UNESCO World Heritage Sites We’ve Got on Our Bucket List
These UNESCO World Heritage Sites have us itching to pack our bags and hit the road ASAP!
Iguaçu National Park
Why It’s Awesome: On the border of Argentina and Brazil, Iguaçu National Park is home to one of the world’s most impressive waterfalls. Let’s just say it makes Niagara Falls look like amateur hour.
Getting There: Take a one hour and 30 minute flight from Sao Paulo or a two hour flight from Rio de Janeiro.
Where to Stay: Book a hotel in Iguazú with views of the falls, like the Sheraton Iguazú Resort and Spa.
City of Bath
Why It’s Awesome: Bath is a reminder of just how far-reaching the Roman Empire once was. Here you’ll see ancient Roman baths built around natural hot springs. The ruins were only re-discovered in the late 18th century as the city had been built over top the Roman structures.
Getting There: A two hour train ride from London makes Bath an easy overnight trip.
Where to Stay: Plan to get a hotel in Bath if you’re coming from London. The Dorian House and the Apsley House Hotel are both well-reviewed by other travelers and offer a great location for exploring the city.
Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast
Why It’s Awesome: The polygonal rock columns of the Giant’s Causeway may seem like the work of mankind, but in fact the intriguing landscape can only be credited to mother nature. It’s no wonder this strange feature conjured legends of giants roaming the region.
Getting There: Drive about three hours from Dublin or just over an hour from Belfast.
Where to Stay: A guest house or a B&B is definitely the way to go.
Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia
Why It’s Awesome: Go to Göreme National Park for the underground stone dwellings carved into the naturally occurring hoodoo rock formations that date all the way back to the 4th century. Stay for the colorful display of hot air balloons that launch over the landscape. The spectacle itself is almost as beautiful as the bird’s-eye-viewthe balloons provide.
Getting There: Take a one hour and 25 minute flight from Istanbul.
Where to Stay: The villages surrounding the park offer many unique accommodations modeled after the region’s cave dwellings.
Yellowstone National Park
Why It’s Awesome: Not only was Yellowstone the first national park in the world, but it also has the largest concentration of observable hydro-thermal features (such as geysers, bubbling mud pots and colorful hotsprings). Plus a large portion of the park rests in the caldera of a massive volcano. We’ll just let that sink in.
Getting There: Fly into Jackson, WY, the closest major city to any of the five Yellowstone entrances. Then rent a car to drive an about an hour to the park.
Where to Stay: Split your time between each of the park entrances so you’ll be able to see all of the major sites. There are also lodges, cabins and campgrounds within the park.
Photo CC by Steve Tulk
Bryggen in Norway
Why It’s Awesome: One of Europe’s oldest port cities, the town of Bergen—mainly its historic wharf Bryggen and the colorful wooden buildings that line the harbor—is the only remaining German maritime trading colony established in the 14th century. Additionally, the town is postcard perfect.
Getting There: Fly from Oslo on a short 50 minute flight.
Where to Stay: Book a hotel in Bergen, like the highly-rated and nearby Scandic Strand, so you have plenty of time to explore the town.
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