25 Places You Have To See Before You Die

Posted by , Updated on March 24, 2024

Feeling a strong desire to travel? Want to expand your list of must-see locations? You’re in the right place; we’re here to introduce a few incredible destinations. Some of them promise thrilling adventures that may not be for the timid, such as the journey to Angel Falls in Venezuela. In contrast, others offer a chance for ultimate rest and relaxation, such as sunbathing on the beaches of Maldives. Regardless of your preferred travel experience, we have a spot on this list that’ll cater to your needs! Here are 25 Places You Have To See Before You Die.

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25

Tianzi Mountains, China

china mtnshttp://www.visitourchina.com/zhangjiajie/attraction/the-tianzi-mountain.html

Found in the Hunan province of China and boasting about 100 natural viewing platforms, the unique views from atop the Tianzi Mountains are second to none. In order to get to there, you have to travel by cable car.

24

Santorini, Greece

santorinihttp://www.visitgreece.gr/en/greek_islands/santorini

The site of some of the largest volcanic eruptions in history, this group of Greek islands features picturesque beach side towns and Mediterranean sunsets. This is also the place to go if you enjoy new dining experiences. It’s recommended that you try their special goat cheese, “hloro tyri” or one of their many unique wines. 

23

Machu Pichu, Peru

peru

Situated on a mountain ridge overlooking Urubamba Valley in Peru, this is probably one of the most iconic remains of the massive Incan Empire.

22

The Azores

azoreshttps://azores.com/

Composed of several volcanic islands in the North Atlantic, the Azores are well known for their beautiful geography and isolation. It’s also known for being pretty affordable as far as island travel destinations go.

21

The Great Wall, China

the great wallhttps://www.history.com/topics/great-wall-of-china

Stretching thousands of miles along northern China, the Great Wall was named World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1987. The view, the history, and the impressive architecture make it a place you should visit. 

20

Petra, Jordan

petrahttps://www.britannica.com/biography/Johann-Ludwig-Burckhardt, http://international.visitjordan.com/Wheretogo/Petra.aspx

Unknown to the western world until Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt stumbled across it in 1812, this is now one of the most visited attractions in the Middle East. It’s said that just entering the city is a sight to behold with various rock structures and colors. Did we mention that large parts of the city are even carved into the mountain?

19

Bagan, Burma

burma

An ancient city located in the Mandalay region of Burma, Bagan contains over 2,000 temples and pagodas from between the 9th and 13th centuries.

18

Antelope Canyon, Arizona

antelope canyon

The most visited and photographed slot canyon in the American Southwest is only accessible by permit and with a required guide due to it’s status as a Native American tribal park. There are specific tours for both sightseeing and photography.

17

Ayers Rock, Australia

ayers rock 1

More formally known as “Uluru” this large sandstone formation in central Australia is the the largest monolith (single rock) in the world and is one of Australia’s most recognizable landmarks.

16

Tanah Lot, Indonesia

tanah lothttp://www.bali-indonesia.com/magazine/tanah-lot.htm

This exotic rock off the coast of Bali features an ancient Hindu shrine that can only be accessed during low tide. The surrounding area features no shortage of cultural displays, food, and shops. 

15

Meteora, Greece

mountain monestary

The surreal Meteora monasteries of Greece were originally built by monks to be a refuge from Turkish invaders, and until 100 years ago there wasn’t any way to get to them except for rope ladders. Today, however, you can take a cable car or walk up the perilous staircase cut into the stone.

14

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

salt flathttps://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/south-america/bolivia/how-to-see-salar-de-uyuni-salt-flats-bolivia/

Located in southwest Bolivia, Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat, and while the term “salt flat” might not inspire much awe, the pictures and reviews tell a different story.

13

Preikestolen, Norway

pulpit rock norwayhttps://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/fjord-norway/ryfylke/hiking-to-the-pulpit-rock-preikestolen/

Also known as the Pulpit Rock, visiting this 1,968 feet (600 meter) high cliff is for those who love an epic view and don’t mind a good hike. There are many different tour and activity options in the area as well, including a hiking festival. 

12

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

croatia

You may recognize this gem from our list of the 25 most amazing waterfalls in the world. Located in Croatia, Plitvice Lakes is actually 16 separate bodies of water divided into upper and lower basins by natural dams consisting of moss and algae.

11

The Twelve Apostles, Australia

12 apostleshttps://www.australia.com/en-us/places/melbourne-and-surrounds/guide-to-the-12-apostles.html

This collection of limestone stacks off the coast of Port Campbell National Park in Australia attracts roughly 2 million tourists every year. There are many nature-themed activities and even a helicopter ride to give you a different view of the limestone cliffs. 

10

Angel Falls, Venezuela

angel fallshttps://www.travelsauro.com/angel-falls-venezuela/, https://geology.com/records/highest-waterfall.shtml

Found in the Venezuelan jungle, Angel Falls is not only a stunning sight, it’s also overwhelming. At 3,230 feet (984 meters), it’s the highest waterfall in the world. In fact, it’s so high that water evaporates before it even reaches the ground! You may wonder about traveling in Venezuela right now, but with the proper precautions and guides, it’s worth the adventure.

9

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

halong bay

With thousands of islets and hidden coves, Ha Long Bay is famous for its large monolithic limestone islands rising formidably out of the ocean.

8

Positano, Italy

positanohttps://sirenuse.it/media/57085/Steinbeck.pdf

For years it was only a poor fishing village on the Italian coast, but then in 1953 John Steinbeck wrote these words of the region, “Positano bites deep. It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone.” Since then tourism has exploded.

7

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

angkor wathttps://www.tourismcambodia.com/attractions/angkor/angkor-wat.htm

As the largest Khmer temple complex in the world, Angkor Wat’s unique and architecture and vast size are unlike anything anywhere else in the world. It’s also one of the 7 Wonders of the World.

6

The Wave, Arizona

the wave

This large sandstone formation located near the Arizona and Utah border is famous among hikers for its colorful, undulating forms.

5

The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

gizahttps://www.nationalgeographic.com/archaeology-and-history/archaeology/giza-pyramids/, https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-11-27/tourists-are-returning-egypt-after-years-staying-away

Constructed around 2550 to 2490 BC, these Pyramids are relics of ancient Egyptian history and culture and are a sight to behold. While the tourist experience hasn’t been shed in a good light in the past few years, and at certain points, it was downright dangerous, it should be noted that tourism is back on the rise due to growing confidence of safety in the area.

4

The Maldives

maldiveshttps://visitmaldives.com/

With some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, every year thousands of tourists make their way to this island nation just south of Sri Lanka.

3

Monument Valley, Utah

monument valley

A vast region of the Colorado Plateau, Monument Valley consists of a large number of sandstone buttes reaching up to 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the valley floor.

2

Phi Phi Islands, Thailand

phi phi islands

Although they were devastated by the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004 the Phi Phi Islands have still maintained their surreal beauty and are well known as the location for the filming of The Beach with Leonardo DiCaprio.

1

The Northern Lights

norway northern lightshttps://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/7-aurora-destinations/

There are many amazing places to view the Aurora Borealis, so it’s difficult to pick just 1 place to see them for this list. Northern Scandinavia, Canada, Alaska…pick a place. If you really need something great to top off your bucket list, though, seeing the Northern Lights is it!

The great thing about many of these places is that they also offer adventurous outdoor activities such as king crab fishing, dogsledding, and snowmobile tours of the frozen fjords. There are even a few ice hotels you can stay in.



Photo: 1. shutterstock, 2. shutterstock, 3. max pixel (Public Domain), 4. pixabay (Public Domain), 5. shutterstock, 6. Nalan Aeon via flickr, The Wave Coyote Buttes, Arizona, CC BY-SA 2.0, 7. Dennis Jarvis, Cambodia 2638B - Angkor Wat, CC BY-SA 2.0 , 8. shutterstock, 9. shutterstock, 10. shutterstock, 11. pixabay (Public Domain), 12. shutterstock, 13. pixabay (Public Domain), 14. I, Luca Galuzzi, Watching Sunset Salar de Uyuni Bolivia Luca Galuzzi 2006, CC BY-SA 2.5 , 15. shutterstock, 16. Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas or alternatively © CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, Tanah-Lot Bali Indonesia Pura-Tanah-Lot-01, CC BY-SA 3.0 , 17. wikimedia commons (Public Domain), 18. shutterstock, 19. shutterstock, 20. shutterstock, 21. shutterstock, 22. shutterstock, 23. pixabay (Public Domain), 24. pixabay (Public Domain), 25. Rocio Gil, Tianzi Mountain(天子山)from the top of the cable car, CC BY-SA 4.0