The importance of preserving our cultural and natural heritage is crucial, and groups like the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization are key in this endeavour. As travellers, we can visit these locations which are a true legacy from the past, helping to preserve and protect them. TripAdvisor®, the travel website that helps to find the latest reviews and lowest prices, presents the UNESCO Cultural and Natural heritage sites best rated by travellers around the globe, and highlights a selection of tours bookable on TripAdvisor to maximise their experience in these wonders of the world.
Whilst one could be in danger of being 'templed out' due to the sheer number of them in Siem Reap, Angkor Wat should not be missed and is best toured with a knowledgeable guide to provide you with fascinating facts on the building process, history of it and Cambodia generally. The best views are at dawn or dusk, when the crowds have gone and the lighting reveals its true majesty. You can find tours on TripAdvisor which include either a sunrise or sunset visit with a private guide from 33€, or even take a helicopter tour over this famed site, discovering the ancient constructions from above, and which includes a dinner and traditional dancer performance.
Prepared to be wowed when you see it for the first time. Over 8 million people per year visit this great mausoleum, a true monument to love, constructed by the Shah Jahan while mourning the death of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. On TripAdvisor you can find hundreds of tours and experiences to visit this mesmerizing site, from a private tour with guide and visit at sunset or sunrise, for 34€ on TripAdvisor, to a visit including a home cooked meal at a local home in Agra.
In 1368 AD, Mutianyu Great Wall was built by Xu Da who is the main general for Zhuyuanzhang in the Great Wall ruins of Northern Qi Dynasty. Linked to Gubeikou in the east and Juyongguan in the west,the section of the Great Wall is the military hub defensing of the capitalsince ancient times. Known for its gorgeous scenery, Mutianyu is one of the essence in the Great Wall of Ming Dynasty. You can hire a tour to visit on TripAdvisor from as little as 21€.
Whether you visit it during the day travelling from Aguascalientes to engaging on the full experience hiking the 5-day Inca Trail, you will be left speechless arriving at one of humanity´s most stunning landmarks, a 15th century Inca citadel located on a mountain ridge 2.400 metres above sea level. Tours on TripAdvisor start off at 25€, with this guided tour from Aguascalientes, to this exclusive luxury train ride reliving the golden age of train travel aboard the elegant Belmond Hiram Bingham train, including food and drinks.
This massive forested park, with rare species of birds, pumas, tapirs, monkeys and other wildlife is best known for housing the world's largest and most extraordinary waterfalls - the Iguacu Falls -that extend for miles. Ask an Argentinian and they will say their side is the best; ask a Brazilian and they will say theirs is! Make your own conclusions taking this tour of BOTH sides for the Iguazu Falls for just 39€ on TripAdvisor.
The Sassi is breathtaking in its scale. History is literally carved into its landscape from Neolithic times until the present day. It may look at first glance like an abandoned ancient town with buildings piled high on top of each other. But as you begin to explore its cobbled alleyways and steep winding streets you discover stories of human endeavor stretching back through the centuries - from caves turned into homes, from 13th century frescoes to the magnificent gilded Cathedral. You can discover the fascinating site with a walking tour, from 39€ on TripAdvisor, or if you prefer to get a global view of the region, you can also purchase a Puglia Full day tour, including not just Matera, but also Bar, Trulli of Alberobello and Castel del Monte.
Established by the Nazis in 1940, Auschwitz-Birkenau has become a symbol of terror, genocide and the Holocaust. Although the exact number of victims is unknown, many Jews, Poles and gypsies died here. The museum consists of two parts: Auschwitz I, the first and oldest camp (the number of prisoners fluctuated around 15,000, sometimes rising above 20,000) and Auschwitz II, Birkenau (which held more than 90,000 prisoners in 1944). Tours range from 24€, departing from Krakow.
Characterized by narrow, winding streets and alleyways, this ancient part of the city is filled with shrines and attractions holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims including the Western Wall, Temple Mount and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Tours star off in TripAdvisor for as little as 9,50€, for this Underground Tour, or authentic ways to appreciate the history of Jerusalem like this Palm Sunday experience, including a mass at Bethpage and Via Dolorosa procession.
This World Heritage Site includes structures such as the Sarayburnu, the Topkapı Palace, the Hagia Sophia, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, the Hagia Irene, Zeyrek Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque, Little Hagia Sophia and the Walls of Constantinople. Head back in time and discover the old world of the Sultanahmet area during this full-day small-group guided walking tour in TripAdvisor, exploring Hagia Sophia Museum and the Blue Mosque, which exemplify why Istanbul is the city where east meets west. Enjoy a walk through the famous Topkapi Palace, where Sultan's roamed and harems flourished, spend time observing the Hagia Irene’s Byzantine architecture and stroll through the Grand Bazaar to witness handicrafts created by local artists.
The 13th century merchants' town is home to Europe's largest market square and offers numerous historical houses, palaces and churches with magnificent interiors, 14th century fortifications, ancient synagogues, Jagiellonian University and the Gothic cathedral where the kings of Poland were buried. Walking tours start from 17€ on TripAdvisor or, if you are the lazy kind, check out a tour on Segway, bike, or electric car from 22€.
Top 10 Europe
- Sassi of Matera, Italy
- Auschwitz Birkenau, Poland
- Historic Krakow, Poland
- Aqueduct of Segovia, Spain
- Old Town of Segovia, Spain
- Monreale, Italy
- Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey, UK
- Serra de Tramuntana, Spain
- West Norwegian Fjords, Norway
- Old Town of Cáceres, Spain
Top 10 Asia
- Angkor, Cambodia
- TajMahal, India
- Great Wall of China
- Old City of Jerusalem, Israel
- Historic Istanbul, Turkey
- Goreme National Park, Turkey
- Wadi Rum, Jordan
- Batad Rice Terraces, Philippines
- Tubbataha Reefs, Philippines
- Great Living Chola Temples, India
