7 Best Countries for First-Time Travelers (and 6 to Skip for Now)

Your first trip abroad doesn’t need to be the most exotic or far-flung, but it can be super fulfilling to stretch your comfort zone a bit. The best beginner destinations blend culture and adventure with comfort and an infrastructure that’s set up for tourism. Here are our favorite spots that we found to be easy to navigate but also different enough from our own environment to provide an exciting international experience. Plus, we’ll share some destinations we loved but recommend saving for later once you’ve got a few passport stamps under your belt.

✅ Best Countries for First-Time Travelers

1. Portugal

• Why it works: Safe, welcoming, affordable, and full of character.
• Getting around: Excellent public transit, walkable cities.
• Highlights: Lisbon, Porto, Sintra, Cascais, and the Algarve.
• Language: English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
• Travel tip: Go in spring or fall for mild weather and fewer crowds. Portugal gives amazing European vibes without being overwhelming. We found locals friendly and transportation between cities stress-free. It’s a place you can travel without a strict plan. You can show up and figure it out on the go.

👉 Check out our Porto itinerary here. And here we give you top things to do in Lisbon.

2. Australia

• Why it works: English-speaking, easy domestic flights, familiar systems.
• Getting around: Major cities are well connected, and road trips are straightforward.
• Highlights: Sydney, Melbourne, Great Ocean Road, Queensland.
• Travel tip: Focus on one region, unless you’re staying for a while. It’s a huge country and distances can be deceiving. Australia is a great choice if you want a bit of everything: vibrant cities, epic coastlines, and access to natural wonders. There’s no language barrier and the learning curve is low, which makes it ideal for building travel confidence.

3. Iceland

• Why it works: Super safe, scenic, and ideal for a road trip.
• Getting around: Renting a car is easy, as routes like the Golden Circle are well-marked and beginner friendly. We recommend renting from Blue at the airport. If you don’t want to rent a car, the Fly Bus and day trips are easy to organize.  
• Highlights: Reykjavik, waterfalls on the way to Vik, black sand beaches, geothermal pools, and icebergs in Jökulsárlón.
• Language: Everyone speaks English.
• Travel tip: Book your accommodations early if going in peak season.
  We loved Iceland for how easy it was to explore independently, but things book up fast and it can be very expensive. We recommend visiting in early September for a mix of great weather, lower prices, and fewer crowds.

👉 Check out our Reykjavik itinerary here.

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4. Thailand

• Why it works: Friendly, great value, and culturally rich without being hard to navigate.
• Getting around: Regional budget flights, overnight trains, and ride-hailing apps like Grab.
• Highlights: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, and all the islands.
• Language: English is commonly spoken in tourist areas.
• Travel tip: Private tours and transfers are affordable and easy to arrange through Viator in advance and you can use Grab on the ground when you arrive.
  Thailand is where we learned how to travel on a budget without sacrificing comfort. The hospitality industry is built around making travel easy. You can find affordable hotels, excellent food, and incredible scenery—all in the same trip.

👉 Check out our Bangkok itinerary here.

5. Peru (Lima)

• Why it works: Coastal vibes, excellent food, and an easy intro to South America.
• Getting around: Uber or taxis; walkable districts like Miraflores and Barranco.
• Highlights: World-class restaurants, street food, pisco sours, ceviche, and clifftop parks.
• Language: Some Spanish helps, but staff at tourist-facing places often speak English.
• Travel tip: Lima is underrated. Spend more than one night before heading to the Andes on your Cusco and Machu Picchu adventures. We were surprised by how much we enjoyed Lima, especially after hearing mixed reviews. It’s a perfect place to get used to Latin America’s pace and culture, and the food scene rivals cities twice its size. Some of the best ranked restaurants in the world are located here, and they are a fraction of the price of major cities like New York, London, or Tokyo.

6. Italy

• Why it works: Iconic sights and cities, easy intercity train travel, an infrastructure that’s set up for tourism.
• Getting around: Trains are fast and affordable, just watch for thieves on local trains. Our backpacks were stolen once and it was no fun!
• Highlights: The usual path includes Rome, Florence, and Venice. You also can’t go wrong with Bologna, Sicily, or the Amalfi Coast.
• Language: English is generally spoken in most tourist zones.
• Travel tip: Skip summer crowds. Spring and fall are better for both crowds and weather. Italy checks every box for first-time travelers: amazing food, bucket list sights, and fairly straightforward navigation. It’s a great place to learn how to move around confidently without needing a rental car. In fact, Rome was the first place I traveled solo and got around entirely on public transportation.

7. Morocco (with a caveat)

• Why it works: It’s a culturally immersive destination that can be navigated smoothly with a guide, but we wouldn’t recommend navigating it on your own.
• Getting around: A local guide or driver adds major value.
• Highlights: Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains, Essaouira.
• Language: French and Arabic dominate, but English is spoken in hospitality centers.
• Travel tip: If you’re new to travel, book a guided itinerary or small group tour, it’ll reduce stress and increase safety. Morocco offers something completely different, which is why it’s such a great travel milestone. Just don’t go it alone on your first trip. With a guide, you’ll get access to hidden gems and avoid common tourist frustrations.

🚫 Countries to Save for Later

These destinations are incredible, and we absolutely recommend them, but they require a bit more travel experience due to language barriers, logistical challenges, or safety concerns.

1. Brazil

• Why wait: Big cities like Rio and São Paulo are thrilling but also come with safety concerns and limited English.
• Best when: You’re confident navigating cities with mixed infrastructure and understand basic Portuguese (you can also get by with some Spanish if you don’t speak Portuguese).
• Worth it later for: Copacabana, the Amazon, and coastal getaways like Paraty. We loved Brazil, but it takes a bit more planning and awareness than a first-timer might be ready for.

👉 Check out our Copacabana tips here.

2. India

• Why wait: India is sensory overload. It’s beautiful and chaotic, but the intensity can overwhelm a first-timer.
• Best when: You’ve handled cultural immersion before and can be flexible. India was my 40th country, and it was still an intense but memorable experience.
• Worth it later for: Delhi’s chaos, Jaipur’s colors, and Varanasi’s rituals. It’s a place you’ll never forget, but also not where you want to figure things out for the first time. India rewards experienced, adaptable travelers.

3. Egypt

• Why wait: You’ll face high-pressure sales tactics and travel scams if you’re unprepared. Infrastructure varies a lot. Crowds are extreme.
• Best when: You have experience navigating uneven service and staying alert and are up for an adventure that’s bound to have a few hiccups along the way.
• Worth it later for: The Valley of the Kings, Luxor, and Nile River cruises. We’d still recommend going, but it helps to know how to manage expectations and stay calm in hectic environments. We’d also highly recommend Luxor over Cairo.

4. Chile

• Why wait: It’s one of our favorite countries, but Spanish is essential, even in major cities outside big hotel chains. We love this opportunity to practice our Spanish. DIY travel in Chile is rewarding but takes planning.
• Best when: You’re comfortable with independent travel in South America and speak at least basic Spanish. Otherwise, consider booking a group tour to explore this magical country.
• Worth it later for: Valparaiso, Patagonia, Atacama Desert, and wine regions near Santiago. Chile is a dream for outdoor lovers, but it’s not the easiest place to wing it. With some Spanish and travel confidence, it’s unbeatable and really affordable.

5. Vietnam

• Why wait: You must experience the amazing food and culture of Vietnam, but the traffic, motorbikes, pollution, and fast pace can be a lot to handle. For us, Bangkok was a much easier introduction to Southeast Asia, but we fell in love with Vietnam, too.
• Best when: You’re used to less structured travel and more hands-on navigation. People were so kind to even help us cross the chaotic streets of Saigon and Hanoi.
• Worth it later for: Hoi An, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, beaches like Nah Trang and Da Nang, street food tours, and rice terraces. We love Vietnam, but it’s not the best place to get your travel legs. When you’re ready for scooters, bargaining, and sensory overload, it’s one of Southeast Asia’s best spots.

6. Russia

• Why wait: In normal times, Russia was already complex to visit due to its visa process and language barriers.
• Now: Due to the ongoing conflict and international travel restrictions, it’s not a recommended destination for the foreseeable future.
• Best when: Political conditions stabilize, and you’ve handled destinations with tight regulations and limited English.
• Worth it later for: The Trans-Siberian Railway, Moscow’s architecture, and St. Petersburg’s art and history. If and when travel opens up again, Russia offers deep history and dramatic scenery. But it’s a place where having travel experience makes a big difference.

Our Take

The best travel experiences come when you’re challenged just enough to grow but not so much that you’re constantly stressed. For first-time travelers, these destinations offer the right mix of comfort and excitement. Once you’ve had a few trips under your belt, you’ll be ready to take on the more complex places that push your boundaries even further.

No matter where you start, the important thing is to go.