13 UNESCO World Heritage Sites To Visit in Your Lifetime
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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – or UNESCO – doesn’t take things lightly. If a destination is listed as a World Heritage Site, you know it has something special to offer. From ancient cities to natural landscapes, read on to discover 12 of the top sites to visit during your time on planet Earth.
The Acropolis, Athens, Greece
The Acropolis is an ancient citadel perched on a flat-topped limestone hill in Athens. It’s around 150 meters above sea level and is an important historical and archeological site. The Parthenon is the most significant of the site’s structures, and the Acropolis dates back to the 5th century BC. It’s truly awe-inspiring, not least due to how much of it still stands.
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Old Havana, Cuba
Old Havana is UNESCO-listed due to being the Caribbean’s most impressive city center. It’s packed with attractive, historic architecture, and the fact that it has remained faithful to its original layout also makes it stand out. The Cuban capital stands out with a unique fortification system, Baroque and Neoclassical buildings, and streets lined with classic cars.
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Machu Picchu, Peru
Trekking up to Machu Picchu, at over 2,400 meters above sea level, is the stuff that traveler legends are made of. It’s remarkable not only because of Inca culture but also because of the diversity of flora and fauna inhabiting the elevated area. The structures here also seem completely at one with the land they occupy.
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Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium
The Grand Place in Brussels is a UNESCO marvel, one of Europe’s most beautiful squares. The square is framed by decorated guild halls, the majestic Town Hall, and the King’s House, all showing the grandeur of Baroque architecture. Known for hosting the spectacular Flower Carpet event, the Grand Place was beautifully restored after its near destruction in 1695.
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Read also: Top Things To Do in Brussels
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia
The Great Barrier Reef off Queensland’s northeast coast is the world’s biggest and best-known reef site. Around 2,500 smaller reefs comprise the Great Barrier, with over 900 islands. The species diversity includes thousands of types of fish, corals, mollusks, seabirds, and other marine creatures.
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Easter Island, Chile
Easter Island, or Rapa Nui National Park, is a Chilean territory famed for its moai. These are angular, human-like stone statues with oversized heads. The island is around 2,300 miles off Chile’s coast and is the world’s remotest populated island.
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The Great Wall of China
It might be difficult to believe that the Great Wall of China only made it onto the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1987. The wall was built more than 2,000 years ago, for defensive purposes. It was meant to protect the Silk Road trade and guard China against invasion.
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Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
If there’s one place in the world to view wildlife in their natural habitat, then the Serengeti has to be it. The National Park is famous for the annual migration of zebras, gazelles, and wildebeests, so book early if you want to witness this phenomenon. Endangered species in the park include black rhinoceros, cheetahs, elephants, and wild dogs.
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Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Though the entrance might be incongruously tucked away down a dusty side street, that’s soon forgotten once you catch sight of this magnificent mausoleum. It was built between 1632 and 1648 in memory of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s wife. Though it looks fairly plain from a distance, the intricacy of the artwork can make it even more attractive when viewed at close quarters.
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Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik is fast becoming a bucket list city break destination, and it’s easy to see why. You can admire the stunning setting by the ocean from the city walls. Old terracotta-roofed buildings dotted with fine examples of Baroque, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture characterize the charming old town.
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Kyoto, Japan
Officially listed by UNESCO as the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto,” this Japanese city is rich in culture and tradition. Classic Japanese architecture and landscaped gardens can be found throughout. With almost 200 buildings, including religious and wooden structures, Kyoto is the number one place to get to grips with Japanese history.
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Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat is considered the largest religious monument on the planet. It’s located in the city of Angkor, an ancient Khmer capital. The entire Angkor Archaeological Park complex covers an astonishing 150 square miles, including forested terrain. It’s one of Southeast Asia’s most significant archaeological sites and particularly interesting to Buddhists.
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Pamukkale, Turkey
Pamukkale translates as Cotton Palace, and the series of terraced pools are the color of freshly washed white linen. Natural springs from a 200-meter cliff feed the pools rich in calcite. It’s not only about the pools, though. You can also see the remains of a thermal spa, plus other monuments and temples at the site.
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Georgia Konidari is a nationally syndicated writer and the creator of World Wild Schooling, a digital platform dedicated to travel. She is on a mission to explore the globe and share her experiences with fellow travelers. She has been featured on MSN, the Associated Press Wire and more. You can follow Georgia on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube.
