There are more than 1,000 locations on the prestigious list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites a roster of places considered to be of outstanding value to humanity, whether for cultural or natural reasons. Listed below are the most stunning UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Archaeological Park comprises 12 main temples and scores of smaller structures, but the biggest and most important temple, the 12th-century Angkor Wat, is the star due to its trove of art and immense size: an area of nearly 99,000 acres, including forests.
Works of Antoni Gaudí, Spain
Antoni Gaudí may not have been from Barcelona by birth (he was actually from Reus, about an hour and a half away), but his buildings put the city on the map: the otherworldly towers of La Sagrada Familia, the color-splattered mosaics of Park Güell, and the impressionist-like florals of Casa Batlló (pictured).
Old City of Dubrovnik, Croatia
Whether you know it as King’s Landing or simply one of the World’s Most Beautiful Cities, there’s no denying the appeal of Dubrovnik. We suggest getting on top of the surrounding walls to take in the city—they stretch completely around the Old Town, and you can walk their entire 1.2-mile length.
Bagan, Myanmar
One of the most recognizable sacred sites on earth, Bagan features an exceptional range of Buddhist art and architecture, including temples, monasteries, frescoes, and sculptures. Don’t forget to visit Shwesandaw Pagoda (one of the most famous of the more than 2,000 ancient temples and shrines that remain) to take in the views of the sunset.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
One of the world’s best places for gorilla trekking, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park occupies 124 square miles in southwestern Uganda. As the name suggests, hacking through the park’s tangled undergrowth and thick tree canopy isn’t an easy day’s work—but it’ll feel like you have the jungle pretty much to yourself.
Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Do we really have to explain the allure of the Galápagos ? If you can, make your next travel goal to visit this of-another-time stretch of Ecuador, with dinosaur-like giant tortoises lumbering through the tall grass and real-life blue-footed boobies.
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, Canada
Consisting of national parks Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, and Yoho, the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks showcase both the country’s scenic beauty and ecological importance (you’ll find some important fossil sites here). The region’s 8,877 square miles are studded with mountain peaks, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, canyons, and limestone caves.
Danxia Landform, China
These striped, technicolor mountains are Mother Nature’s answer to Photoshop. Red sandstone and mineral deposits have been building up in China’s Danxia Landform Geological Park for more than 20 million years, causing the surreal layered effect.
Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
There’s a reason tourists swarm the Giza pyramid complex in Egypt: The Great Pyramid is ranked as one of Seven Wonders of the World, and dates back 4500 years.
Iguazu National Park, Argentina
On the Argentina-Brazil border, Iguazú Falls in the subtropical north consists of 200 falls reaching heights of 200 feet, making it one of the most stunning sites in the world, both visually and acoustically.