The 57 Most Beautiful Places in the World
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The most beautiful places in the world are as impressive in breadth as their views are magnificent—from stately glaciers to rugged mountaintops, rolling hills taken straight from the frames of a Studio Ghibli movie to salt flats that deliver the sky right at your feet. Impressive landscapes dot every corner of our planet, and you wouldn't be alone in feeling a bit intimidated when deciding where to land next—perhaps a languid beach in Southeast Asia? Or how about the hypnotizing dunes of southwest Africa? But of course, you don't need to board a plane when there are already countless roadtrip-worthy sites waiting for you in the lower 48.
While you could occupy a lifetime curating your list of Mother Nature's greatest hits, we've shaved off some years for you by gathering the 57 most beautiful places in the world we think take the top spots. From the White Continent to the Grand Canyon, find your next favorite beach, forest, or national park below.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Mariusz Prusaczyk/GettyThe Amazon
Covering roughly 40 percent of South America, including parts of Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, the Amazon is the largest rainforest on the planet, and home to more than 40,000 plant species and 1,300 bird species alone. But be sure to visit the winding rivers and diverse wildlife while you can—climate change (along with man-made fires) is increasingly whittling away the habitat every day.
GettyAngel Falls, Venezuela
Venezuela overflows with natural wonders, including the world’s highest waterfall: the 3,212-foot cascades (that’s 19 times higher than Niagara Falls) of Angel Falls, located in the UNESCO-protected Canaima National Park. Bonus: Pixar animators used the location as inspiration for Paradise Falls in Up—so you know it’s good.
Holger Leue/GettyAntarctica
That’s right, we put an entire continent on here. Although 99 percent of Antarctica is covered with ice, the landscape still manages to be stunningly diverse—surreal blue glaciers, active volcanoes, the rough waterways of the Drake Passage, and 360-degree views of untouched snow. And those views are made even better when an emperor penguin or humpback whale makes an appearance.
TerenceLeezy/GettyArashiyama Bamboo Grove, Japan
Every traveler should experience the ethereal glow and seemingly endless heights of this bamboo grove on the outskirts of Kyoto. The experience even extends beyond the visual realm: In 1996, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment included the sounds here—wood creaking, leaves rustling—as one of the top 100 Soundscapes of Japan.
Vinícius Henrique Photography/UnsplashAtacama Desert, Chile
Have you ever dreamed of exploring the moon? A trip to Valle de la Luna in Chile’s Atacama Desert is a much shorter flight. Years of erosion have left behind jagged peaks, dry riverbeds, and a landscape startlingly similar to that of our favorite celestial body.
Kieran Stone/GettyAvenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar
Separated from continental Africa by 250 miles of water, Madagascar is adventure personified. The island nation’s secrets include giant moths, bug-eyed lemurs, and places like the surreal Avenue of the Baobabs, where the centuries-old trees reach heights of nearly 100 feet.
Artur Debat/GettyThe Azores, Portugal
Roughly 900 miles off the coast of Lisbon, this Portuguese archipelago can inspire wanderlust with a single photo. The verdant valleys, steep oceanside cliffs, rows of blue hydrangeas, and scattering of waterfalls make the Azores a paradise worth exploring. Just make sure you visit before everyone you know beats you to it.
GettyBanff National Park, Canada
Easily one of the most beautiful spots in Canada, Banff National Park overwhelms with views of the Canadian Rockies and a regular cast of animals. The park is also known for its abundance of beautiful lakes, including Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and glacial Lake Minnewanka—each more pristine than the last.
Kym Ellis/UnsplashBoulders Beach, South Africa
Located on the False Bay Coastline about 17 miles south of Table Mountain, Boulders Beach shows off the famously beautiful landscapes of Cape Town: bright blue water, granite boulders, and even penguins. Many people swim here just a few feet away from the adorable African penguin community, but feel free to just sit back and admire the sprawling coastline as well.
Twenty47studio/GettyCameron Highlands, Malaysia
It’s hard to pick just one beautiful spot in geographically diverse Malaysia, but the Cameron Highlands might be the winner. Located in the state of Pahang, the 275-square-mile region is home to the largest tea plantations in the country—a place of fuzzy green hills rolling into the distance, where you can also explore butterfly gardens and strawberry farms.
TPopova/GettyCappadocia, Turkey
Cappadocia, an area in Turkey where entire cities have been carved into rock, is pretty incredible on its own. But whenever hot air balloons pepper the sky—with many floating up right at sunrise—its beauty level literally skyrockets.
Patrick Schneider/UnsplashCaucasus Mountains, Georgia
For adventurous travelers who have grown tired of the crowded mountain trails in the Alps or or reservation-only vineyards in France, Georgia has everything you need and then some (yes, including wine). The best way to witness the diversity of the country’s terrain is on its hiking trails, which wind through the Greater Caucasus mountain range dividing Europe from Asia.
mbbirdy/GettyCliffs of Moher, Ireland
Few places exemplify the raw, untamed beauty of Ireland’s west coast like this natural wonder, which tops 702 feet at the highest point. And while you might know them better as the Cliffs of Insanity from The Princess Bride, in reality, the cliffs are located just south of Galway.
Clement LEONARD/GettyThe Dalmatian coast
Croatia on its own conjures up images of gin-clear waters, old European towns, and island hopping adventure. And a drive along the southern Dalmatian Coast brings delights often overlooked by the masses: family-run wineries on dramatic sloping hills, oyster farms nestled in quiet turquoise bays, centuries-old villages, and protected lakes and rivers that are perfect for cruising along.
Apostolos Kaloudis/GettyDanxia Landform Geological Park, China
These striped, multicolored mountains are Mother Nature's answer to Photoshop. Red sandstone and mineral deposits have been stacking in China's Danxia Landform Geological Park for more than 20 million years, causing the surreal layered effect.
SteveAllenPhoto/GettyDenali National Park, Alaska
Despite controversies over name changes and a shrinking elevation, Denali’s beauty is worth braving the extreme low temperatures. Make a road trip out of your visit, seeing as much of the 6 million acres of shimmering lakes and jagged mountains as you can.
Olena Didevska/GettyÉtretat, France
Located along France’s Alabaster Coast, the pebble beach of Étretat is popular among sailors and surfers. But most visitors come to this stretch in Upper Normandy for one reason: The famous chalk cliffs and arched rock formations. At various points along Étretat's 80-mile stretch, you’ll find natural sculptures that have inspired travelers and artists (most notably Claude Monet) for ages.
Andrew Bret Wallis/GettyFinnish Lapland
If your travel fantasies aren’t complete without a snowy setting, be sure to add Finnish Lapland to your list. While this northern region of Finland is lovely during the warmer months, try to plan your visit between November and March, when the trees are covered in thick layers of snow, huskies are eager to pull you around on a sled, and the Northern Lights are most likely to make an appearance.
DC_Colombia/GettyGalápagos Islands, Ecuador
Do we really have to explain the allure of the Galápagos? If you can, make it a priority to visit this of-another-time stretch of Ecuador, with dinosaur-like giant tortoises lumbering through the tall grass and real-life blue-footed boobies. (Pro tip: A cruise is definitely the preferred way to explore the islands; Celebrity Cruise’s Xpedition ferries just 100 passengers and holds nightly lectures by naturalists from Galápagos National Park.)
franckreporter/GettyThe Grand Canyon, Arizona
Grand Canyon National Park, often called one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, is on most travelers’ lists for a reason. Plan to hike some of the park’s most scenic loops—like Horseshoe Bend and the South Rim Trail—to get views of the rocky badlands of the Painted Desert, Navajo Nation, and even a waterfall or two.
mevans/GettyThe Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Although the Great Barrier Reef (aka the largest living thing on Earth) can be seen from space, the best vantage point belongs to the avid snorkelers and scuba divers who visit each year. If you must resurface, do it at the Whitsundays—namely Whitehaven Beach, often considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.
Hubert Neufeld/UnsplashGreenland
Greenland is icy, mysterious, and one of the most naturally beautiful places on the planet. And he world's biggest non-continental island is so much more than glaciers (although they are spectacular)—think magnificent fjords, colorful villages, fields of sheep, and that ever-alluring midnight sun.
GettyHa Long Bay, Vietnam
Ha Long Bay, located in northeast Vietnam, is beloved for its blue waters and spread of limestone islands, all occupied by tropical trees and wildlife. Board a Chinese junk boat to experience the beauty (and associated myths and stories) of the mist-shrouded emerald basin for yourself.
1111IESPDJ/GettyIsle of Skye, Scotland
With fairy pools and endless undulations of hills, the magical Isle of Skye is the stuff dreams are made of. While the nature here is timeless, the island also has a food scene that’s totally modern—we can’t think of a more beautiful place to sample Michelin-starred cuisine.
borchee/GettyLake Bled, Slovenia
There's a reason Lake Bled is one of Slovenia's most popular sites. With its emerald waters, vistas of the surrounding Julien Alps, and Disney-like castle high on a hill, you won't be short of picture-perfect views if you venture here.
Elena McGuinness/UnsplashLake Como, Italy
This 56-square-mile Lombardy jewel has been attracting summer vacationers since ancient Roman times. Today, it’s as popular for its natural beauty as it is for its luxury hotels—and George Clooney sightings, of course.
Niklas Ohlrogge/UnsplashLake Tekapo, New Zealand
While purple, pink, and blue-hued lupin flowers may not be native to New Zealand (they hail from North America), they really do seem to bloom most vibrantly on the Oceanian nation’s South Island. At Lake Tekapo, in particular, the flowers juxtapose against the backdrop of the crystal clear water to create one of the country’s most stunning vistas.
GettyLas Coloradas Lagoon in Yucatán, Mexico
The incredible pink lakes here make up part of the protected nature reserve of Ría Lagartos Biosphere on Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula. Red-colored algae, plankton, and brine shrimp that thrive in the waters not only turn the native flamingos pink but help produce 500,000 tons of salt per year.
Artur Debat/GettyLauterbrunnen, Switzerland
The Alpine town of Lauterbrunnen is one of the most beautiful small towns in Europe with its quaint chalet-style houses and village churches. But its natural surroundings are what really steal the show: ooh and ahh at towering rock faces, mountain peaks, flowery meadows, and some of the tallest free-flowing waterfalls in Europe. Fun fact: J.R.R. Tolkien used Lauterbrunnen as inspiration for the fictional valley of Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings.
GettyMachu Picchu, Peru
While the intricate stone ruins of Machu Picchu are the work of 15th-century Incans, the site’s natural setting makes it even more alluring. Perched atop the flattened peak of a mountain, the ancient Wonder of the World benefits from the famous backdrop of Huayna Picchu, lush green surfaces, and a barrier of Andean peaks that, despite the landmark’s fame, makes you feel like you've stumbled upon a secret.
Marcreation/UnsplashLençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil
The geography of Brazil's Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is like nothing else on the planet. The rainy season (which hits around early June) fills every trough with water. The effect is not unlike an M.C. Escher print: the scene resembles either a drowned desert or a sandy lake, depending on how your mind's eye frames what it's seeing.
GettyMilford Sound, New Zealand
New Zealand is no stranger to breathtaking landscapes, particularly on the west coast of the South Island. Case in point: Milford Sound, a mountainous fjord where you can live out all of your Lord of the Rings fantasies.
Mathieu Rivrin/GettyMont Saint-Michel, France
Rising out of the bay like a life-sized sandcastle, Mont Sant-Michel has been attracting tourists and pilgrims for centuries. Thick walls make up its base, from which rises the iconic village. A climb atop the fortress here reaches the pinnacle of a rocky outcrop where an abbey and church loom over the sandbanks below. And when the dramatic high tides roll in, the Mont juts majestically out of the water.
DoctorEgg/GettyMount Fuji, Japan
It’s hard to pick the single most beautiful place in Japan, but 12,388-foot Mount Fuji just might take the prize. Visit Lake Kawaguchiko in the spring for some of the best views of the mountain and cherry blossom trees—a postcard-worthy sight if we ever saw one. Or if you’re an avid hiker, plan a trip for mid-July until the end of August, when the snow melts enough to allow access to Fuji’s summit.
Ayzenstayn/GettyMount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Africa’s highest peak seems more striking than a lot of other famous mountains, because it’s an ancient stratovolcano that’s not part of any mountain range. That means the 19,000-foot summit drops down to vast, flat plains on all sides, making it a mirage-like blip on Tanzania’s widespread topography. As an added bonus, the peak requires no technical mountaineering skills to summit, so even novice hikers can cross this item off their bucket list.
Martin Harvey/GettyNamib Desert, Namibia
With its otherworldly landscapes and populations of rhinos, giraffes, and elephants, the Namib Desert is like nowhere else on Earth. In fact, its red sand dunes and skeletal trees might make you think you’ve been transported to Mars instead of Southwest Africa.
YinYang/GettyNa Pali Coast, Hawaii
Kauai has one of the world’s most gorgeous coastlines, with towering waterfalls and isolated crescent beaches. Just be prepared to put in a little effort to soak up its wonders: Na Pali can only be seen from a helicopter, catamaran, or a rather grueling hike.
Peter Adams/GettyOkavango Delta, Botswana
The lush Okavango Delta—a 49-million-acre river delta in northern Botswana—is like a real-world eden, where cheetahs, zebras, buffalo, and rhinos roam freely. Visit during Africa’s winter (summertime in the Northern Hemisphere), after the rains—the savanna’s grasses are low, while growth along the waterways attracts tons of wildlife.
Mlenny/GettyPalawan, Philippines
With its blue lagoons and limestone cliffs, it’s easy to see why Palawan is consistently voted one of the best islands in the world by our readers. It is also home to the otherworldly Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that travels five miles through an underground cave system.
Jami Tarris/GettyThe Pantanal
The Amazon may be Brazil's most recognizable natural beauty, but the lesser-known Pantanal wetlands offer a completely different—yet equally remarkable—wildlife experience for travelers. These tropical wetlands are the largest in the world and boasts the largest concentration of wildlife in South America. Plus, because the terrain is fairly flat, it's easier to spot the jaguars, giant anteaters, green anacondas, and howler monkeys that call it home.
Co. KG/GettyPamukkale, Turkey
The 17 tiered pools of Pamukkale (“cotton castle” in Turkish) are as beautiful as hot springs get. The stacks of white travertine (a form of limestone) overlook the city of Denizli, and the still 94-degree Fahrenheit waters perfectly reflect the cerulean Aegean sky.
Paul Baggaley/GettyThe Pitons, St. Lucia
The scenery of St. Lucia can be summed up in one jaw-dropping site: a duo of striking spires known as the Pitons. The two volcanic peaks—Gros Piton and Petit Piton—are the most iconic landmarks on the island, and visitors can enjoy them in a variety of ways. A singular experience has to be actually hiking the mountains, an activity which takes the better part of a day. Or, if you prefer to keep your feet at sea level, plop a towel down at Sugar Beach, set dramatically (and conveniently) between the two Pitons.
AlamyPlaya de Las Catedrales, Spain
As a destination on Europe's Iberian Peninsula, Spain is renowned for its island paradises and semi-remote sand beaches. We're particularly big fans of Playa de Las Catedrales, a small stretch of sand on the Galician coast where natural stone arches form a walkable "cathedral" at low tide.
Franck Reporter/GettyRedwood National and State Parks
You come here to feel dwarfed in the most stunning way possible. While strolling through Redwood National and State Parks, it’s easy to feel small. In fact, that’s the default. Coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) are the tallest trees in the world, growing to nearly 370 feet tall and living up to 2,000 years old.
Alongkot Sumritjearapol/GettyReynisfjara, Iceland
If the moon had a shoreline, it would probably look something like Reynisfjara. Just a 20-minute drive from Vik in southern Iceland, jet-black sand and spectacularly shaped basalt columns make this beach one of the most impressive sites in an already impressive country.
pabliscua/GettySalar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Southwest Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world, and is about as surreal as landscapes come. When dry, the flat is a sheet of blindingly white salt tiles. During the wet season, the shallow lake mirrors the sky, creating a dreamy illusion of infinity.
David Lazar/GettySerengeti National Park, Tanzania
Tanzania’s portion of the Serengeti is the ideal location for an African adventure. Visit between January and March to witness the wonder that is the Great Migration, an iconic phenomenon that sees 1.5 million wildebeest sweep through East Africa on an annual, 1,200-mile cycle.
Putt Sakdhnagool/GettyThe Smoky Mountains
While you could leave this national park satisfied on the foliage and views of the Cumberland Mountains alone, don't leave without witnessing the firefly show. Though the Great Smoky Mountains play host to 19 species of fireflies, the synchronous photinus carolinus is the only breed in the US to be able to blink their bioluminescence all at the same time, making for quite the summer night spectacle in the national park that straddles North Carolina and Tennessee.
sodar99/GettySvalbard, Norway
Svalbard, the northern archipelago off the coast of Norway, is known for spectacular Northern Lights viewing opportunities—the sky is pitch black all day and night from October through February, due to its position within the Arctic Circle. Svalbard is also celebrated for its wildlife, including polar bears and arctic foxes who live out their days among the deep fjords and sheets of ice.
MBPROJEKT_Maciej_Bledowski/GettyTorres del Paine National Park, Chile
With its granite pillars, azure lakes, and steppes spotted with grazing guanacos, Torres del Paine is one of the most impressive sites in the entire Southern Hemisphere. It also happens to be an extremely popular destination for hikers: The ultra-ambitious can travel the Full Circuit—crossing the entire park—in nine days.
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GettyUbud, Bali
As crowded as Ubud can get, the town is only minutes from dozens of quaint villages and peaceful countryside vistas. Rent a motorbike or bicycle at your hotel and get lost in the villages, tangerine groves, and rice paddies—all of which are kept alive by farmers who tend the terraces just as previous generations have done for millennia.
Antoine Fabre/UnsplashUluru, Australia
No matter how you choose to view the 700-million-year-old Uluru (or Ayers Rock)—from above by hot air balloon, across the desert on a motorcycle—witnessing its majesty should be on every traveler's list.
GettyVaadhoo Island, Maldives
The beaches at Vaadhoo Island in the Maldives have received their fair share of online swooning, and for good reason. The bioluminescent phytoplankton in the water’s reefs emanate a dazzling blue glow, making it look as though the stars have somehow found their way down to earth for the night—a phenomenon that has aptly become known as the “Sea of Stars.”
alejocock/GettyValle de Cocora, Colombia
Valle de Cocora is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Colombia—and that’s saying something. The park (about a 7-hour drive west of Bogotá) is filled with the tallest palm trees in the world at nearly 200 feet, which look even more incredible set against the backdrop of misty green hills and craggy mountains.
Tamer_Desouky/GettyVictoria Falls, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Nothing compares to standing in front of the world’s largest waterfall, which stretches in length for a full mile. Visit between February and May (after the region’s rainy season) for the clearest views of the 500 million liters of water that pour over the falls every 60 seconds.
Ratnakorn Piyasirisorost/GettyWadi Rum, Jordan
With its cliffs, caverns, natural arches, and Mars-like red sand, it’s no wonder Wadi Rum is so beloved by both tourists and directors. (Lawrence of Arabia, The Martian, and Rogue One are just some of the many movies that have been filmed here.) The site is just as stunning at night, when the sky transforms into an incomparable blanket of stars.
Tuul & Bruno Morandi/GettyWulingyuan Scenic Area, China
“Scenic” might be an understatement here: This 100-square-mile attraction in China’s Hunan Province contains thousands of sandstone pillars that are nature’s version of skyscrapers—some even stretch taller than the Empire State Building’s midpoint.
