guaranteed to travel with other young adults. Most tours with 12-25 travellers will have a boat staffed by a captain, cook, and 2-3 sailors who also serve the meals and staff the bar.
You can even choose tours that offer itineraries which stop at music festivals like Ultra Europe in Split or Hideout on Pag island and sailing is a much more relaxing way to explore the country than travelling on a bus !
5. Island hopping in Greece
Greek island hopping can be a fun, memorable and relaxing addition to a Europe backpacking trip, with most travellers choosing to sail around the islands for anywhere from one week to one month. Most travellers depart from Athens and you can plan your own custom itinerary by checking the ferry schedules and arranging your own accommodation or join an arranged tour group which will take care of all reservations for you, and some are even age limited to 35 or 30 and under so that you are guaranteed to be with other young adults.
While there are over 200 Greek islands, some famous island experiences are seeing the sunset from Oia on Santorini, partying in Ios or Mykonos, relaxing on the beaches in Naxos, visiting historical sites on Crete and Rhodes, and seeing the white towns and windmills that can be found throughout the region. You can also look forward to enjoying fresh seafood and cheese and iced coffee frappes.
Islands like Mykonos and Santorini can be busy and expensive during the summer high season and remember that not every island has a direct ferry connection to every other island directly, so you may need to transfer ferries to reach your final destination, although some major islands do also have airports. Ferry schedules can run according to the weather and ‘island time’ in this part of the world, so be prepared for unexpected delays and just enjoy the journey !
6. Summer in Ibiza
Enjoy days on the beach and music at night on the Spanish island of Ibiza. The clubs here feature world famous DJs, amazing light shows, and hold thousands of people, which makes it an incredible atmosphere that is hard to find anywhere else.
Some of the major clubs include Space and Ushuaia at Playa d’en Bossa, Es Paradis and Eden in San Antonio, Pacha in Ibiza Town and Amnesia in the middle of the island. These clubs often host weekly themed parties and have particular DJs playing on certain nights, so check out their calendars in advance if there is something particular you are interested in and consider purchasing tickets in advance for popular events. The season for the clubs typically runs from May to early October and is marked by official opening and closing parties.
There is also lots more to experience on Ibiza besides the nightlife, consider taking a day trip to the neighbouring island of Formentera, visiting the Ibiza Old Town area which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, relaxing on beautiful beaches like Cala Comte, enjoy fresh local seafood, try water sports and activities or visit the hippy markets to shop for handmade crafts.
7. Summer festivals in Europe
You could spend the entire summer in Europe going to different cultural festivals and celebrations, which are particularly common in Spain and Portugal.
Some famous ones include St John’s Eve on June 23rd, also called San Juan and Sao Joao night, which is celebrated with beach bonfires in Barcelona and with colourful plastic hammers and fireworks in Porto.
Other well known Spanish options are the Haro Wine Festival in La Rioja region during which a wine fight occurs, the festival of San Fermin in Pamplona known for the running of the bulls, La Tomatina tomato battle in the streets of Valencia, and Semana Grande in Bilbao which celebrates Basque culture with fireworks, concerts and parades.
Expect huge crowds, traditional foods and costumes, fireworks, music, dancing and street parties at these summer time festivals. If you do choose to join in, try to learn a bit about the history of the festival and be respectful of the people and city you are visiting.
8. Overnight music festivals
Some music festivals in locations with hot summer temperatures don’t start until the sun goes down, so consider attending an overnight music festival while you still have the energy to stay up all night for a few days in a row !
Some fun options in Europe are Exit Festival in Serbia, Hideout Festival in Croatia, and Sea Dance in Montenegro. While these festivals may have some daytime events like pool parties, there are typically performances from 9 or 10pm at night until almost 6 or 7am in some cases. You can return to your hotel at breakfast time and sleep all afternoon to avoid the extreme heat in the middle of the day.
9. Festival camping
At this point in your life, you are probably trying to stick to a budget and festival camping can be a great way to lower your accommodation costs and make new friends.
While camping is typical for many major music festivals, it is often also available near major cities for special events such as OktoberFest in Munich and with the extra savings from not being in a hotel, you will be able to travel for longer.
Besides all the usual equipment like a tent and sleeping bag, consider bringing a colourful flag or some decorations which will make your tent stand out and be easier to find and it might help start a conversation to make new friends at the campground.
10.Camping roadtrip
Grab some friends and pack up your car with camping equipment and have an adventure, a camping roadtrip can be a fun, affordable and memorable way to travel on a budget in your 20s.
Consider a classic American road trip out to California either going south through Arizona, Colorado and Nevada or north through South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana stopping at some of the famous National Parks along with small towns and road side attractions. Consider booking in advance at some of the major parks if you are travelling in the busy season in the middle of summer.
If you want to escape the crowds, consider a less well known road trip destination like Maritime Quebec in Canada or Tasmania in Australia, which both have many beautiful and remote natural attractions to enjoy. Another option is to plan an off-season road trip like driving across British Columbia in the winter to avoid crowds.
11. Try an extreme sport
This is a great time of life to try a new sport or activity while you are in good physical condition, and travelling may bring you to destinations that offer activities that aren’t available at home or the chance to try an activity in a particularly special landscape.
For example, you could try SCUBA diving in Bali and Thailand or bungy jumping or white water rafting in New Zealand or Switzerland.
Keep in mind that safety standards in some countries may be different than they are at home, so make sure you are choosing reputable operators. You should also check that your travel insurance will cover you if you choose to participate in some of the more extreme activities.
Finally, make sure to leave some room in your budget for these kinds of activities, this may be an extra cost for budget travellers, but it could be your once in a lifetime chance to try something new !
12. Spend a week by yourself in one of the great cities of the world
While you can enjoy solo travel at any point in your life, if you can find a few days of free time in your 20s, perhaps at the end of a college semester or between jobs, consider taking a week by yourself to explore one of the great cities of the world like London, New York City, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Tokyo or Bangkok.
Staying in one place for a while cuts down on transportation costs and allows you to really discover the culture of the city you are visiting. As well, the freedom of being able to go anywhere you want, whenever you want, without relying on other people can be great for building confidence in your ability to enjoy your own company and travel alone.
Consider staying in a hostel or holiday apartment and get a weekly metro pass then just start exploring, whether you are interested in museums, historic sites, markets, restaurants, theatre, or shopping, it will be a memorable experience exploring one of the great cities of the world on your own schedule.
Travel Tip: Consider timing your visit to coincide with a fun festival or event like the NYC Village Halloween Parade!
If you don’t want to be alone the entire time, check out this article on how to meet people as a solo traveller.
13. Celebrate New Year's Eve in an amazing destination
Ring in the New Year in an extra special way by planning a trip to one of the world’s best New Year’s Eve destinations while you still have the energy to party all night long.
Cities like Sydney and Hong Kong are known for spectacular fireworks, while Madrid, Las Vegas and New Orleans have parties that last all night long. Edinburgh also hosts a more traditional celebration called Hogmanay which has fireworks along with bonfires, concerts and a Viking parade. You could also try New York City which hosts the famous ball drop in Times Square, although you need to arrive quite early in the afternoon to secure a good viewing spot, and make sure to dress warmly !
If you are planning to book a once in a lifetime New Year’s Eve experience, remember to make travel arrangements well in advance because transportation and accommodation will be in high demand.
Travelling the world in your 20s
Whether you plan to travel the world alone or with friends, take advantage of this special time in your life to have some real adventures, learn more about yourself and the world and make lifelong friendships and memories.
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