15 Most Viral Travel Locations on TikTok
TikTok is one of the most used apps in the world. A common misconception that a lot of people have about it is that it’s just an app for dancing children. It’s so much more than that! TikTok is basically the new Google, Instagram, and Facebook all wrapped into one perfect platform that lets you experience the world from the comfort of your home.
Now, I understand that TikTok can be confusing for new users. You open the app and nine times out of ten, it will be filled with dancing children. That’s where TikTok’s incredible algorithm comes in. As soon as you curate your “For You Page” with all the things you want to see, you’ll get some of the best content out there.
I’ve been carefully perfecting my TikTok For You Page for years and know exactly what is trending and where everyone wants to be. Here are the most viral travel locations on TikTok that you’ll want to add to your bucket list right now!
1. Drake Passage, Antarctica
If you’ve been on TikTok for more than 30 minutes, then you’ll probably get a video about the Drake Passage. It’s one of the most dangerous sea passages in the world and lies between the southern tip of Chile and Antarctica. It’s a popular place for cruise ships, but can be extremely dangerous.
Waves here can reach up to 50 feet tall, with the average height of the waves being 10-14 feet (still very large). There are thousands of videos on TikTok showing the craziness of the Drake Passage with some cruise ships going almost completely underwater!
It’s estimated that about 20,000 people have lost their lives on the Drake Passage with the most recent death happening on a Viking Cruise Ship after a rogue wave hit it.
All of this to say, if you are planning to visit Antarctica, understand that the Drake Passage is one of the most dangerous locations in the world and that it could end up costing you your life!
2. Jordan
Jordan has been a popular travel location for a long time but with it trending on TikTok, it’s about to get a LOT more popular. Jordan is a country in the Middle East and is well known for being the location of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Petra.
Petra is a city in the middle of the desert where you’ll find a place called the Treasury or Al-Khazneh. It’s a giant sandstone monument that used to be the location of the treasury of the Pharos. However, this is just one of the things in Jordan that’s trending on TikTok.
Many influencers want to travel to Petra in style, so they take a camel across the desert to get there. You can choose from a multi-day camel journey or just hire one when you get to Petra to take you around the sights. Either way, seeing these ancient sights by camelback will be something you’ll never forget!
3. French Riviera
The South of France is one of the most incredible places on the planet. Here, you’ll find the best beaches, stunning mountains, and beautiful architecture. Some of the most popular places on the French Riviera are Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Monaco, Antibes, Cannes, and Saint-Tropez. As long as you are staying in one of these cities, you can’t go wrong!
Maybe you’ve heard of the viral “Gatorade water” of Nice? This TikTok went viral last summer showing the glowing blue water of Nice that looked like it was the color of Cool Blue Gatorade. Now, there’s another video going viral showing a view of the Mediterranean at night from the balcony of a luxury hotel.
Whether you’re a TikTok influencer or not, the French Riviera is one of the most incredible places on Earth and needs to be visited when in Europe!
Read more about budget vacation spots in Europe for solo travelers
4. Paros, Greece
This small island near the popular island of Mykonos has recently blown up on TikTok for its beautiful beaches, delicious food, and lovely architecture. It’s not a very well-known Greek island, which makes it the perfect place to escape the crowds of Mykonos and Santorini.
When my wife and I traveled to Santorini and Mykonos, we were shocked by the large crowds and streets flooded with tourists. It felt like all the culture and beauty of the island had been stripped away, and now it was just a husk of what the city once was. Make sure to make your way to Paros before it too is void of all culture!
Read more about Greek islands you should visit
5. Positano, Italy
Positano is another place that many think has been ruined by over-tourism. I personally don’t really get that feeling, but I understand why people feel this way. With over 12,000 visitors a day during the high season, this place can be a zoo. However, you’re in for a real treat if you come here during the off-season.
This place is unlike any other place on earth with its towering mountains, perfect beaches with crystal clear water, and colorful buildings that shoot up the mountains. If you come to Positano, I would recommend doing it as a day trip and not spend the night. You can get here by noon from Naples on a train and bus and then spend the afternoon laying out on the beach and eating delicious Italian food.
6. Iceland
From 2012 to 2024, the number of visitors in Iceland has tripled! Social media is a big reason for this increase. On TikTok, there’s been many viral videos made about Iceland but the latest video is drone footage of Vestrahorn on the east side of the island.
Iceland is also famous for its hot springs, quaint villages, and awe-inspiring waterfalls. There’s been lots of movies and television shows that have been shot on this island as well, like Game of Thrones, Black Mirror, Lamb, and Noah. The great part about Iceland is even though it’s a relatively small island/country, if you rent a car and drive anywhere that’s not in the “Golden Circle,” you’ll most likely have the entire place to yourself.
Read more about must-stop attractions along the Golden Circle in Iceland
7. Guadeloupe
This small French island in the Caribbean Sea is between the islands of Antigua and Dominica. Like most of the islands in the Caribbean, Guadeloupe is famous for its pristine white sand beaches. There are thousands of videos of people enjoying drinks on the beach, showing incredible sunsets, and swimming in the perfect water.
Some of the most famous beaches on the island are Raisins Clairs, Plage Du Souffleur, and Plage de Grande Anse. These are just a few of the most popular beaches, but there are hundreds more on this little island where you’ll have miles of beach all to yourself!
8. Seychelles
Here’s another small island, only this time, off the coast of Eastern Africa. Seychelles is a popular vacation spot that’s been going viral for its beaches, hotels, and jungles. If you are looking for a beach vacation with some adventure, this is the place for you.
Over the last decade, tourism in the Seychelles has more than doubled and is continuing to grow. However, compared to other locations on this list, the number of visitors is still relatively small! So make sure that you get here before it gets too touristy!
Read more about Seychelles, one of the celebrity destinations to visit
9. Maldives
The Maldives is a group of over 1,000 islands and is right off the coast of India. If you are looking for a place that truly is heaven on earth, then look no further than the Maldives.
There are hundreds of 5-star resorts spread across hundreds of islands, over-water bungalows that allow you to jump out your back door into warm, crystal-clear water, and some of the best white sand beaches in the world. Some of the most famous videos of the Maldives are people snorkeling right outside their bungalows and enjoying delicious food with incredible ocean views.
Read more about the Maldives, one of the overwater bungalows that promise the ultimate getaway!
10. Rome, Italy
The Trevi Fountain goes viral almost every summer with viewers shocked and appalled at the amount of crowds that gather here. Thousands of tourists go to the fountain every day to throw a coin over their shoulder and hopefully experience some good luck. Not to mention, the fountain itself is one of the most beautiful in the world.
There are lots of other spots in Rome that go viral, but the ones that are sure to draw the influencers are the Colosseum, any gelato shop, and the Vatican. If you can, try to go to Rome during the off-season so you can enjoy the sights without the enormous crowds.
Read more about famous Rome Italy landmarks
11. Mallorca, Spain
Mallorca has been a famous vacation spot for Europeans for centuries, but now with social media, it’s becoming more and more popular with Americans. Mallorca is just off the coast of Spain between Barcelona and Valencia. It’s also near the party island of Ibiza, but Mallorca is a lot calmer and more beautiful.
Mallorca is famous for its sparkling blue water, fresh food, and boating. If you go to Mallorca, you need to do a boat tour of the island because the sea surrounding it is incredible.
Read more about best Palma Mallorca beaches to visit
12. Singapore
Singapore has recently caught the attention of millions of TikTok users from a viral video showing “The Rain Vortex”. The Rain Vortex is the largest indoor waterfall in the world, standing at 130 feet tall! The great thing about it is that you can see it right as you arrive in the country because it’s located in the Jewel Changi Airport!
The manmade waterfall uses 10,000 gallons per minute of recycled rainwater, which it pumps down a funnel and into the pool below. The funnel shape of the falls also makes it so the water is silent and prevents splashing. At night, the waterfall is used for a light show like the one at Disney California Adventures (well, maybe not that elaborate).
13. Kyoto, Japan
The Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan is making the rounds on TikTok again. With about 10,000 orange arches that make up this shrine, it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen! The hike around the shrine is about 2.5 miles long and takes about 2.5 hours to walk through.
The shrine was originally built in the year 965 and has been added onto for hundreds of years. Legend says that if you come here on the new year’s day, you’ll have luck during the upcoming year. That’s why millions of Japanese people come to the shrine during the New Year celebration so that, hopefully they will have success and prosperity in the coming year.
Read more about Kyoto, one of the destinations to recharge and recover emotionally
14. Patagonia, Chile
Patagonia is one of the most well-known places in the world. The weather here is notoriously bad but if you get a good weather window, you’re in for a real treat! Torres del Paine National Park is located on the Chilean side of Patagonia and is the most famous part of Patagonia.
The TikTok currently going viral here shows some of the incredible sights from the French Valley, which is one of the most gorgeous hikes in the entire world! It shows the drive into the valley and the incredible landscapes and mountains you can see on your way there.
15. Phi Phi Island, Thailand
Summer is here! This means it’s time to go to a beautiful island paradise and let yourself rot on a beach while drinking and eating way too much. Phi Phi Island in Thailand is the perfect place to do this!
When you’re not sitting on a beach, you can go snorkeling in some of the most incredible waters in the world. The video that went viral of Phi Phi is actually not of the island, but what lies below the water.
This island is the gathering place of millions of fishes, which make it the ultimate snorkeling paradise! You can swim with giant schools of fish and let them circle you like you’re in The Little Mermaid!
Read more about must visit destinations in Thailand
What do you think?
Would you add any of these places to your bucket list? Or do you think that now they are TikTok famous they are as good as ruined?
TikTok is a great platform but, unfortunately does have a way of promoting over-tourism to certain places. Let me know what you think!
