There are 1,199 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with more properties being added to the list every couple of years. In 2023 alone, there were a total of 42 new properties inscribed by the organization. All have been determined to represent outstanding cultural or natural value to humanity.
Those criteria make for some breathtaking sites around the world, from medieval walled cities in Europe and Incan ruins in South America to ancient temples in Asia and African savannas teeming with wildlife.
In fact, there are World Heritage Sites on every continent (except Antarctica) as well as some of the most remote areas of the globe (think: isolated islands and the farther reaches of the Polar Region). Each one is magnificent in its own way—many have unique ecosystems that are home to rare species or contain an important link to the first iterations of human history. Although, scenery-wise, some sites simply outshine the rest.
If you’re looking to plan an entire trip around one of these iconic places—and we highly recommend it—we pulled together the most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites as a bit of inspiration.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
