The China Pavilion at Expo 2020, featuring a circular structure illuminated with a striking display of red and blue lights, radiating beams into the night sky. The pavilion's modern design is emphasized by the vibrant light show, creating a dynamic and futuristic atmosphere.

Would you travel for a World Expo?

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One of the things I ticked off my Fifty Before 50 Bucket List was to attend the World Expo in Dubai. We had an amazing time, and it got me to thinking – would you travel for a World Expo?

You might think that these is a slightly unusual addition to a travel bucket list, and you might be right, but there is a back story.

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Back in 1988, the World Expo was held in Brisbane. At the time, I was a high school student, and my parents had relocated to the city of Bundaberg, just 350km away – virtually next door in Australian terms.

Over the six-month duration, almost every single one of my school friends was taken by their parents to see this fantastical exhibition, but mine wouldn’t budge. I missed out.

The China Pavilion at Expo 2020, featuring a circular structure illuminated with a striking display of red and blue lights, radiating beams into the night sky. The pavilion's modern design is emphasized by the vibrant light show, creating a dynamic and futuristic atmosphere.

Fast forward a few years to circa 2017 and one of my visits to Dubai.

Where we were going exactly I can’t remember, but I do remember driving past this huge development in the desert, with the hoarding proclaiming this to be the future site of World Expo Dubai 2020.

You would have to be living under a rock to not know that Dubai has a reputation for over-the-top…well, everything, so I immediately knew I wanted to come back in 2020 and finally experience that World Expo that teenage Josie had missed.

Now let’s step back a bit…

Josie standing in front of a large yellow sign saying Expo 2020

What are World Expos?

World Expos, or previously World’s Fairs, are grand international exhibitions that showcase the achievements of nations, cultures, and industries.

These events, held periodically in different cities around the globe, provide a platform for countries to present their innovations, culture, and progress to a global audience.

World Expos have evolved into celebrations of human achievement, technological advancement, and global collaboration.

The Sri Lanka Pavilion at Expo 2020, illuminated at night, showcasing a colorful, multi-layered facade with vibrant lighting. Visitors are seen walking and gathering outside, highlighting the pavilion’s dynamic and engaging exterior design.
The UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020, featuring a striking architectural design with white, wing-like structures that resemble a falcon in flight. The pavilion is set against a partly cloudy sky, with a patterned plaza leading up to its entrance.
An exhibit titled 'Chocolate’s Country' at Expo 2020, featuring a display of glass-encased cocoa samples arranged on a wooden pyramid. A large, vibrant image of traditionally dressed African women is prominently displayed in the background, emphasizing the cultural roots of chocolate.

The concept of the World Expo dates back to the mid-19th century, with the first recognized World’s Fair being the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London.

Held in the iconic Crystal Palace, this event was a groundbreaking moment in history, drawing millions of visitors and featuring exhibits from all over the world.

The Great Exhibition set the standard for future Expos, establishing them as milestones for industrial progress and cultural exchange.

The elaborate pavilion for Brunei at the Dubai World Expo

Over the years, World Expos have been held in various cities, each leaving a significant legacy.

The 1889 Paris Exposition, for instance, is famous for introducing the world to the Eiffel Tower, which was constructed as the entrance arch for the Expo.

The 1967 Expo in Montreal, known as Expo 67, was another landmark event, celebrated for its innovative architecture and its role in bringing together people from diverse backgrounds during a time of significant global change.

World Expos have continued to be pivotal events, with recent ones like Expo 2020 in Dubai reflecting contemporary global issues, such as sustainability and technology.

Each Expo is built around a central theme, which often resonates with the challenges and opportunities of the time, making them not just celebrations of what has been achieved, but also platforms for envisioning the future.

The Monaco Pavilion at World Expo 2020, featuring a colourful geometric facade with vibrant patterns in shades of red, blue, and yellow. The pavilion's bold design is paired with a staircase leading up to the entrance, with flags of Monaco and the UAE flying above.
The Luxembourg Pavilion at Expo 2020, characterized by its sleek, modern white structure that curves elegantly like a ribbon. The pavilion is complemented by a large 'Luxembourg' sign at the front, combining the country's name with a bold, minimalist design.
The Iraq Pavilion at Expo 2020, showcasing a unique wave-like structure with an undulating yellow and red roof, supported by sleek metal framework. The pavilion is surrounded by a roped-off area, with the vibrant design capturing attention under the clear blue sky.

Expo 2020, Dubai, UAE

Expo 2020 was scheduled to run over the UAE winter, from October 2020 until March 2021.

When the travel world imploded thanks to the pandemic, like many major events, it was delayed for twelve months and eventually went ahead from October 2021 until March 2022.

For a while, it looked like I was going to miss out again, with Australia’s borders firmly closed, and then with such restrictive requirements that travel was all but impossible except for the most urgent trips.

The rules slowly loosened and we were able to visit Dubai in the last week that Expo 2020 (now in 2022) was running, albeit not without much paperwork, covid tests and incredulous Australians wondering if it was safe to travel.

The Bahrain Pavilion at Expo 2020, featuring a sleek, modern cube-like structure with reflective metallic surfaces. Abstract black elements protrude from the building's facade, adding an artistic touch to its minimalist design.
Intricate canopies at Expo 2020, featuring a latticework of metal that provides shade to the visitors below. The geometric patterns and grand scale of the canopies create a visually stunning and functional public space.
The Bhutan Pavilion at Expo 2020, showcasing traditional Bhutanese architecture with detailed, ornate patterns illuminated at night. The pavilion is adorned with flags and decorations that add to its cultural authenticity.

I had nine days in Dubai, then a week back in Sydney on return to Australia (we still couldn’t get back into South Australia without isolating).

I initially thought we might spend three days at the Expo, and spend the rest of the time visiting my cousin and enjoying some of the many other Dubai attractions on offer.

We ended up spending six and a half days at Expo, and we still didn’t see it all.

There was so much to see and do, with something fascinating around every corner. Even the small things entertained me – like the little robots giving information to the crowds or delivering food.

The architecture of the pavilions, mostly country-based with a national theme, was incredible, and their displays inside were some of the best technology could produced.

Smaller countries were grouped into less impressive buildings, but learning about places I’ve barely heard of was eye-opening.

The Spain Pavilion at Expo 2020, distinguished by its vibrant orange and yellow cone-shaped structures. The colorful design is complemented by palm trees surrounding the entrance, creating a lively and inviting atmosphere.
The Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2020, with a dramatic, angular roof that slopes downwards, creating a vast shaded area beneath it. The pavilion is bustling with visitors, highlighting its popularity and the grand scale of its design.
The Pakistan Pavilion at Expo 2020, featuring an impressive, futuristic structure with a facade that shimmers in iridescent shades of blue, green, and purple. The pavilion's name is prominently displayed in large letters in front of the building.

There were cultural displays, food from every corner of the world, light shows in the evenings, the incredible waterfall and so much more.

We made it our mission to visit all 216 pavilions, but we did fall a little short. Some of the most popular pavilions had lines hours long to see the incredible displays they had brought.

At each pavilion, we had our Expo passport stamped and ticked another country off the app – our guide to what we still had to see.

As we walked out of the Expo 2020 gates for the last time, we were already putting plans in place – we would be off the Osaka, Japan, in 2025 for the next iteration in the World Expo story.

Expo 2025, Osaka, Japan

Dubai might be known for being over-the-top, but Japan is known for their innovation, technology and futuristic outlook, all things I’m excited to see showcased at Expo 2025.

With the theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, the Osaka World Expo will take place from 13th April until 13th October.

It will be located on Yumeshima, an artificial island built just off the Osaka waterfront.

There are still a few months before it all kicks off, but you can already purchase tickets (available as season tickets or daily tickets) over on the official website now.

Planning a trip soon? Here are my favourite places to book

TRAVEL PLANNING ESSENTIALS

Find flights – I always use Skyscanner as my starting point when searching for flights. One search will give many options including airlines I may not have thought of. This means I can find the best possible flights to suit my needs

Book accommodation – my go to is always Booking.com for the best places to stay. It’s not just hotels anymore, but hostels, apartments, B&Bs and more. I love that the bookings are usually cancellable, and that I can book now and pay later.

Hire a rental car – RentalCars.com is my go to here. It allows me to do just one search and it finds cars from many of the different supplies, so no checking multiple websites to compare.

Get travel insurance – you would have heard by now that saying “if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel”. If we’ve learnt anything from the last couple of years it should be how essential travel insurance is. I use CoverMore for my insurance.

Pick up an eSIM – I tried an eSIM on my last trip and it was fantastic. I set it up before I went so it was ready as soon as I landed, and I still had access to my home number for emergencies. Get your own eSIM at Airalo.

Book activities, tours & attractions – I use a few different websites for this. Viator and Get Your Guide tend to be the first places I look. In Asia, Klook often has more options, and in Australia it’s Experience Oz.

Manage your money – the best way to manage your different currencies is with an account from Wise. You can hold money in many different currencies, and use them with the ATM card or from your phone.

Josie Kelsh

Josie will help you to plan your next trip filled with bucket list experiences balanced with budget travel. She discovered travel in her late thirties, but since then has travelled extensively, visiting more than 60 countries and taking an adult gap year. She is now based in Australia and loves sharing all she has learned about travelling on a budget but with the added comforts a Gen Xer requires.