The most beautiful places in the world: UNESCO Top 15 places to visit

The world at your fingertips: here we have selected a list of the most beautiful places in the world that will touch you to the heart!

The world is there to be discovered: here are the most beautiful places in the world that will fill your heart with wonder!

We live in a wonderful world. Modern metropolises with a rainbow of lights, villages perched on mountains, nature reserves, parks and lakes, infinite seas and monuments and buildings that defy the force of gravity and rise up to the sky.

You are spoilt for choice - every place is more magical than the one before. Nevertheless, if you are looking for some of the most beautiful places in the world for an adventure with breathtaking panoramas, here is our list of 15 of the best places to visit in the world.

Here we present the list of the most famous UNESCO world heritage sites, an organisation that has always been committed to preserving the most precious corners of our planet.

1. Angkor Wat, Cambodia

It is in the heart of Cambodia that we find the first most beautiful place in the world. Accessible from the picturesque town of Siem Reap, Angkor Wat is one of the most visited temples in the enormous archaeological complex that extends for more than 400 km in the Cambodian forest. At sunset, with the amber light of the sun filtering through the stone ruins, the temple is truly magical.

The UNESCO site is accessible from the picturesque town of Siem Reap, famous above all for its Night Market. Beware of hotels in the city, which are very often high-priced tourist traps. The solution? Oops Hostel, a hostel in Cambodia which boasts a sky-bar on the roof and a modern and colourful design worthy of a five-star hotel, at only 25 euros per night!

2. Acropolis of Athens, Greece

Perhaps the most famous monument in Athens and an ancient vestige of a glorious past, the Acropolis is proof of the excellence of Athenian beauty all over the world. Not to be missed (which is in some ways impossible to do due to its incredible size) is the Parthenon, which stands proudly in all its Doric elegance.

If you want to enjoy the view of the Acropolis at sunset, take advantage of the Rooftop bar of the coolest hostel in Athens: the AthenStyle, open year-round, which offers romantic dinners for two with Athens in the background.

3. Taj Mahal, India

A pledge of love that shines for eternity. This was the last wish of Arjumand Bano Begum, wife of Emperor Shah Jahan, who tragically died giving birth to her firstborn. To remember his beloved, the emperor had one of the most beautiful palaces in the world built in her honour, a triumph of white marble and lapis lazuli.

And even if you can't afford to stay in a royal residence, the Backpacker Panda Friends has a low-budget elegance that will win the heart and wallet! (besides being incredibly close to the historical centre of the city).

4. Machu Picchu, Perù

Myth and legend, mystery and prophecy: between the rocky tip of the mountains and the green Peruvian forest stands one of the most beautiful places in the world, Machu Picchu. Judged as one of the first examples of an Inca settlement, the identity of Machu Picchu still remains shrouded in mystery: a city, place of worship, work of some extraterrestrials?

5. The Great Coral Reef, Australia

Image by @gbrmarinepark

With more than 2,300 km of precious coral and with some incredible multicoloured fauna and marine flora, the Great Barrier Reef is by far the largest living organism on Earth. Live an unforgettable experience among hidden beaches, breathtaking dives and tropical fish ... always remembering to respect and protect this immense heritage site.

And if your holiday needs a little more fun, the Base Magnetic Island is the perfect hostel in Australia for every backpacker looking for adventure, as it hosts the Full Moon Party, the wildest beach party in the Pacific!

6. 'Inguazú National Park, Brazil and Argentina

With a riverbed of over 1,500 meters wide, the Iguazu River marks the border between Brazil and Argentina, ending its long run in what is considered one of the most impressive waterfalls in the world. Some of the falls reach up to 70 meters high... this is surely one of the best places to visit in the world!

7. Petra, Jordan

Image by @dkran7

Legend has it that Petra, also known as the "Pink City", is the result of decades of immense work by the ancient Nabataean people who, more than 2000 years ago, sculpted the entire structure into the bare pink rock, a stone typical to the Jordanian Landscape. Today the El Khasneh temple is one of the seven wonders of the world, a 43-meter-high pink facade, which is only accessible through a dark narrow gorge.

For a taste of the true traditions of the city, we recommend the Petra Gate: at dinner time the dining room of this hostel in Petra is filled with the lively notes of traditional Bedouin music and the scent of mint tea.

8. The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

Image by @hoagard

The existence of these three famous pyramids in Giza have always fed theories on the existence of extraterrestrials and on the mystical alignment of the constellations. The highest, the Pyramid of Cheops, is a demonstration of the megalomania of an Emperor, followed in height by the Pyramid of Chefren, the only of the three that preserves the remains of the ancient covering of shiny limestone, and the small Pyramid of Mycerinus.

9. Venice and its Lagoon, Italy

A labyrinth of alleyways suspended on the water. Venice, between enchantment and magic, has conquered not only the UNESCO heritage title is as one of the most visited cities in the world. Known for its curious fish shape, Venice is a sensual city of art and culture that is impossible to ignore.

But the real beauty of the city is in the small things, in the less touristy corners: the hostel in Venice We Crociferi, located in a completely renovated 12th-century convent, will allow you to experience the city like never before.

10. Stonehenge, United Kingdom

Stonehenge is a universal symbol of the United Kingdom and the world's oldest evidence of prehistoric construction. Surrounded by a mystical aura without equal, it still remains an unresolved enigma: what does the circle of stones mean? And what about its alignment with the solar solstice?

From London, Stonehenge is easily accessible by train (get off at Salisbury and take the dedicated shuttle bus). For centrally located accommodation we recommend the Palmers Lodges, a boutique hostel in London decked out in full English style: dark wood, crimson upholstery and British hospitality!

11. Easter Island, Chile

Another human masterpiece, another mystery. This time we are in Chile, in the presence of the 638 colossal statues that are dotted around Easter Island, discovered by the Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen on Easter Sunday in 1722. According to the latest archaeological discoveries, the huge busts of the Moai would have been a tribute to the leaders of the ancient tribe that once inhabited the island.

12. Vatican City, Italy

The smallest city-state in the world but that houses largest religious building ever made: a curious paradox that defines this umpteenth pearl of Unesco. The historic seat of the Pope, the Vatican houses the Basilica of San Pietro, whose impressive square and stunning interior decorations bear the signature of the best artists in the world, from Michelangelo and Raffaello to Bernini.

Remaining on the "spiritual" theme, the hostel Romangelo II seems the like the perfect accommodation for a rest ... almost angelic!

13. The Great Wall, China

21.196.18 kilometres of blood, battles and history. This is the Great Wall of China, the most visited attraction in the country. The wall runs across the entire of China from one coast to the other, crossing narrow gnarled mountains, hills, and long stretches of countryside. Wanted by numerous dynasties of emperors, it cost the lives of hundreds of soldiers, slaves and rebels, who were forced to protect the borders of their homeland.

Beijing is definitely the city from which you can reach the Great Wall with ease. Among the multitude of hotels and hostels in Beijing, we recommend the Peking International Youth Hostel: located in the most vibrant and colourful district of the entire city, all of which can admired from the fairytale terrace of the hostel during breakfast

14. The Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States

More than 65 million years ago, the Colorado Plateau rose to create an unbridgeable height difference with the bed of the Colorado River. Over the centuries, the waters have acted silently in the subsoil: and the result of this erosion is the Grand Cayon, one of the deepest gorges in the world. The red and golden rocks seem to be inflamed during sunset and sunrise, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

15. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Image by @galapagosisland

Immersed in the bluest waters of the Pacific Ocean, these 13 islands of volcanic origin lie on the edge of the human world, home to some of the rarest creatures on the planet. The fragile ecosystem includes endemic species such as giant turtles and the terrestrial iguana. The biodiversity of the islands is so varied and precious that Darwin himself found inspiration here for his famous theory of evolution.