9 Fun Things to Do on Vacation

Taking vacations is essential to living a well-balanced and healthy lifestyle. You get to take a pause from the stress and responsibilities of life and explore the world at your own pace. And the best part? You call the shots on everything—unless you’re with other people, of course!

People don’t just take a vacation to enjoy time off. They do it to enrich their lives.

Staying in a hotel all day won’t cut it. Once you reach your desired destination, it’s time to stretch your legs, get out, and explore whatever there is to do in the neighborhood.

Are you looking to keep yourself occupied on your escapade? Check out our suggestions for fun things to do on vacation!

1. Take a trip to a great beach

There are few activities as rejuvenating as going to the beach!

If your chosen destination has many great beaches, choose one that tickles your fancy. If you want some sunshiny solitude, go for quieter spots. Do you prefer to be in a crowd? Go ahead and visit famous shores.

What you do on your chosen beach is up to you. You can engage in watersports (swimming, surfing, etc.), walk along shorelines and take photos, or lounge around with a good book, just like the scenario painted in the picture above.

Whatever your chosen activity is, don’t forget to apply some sunblock! Your skin will appreciate the protection.

2. Join walking tours

One of the best ways to know your destination is by exploring its streets. Walking tours give tourists a closer look at places, so why not join one?

We recommend signing up for a walking tour as soon as you arrive at your chosen destination. Why? It helps you become more familiar and comfortable with your surroundings.

Walking tours are on our list of fun things to do on vacation because you get to see your chosen destination’s perspective from a local. What better person to show you a new environment than someone who knows it inside out?

We recommend looking for companies offering free tours but don’t forget to give your guide a generous tip. Make sure you choose an English-speaking tour because some are in different languages.

3. Check out your destination’s nightlife

Are you a party animal or a shy person wanting to break your shell? If you’re staying in your destination for a week or two, give the local nightlife a go!

Sure, you can just hang out at places near your accommodation. But where’s the fun in that? Having fun on a night out is a language everyone understands.

No, you don’t need to get drunk just to enjoy your vacation! Exploring your destination’s nightlife just requires you to have a good time, with or without booze. Go to spots frequented by locals to avoid touristy places (and prices).

4. Go on a hike

Whether you’re a fan of hiking or not, it’s always a good idea to get a hike in during a vacation.

Aside from being a nice workout, hiking is a pleasant breather from high-energy adventures. Wouldn’t it be nice to swap smoke and concrete for greenery and fresh air for a few hours? We think so!

Taking hikes on vacation doesn’t need to be a strenuous adventure. A light and scenic stroll on an easy path is enough. Look for trails in your destination’s parks to get started. Do you prefer hikes closer to nature? Have a great vacation hike by exploring local hills, lakes, and rivers.

5. Try out the local cuisine

Going on a trip to an unfamiliar place is a great opportunity to try out new things. One of those things is food.

Sometimes, food says a lot about a place more than words do. Factors like cooking methods and ingredients reflect a community’s culture and lifestyle. For example, ham is a significant part of Spanish cuisine because of its cultural and religious influences.

Whether you’re a food lover or not, expanding your tastebuds is always worth a try. Taste different flavors by sampling some of your destination’s best dishes!

A food trip is one of the most fun things to do on vacation because you’ll see a wealth of culinary diversity. Do you want a comfortable setting? Give beloved local restaurants a try. But if you don’t mind walking while chewing, feel free to explore streets lined up with food carts.

6. Take day trips to nearby towns

Sometimes, detours turn good vacations into great ones.

Let’s say you want to get away from your big-city destination for a while. Spice up your vacation with a little escape from your escapade by taking a day trip to a nearby town or city! You’ll be refreshed by seeing yet another new environment. You may even find hidden gems you didn’t expect to like.

The best thing about day trips is that they normally make easy travel back and forth from your hotel, especially if there is public transportation nearby. Have a great time off from your time off by taking a fun little detour!

7. Visit museums

Do you want a fun learning experience surrounding your chosen destination? Check out the local museums!

Museum trips help people understand their environments better. Each artwork or setup has a story behind them, making you understand its place in society. A painting you’re looking at may be a significant contribution to a country’s history!

Many museums offer free admission, so go ahead and visit your destination’s best ones. We bet you’ll enjoy looking at artistic masterpieces or scientific exhibits.

8. Explore your layover airport or city if you can

Are you stuck in an airport or city for a few hours? We know the feeling, and it can be annoying. Layovers, especially long ones, can be exhausting because you feel trapped in a specific space.

What if we tell you there’s a way to make layovers fun?

Eliminate your layover dread by exploring your layover city’s airport! Airport amenities like museums and spas help you relax while killing time. Remember, in order to have a good vacation experience, you need to anticipate any potential delays and challenges.

Singapore’s Changi Airport (pictured above) boasts features like movie theaters and swimming pools to help keep passengers occupied while waiting for their connecting flights. Should you have a layover in the city, you’ll know what to do and where to go.

Do you have a long layover? If so, get away from your layover airport for a while and have a mini-exploration of your layover city. This detour will help you have a nice vacation before it even begins.

9. Take recreational classes

And we don’t mean the academic kind.

You may think that taking classes doesn’t make for an ideal vacation. However, hear us out: learning things doesn’t have to be boring! And they don’t always require classrooms either. Not only does signing up for a class on vacation keep you busy, but it has great takeaways too.

What if, for example, you’ve tried a local dish and you want to learn how to recreate it? Take a cooking class and learn from professionals and local legends! You’ll get a cultural experience and meet awesome people in the process.

[Conclusion]

Enjoy planning your getaway by adding these fun things to do on vacation to your agenda. We hope our list inspires you to generate more ideas.

Are you looking for an international escapade? Hop on our tours! You’ll get to explore unfamiliar places and mingle with fellow travelers. Who knows—one tourist may end up being the person of your dreams.