Nicolai Swiss traveler Date of Birth: . Country: Switzerland

1. The Swiss Globe Trotter
2. Annual Travel Time
3. Belarus Visit
4. Travel Blog
5. A Friendly Wager
6. Nicolas' Tallying Rules
7. Country Count: 197

The Swiss Globe Trotter

Swiss national, Nicolas has spent many years traveling abroad at least once a month. Even now, he still travels extensively, although occasionally taking a few weeks to remain at home. His adventures began in 2012 when he left his first job after finishing university. With his savings, Nicolas embarked on a trip to Southeast Asia, where he quickly discovered that travel would be his lifelong passion.

Annual Travel Time

Nicolas spends approximately 40% of the year (almost 150 days) outside Switzerland, using around 30 vacation days, nine public holidays, and every Saturday and Sunday.

Belarus Visit

In July 2023, Nicolas visited Belarus, the 155th destination on his list. Apart from Belarus, he has visited every European country, although Belarus was the only one requiring a visa.

Travel Blog

Nicolas' full travelogue can be found on his blog, where he shares an account of his adventures in the Belarusian capital: "Minsk seemed livelier than the capitals of the Baltic states and definitely more interesting than Chisinau, Sofia, or Bucharest."

A Friendly Wager

After Nicolas visited his 36th country, a friend named Tony claimed to have been to 54. Eager to catch up and surpass Tony, Nicolas proposed a bet: the first to visit 197 countries would earn a free flight from the loser. Eighteen months later, Nicolas had tied Tony's score. It took him a short while to overtake his friend, but Tony planned to regain the lead with an intended round-the-world trip. However, Tony eventually stopped counting at around 76 countries, having lost interest in traveling.

Nicolas' Tallying Rules

Nicolas considers a country visited once he has performed an activity there. For instance, he spent only 4-5 hours in Liechtenstein, watching a football match at the stadium. Some travelers believe a country only counts if they spend at least one night there, but Nicolas has established his own rules that he adheres to.

Country Count: 197

Nicolas' list includes 197 countries: 193 United Nations member states, two UN observer states (Palestine and the Vatican), and Taiwan and Kosovo. He excludes non-sovereign territories, such as Hong Kong, Gibraltar, Wales, and Aruba.