The 35 Most Famous Landmarks in the World

The Icons: Places 1–5 of the Most Famous Landmarks in the World

Eiffel Tower

Where? Paris in France

Visitors per year: about 7 million

We put THE ultimate icon at number 1: the Eiffel Tower. Hard to believe it used to be hated. Today everyone knows and loves the “naked steel tower.”

Many tourists even travel to Paris just for the Eiffel Tower. It may not be the most visited landmark on our list, but it’s almost certainly the most beloved and most famous attraction in the world.

The Eiffel Tower has three levels you can go up to. It’s especially worth it at sunset. Then, after dark, comes the absolute highlight: every hour on the hour, the Eiffel Tower sparkles for five minutes in a dazzling light show.

Even if you’re traveling to Paris with kids, a visit is totally worth it. Our kids thought it was amazing.

Our tip for the Eiffel Tower: Book a ticket for the second level. The view of Paris from there is seriously impressive, and it’s usually less crowded than the top.

Statue of Liberty

Where? New York in the USA

Visitors per year: about 4 million
UNESCO World Heritage Site

Coming in at number 2 is yet another French creation: the Statue of Liberty. It was a gift from France to the United States and has stood in New York Harbor since 1886.

Of course, one of the most famous cities in the world would also have one of the most famous landmarks in the world. And the Statue of Liberty isn’t even the only New York attraction on this list.

Inside Lady Liberty, a staircase leads all the way up to her crown and torch. From there you get a stunning view of New York. On top of that, virtually all boat tours through New York pass right by the statue.

Our tip for the Statue of Liberty: We’d actually suggest skipping the climb inside — it’s time-consuming and the view from the pedestal isn’t as good as from a distance. Instead, take the free Staten Island Ferry past the statue — that’s where you’ll get the best photos.

Pyramids of Giza

Where? Giza in Egypt

Visitors per year: about 14 million

Ancient Wonder of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site

It’s time we got to one of the oldest known famous landmarks in the world — at least when it comes to man-made structures.

The Pyramids of Giza have stood in the middle of the desert for over 4,500 years and are the only ancient Wonder of the World still in existence. Even the Romans referred to them as ancient.

The largest of them — the Great Pyramid of Giza — was even the tallest building in the world for nearly 4,000 years.

Fun fact about the Pyramids of Giza: No one knows exactly how the enormous pyramids were built. With a giant ramp, some kind of crane, or maybe by aliens?

Great Wall of China

Where? In northeastern China

Visitors per year: about 10 million

New Wonder of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site

Our list just keeps going from one superlative to the next. At number 4: the Great Wall of China. The longest wall in the world and a New Wonder of the World.

The Great Wall of China isn’t a single continuous wall, though. It’s actually a wild mix of multiple walls that aren’t all connected to each other. Some sections even run parallel or cross each other. But even a single one of them already counts as the longest wall in the world.

The entire Great Wall is ten times as long as that single wall — totaling over 21,000 kilometers. They stretch across mountains, through deserts, and through forests. Some sections are weathered and overgrown, while others you can actually visit. Every year, over 10 million people do just that. It’s also one of the most spectacular filming locations in the world!

Fun fact about the Great Wall of China: Yes, the Great Wall is massive. But no, you can’t see it from space. That’s a widespread myth that many astronauts have already debunked.

Taj Mahal

Where? Agra in India

Visitors per year: about 8 million

New Wonder of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site

Let’s keep going with the New Wonders of the World. The Taj Mahal in India is one of them, which is why it earns a spot in our top five most famous landmarks in the world.

The breathtakingly beautiful structure was built nearly 400 years ago as a mausoleum by a Mughal emperor for his deceased wife. According to legend, he wanted to build a second, black Taj Mahal on the other side of the river for himself. That never happened. Instead, the emperor now lies beside his great love in the white Taj Mahal.

Fun fact about the Taj Mahal: The four minarets of the Taj Mahal lean slightly outward so they won’t destroy the mausoleum if they collapse in an earthquake.

Stars of Their Continents: Places 6–10 of the Most Famous Landmarks in the World

Colosseum

Where? Rome in Italy

Visitors per year: about 12 million

New Wonder of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site

At number 6 on our list of the most famous landmarks in the world, a European structure finally makes an appearance. The Colosseum is THE top attraction in Italy. If you’re in Rome, you absolutely have to stop by.

The Romans built the enormous amphitheater nearly 2,000 years ago. And it’s still standing — though no longer completely intact. Over the centuries it was damaged by earthquakes, fires, and stone pillaging. You can still visit it, though.

The Colosseum hosted gladiatorial combat, animal hunts, and even naval battles. Yes, they actually flooded the thing — wild!

Our tip for the Colosseum: Use the restroom before your visit. That sounds odd, but the lines for the bathrooms inside the Colosseum are incredibly long. Skip the wait and you’ll enjoy the experience so much more.

Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro

Where? Rio de Janeiro in Brazil

Visitors per year: about 2 million

New Wonder of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Christ the Redeemer statue (Cristo Redentor in Portuguese) is simply iconic. Seeing it in person is an absolute must when traveling to Brazil.

The statue stands over 38 meters tall on a mountain right in the middle of Rio de Janeiro, looking out over the entire city. From the city it looks quite small — but when you’re standing on its base, it’s truly impressive.

At night the statue is lit up, just like practically every world-famous landmark. But Cristo Redentor has a really cool trick: it’s sometimes illuminated to look like it’s wearing specific outfits. It has, for example, already “worn” Neymar’s jersey and an outfit honoring Taylor Swift.

Our tip for Christ the Redeemer: One of the best spots to photograph the statue is the Heliponto Mirante Dona Marta. You’re still quite far from the statue there, but significantly closer than you’d be from Rio de Janeiro itself.

Grand Canyon

Where? Arizona in the USA

Visitors per year: about 6 million

UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site

The Grand Canyon is gigantic — and it looks like it’s from another world entirely.

Over millions of years, the Colorado River carved out massive gorges in the rock. With their orange colors, they look incredibly cool. Inside the gorges you can hike, raft, or drive from viewpoint to viewpoint.

With 6 million visitors a year, the Grand Canyon is the second most visited national park in the USA — but it’s definitely the most famous.

Our tip for the Grand Canyon: Head to Yaki Point for sunset. It’s a less crowded vantage point, but the view is still absolutely stunning.

Mount Everest

Where? In northern Nepal

Visitors per year: about 30,000

UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site

From one natural wonder to the next: coming in at number 9 on our list of famous places in the world is Mount Everest.

The world’s tallest mountain rises nearly 8,900 meters into the sky. For comparison: airplanes fly at altitudes between 9,000 and 13,000 meters.

Every year, around 500–600 people successfully summit Mount Everest. But the ascent is brutal: freezing cold, low oxygen, and extreme weather conditions. Needless to say, none of our team has dared to make the climb — hehe.

Fun fact about Mount Everest: Climbing Mount Everest costs an average of 60,000 euros. Depending on how much support you need, it can even run up to 85,000 euros. Absolutely wild that so many people do it anyway!

Sydney Opera House

Where? Sydney in Australia

Visitors per year: about 10 million

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Australia’s most famous landmark is without a doubt the Sydney Opera House.

It became famous for its unique design. The sail-shaped roofs just look incredibly cool — no wonder it’s the most photographed attraction in Australia.

The Opera House hosts operas, concerts, and theater performances almost daily. But you can also take a guided tour of the building, offered every day in multiple languages.

Our tip for the Sydney Opera House: The best panorama of the Opera House is from the Harbour Bridge or on a harbor cruise.

Cult-Status Highlights: Places 11–15 of the Most Famous Landmarks in the World

Big Ben

Where? London in England

Visitors per year: about 20 million

UNESCO World Heritage Site

London has many world-famous landmarks. The most iconic of them is Big Ben.

Technically, only the massive bell inside the tower is called Big Ben, but the name is usually applied to the entire clock tower. Its official name is the Elizabeth Tower.

Only British citizens are allowed inside the tower, by the way. Luckily, Big Ben is already seriously impressive just from the outside.

Our tip for Big Ben: On the other side of the Thames, there’s a tunnel with a viewpoint at Westminster Bridge. You can get some really beautiful photos from there — though you may have to wait in line.

Machu Picchu

Where? In southern Peru

Visitors per year: about 1.5 million

New Wonder of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site
High up in the mountains of Peru lies the next famous landmark: Machu Picchu. The ancient city is so well hidden up there that it wasn’t rediscovered until 1911 — after being forgotten and abandoned for over 300 years.

During that time, nature reclaimed the city. Today the ruins still stand and you can explore them. You can get there by train, bus, guided tour, or on an incredible hike to Machu Picchu.

Our tip for Machu Picchu: We really recommend the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. Tina from our team did it and found it incredibly beautiful.

Burj Khalifa

Where? Dubai in the United Arab Emirates

Visitors per year: about 2 million

The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the newest landmark on our list. It’s not even 20 years old, yet it immediately made a name for itself as the tallest building in the world — which is exactly why it deserves a spot here.

The Burj Khalifa has several observation decks on different floors. The highest is on the 154th floor, at over 550 meters above ground. In perfect weather conditions, you can see 80–100 kilometers from up there.

Our tip for the Burj Khalifa: Combine your visit with the Dubai Fountain water show. It runs daily from 6–11 PM right next to the Burj Khalifa.

Times Square

Where? New York in the USA

Visitors per year: about 42 million

Now we’ve got another New York icon: Times Square.

It shows up in practically every movie and TV show set in New York. And even more impressive: it ranks number 4 among the most popular filming locations in the world. No wonder it makes the list of the most famous landmarks in the world.

Times Square is the pulsing heart of New York. Massive neon signs, crowds of people, and street performers — something is always happening here. Day or night. Most of all, of course, on New Year’s Eve for the famous Ball Drop — which also makes New York one of the best destinations for New Year’s Eve.

Our tip for Times Square: Just a few blocks away you’ll find the vegan restaurant P.S. Kitchen. The food there is really delicious.

Golden Gate Bridge

Where? San Francisco in the USA

Visitors per year: about 11 million

For the next landmark, we’re jumping from one coast of the USA to the other. Near San Francisco stands the famous Golden Gate Bridge.

It vies with London’s Tower Bridge for the title of most famous bridge in the world. We’d say the Golden Gate Bridge edges it out just a bit — the massive red structure looks absolutely incredible!

Our tip for the Golden Gate Bridge: Our favorite photo spot is Battery Spencer at the Marin Headlands. That’s where you’ll get the best shots.

In the Spotlight: Places 16–20 of the Most Famous Landmarks in the World

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Where? Pisa in Italy

Visitors per year: about 5 million

UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is probably the world’s most famous construction mistake. It started tilting during construction back in the 12th century — the ground was simply too soft for the heavy tower.

But that turned out to be its saving grace. Without the flaw, it would almost certainly never have become so famous. Today it’s one of the most popular photo props for tourists pretending to hold it up.

Fun fact about the Leaning Tower of Pisa: The tower isn’t the only leaning structure in Pisa. The entire city was built on soft ground — the bell tower of the Church of San Nicola leans too.

Niagara Falls

Where? Between the USA and Canada

Visitors per year: about 18 million

Niagara Falls is pure raw nature. With its enormous volume of water, it’s definitely one of the most impressive waterfalls in the world — and one of the most famous.

The falls form a natural border between the USA and Canada. You can view them from both countries, but the Canadian side gives you the better vantage point. Head to one of the observation platforms or take a boat tour right up to the falls.

Fun fact about Niagara Falls: In the 19th century, Niagara Falls stopped flowing for 30 hours. A massive ice jam blocked the Niagara River. During that time, people could actually walk around on the riverbed.

Stonehenge

Where? In southern England

Visitors per year: about 1.5 million

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Stonehenge is the oldest of the most famous landmarks in the world — among man-made structures, of course. It’s actually several hundred years older than the Pyramids of Giza!

That’s precisely why the massive stones are such a great mystery. Nobody knows why they were arranged the way they were. It could have been a temple, a star map, a settlement, or something else entirely. That only makes the site even more impressive.

Fun fact about Stonehenge: Stonehenge was auctioned off in 1915. The lucky winning bidder was Cecil Chubbs, who had actually only gone to the auction to buy dining room chairs. He later handed Stonehenge over to the British government.

Chichén Itzá

Where? On the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico

Visitors per year: about 2.5 million

New Wonder of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site

Chichén Itzá is THE Maya site par excellence and absolutely belongs among the most famous landmarks in the world. The Kukulkán Pyramid is the standout of the complex. It was built so that during the equinox, the shadow of a serpent appears to slither down the steps. How cool is that?

But the complex is much larger than just that pyramid. Chichén Itzá was once the capital of the Maya, so there are plenty of other ruins to explore.

Our tip for Chichén Itzá: Combine your visit with the Cenote Ik-Kil. Cenotes are karst sinkholes filled with water — perfect for a refreshing dip after your time at Chichén Itzá.

Sagrada Família

Where? Barcelona in Spain

Visitors per year: about 3.5 million

UNESCO World Heritage Site

A celebrated architect and a truly one-of-a-kind church — that combination could only produce one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Gaudí began construction in the late 19th century, and it’s still not finished.

One reason for that is the elaborate design. The facade alone, with its extraordinary wealth of detail, is already seriously impressive. And inside, it continues just as beautifully with soaring columns, intricate details, and enormous stained-glass windows.

Our tip for the Sagrada Família: Visit in the morning or evening. There are slightly fewer tourists at those times than at midday, and the sun is positioned so that it shines through the stained-glass windows — which makes the church even more stunning than it already is.

Famous Masterpieces: Places 21–25 of the Most Famous Landmarks in the World

Angkor Wat

Where? In northern Cambodia

Visitors per year: about 2.5 million

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Angkor Wat is the largest temple complex in the world. It’s so vast that Vatican City could fit inside it three times over!

The temples date back to the 12th century. Despite that, the structures are still remarkably well preserved. In some spots, though, nature has taken over — entire trees have grown right on top of the temples. It looks incredibly cool and creates a totally enchanted atmosphere.

Fun fact about Angkor Wat: The stones used to build the temple city came from over 50 kilometers away. They were most likely transported here via an elaborate system of canals.

Great Barrier Reef

Where? Off the eastern coast of Australia

Visitors per year: about 2 million

UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site

After the world’s largest temple complex, let’s move straight on to the world’s largest coral reef — a true natural wonder!

The Great Barrier Reef is home to over 1,500 different species of fish. They live among an incredible tangle of diverse corals. Nowhere else underwater is so colorful — perfect for snorkeling and diving.

Unfortunately, the reef is under threat from climate change, a crown-of-thorns starfish plague, and ship traffic. Hopefully it can recover, so we can keep it on this list for many years to come.

Fun fact about the Great Barrier Reef: Unlike the Great Wall of China, the Great Barrier Reef actually can be seen from space. It’s almost as large as Germany.

Notre Dame

Where? Paris in France

Visitors per year: about 13 million

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Notre-Dame is the second Paris landmark on our list of the world’s most famous places to visit — and it’s well-deserved. The cathedral draws about 13 million visitors a year. That’s nearly twice as many as the Eiffel Tower.

The church is a Gothic masterpiece and simply beautiful to behold.

In 2019, the massive church caught fire and parts of it even collapsed. But that only made Notre-Dame even more famous. Since late 2024, it has been restored and you can visit the interior once again.

Our tip for Notre-Dame: Once the towers reopen to visitors (expected in fall 2025), you absolutely have to go up. From the towers you get a wonderful view of Paris and can see the gargoyles on the roof up close.

Empire State Building

Where? New York in the USA

Visitors per year: about 4 million

After the Statue of Liberty and Times Square, New York has one more true icon: the Empire State Building. It stands right in the middle of Manhattan and was the tallest building in the world for nearly 40 years. And if that wasn’t enough to cement its fame, its starring role in King Kong definitely did the trick.

From the Empire State Building you get an incredible view of Manhattan — especially at night, when the whole city is lit up.

Our tip for the Empire State Building: For the best photos of the Empire State Building itself, head to Top of the Rock. The view of the building from there is stunning.

Vatican City

Where? Rome in Italy

Visitors per year: about 5 million

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. Its 44 hectares barely fit the famous St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, the Vatican Gardens, and a few other small buildings.

But they’re all packed with fascinating history and beautiful works of art. Front and center, of course, is the ceiling fresco in the Sistine Chapel.

Our tip for Vatican City: Enter through the eastern entrance via Via della Conciliazione — it’s far more impressive than the northern entrance to the Vatican.

A Little Less Spotlight: Places 26–30 of the Most Famous Landmarks in the World

Acropolis

Where? Athens in Greece

Visitors per year: about 4 million

UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Acropolis is one of the most famous sites of antiquity. It’s a hill that rises right up in the middle of Athens, topped with ancient temples. The most well-known is the Parthenon — it’s simply breathtaking how much of it is still intact.

From the Acropolis you get an incredible vista over Athens, one you can enjoy on a walk around the hilltop.

Our tip for the Acropolis: From Lycabettus Hill — the other major hill in Athens, visible in the upper right of the photo — you get a really beautiful view of the Acropolis.

Table Mountain

Where? Cape Town in South Africa

Visitors per year: about 5 million

UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site

Table Mountain is THE symbol of Cape Town. And it’s simply stunning — over 1,000 meters tall and completely flat at the summit. That’s how it got its name: it looks like a giant table, with the clouds that drift over it resembling a tablecloth.

The view from the top is incredible. You can see Cape Town, Lion’s Head, the Cape of Good Hope, and the ocean. It really doesn’t get much better than that.

Our tip for Table Mountain: Look into all the different ways to get up and back down before you go. It’s not just the cable car — you can also hike (please not alone!), join a guided tour, or even abseil down the mountain.

Hagia Sophia

Where? Istanbul in Turkey

Visitors per year: about 13.5 million

UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Hagia Sophia is the most famous landmark in Turkey. The massive mosque stands right in the heart of Istanbul.

In its early days, it was a Christian church — and actually served as one for longer than it has been a mosque. Hard to believe, isn’t it? You can even still see a few Christian mosaics inside.

The combination of Islamic and Christian elements is what makes it so special — and so famous. The enormous dome has certainly contributed to that as well.

Fun fact about the Hagia Sophia: Inside the Hagia Sophia stand two large marble urns. No one knows exactly what they’re for. They could have been fountains or had a religious significance.

Versailles

Where? Versailles in France

Visitors per year: about 7 million

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Coming in at number 29 is the Palace of Versailles. The last French attraction on our list — but what an attraction!

The palace is one of the most impressive in the world. So much luxury and grandeur in one place. The Sun King Louis XIV had it built in the 17th century and spared no expense. Many rooms are almost entirely gilded, there’s an enormous Hall of Mirrors, and elaborately designed gardens.

Our tip for the Palace of Versailles: If you visit on a Saturday in summer, you can watch the colorful water fountain shows in the gardens at night. Get your tickets as early as possible, though — they sell out fast.

Alhambra

Where? Granada in Spain

Visitors per year: about 2.5 million

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Let’s stay with famous palaces — though this time not one draped in gold and Baroque splendor, but rather one straight out of One Thousand and One Nights. The Alhambra fortress is not only the top highlight in Granada in Andalusia, but also one of the most visited attractions in Spain.

The Moorish palace owes its fame to its delightful gardens, intricate mosaics, and elegant arches. In fact, the Alhambra is more like a small city, with towers, museums, observation platforms, and palaces.

Our tip for the Alhambra: Arrive right at 8:30 AM when it opens. Most visitors don’t show up until between 9 and 10 AM, so you’ll have the Alhambra almost to yourself for half an hour.

More Under-the-Radar Highlights: Places 30–35 of the Most Famous Landmarks in the World

Ha Long Bay

Where? In northern Vietnam

Visitors per year: about 8 million

UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site

At number 31, we finally have another natural wonder on the list. Off the coast of northern Vietnam, nearly 2,000 towering limestone karsts rise up from Ha Long Bay. Sailing through them by boat is an incredible experience.

Some of the karsts have small beaches or caves you can explore. And dotted among them you’ll find floating fishing villages.

Our tip for Ha Long Bay: Besides Ha Long Bay, check out Cat Ba Island. It’s also located in the bay and is the largest island there — and it’s much less crowded than the other small islands in the bay.

Salar de Uyuni

Where? In southwestern Bolivia

Visitors per year: about 60,000

Next on our list of the most famous landmarks in the world is the complete opposite of Ha Long Bay: the Salar de Uyuni salt flats. They are the largest salt flats in the world and truly mind-blowingly vast.

The Salar de Uyuni looks like it’s from another planet. Just white — as far as the eye can see. After rain, the salt flats are even more spectacular. They transform into the largest mirror in the world. You’ve probably already seen a photo or two of it on Instagram.

Our tip for the Salar de Uyuni: We recommend visiting in May. April, October, and November are also great months. These are the transition months between the rainy and dry seasons — when you have the best chance of seeing the flats both dry and wet.

Djemaa El Fna

Where? Marrakech in Morocco

Visitors per year: about 8 million

UNESCO World Heritage Site

You’re now almost at the end of our list of the most famous landmarks in the world. For the third-to-last spot, we’ve included a famous market. Djemaa El Fna is the heart of Marrakech. A huge square filled with all kinds of stalls, and especially at night, there’s a lot going on.

On Djemaa El Fna you’ll be almost overwhelmed by impressions: colorful spices, street performers, traditional music, mouth-watering food aromas — but unfortunately also snakes and monkeys forced to pose for tourists.

Our tip for Djemaa El Fna: The best view of the market is from Café Le grand balcon du café glacier.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Where? Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates

Visitors per year: about 5.5 million

Everyone knows that the United Arab Emirates loves to go for superlatives. And the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is no exception. While it’s not quite the largest mosque in the world, it does have the largest chandelier AND the largest hand-knotted carpet in the world.

But the mosque itself is also stunning. It’s completely white with golden ornamentation — a truly spectacular photo subject.

Fun fact about the Sheikh Zayed Mosque: The materials for the mosque came from all over the world. The world’s largest chandelier we just mentioned? It was made in Germany.

Mount Fuji

Where? In central Japan

Visitors per year: about 300,000

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Last but not least, we have Mount Fuji. Japan’s highest peak, with its snow-capped summit rising above the flat surrounding landscape, looks simply majestic.

You can climb the volcano, which stands over 3,700 meters tall. But especially during peak season in July and August, enormous crowds do the same. So maybe it’s better to admire it from a distance? Either way, you’ll get great photos — as long as Mount Fuji isn’t hiding behind clouds.

Our tip for Mount Fuji: Hakone and Fuji-Q Highland offer a wonderful view of Mount Fuji. You can even see it from Tokyo.