Top 10 Most Visited Tourist Destinations In The World Revealed

Posted On February 4, 2023

One of the most important things you want to perceive when planning to go for a holiday or vacation is the most visited tourist destination of a place and it is on top of everyone’s bucket list. From theme parks and promenades to a world-famous opera house and a museum, more than anything else, travelers prefer to go and see the iconic landmark of a particular country. Nothing beats the feeling of happiness when you finally get to see a famous destination up close and personal instead of just seeing them from magazines or from social media.

There are famous tourist attractions that are a cut above the rest, where you can take just a snapshot of that site and there’s no need to point out the location, yet you can still easily recognize it such as the Great Wall of China or the Niagara Falls. On the other hand, some attractions are less popular especially to those who haven’t gone to unfamiliar destinations yet, still these places become the most worthwhile to visit. It is what they embody and the haven they stand for that make them noteworthy, thus, if you’re making an inventory of the sites you want to see in your lifetime, below is a list of some of the most famous places in the world in no particular ranking.

Musee du Louvre – Paris, France

The largest museum in the world and home of Leonardo da Vinci’s Monalisa including other 480,000 works of art from pre-history up to the present time, Musee du Louvre is undoubtedly one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world with at least 15,000 visitors daily, 70% of which are foreign tourists. Located in the Palais du Louvre (Louvre Palace) by the River Seine in Paris, France, it was originally built as a fortress in 1190 by King Philippe II of France to protect the city from marauders.

King Charles V made it a royal residence in the 14th century, then during the French Revolution in 1789, it served as a prison for Louis XVI. After the war, Louvre Museum was conceived and opened finally to the public in 1793. A trip to Paris is not complete without visiting the Louvre for it’s not only that there’s so much to see but most especially its historical and cultural significance.

The Colosseum – Rome, Italy

A very crucial part of history and the largest amphitheater in the world, the Colosseum is perch exactly at the core of Rome in Italy. Built in 70 AD by Emperor Vespasian to lock up gladiators, prisoners and animals, it took 8 years to built by 60,000 Jewish slaves until 80 AD.

It was Titus, the son of Vespasian who opened the arena after its completion and named it Amphitheatrum Flavium with 100 days of gladiatorial games. The Colosseum name would be used in later years while gladiator fights continued until 435 AD watched regularly by 50,000 spectators that enter through the 80 gates for free.

A powerful earthquake rocked the Colosseum in 1349, splitting its exterior into two as what we now see today. In different stages of history, this amphitheater was used as a cemetery, place of worship and finally into a most popular tourist attraction where it receives about 40 million visitors per year. Don’t ever leave Rome without seeing the Colosseum, it is an essential itinerary of your trip to Italy.

Great Wall of China – Beijing, China

At some point, it was once a huge military line of defense but now a heritage site and an iconic symbol of China – the Great Wall. The world’s longest man-made structure with a total length of 21,196 km. that spans 15 regions of the country’s northern part, it attracts 50 millions of tourists a year and had been visited as well by more than 460 heads of state and luminaries.

Included in the list of the 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1987, the Great Wall was constructed over the course of hundreds of years, built by 6 different Chinese emperors and dynasties.

It is not just one long wall but a series of shorter complexes joined together and the most visited part is the Badaling Great Wall near Beijing thus a trip to the country’s capital is not complete without taking your time to visit one of the most appealing attractions of the world, the Great Wall.

Niagara Falls – Canada & U.S.A.

Visited by more than 8 million people every year from all over the world, Niagara Falls is the world’s fastest moving and most powerful waterfall that borders between New York, U.S.A. and Ontario, Canada. Dubbed as the “Honeymoon Capital of the World” since the late 1880s due to its celebrity status, this magnificent falls is recognized as the globe’s 8th wonder.

In reality, Niagara Falls is not just one giant waterfall but composed of three namely: American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls (which resembles a bridal veil) on the US side and Horseshoe Falls (biggest one) on the Canadian part. There are tours via the Maid of the Mist (a popular boat tour) that sails on both sides of Niagara River where the falls plunge down, for you to have an up close and personal encounter to this amazing waterfalls.

Sydney Opera House – Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

One of the most photographed buildings in the world for its rare roof structure that looks like a series of sparkling white sail-shaped shells, the Sydney Opera House is Australia’s best icon to the world for its beautiful setting on Sydney Harbor. Visited by 10.9 million tourists a year, it is not just a place for opera but it also houses a concert hall and other performance areas for conferences and theater.

Added to UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007 for being one of the greatest masterpieces of architecture in the 20th century in terms of innovation and creativity. Its design was chosen through an international competition of 230 entries from 32 countries and it was won by Danish architect Jorn Ultzon in 1956. The construction took 14 years (1959-1973) to build, longer than the original forecast of 4 years.

No trip to Sydney is complete without visiting its famous performing arts center, the Sydney Opera House.

Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade – Kowloon, Hong Kong

Sitting on the rim of Victoria Harbor’s Kowloon side is the 1.6 km. expanse of Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade which provides millions of tourists a year an open view to Hong Kong Island’s imposing skyline. It is also the home to some of Tsim Sha Tsui’s most iconic attractions such as the Hong Kong Cultural Center, Hong Kong Space Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Avenue of Stars.

While a daytime visit to the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade is highly recommended, you should also go there in the evening when the Symphony of Lights takes place. It is a 10-minute music and lights show participated by Hong Kong’s skycrapers dotted at both edges of the harbor. Seeing the horizon of Hong Kong lighted from the promenade is a sight that must not be missed by anyone visiting this spectacular city.

Eiffel Tower – Paris, France

Another most visited attraction of Paris and the home of a secret apartment as well as the site of some tragic accidents, the Eiffel Tower has been visited by about 300 million people since its inauguration in 1889 and still continues to receive 25,000 people a day. It was built to commemorate the 100th-year anniversary of the French Revolution and at the same time opening of the Paris World’s Fair of 1889.

The “Iron Lady/La Dame de Fer” took two years, two months and five days under the supervision of Gustave Eiffel to be completed. When the tower was finished it served as the entrance to the world’s exposition of 1889 held in Paris. At 984 feet high it used to be the tallest man-made edifice in the world until 1930.

Gustave Eiffel had a secret apartment at the top of the structure where he hosted parties for his friends like Thomas Edison and it is now open for public viewing. At some point, the tower also housed a meteorology lab on the 3rd floor and a post office at the 1st floor to let visitors send postcards as a proof that they had climbed this structural wonder. For years, adventurers also used the Eiffel Tower to show their daring stunts, from parachutes to bungee jumping and some have died.

A must-see for all visitors in Paris for it is one of the most unique structures the world ever had, a bucket list experience you will not forget.

Universal Studios – Osaka, Japan

The first theme park under the Universal Studios line in Asia, Universal Studios Japan which is located at the Osaka Bay area receives about 5 million visitors every year. Opened on March 31, 2001 and it’s No. 5 among the top 25 amusement parks in the world.

Universal Studios Japan has 10 sections where visitors can enjoy various rides and simulators based on famous movies such as Spiderman or Jurassic Park. It also offers a lot of picture-taking options with the popular mascots like Hello Kitty or Snoopy aside from watching different shows and evening parades.

While there is an unending selection of activities when you are in Osaka, make it a point to get away from the “real world” for a while by visiting and see the magic of Universal Studios Japan.

Grand Bazaar – Istanbul, Turkey

It is one of the greatest shopping destinations in the world and one of the top tourist magnets of Turkey attracting 91 million people every year, the Grand Bazaar is the largest one-of-a-kind covered market and first shopping mall in the world. Located in Beyazid, heart of Istanbul Old Town, it’s just a stone’s throwaway from Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and other famous destinations of the city.

Commissioned by Sultan Mehmet II in 1455, as he wanted Constantinople (former name of Istanbul) to be the hub of the Ottoman Empire that covered 3 continents, the Grand Bazaar would become the heart of Mediterranean trade in the 15th century. When it was opened in 1461, it never stopped selling fine leather, handcrafted jewelry, hand-woven carpets and other goods since then. Each street is named after the type of ware it sells like Gold Street, Carpet Street, and so forth.

A little city within a city, this market is so big that it also has 5 mosques, a school, 7 fountains and 40 hotels. Indeed an incredibly distinct structure with so much history and link to Turkish culture, Grand Bazaar shopping is a must-do activity when you visit Turkey, don’t miss this 550-year-old cultural experience Istanbul has to offer.

Christ The Redeemer – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Perched on top of Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil the statue of Cristo Redentor (Christ The Redeemer) is without a doubt one of the most famous monuments in the world. Visited by around 2 million people every year especially during Lent and Easter, this is one of the largest statue of Jesus Christ as well as tallest art deco in the whole world reaching a height of 124 feet and an arm span of 28 meters.

Declared as one of the 7 Wonders of the World in 2007, it took 9 years to build the monument, from 1922 to 1931. The Cristo Redentor was a creation of French sculptor Paul Ladowska and constructed by Brazilian engineer Hector da Silva Costa and French engineer Albert Caquot.

To get to this famous landmark, you have to take a Corcovado electrically-operated train that winds its way throughout the forest, then make use of either an elevator or escalator to reach the statue.

According to the local residents, the best time to visit the Cristo Redentor statue is in the evening when it is illuminated and presents a glowing sight over Rio de Janeiro.

The most visited tourist destinations in the world give us a way of strikingly viewing something of the past. No matter where you go, traveling to these famous attractions allow us to explore and experience new horizons and activities that we may not have access in our daily lives. Where we choose to spend our holiday or vacation will define of what we treasure most.

Keywords:

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External links:

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