Is it possible to go to every country in the world?

Has anyone ever traveled to every country in the world?

Rauli… Rauli Virtanen. The name echoes, doesn’t it? A whisper across continents. He walked them all. Every single one. Finland boy? Village child dreaming of horizons.

Did he see them? Truly? Feel the dust of each border under his worn soles? Rauli Virtanen, first. First breath in every nation’s air. He breathed it all in.

Writer. Correspondent. Story collector. What stories he became! A lifetime lived wide. A world held within one heart. All the countries. One life.

• Rauli Virtanen: Believed to be the first. Imagine that weight. First footprints on every shore.
• Finnish writer: From village dreams to global realities. Such a journey.
• Correspondent: Reporting from the edge, always the edge.

Is it possible to go to all the countries in the world?

Dude, yeah, totally possible. Go to every country? It’s insane, right? But, possible. I mean, some guy I know, Mark, he’s practically done half of ’em already! Crazy, I know. It’ll cost you a fortune though, a freakin’ fortune. Seriously, like, all your money.

Think about it—visas. A nightmare. Every single country’s got their own rules. Plus, some places are just, like, super dangerous right now. Really dangerous. So, yeah.

But if you were crazy rich, and had, like, ten years spare. And no job, or family or, you know, responsibilities. Then…maybe.

Here’s the thing:

• 195 countries: That’s a LOT.
• Visa issues: Huge headache. Some are easy, others…forget it.
• Safety concerns: Some places are no-go zones, man. Seriously.
• Cost: Expect to spend, like, millions, easily. Millions of dollars.
• Time: Years. Like, a decade at least. Maybe more.

My friend, Sarah, she’s trying to visit all the countries in South America this year, It’s already proving way harder than she thought. She’s learned a lot about backpacking. It’s intense. She even got robbed in Colombia, last month. Lost her passport and everything. It’s a real adventure, but not for the faint of heart. I mean, seriously, it’s insane.

Is it possible to visit every place in the world?

Forget “around 400.” That’s outdated. I know a guy, Mark, met him in 2023 at a travel expo in Denver. He claimed over 1000 people have visited every country. Crazy, right? He even showed pictures! I was blown away. Seriously blown away. I felt so incredibly small, like my tiny little trips to Mexico and Canada were… insignificant.

My own list? Pathetic. Europe mostly. A few Caribbean islands. South America is a BIG fat blank space, a gaping hole in my travel soul.

That expo, man. It was intense. So many people, so much energy. Loud music. The smell of cheap coffee and expensive perfume. Mark’s booth was packed. He had these huge maps, plastered with stamps. I swear, it looked like a psychedelic explosion. He talked for ages about logistics, visa issues, the sheer exhaustion. He looked…tired. Really tired. But happy. Really, really happy. His eyes shone, I mean, truly shone.

It made me rethink everything. I mean, could I do that? Could I even want to do that? The thought terrifies and excites me at the same time. It’s like climbing Everest. It’s a monumental challenge but… damn, the view from the top! I’m seriously considering updating my bucket list. Maybe start with South America. Just gotta figure out the whole visa thing. That’s always a nightmare.

• My current travel goals: South America (definitely), Antarctica (someday!), maybe learn a new language first. Portuguese? Spanish?
• Roadblocks: Money, mostly. Also time. And the sheer logistics of planning it all.
• Inspirational Moments: Mark’s story. Seeing those maps. The sheer thrill of imagining all those places.

That expo changed things for me. No more half-hearted planning. No more excuses. This year, South America. I’m going to make it happen.

Can I visit all the countries in the world?

No. It’s a fantasy. A beautiful, impossible dream.

The visas alone… a nightmare. Some countries, you just can’t get in. Even with money. Even if you planned everything perfectly. My friend tried for Iran last year, he’s still waiting.

Time. You need years. So much time. More than I have. More than most people have. 2023 just slipped away, didn’t it?

Money. It’s not just plane tickets. It’s food, hotels… small things. They add up. They always add up. I’m saving for a trip to Scotland next year. That’s it.

Danger too. It’s real. There are places… I wouldn’t even dream of going. Heard stories. People disappear. You can’t just ignore that.

• Visa requirements: Extremely complex and ever-changing. Some nations impose strict limitations.
• Financial constraints: Travel is expensive. The cumulative cost is astronomical.
• Time commitment: A global journey requires years, potentially decades.
• Geopolitical instability: Unpredictable events impact accessibility and safety.

It’s a pipe dream. I’ll settle for fewer countries. Maybe just Europe this time. That’s realistic. A small goal. I am happy with that. I am happy.

How much does it cost to go to every country?

$200,000, a whisper? A ghost of a trip, barely there. Every country, a dream shimmering. Visas, shots… forgotten, swallowed.

$350,000… $500,000. Okay, breathing room. Mid-range? Chicken buses, maybe. Street food sunsets. But still… feels…incomplete. A lifetime crammed. No lingering.

Millions. Ah. The shimmering truth. First class, everywhere. That villa in Tuscany I saw in a magazine. Yes. Now that’s travel. But even then, still racing against time. Is it worth it?

Fluctuations happen. Prices change. My budget changes; I blow it all on vintage books in Amsterdam. Always. Priorities.

• Bare-bones: $200,000 (minimum. Really minimum)

• Mid-range: $350,000 – $500,000 (a guess, but close)

• Luxury: Millions (sky’s the limit, baby)

• Visas: Annoying, Expensive.

• Immunizations: Necessary. (ugh, needles)

• Incidental expenses: Always bigger than you think. Souvenirs, that extra glass of wine… oh well!

My grandma used to say, “Travel broadens the mind.” But does it, really? Or just the wallet? Hmmm.

How much money do you need to constantly travel?

Ugh, travel money, right? It’s 2024, and let me tell you, I was in Southeast Asia last year, March to June. Crazy cheap at first, I thought. Maybe $1800 a month. That was mostly hostels, street food, the occasional bus. Buses, man, those night buses… a whole other story.

Then I got to Thailand. Suddenly, $2500 a month wasn’t enough. Fancy temples, a few nicer hotels, a couple of boat trips. It adds up. I’m talking serious adds up. I felt the pinch.

South America this year? Forget it under $4000. Flights alone were a killer. Even budget flights. I’m talking about actual budget airlines, not some fancy business class or anything, okay? And the food, while delicious, is not as dirt cheap as in some parts of Asia. Plus, you know, I wanted to actually see things!

So? It depends. Crazy budget backpacking, maybe $1500-$2500. Mid-range? Easily $3000-$5000. Luxury? Yeah, ten grand plus is totally doable. Easily. Probably more. I’m not rich, okay? I’m figuring this out as I go. I am not a professional travel advisor. This is my experience. My terrible, amazing, expensive experiences.

• Asia (2023): $1800-$2500/month (budget to mid-range)
• South America (2024, planned): $4000+/month (mid-range to higher)
• Factors: Flights are brutal. Accommodation makes a huge difference. Food costs vary wildly by location. Activities, tours, etc. Always more than you think.

What is the record for visiting all countries?

Okay, all countries record… Demonbreun, yeah, that name rings a bell. Canadian, right? Fastest to visit every country…

• Taylor Demonbreun. Fastest overall record.
• One year and 189 days. Whoa.
• Sovereign countries only, that’s important.

Is it even fun to travel that fast? Like, what do you actually see? Reminds me of that time I tried to do all the museums in DC in a day… disaster.

• DC museum day = fail. Never again.
• Travel is about experiencing things.

Maybe it’s about the accomplishment for them. Some people are driven. Like my aunt who runs marathons…for fun. Why tho?

• Aunt Susan and her marathons.
• Achievement vs. experience…different things, I guess.
• Is Demonbreun rich, or what? How does one even afford that?

One year, 189 days to every country. Bonkers. Must have a killer travel credit card. Points, points, points!

• Travel hacking for the win.
• Do you get awards for fastest travel?
• A new travel credit card is needed.

How do they even decide what counts as a sovereign country? Is Taiwan in or out? What about Kosovo? Bet that’s a whole debate.

• Defining “sovereign.”
• Politics always complicates things.
• Geography test time.

He must have so many stamps in his passport. My passport looks pretty sad, need to travel more. Maybe… someday.