Got a holiday bucket list that you’re working through, one trip at a time? We hear you. But if you’re starting from scratch, we thought you’d appreciate some pointers – ones you can really follow and tick off. So whether you’re heading away with friends, planning an adventure with your other half or going solo, here are some of the best places to travel as young adults.  

✅ Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site 

Europe has so many beautiful UNESCO-listed sites. So we get it – deciding where to kick off your pilgrimage of the past can be tricky. The so-called ‘Cotton Castle’, AKA Pamukkale, is a good place to begin. Its tiers of cascading thermal waters have been the subject of camera rolls and glossy travel mags for decades, so why not behold the wonder for yourself?  

Those with a city break in mind should make a beeline for La Sagrada Família instead. It’s an otherworldly, quirky icon of the Barcelona skyline. Although designed by the famous modernist architect Antoni Gaudí, the religious building and work of art is still technically under construction. Or you might fancy Athens, where the Acropolis commands the city and acts as a symbol of ancient Greece. Sort of like it was the HQ of the civilisation in those bygone times.  

✅ Attend an unmissable event 

How about doing a festival in a country you’ve never been to before? Easy. There are so many options across Europe throughout the year, but Sziget in Budapest, Hungary, is one of our faves. With Post Malone, A$AP Rocky, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX and others dominating the line-up this August, the annual music event is definitely one to be in the city for.  

Or if you’d rather headbang to something riffy, Rock en Seine draws moshers to Paris in August. Chappell and A$AP Rocky will interestingly also be there, along with Fontaines D.C., Kneecap and rock giants, Queens of the Stone Age.  

✅ Take a scenic road trip 

Nothing says la dolce vita quite like the Amalfi Coast. Trailing beyond the Bay of Naples and weaving past postcard-pretty Positano, this epic road route is bound to get you behind the wheel. Slurping local lemonade as you go, and stopping in the little laybys to the right for photos, you can really make a day of it. And so you should. If you make a pit stop in Positano, check out the seafront walkways, Fornillo Beach and Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta – not to mention all the colour-clad ceramics shops! You might even refuel on wood-fired, mozzarella-slathered pizza or a bowl of lemon gelato before you set off again. Bellissimo! 

Inspired to hit the road? Read even more details in our blog about driving around the sun-blushed Sorrento region.  

✅ Uncover an island paradise without going long-haul 

Back to Athens – just off the coast sits quaint Aegina Island, an oasis of calm where history hunters and foodies can share in the joy of lesser-trodden Greece. Kick things off with a visit to the Temple of Aphaia, or you could enjoy an amble through the picturesque port, where trendy boutiques and beachfront cafés go hand in hand. The isle also happens to be renowned for its pistachios, so don't miss out on stocking up and tasting some! 

Aegina is handily just a short ferry ride from Athens, so you could even combine a city break or coastal holiday with a day trip there.  

✅ See the Northern Lights 

What could be more magical than witnessing the aurora borealis dance in the sky above you in Iceland? We’ll wait. Nope – couldn't think of anything? Nor could we. This is bucket-list stuff at its finest! So, book one of our Discover More breaks to Iceland, where you’ll enjoy a city break in Reykjavík and a Northern Lights experience included with stays at selected hotels.  

You’ll be given a coach pick-up point for the designated night of the tour. Then, we’ll whisk you over to a quiet, unlit spot in the countryside for the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Surrounded by mountains and ice caves, you’ll be in your element if you’re an adventurer. Pro tip: keep your phone in your pocket and just let your eyes adjust to the darkness. That way, you’ll have the most chance of spying the natural marvel if it comes out. And if the lights do, prepare to be in awe of their impressive greens and purples!  

✅ Embrace the desert 

One of our newest destinations, Morocco, just so happens to be home to the Atlas Mountains. Part of the Maghreb, they separate this part of north Africa and its coastline with the Sahara – pretty epic, hey? So if you’re on a Jet2CityBreak or Jet2holiday in Marrakech, you should really go and see this mountain range. We offer experiences that make getting from A to B a cinch, and you can revel in a sense of desert life with 4x4 dune tours too.  

Try and snap pics of them if you can, where palm trees line the resorts just on the outskirts. The old Berber villages nestled within the mountains are truly charming as well, if you’re eager to up the exploration ante. 

✅ Go stargazing 

Thanks to its high-altitude peaks and low light pollution, Madeira is a bigwig for astrotourism. That’s right, if stargazing’s up there for you – quite literally – you should consider this rugged isle off the Portuguese coast your best bet. Amid the dark nights and rural locations, areas such as the Paúl da Serra are found far away from the central buzz, so they’re made for constellation spotting voyages.  

Keep your eyes peeled for the Milky Way and other celestial sights, and relish being in the moment as you stay disconnected. Like the sound of a far-flung-feeling jolly here? You can read more about its incredible draws in our Madeira rediscovered feature.  

Go on, grab that pen and paper and get your bucket list written...