Italy leads this list with 58 UNESCO World Heritage sites, thanks to ancient relics such as Pompeii and Herculaneum which take pride of place among the ancient ruins at Pompeii and Herculaneum. Italy also boasts incredible historic architecture in Florence, Venice and other cities like Milan.
Machu Picchu is unquestionably the star attraction in Peru, but this country holds many other wonders beyond this mountaintop citadel. From Beijing’s Forbidden City and Lake Titicaca to the Sacred Valley and more – Peru truly offers something for every traveller!
Germany
From its famous Brandenburg Gate to magical fairytale castles, Germany’s history is rich with heritage sights. Follow in Martin Luther’s footsteps at locations that helped shape the Reformation movement or gain insight into prehistoric life at Messel Pit fossil site.
UNESCO-listed sites cover Germany’s rich history and culture, from Roman relics like the Limes that still stretches 5,000km, to impressive cathedrals like Cologne Cathedral. Other highlights include Bremen which was part of Hanseatic League with an attractive old town featuring Holstentor Gate as part of Holstentor Gate Park.
Berlin offers visitors the unique opportunity to visit Checkpoint Charlie and pay respects to those Resistance fighters who attempted to assassinate Hitler at Bendlerblock in Hohenzollernstrasse district in 1944.
Egypt
Egypt was one of the greatest civilizations of ancient history and continues to boast some fascinating landmarks from that era, such as the Great Pyramid of Giza, Philae Temple and Valley of Kings. All three provide glimpses into past.
Saqqara burial ground boasts several pyramids, such as the Step Pyramid of Djoser. It was the first royal tomb in Egypt and inspired more elaborate funeral services throughout Egypt.
The Valley of the Kings in Egypt contains tombs belonging to pharaohs from its New Kingdom period spanning 16th century BCE through 11th century CE. Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb here in 1922.
Italy
Italy boasts 58 UNESCO heritage sites that enthrall visitors with its wealth of history. From Rome’s rich past to Padua’s Renaissance masterpieces, Italy boasts an ancient legacy dating back millennia.
Visit Pompeii and Herculaneum to witness how ancient cities were frozen in time by Mount Vesuvius’ eruption, or uncover Greater Greece ruins in Sicily’s Valley of Temples.
As an introduction to modern Italian history, visit Casa di San Pietro prison – once home to some of Italy’s most notable dissidents held captive there – or Pianosa Island off Sardinia which once hosted an infamous Fascist prison.
France
France offers stunning sites to explore ranging from battlefield relics, ancient Roman remains and Renaissance art to jaw-dropping cave drawings at Lascaux Cave and Louvre museums – an array of historic attractions for travellers to enjoy exploring.
The Palais des Papes in Avignon is an impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site rich with history dating back to Papal Schism in the late 1300s, as it served as home for an extravagant Papal Palace before power moved back to Rome.
Nice’s Cimiez Monastery offers visitors a glimpse into French monk life throughout history in a peaceful location.
India
India offers many historical sites and monuments to visit, making it easy to find something culturally satisfying when exploring this vast country.
No trip to India would be complete without seeing the Taj Mahal – one of its iconic sites and an UNESCO World Heritage Site built by Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife.
Fatehpur Sikri is another UNESCO World Heritage Site worthy of visiting and admiration, serving as Emperor Akbar’s capital city and featuring mosques, palaces and civic structures such as Buland Darwaza; an impressive double-storied gateway with four gardens embellishing it. Be captivated by this gorgeous structure!
Mexico
Mexico is home to numerous historical landmarks, from Teotihuacan’s ruins to Basilica de Guadalupe – one of the world’s most visited religious sites with over 1 Million pilgrims visiting annually!
Monte Alban, an ancient city dedicated to the sun with an array of temples and pyramids, and Palenque (Mayan city with breathtaking temple carvings and magnificent palaces) are other amazing historic destinations worth visiting.
Cholula is another remarkable historical site in Mexico, featuring an enormous pyramid that dwarfs that of Giza in Egypt. Once used as a place of worship and even home to an impressive 16th-century chapel.
