Netherland was exactly the 35th foreign country that I’ve visited. This number made me reflect on all these countries and I had a very difficult time making a picking between them. For this reason, I developed a rating system to make the ranking as objective as possible. Despite the system, the ratings remain subjective, based on my experience and the general information I have about these countries. Each of them is rated from 1 to 10 in seven main categories: People (hospitality and behavior), Architecture, Nature, Cleanliness, General atmosphere for the occasion, Tradition/History and Food. For a complete list of 35 countries, click here. All these categories are combined to give a grand total, where the countries with the highest scores are ranked as follows:
5. Turkey
In fifth place is Turkey with 54 points out of 70. It is the first foreign country that I have visited. I was only 5 years old during the trip and all I remember is the sentiment and the games I played with other children. Then I visited it again in 2009 with my parents. That’s when I confirmed that Istanbul is truly the capital of the world. You have an authentic representation of almost every culture and anyone can find themselves in this city. Turkey is rated 7 for People and Cleanliness. Also, Nature and Food are rated 7. It offers exciting landscapes and entire coastlines washed by 4 seas. Of course you can find very good alternatives to eat, but Turkish cuisine is generally heavy. The Architecture and the General atmosphere are rated 8. The fabulous mosques, but also the recent archaeological excavations are rare. For this and for the legendary history it carries, I have rated it 10 points in terms of Tradition/History.
4. Spain
We jump to the Iberian Peninsula. Even though I only visited Barcelona and I rated people 6 and the cleanliness with an 8, Spain managed to take fourth place. The architecture is fantastic, not only in Barcelona, but almost everywhere, especially in the southern area. The nature is also not far behind, with a warm climate and many beaches. With a long coastline and favorable geography, Spain was one of the pioneers of exploration. For these reasons, I rated it with 9 points in terms of architecture, nature, tradition/history and overall rating. The only area where Spain has an undisputed maximum rating is the food. With “paella” at the top, every dish served in Spain was absolutely delicious.
3. Portugal
Portugal also won my heart at the first time. Ranked third, it is one of the few countries that I can’t wait to return and explore more. Portugal’s nature and cleanliness received 8 points. People, architecture, tradition/history and general atmosphere were rated with 9 points. When I visited in spring 2018, people gave me a sense of happiness and optimism. Back then the weather was wonderful and it was only in the early stages of popularity. The architecture is a marriage of many styles, yet it still manages to create its own identity. The colorful tiles in different angles make you smile every time you see them. Portugal was also one of the first explorers and as a result, a country with a rich history. Finally, it is rated 10 for its amazing food. In the alleys of Lisbon, I ate the most delicious mango mousse in the world.
2. Colombia
In 2023, I visited South America for the first time and Colombia, which takes second place. The adventures of that trip still fill my heart today. Colombia is rated 7 for cleanliness and architecture. In big cities with millions of inhabitants, it is difficult to maintain great cleanliness. The architecture, although very interesting, was repetitive. In general, all the villages and towns had the same layout and similar styles. Tradition and history keep the curiosity alive at all times and for this they get 9 points. People, nature, food and general atmosphere, all get an absolute 10. There I found myself next to people who were willing to go above and beyond to help you. Nature was a fairytale. Colombia offers endless forests, beaches, natural parks, waterfalls and caves. Even inside the cities you could find a small jungle, with trees several meters high. The food, although different from the Mediterranean and Turkish taste that I am used to, was very tasty. Above all, the exotic fruits were a delight and easily accessible anytime.
1. Italy
The first place belongs to Italy alone, with 64 points out of 70. I visited Rome for the first time in 2019 and then Milan, Rimini, Bologna and Florence. I rated Italy with 9 in terms of people and architecture. It is a place where you always feel at home. People are very polite. The architecture leaves you speechless. Something tasteful and very original. It makes you feel like you are part of a Cinecittà film all the time. Nature and cleanliness are rated with an 8, based on my visits. The categories that make Italy dominate over other countries are tradition/history, food and general atmosphere. An place where everything tastes and tells a story.
I also want to mention two countries that have left an impression on me, but due to low scores in architecture and cleanliness, they never managed to rank in the ‘Top 5′. They are Kenya and Uganda. I wrote articles with the experiences of those trips, so I won’t go into them here. However, I want to say that a trip to East Africa can change your life.
Each of these countries has its own uniqueness and beauty. Through this rating system, I have summarized some of the best places to travel, but ultimately, each country has something special to offer. What makes a destination unforgettable is not just the architecture or the food, but the emotions and memories we create during the trip.
