When we travel, we always look for UNESCO World Heritage sites that are close to the destinations we plan to visit. Learning about these locations and discovering how each one is connected to the people and cultures of the region is a great way to enhance your travels and create memorable experiences.
From sacred places like Easter Island in Chile, Stonehenge in England, Puma Punku in Bolivia, and Borobudur in Indonesia, to architectural marvels like Machu Picchu in Peru, Chichen Itza in Mexico, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, and the Sydney Opera House in Australia, these locations always leave us speechless and amazed. There are even “Natural Sites” which are defined as having exceptional beauty, aesthetic importance, significant habitats and/or geological importance like the Grand Canyon in the United States, the Cape Floral Region in South Africa, Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, and þingvellir National Park in Iceland.
If you are planning a vacation and you want to find somewhere with a rich history, cultural importance, fascinating stories, and beautiful scenery for photographs you really can’t go wrong with these historic cultural locations.
What is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
To be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the location must meet a few key pieces of criteria. A UNESCO site is a natural or man-made location or structure with cultural and/or historical significance that is regarded as being important to the collective interests of humanity. The sites are designated by the World Heritage Convention (an organization of UNESCO; The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
More Information: whc.unesco.org
UNESCO World Heritage Sites We have visited
Between the two of us, we have been to 84 sites (and counting!) over the years. The map below has the location of all the sites we have visited.
UNESCO
You can browse our archives to read about the locations we’ve visited. Click the button below!
If you’re looking for some inspiration on places to visit you can check out our Bucket List page. Many of those locations are also UNESCO sites.
Do you have a UNESCO World Heritage Site that you’ve always wanted to visit? Is there a site you’ve been to that you absolutely loved? Send us a message and let us know!