Some are natural. Some are man-made. Some are underwater. Some are new(ish). Some are old (like really ancient). What they all have in common is how amazing they are to see and experience.
It may be tricky to see all of them but it’s definitely worth setting a goal to see as many as possible.
1.) The Treasury at Petra, Jordan
This rose-red city is bound to leave you having to pick your jaw off the floor in amazement.
Read more: Best ways to visit Petra
2.) Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
One of the more established wonders of the world, a trip to Egypt is truly incomplete without a trip to see the Pyramids of Giza – the Great one being the oldest and largest one in the middle.
The pyramids are apparently not only the older of the ancient 7 wonders of the world but the only one that is still intact.
3.) Stonehenge, UK
A pre-historic monument set in the English countryside – historians are still not 100% sure how the stones got there and much of Stonehenge is still shrouded in mystery.
4.) Colosseum of Rome, Italy
The world’s largest amphitheatre and a truly Italian and Roman landmark.
5.) Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, Egypt
An Egyptian wonder that’s a lot younger than the Pyramids but still quite as impressive.
6.) Great Wall of China, China
The world’s largest wall perhaps? (It is 21,196 km long!).
A rather impressive symbol of Chinese defence and architecture.
Read more: Best things to do in Beijing
7.) Hagia Sophia, Turkey
It’s not very usual to find buildings that house different religions and yet that’s what the Hagia Sophia is.
Originally a Greek Orthodox church it was later converted to a mosque though it now neither and a museum instead.
8.) Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
I’ve covered this one in a lot of details over here.
9.) Chichen Itza, Mexico
A must-do when you visit Mexico – it almost doesn’t seem to matter what part of Mexico you travel to, this Mayan temple is worth making the diversion for.
Read more: Things to do in and around Cancun
10.) Christ the Redeemer, Brazil
This large statue iconic symbol of Brazil and a must-see when in Rio de Janeiro.
11.) Machu Picchu, Peru
These mysterious ruins are bound to leave you out of breath, not only because they are 2,430 metres above sea level (hence the lack of oxygen) but the sight of this Inca village is absolutely amazing.
12.) Taj Mahal, India
The Taj Mahal is the symbol of India that the entire world identifies with.
Its beauty is truly iconic not just in India but outside of India. it’s almost 400 years old and still manages to wow every much as it did in its first year!
13.) Banaue Rice Terraces, Philippines
Funnily enough, for how much I like rice I never really thought about how it was grown until I visited Bali and saw the Ubud Rice fields but I digress!
The Banaue Rice Terraces are really impressive to see… and not to mention, quite functional.
14.) Angkor Wat, Cambodia
These stunning temples in Cambodia are the number one thing to do when you decide to visit.
They’re pretty impressive especially in the soft glow of sunrise or sunset.
Read more: Best temples to see in Cambodia
15.) Easter Islands
These human carving by the Polynesian people of Chile are as old as 700 years!
They’re also up to 10 metres tall and an impressive combination to see all together.
16.) The Terracotta Army, China
This army travels all over the world!
The first I’d heard of them was in London but since that time (I’ve kept track), they’ve been pretty much all over the world. Pretty epic travellers I’d say.
17.) Grand Canyon, USA
This needs no introduction! The Grand Canyon is one of America’s most famous natural landmarks and a must-do when in Arizona and Nevada.
18.) Great Barrier Reef, Australia
More beautiful fish than you can shake a stick at! The Great Barrier reef is one of those places that everyone in the world raves about once they’ve seen and rightly so.
Read more: Best places to visit in Australia
19.) Mount Everest, Nepal
The definition of high mountains, endurance and human struggle, a view from the summit of Mount Everest is worth boasting about but a view of the mountain from far away is pretty darn impressive too.
Read more: Best places in Nepal to visit
20.) Victoria Falls, border of Zambia and Zimbabwe
These waterfalls are perhaps the most impressive waterfalls to see in Africa and are truly deserving of its spots as one of the UNESCO world heritage sites.
21.) Aurora Borealis
The Northern Lights – We saw these in Iceland (on our own, without any tour guides or anything) but it doesn’t matter what country you see it in, it’s just amazing in itself to be able to see these natural wonders that light up the night sky.
22.) Citadelle Laferrière, Haiti
This mountain top fortress offers unparalleled views across the land and the walk up to it is pretty impressive too.
23.) Iguazu Falls, border of Brasil and Argentina
These waterfalls are pretty impressive!
Particularly with how they divide as they get close and closer to the ground creating an almost mini-army of waterfalls.
24.) Puerto Princesa Underground River, Philippines
A labyrinthian river about 8.2km long, this is the longest navigable underground river in the world! Sailing across this river makes for a one of a kind experience.
25.) Table Mountain, South Africa
A mountain top that’s as flat as a table? Of course, this would be amazing to see! All that’s missing is the giant family eating their dinner off the mountain.
26.) Halong Bay, Vietnam
A beautiful bay set off by huge mountains and turquoise waters, the bay is absolutely breathtaking to see and even more so on a day with stunning blue skies.
Read more: Best places in Vietnam to visit
27.) Deep-Sea Vents, Ocean
These are effectively hot vents underwater from volcanos which lead to a strangely different set of animals around them that you would typically find due to the temperature. It’s effectively similar to hot springs and geysers.
28.) The Galápagos Islands, Pacific
I feel like the main reason I want to see this is to see the giant tortoises but the Galápagos islands hold so much more significance than that.
This island contributed greatly to Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and is filled with amazing wildlife!