I traveled to all 7 continents in one year. Here are 3 countries I'm dying to visit again — and 2 I'd skip next time.

After visiting all seven continents in a year, I'd go back to countries like Australia and Turkey, but I'd skip return trips to places like Japan.

Apr 16, 2025 - 20:53

I traveled to all 7 continents in one year. Here are 3 countries I'm dying to visit again — and 2 I'd skip next time.

Author Jenna DeLaurentis smiling on the Amalfi Coast — I spent a year visiting all seven continents, and some countries stood out to me more than others.
Jenna DeLaurentis

I traveled to every continent in a year. Some countries won me over more than others.
Countries like Australia and Argentina were my favorites to visit, and I'd happily go back.
I'd skip returning to Ghana or Japan and instead visit other places on their respective continents.

Between October 2023 and September 2024, I visited all seven continents.

I had been to most continents, like Europe, several times before, but it was my first time visiting Australia and Antarctica.

During the year, I visited new-to-me countries like Vanuatu, and I also stuck to tried-and-true favorites like Italy and Spain.

All in all, I visited 18 countries. Three were my favorite stops, but there are two I'd skip on my next trip around the world.

I loved visiting Australia.

Author Jenna DeLaurentis scuba diving in great barrier reef — I had fun scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef.
Jenna DeLaurentis

I kicked off my year of travel with a visit to Australia. I was blown away by the country's landscapes, both above and below the water.

I loved getting to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef, where I swam with turtles, friendly sharks, and thousands of colorful fish.

The highlight of my visit to the country, however, was a the-day stay in the Australian Outback. I was especially astonished by the cultural significance of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, home to cave drawings estimated to be nearly 30,000 years old.

Even still, I feel like there's so much more I want to see in Australia.

I can't wait to return to Argentina.

Buenos Aires, Argentina — Argentina won me over in a short period of time.
Jenna DeLaurentis

South America is my favorite region of the world, and a short visit to Argentina had me longing for more.

From Patagonia's iconic hiking trails to Buenos Aires' late-night dining scene to Mendoza's picturesque vineyards, Argentina offers an ideal blend of everything I love about South America.

After Australia, I headed to Argentina to board an expedition cruise to Antarctica. Before embarking, I made time to quickly see some of the country's highlights.

I explored the café culture of Buenos Aires, indulging in delectable alfajores, which are shortbread-like cookies filled with creamy dulce de leche. Later, I headed to the world's southernmost city, Ushuaia, and hiked through Tierra del Fuego National Park.

My short, four-day visit to Argentina barely scratched the surface, and I can't wait to plan another trip back.

Turkey was amazing, too.

Hot air balloons above Cappadocia, Turkey. — I saw hot-air balloons in Cappadocia, Turkey.
Jenna DeLaurentis

Turkey quickly became one of my favorite countries during my visit to all seven continents.

Its major city Istanbul was a gift to my senses. Labyrinthine bazaars took me back in time, while modern, jam-packed shopping centers were just a few blocks away.

Visiting the Cappadocia region left me further impressed as I watched a dazzling display of hot-air balloons fly over the unique landscape and rock formations.

Also, booking a traditional cave hotel is a must-do in the region — it's as cozy as it is magical. Overall, there's so much I'd love to revisit and still explore in Turkey.

However, I'd skip Ghana next time.

Beach at Ezile Bay Ecolodge in Akwidaa, Ghana — I stopped at Ezile Bay Ecolodge in Akwidaa, Ghana.
Jenna DeLaurentis

To visit all seven continents in one year, I needed to plan a trip to Africa. Having previously traveled to Egypt and Morocco, I visited Ghana to try something new.

During my 10-day trip, I hopped along the coast to busy cities and off-the-grid beach towns. I was in awe of the organized chaos of Ghana's markets and I appreciated how the cuisine featured textures and flavors completely foreign to my American palate.

A visit to its Cape Coast Castle, used in the Atlantic slave trade, was both heavy and insightful. It was one of the most perspective-shifting moments during my entire year of travel.

Despite loving my trip to Ghana, I feel I saw most of the country's main tourist attractions in one visit. On my next trip to the African continent, I might visit somewhere like Tanzania or South Africa instead.

If I'm in Asia, I'd rather go back to South Korea instead of Japan.

Author Jenna DeLaurentis with bike in Osaka, Japan — I rode a bicycle around Osaka in Japan.
Jenna DeLaurentis

I had high expectations for my trip to Japan, but I think I'd skip the country next time I head to Asia.

My final trip of the year was to South Korea and Japan, where I traveled by bicycle to lesser-visited regions of each country. After over 600 miles of riding, I found I preferred South Korea to the latter.

Not only did I think South Korea had better bicycle infrastructure, with car-free bike paths spanning much of the country, but also I preferred the country's cuisine, weather, and culture.

Japan's temples and cities were awe-inspiring, but the oppressive summer heat made exploring miserable.

Additionally, as a vegetarian, I found the country's cuisine options limited as many focused on fresh seafood. On the contrary, I loved South Korea's spicy dishes and communal dining culture.

I'm not opposed to visiting Japan again in the future, although certainly not in the summer. Regardless, I'd probably pick South Korea instead if I'm in Asia.

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