“How many countries have you visited?” This is a question I get often. Honestly, I don’t know the answer. It doesn’t matter. The world isn’t a checklist.
Counting countries has never appealed to me. When I visit a new country, it’s not another trophy for the shelf but an opportunity to experience the world in a different way. It’s a chance to have fun, learn, and explore! Travel is about embracing new experiences and allowing them to shift my perspective, not collecting countries. The positive impacts international travel has had on my life will never be found in the answer to the question, “how many countries have you visited?” Ever.
You’ll have more memorable, life-changing experiences by being present wherever you find yourself than someone who runs through the world just checking items off a list. If you’ve been a part of conversations about counting countries and walked away feeling “less than” or like you’ve missed something, you haven’t. Counting countries is only one way of approaching travel and it completely disregards some of the biggest things that make travel worthwhile.
In this article, we’re going to dig into why the number of countries you’ve visited doesn’t matter. We’ll talk about better ways to spend your time and energy when you travel and the reasons why revisiting destinations is valuable too. Let’s explore!
***This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase using the link, I receive a small commission at no additional charge to you. This helps me keep the lights on around here. 🙂 I ONLY recommend products and services I personally use and love. ***
There’s beauty to be found everywhere. Don’t turn the world into a checklist.
Answering this question with a simple number implies that the three nights I’ve spent in the entire country of Spain is the same as the two months and multiple visits to the one city of Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina. This is a ridiculous comparison.
Viewing travel as a list of countries to be counted also assumes that I’ve seen all of Bosnia & Herzegovina because I’ve spent so much time in one city. False! There’s always more to see and experience, no matter how many times you’ve been to a country.
Focusing on the world as one giant checklist to be completed diminishes the beautiful differences that exist between destinations. It turns the world into a one-dimensional experience, like counting how many different types of cereal you’ve tasted. This approach mutes the colors of the rich, layered tapestry of people and cultures that make up the world!
I don’t care how many countries you’ve visited or how many perfect Instagram photos you’ve managed to capture. I want to know how the experience changed you. What did you learn about yourself? About the place and the people who live there? How are you a better human for the experience? That’s what really matters.
What to Do Instead of Counting Countries
If you want to count something, count moments that leave you speechless with awe!
Instead of measuring your “success” in travel by how many countries you’ve visited, measure it by the moments that leave you breathless with wonder, make you feel alive, and remind you of the tiny little place you occupy in this great big world. If you do that, you will travel well, my friend!
Make it your purpose to connect and learn. Measure the value of your travels by the number of meaningful conversations you have with people who live there and your ability to see how much more we are like than different. If you’re a nature-lover like me, chase the moments where you completely lose yourself in the beauty of a stunning vista or in the pristine turquoise water lapping at your feet. These are the experiences that make travel worthwhile and life-affirming.
When you come home, how many times do you find yourself reminiscing about the incredible meal you had in that funky little hole in the wall or the random open-air concert you stumbled upon? Memories like these are worth so much more than a simple checkmark on a list. If you want to count something, count these.
The Joy of Revisiting A Destination
Going back to a place to explore more has value too! Trying all the Scotch on Islay in 2018.
The question, “how many countries have you visited?” will never take into account the value of returning to a destination. Unless you have months to spend in a country, you’ll never see all of the good stuff in one trip. Never!
Here’s an example -- I’ve been to Scotland four different times now. Each visit was completely unique, because of who I was traveling with and the experiences we were seeking. While I always want to revisit a few favorite spots, I’ve always explored new parts of the country too. Every single time, I learned something new about the history, culture, and myself in the process. My love and understanding for Scotland has grown deeper with every return trip! Even now, there’s still so much more I want to see. I plan to return over and over again until I’ve had my fill!
When you revisit a place that’s captured your heart, you gain more perspective. Typically, you’re just scratching the surface on your first visit! Getting to really know a place takes time. There is no shortcut. Visiting a certain number of countries as a measure of travel experience or expertise doesn’t leave room for any of these elements.
Also, it’s totally fine to visit a place once and never return. I’ve done plenty of that! There’s no one right way to travel and counting countries isn’t a measure of quality or success. If you love a place and want to go back, do it! If you’re ready to see somewhere new, do it! Follow your joy, not the crowd.
Indie Travelers Won’t Ask, “How Many Countries Have You Visited?”
Goofing off at the Spy Museum in Berlin. It’s not about how many places you go but the memories you make!
One of the things I love most about indie travelers is that they don’t care how many places you’ve visited. We want to hear about moments that made you laugh until you cried (like we were after taking this photo) and the ones that took your breath away. We want to know what you loved most about the destination and if you want to go back.
Your country count is completely irrelevant! For us, travel isn’t about showing off your luxurious accommodation or proving that you’re the most extreme budget traveler by sleeping at the bus station. It’s about fun, exploration, and connection! Travel isn’t a competition, it’s an experience.
Let's Connect!
If you’ve made it this far, I’m going to assume that you’re an indie traveler too! Below are a handful of my great resources to help you create your ultimate travel experience.
- Planning: Here’s a complete guide to planning your Europe trip. I’ve recently come across this planning site, Stippl that’s helpful for organizing all your routes and reservations!
- Flights: Skyscanner is my favorite for searching and here’s an article with tips for helping you find cheap flights to anywhere you want to go.
- Accommodations: Booking.com is the best resource I’ve found, especially for Europe. Here’s a guide to the different types of accommodations and how to choose the best ones for you.
- Guidebooks: DK Eyewitness guides are the ones I love best. Here’s a collection of them for European destinations. If you’re interested in visiting the Balkans, here’s a guide for planning your trip to that part of Europe.
Now get out there. The world is waiting for you!
Your Turn
What are your thoughts on counting countries? What inspires you to travel if it isn’t checking off a list of places?
Share your thoughts in the comments!
Get new posts, travel deals, and inspiration right to your inbox!
Now I NEED to go to the Spy Museum in Berlin.
And it’s all your fault.
YES! We just saw a sticker somewhere as we were walking around the city and thought it sounded like fun. It totally was! Add it to your list!
Thanks Annie..!
Yes it is absolutely true…to travel is not about how many places we go – it is about the memories we make- have /and keep in our heart…..
Agree! Travel is not a competition. It’s all about learning, finding joy, and understanding the world around us just a little bit better. 🙂
YASSSSS! So much THIS! As an MK who grew up half my childhood in Jamaica, I love this perspective. Travel is not about checking things off your list, it’s about experiencing different places and peoples and learning all the fun things there are to learn!
100% agree! I’m so glad to hear this resonated with you!!
I completely agree with you. I also feel that it is okay to decide to spend 4 days in a place, even if most itineraries mention 2. I am okay skipping another place in the country for the extra 2 days here.
I genuinely believe that less is more.
I totally agree! Indie travel is all about doing it your way, regardless of what influencers, guidebooks, or the industry has to say about it.
I loved this post! Sometimes I feel as if I haven’t traveled enough, but you are right! It is all about the moments that make you laugh (and sometimes cry!). Thank you for sharing!
Ah, I’m so glad to hear this was a good reminder that it’s not about how many places you’ve been but the incredible moments you’ve experienced! Adventure on, my friend. 🙂
I couldn’t agree more! I did get caught up in counting countries when I first started traveling a lot. But soon that felt very empty and meaningless. Depth and slow travel is what matters. Connecting with the local culture and people. Really getting to know the place and the people. Perhaps learning the language if you stay long enough. And perhaps letting the place change you for the better.
I love that perspective! If people want to count countries, that’s fine, but it’s important to keep things in perspective. Connection and getting to know a place are what really make travel worthwhile!
I love this post! Sure, there are a lot of places around the world that I want to visit so I want to go to as many countries as possible, but the more I traveled the more I wanted to return to places I’ve already been and the more I fell in love with the idea of slow travel. I’d rather stay somewhere for a long time and really get to know it than to hop from country to country for a number rather than for an experience.
YES! I totally agree! There are SO many places I still want to visit and others I can’t imagine not returning to. I know there’s no way I’ll get to it all in this lifetime and that’s okay. It’s about making the most of the places I DO get to go! 🙂
That’s quite true! Although I love the fact to be able to visit new countries, I also like to cherish each trip and remember every discovery. It’s like when someone asks me what is my favorite country: it’s impossible to answer only one!
Yes! Visiting a new place is so much fun! But it’s the experience that matters, not just saying you went somewhere new. I think that’s the point that gets missed sometimes. I agree — that’s an impossible question to answer, though I do have a top 2 (for now).
I actually have no idea how many countries I’ve been to. I never count them because I prefer to just enjoy myself rather than counting my trips.
Same, same, same! I counted them once when I was teaching so I could play a fun game with my students, but that was in 2015! Lol!
I’ve been to London countless times and find something new every time. As a teenager, I met a group of Australians in a youth hostel in the Lake District who were doing the whole of the UK in 6 days and I did wonder how much they were going to get to experience other than the travel between sights. Slow travel is the most likely to give you memories to cherish.
YES! I feel the same way about the places I keep going back to. I always find something new to love!
Love the concept of this post! As I continue on in my travel journey, I’m more interested in drilling down and having meaningful experiences in each place as opposed to a checklist, as you said. Great insight.
I totally agree. Of course I want to visit new places, but it’s not about checking off a list. It’s because I want to experience a new culture, make new connections, and better understand the world as a whole!
I could not agree with you more! And I love returning to places that capture my heart!
Ah, yes! The joy of returning to places we’ve already fallen in love with is just as incredible as seeing somewhere new. <3
Agree with you. Visiting a country is about discovering that country, getting experiences and making memories. It shouldn’t be about how full your passport is but the memories and the connections you have made during your travels.
Absolutely! It’s not a competition. It’s all abut the experience and making memories! 🙂