These 61 bucket list ideas are must-dos for design lovers
The internet is full of bucket list ideas, but for the architecture, design, and travel enthusiasts, there’s no better docket than ours. To help put it together, we tapped professionals from the design space to weigh in on their must-sees, must-dos, and must-visits—making this list expert-certified. From traveling to little-known palazzos tucked away in the rolling hills of Tuscany to learning a new instrument on the fly or roaming the frenzy of a treasure-filled Parisian flea market, these are activities everyone should strive to experience at least once. We’ve also included some hidden gem destinations and unexpected outings you might not have stumbled upon otherwise. Whether you’re a seasoned architect or simply design-curious, there’s no better way to learn than by doing. So get ready to take notes: These are 61 bucket list ideas you simply won’t want to miss.
Photo: Edmund Sumner-VIEW / Alamy Stock Photo1/61Venture to Casa Wabi in Oaxaca, Mexico
Designed by renowned architect Tadao Ando, Casa Wabi is a natural and architectural wonder that deserves to be on any collection of bucket list ideas—whether for designers or not. “Where else can you experience a Japanese omakase in a Mexican palapa and then walk barefoot to watch a moonrise on a deserted beach?” remarks Kristin Rapoport, owner of Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection.
Photo: Hal Bergman2/61Visit a stone quarry
Though maybe unconventional, visiting a quarry has good reason to make it on your own bucket list. “It’s fascinating to see the process, and I think it’s important to understand the origin of the materials we use in our work,” says Gideon Mendelson, founder and creative director at Mendelson Group.
Photo: Artem Bolshakov/Getty Images3/61Walk the Vasari Corridor in Florence, Italy
An enclosed passageway that only recently reopened after extensive restoration, the Vasari Corridor is a must-visit. “The corridor also offers stunning views of the city and the Arno River,” says Fernando Pane, general manager of Sina Villa Medici. “[It’s] a unique experience, blending history, art, and the architectural ingenuity of the Renaissance era.”
Photo: James Caulfield4/61Visit the Schweikher House
Located in Schaumburg, Illinois, the nearly-century-old home exhibits quintessential American midcentury design. Celeste Robbins, founder of Robbins Architecture, says: “You can feel the joy in the design. Every room has a unique and unexpected configuration in response to the site or family lifestyle.”
Photo: Martin Puddy/Getty Images5/61Get a behind-the-scenes tour of a resort
You’ll learn not just from inspiration, but functional solutions. “Meet with the chief engineer who can give an overview of how the resort was built and the daily challenges of maintaining quality in often harsh environments,” says Adriena Daunt, principal interior designer at Daunt Designs.
Photo: George Pachantouris/Getty Images6/61Walk through the Acropolis in Athens, Greece
There’s a reason the classics are considered classics. “There is no way to fully understand the scale of these ancient classical buildings without seeing them in person,” says Julie Terrell, principal at Julie Terrell Interior Design.
Photo: Eloi Omella/Getty Images7/61See the Northern Lights in Iceland
Though we probably don’t have to convince you that this one deserves to make the bucket list, there are truly no words to encapsulate how magnificent the Northern Lights are painted across nature’s most vast canvas. Just south of the Arctic Circle, Iceland, is an ideal viewing location.
Photo: Giuliano Benzin/Getty Images8/61View the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Italy
There’s nothing like seeing Guggenheim’s work in her own former villa: “[It creates] an intimate setting for experiencing the art,” says Suzanne Redmond Schwartz, principal at RSM Design. Visit in wintertime to avoid crowds and enjoy a quieter trip.
Photo: Max shen/Getty Images9/61Ride a hot air balloon over Teotihuacán
Views from a hot air balloon will never cease to amaze—and these Mesoamerican pyramids (dating back over 2,000 years) are a true wonder to see from above. After the ride, be sure to walk the pyramids to get a full sense of their scale. The site is more easily accessible than Machu Picchu, the Incan ruins in Peru that are also well worth a visit.
Photo: Delpixart/Getty Images10/61Take a midcentury-modern road trip in Palm Springs
This desert city is a time capsule of 1950s and ’60s architecture. Tour iconic homes, stay in retro hotels, and snap photos of the breeze-block walls. While you’re there, consider driving to Joshua Tree National Park for a dose of the outdoors.
Photo: Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post/Getty Images11/61See James Turrell’s Roden Crater in Arizona
For lighting designers, there are countless artists whose work is worth making the list. “Turrell floats to the top again and again,” says Eileen Pierce, founder and creative director at Pierce Lighting Studio. “I imagine this experience would permanently alter my relationship with light, space, and time,” she adds.
Photo: H.Bilbao/Europa Press News/Getty Images12/61Attend a museum curator talk
In addition to visiting museum exhibitions, hearing the perspective behind how an exhibit was put together never fails to inspire. James Yarosh, interior designer and gallerist at James Yarosh Associates, reflects: “[The curators’] insights deepened my appreciation for the role that curators play in illuminating artistic legacies.”
Photo: Vitaly Edush/Getty Images13/61Explore Palazzo Fortuny in Venice, Italy
“Palazzo Fortuny in Venice is one of those rare places that leaves an imprint on your creative soul,” notes Anu Jain, founder and principal designer at Atelier Oleana. “For any design lover, it’s a masterclass in atmosphere. It taught me that true luxury doesn’t shout—it whispers in texture, patina, and restraint.”
Photo: Alexander Spatari/Getty Images14/61Walk the High Line in New York City
This elevated park on an old rail line offers ever-changing views of cutting-edge buildings and urban greenery in Manhattan—a true masterpiece in adaptive reuse.
Photo: Maskot/Getty Images15/61Learn to sew something
Like learning a new language exercises your cognitive skills, learning to sew can help exercise your tactile skills. Not only that, but pattern-making for clothing shares surprising parallels with designing for the human form in architecture.
Photo: Spacewalk/Getty Images16/61Go shopping in Oaxaca, Mexico
Oaxaca, a culturally rich, walkable city, has an undeniably arts-driven spirit and Michelin-rated dining scene. But the highlight? “For design lovers, the shopping is a dream,” says Alykhan Velji, creative director at Alykhan Velji Designs. “I stumbled upon beautiful little boutiques filled with handmade treasures—from pottery and woven textiles to delicate linens—all crafted by local artisans.”
Photo: Kenny McCartney/Getty Images17/61Hike up Yosemite Falls
People travel from around the world to see Yosemite National Park. It’s a trip worth taking, and the day-long hike up to Yosemite Falls is particularly scenic, with breathtaking panoramic views of the valley, including monuments like Half Dome.
Photo: James Haefner. Collection Cranbrook Art Museum. Courtesy Cranbrook Center for Collectionsand Research18/61Walk through the Saarinen House
Located in Bloomfield, Michigan, the Saarinen House is a great design experience. “An Art Deco masterpiece, the house has been impeccably restored. Its furniture and lighting reflect the Finnish designer’s innovative and influential use of materials and techniques,” says David Duncan, principal at David Duncan Studio.
Photo: Thierry Perrin/Getty Images19/61Visit Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye
Discover Le Corbusier’s famed “five points” of modern architecture through the French villa that exemplifies them all. A crash course in 20th-century design, the Villa Savoye still informs how architects think about modern living.
Photo: Thomas Barwick/Getty Images20/61Take a cooking class
Design certainly doesn’t stop at the kitchen counter. Take a cooking class, where timing, texture, and presentation sneak their way in—all design principles in disguise.
Photo: Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images21/61Wander Marrakech, Morocco
A city crammed with color, culture, and history, Marrakech has an undeniable buzz. “For visual inspiration, serious color and vegetation, I love Jardin Majorelle,” adds Gala Magriñá, principal designer and founder at Gala Magriñá Design. “Plus, it sits adjacent to the YSL Museum—a real architectural jewel.”
Phot; Getty Images22/61Visit Gandhi Smriti in New Delhi
Being the room where Mahatma Gandhi lived at the end of his life, the space truly reflects his philosophy. “As a designer, I found myself reflecting on how [Gandhi’s minimalist] approach contrasts with our contemporary understanding of luxury,” says David Mann, founder at MR Architecture + Decor. “[It has encouraged] me to create spaces that prioritize thoughtful curation over excess.”
Photo: Mario Guti/Getty Images23/61Walk the streets of Seville, Spain
Who doesn’t love a walkable city? “For the design enthusiast, Seville offers an unparalleled tableau of inspiration,” says Rebekah Zaveloff, cofounder and creative director of Imparfait Design Studio. “This perfectly proportioned city (you can pretty much walk everywhere in 30 minutes!) has the café culture of Paris and offers an intimate yet diverse experience.”
Photo: Alexander Spatari/Getty Images24/61Stroll through Central Park
A New York City classic, it’s no surprise that Central Park made this list. “Central Park is a powerful example of how thoughtful design can shape the way people experience a place,” notes B. Scott LaMont, CEO and principal at EDSA. “It reflects a visionary approach to public open space.”
Photo: Getty Images25/61Scuba dive off the islands in Bali
Mother nature’s architecture is just as stunning below sea-level as it is above it. Bali has several islands that offer ideal diving conditions (especially for beginners) and gorgeous sand beaches. With massive reefs and fantastic marine diversity, it’s an ideal place to draw inspiration from the lesser-seen natural world—and a good item for your summer bucket list.
Photo: Thomas Kirchhofer/Getty Images26/61Explore Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
At this Belle Époque villa, elegance meets eclectic design. “It’s a sensory feast and a perfect study in layering, proportion, and theatricality, all with sweeping views of the Mediterranean,” says Margarita Bravo, founder of Margarita Bravo Interior Design. “A true bucket-list experience for any design lover.”
Photo: DuKai Photographer/Getty Images27/61Take a trip to Hong Kong
For its mix of traditional charm and modern flair, Hong Kong makes it on the travel bucket list. “The city is full of juxtapositions of traditional Chinese design contrasted with contemporary international design,” notes Elle Cantrell, owner and lead designer at Elle Du Monde.
Photo: Inna Felker/Getty Images28/61Snag a table at La Colombe D’Or
Come dine with the works of the greats. “Try to book a table for lunch at La Colombe D’Or hotel and restaurant nearby, where works by Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, and Miró still hang—remnants of a time when artists exchanged paintings for meals,” says Lara Apelian, principal at Lara Apelian Studio. “It’s a special place.”
Frequently asked questions
What should you put on a bucket list?
Your bucket list can include anything that excites or inspires you personally. For design lovers, that might mean visiting architectural icons, traveling to new places, traversing natural wonders, or trying new activities that flex certain skills. To help you create your own bucket list, we polled architects, designers, and other industry professionals to find the kinds of experiences they think everyone should have at least once. A good bucket list isn’t just about checking off new destinations—it’s about what you take away, and the lasting impact one experience can have on a lifetime.
What items are most common on a bucket list?
Travel, adventure, unique experiences found in only one place on earth—those are the usual suspects. And for good reason, as all are well worth making the bucket list. Our list encompasses a slew of destinations worth visiting and adventures worth taking, but with design in mind, finding you the most beautiful, design-inspiring, or otherwise perspective-bending spots.
This story originally featured on architecturaldigest.com
