There are 195 countries in the world, each with its own interesting culture and special tourist attractions. It is not easy to choose the best places in the world. Housing.com has compiled a list of the 15 best places that are a must-visit to inspire your next trip.
World’s best places to visit #1: Paris, France
Paris, the capital of France, is considered the most romantic destination in the world and one of the best places to visit. Paris offers historical monuments, vintage palaces, art museums, cathedrals, landscaped gardens and plenty of shopping areas. The Eiffel Tower, the most-visited tourist attraction in the world, stands at a staggering height of over 300 metres. One of the world’s most photographed tourist attractions, the Eiffel Tower is a sight to behold during the day and at night, when illuminated. The city is also known for its roadside and terrace cafés. The world’s most visited museum, the Louvre has a collection of more than one million objects, including famous artworks like Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s Dying Slave. Notre Dame is a famous Roman Catholic cathedral; one of the top places to visit in Paris. The Gothic architecture, sculptures and carvings are worth the visit. The Arc de Triomphe, honouring those who fought in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, is built in neoclassical architectural style, a tradition of sculpting from the early 19th century. The Seine River cruise is a must for every tourist to enjoy the highlights of Paris – the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Muse d’Orsay and Notre Dame Cathedral.
See also: Top places for sightseeing in Delhi
Best tourist places in the world #2: London, England
London, the capital of England, is the most visited city in Europe. London, one of the best places in the world, is home to the royal family. One of the most diverse cities in the world, with a rich history and culture, London has several tourist attractions, museums, parks, cultural exhibits and adventures. Worth visiting are Buckingham Palace, the Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and the London Eye. Other attractions include Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, Big Ben and Madame Tussauds. An absolute must-visit for all history buffs is the London Dungeon, an exhibit of London’s prisons. For artistic inspiration, visit The National Gallery.
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Best tourist Places in the world #3: Maldives
The Maldives, one of the best tourist places in the world, is famous for its crystalline blue waters, swinging palm trees and glittering white sand. The Maldives consists of an archipelago of 1,192 coral islands. Only a few islands are inhabited. With pleasant weather throughout the year, Maldives is an idyllic beach getaway. Located to the south of Sri Lanka, it is apt for an adventure, honeymoon or leisure holiday. The sea covers 99% of the Maldives where you can see beautiful fishes and corals. The Maldives, with over 60 dive sites across the islands, is ranked among the best diving destinations in the world. Male, is the commercial and financial capital and its airport is well-connected with international airports. One can take ferry boats or sea planes from the capital to travel to other islands in the Maldives. With its pristine beaches, palm-fringed islands and marine life, the Maldives fascinates every tourist.
See also: Best tourist places to visit in Goa
Best tourist places in the world #4: Iceland
Iceland, the island of fire and ice, is one of the world’s best tourist places for both, tourists pursuing excitement,a s well as nature lovers. From watching the northern lights to taking a plunge in a geothermal pool surrounded by volcanic landscapes, Iceland’s natural environment is gorgeous. With glaciers, geysers and wildlife-watching opportunities, Iceland is one of the must-visit places in the world. Due to its location atop the junction of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, it has a lot of geothermal activity. There are various places for whale watching throughout the country.
Most visited places in the world #5: New York, USA
New York City, USA is a world-famous tourist place, a cultural hub, a shopping paradise, a haven for artists and a culinary hotspot. Worth visiting are the Statue of Liberty (305 ft tall), the Empire State Building, Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge and various museums. The American Museum of Natural History features exhibits from dinosaur skeletons to historical human artefacts. Do visit Central Park, which spans over 800 acres and is skirted by skyscrapers and enjoy delicious candies at Hershey’s Chocolate World. Many of the best places to visit in New York are within a short distacnce of each other at walking distance or a short ride away. New York provides several opportunities to see the city from above. Visit the Top of the Rock in Rockefeller Plaza (70 storeys), One World Observatory (94 storeys) or the Empire State Building (102 storeys). RiseNY is an immersive, interactive experience for a tourist to view New York City virtually while suspended 30 ft in the air.
World best places to visit #6: Rome, Italy
Rome is one of the best tourist places in the world to visit due to its archaeological and art treasures, its beautiful panoramic views and its magnificent ‘villas’ (parks). It has some world-famous places to visit such as the Colosseum and St Peter’s Basilica. The Colosseum, inaugurated in 80 AD, is the largest amphitheatre built during the Roman Empire. It hosted gladiator fights, executions and animal hunts. Trevi Fountain is one of Italy’s most famous places, designed by Nicola Salvi at the junction of three streets. Villa Borghese is a popular landscape garden in Rome, located on Pincian Hill, close to the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo. Covering more than 80 hectares, it has a small lake with temple ruins, museums (Galleria Borghese) and other attractions. Pantheon is a temple for Roman Gods built in 126 AD, which comprises a portico with Corinthian columns and the oculus or the concrete dome with a central opening. Founded by Pope Julius II in the 6th century, the marvellous Vatican Museums are important tourist places in Rome for medieval art and sculptures. The exquisitely-decorated, famous Sistine Chapel ceiling and the Last Judgement by Michelangelo are part of the museum tour.
Best tourist places in the world #7: Masai Mara, Kenya
Masai Mara, a well-known safari destination, is among the best places in the world to see wildlife. Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve is famous as the ‘kingdom of lions’ as they rule the grasslands of the reserve. Tourists can see the ‘big five’ (lion, leopard, white rhinoceros, elephant and Cape buffalo) during their tours. Covering about 3,70,000 acres in south-western Kenya and sharing borders with several private conservancies, the reserve is administered by the Narok County government. It is the northern-most part of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, famous for the annual Wildebeest Migration, the largest animal migration on earth with more than two million wildebeests, zebras and gazelle.
Best tourist places in the world #8: Santorini, Greece
Santorini is the most famous of all Greek islands and the number one summer destination in the world. Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands nestled in the Aegean Sea. Spectacular sunsets, traditional whitewashed houses and the breathtaking sights of the ocean make this island the best place for tourists to visit. Santorini has inviting beaches, old castles, ancient ruins, stark volcanic countryside and small fishing ports. A tourist must not miss the Bella Aurora and Thalassa cruise, views from the Skaros Rock, sunsets at Amoudi Bay, exhibits at the Museum of Prehistoric Thera, murals at Lignos Folklore Museum and sailing in Santorini. Sunsets in Santorini are known to be the most beautiful in the world. Things to do in Santorini include swimming/sunbathing at the black volcanic sand beaches on the eastern and southern coasts and visiting the archaeological site of Acroteria, an Ancient Minoan settlement buried under lava, following a volcanic eruption that created the caldera, 3,600 years ago.
Best places to visit in the world #9: Great Barrier Reef, Australia
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The Great Barrier Reef is a World Heritage-listed natural wonder and one of the largest living structures on the planet that can be seen from outer space. It is one of Australia’s most loved attractions with over 100 beautiful islands The snorkelling and diving opportunities are the best in the world, with rainbow-coloured corals and fascinating marine life. The reef comprises over 3,000 individual reef systems and coral cays and hundreds of picturesque tropical islands, with beautiful sun-soaked, golden beaches. A tourist can enjoy whale watching, swimming with the dolphins, snorkelling, scuba diving, aircraft or helicopter tours, bare boats (self-sail), glass-bottomed boat viewing, semi-submersibles and cruise ship tours.
World best places to visit #10: Prague, The Czech Republic
Prague is known for its architecture, museums, nightlife, beer and amazing shopping options. Also called ‘the city of a Hundred Spires,’ it is known for its Old Town Square with colourful Baroque buildings, Gothic churches and a medieval astronomical clock. A tourist can enjoy Prague’s cosmopolitan and historic sights, world-renowned castles and bridges and experience the Danube River. Charles Bridge, one of the best places to visit in Prague, must be on top of Prague visitors’ must-see list. Another famous place is the Prague Castle, a huge (18 acres) conglomeration of palaces, St. Vitus Cathedral, churches, the President’s state offices, a monastery, museums and art galleries. Highlights of the castle include St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, St George’s Basilica and the Golden Lane. The capital also has traditionally-brewed beer, a renowned Franz Kafka Museum and various cuisines, including Czech dumplings and goulash.
Best tourist places in the world #11: Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is one of the most picturesque must-visit cities in the world. It is located on the eastern coastline of Spain on the Mediterranean Sea and is an amazing beach town. Apart from its unique architectural style, Barcelona has pleasant eather, museums, delicious food and friendly locals. While all the beaches have golden sand and sparkling waters, each has a different vibe. Home to the famous Barcelona FC, football fans can visit Barcelona’s Camp No to watch the Barça boys work their magic. The city’s most iconic landmarks – La Sagrada Familia, Casa Battle and Park Güell – were designed by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi, known for his innovative buildings, influenced by neo-gothic styles, modernism and art nouveau. Barcelona is a bike-friendly city with 180 kms of bicycle lanes. Other places to visit in Barcelona include the city’s almost three miles of beaches and La Rambla, a huge, tree-lined, pedestrian-only street. Barcelona is also a shopper’s paradise and food heaven. Explore the Boqueria Market along La Rambla for gourmet tapas and indulge in crema Catalana (a yummy blow-torched custard), tortilla Española (omelettes) and paella (Spanish rice with seafood). Drain it all down with tinto de verano (wine with lemon soda).
Best places in the world to visit #12: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Rio de Janeiro is one of the most visited cities in the world, famous for its Carnival, sultry bossa nova and beaches. Christ the Redeemer is one of the most famous attractions here. The view of the city from the top of Corcovado Hill, where the giant Christ statue stands, is remarkable. The statue is 38 metres high, made in the art deco style. Another tourist attraction in Rio de Janeiro is Sugarloaf Mountain situated at the mouth of the Guanabara Bay. Several hundred meters above the harbour, you can see the panoramic views of the city, the Botafogo Cave and the Guanabara Bay. Selarón stairs are said to be the most beautiful set of stairs in the world. A total of 215 steps made with ceramic tiles, it is a work of art. Chilean Jorge Selarón transformed the place over more than 20 years with nearly 2,000 tiles from different parts of the world.
World famous places to visit #13: Machu Picchu, Peru
One of the most famous and most visited tourist places in Peru is Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel located in the castern cordillera of southern Peru on a 2,430-metre mountain ridge. The ancient Inca city dates back to 1450 AD but the lost city returned to importance in 1911 when rediscovered by American historian, Hiram Bingham. Choose a four-day hike along the Inca Trail or take the luxury train from Cusco to Machu Picchu. It is considered to be the most spectacular urban creation of the Inca Empire and one of the significant heritage sites in the world. The Temple of the Sun, a hotspot within the ruins itself, is known for perfectly positioned windows to let the sunrays enter in intricate patterns.
World best tourist places #14: New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the most sought-after tourist places in the world with snow-capped mountains, glaciers and hills. New Zealand lies to the southwest of the Pacific Ocean and has breath-taking landscapes decked with picturesque coastlines and mountains. New Zealand has various adventure activities, museums, art galleries and heritage sites to visit. It comprises two main islands – North Island and South Island – and has more than 700 smaller islands, covering 2,68,021 square kilometres. Due to its proximity to water and its massive harbours, the city is known as the ‘City of Sails’ and has the world’s highest boat ownership per capita in the world. Besides the harbours, rainforests, wild hike trails, islands, volcanoes and black and gold beaches make this city a perfect base for adventure lovers. The Bay of Islands is one of the best places in New Zealand for fishing, sailing and water sports. Queenstown is famous for adventure sports such as bungy jumping, paragliding and jet boating. Do not miss the capital city of Wellington, which has the national museum – The Papa Tongarewa – and award-winning restaurants that offer amazing cuisine, coffee and beer.
Most visited places in the world #15: Dubai
Dubai is the United Arab Emirates’ tourist hotspot. A city of skyscrapers and shopping malls, tourists from all over the world come here for sunlight, adventure shopping and family fun. Dubai has been ranked as the most popular destination in the world for 2022 by the TripAdvisor 2022 Travellers’ Choice Awards. For an adrenaline rush, float above the desert dunes in a hot air balloon, climb aboard a high-speed ride at IMG Worlds of Adventure or skydive over the Palm Jumeirah. Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building at 2,716.5 ft, is one of the iconic places to visit in Dubai. This 200-plus storey building has 160 liveable floors. Burj Al Arab, the world’s tallest all-suite hotel towering at 321 meters, resembles a sail. With a helipad on the 28th floor and a restaurant seemingly suspended in mid-air, the hotel is a landmark on the Dubai skyline. Desert Dune Safari is a must-have experience in Dubai. A shopaholic’s dream destination, Dubai’s malls are among the biggest in the world. Gold Souk is one of the most famous places in Dubai as it is one of the largest retailers (300 stores) of gold worldwide.
See also: 12 must-visit places in Dubai and top things to do
FAQs
Why should you travel the world?
You should travel to explore new places and cultures and learn about how people live around the globe. As a tourist one learns about the world and oneself. Travelling helps in de-stressing, learning new skills, being more creative and giving life lessons that we could never learn in a classroom.
Which is the No 1 place to visit in the world?
Paris, The City of Love, is synonymous with culture, architecture, food and fashion. Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, famous for the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame cathedral and the Eiffel Tower.
Which is the most famous place to visit in India?
Taj Mahal, the symbol of love, in Agra is the most famous place in India. This white marble structure, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located on the banks of the Yamuna River. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.
Purnima Goswami Sharma is a freelance writer based in Mumbai, who has been contributing to various newspapers, magazines and portals for the last two decades. Besides being a research writer for various TV shows, she has been a visiting faculty at SNDT for Communication Skills. She hold a master’s degree in English Literature from Mumbai University and a diploma in Communications and Journalism. She writes on diverse subjects like real estate, interiors, education, lifestyle, health, entertainment and environment.
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