If you are looking for some epic 30th birthday travel ideas, you have come to the right place! I remember being a kid and there were so many birthday parties and now I am at the age of birthday dinners. But I want to usher in the age of weekend getaways for a 30th birthday!
Some of the best destinations for a 30th birthday are:
- Tokyo for the ultramodern and traditional
- New Orleans for the vibes and the food
- Iceland road trip for the views
- So. Many. More.
Make sure your passport is up to date, fire up the group chat, and let’s look at some amazing places to celebrate another trip around the sun with these 30th birthday destinations!
Unforgettable 30th Birthday Travel Ideas
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah Georgia is one of my favorite picks for affordable 30th birthday trips! This southern city is full of haunted sites, natural landscapes, and rich history. I try to make it to Savannah at least once a year and I am always discovering something new! Some of my favorite spots are Forsyth Park, a 30 acre park in the middle of the city and catching a show at the Historic Savannah Theatre.
For a birthday trip with a group, you have to take a ghost tour! Savannah is known as the nation’s most haunted city for a reason! I also think a riverboat cruise followed by a food tour would be a great way to celebrate!
The Azores
The Azores in Portugal is one of the best 30th Birthday Destinations! A great European destination in August, the Azores is an archipelago of nine Portuguese volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and some refer to it as the Hawaii of Europe!
The climate is mild year round and the views are picture perfect. The most popular things to do here are canyoning, whale-watching, and hiking around crater lakes. What I love about the Azores are all the geothermal specialties like hot springs and Pico—the island where volcanic wine is produced. What could be better than a wine tasting with friends followed by a dip in the hot springs?
Paris
Paris is one of my more classic choices for 30th birthday trip ideas for couples. I have been to Paris countless times, in all the seasons, and it is one of my favorite places in the world. I have a jam packed 2 Day Paris Itinerary for you to dive into, but I need to highlight some of my favorite places!
For a romantic couples birthday trip, I suggest a river cruise down the Seine and a picnic in Luxembourg Gardens! Paris is the city of love so only do things you love to do! Shopping, eating, walking, lounging, whatever it is!
Disney Parks around the World
Did you know Disney has six resorts around the world? They are Disneyland in California, Disney World in Florida, Tokyo Disney, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disney, and Shanghai Disney! Hitting up one of the resorts is one of my favorite 30th birthday trip ideas for women!!
Disney is always special, but there is something really magical about experiencing the happiest place on earth with your best girlfriends. You can take advantage of character meet and greets, fine dining, drinking around the world, and riding all your favorites. Looking over at your friends laughing in their Mickey ears – there’s nothing like it!
Key West + Florida Keys Road Trip
Being a native Floridian, I have to shout out my homestate as one of the best 30th birthday travel ideas in the USA! Although Florida has a lot of popular areas, I want to suggest a trip through the Florida Keys with Key West being the focal point.
If you are coming from Miami, I have a great road trip guide! I also have a whole site dedicated to Florida because this state is beautiful. The Keys are rich with history, the food is out of this world, and the beaches feel like the Caribbean. This is a perfect spot for a 30th birthday destination, but I may be a bit biased!
Napa Valley, California
Napa Valley is one of the best 30th birthday getaways! I think it ushers in the wine era! With so many vineyards and various experiences, you will have the best time!
Napa Valley has rolling hills of vineyards that are the perfect backdrop for wine tasting with friends. Take a class on wine pairings! Take a tour of the wine cellars! Join a wine subscription! Don’t like wine? That’s ok! The spas in this area are top notch! There’s lots of hiking, a dinner train, and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is only 30 minutes away!
Tokyo
One of the best destinations for a 30th birthday is Tokyo, Japan! The mix of ultramodern and traditional in the capital city means there is something for everyone. The Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is so beautiful and the perfect place for some birthday pictures!
The Ghibli Museum is a must see if you grew up with movies like My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki’s Delivery Service! teamLab Planets is one of the coolest experiences I have ever had. The tours in Tokyo are amazing and you learn so much!
Boulder, Colorado
Located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder Colorado is one of my most popular 30th birthday travel ideas for him! There are so many outdoor activities like rock climbing, hiking in the Flatirons, and off-roading, and Boulder also has an amazing brewery scene on Pearl Street! Boulder has such a wide variety of things to do that this can be one of the more affordable 30th birthday trips!
I think the best thing about Boulder is its proximity to everything in Colorado. Denver is only 30 minutes away! Estes Park is only an hour away and you can stay at The Stanley Hotel which is where Stephen King was inspired to write The Shining! Now that would be a 30th birthday destination to remember!
Iceland Road Trip
I almost want to save this one for last, but I’m too excited! One of my absolute coolest 30th birthday travel ideas is an epic 5 day roadtrip in Iceland! Starting with a 190 mile drive around the Golden Circle and ending with the Blue Lagoon!
Some of the must sees in Iceland are Glacier Lagoon, Svínafellsjökull Glacier, and Seljalandsfoss. I keep going back to Iceland for the black sand beaches, basalt columns, and there are so many places that feel like you’re on another planet.
Las Vegas
Probably the most well known of the weekend getaways for a 30th birthday is Las Vegas! I don’t need to tell you what the vibes in Vegas are because we all know! If you are looking for some in depth ideas, here is how I would spend three days in Las Vegas!
When people think Vegas, they think gambling, shows, and clubs. But some lesser known things to do in Las Vegas are try new restaurants, go to pawn and antique shops, and explore their museums. The Mob Museum and Neon Museum are some of my favorites! Remember, this city never sleeps, so definitely take that afternoon nap so you have a second wind for after dark. After all, you are in your 30s now!
Banff, Canada
Banff, Canada is one of my more recent favorite 30th birthday travel ideas for him! Grab the people you want to start the new decade with and hike Johnston Canyon! This is a three mile steel walkway suspended over the famous canyon. Between the waterfalls and the beautiful views of Banff National Park, this is a must!
I hope your birthday is in the colder months, because Winter in Banff is a sight to behold! In my opinion, the coolest thing you can do is a sled dog tour through the National Park. I think that one speaks for itself.
New Orleans
A weekend in New Orleans is the GOAT when it comes to 30th birthday travel ideas in the USA! I have been numerous times and of course have an epic NOLA itinerary for you! I love the rooftop bar of Ace Hotel’s Alto and the panoramic views of the city are beautiful.
New Orleans really comes alive at night. The live music is reason enough to come to the city and celebrate your birthday by dancing to jazz. Maybe all the soulful music will inspire you to pop into a karaoke bar and show everyone how it’s done! New Orleans is one of the best spots for 30th birthday destinations!
Italy, Lago Di Garda
You can leave it at Italy as a whole for a trip, but on the top of my list for 30th Birthday Destinations is Lago Di Garda or Lake Garda in Northern Italy. At 150 square miles, this is the largest lake in Italy and is often compared to the famous Lake Como. At this size, it is honestly more of a region of Northern Italy to be honest.
Lago Di Garda feels like more of an elegant birthday destination, so I would lean into that! Visit Scaliger Castle and then take an afternoon enjoying the thermal pools at Garda Thermal Park. I also highlighted some of my other favorite things to do in Northern Italy in case your trip is a little longer!
Overwater Bungalow in the Caribbean
Staying in an overwater bungalow is one of my favorite 30th birthday trip ideas for couples! What could be more romantic! Sandals in South Jamaica even has the overwater bungalows arranged in a heart!
I’ll be the first to tell you that I try to see so much when I travel, but sometimes it’s nice to have a vacation versus a trip, you know what I mean? A vacation being a time to relax, listen to the water, soak up the sun and just be. There’s no better place to do that than an overwater bungalow. You can find couples only resorts that are all-inclusive. Some bungalows have glass floors, outside soaking tubs, or an overwater hammock.
I am honestly talking myself into booking another one now! This would be one of the best 30th birthday getaways!
Ashford Castle, Ireland
I think one of my best 30th birthday trip ideas for women is staying in Ashford Castle in Ireland! Once the home of the Guinness Family, it has been updated and refurbished to be on my list for weekend getaways for a 30th birthday! The grounds are so jaw dropping beautiful you will keep wondering if you fell onto a movie set. The food is divine and the their estate activities are so fun! Since it is a birthday trip, you must book a treatment at their state of the art spa!
Ireland has a handful of castle hotels, so definitely check out my Ireland archives to find one near where you want to go!
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