10 Bucket List Destinations for Canadians in 2022

Sorrento is almost exactly what you picture when someone says, "coastal town in Italy". This highlight on the Amalfi Coast is mostly perched high above the Bay of Naples, with a few beaches and marinas down by the waterline.

The historical heart of the town is a web of narrow alleys broken up with café-line piazzas. Head to Piazza Tasso for a morning coffee served with sweeping views over the glittering sea and the sensation of playing a starring role in Eat, Pray, Love. From there, take a walk around the beautiful historical buildings, stopping by the peaceful cloisters of the 14^th-century Chiesa di San Francesco when you want a break from the bustle. Sounds idyllic, right? Read more

Santorini has been one of the most popular destinations for avid Instagrammers for years now, and it never seems to lose its charm. The most iconic shot, which you've probably seen dozens of times already, is the sunset seen from the village of Oia. The pictures don’t do it justice.

This volcanic island in the Aegean Sea is famous for all sorts of reasons, from signature wines and colourful beaches to blue-domed old churches and a lively party scene in the capital, Thera. However, all of those features pale in comparison to the stunning views across the caldera from the high, sheer cliffs around its edge. Read more

London has been a hub of world history for centuries – a point perfectly illustrated by the sheer quantity of museums, monuments and famous sights. The list of iconic places includes the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Marble Arch, Hyde Park, Shakespeare’s Globe, The British Museum – the list goes on and on and on.

There's more to London than just its history, though. It almost feels like the word 'bustling' was invented to describe the UK capital, which has world-famous dining, shopping and nightlife scenes as well as an ever-growing list of modern attractions. Be sure to check out the displays in Harrods, catch a West End show, ride the London Eye – even riding a black cab is considered a must-do. Read more

Paris is one of those destinations that's on pretty much everyone's bucket list. It fully deserves its reputation as the City of Lights, not to mention the City of Love. And food. And fashion. And history.

The list of top highlights in Paris is like a list of some of the world’s most iconic sights: the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, the Louvre, Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge, the banks of the River Seine – virtually every street corner has something to see. Read more

The Costa del Sol is a sun worshipper's paradise, as shown in its name – the Sunshine Coast. It's home to over 150 km of Mediterranean shoreline, most of which consists of white-sand beaches. Highlights include the beaches around Marbella, Malaga and Benalmádena.

Of course, the Costa del Sol is not just a long strip of sand. The towns listed above also boast charming historical districts, thriving nightlife, cheerful cafés and great resorts – everything you need for a carefree vacation, in fact. If you fancy a bit of a challenge, the whole shoreline is backed by rugged mountains that are crisscrossed with hiking trails and viewpoints. Read more

Amsterdam certainly ranks among the quirkiest cities in Europe, if not the world. Even the houses are odd, being mostly very tall but very narrow – a result of a 17^th-century tax code that charged by the width of your home. Then, there are the iconic canals, originally built as defensive barriers around what was once the continent’s economic powerhouse. And that’s before we touch on the “coffeehouse” culture.

There are plenty of down-to-earth features of Amsterdam that make it a must-visit, of course. Its long and vibrant history has left its mark in the shape of iconic establishments like the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House. The nightlife is also very famous and worth checking out. Read more

Dubai is arguably what you get when a country has more money than it knows what to do with, but the result has to be seen to be believed. The landscape is peppered with iconic displays of engineering ingenuity, from the manmade peninsula of The Palm to the stratosphere-scraping Burj Khalifa to the faintly bizarre Ski Dubai – yes, a real-snow artificial ski slope in the desert, because why not?

Of course, you can’t spend an entire vacation wandering around the city in a state somewhere between awe and bemusement. There are some fantastic beaches on the Arabian Gulf, seemingly endless high-end shopping malls and vibrant dining and nightlife scenes to enjoy, too. And if you want to get away from city life for a while, the open desert is barely 30 km away, where you’ll find dune-bashing and desert camps. Read more

Maui is the wilder of the Hawaiian islands, earning it the title of “the Valley Isle”. Unlike the more famous O’ahu, it has virtually no major cities – the biggest is Kahului, which has a barely 6% of Honolulu's population. If you're looking for a place to escape into nature for a while, this is definitely it.

The highlights of Maui include one of the world’s largest dormant volcano craters in the Haleakala National Park, the stunning coastline along the Road to Hana, the black-sand beaches of Waianapanapa State Park and the white-sand beaches of Makena Beach State Park. Even the seas around the island are worth exploring, with great windsurfing found off Ho’okipa Beach and beautiful marine wildlife to discover on snorkelling and diving trips. And the great thing is, being natural attractions, most of the island’s top spots are free to visit. Read more

Aruba is a scenic island country in the Caribbean, one that’s ringed with gorgeous white-sand beaches and clear, warm seas. Eagle Beach, Baby Beach and Arashi Beach are among its most significant shorelines, but there are many natural wonders to discover throughout your vacation.

If you’re feeling adventurous, Aruba’s various caves – with their striking stalactites, stalagmites, and even ancient paintings – are certainly worth a visit. If not, the small towns with their old Dutch colonial buildings might be more your thing, especially since some serve up the tasty local cuisine, which combines European and Creole influences. Read more

The Maldives is the archetype for glamourous desert island destinations around the world. Despite being a small country in terms of both landmass and population, its sheer natural beauty means that it punches well above its weight.

In terms of stuff to actually do when you get there…well, just being there is the whole point. The sugar-white beaches and breathtakingly clear water make it an amazing beach destination, with great snorkelling and scuba diving sites to discover. Book a fancy hotel on a faraway island and let the worries of the world wash away with the tide.