BACKGROUND

Our world has many awe-inspiring wonders, man-made or natural. There are many online articles which highlight a specific area or type of attraction, but none that truly encompass all the beautiful, unique, or hidden gems our planet has to offer.

So I took it upon myself to create it; made possible by my site’s large database. Whether you're a city or nature lover; solo backpacker or family unit; Disney fan or dark tourist, I h you will discover something new!

We start with the quintessential New 7 Wonders of the World, a bucket list for many globetrotters:

And the honorary wonder: the Great Pyramid of Giza (last surviving wonder of the ancient world).

All World Heritage Sites are required to be unique, and geographically, historically or culturally significant to qualify, which makes these sites the world's best and beautiful.

This unorthodox list showcases a rich variety of places which are number one in their field. They range from the first ever Halloween theme park (Knotts Scary Farm!) to the most visited monument in the world (Effiel Tower) to nature wonderlands (such as Raja Ampat’s unparalleled marine diversity).

How about best attractions by continent? Here are the top destinations from all over the globe:

Africa is so vast that it has its own Seven Natural Wonders, many with its unique bonanza of wildlife. Try to spot all of Africa's Big 5 while you're there: Lion, Leopard, Rhinoceros, Elephant, and Cape Buffalo!

Shout out to the many gorgeous national parks from around the world. Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon are some of the most famous NPs in America. See my Yellowstone article to learn more about this place!

Ditto for marine parks, with plenty of underwater paradises for water activities and snorkeling or diving enthusiasts. Catch the giants of our ocean for a once in a lifetime experience!

Love road trips? Burn rubber on these scenic drives all over the globe.

These unique or quirky attractions are definitely worth a visit if you are nearby. Or check out this list of beautiful buildings.

Delving deeper, get inspired by this whole bunch of cool and unique activities which you can enjoy!

Moving to urban jungles, we have Alpha Cities; the top tier of global cities. My hometown of Singapore is inside, and if you’re planning to visit, here’s a Singapore quick guide.

Easily find day trip ideas anywhere by clicking the “Near & Related” button:

You can do day trips from Paris to Palace of Versailles, Claude Monet’s House, Champagne Wine Region, plus even London or Bruges!

Love gambling or adult-type entertainment? Hit the Casino Cities, such as Vegas, Macau and others.

Another subset are all the Famous Religious Attractions around the world.

Or want to have a peek into history? Visit one of our many Ancient Cities!

If the hustle and bustle is too much for you, visit a tourist town or village. These quaint, picturesque places are the perfect quiet getaway to relax and enjoy nature.

If winter sports is your thing, hit up a ski resort...

...or enjoy the sun, sand, and sea in a beach resort town.

Visit the many major tourist islands all over the world…

Tropical island getaways are a favorite for couples or beach-lovers. Maldives is a magnificent island resort destination — with crystal clear waters, luxurious villa resorts, plenty of water activities — at affordable prices. See my Maldives 101 guide to know more!

The Caribbean is another amazing place where you can island hop in a Caribbean Cruise, tour many unbelievable beaches and coral reefs, and soak in the various cultural experiences and food.

How about a wine region if you are into bubbly?

Tourist farms (whether flowers, fruits, veges, animals, or insects) can be a blast to visit!

Planning a trip? Head to my ultimate festival article to discover what's rocking around the world! 

Film & TV lovers gotta relive their favorite shows at these famous filming locations. From classic movies like Casablanca and The Shawshank Redemption to top-rated shows like Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad, from timeless sitcoms such as Friends to popular filming spots like the Griffith Observatory, we got them covered and ever-growing!

Are you a Disney fan or just love beautiful things in general? These Disney/Pixar-inspired locales are jaw-dropping places ranging from Angel Falls in Up to Neuschwanstein Castle for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty castles to Belle’s Colmar-inspired village in Beauty & the Beast — if it is good enough to inspire a Disney film, you know it must be an eye-opener!

Speaking of animation, let’s not forget Japan's Studio Ghibli-inspired places, which gave us timeless shows such as Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Castle in the Sky.

See the stunning best that nature has to offer, either in an artificial or natural setting:

Too kiddish? Let’s delve into the other end, a world of dark attractions, or dark tourism. 

What’s a dark attraction? One definition is any attraction which is related to death, disaster, suffering, or war. These places are popular with historians, war junkies, or people who crave an alternative travel experience. Slum tourism is another growing sub-category of this movement.

Fancy an unforgettable stay? These stunning hotels will take your breath away with ice hotels, treetop lofts, cliffside capsule rooms, and more! Caveat: Many are pricey, and some are not easily accessible.

Foodies have got to visit all these top-rated culinary destinations in the world, each with their unique local and/or fusion cuisine.

Unique restaurants, including dinner shows, can elevate your meal to an unforgettable adventure.

Great restaurants, especially Michelin-starred-restaurants, are an attraction too, with a full course meal being an experiential journey of your different culinary senses: sight, smell, taste, and touch.

Getting hitched or seeking a lovers' escape? Marvel at these breathtaking wedding shoot locations and top romantic getaways.

Fascinated with the underground? These “earthly” attractions will give you a unique perspective. 

Fascinated with volcanoes and lava? There are currently few places to see flowing lava up close (Access to Guatemala’s Mount Pacaya is now restricted and Hawaii’s Mount Kilauea 2018 eruption drained its calderas). Still, adventure travelers can explore these fiery lava lakes.

Can’t take the heat? Enter one of the many icy attractions on our planet. Fun fact: Ice caves form every winter and melt during spring or summer, so no trip there is ever the same.

Want to venture further? Book a polar expedition to the Arctic (North Pole) or Antarctica (South Pole) for an even colder adventure!

Let’s get wet! Some of these are only suitable for diving, but others are open to anybody: Gawk at Le Morne’s underwater waterfall from a seaplane or dine at Maldives’ underwater restaurant Ithaa.

The aurora borealis (northern lights) or aurora australis (southern lights) are another elusive bucket-list item for many. Like ice caves, every aurora is never the same and every viewing is magical.

Auroras are usually seen in Scandinavia, Iceland, or Canada due to accessibility and infrastructure (Read my Scandinavia winter road trip to learn more).

Many tourist hotspots often have one thing in common: Aerial activities. Paragliding, skydiving, or BASE jumping present an opportunity to try something new and get out of your comfort zone. For something milder, do a scenic plane, helicopter or hot air balloon tour.

Fancy being enveloped by hundreds or thousands of pretty things, such as crabs, fireflies and bioluminescent plankton? The insect attractions around the world are truly a sight to behold!

How about a zen trip? Holidays are sometimes about unwinding and these wellness destinations will do the trick; whether it's a spa resort town, a Japanese onsen (hot spring), a massage/wellness outing in South East Asia and South America, or a geothermal spa in Europe and Australia.

SUMMARY

We hope you discovered plenty of wonderful places for your next holiday. This page will constantly be streamlined and updated with more extraordinary places, so stay tuned!

Photos attributions (if any) are listed on their respective page photoviewers.

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