Top 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Best of UNESCO
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If you’re building a bucket list of some of the best places in the world to visit, these 10 UNESCO sites are a great place to start.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu sits high in the Andes and ranks near the top of most travel top 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites lists for good reason—Inca engineering on a mountaintop never stops being impressive. If you're checking off UNESCO world heritage sites in Peru, this one is non-negotiable.
Read about other Ancient Ruins UNESCO sites Across Mexico.
The ancient Incan ruins of Machu Picchu are one of the best UNESCO sites in the world. The city ruins, high in the Andes Mountains, are well preserved. Its hilltop location makes it one of the most breathtaking sites in the world.
How To Get To Manchu Picchu
Most international flights land in the capital city of Peru, Lima. From Lima, you'll need to take a domestic flight or a bus to Cusco, which is the nearest major city to Machu Picchu. From Cusco, you will take a train or bus to the site. You can also hike the Inca Trail for a days-long immersive experience.
Because of the complexity of visiting the site, it makes a lot of sense to book a tour in advance. Our partners Viator and Get Your Guide offer great options.
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is massive, fragile, and slowly disappearing—which is why it’s always near the top of UNESCO top 10 world heritage sites rankings. It’s a must for divers, though most visitors settle for day trips from Cairns or Airlie Beach.
Check out our other visits to Australia.
The world's largest coral reef system located off the coast of Australia is not only one of the most beautiful places in the world; it’s also a vital marine ecosystem. Lovers of SCUBA and snorkeling will be in heaven observing the marine life, including fish, turtles, and coral formations.
How To Visit the Great Barrier Reef
The Reef stretches over 1,430 miles (2,300 km) along the Queensland coast of Australia. You’ll need to pick an entry point. The most popular are Cairns, Port Douglas, and the Whitsunday Islands.
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal might be the most famous of all Indian UNESCO World Heritage Sites and definitely tops the list UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. Don’t be fooled by the photos—it’s bigger and whiter than you expect, and yes, it’s worth the hype.
Certainly one of the most famous buildings in the world, the Taj Mahal is an architectural masterpiece symbolizing eternal love and devotion. The busy site is on everyone’s bucket list.
How To Visit the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, India. If you're coming from abroad, you can fly into Delhi and then take a train or hire a car to Agra. The Journey takes about four hours by car. A prearranged tour is recommended.
Great Wall of China
Stretching for thousands of miles, the Great Wall is a headliner among China UNESCO World Heritage Sites and one of the most visited landmarks on Earth. Most tourists hit the section near Beijing, but remote stretches still exist if you want fewer crowds and more wall.
Check out our other visits to China.
Walk along the ancient ramparts of the Great Wall, an awe-inspiring feat of human engineering. The wall spans thousands of miles across varied terrain. Visiting the entire wall is almost impossible, so plan ahead to visit parts of the wall that interest you most.
How To Visit The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall stretches over 13,000 miles (21 km), with various sections open to visitors. If you’re in Beijing, visit Badaling, one of the most visited and easily accessible wall locations. It's well-restored and offers unparalleled views, but it can get crowded.
Slightly farther from Beijing, Mutianyu offers a less crowded experience with similar beautiful scenery.
Jinshanling and Simatai are further from Beijing but offer a less touristy experience. They're popular among hikers and photographers.
Pyramids of Giza
The Egypt UNESCO World Heritage Sites list doesn’t get more iconic than the Pyramids of Giza. They're dusty, chaotic, and absolutely essential—still standing after 4,000+ years of desert life.
The iconic Pyramids of Giza have withstood the test of time for over 4,000 years. For some, they are shrouded in mystery. It’s the finest example of ruins from the ancient Egyptian civilization.
How To Visit The Pyramids of Giza
The Pyramids of Giza are located on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt's capital city. Cairo is widely accessible by international flights. Once in Cairo, you can arrange transportation to the Pyramids of Giza. Many visitors opt for taxis, tour buses, or private tours. It's about a 30-minute drive from central Cairo to the pyramids.
Acropolis of Athens
The Acropolis dominates the skyline in central Athens and earns its place on the top 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe list through sheer historical weight. You’ll get the best view from below, especially when it’s lit up at night.
Read our One Day Cruise Port Athens Itinerary.
The Acropolis of Athens’ most famous structure, the Parthenon is at the center of the ancient Greek ruins. The hilltop archaeological site is rich in history. While it does get crowded, we offer some tips to get in and out quickly in the above-linked post.
How To Visit The Acropolis of Athens
The Acropolis of Athens is located in central Athens and is accessible via public transportation and taxi/rideshare. We visited via cruise ship, which was a great way to visit the site.
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat isn’t just a temple—it’s an entire ancient city swallowed by jungle, ranking it high on the top 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Asia. It’s one of the most visited UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Cambodia, and you’ll want to start at sunrise if you’re trying to beat the tour bus crowd.
Read our One Day In Angkor Wat Itinerary.
Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world. The massive site includes the famous central temple with intricate stone carvings. Numerous other buildings surround the site which itself is surrounded by jungle.
How To Visit Angkor Wat
Siem Reap is the gateway to the Angkor Archaeological Park. You can reach Siem Reap by air from major cities in Southeast Asia or by land from other parts of Cambodia. We included a visit during our time in Thailand with a quick flight from nearby Bangkok.
We highly recommend hiring a driver for the day. The numerous temples are spread out with little to see between sites. It would be a very long day if you tried to walk between each site.
Venice and its Lagoon
Venice and its Lagoon top most Italy UNESCO World Heritage Sites lists and continue to draw crowds despite the rising water and rising prices. It’s one of those UNESCO World Heritage Italy entries where the setting is just as notable as the architecture.
You don’t get more picturesque than Venice. The virtually car-free city is filled with elegant palaces, Renaissance art, and historic landmarks, connected by canals.
How To Visit Venice
The closest airport to Venice is the Marco Polo Airport, which is well-connected to major cities in Europe and other parts of the world. It’s an easy train or boat ride to the city center from the airport.
Venice also has a major train station called Venezia Santa Lucia, which is located near the Grand Canal and is well-connected to other cities in Italy and Europe.
Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands aren’t just one of the UNESCO top 10 World Heritage Sites, they were the first one ever listed. It’s not easy or cheap to get there, but for wildlife nerds and serious bucket-listers, it’s worth the effort.
The Galápagos Islands, made famous by Charles Darwin is a natural wonderland. Here you can view wildlife found nowhere else on Earth.
How To Visit The Galápagos Islands
The main airport in the Galápagos is located on Baltra Island and San Cristóbal Island. You'll need to fly from mainland Ecuador (usually Quito or Guayaquil) to one of these airports.
To explore the Galápagos Islands, you'll need to book tours or cruises with licensed operators. Tours range from day trips to multi-day excursions, and cruises vary in length and itinerary.
Stonehenge, Avebury, and Associated Sites
Stonehenge and Avebury are UNESCO World Heritage Sites in England that combine ancient mystery with very modern parking logistics. You’ll get the better photo at Avebury, but Stonehenge wins out in every top 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe roundup.
Read our full post about our visit to Stonehenge.
The ancient monuments of Stonehenge and Avebury, hold myth and mystery. The iconic sites are on everyone’s bucket lists. Stonehenge in particular is an iconic representation of prehistoric Britain.
How To Visit Stonehenge
Stonehenge is located in Wiltshire, England, about 13 kilometers (8 miles) north of Salisbury. The nearest major city is London, which is approximately 145 kilometers (90 miles) east of Stonehenge. You can easily travel to Stonehenge by car, bus, or train from London or other nearby cities.
We booked an excursion from London that also included a stop in Bath, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Top 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
Machu Picchu (Peru)
Great Barrier Reef (Australia)
Taj Mahal (India)
Great Wall of China (China)
Pyramids of Giza (Egypt)
Acropolis of Athens (Greece)
Angkor Wat (Cambodia)
Venice and its Lagoon (Italy)
Galápagos Islands (Ecuador)
Stonehenge, Avebury, and Associated Sites (United Kingdom)
