When learning about a new destination’s history, travelers should look no further than its iconic buildings. Of course, there are other ways to discover the local culture, which can be reflected in the food, the textiles, and the dialects, but the buildings can reveal the most about a place. Local landmarks are—in essence— silent witnesses to past eras, kingdoms, and tastes, but they can also offer clues to the future.
Consider this lineup to be a travel bucket list of sorts. These buildings are renowned for various reasons—some for their architectural charm, others for their historical significance, and some for a healthy mix of both. Many are well-known: Think Europe’s museums, churches, and other landmarks whose replicas live on in souvenir shops and countless photos. There are also, of course, a decent number on this list designed by famous architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Oscar Niemeyer. And while some of these towers exist off the beaten path, they’re just as important in their own right.
Here, A&D rounds up iconic buildings worldwide that you’ll be glad you’ve seen when you look back on your travels. It’s been said that travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you more prosperous, and we couldn’t agree more.
01. Hagia Sophia — Istanbul, Turkey
Photo by DeAgostini
02. The Guggenheim — New York City, USA
Photo by Stan Honda
03. Taj Mahal — Agra, India
Photo by Julian Finney
04. Dancing House — Prague, Czech Republic
Photo by Insights/UIG
05. Château de Chenonceau — Chenonceaux, France
Photo by DeAgostini
06. Niterói Contemporary Art Museum — Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Photo by Patrick Altmann
07. The Pyramids Of Giza — Giza, Egypt
Photo by Sean Gallup
08. Acropolis Of Athens — Athens, Greece
Photo by Milos Bicanski
09. Le Centre Pompidou — Paris, France
Photo by DEA/C. SAPPA/De Agostini
10. The Gateway Arch — St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Photo by Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives
11. Musée d’Orsay — Paris, France
Photo by Chesnot
12. The Gherkin — London, U.K.
Photo by Oli Scarff
13. Metropolitan Cathedral Of Brasília — Brasília, Brazil
Photo by Matt Frost
14. Mosque Of Córdoba — Córdoba, Spain
Photo by Gerig/ullstein bild
15. Westminster Abbey — London, U.K.
Photo by Pawel Libera
16. Dresden Frauenkirche — Dresden, Germany
Photo by Sean Gallup
17. Château Frontenac — Québec, Canada
Photo by Jayakumar Radhakrishnan
18. The Colosseum — Rome, Italy
Photo by Alberto Pizzoli/AFP
19. One World Trade Center — New York City, USA
Photo by Andrew Burton
20. The Lotus Temple — New Delhi, India
Photo by Universal Images Group
21. St. Basil’s Cathedral — Moscow, Russia
22. Dome Of The Rock — Jerusalem, Israel
Photo by Joris Görling
23. Casa Milà — Barcelona, Spain
Photo by Michelle McMahon
24. The White House — Washington, D.C., USA
Photo by Alex Wong
25. Forbidden City — Beijing, China
Image courtesy of Getty Images
26. Sagrada Família — Barcelona, Spain
Photo by Prasit
27. Lincoln Center — New York City, USA
Photo by Siegfried Layda
28. The Shard — London, UK
Photo by Greg Fonne
29. Le Mont-Saint-Michel — Normandy, France
Photo by Jeff Morgan
30. Bran Castle — Bran, Romania
Photo by Wojtek Laski
31. Angkor Wat — Siem Reap, Cambodia
Photo by Tang Chhin Sothy
32. Sultan Ahmed Mosque — Istanbul, Turkey
Photo by Bulent Kilic
33. Konark Sun Tower — Konark, India
Photo by Aswajith Cs
34. Chrysler Building — New York City, USA
Photo by Mario Tama
35. Sacré-Coeur — Paris, France
Photo by Fox Photos/L. V. Clark
36. Potala Palace — Lhasa, Tibet, China
Photo by Yin Shichang/VCG
37. Musée du Louvre — Paris, France
Photo by Pascal Le Segretain
38. Sydney Opera House — Sydney, Australia
Photo by Michael Dunning
39. Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao — Bilbao, Spain
Photo by Tim Graham
40. Fallingwater — Mill Run, Pennsylvania, USA
Photo by Richard A. Cooke III
41. The Pantheon — Rome, Italy
Photo by Werner Forman Archive/Heritage Images
42. Space Needle — Seattle, Washington, USA
Photo by Otto Greule Jr
43. Villa Savoye — Poissy, France
Photo by Juan Jimenez
44. House Of Parliament And Elizabeth Tower — London, U.K.
Photo by Kriangkrai Thitimakorn
45. Burj Khalifa — Dubai, UAE
Photo by Chopper Shoot LLC/Barcroft Media
46. Leaning Tower Of Pisa — Pisa, Italy
Photo by Dado Daniela
47. São Paulo Museum Of Art — São Paulo, Brazil
Photo by Vbacarin
48. The Flatiron Building — New York City, USA
Photo by Noam Galai
49. The Sistine Chapel — Vatican City
Photo by Franco Origlia
50. Eiffel Tower — Paris, France
Photo by Alexander Spatari
All photos courtesy of Getty Images
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