Unearth The Voyage
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is bringing together 32 countries from every corner of the globe, and that got me thinking about something beyond the matches. Each of these nations has at least one landmark so iconic, so tied to its identity, that it practically defines the country itself.
From ancient ruins to modern masterpieces, these attractions tell the story of where football and culture collide. Whether you are a travel lover, a football fan, or just someone who likes knowing cool things about the world, this list is worth bookmarking.
Here is a look at one famous attraction from each of the 32 countries competing in the 2026 World Cup knockout round, and why each one deserves a spot on your radar.
Chichén Itzá – Mexico
Few ancient sites on Earth match the scale and precision of Chichén Itzá. Located in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, this Mayan city was built over a thousand years ago and is now one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
The pyramid known as El Castillo stands 30 meters tall and was designed with astronomical accuracy that still impresses scientists today.
During the spring and autumn equinoxes, sunlight hits the pyramid at just the right angle to create a shadow that looks like a serpent crawling down the steps. That alone draws thousands of visitors every year.
The site also includes a large ball court, the Temple of Warriors, and the Sacred Cenote, a natural sinkhole that held deep religious significance for the Maya.
Visiting early in the morning helps you avoid the midday heat and the largest crowds. Entry fees are required, and guided tours are available on-site.
Table Mountain – South Africa
Table Mountain is one of the most recognizable natural landmarks on the planet, rising dramatically above Cape Town with its famously flat summit. The mountain is estimated to be around 600 million years old, making it one of the oldest in the world.
That flat top sits at about 1,086 meters and offers a 360-degree view of the city, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Cape Peninsula.
Getting up there is half the experience. You can ride the rotating aerial cableway, which gives every passenger a rotating view on the way up, or tackle one of the many hiking trails if you prefer the climb.
The Platteklip Gorge trail is the most popular and takes roughly two to three hours to complete.
The mountain is also a biodiversity hotspot, home to plant species found nowhere else on Earth. It is part of the Cape Floral Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Matterhorn – Switzerland
The Matterhorn is the mountain that launched a thousand postcards. Standing at 4,478 meters on the border between Switzerland and Italy, it is one of the most photographed peaks in the Alps and arguably the most recognizable mountain silhouette in the world.
That near-perfect pyramid shape is not just good looks, it is geology at its most dramatic.
The town of Zermatt sits at the base and is the main gateway for visitors. It is a car-free village, which keeps the air clean and the pace slow.
From Zermatt, you can take the Gornergrat Railway up to a viewing platform that puts the Matterhorn front and center.
Climbing the peak is a serious technical endeavor reserved for experienced mountaineers. For everyone else, the hiking trails, ski slopes, and scenic train rides offer plenty of ways to appreciate the mountain up close.
The area is open year-round with different activities depending on the season.
Niagara Falls – Canada
Niagara Falls sits right on the border between Canada and the United States, but the Canadian side offers the most dramatic view. The Horseshoe Falls, which is the Canadian portion, stretches about 670 meters wide and drops roughly 57 meters into the gorge below.
The sheer volume of water flowing over the edge every second is hard to wrap your head around until you are standing there.
The Maid of the Mist boat tour has been running since 1846 and takes passengers close enough to the base of the falls to feel the spray firsthand. Journey Behind the Falls is another popular option, taking visitors through tunnels carved into the rock directly behind the curtain of water.
Niagara Falls, Ontario has a full tourism district with observation towers, restaurants, and seasonal festivals. The falls are illuminated at night with colored lights, which makes an evening visit worth planning.
Admission costs vary depending on which attractions you choose.
Stari Most – Bosnia and Herzegovina
Stari Most, which translates to Old Bridge, is the beating heart of Mostar and one of the most beautiful pieces of Ottoman architecture still standing in Europe. The original bridge was built in 1566 and stood for nearly 430 years before being destroyed during the conflict of the 1990s.
What you see today is a faithful reconstruction completed in 2004, built using the same limestone and traditional techniques as the original.
The bridge arches gracefully over the emerald green Neretva River, connecting the two sides of the old city. Every summer, local divers leap from the top of the arch into the river below as part of a tradition that goes back centuries.
It is a striking sight and a deeply local one.
The surrounding Old Bazaar, known as Kujundžiluk, is lined with craft shops, cafes, and small galleries. Stari Most was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.
Christ the Redeemer – Brazil
Standing 38 meters tall on top of Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Christ the Redeemer is one of the most widely recognized statues in the world. The figure faces the city with open arms, which has made it a global symbol of welcome.
Construction finished in 1931, and the statue was designated one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.
Getting to the top involves either a cog train ride through Tijuca National Forest or a van shuttle, both of which offer their own scenic appeal. The summit platform gives visitors a sweeping view of Rio, Guanabara Bay, and the famous Sugarloaf Mountain in the distance.
The statue is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone and required the work of Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa alongside French sculptor Paul Landowski. Visiting at sunrise or just before sunset tends to offer softer light and slightly smaller crowds.
Tickets should be booked in advance.
Hassan II Mosque – Morocco
The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the largest mosque in Africa and one of the largest in the world. Its minaret reaches 210 meters into the sky, making it the tallest religious structure on Earth.
The mosque was completed in 1993 and was built to honor King Hassan II on his 60th birthday. Around 25,000 worshippers can pray inside, with space for another 80,000 in the outdoor plaza.
What makes this mosque visually distinct is its location. It was built partly over the Atlantic Ocean, so part of the prayer hall floor is made of glass, allowing worshippers to see the water below.
The building sits on a promontory that juts into the sea, giving it a dramatic coastal presence visible from far away.
Non-Muslim visitors are welcome to take guided tours of the interior, which is unusual for mosques in Morocco. The craftsmanship inside, including hand-carved plaster, cedar wood ceilings, and Italian marble floors, is genuinely extraordinary.
Statue of Liberty – United States
The Statue of Liberty has welcomed visitors to New York Harbor since 1886, and it remains one of the most visited monuments in the United States. France gifted the statue to the American people as a symbol of friendship and shared democratic values.
The full structure, including the pedestal, stands about 93 meters tall. Lady Liberty herself, from heel to torch, measures just over 46 meters.
Access requires a ferry from either Battery Park in Manhattan or Liberty State Park in New Jersey. General admission gets you onto Liberty Island, but climbing to the crown requires a separate timed ticket that sells out months in advance.
The museum inside the pedestal covers the history of the statue’s construction and meaning in detail.
Ellis Island, just a short ferry ride away, is included in the same ticket and tells the story of the millions of immigrants who passed through it between 1892 and 1954. Booking ahead is strongly recommended, especially during summer.
Sydney Opera House – Australia
The Sydney Opera House is one of the most distinctive buildings of the 20th century. Designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon, the building sits on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour and is instantly recognizable by its series of interlocking shell-shaped roof structures.
It opened in 1973 after a famously complicated construction process that took 14 years and went well over budget.
Today it functions as a working performing arts center hosting more than 1,500 performances every year, covering opera, theatre, dance, music, and comedy. Guided tours of the interior are available daily and go behind the scenes into the main halls, backstage areas, and the building’s architectural history.
The outdoor forecourt and the Monumental Steps are free to visit and offer a close-up view of the shells against the harbour. The venue was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
Dining options are available on-site, and the views of the harbour from the restaurant terraces are genuinely hard to beat.
Palacio de los López – Paraguay
The Palacio de los López is the seat of the Paraguayan government and one of the most elegant buildings in Asunción. Construction began in 1857 under President Carlos Antonio López, and the building was completed during the presidency of his son, Francisco Solano López.
The neoclassical design was inspired by European architecture and stands in contrast to much of the surrounding city.
Situated along the banks of the Paraguay River, the palace occupies a prominent position in the historic center of Asunción. Its white facade, detailed columns, and ornate balconies make it one of the most photographed buildings in the country.
The building has served as the presidential residence and executive offices for over a century.
Visitors can view the exterior freely, and the surrounding Plaza Independencia offers a good vantage point. Guided tours of the interior are occasionally available for the public.
The palace is a strong starting point for exploring Asunción’s historic waterfront district.
Brandenburg Gate – Germany
The Brandenburg Gate is Berlin’s most famous landmark and one of the most loaded symbols in modern European history. Built between 1788 and 1791 during the reign of Prussian King Frederick William II, the neoclassical gate was modeled after the Propylaea in Athens.
For most of the Cold War, it stood just inside the East German side of the Berlin Wall, making it unreachable for West Berliners.
When the Wall fell in 1989, the gate became the focal point of one of the most celebrated moments in recent history. Today it stands in the heart of reunified Berlin as a symbol of peace and unity.
Pariser Platz, the square in front of the gate, is a major public gathering space flanked by the French Embassy, the Academy of Arts, and the Hotel Adlon.
The gate is free to visit and open at all hours. The area is walkable from major Berlin attractions including the Holocaust Memorial and the Reichstag building.
Basilica of Our Lady of Peace – Ivory Coast
The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro is officially recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest church in the world. Completed in 1989, it was commissioned by then-president Félix Houphouët-Boigny and modeled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, though it is actually larger.
The dome rises to 158 meters, surpassing St. Peter’s by a few meters.
The basilica sits in the political capital of Ivory Coast, a city built specifically to serve as the seat of government. The structure can accommodate up to 18,000 people inside and another 300,000 in the surrounding esplanade.
The stained glass windows were made in France and depict both biblical scenes and figures representing Ivory Coast.
Visiting requires modest dress, and guided tours are available. The sheer scale of the building relative to the surrounding landscape is striking.
Pope John Paul II consecrated the basilica in 1990, on the condition that a hospital be built nearby, which was eventually completed.
Galápagos Islands – Ecuador
The Galápagos Islands sit about 1,000 kilometers off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, and they are unlike anywhere else on Earth. Charles Darwin visited in 1835, and what he observed there helped shape his theory of evolution.
The wildlife on these islands evolved in isolation for so long that the animals have virtually no fear of humans, which makes for an extraordinary up-close experience.
Giant tortoises, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and Galápagos penguins are among the species you can observe here in their natural habitat. The islands are split between the Galápagos National Park and the Marine Reserve, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Access is tightly controlled to protect the ecosystem. Visitors must enter with a licensed guide, and certain areas require special permits.
Most trips are organized as multi-day cruises or island-hopping tours based out of the main islands of Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, or Isabela. Entry fees apply upon arrival.
Canals of Amsterdam – Netherlands
Amsterdam’s canal system is one of the most ambitious urban engineering projects of the 17th century. The city expanded its network of canals during the Dutch Golden Age to support trade, and the result was a concentric ring of waterways that still defines the city’s layout today.
The historic canal district, known as the Grachtengordel, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010.
There are roughly 165 canals stretching across about 100 kilometers in total, crossed by more than 1,500 bridges. The canal houses lining the water are tall and narrow, a design driven by the fact that property taxes were once calculated based on the width of a building’s facade.
That quirk of history gave Amsterdam its instantly recognizable skyline.
Boat tours are the most popular way to see the canals, with options ranging from open-top group tours to private pedal boats. Walking or cycling along the canal streets is equally rewarding and free.
The Jordaan neighborhood along the western canals is especially atmospheric.
Mount Fuji – Japan
Mount Fuji is Japan’s highest peak at 3,776 meters and has been a subject of artistic and spiritual reverence for centuries. The mountain is an active stratovolcano, though it has not erupted since 1707.
Its near-perfect conical shape has made it one of the most painted and photographed landscapes in the world, and it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.
The official climbing season runs from early July to mid-September, during which all four main trails are open and staffed with mountain huts, rest stations, and first aid. Outside that window, climbing is discouraged due to safety conditions.
The summit experience, arriving at dawn to see the sunrise from the top, is called Goraiko and is considered a bucket-list moment for many visitors.
For those who prefer admiring from a distance, the Fuji Five Lakes region at the base offers some of the most iconic views. Lake Kawaguchiko in particular frames the mountain beautifully, especially during cherry blossom season in spring.
Vasa Museum – Sweden
The Vasa Museum in Stockholm houses one of the best-preserved ships from the 17th century, and the story of how it got there is almost unbelievable. The warship Vasa was built for King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden and launched in 1628 with great ceremony.
It sank less than a mile into its maiden voyage, taking on water through its lower gun ports in a strong gust of wind.
The ship sat on the bottom of Stockholm harbor for 333 years before being salvaged in 1961. Because the cold, low-salinity water of the Baltic Sea slowed decomposition significantly, about 95 percent of the original wood was intact when it was brought to the surface.
The ship is now housed in a purpose-built climate-controlled museum on the island of Djurgården.
The museum displays the ship alongside thousands of recovered artifacts including cannons, sculptures, tools, and personal items belonging to the crew. It is one of the most visited museums in Scandinavia and is open year-round.
Grand Place – Belgium
Grand Place in Brussels is widely considered one of the most beautiful town squares in Europe. The square is surrounded by the Gothic Town Hall, the Breadhouse, and a ring of elaborately decorated guild houses built in the Baroque style during the late 17th century.
Victor Hugo, who lived in Brussels for a time, reportedly called it the most beautiful square in the world.
The Town Hall dates back to the 15th century and is the only original building to have survived a French bombardment in 1695. The guild houses that replaced the destroyed buildings were rebuilt quickly and with remarkable decorative ambition, which is part of why the square feels so cohesive despite being built by different guilds.
Grand Place hosts several notable annual events, including the Flower Carpet, a two-day display of over 600,000 begonias arranged in geometric patterns on the cobblestones. The square was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 and is free to visit at any time.
Pyramids of Giza – Egypt
The Pyramids of Giza are the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only ones still standing. Built over 4,500 years ago as tombs for pharaohs, these structures remain an engineering mystery in many ways.
The Great Pyramid of Khufu, the largest of the three, was the tallest human-made structure on Earth for nearly 3,800 years.
The complex also includes the Great Sphinx, a limestone statue of a reclining figure with a human head and lion body that stretches 73 meters long. The Sphinx faces east and is believed to have been built around the same time as the pyramid of Khafre.
The site sits on the Giza Plateau on the outskirts of Cairo, accessible by road or organized tour.
Entry tickets cover the plateau, but entering the pyramids themselves requires separate tickets that are limited in number daily. Early morning visits offer cooler temperatures and smaller crowds.
Camel and horse rides are available near the site, though negotiating prices beforehand is advisable.
Sagrada Família – Spain
The Sagrada Família in Barcelona is the most visited monument in Spain and one of the most unusual buildings in the world. Architect Antoni Gaudí took over the project in 1883 and worked on it until his passing in 1926, but construction is still ongoing today.
The building is expected to be completed sometime in the 2030s, making it one of the longest active construction projects in history.
Gaudí’s design blends Gothic and Art Nouveau elements in a way that is entirely his own. The facades are covered in intricate stone carvings representing scenes from the Bible, and the interior columns branch upward like a forest of stone trees.
Natural light filters through stained glass windows in deep blues, greens, and ambers, shifting throughout the day.
The basilica is a UNESCO World Heritage Site even before its completion. Tickets must be booked well in advance, especially during peak tourist season.
Tower access offers elevated views of Barcelona and is available as an add-on to the standard admission ticket.
Pico do Fogo – Cape Verde
Pico do Fogo is the highest peak in Cape Verde and one of the most active volcanoes in the Atlantic. The summit sits at 2,829 meters on the island of Fogo, and the volcano last erupted in 2014 and 2015, sending lava flows through the villages of Chã das Caldeiras at its base.
The landscape left behind is stark and striking, with dark hardened lava covering the valley floor alongside rebuilt homes.
The villages of Portela and Bangaeira were largely destroyed in those eruptions but have since been partially rebuilt. Residents returned and continue to farm in the volcanic soil, which is exceptionally fertile and produces grapes, coffee, and vegetables.
Local wine made from grapes grown in the caldera has developed a small but growing reputation.
Hiking to the summit is the main draw for adventurous visitors. The trail is challenging and typically requires a local guide, but the views from the top of the crater are extraordinary.
The surrounding Fogo Natural Park offers additional trails and birdwatching opportunities.
Eiffel Tower – France
The Eiffel Tower is so associated with Paris that it is easy to forget it was almost torn down. Built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World’s Fair, the iron lattice tower was originally intended to stand for only 20 years.
It survived because its antenna became useful for radio transmission, which saved it from demolition. Today it is the most visited paid monument in the world.
The tower stands 330 meters tall including its broadcast antenna and has three publicly accessible levels. The first and second floors have observation areas, restaurants, and exhibits, while the top level offers a 360-degree view of Paris on clear days stretching up to 70 kilometers.
Stairs are available to the second floor for those who prefer the climb over the elevator.
Tickets are sold online and in person, though advance booking is strongly recommended. Every evening after dark, the tower lights up and puts on a five-minute sparkling light show on the hour.
It is one of those things that is genuinely impressive regardless of how many times you have seen photos of it.
Geirangerfjord – Norway
Geirangerfjord is one of Norway’s most celebrated natural landscapes and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. The fjord stretches about 15 kilometers and is flanked by nearly vertical mountain walls rising over 1,400 meters on either side.
Several waterfalls drop directly into the water below, including the Seven Sisters and the Suitor, two of the most photographed falls in Norway.
The village of Geiranger sits at the inner end of the fjord and serves as the main base for visitors. Cruise ships are a common sight here, though the Norwegian government has been implementing restrictions to reduce emissions in the protected waterway.
Ferry rides through the fjord are the most popular way to experience the full length of it.
Driving the Eagle Road, or Ørnevegen, gives a bird’s-eye perspective from above, with a series of sharp switchbacks leading to an overlook at Ørnesvingen. The viewpoint there provides a classic top-down view of the fjord that appears on countless travel photographs.
The area is most accessible between May and October.
Gorée Island – Senegal
Gorée Island sits just a few kilometers off the coast of Dakar and carries one of the heaviest histories of any place in West Africa. From the 15th to the 19th century, it served as a holding point for enslaved people being transported across the Atlantic.
The island changed hands between the Portuguese, Dutch, English, and French over the centuries, each leaving architectural traces behind.
The House of Slaves, or Maison des Esclaves, is the most visited building on the island and includes the Door of No Return, an opening that faced the sea through which enslaved people were loaded onto ships. The building is now a museum and memorial that draws visitors from around the world, including several heads of state.
Beyond its difficult history, the island itself is strikingly beautiful, with colorful colonial buildings, bougainvillea-lined paths, and car-free streets. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
Ferries run regularly from Dakar, and the crossing takes about 20 minutes.
Iguazú Falls – Argentina
Iguazú Falls sits on the border between Argentina and Brazil and is widely considered one of the most spectacular waterfall systems in the world. The falls consist of 275 individual cascades spread across nearly 3 kilometers of the Iguazú River.
The largest single drop is called the Devil’s Throat, or Garganta del Diablo, where the water plunges about 82 meters into a horseshoe-shaped gorge.
The Argentine side offers the most immersive experience, with a network of elevated walkways that take visitors directly over and alongside the falls. The national park on this side covers over 67,000 hectares of subtropical rainforest and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Wildlife in the park includes toucans, coatis, and capuchin monkeys.
The Brazilian side offers the widest panoramic views and is worth visiting if time allows. Both sides charge separate entry fees.
The falls are at their most powerful between November and March when rainfall is highest, though visitor numbers are also highest during that period.
Schönbrunn Palace – Austria
Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna was the main summer residence of the Habsburg imperial family for centuries and remains one of the best-preserved examples of Baroque architecture in Europe. The palace has 1,441 rooms, though only about 40 are open to visitors.
Construction and renovation took place over several phases from the mid-1600s through the 18th century, with Empress Maria Theresa overseeing the most significant transformation.
The formal gardens stretching behind the palace were designed in the French style and are free to enter. At the top of the hill behind the gardens sits the Gloriette, a colonnaded structure that offers one of the best elevated views of Vienna.
The Neptune Fountain and the Roman Ruin are also notable features within the grounds.
Guided tours of the interior cover state rooms, royal apartments, and the opulent Great Gallery. The palace was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
It is one of Austria’s most visited attractions and is accessible by public transport from central Vienna year-round.
Casbah of Algiers – Algeria
The Casbah of Algiers is a historic medina that climbs a steep hillside overlooking the Bay of Algiers and the Mediterranean Sea. The neighborhood dates back to at least the 10th century, though its current form reflects centuries of Ottoman rule and later French colonial influence.
It is one of the few remaining examples of a North African medina that has been relatively intact over time.
The Casbah includes mosques, palaces, Ottoman-era houses with interior courtyards, and a dense network of narrow alleyways that can feel genuinely labyrinthine. The Ketchaoua Mosque and the Palace of Hassan Pacha are among the most significant historical structures within the district.
UNESCO declared the Casbah a World Heritage Site in 1992, citing its unique urban fabric and cultural significance. The neighborhood has faced challenges with building deterioration over the years, and restoration efforts have been ongoing.
Visiting with a local guide is recommended both for navigation and for understanding the layers of history embedded in the architecture and street life.
Walled City of Cartagena – Colombia
Cartagena’s walled city is one of the best-preserved examples of Spanish colonial military architecture in the Americas. The walls, known as Las Murallas, were built over several centuries starting in the late 1500s to protect the port city from pirate raids and rival European powers.
Walking the full perimeter of the walls takes about an hour and offers views of both the Caribbean Sea and the city’s interior.
Inside the walls, the streets are lined with brightly painted colonial buildings, flower-draped balconies, and plazas shaded by trees. The neighborhood of Getsemaní just outside the walls has developed into a center for street art and local culture.
The old city is compact enough to explore on foot and rewards slow walking.
The historic center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Cartagena’s climate is warm year-round, with the driest months running from December through April.
The city is also a major Caribbean cruise port, so mornings can be busy near the main plazas.
Belém Tower – Portugal
The Belém Tower stands at the edge of the Tagus River in Lisbon and is one of the most iconic examples of Portuguese Manueline architecture in existence. Built between 1516 and 1519, it originally served as a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon and a defensive fortification for the mouth of the river.
The style combines Gothic elements with maritime motifs including ropes, armillary spheres, and coral carved in stone.
The tower sits in the Belém neighborhood, which is also home to the Jerónimos Monastery and the Monument to the Discoveries. This area carries deep historical significance as the departure point for many of Portugal’s explorers during the Age of Discovery, including Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India in 1497.
The interior has five floors accessible via narrow staircases, each with its own historical function. The top offers views of the river and the Belém waterfront.
It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 alongside the nearby Jerónimos Monastery. Entry is ticketed and lines can be long during peak season.
Virunga National Park – DR Congo
Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo is Africa’s oldest national park, established in 1925. It covers about 7,900 square kilometers in the eastern part of the country and contains an extraordinary range of ecosystems, from lowland rainforest and savanna to active volcanoes and glaciers.
Mount Nyiragongo, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, sits within the park’s boundaries.
The park is home to roughly a third of the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking permits are available and allow small groups to spend time observing gorilla families in their natural habitat.
The experience is considered one of the most remarkable wildlife encounters available anywhere in the world.
Virunga has faced significant conservation challenges due to regional instability, and the safety situation has varied over the years. The park authority works to maintain operations and protect both wildlife and staff.
Travelers should consult current travel advisories before planning a visit. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
Tower of London – England
The Tower of London has served as a royal palace, a prison, a treasury, and an armory over its nearly 1,000-year history. William the Conqueror began construction of the White Tower at its center around 1078, and the complex has been added to and modified by monarchs ever since.
Today it operates as a working royal palace and museum under the care of Historic Royal Palaces.
The Crown Jewels are housed here in a purpose-built vault and include the Imperial State Crown, the Sovereign’s Orb, and the Koh-i-Noor diamond set into the Queen Mother’s Crown. The collection draws a significant portion of the Tower’s roughly three million annual visitors.
Yeoman Warders, commonly known as Beefeaters, serve as the ceremonial guardians and lead public tours.
The Tower also houses a population of ravens that have lived there for centuries. Legend holds that if the ravens ever leave, the Tower and the kingdom will fall.
Six ravens are kept at all times to honor the tradition. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
Dubrovnik Old Town – Croatia
Dubrovnik’s Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval walled cities in the Mediterranean. The city walls stretch for nearly two kilometers around the entire historic center and were built primarily between the 13th and 16th centuries.
Walking the walls is a popular activity that takes about an hour and offers elevated views of the old city’s terracotta rooftops and the Adriatic Sea beyond.
Inside the walls, the main street called the Stradun runs from the Pile Gate to the Old Port and is lined with baroque buildings, cafes, and shops. The Rector’s Palace, the Cathedral of the Assumption, and the Franciscan Monastery are among the most significant historic structures within the old city.
Dubrovnik became widely recognizable to international audiences as a filming location for the television series Game of Thrones. The city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
Visitor numbers have grown significantly in recent years, and the city has implemented crowd management measures including caps on cruise ship passengers. Morning visits to the walls are recommended to avoid peak crowds.
Cape Coast Castle – Ghana
Cape Coast Castle in Ghana is one of the most significant historical sites in West Africa and one of the most sobering places you can visit anywhere in the world. Built by the Swedish in the 1650s and later controlled by the Dutch and then the British, the castle served as a major hub of the transatlantic slave trade for over two centuries.
Enslaved people were held in dark underground dungeons before being shipped across the Atlantic through the Door of No Return.
Today the castle functions as a museum and memorial, with guided tours that take visitors through the dungeons, the governor’s quarters above, and the Door of No Return overlooking the sea. The contrast between the conditions of the enslaved below and the living quarters above is stark and intentional in the way it is presented.
The castle was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 as part of the Forts and Castles of Ghana designation. It sits directly on the Atlantic coast in Cape Coast, about three hours by road from Accra.
Admission is ticketed and guided tours are included.
