1. Taj Mahal, India
Taj Mahal is a labor of love. Emperor Shah Jahan built it in honor of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who bore 14 children but died in labor. Jahan was lost without her, and in 1631, he began construction on what is probably the world’s most elaborate and expensive mausoleum.
2. Christ the Redeemer, Brazil
This iconic Christ Statue is found in an equally iconic city, Rio de Janeiro. It was completed in 1931, though a priest first proposed building a religious monument on Mount Corcovado almost a century earlier. While Christ is often depicted on a cross, this towering, bright white figure stands 98 feet tall with its arms outstretched. Generally viewed as a symbol of peace and welcoming, it’s covered in thousands of small stone tiles that were painstakingly applied by devout women.
Entrance Fee: around $15-20 for an adult ticket.
3. Petra, Jordan
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Petra comes from the ancient Greek “Petros,” meaning “rock,” which is a boring name for a very not boring place. Petra is in the south of Jordan between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, a few hours’ drive from the capital city, Amman, and it’s believed to have been established around 300 BC.
To access it, you have to walk about 15 minutes through a narrow canyon called the Siq. Exiting the narrow passage, you’re greeted by one of the greatest sights on Earth: the Treasury. Carved into the rock face, it’s enormous and overwhelming, and the sandstone is a kaleidoscope of pinks, oranges, and reds. The colors turn bolder and bolder at sunset, setting the city on fire — not just the Treasury but the whole city, which was forgotten until a Swiss explorer rediscovered it in 1812.
Entrance Fee: starting at $70 for a single day
4. The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall is something of a misnomer. The wall is not actually continuous but many walls built at different times and for different reasons; many were joined together, but gaps still exist. Some parts of the wall feel newer and almost pristine — these were built during the Ming Dynasty when the Ming were at war with Mongolians around the 1300s. The older walls date back as far as 700 BC, and these sections show their age today. Still, the Great Wall weaves and winds over the hills where China borders Mongolia, measuring about 20,000 kilometers (12,427 miles) and crossing nine provinces.
Entrance Fee: $6.50, plus another $17.50 or so for the round-trip cable car ride
5. The Colosseum, Rome
This beauty was commissioned in Rome around 70 AD. The massive amphitheater has over 80 entrances and seating for at least 50,000 people. Spectators would come to watch gladiators battle, animals fight or be hunted, and much more. While some parts of the Colosseum have crumbled — from earthquakes, looters, vandals, or fire — it’s still a gorgeous sight, even despite the throngs of tourists.
Entrance Fee: $2 and skip the line altogether
6. Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is one of the most impressive sites in Peru — and on the planet. Built 7,000 feet above sea level, the ancient citadel dates back to the height of the Incan Empire in the 15th century. It’s estimated that only about 750 people lived here as it was a royal estate rather than a proper city. In the native tongue, Quechua, the name means “Old Peak,” but the excellently constructed site wears its age gracefully and is impressively maintained.
Ticket Fee:$45 for foreign tourists with additional fees to access Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain, or the site’s museum
