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The whole wide world is waiting for you, and you’re facing a huge problem: where to start experiencing it? Break down the choices with this list of the best places to visit globally to begin your journey as a globetrotter.
15 of the Best Places to Visit in the World
The world is full of wonders, from architectural marvels to financial districts. Some places on this list are museums, hosting the pinnacle of mankind’s creative capabilities.
Others are natural wonders created by forces unknown, unreplicable, and precious. The world holds adventures untold, and our job is to go out there and experience them in their fullness!
1. Forbidden City, Beijing, China
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The Forbidden City is a palace, with the surrounding buildings enclosed by ornate architecture. Temples and gardens also ring the palace, creating a stunning complex that represents the life that those at the height of imperial China once enjoyed.
Read Next: The Best Time to Visit Italy in 2023
2. The Colosseum, Rome, Italy
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Many ruins of the ancient world are still in existence and are impressive because they were once the largest of their kind. The Colosseum in Italy has yet to relinquish its title. The Colosseum is the largest standing amphitheater on the planet.
No structure in ancient or modern history has surpassed its size. It has hosted competitions and entertainment for the ages, all for crowds of hundreds of thousands throughout the millennium.
Read Next: Where to Stay in Rome and The Best & Worst Times to Visit Rome
3. Times Square, New York City, United States
NEW YORK CITY – DEC 01 Times Square ,is a busy tourist intersection of neon art and commerce and is an iconic street of New York City and America, December 01th, 2013 in Manhattan, New York City/Luciano Mortula – LGM/Shutterstock
With all eyes trained on it each New Year’s Eve, Times Square in New York City is an iconic plaza. Seeing over 300,000 people daily, it serves as the thrumming heart of a city that never sleeps.
Digital billboards illuminate the plaza, creating much of the iconic scenery that makes Times Square highly regarded today.
Read Next: Is New York City Safe to Visit in 2023?
4. The Louvre, Paris, France
Paris, France – OCTOBER 2016. Louvre Museum. Famous historical art landmark in Europe. Romantic, tourist, architecture, beautiful symbol. Day. Toned/Sergii Molchnko/Shutterstock
The Louvre is the most visited museum worldwide, hosting nearly 10 million tourists annually. The iconic pyramid-shaped museum hosts over fifteen acres of unique and incredible art to be witnessed by visitors.
Some of the collections of this museum on the banks of the Seine include incredibly famous works of art, including the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa.
Read Next: Where to Stay in Paris and Is Paris Safe to Visit?
5. The Taj Mahal, Agra, India
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A massive tomb to honor a lost spouse, the Taj Mahal is a stunning artifact of grief and architecture sure to impress any fans of the modern age. The emperor that commissioned it, Shah Jahan, and his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, are enshrined there.
Of great significance to Islam as a vital piece of art and culture, the Taj Mahal is a beautiful place to visit and honor the life and death of those who came before us and what it means to be human.
Read Next: The Best & Worst Times to Visit India in 2023
6. Las Vegas Strip, United States
LAS VEGAS – AUG 06 : View of the strip on August 06 , 2013 in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately 4.2-mile (6.8 km) stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada/Kobby Dagan/Shutterstock
In an unincorporated portion of the state of Nevada, there’s a strip of land just over four miles long. It contains some of the most iconic hotels, restaurants, and theatres on the planet.
The Las Vegas Strip is an incredibly unique location, featuring casinos around every corner and a wide variety of attractions. Live sports also happen on the strip, including football, boxing, and women’s basketball. The strip even has golf and thrill rides.
Read Next: Is Las Vegas Safe to Visit and The Best Hotels in Las Vegas
7. Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
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The largest of the Egyptian pyramids, the Great Pyramid of Giza, is the tomb of a Pharaoh known as Khufu. For nearly 4,000 years, this burial site was the tallest human-made structure on Earth.
This monument to human achievement is still an impressive feat of architecture. It speaks to the capacity of humans to use math and science for thousands of years.
Read Next: The Best & Worst Times to Visit Egypt in 2023
8. Niagara Falls, North America
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Accessible year-round to be witnessed by those looking to experience the bountiful beauty available in Niagara Gorge, Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls in Niagara Gorge.
The falls have the highest flow rate of any waterfall in North America. Formed by the movement of glaciers across the continent, the falls represent the area’s majestic beauty.
Read Next: The Best & Worst Times to Visit Niagara Falls
9. Machu Picchu, Peru
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Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel in modern-day Peru. Relatively untouched by the ravages of colonization, it is one of the best-preserved sites we have of the era before the Europeans attacked the American people.
As it is believed that the Incans preferred non-written forms of communication, and their oral traditions were lost when colonization decimated their peoples, much of the records of Machu Picchu were lost.
It is a site of great mystery and mourning. However, it is still a beautiful place to visit and bear witness to the majesty of civilization only recently lost.
Read Next: The Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu in 2023
10. The Maldives
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A chain of over a thousand islands, the Maldives is a brilliant destination for those looking to escape the stress of life and the modern world. A stunning place of crystal blue waters and white sands, visit a country known for its fishing and tourism industry.
Read Next: The Best Resorts in the Maldives and The Best Time to Visit the Maldives
11. The Great Wall of China
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One of the vastest construction projects ever undertaken by man, the Great Wall of China’s continuing existence is a testament to the enduring spirit of humans.
Composed of many walls and sections, the Great Wall is still available to be visited and witnessed by those looking to see a structure erected hundreds of years ago by people looking to keep their country and homeland safe.
12. Northern Lights, Ireland
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Whether you call them aurora, northern lights, polar lights, or something else entirely, there’s no denying the incredible spectacle of colorful ribbons tearing across the night sky over parts of high latitude earth.
Stunning and unforgettable, there are a few ways to catch the Northern Lights, and one of them is booking a trip to Ireland during a certain time of year with people known to chase the lights to try to see them for yourself. Good luck!
Read Next: The Best Places to Visit in Ireland
13. Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia
SYDNEY AUSTRALIA – 16 JUNE, 2013 : Opera House view with beautiful sky from ferry in evening on 16 June, 2013 in Sydney, Australia/Structuresxx/Shutterstock
Recognizable by its iconic swooping architecture, the Sydney Opera House is a performing arts center in the heart of Australia that serves as an icon for the city.
With over 1,500 performances hosted in the venue annually, there is sure to be a show that appeals to you and your compatriots available at the Opera House during your visit.
Read Next: The Best & Worst Times to Visit Sydney in 2023
14. Venice, Italy
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Venice is a unique city of great historical significance to its region due to its former status as a hub for maritime trade.
The city is composed of over a hundred islands, separated by canals and connected by over 400 bridges. Besides the bridges, the city is famously navigated by boats and iconic gondolas.
Read Next: The Best Time to Visit Venice and Where to Stay in Venice in 2023
15. The Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
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Home to some of the largest reptiles in the world, including the land iguana and the giant tortoise, the Galapagos islands of Ecuador are an ecological haven that has laid preserved for centuries.
A beautiful and educational site of untouched wildlife, the islands feature marine species unique to the islands due to special conditions only met there. A destination like no other, the Galapagos is a must-visit for the ecologically minded.
Read Next: The Best & Worst Times to Visit the Galapagos Islands
Things to Consider
Before heading out into this wide world of ours, there are a handful of things you’ll want to consider:
Budget
Look into conversion rates before your trip to get an idea of how expensive things may be in the destination country as opposed to your home. Even domestically, prices can vary dramatically from state to state.
This variation only increases as you travel from country to country. In addition, traveling itself is a significant budgetary consideration.
Plane tickets are an obvious one people usually remember, but you’ll also have to get around once you get to your destination. Whether using public transportation, renting a car, biking or even walking, you need to be strategic about fueling up and getting about.
Time of Year
There are so many aspects of your trip that are affected by the time of year. While the holidays may be an apparent time to visit, that’s also an easy way to guarantee that travel will be more congested.
Conversely, are the holidays that are happening domestically also happening in your destination? Is your destination having its holidays when you weren’t expecting them? Consider the weather as well, which may vastly differ from the environment in your country.
Interests
When planning your trip, get an idea of the interests of everyone you’ll be traveling with. If you’ve got someone with a fear of heights, don’t make the entirety of the trip hiking on cliffsides. If you’ve got somebody with a hunger for adventure, try not to spend too much time in museums.
Keep the foodies engaged with fun eateries, keep the curious photographer’s eyes open, and most importantly remember that everyone in your group is a person with needs, including rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Before diving into trip planning, look into what other travelers are wondering when it comes to picking where to visit:
What is the most beautiful place on earth to visit?
Finding the most beautiful place on Earth to visit will depend on what you find most aesthetically pleasing. Some find that the most awe-inspiring views are found in witnessing the pinnacle of ancient humanity’s achievements, like the Pyramids of Giza.
Others marvel at the miracle of erosion at the Grand Canyon in the United States of America. Some prefer beautiful beaches like the famous Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. The most beautiful place on Earth is something that only you can decide, so you’ll need to get out there and explore to find it.
What is the number one tourist destination in the world?
France is the most popular place to visit, drawing in over ninety million visitors per year. Part of what makes France such a popular option for visitors is its delicious cuisine and thriving art scene, as well as a host of other cultural influences and landmarks.
And don’t forget the Eiffel Tower! France, Spain, and the United States of America are the next two most popular places to visit.
What is the best destination in the world?
Some of the world’s most popular destinations are the Disneyland parks, available across multiple continents. The New York Times famously said that the sun never sets on a Disney Park. This indicates that between their locations and the way the parks are open, there is always a Disney resort open.
There are two Disney resorts in America, one in California and one in Florida. Tokyo Disney Resort is a massively popular vacation destination, as is Disneyland Paris. The last two Disney resorts are Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Shanghai Disney Resort.
What is the best country to enjoy?
Many globetrotters call Italy the best country to enjoy. With excellent cuisine and wine, you’re sure to travel with a full stomach and a happy expression while there is a certainty. In addition, the landscape of Italy is stunning.
Another country that tends to rank highly is Switzerland, which is considered to be a very pleasant place to live.
What are the three most visited places in the world?
According to one study, the top most visited cities in the world are Bangkok, Paris, and London. One of the biggest draws of majestic Bangkok is the Grand Palace in the heart of the city. The street food of Bangkok also gives you direct access to some of the best Thai cuisine in existence.
Paris, of course, features some of the best breakfasts in the world, with pastries and coffee galore to sample. London has historical sites of great significance to most of the world, given England’s extensive colonization of the globe.
So, What are the Best Places to Visit in the World?
The best places to visit in the world are the places that best pique your interests. Theme parks are a massive draw for some, whereas others enjoy the appeal of the natural world.
Tropical beaches may be the best choice for those of a warm temperament, while others would prefer the icy slopes of western Europe. Traveling the world means looking for what interests you and going after it, experimenting with trial and error, and embracing challenges along the way.
Check out great food and adventure as you go to make the most of your travels, and do lots of research to try to have a great trip. And that’s where our guides come in. So what are you waiting for — start booking your trip today!