10 Top Places to Visit in the World
There are so many wonderful destinations and beautiful places to visit around the world that assembling a list of the best can be difficult. Where will you take a traveler who has never traveled outside of his or her home town for some reason?
Great cities, such as New York, Paris, and London, must be included on every list of the world's best places to visit, as each is packed with a plethora of individual sights or must-see destinations. There are also individual sites, monuments, and places on the list, all of which are worth visiting in their own right.
Read our list of the best places to visit in the world for more suggestions about where to travel and what to do.
1. Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu, high in Peru's Andes mountains, is now thought to have been a holy royal refuge for the Incan rulers. The remote site, which was built in the 15th century AD and abandoned less than a century later, continues to amaze visitors with its perfectly joined, mortarless, intricate stonework. Without the use of mortar or cement, large multi-ton blocks of stone are perfectly joined together.
The path to Machu Picchu usually begins in the mountain city of Cusco, which acted as the Inca Empire's capital. Cusco is a fascinating city to visit, so plan on staying there for a few days before or after your Machu Picchu adventure.
The Inca Trail can be hiked from Cusco to Machu Picchu. The entire hike takes five days, but you can start at the beginning and do a one-, two-, or three-day hike along the way. The majority of visitors travel by train from Cusco, which takes approximately three and a half hours.
2. The Grand Canyon, Arizona
This amazing natural wonder can be found in the state of Arizona in the United States. It's one of those stunning locations where images and video simply don't do it justice because of its sheer scale and reach.
The 277-mile-long canyon is thought to have begun about five to six million years ago, thanks to geology created over the past two billion years, yeah, billion. The Colorado River carved it out, and it still runs through it, eroding the geology as it goes. The Grand Canyon can be up to 18 miles wide and a mile deep in some areas. Imagine standing on the edge of a sheer rock wall, staring down nearly a mile to the river below.
The South Rim draws the majority of tourists, and there are a number of accommodations available, ranging from tents to a rustic luxury canyon-side resort made of logs. On the isolated North Rim, there are just a few places to stay, and they're all booked up years in advance.
The historic Grand Canyon Railway, which operates from Williams, Arizona, is used by many travelers to get to the canyon. With food and live music aboard, the 64-mile rail line is a fun way to get to the canyon. The canyon is about a three-and-a-half-hour drive north of Phoenix for those traveling (or south from Las Vegas).
3. Rome, Italy
The Eternal City resembles a huge, living museum. Thousands of years of history are submerged and surrounded by visitors. It's a small city, so a three-day itinerary will allow you to see the most important sights.
The Colosseum and neighboring Roman Forum, the Pantheon, and Vatican City, a separate country in the center of central Rome, are all must-see places for any tourist.
Spend some time exploring Rome's outskirts as well. Consider a hike along a portion of the Appian Way, the ancient Roman superhighway, that is lined with tombs, as well as a visit to one of the city's aqueduct ruins.
4. Maui, Hawaii
Visitors may enjoy a variety of activities on this Hawaiian island. Surfing, dining on the beach at a five-star luxury resort in Wailea, horseback riding through a dormant volcano in Haleakala National Park, and hiking through a rainforest in the West Maui Mountains are all possibilities. The natural scenery is breathtaking; it is without a doubt one of the world's most beautiful islands.
From rustic hippie bungalow bed and breakfasts to five-star luxury resort hotels, there is something for everyone here when it comes to lodging. Wailea is the beachfront Beverly Hills of Maui, with all the luxurious resorts. If you're staying here, make an attempt to get out and about in Kihei, where the locals congregate.
5. Masai Mara, Kenya
The Masai Mara in Kenya is a spectacularly biodiverse region and a popular safari destination. It's a chance to see all five of the "big five" (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo) in one ride or, if you're lucky, one afternoon.
The Masai Mara National Reserve park covers over 1,500 square kilometers of mostly grassland, stretching all the way to Tanzania's Serengeti plain. The two-yearly migrations, the main one occurring in July and August, are the most common times to visit. Over a million wildebeest and other animals migrate in big groups around the area to get from one feeding area to the next. Most visitors arrive in Nairobi and then travel to the Mara in a small bush plane.
6. Montreal, Canada
You might think you're in France as you listen to French being spoken all around you and walk through Old Montreal's narrow cobblestone streets. The historic district is full of charming shops and cafés; this Canadian city will provide a taste of Europe in North America.
The city's food scene is also booming, with many prominent farmers markets such as the Atwater Market and the Jean Talon Market. It's also known for its bagels, which are served hot and fresh by a variety of must-see bakeries.
Visit the magnificent Notre-Dame Basilica and take a drive up Mount Royal, the city's name-giving big hill (or low mountain). You'll be rewarded with spectacular views that stretch all the way to the port.
7. New Zealand
This island nation is one of the world's best places to visit, thanks to its striking natural beauty, welcoming inhabitants, and recent success as a filming location for the Lord of the Rings films (among others). New Zealand's biodiversity is incredible, and it's thought to be one of the last areas on the planet to have human inhabitants.
Begin your journey in Auckland, the capital city, which is rich in culture, history, and museums. Spend some time on the water and at the beach at Waitemata Harbour, which features beaches as well as a variety of sailing and boating events.
Visit Rotorua to learn about and experience indigenous Maori culture, and Queenstown to sample the country's diverse variety of outdoor extreme sports. Remember, this is the birthplace of bungee jumping.
8. Istanbul, Turkey
Another destination with a great mix of culture, food, and history is Turkey's capital city. Thousands of years of history can be found here, beginning with the Ancient Greeks and Romans and continuing through the Ottoman Empire.
It is an Islamic country with a secular government, making it an ideal destination for Western tourists interested in learning about Islamic culture. Unlike everywhere else, this place has a rare combination of the modern and the classic. You can spend the night at a wonderful restaurant, eating delicious Turkish food and dancing to Turkish music, and then wake up to the sound of the Ezan, or Islamic call to prayer in the morning. It reverberates through the city's rooftops, broadcast from loudspeakers atop the city's mosque minarets.
Istanbul has excellent public transportation, making it easy to get around and see all of the city's main attractions. The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, and Topkapi Palace are all must-sees.
9. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat is the world's largest religious venue, situated just outside the Cambodian city of Siem Reap. It was built as a Hindu temple and mausoleum for the Khmer ruler in the early 12th century, before being converted to a Buddhist temple at the end of the century. Only a tiny part of a huge ancient city. The temple area of Angkor Wat was separated from the city and palace area of Angkor Thom. There are hundreds of other ruins in the city, all of which were once part of Angkor's ancient capital.
Daily flights from Hong Kong and other major Asian cities now make Siem Reap and its temples and ruins very available. From budget guesthouses to opulent luxury resorts, and everything in between, there's something for everyone.
10. London, England
This historic English city is another destination with a plethora of interesting sights to see. A trip to London allows you to see famous landmarks such as the Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London.
Take advantage of the city's status as a cultural hub by attending a West End theater production or a Royal Albert Hall musical performance. In addition to fine dining, luxury hotels, and world-class shopping, modern London is a city of fine dining, luxury hotels, and world-class shopping.
The huge British Museum is free and typically very crowded, so don't skip it. Make time to visit The Wallace Collection on Oxford Street, a free museum. It houses one of the world's most valuable furniture and porcelain collections, as well as several important Old Master paintings.
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