The world has so many beautiful places to see! And studies have shown that there are many mental health benefits to traveling. Traveling helps decrease stress, increases happiness and even reduces your risk of heart attack. Now that we have convinced you that traveling us good for you, what are the bucket list places you must visit?
We have you covered. We put together an ultimate list of some of the greatest places around the globe, guaranteed to awaken your inner wanderlust. Here are 10 beautiful destinations you must add to your bucket list.
The Colosseum: Rome, Italy
The Colosseum is the largest amphitheater, and this beautiful edifice falls in the heart of Italy. It is considered to be one the most famous landmarks in Italy. This should be on anyone’s bucket list on a trip to Italy.
The arena built in AD 70 can house up to 80,000 spectators and it used to be the venue of gladiatorial contests, public speaking battles, and even executions. Erected beautifully from concrete and sand, due to earthquakes and stone-robbers, The Colosseum fell to ruins. Nevertheless, The Colosseum remains a great historical interest for historians, archeologists, and tourist alike, forever an icon of Imperial Rome and is a must-see on a visit to Rome.
Christ the Redeemer: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The all-seeing Christo Redentor (also known as The Christ the Redeemer) in Brazil stands tall at 39 meters over Rio de Janeiro. This statue of Jesus is the largest art-deco statue in the world and possesses a stunning view over Brazil’s second largest city.
The statue was created by the French sculptor Paul Landowski and quickly became a symbol of Christianity across the world. It also put Brazil on the map as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The statue is not just impressive because of its size, but it is also iconic because of the beautiful setting surrounding it. This landmark is truly heaven on Earth and should be on the bucket list even for those that aren’t religious. While in Brazil, be sure to extend your stay and check out this two week Brazil itinerary.
Niagara Falls: Border of Ontario, Canada
Niagara Falls is technically three waterfalls, formed on the international border between Canada and the United States. These famous falls are within the province of Ontario in Canada and in the state of New York. Niagara Falls is not exceptionally high, but it stands out because of its massive width.
This work of nature never fails to charm all the 28 million tourists who visit each year. At night, dancing lights illuminate this work of art. There are also numerous areas where you can bask in Niagara Falls’ beauty. There is a boat cruise which carries passenger into whirlpools beneath the falls. You can also enjoy a panoramic aerial view of this by a helium balloon ride, or helicopters available in the area. Niagara Falls is a valuable source of hydroelectric energy for the United States.
The West Coast of Canada has some additional sights to marvel which deserve a mention when planning a bucket list trip in North America. In fact, the country has recently been rated as the most beautiful country in the world to visit. If you find yourself on the west coast, there are plenty of things to do in Calgary to kick off your west coast Canada trip.
Eiffel Tower: Paris, France
Traveling to Paris for the first time? No Paris travel list is ever complete without the French landmark, the Eiffel Tower. Especially for hopeless romantics, this tower in France is the most sought-after holiday destination year after year. One of many places to visit on your perfect Paris itinerary, it’s also the world’s most visited paid attraction. Whether you are doing a France road trip, or just visiting Paris on your trip, this is definitely a must visit.
The highest tower over all of Paris was first constructed during the 1889 World Fair and it was originally hated by the French people. Since then, the iconic tower transformed into a national symbol of power and even of love. Paris will never be Paris without the Eiffel Tower. And up to this day, this tower still offers the best place to view the city of love. A perfect addition to any romantic’s bucket list.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is a 15th century Inca citadel situated on a mountain ridge above sea level. This UNESCO World Heritage is the world’s best known archeological site built around 1450. A century later, the estate was abandoned, gaining its title of “The Lost City”. Just getting from Cusco to Machu Picchu is quite the adventure as you will go through Sacred Valley on the way.
The civilization was brought to international attention once again when an American historian, Hiram Bingham, found it in 1911. The restoration and reconstruction of Machu Picchu were started in 1976. The reconstruction does not aim to replace the original structure, but rather to give tourists a better idea of what the magnificent construction looked like. All aimed at how the Inca heritage originally appeared. Today, Machu Picchu is a part of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
If you have time beyond a visit to Machu Picchu, make sure to spend some time in Cusco. There are many great places to stay in Cusco and some incredible day trips that you can do that should be added to your Peru vacation.
Leaning Tower of Pisa: Pisa, Italy
This is tangible proof that a structure doesn’t need to be perfect in order to be on your bucket list. In fact, the imperfect Tower of Pisa in Italy is so famous because of its unintentional lean or ‘tilt’. A short train ride away from Florence, Italy, this landmark is truly a site to behold. In fact, if you are short on time, a trip to Pisa can be a day trip from Florence or part of a bigger road trip in Italy.
The tower was built with the intention that it would stand straight. During construction around the 12th century, the tower began tilting. This happened because of inadequate foundation support. The ground had become too soft on one side causing the tilt to increase. The structure was successful in the 14th century. There were numerous efforts to correct the tilt and others has been partially successful but to this day, the tower still stands to lean on one side making it stand out over other structures not just in the city but in the whole world. While in Pisa, rent a villa in Tuscany and explore the beautiful surrounding landscape.
The Great Pyramid: Giza, Egypt
The Great Pyramid of Giza represents one of the oldest human civilizations ever identified. Constructed between 2584 and 2561 BCE for the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu, this pyramid represents one of the largest of its kind and the largest of the three pyramids at Giza. It is an amazing work of early engineering, having nearly perfect symmetry, which makes it a great attraction and one of the greatest wonders of the Ancient World.
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure showcased from space. Several parts of the wall date back as early as the 7th century B.C. Having a length of around 21,196 km, the original purpose of building the Wall was to add fortification around the borders of China against nomadic groups. It was originally built by the emperors of China however most of the wall has been rebuilt since its original construction. By being maintained and enhanced, only a little part of the original wall remains. All the same, The Great Wall of China is one of the greatest structures crafted by the human race and is a must for any bucket list.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
UNESCO World Heritage considers Angkor Wat in Cambodia the largest religious complex in the world. The site was originally built as a Hindu temple of the god Vishnu. However, it was transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century. This post has a good overview of everything you need to know about Angkor Wat.
Up to now, this true wonder houses the mysterious lost city of the Khmer Empire, which was abandoned for unknown reasons in the 15th century. Angkor Wat has become a symbol of Cambodia, boasting its unparalleled magnificence in architecture. Traveling there is easy as you can get a Cambodian visa upon arrival. You can do it as part of a longer trip through Southeast Asia or spend some time exploring Cambodia as there are plenty of things to do there.
Uluru, Australia
Last but definitely not the least is Uluru, located in the Northern Territory in Australia. There are many great places to visit in Australia. Uluru is also know as Ayers Rock. This sandstone rock formation has been a sacred site for Native Australians. They believed that spirits of the dead lived in the location of this rock. This 1,142-ft. high picturesque sandstone inspires both awe and wonder as the glowing red hues across the sky at dawn and dusk begin to cascade.