bucket list travel national geographic

“National Geographic Bucket List Family Travel” – A Guide to Globetrotting with Kids

In the comprehensive guide “National Geographic Bucket List Family Travel: Share the World With Your Kids on 50 Adventures of a Lifetime,” the Gee family, also known as the Bucket List Family, shares their extensive experience and insights into traveling with children. Having explored over 90 countries, their adventures range from swimming with whales in Tonga to breakfast with giraffes in Kenya, showcasing their commitment to sharing the world’s wonders with their children.

Expert Tips and Family-Friendly Itineraries

Authored by Jessica Gee, this guide is essential for families looking to embark on their own global adventures. It offers practical advice on choosing destinations, packing, budgeting, and navigating long-haul flights with their young children. Jessica Gee’s personal anecdotes and family experiences enrich the guide, providing readers with relatable and actionable travel insights.

Diverse Destinations and Unique Experiences

The book features 50 meticulously curated itineraries for family-friendly destinations, including walking on a beach with penguins in South Africa, exploring ice castles in Utah, and experiencing the magic of Berlin’s Christmas markets. These itineraries are complemented by inspiring top-10 lists tailored to every age group, ensuring families can find destinations that resonate with their interests and desires.

The Gee Family’s Journey

Jessica Gee initially envisioned a modest amount of travel, but their journey quickly expanded into a global adventure, chronicled through their popular vlogs. Starting from Provo, Utah, the family’s openness to new experiences and cultures has taken them to corners of the world most only dream of, all while sharing their journey with millions of followers.

Embracing New Cultures and Destinations

The Gees emphasize the value of experiencing new places and cultures, a philosophy that has led them to explore more than 90 countries. Their approach to travel, focusing on new experiences over revisiting familiar destinations, has enriched their family’s life and broadened their worldview.

Practical Advice for Family Travel

“National Geographic Bucket List Family Travel” offers tangible advice for families embarking on travel. From leveraging airline deals and credit card rewards to the benefits of using travel agents, Jessica Gee shares strategies for making family travel more accessible and enjoyable.

The Impact of Travel on Child Development

The Gees believe in the developmental benefits of travel for children, highlighting how exposure to diverse cultures and people fosters a sense of common humanity and appreciation for what makes us unique. Their experiences have brought them closer to the world and changed their perspective on it, highlighting the transformative power of travel.

The Bottom Line

“National Geographic Bucket List Family Travel” is more than a travel guide; it invites families to explore the world together, creating lasting memories and fostering a deeper understanding of our global community. Through the Gee family’s experiences, readers are inspired to embark on their own adventures, armed with the knowledge and confidence to do so.

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The post “National Geographic Bucket List Family Travel” – A Guide to Globetrotting with Kids republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage .

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Monkey Business Images.

For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.

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National Geographic Bucket List Family Travel: Share the World With Your Kids on 50 Adventures of a Lifetime Kindle Edition

In this indispensable guide by the mega-popular Bucket List Family, discover expert tips for traveling with kids and 50 not-to-be-missed destination itineraries. As a family of five, the Bucket List Family has swum with whales in Tonga, slept in castles in Ireland, lived on a houseboat in Amsterdam, eaten breakfast with giraffes in Kenya, spent Halloween in Disneyland, and visited more than 90 countries around the world. Now, Jessica Gee brings her tips and tricks to you in the ultimate expert’s guide to traveling as a family. This beautifully illustrated guide provides all the know-how to fulfill your own family’s bucket list—including how-tos for picking a destination, packing, budgeting, and even surviving a 12-hour plane ride. Along with personal family anecdotes, Jess offers 50 itineraries for family-friendly destinations and inspiring top-10 lists with destinations for every age. You’ll learn everything you need to know to take a family vacation to: South Africa, where you can walk on a beach with penguinsUtah, where ice castles bring a world of magic to a vacation full of natural wondersBerlin, where holidays come to life at beloved Christmas marketsThe Galapagos, where your kids will squeal with joy as they encounter penguins and larger-than-life tortoisesAlaska, where you’ll feel you’ve gone truly wild in the last frontierAnd so much more! This insider's guide from one of the world’s most traveled families will inspire you to create new and lasting memories with your family for years to come.

• Print length 626 pages
• Language English
• Sticky notes On Kindle Scribe
• Publisher National Geographic
• Publication date February 20, 2024
• File size 510118 KB
• Page Flip Enabled
• Word Wise Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting Enabled
• See all details

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Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CT4NB8QW
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ National Geographic (February 20, 2024)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 20, 2024
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 510118 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 626 pages
• #31 in Family Travel
• #132 in Family Travel Guides
• #174 in Adventure Travel (Kindle Store)

About the author

Jessica gee.

If you would've told me 10 years ago that I'd be a National Geographic published author, I never would've believed you. I'd also think you were lying if you told me that I'd be a world traveler and would be soon be ticking off my 100th country visited WITH MY CHILDREN..? No way José!

But here I am.

In 2015 my husband, myself and our two little kids made a decision to do "a little bit of traveling" at a time in our life when we were unsure of what was next. "A little bit of traveling" turned into 3 years of full-time travel, countless flights, hundreds of hotel rooms and 90+ countries.

Over the last 8 years we've documented our family travels on social media as The Bucket List Family. My husband, Garrett is the creative mind who is always shooting for the stars. I'm the one who makes sure we all land safely back in the atmosphere. I was honored when Nat Geo asked me to write a book on family travel. I've spent the last three years putting together everything I know into a really beautiful book that I'm so proud of.

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Book Review: “National Geographic: Bucket List Family Travel” is the Family Travel Guide We Need

National Geographic: Bucket List Family Travel by Jessica Gee is the family travel guide we never knew we needed. If you are like me, the thought of traveling with kids out of town can be overwhelming, let alone interstate or overseas, so the word “travel” generally has me feeling a bit overwhelmed before I even begin. I see other families and think “how do they do it?” and not only that, but “how do they do it and enjoy it?”

Well, Jessica Gee tells you exactly how her family did it, how much it impacted their lives for the better, and more relevantly, how you can do it and make the most of it too. This book gives readers many useful tools including working out what type of traveler you are, budgeting and even navigating and cultivating important personality traits that will enhance your travel experience.

National Geographic: Bucket List Family Travel is not just one lucky family’s recap of their grand adventures – it is a starting point for all families to plan their own adventures in their own way. I found this to be the most inspirational part of the book. At the very least, it encouraged me to do some of my own research and be a bit more open-minded about what is realistically doable when it comes to travel for my family. If it worked for Jessica Gee and inspired me to even consider travel beyond grandma’s house down the road, it may work for you too.

What is National Geographic: Bucket List Family Travel about?

As a family of five, the Bucket List Family has swum with whales in Tonga, slept in castles in Ireland, lived on a houseboat in Amsterdam, eaten breakfast with giraffes in Kenya, spent Halloween in Disneyland, and visited more than 90 countries around the world. Now, Jessica Gee brings her tips and tricks to you in the ultimate expert’s guide to traveling as a family.

This beautifully illustrated guide provides all the know-how to fulfill your own family’s bucket list—including how-tos for picking a destination, packing, budgeting, and even surviving a 12-hour plane ride. Along with personal family anecdotes, Jess offers 50 itineraries for family-friendly destinations and inspiring top-10 lists with destinations for every age. You’ll learn everything you need to know to take a family vacation to, for example:

• South Africa, where you can walk on a beach with penguins
• Utah, where ice castles bring a world of magic to a vacation full of natural wonders
• Berlin, where holidays come to life at beloved Christmas markets
• The Galapagos, where your kids will squeal with joy as they encounter penguins and larger-than-life tortoises
• Alaska, where you’ll feel you’ve gone truly wild in the last frontier

This insider's guide from one of the world’s most traveled families will inspire you to create new and lasting memories with your family for years to come.

A beautifully illustrated travel bible for families who want to be inspired

True to National Geographic form, this is one lovely, polished book. It is hardcover and big enough to showcase the travel experiences therein, without being so robust or overly-large that it is difficult to wrangle (resulting in you leaving it on the coffee table just for-show). I would not, however, say it is travel-friendly, compared to smaller guides like Lonely Planet or pocket guides. It is definitely a leave-at-home guide – again, just a starting point to get the travel cogs turning – that is physically accessible and the content is also thoughtfully laid out. It is very easy to jump to exactly what you are looking for in the book at any given moment.

The book is broken down into three parts following an introduction to the Gee “Bucket List” family. The first part addresses the planning stage, including working out what type of traveler you are, where you should stay, and – a big one – money-saving tips; the second part comprises an “en route” and “on the ground” section which includes managing expectations, adjusting, staying healthy and safe, making memories, and how to have adult time; and finally, the third part is the “where to go” section which includes 50 suggested destinations to perhaps kick start your own family bucket list. This last section is further broken down into how to get there, what to do, when to visit, where to stay (which gives you luxury, comfort and budget options), and what to eat. Note that the suggested itineraries include both United States domestic and international travel destinations.  When I first saw this book, I thought it was international-only but was pleasantly surprised to discover several U.S. destinations featured, including Lake Tahoe, Zion National Park, Walt Disney World, and New York.

National Geographic: Bucket List Family Travel  is practical not just aspirational, which is important when considering travel, especially with kids. It is a great starting point which will hopefully give you the confidence boost you may need to embark on your own travel research. Overall, I enjoyed it and encourage everyone to read it, or flick through it, and build their own family bucket list in their own way. It is useful to keep in mind many important tips including when to travel, specific kid-friendly recommendations, and the do’s and do not’s which are included to not only help you keep your sanity, but ultimately, to help you make awesome memories.

Also of note is that every purchase o f National Geographic: Bucket List Family Travel helps support the global nonprofit National Geographic Society in its work to “protect and illuminate our world through exploration, research, and education.” More information on this mission can be found at natgeo.com/info

National Geographic: Bucket List Family Travel was released on February 6, 2024.

Best of the World

By: national geographic.

Each of the 1,000 bucket list-worthy trips in this sumptuous volume has been carefully vetted and selected by the celebrated travel experts at National Geographic. On every page you’ll find new ways to experience beloved destinations, such as a family-friendly tour of Rome’s beloved ruins or a foodie tour of New York City, as well as hidden gems around the globe, including a cloud forest in the mountains of Ecuador and a kite surfing excursion off the coast of Spain. Plus, find detailed road trips to places near (Charleston, South Carolina) and far (a grand tour of Switzerland), along with top 10 lists from the best ski resorts to the best green hotels. Discover majestic nature escapes, family getaways, cultural hot spots, remarkable cityscapes, and one-of-a-kind thrills in this beautifully illustrated collection that will help you find your next exhilarating destination. So get ready to pack your bags…this inspired collection will leave ready to experience the ultimate travel adventure!

Other Books by National Geographic

The 10 Best of Everything National Parks, 2nd Edition

50 States, 5,000 Facts

Sacred Places of a Lifetime, Second Edition

America the Beautiful

National Geographic Bucket List Family Travel

National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States Journal

50 States, 5,000 Ideas Journal

Photo Camp Stories

National Geographic Traveler: Alaska, 4th Edition

National Geographic Walking New York

National Geographic Walking Berlin

National Geographic Walking Venice

National Geographic Traveler: Florence and Tuscany

Great Outdoors U.S.A.

National Geographic Kids United States Atlas 7th edition

That’s Fact-tastic!

National Geographic Birder’s Life List and Journal

Women: The National Geographic Image Collection

Just Joking 7

Stargazer’s Atlas

Visual Galaxy

Complete National Parks of the United States

Treasures of Egypt

Other books ages adult.

The Inherited Mind

100 Nights of a Lifetime

100 Hotels of a Lifetime

Infinite Cosmos

National Geographic World From Above

Farewell Yellow Brick Road

Got Your Answers

The Northwomen

The Enchanters: Fairy Godmother

Upworthy – GOOD PEOPLE

A Confident Cook

The X-Files: Perihelion

Your Dark Secrets

The Book of Bill

Breaking the Dark

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21 Life-changing Trips Everyone Should Experience at Least Once

From African safaris to must-visit cities, these once-in-a-lifetime trips will make you want to plan your next great adventure.

Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure , covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer.

What's next on your travel list? With so many places worth traveling to, it can be hard to narrow down your top spots to visit.

Sometimes, it's the famous attractions, delicious food, and stunning hotels that draw us to a certain destination, and other times, it's the bragging rights that come with checking off every continent, country, or state. Whatever your motivation, we've rounded up 21 incredible trips, complete with once-in-a-lifetime experiences and iconic sights you won't find anywhere else in the world.

So, what makes a trip truly life-changing? That answer varies from traveler to traveler, but one thing is for sure: From African safaris to classic road trips, this list will make you want to plan your next great adventure.

Deciding between the historic cities of Rome, Venice, Naples, and Florence for the top destination to visit feels impossible, so the entire country of Italy deserves a spot on your list. Start in the Eternal City and head north through the rolling hills of Tuscany to visit Florence, followed by Milan or Venice, or go south to the beaches of the beautiful Amalfi Coast and Sicily.

New York, New York

Visiting the Statue of Liberty , standing at the top of the Empire State Building, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge: These are just a few of the things you can only do in New York City. Whether you dream of visiting all the places you've seen on screen, catching a Broadway show, or eating your way through the city's diverse neighborhoods, there's no doubt that NYC deserves a spot on your list.

Tokyo, Japan

Old and new come together in Japan's bustling capital city. Historic temples and shrines, busy shopping districts, delicious food, and some of the world's best theme parks and attractions — whatever your interests, there's something for you in Tokyo.

Paris, France

From watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle and viewing famous works of art at world-renowned museums to eating delicious French pastries, there are innumerable reasons that Paris deserves a spot on your list. Of course, other dreamy French destinations like Mont-Saint-Michel, Chamonix, and the Riviera are well worth a visit, too.

Busy medinas, intricate architecture, and a unique combination of cultural influences make Morocco unlike anywhere else on the planet. Whether you're traveling to bustling Marrakesh, pretty coastal cities, or remote desert towns (or hopefully, all three), a trip to Morocco is bound to be one to remember.

Monica Farber/Travel + Leisure

From the whitewashed homes of Santorini to the Ios party scene to the relaxing atmosphere of Milos, there's a perfect Greek Island for every type of traveler. Island hopping gives you the chance to experience more of what the country has to offer, but plan to spend a couple of days in Athens at the beginning and/or end of your trip.

T+L Backpack Quiz

Rory Fuller/Travel + Leisure

Machu Picchu

Seeing the historic ruins of the Incan Empire set among the breathtaking Andes at Machu Picchu is an undeniably life-changing experience. The stunning citadel ruins of Machu Picchu are worth the journey — and for some travelers, that trip, often taken by train or on foot as a multi-day trek , is a big part of the experience. Editor’s note: Machu Picchu is currently closed due to civil unrest in Peru. Visit the  official website  for the latest news and reopening details.

African Safari

Seeing majestic animals like lions, elephants, and rhinos in the wild is a dream best accomplished with an African safari . South Africa, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Kenya are among the most popular safari destinations — and in each of those countries, you'll find incredible lodges and tour operators who can help you spot these creatures in their natural habitat.

Whether you dream of cruising down the famed Nile River, seeing the Pyramids of Giza, or visiting the ancient Valley of the Kings, Egypt's historic wonders make the destination completely unique (and worthy of a spot on your travel list).

Unlike many of the action-packed trips on this list, the Maldives is synonymous with relaxation, luxury, and romance. A stay in an overwater bungalow set atop turquoise blue waters is the ultimate getaway that's worth the long-haul flight and oftentimes pricey accommodations.

Antarctica Cruise

Hoping to visit all seven continents? Cross Antarctica off your list with a cruise. Several major cruise lines have journeys to Antarctica, offering incredible views of the ice and wildlife from the comfort and safety of a ship. Travelers typically fly in and out of Buenos Aires en route to Ushuaia (where most cruises depart from); we recommend spending a few days in the fascinating Argentine city before your expedition.

Irjaliina Paavonpera/Travel + Leisure

Dubbed one of the natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef is a can't-miss for many wildlife lovers. Of course, Australia's gorgeous coastline, the iconic Sydney Opera House, and fuzzy creatures like kangaroos and koalas are also reasons to head to the destination. Fly into Sydney and spend a few days there before heading out to explore more of this expansive country teeming with natural beauty.

Galapagos Islands

Incredible and diverse plant and animal species make the Galapagos Islands another must-visit for nature-loving travelers. This stunning archipelago off the coast of Ecuador is best explored by cruise, so you can take in as many breathtaking landscapes and animals as possible during your trip.

Like the other countries on this list, India has countless destinations worth exploring, but one of the most famous attractions that travelers dream of seeing for themselves is the Taj Mahal. This 17th-century white marble mausoleum has drawn visitors to Agra for years. Luxury travelers might consider a train trip aboard the Maharajas' Express (with a stop at the Taj Mahal) as the ultimate experience. Travelers planning to visit the Taj Mahal or take the luxurious train ride will want to fly into Delhi, India's capital territory.

Petra, Jordan

The stunning ancient city of Petra is made up of several impressive structures carved into sandstone rock faces, including the famous Al-Khazneh. The city dates back thousands of years, making this UNESCO World Heritage site a must-visit for history buffs.

Passing through India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Bhutan, and Nepal, the Himalayas are home to some of the world's highest peaks — and that means breathtaking mountain views, too. For adventurous and active travelers, climbing Mount Everest (or at least trekking to Everest Base Camp) is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

American National Park Road Trip

The classic American road trip is a mainstay on many travelers' lists — and for good reason. The country's incredible national parks , including Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite, are best explored on road trips with stops at charming small towns and kitschy roadside attractions.

Great Wall of China

Stretching across China for thousands of miles, with sections dating back nearly 2,000 years, the Great Wall is regarded as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Visitors can hike along parts of the wall — some areas are located within driving distance of Beijing, so it's a perfect day trip from the city.

Easter Island

The hundreds of monolithic moai statues have drawn curious visitors to Easter Island for years. This remote Polynesian island is worth the lengthy trip for travelers hoping to see these impressive human figures, while also soaking in some incredible coastal views.

Northern Lights Trip

Catching a glimpse of the elusive northern lights is possible in several destinations close to the Arctic Circle, including Alaska, Iceland, Canada, Greenland, Finland, Sweden, and Norway. All of these places have incredible viewpoints (and even hotels where you can see the phenomenon from your bed ), in addition to great, wintry scenery. (The lights are best viewed from late fall through early spring.)

Thailand and Vietnam

A trip through Southeast Asia is a must for any traveler, especially foodies who love street eats. While you could spend weeks in each of these countries, Thailand and Vietnam can easily be paired for an exciting trip packed with lush scenery, cultural experiences, and delicious food. Have a little extra time to spare? Add Cambodia to the mix and include a visit to expansive Angkor Wat.

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Why Hollywood is obsessed with Italy

With its romantic cities, evocative landscapes, and sparkling seas, Italy has long been a screen location favorite, from Ripley to White Lotus. Here’s how to beat the set-jetting crowds when it comes to its most popular locations.

Rome, Venice, Capri — the list of locations for the new Netflix series, Ripley , reads like the recipe for a bucket-list trip through the best of Italy. Patricia Highsmith was inspired to write The Talented Mr Ripley , the book on which the series is based, during a holiday on the Amalfi Coast — and the new series looks set to inspire countless replica trips throughout Italy.

Of course, Italy has long been a star of the screen. Its ravishing landscapes, trapped-in-time cities and rich traditions make it a perfect fit for anything from Hollywood blockbusters to food documentaries.

“Italian landscapes have always been a unique attraction for international filmmakers,” says film historian Nicola Bassano. “Some of these locations have entered the imagination of millions of viewers around the world.”

The thing about Italy’s most beautiful bits, however, is that they tend to be full of other people who’ve been drawn to follow in the steps of the White Lotus cast, Sophia Loren or Tom Ripley himself.

What’s more, as Bassano notes, most foreign films about Italy “represent our country in a distorted way — something between the comic and the grotesque”. He puts it down to the influence of Federico Fellini’s Rome classic, La Dolce Vita , which gave viewers — who didn’t always realise it was a satire — an exaggerated view of the country.

Here’s how to see the most famous bits without becoming mere extras in the crowd — and how to glean authenticity in even the most overtouristed locations.

From Roman Holiday to La Grande Bellezza , the Italian capital has long been a hit on the silver screen. “It has always been a symbol of beauty, mystery and Italian-style dolce vita,” says Bassano.

In Gladiator it was the all-powerful centre of an empire . In Bicycle Thieves and other Neorealist films, it was an impoverished, postwar shell of a city. Roman Holiday centred it as a tourist destination, and La Dolce Vita cemented it in all our heads as the sensual capital where anything goes.

Following in Hollywood’s footsteps can take you back in time. In Gladiator , the Colosseum took centre stage as Maximus Decimus Meridius, played by Russell Crowe, took his final revenge in a bloody battle.

Gladiatorial combat may not have been a thing since 404 CE, when it was abolished across the Roman Empire, but even 1,600 years on you can still get an idea of what went on with an underground tour of the Colosseum , running since 2021. While most of the tourists stay upstairs, you’ll plunge into the bowels of the building, through passageways where gladiators walked, past niches where wild animals were held and lift shafts through which they were catapulted up into the arena to fight to the death in front of up to 70,000 spectators. Nearly 2,000 years since the Colosseum was at its peak, it’s still an astonishingly visceral experience.

The Spanish Steps not only featured in a pivotal scene of Roman Holiday , in which Audrey Hepburn enjoyed a gelato with Gregory Peck, but also in The Talented Mr Ripley — the 1999 Hollywood adaptation of Highsmith’s novel, which starred Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Today, they’re always packed with tourists, and eating — yes, even a gelato — is strictly banned. Instead, sink into that vintage mood with a seat next door at Babington’s Tea Rooms , which has been serving tea and cakes since 1893. Or get a prime view of the steps from the Keats-Shelley House , a bijou museum dedicated to Italy’s influence on the Romantic poets.

Forget its reputation as the city of love; from Andrew Scott gliding down the Grand Canal on a vaporetto   (water bus) in Ripley to Donald Sutherland’s fight to the death in Don’t Look Now , Venice has always been a top spot for thrillers. Although it’s one of the best-known cityscapes on the planet, La Serenissima [the most serene, a traditional nickname for Venice] has always kept its air of mystery, its canals shifting with every change of the light, and buildings disappearing as fog rolls in.

Start at Palazzo Grimani , where the denouement of Don’t Look Now was shot. Back then, in 1973, it was an abandoned mansion; today a museum, it’s as eerie as ever, with flaking 500-year-old frescoes in barely furnished rooms, and unframed paintings by grand masters perched on easels as if they’ve just been completed.

The Scuola Grande della Misericordia, which took centre stage in the Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp thriller The Tourist , isn’t usually open to visitors. Instead, head to the Scuola Grande di San Rocco , decorated from floor to ceiling by artist Tintoretto and known as Venice’s Sistine Chapel. For extra movie points, make for the Lido — the city’s long sandbar island with sugar-soft beaches. Dirk Bogarde breathed his last here in Death in Venice ; today, the Venice Film Festival revolves around the swanky Excelsior hotel, where you can grab a movie-themed drink overlooking the Adriatic.

Cinque Terre

For Bassano, there’s just one problem with seeing Italy on film: foreign directors tend to view it through a saccharine-slicked lens. “Continual references to food, noisy neighbourhood markets full of people gesticulating — the American vision of Italy is far from reality,” he says. “We get imprisoned in the same old stereotypes of the Bel Paese (beautiful country, a nickname used by Dante in the Divine Comedy ) as a place to ‘eat, pray and love’.”

For a more authentic experience, he advises, head to Cinque Terre — the five famous cliff-wedged fishing villages surrounded by a national park in Liguria. Leonardo di Caprio floated around this coastline in   Wolf of Wall Street , but for Bassano, the film that best typifies the area is Disney Pixar’s 2021 movie, Luca . Director Enrico Casarosa is Ligurian and spent childhood summers here.

2024 sees the reopening of the Via dell’Amore , the most famous of Cinque Terre’s many footpaths. Closed since a landslide in 2012, it winds around the cliff, connecting picture-perfect villages Riomaggiore and Manarola. Access — planned from July — will be by guided tour only, giving visitors background on Cinque Terre’s history and still tight-knit communities. And while most visitors crowd out the villages, head into the hills and you’ll find around 75 miles of panoramic footpaths crisscrossing the cliffsides.

You’ll also want to swap the cliche spritz for a glass of local wine. The villagers have spent the past 1,000 years terracing and taming the sheer cliffs to produce mineral, saline whites that bring Cinque Terre’s vertiginous landscapes to life with every sip. Try them on the clifftop at Riomaggiore’s A Pié de Ma , or with a slice of focaccia under fairy light-lit lemon trees at romantic A Piè de Campu .

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