The Top 10 Greatest Landmarks in the World

The world is full of mysterious monuments, each brimming with hundreds (maybe even thousands) of years of history. Ancient stone walls, mosaic-tiled floors and ornately painted ceilings adorn some of the most fascinating places around the globe.

Though each offers a unique experience, it’s impossible to visit them all. So, which wanderlust-worthy landmarks should adventurous travelers add to their bucket lists?

Trip Advisor shared the world’s top-rated landmarks based on millions of traveler reviews. Mark these awe-inspiring destinations on your travel maps for future reference.

• 1. Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu, Peru

  

  This 15th-century Inca site is situated on a mountain ridge above Peru’s Sacred Valley. Archeologists believe it was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti.

  IMAGE: FLICKR, TIERRA_DEL_SOL

• 2. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

  

  This is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and the eighth largest mosque in the world. It was constructed between 1996 and 2007, and is the country’s key place of worship.

  IMAGE: FLICKR, CIAMABUE

• 3. Taj Mahal, Agra, India

  

  This marble mausoleum was built by Mughal emperor Sha Jahan in memory of his late third wife Mumtaz Mahal in 1632.

  IMAGE: FLICKR, DENNIS JARVIS

• 4. Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Cordoba, Spain

  

  This medieval Islamic mosque dates back to the year 784, and was converted into a Roman Catholic cathedral in 1236. It is one of the most renowned works of Moorish architecture.

  IMAGE: FLICKR, NEIL CUMMINGS

• 5. St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Italy

  

  St. Peters is the largest church in the world, and a renowned work of Renaissance architecture.

  IMAGE: FLICKR, ED BRAMBLEY

• 6. Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

  

  This Buddhist (formerly Hindu) temple complex is the largest religious monument in the world. Khmer King Suryavarman II built the temple in the 12th century.

  IMAGE: FLICKR, ECPEREZ

• 7. Bayon Temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia

  

  This Khmer temple was built at the end of the 12th century, and is known for its massive stone faces on the temple’s many towers.

  IMAGE: FLICKR, CHEE.HONG

• 8. Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia

  

  This church was built between 1883 and 1907 on the site of Tsar Alexander II’s assassination and dedicated in his memory.

  IMAGE: FLICKR, THE BLACKNESS

• 9. Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

  

  This national park includes the Gettysburg Battlefield, many of the battle-related support structures and non-battle areas associated with its aftermath and commemoration.

  IMAGE: FLICKR, RON COGSWELL

• 10. Ancient City Walls, Dubrovnik, Croatia

  

  These defensive stone walls have surrounded and protected the city of Dubrovnik since the city’s founding prior to the 7th century.

  IMAGE: FLICKR, ERIC HOSSINGER