Who said the thing to do after college graduation was to dive headfirst into a full-time job? Plant some roots and work the 9 to 5 grind until your hands are wrinkled and withered? Your gut tells you there’s more out there, an entire world to be discovered.
You’ve spent endless nights in the library over the last few years, and you’ve worked harder than you’ve ever worked—now is the time to give yourself a little freedom to spread your wings. But with the world at your fingertips and countless options for an adventure, you’re wondering, where should I go?
The best places to travel after college are countries that give you an opportunity for a grand adventure while also offering you experiences for growth and learning. Here’s everything you need to know about where to travel after college. Let yourself be inspired and say hello to wanderlust!
Should I travel after college?
Now is the ideal time to feed your wanderlust.
Honestly, there’s no better time to travel than post-graduation. Without roots or responsibilities, you can travel far and wide without anything holding you back. And while you learned a lot during college from hitting the books, traveling is a totally different kind of learning experience that complements everything you studied in college.
Traveling allows you the chance to apply your knowledge to real life while also learning more about yourself and the world and broadening your perspective. It’s an excellent resume booster that will make it easy to find a job when you return home—or even start looking in a different country—and you may find that travel is exactly what you need to open doors you never even knew were there, leading you into your next chapter of life.
Travel will have you returning home or finding a home elsewhere with a better sense of who you are, what you want to do, and where you’d like to head next.
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10 Best Places to Travel After College
Adventure awaits when you explore the best places to travel after college.
Quite possibly, the most difficult part of planning your post-grad trip is narrowing down where to go after college graduation. The world is at your fingertips—how do you choose? While there are endless options out there, here are some of the best places to travel after college that will give you that killer combo of adventure and learning experience while also being affordable for a college grad:
1. Australia
One of the best places to travel after college is to the “Land Down Under.” Australia isn’t all kangaroos, snakes, and killer spiders. This island continent in the Southern Hemisphere is full of lively cities, coastal oases, some of the oldest living rainforests in the world, and a rich indigenous history, making it a hot spot for every kind of traveler.
Australia is a safe country with no language barrier, other than a little Aussie slang, but the best part is their working holiday visa program that allows you to work while traveling. While the country is more expensive than others, the working holiday visa encourages you to work for six months, save up money, and travel for the rest.
Depending on your nationality, you may even be able to do farm work in rural Australia, get a taste of country life, and gain a second year for your visa. The working holiday visa is only available to those under the age of 35, so traveling post-college is the way to go.
What to do there: au pair, working holiday visa, scuba diving
2. New Zealand
New Zealand’s otherworldly landscapes make it a great place to travel.
Want to travel down under, but your gut says Australia isn’t your place? Why not explore its tiny island neighbor? New Zealand doesn’t offer the stereotypical “island experience” of warm weather and tropical beaches that you think of when it comes to island life, but it does offer a slowed-down lifestyle and gorgeous scenery that feels totally unreal.
Like Australia, New Zealand offers a working holiday visa program, making it easy to travel while also making money to fund your trip. It’s even safer than Australia, with friendly locals and none of the killer wildlife you’ll find in the Aussie outback.
But most importantly, it offers a unique travel experience you won’t find anywhere else. New Zealand is a dream for nature and adventure lovers with its snowy mountains, pristine turquoise lakes, epic glaciers, and unreal skiing and hiking trails. Rent a van and road trip around the North and South Islands for an adventure of a lifetime.
What to do there: ski instructor, working holiday, adventure travel
3. Canada
Canada is another excellent option when exploring where to go after college. For Americans who want an international experience without the expensive plane ticket, Canada is a go-to, but it also draws travelers from all over the world with a similar working holiday visa program for those under 30.
When most people think of Canada, they may think of maple syrup and powdery ski slopes. The truth is Canada is a huge country with different cultural experiences from coast to coast.
Visit Montreal, where you’ll hear the song of the French language in your ears while exploring cobblestoned streets, French architecture, and French-inspired food. Hit up Toronto if you’re a hockey fan who craves the busyness of city life. Or get lost in Vancouver for the most picturesque mountain backdrops and a thriving arts scene. It’s the perfect place for nature lovers and adventurers alike.
What to do there: ski instructor, wilderness programs, working holiday
4. Costa Rica
If you’re chasing adventure, you’ll want to check out Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is considered one of the happiest, most relaxed places in the world. After all, their motto is “pura vida,” or “pure life,” symbolizing the simple, joyful outlook Costa Ricans have on life. Why wouldn’t you want to melt into that kind of lifestyle post-college?
Costa Rica is a dream come true for those who love nature, with its tropical weather and lush rainforests. It’s also a hub for adrenaline junkies who want to surf, zip line, trek, or white water raft their way through a gap year.
It’s one of the best places to travel after college if you want to brush up on your Spanish skills or get your rush of adrenaline while settling into island life. While Costa Rica has a fairly high cost of living, most gap year programs will have you living with a local host family, so you can save money and get a fully immersive travel and cultural experience.
What to do there: adventure travel, animals
5. Mexico
Wondering where to go after college for a completely new country and culture without days of jetlag? Mexico is the place for you. For those traveling from the United States, Mexico is easy to get to while offering a completely new travel experience—and it’s so much more than your cliched “spring break” destination.
Mexico is a hotspot for beautiful beach clubs but boasts rich architecture, art, music, food, and museums. Travelers can hit up the coasts or adventure through mountains and cenotes.
You can visit local villages to fully immerse yourself in the Spanish language or explore indigenous and colonial influences in cities like Oaxaca. Mexico is also inexpensive, making it an ideal travel destination after years of hitting the books.
What to do there: learn Spanish, volunteering, animals
6. Thailand
You can’t beat Thailand for a post-college travel destination.
If you’re looking for affordable places to travel after college, Southeast Asia might just be your dream destination. Thailand is one of the most beautiful countries in Southeast Asia, attracting many travelers looking for a post-grad adventure.
Not only is Thailand extremely cheap to live in and travel around, but it’s also close to so many other Southeast Asian countries. You’ll get to explore lots of different cultures, foods, languages, and connections.
In Thailand, you can get lost in the busy city and vibrant nightlife in Bangkok, slow down to island time off of both coastlines, or immerse yourself in the northern mountains of Chiang Mai, full of markets, art, and temples unlike anywhere else in the world. Thailand is also a hotspot for volunteers, with endless opportunities to travel meaningfully and give back to the community.
What to do there: teach abroad, volunteering, animals
7. Vietnam
Vietnam is another one of the best places to travel after college if you want that Southeast Asian experience. Similar to Thailand, Vietnam is affordable, with a diverse culture and history that will broaden your perspective on life.
While it’s easy to travel around Vietnam and to surrounding countries, English is widely spoken, and the locals are welcoming to travelers, it’s a little less popular than Thailand. That makes it an ideal location for those who want to take the road less traveled.
Vietnam offers a little something for every traveler: the industrial and culturally rich city of Ho Chi Minh, the French-inspired Hoi An with its cobbled streets that are best explored by bike, or the magical Halong Bay where you can take a boat cruise through unreal limestone islets rising from the sea. Vietnam is perfect for adventurers, as well as those wanting to volunteer abroad.
What to do there: volunteering, adventure travel, teach abroad
8. Italy
There’s nothing quite as iconic as a gap year in Italy.
If you’re looking for a post-college trip that is full of romance, mouthwatering food, and rich art and culture, Italy is the place for you. While Europe can be more expensive than other gap year destinations, some places are just worth it.
If you’re feeling down about leaving college life, Italy will fill that void with its Renaissance art, delicious locally-made wine and pasta, and gorgeous Italian countryside and vineyards. You’ll have endless options to explore based on your budget.
If you want to save some money, you may skip Rome and head north to Florence, where you can have the best panini for only a few euros, spend your afternoons in the Boboli Gardens, or hop on a train to picturesque Cinque Terre for the day. Italy is also located right in the heart of Europe, giving you access to neighboring countries for extended travel.
What to do there: art, au pair, history
9. Spain
Imagine a place where you can sip sangria, fiesta every night, and practice those high school and college Spanish skills in real life while you’re at it. Spain is another one of the best places to travel after college, and for good reason.
Spain is slightly more affordable than many of its neighboring countries, making it easier to explore the country to its fullest, as well as the rest of Europe if you desire. It offers Spanish language immersion, while also being relatively easy to get by with English if you need it.
Spain also has mild to warmer weather that you can enjoy most months of the year. Whether you want to get lost in the whimsical Gaudi architecture of Barcelona, go tapas hopping through the capital city of Madrid, or soak in the warmth of the sunshine beneath orange trees in Seville, Spain is a dream for all kinds of travelers.
What to do there: learn Spanish, internships, study abroad
10. South Africa
From cities to nature, South Africa has something for every traveler.
Wondering where to travel after college for a truly unique, off-the-beaten-path experience? South Africa appeals to travelers post-college with its rich cultural diversity, breathtaking landscapes, and unique blend of adventure and slowness.
The vibrant cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg offer a mix of history, arts, and thriving nightlife, making it perfect for those who want both a learning experience and entertainment. Its natural wonders, from the iconic Table Mountain to Kruger National Park, offer adventure junkies the chance to hike and safari through the country.
And the low cost of living makes it relatively easy to explore once you’re on the ground. South Africa will give you a truly unique experience of cultural immersion while quenching your thirst for adventure.
What to do there: teach abroad, internships, animals
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Figure out your next move while traveling after college!
There’s truly no better time to travel than after college graduation, and the beauty of choosing it now is that it offers that opportunity for personal growth, adventure, and cultural immersion that will complement your academic achievements like nothing else. As you step out of the college environment, the world awaits diverse experiences that can broaden your perspective, provide valuable life skills, and enhance your resume for when you return. So, don’t be afraid to venture into the unknown and explore the world before planting your roots.
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