The data revealed that Costa Rica, known for its rainforests, volcanoes, beaches and surf, is the best destination in the world for travel experiences, ranking first in the lists of countries and destinations. With 195 countries to choose from, each with their own rich cultures and special attractions, it can be difficult to decide which one to travel to. Enjoy walks in one of the country's top travel destinations through a variety of paths, both natural and man-made, and explore the wide expanse between the lowest altitude lakes of 280 meters and the 1000 meters highest above it. This architectural success is an excellent example of the best of Mughal architecture, with four completely identical sides at its 240 feet in height.
Victoria Falls is one of the largest waterfalls on earth, reaching a majestic height of 355 feet and stretching for an entire mile. Not only is it a magnificent sight to behold, but it has also been named among the 100 best soundscapes in Japan by the country's Ministry of Environment. Stonehenge is such a mysterious place, making it one of the best places to visit in the world. In addition to this interesting phenomenon, Cappadocia is also home to underground structures of all kinds that served as homes, shops and cities throughout the 4th century.
The Cliffs of Moher stretch 14 kilometres across County Clare, Ireland, and is a prime location to enjoy natural and wild beauty. There are a total of 825 rare species of flora on the island of Socotra, and a third of them can only be seen in this small place. The river delta flows in and out of beautiful vegetation and extends over a whopping 49 million acres. Baobab Avenue, as the name suggests, is home to incredible baobabs that rise to the sky at 100 feet high.
It reaches 19,000 feet in height and is surrounded by flat extensions, so it really stands out and serves as a remarkable and impressive landmark. The Raja Ampat Islands are not just some specific locations, but they encompass 1500 different small islands that occupy 29,000 square miles of ocean, and each is biodiverse and unique. We already know that Norway is easily among the best places to visit in the world if you want to see great and dazzling fjords of all kinds. It covers 15 kilometers in length and its coasts are completely habitable.
The Iguazu Falls are not just a waterfall, it is a collection of several small ones that extend for 3 kilometers, each cascading to the next with a brute power and energy that is spectacular to behold. The ruins are archaeological wonders that speak of the ancient Mayan culture, and was once a city full of busy people between the 6th century BC. C. and the 10th century A.D.
It measures 407 feet deep and extends over 980 feet wide, and is so large that it can be seen beautifully from above. Trace minerals, erosion and years of weathering have led to this astonishing phenomenon, composed of mineral deposits and red sandstone that have remained here for more than 20 million years. It stands at 12,388 feet tall and its beauty is worthy of any storybook cover. This park is home to 14 fjords that, according to Maori legends, were carved by a giant stonemason with an azuela.
Its arc-shaped valley is located at an altitude of 2000 feet in the country's Azad Kashmir. Malaysia isn't always thought of when considering the best places to visit in the world, but this ancient temple cave (along with other attractions) makes it worth the trip. In 1859, the Batu Caves were discovered for the first time on top of a limestone hill. The waters of these 17 hot springs in the area are rich in minerals, allowing relaxation and healing properties of the skin.
The best place in the world to vacation is Paris, France, according to U.S. News & Annual World Report Best Vacation Destinations Rankings. Another trend revealed by the ranking is that more and more travelers are booking vacations with wellness, natural beauty and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, as well as affordable prices, Shields says. News & World Report analyzed more than 700 destinations, combining traveler reviews with editor and expert analysis, Shields tells CNBC Make It.
Each destination is classified into 10 categories, from sights, culture and food to value, adventure and nightlife, Shields says, with a comprehensive assessment of each destination. The full list of News & World Report's top 30 can be found here. The 10 Most LGBT-Friendly Places to Retire in America These Are America's Top 10 Beaches. Perched high in the Andes Mountains of Peru, Machu Picchu is believed to have been a sacred royal retreat for Inca rulers.
Built in the 15th century AD. And abandoned less than 100 years later, the remote site continues to surprise with its intricate, perfectly bonded masonry, without mortar. Huge multi-ton stone blocks are perfectly attached to each other, without the use of mortar or cement. With geology formed in the last two billion years, yes, one billion, it is believed that the 277-mile-long canyon itself began about five or six million years ago.
It was formed by the flow of the Colorado River, which still flows through it and continues to erode geology along its course. The Grand Canyon is up to 18 miles wide in some places and up to a mile deep. Imagine standing on the edge, looking down a steep rock wall, almost a mile to the river below. Many visitors access the canyon via the historic Grand Canyon Railroad, which runs from the city of Williams, Arizona.
64-mile rail line provides an entertaining way to get to the canyon with food and live music on board. For those who prefer to drive, check out our articles on driving north from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon or driving from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. The protected area of the Masai Mara National Reserve Park is huge, with more than 1,500 square kilometers mainly of grassland, extending to the Serengeti Plain in Tanzania. The most popular times to visit are during biannual migrations, the main one being in July and August.
More than a million wildebeest and other animals cross the area in large groups to go from one feeding area to another. Most visitors fly to Nairobi and then take a small mountain plane to Mara. One of New York City's five boroughs, Manhattan is actually an island, bordered by the East River and the Hudson (and a bit by the Harlem River). This island is just under 23 square miles and is home to nearly two million residents.
If we add to this the daily influx of workers, the island is usually home to nearly four million people. Use your visit as a stair exercise and climb the 300 steps from ground level to the first of the three levels of the tower. If you're in good shape, climb another 300 steps to the second level. Then get on the elevator here to get to the top.
In addition to training, you'll also avoid most people who want to take the elevator all the way. Opened in 1937, the bridge has a unique geometric beauty and can be seen from many areas on both sides of its span. Some of the best views are from Marin Headlands, a mountainous part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, a national park that includes areas on both sides of the bridge. Colourful Cartagena, one of the great historic Spanish cities of the Caribbean, beats alive along Colombia's northern coast.
Founded in 1533, its ancient walled city has seen its fortunes rise and fall over the centuries and, more recently, it has experienced a resurgence and revitalization. The important restoration of the old city has resulted in ruined 16th-century buildings that were once brought back to life, such as modern and historic hotels, world-class restaurants and shops. Stroll through the city's narrow streets to see an impressive church, an open plaza with public works of art, or an eclectic store selling the perfect souvenir. Be sure to stroll along the old city walls and, as you watch the sun set over the ocean, think about what life was like here almost 500 years ago.
From a fishing village to one of the most developed places in the world, Singapore is the best vacation spot in the world. Singapore is also known as the Garden City because there are trees everywhere, which makes it like a garden. The delicious food, picturesque landscapes, adventurous activities and the splendid charm of this place will entice you forever. Located just 10 miles from Aspen, Colorado, the Maroon Bells are two 14,000-foot peaks in the Elk Mountains reflected in the crystal clear waters of Maroon Lake, nestled in a glacial valley.
They are the crown jewels of the Rocky Mountains and by far one of the most photographed scenes in the country. The Grand Canyon is a steep crevice, 1 mile deep and up to 18 miles wide in the fabric of the world, an immense gorge carved by the Colorado River over the past 5000 years. Its size is impressive and, although only a small part can be seen, even from the best point of view, its geology and age arouse the imagination. Colourful rock layers show the passage of time and some of the rocks at the bottom are 1.8 billion years old.
Perched high on a cliff with a spectacular view of the Palea volcano, Nea Kameni and the island of Thirassia, Oia is the most popular village and possibly the most beautiful of all the picturesque villages on the Greek island of Santorini. Just 11 km from Fira, in the north of the island, Oia will enchant you with its traditional stone houses bordering the narrow streets, impressive churches with blue domes and sunny terraces. While the town has its share of taverns, souvenir shops and cafes, Oia is quieter and more relaxed than the busy Fira and most people enjoy its picturesque beauty by slowly exploring its narrow streets. Stroll the village's small port of Ammoudi down 300 steps down the cliff, or visit colorful galleries that showcase the art of the many artists who fell in love with the town and made it their home.
Oia, Santorini is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. The best beaches in Greece Located approximately halfway between the Croatian capital Zagreb and Zadar, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, the Plitvice Lakes are a magical world of living and moving water, surrounded by ancient forests, 16 lakes linked by waterfalls, natural and artificial bridges, and 300 square kilometers of nature beauty full of bears, wolves, wild boars and birds. The difference in altitude between 1,280 meters at the highest point and 280 meters at the lowest point creates a seemingly endless number of falls, large and small, that permanently fill the air with dew and fog. Wooden and natural walkways and hiking trails revolve around and across the lake, and a ferry on Lake Kozjak transports people between the upper and lower lakes.
The lakes are beautiful all year round, but especially when they reflect the magical autumn colors or the icy lace branches of the surrounding trees. The Amalfi Coast is a rugged stretch of coastline of flamboyant beauty in Campania, Italy, on the edge of the Sorrento Peninsula. For about 50 kilometers, the coast looks like something a romantic artist could have evoked: steep cliffs plunging into the blue sea, tiny golden beaches hidden in secluded coves, sun-drenched pastel villages that embrace the steep slopes of Mount Ravello, and fragrant orange trees vying for attention old vineyards. The only living thing on Earth that can be seen from space, the Great Barrier Reef is immense.
Located in northeastern Australia, off the coast of Queensland, this complex 2,300 km long ecosystem comprises more than 3,000 individual reef systems, coral cays and hundreds of islands, large and small, with sparkling white sand beaches. A short drive from Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods is a public park in the city that doesn't need any attractions, nature took care of that. Hundreds of immense red sandstone spires, bridges and other precariously balanced rock formations intersect with 15 miles of well-managed trails. As you would expect in a park with so many interesting rocks, rock climbing is very popular.
The park's formations were formed from sandstone, limestone and conglomerates by the forces that built the nearby Pikes Peak massif, tilting it to an upright position. It's easy to spot the remains of marine fossils and even dinosaur fossils. The largest rock formation is Gateway Rock, 320 feet high. Many animals have made the park their home: it's easy to see maroon sheep, mule deer and foxes, as well as more than 130 species of birds.
Yellowstone National Park is the oldest national park in the world, consisting of 3,500 square miles of wild and untamed beauty set aside for the enjoyment of humanity, but also for its own protection. It is a recreational area that spans several states, from Wyoming to Idaho and Montana, with spectacular and diverse natural features: fast alpine rivers, a simmering volcano that shows its power in geysers and hot springs, deep canyons, dense ancient forests, snow-capped mountain tops, breathtaking views and magnificent trails. At an altitude of more than 5,000 feet, in the desert of eastern Utah, is Arches National Park, a magical place of red rocks and blue skies. This is what we imagine the surface of Mars to look like, with more than 2000 bright red rocks and dull power-ups precariously stacked on top of each other to form delicate bridges, pinnacles and arches.
The park extends over 76,679 acres across the Colorado Plateau, with the Colorado River bordering to the southeast. According to Maori legends, the 14 fjords that form Fiordland National Park were created by a giant stonemason named Tu Te Rakiwhanoa, who cut through the deep valleys with his huge hoes, which is as good an explanation as any for one of the most spectacular corners of the world, occupying more than 1.2 million hectares in the southwestern tip of New Zealand's South Island. Fjords could also be the product of the incessant size of glaciers for about 100,000 years, which the sea filled as far as it could go. Everywhere, these canyon-shaped fjords are covered by waterfalls that fall non-stop and thunder, carrying enormous amounts of rainwater to the sea.
The massive granite mountains are dotted with emerald lakes, dense rainforests and animals that don't exist anywhere else. Walking around Fiordland, it's easy to imagine the world as it looked thousands of years ago. The best places to visit in New Zealand You'll pass by spectacular waterfalls that descend the steep cliffs of the mountains, creating a permanent veil of fog and endless rainbows. Another way to see the fjord is to take the famous Trollstigen road, built in 1936 in an incredible feat of engineering, which winds through the steep slopes of the mountains; narrow, sometimes protected by stone railings, and passing by huge waterfalls, it is stressful but utterly fascinating.
The whole area is a dreamland for daredevils and adrenaline junkies, who find steep cliffs a supreme challenge for climbing, rappelling and zip-lining. Victoria Falls, aptly named Mosi-oa-Tunya, the smoke that thunders, by the locals, is a breathtaking spectacle of unparalleled beauty and majesty. The largest curtain of water in the world, this huge waterfall on the Zambezi River, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, can be heard from 40 kilometers away, as the waters of the normally placid Zambezi River plummet over the edge of the wide basalt cliff to the magnificent gorge 100 meters below. Water spray can be seen 50 km away as it rises 400 meters into the air, creating permanent clouds and endless rainbows.
On the other side of the falls is a basalt wall of the same height covered by dense jungle, offering magnificent views of the main waterfalls and the number of continuous falls as the water zigzags through the series of gorges. The Salar de Uyuni, located high in the Andes, in southwestern Bolivia, at an altitude of 11,995 feet, is the largest salt flat in the world, with an area of more than 4,086 square miles. It was once a prehistoric lake that dried up, leaving 11,000 square kilometers of otherworldly desert landscape made up of bright white salt, strange rock formations and strange islands covered with cacti. The best place to observe this surreal landscape is the center of Incahuasi Island.
You're reading The 25 Most Beautiful Places in the World Back to Top. Whether you want the novelty of visiting a famous movie set or seeing the raw charm of Ireland's west coast, you're sure to find Cliffs Moher one of the best places to vacation. This impressive spectacle alone makes this place among the best vacation spots in the world. Seeing this magical place as you land on a small plane from nearby Tahiti, you will realize that you are arriving on one of the most beautiful islands in the world, where luxury resorts compete with lush nature to fulfill all your desires.
This city is famous for being open to all types of travelers with its famous museums, busy streets, vibrant nightlife, cultural heritage, scenic structure, century-old bars and quiet historical spots. This ancient desert city is known for its rich history and culture and is among the best tourist spots. The Salar de Uyuni is an unusual trip, but it's still one of the best vacations you can go to. Across the limestone wall, a staircase allows easy access to the pool, and is a fantastic spot for divers and swimmers alike.
Most people would consider the world famous Pyramids of Giza to be among the best vacation spots the world has to offer. Bora Bora is a tiny island approximately 6 miles long, but it's a beautiful place to visit and a palace to enjoy your vacation in spite of it. You can climb the mountains or just enjoy the view resting and relaxing at Sugar Beach, which offers a privileged view of one of the best vacation spots in the world. Within Tikal, you can find temples and shrines, residences, palaces and elegant courts and squares, making this site one of the best vacation spots for history lovers.
Whether you're looking for a bit of quiet relaxation, want to eat fresh seafood, or want something more adventurous, the Amalfi Coast is one of the best vacation spots you can expect. This lake is truly splendid in all its beauty, and it's no wonder it's among the best vacation spots in the world. You can jump straight into the water below the falls or, if you prefer, walk around the area to discover more serene spots full of nature that are perfect for exploring a little. We can't talk about the best vacation spots in the world without mentioning The Great Wall of China.
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