Bucket List Must-Sees
Begun in 1972, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)'s list of World Heritage Sites comprises over 1000 landmarks across 170 countries. These World Heritage Sites are a testament to the long history and varied cultures of humanity. Ancient ruins, one-of-a-kind architecture, and natural paradises, these are 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites you should consider for your next vacation.
1. Petra
Carved out of sandstone, the ancient city of Petra was the capital city of the Nabateans, a nomadic Arab civilization. Following a catastrophic earthquake and historical decline, Petra was virutally unknown to the Western world until 1812. Today, this lost-then-found city is Jordan's top tourist destination.
2. The Great Wall Of China
Visible from space, the Great Wall of China is the largest man-made structure ever built! Stretching over 13,000 miles across northern China, construction first began in the 7th century BCE, though the most recognizeable sections were built during the Ming Dynasty. Technically, the Great Wall isn't actually a "wall", but a series of fortifications against nomads of the Steppe.
3. Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is one of the most diverse places on the planet. Covering 5700 square miles (approximately the size of Connecticut), Serengeti National Park is home to thousands of iconic African animals such as zebras, lions, and wildebeest. Every year, this park is host to the Great Migration of millions of animals in a race for life.
4. Easter Island
Located 2000 miles of the coast of Chile, Easter Island is one of the most isolated places on Earth. Called Rapa Nui by its indigenous inhabitants, Easter Island was first settled by Polynesians around 1200 CE. Easter Island is known for more than 900 moai—enormous statues used for ceremonial purposes.
5. L'Anse aux Meadows
Forget Christopher Columbus sailing the ocean blue, the Vikings were the first Europeans to land on North America's shores, and they left artifacts to prove it. Located at the northern tip of Newfoundland, Canada, L'Anse au Meadows is the only Viking settlement known to be established in North America. Artifacts found correspond with stories of Leif Erikson in the Vinland Sagas.
6. Sagrada Família
One of several buildings designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí to receive this designation, the Sagrada Familía is one of the most famous churches in the world. Begun in 1882 and still unfinished, the Sagrada Familía's flying buttresses and twisted towers give way to a kaledescopic masterpiece of stained glass inside.
7. Hagia Sophia
Technically, the entirety of historic Istanbul is included, but the grand mosque of Hagia Sophia deserves its own shoutout. Completed in 360, the Hagia Sophia literally changed the history of architecture with its use of domes and iconic design. Formerly the seat of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and a museum, the Hagia Sophia was reclassified as a mosque in 2020.
8. Chauvet Cave
Hidden away in Southern France is one of humanity's first art galleries. Chauvet Cave contains some of the oldest-known cave paintings of animals and humans, the oldest dating back some 36, 000 years! While the original Chauvet Cave is closed for visitors, Chauvet Cave 2, a near-perfect replica, is easily accessible.
Thomas T. from somewhere on Earth on Wikimedia
9. Leshan Giant Buddha
Carved directly into a cliff face in China's Sichuan province, the Leshan Giant Buddha certainly lives up to its name. At 233 feet tall, not only is this sculpture the largest Buddha in the world, but it's also the tallest pre-modern statue in the world. It's also one of the holiest sites in Buddhism.
10. Yosemite National Park
While America has no shortage of National Parks, Yosemite is one of the most recognizable for a reason. Featuring lush meadows, plunging waterfalls, and giant sequoias, Yosemite was first placed under federal protection in 1864, though it had to wait nearly 30 years to become an official national park. Yosemite helped establish the National Park System and sees over 4 million visitors a year.
11. Hegra Archaeological Site
Another stunning example of Nabataean architure and hydraulic expertise, Hegra Archeaological Site is a complex of tombs and cisterns. Hegra was Saudi Arabia's first World Heritage Site, and one of the least-visited since Saudi Arabia only started allowing tourist visas in 2019.
KHAWAJA UMER FAROOQ on Unsplash
12. Shönbrunn Palace
The former seat of Austria's Hapsburg dynasty, Schönbrunn Palace has some of Vienna's finest Baroque architecture. Today, you don't need to be royalty to visit the place where six-year-old Mozart gave his first major concert. Don't miss out on the gardens and grounds when you visit!
13. The Forbidden City
Beijing's Forbidden City was the site of supreme power for over five centuries. Almost 10,000 rooms showcase traditional Chinese palatial architecture as well as almost 2 million pieces of art from the Ming and Qing dynasties. No visit to Beijing is complete without a stop at the Forbidden City.
14. Jaipur
The capital of the northern Indian state of Rajasthan, Jaipur is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Jaipur was the first planned city in India, resulting in smooth and balanced avenues. The city was painted pink in 1876 to welcome the Prince of Wales, as pink was symbolic of hospitality.
15. The Silk Roads
Spanning from China to Turkey, the Silk Roads were an interconnected series of trade routes that linked East and West. Located predominantly in China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, the Silk Roads carried not only material goods, but also ideas and cultures.
16. Great Pyramids Of Giza
The oldest one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one still standing, the Great Pyramids of Giza truly have to be seen to be believed. Built over 4500 years ago to house the great pharaohs of the Old Kingdom, the pyramids are one of the most recognizable cultural sites in the world. According to the Egyptian tourism ministry, more than 14 million people visit the pyramids annually.
17. Angkor Wat
The largest religious complex in the world, Angkor Wat was once the capital city of the Khmer civilization. The Khmer were one of the largest, most prosperous, and most sophisticated kingdoms in Southeast Asia. Angkor Wat is synonymous with Cambodia, even being featured on the country's flag.
18. Medina Of Fez
While Rabat may be the political capital of Morocco, Fez is considered the spiritual and cultural capital. The walled inner city, or "medina" was one of the centers of the Islamic Golden Age. One notable feature is the University of al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 857, and considered the oldest site of higher learning in the world.
19. Taj Mahal
Not only is the Taj Mahal one of the most iconic symbols of India, it's also a literal monument to everlasting love. The great Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, commissioned this mausoleum to house the body of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Today, the Taj Mahal is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
20. Museum Island
Berlin's Museum Island was constructed between 1830 and 1930 and comprises five world-class museums. Most of these museums, including the famous Pergamon Museum, focus on classical antiquities and sculptures. Museum Island should be at the top of any history buff's bucket list.
