A List of my top 15 Favorite UNESCO Sites
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization = UNESCO
Most of us have heard of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, I hope! But do we truly understand the meaning and significance of these sites? According to the UNESCO website, their mission is to build peaceful relationships internationally through education, science, and culture. Heritage Sites are areas around the world that are legally protected by UNESCO. World Heritage Sites (WHS) are set up by UNESCO for their historical, cultural, natural, educational, and scientific significance. WHS are not just structures created by man but can also be natural wonders of the world. As of now, there are 1154 World Heritage Sites across 167 countries. Each year this list changes, as sites can be removed from the list and new nominations can be included, this is a huge task and is dealt differently per country. China, Italy, and Spain, have the most World Heritage Sites.
Out of the 1154 WHS, I’ve only been to 83 WHS so about 14% which is very minimal. My goal is to visit more, I try to at least go to one or two per country I visit, if possible. So why am I starting to chase UNSECO’s list of World Heritage Sites?
As of now, most of the ones I’ve visited have been unplanned. There are a few travel podcasts I listen to, and one of my favorite travelers Gary Arndt, mentions his goal to visit these sites and I thought it would be a great excuse for me to get out and see these sites. There is a reason the WHS are protected and viewed by many, I want to see and learn about the history, culture, nature, etc.. of these places. Out of the 83 WHS I’ve visited, I came up with a list of my 15 favorite UNESCO sites so far.
Antigua, Guatemala is probably one of the more interesting towns I have visited. Antigua was founded in the year 1524 and was the original capital city of Guatemala. With the threat of constant earthquakes and other natural disasters, the capital was moved to a safer location, which is present day Guatemala City. Antigua is a very compact city and easy to walk around and explore. Antigua is basically an open air museum, everywhere you look there are beautiful cathedrals, buildings, structures, and of course gorgeous scenery. The most notable and picturesque attraction is the famous Yellow Arch or Santa Catalina Arch. There are several lovely hotels throughout the city and finding great food and cafe’s is not an issue. Safety wise, there are no issues in Antigua, it is somewhat a touristy destination and police patrol the city. That being said, use common sense like you would anywhere else.
Area de Conservacion, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Considered a Natural Site, the Guanacaste area of Costa Rica was added to the UNESCO WHS list in 1999. The Guanacaste area is located in North West Costa Rica and covers about 147,000 hectacres of land. What separates the Guanacaste region from other parts of Costa Rica is the diverse ecosystems that are home to several varieties of plant and animal species. I stayed in the Tamarindo area and took a day trip to Rincon de la Vieja, which is an active volcano. While hiking here, I saw a few Capuchin Monkey’s, two vipers, and an Agouti, which is a species of rodent. The Guanacaste area offers other outdoor activities to include swimming near waterfalls, soaking it up in nearby hot springs, and there is even a camp ground.
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Illinois, USA
Just a few miles east of St. Louis, Missouri on the Illinois side lies the largest Pre-Colombian Native American settlement and archaeological site in the United States. The Cahokia Mounds is the site of an ancient city dating back as early as 700 A.D. to 1400 A.D. and at its height had upwards to 20,000 inhabitants. The site gets its name because of the mounds present in the area, there were about 120 mounds give or take and they provided a foundation for buildings and structures. Monks Mound is the largest mound on the site at 100 ft. tall and has a base of 955 ft. by 775 ft., making it roughly the same size as the Pyramid of Giza.
Today, there is an extensive museum here that is well worth a visit. After visiting the museum, you can walk the trails that lead to specific pyramids, you can even take the stairs to the top of Monks Mound. There is not a ton of shade among the mounds, so I recommend coming here in spring, fall, or earlier in the day. We made the mistake of stopping here at noon while on a road trip to Nashville and the heat was miserable. Plan several hours for visiting the park as there is a lot to see.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park,
New Mexico
Chaco Culture or Chaco Canyon, was the first UNESCO site I visited in the United States and is still one of my all time favorites. Chaco Canyon was a large settlement of Pueblo Indians in Northwestern New Mexico, between the years 850 and 1250 A.D.
Chaco Canyon is mostly popular due to the buildings and structures here. There are buildings that are multiple stories high and consist of a hundred different rooms. Pueblo Bonito is the largest building in the park and the most studied. Like other buildings in the park, Pueblo Bonito was built in the specific D-shape and its location was based on astronomical fascinations the Natives had. While exploring here, I stumbled upon many Kiva’s or rooms that were used for rituals and political purposes. There is a campground right near the entrance of the park and surprisingly exploring the ruins by bike is popular. I recommend a mountain bike as the roads are unpaved and if you venture off on other trails. There is a 9-mile loop and bike racks at each of the major ruins.
There were also a ton of reptilian species around this park. I saw several different species of lizards and snakes. Below are images of a Horny Toad or horned lizard and a yellow Bull Snake.
Changdeokgung Palace Complex,
Seoul, South Korea
This monster of a palace can be found in the Jongno-gu district of Seoul, South Korea. There are five huge palaces throughout the city, Changdeokgung being one of them. This palace was constructed around 1405 and was listed as a UNESCO site in 1997. The Palace was built by kings during the Joseon Dynasty. Unfortunately, during the Japanese occupation between 1910 and 1945, the majority of the Palace along with the other Palaces were heavily destroyed. Most of the Palace was rebuilt and replicated to look like it once was. Today, the Palace consists of three large gates and courtyards, a main hall, residential area, and a beautiful garden.
Cuzco, Peru
High in the Peruvian Andes is the city of Cuzco, the ancient capital city of the Inca Empire. Today, Cuzco is a tourist hot spot not only because of its rich history and beauty but because it is where adventurers come to before making their way to Machu Picchu. Like many Incan sites and villages around Peru, they were forever changed once the Spaniards arrived and Cuzco was no different. After the conquistadors arrived and several earthquakes in the region, the city began to change. Baroque buildings were constructed in place of or over the ancient Inca structures and eventually the town square gave way to cathedrals and other Baroque buildings. Still, today you can see a great mix of beautiful cathedrals and Inca influences throughout Cuzco. I recommend exploring the narrow alley ways, but bring a good pair of shoes because Cuzco is not exactly flat, there are several steep uphill’s and narrow cobblestone roads, but Cuzco is simply beautiful!
Historic Center of Krakow, Poland
If visiting Poland and headed to a few famous sites like Auschwitz or the Welizka Salt Mines, chances are you will stay in Krakow or at least put time aside to visit this wonderful city. Krakow is the second largest city in Poland right behind Warsaw and it hosts Europe’s largest market square. The highlights of Krakow are of course visiting the old town, but the Wawel Castle and St. Mary’s Basilica are not to be missed. The city center is not that large so most sites and attractions can be done on foot or by bicycle.
Historic Center of Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City has become one of my favorite cities in the world, and deserves its own post. Prior to traveling here, I was itching to check out Mexico City as it is one of the worlds largest cities. I wanted to see the Zocalo (Plaza) and visit the Anthropology Museum. Mexico City is fascinating as the Zocalo area was built on top of Tenochtitlan, which was the old Aztec Capital. Originally, Tenochtitlan was a city on an island surrounded by a huge lake. The Spaniards arrived in the 16th century and of course took over and wiped out the Aztec civilization. After the Spanish victory over the Aztecs they drained the lake and used the stones from Tenochtitlan to begin the construction of Mexico City. I felt safe touring around Mexico City, no issues what so ever. Jill and I walked miles from Zocalo to the Chapultepec District to see the Museum of Anthropology, which did not disappoint. I highly recommend the Chapultepec District but also recommend just walking around the historic center of Mexico City and see all the churches and other fabulous buildings. I also found the locals to be very friendly and the food was outstanding. Just a short ride away from Mexico City is Teotihuacan.
Old Bridge Area of Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina
One of the latest travels Jill and I did was visiting the town of Mostar located in the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina . We took a day trip here from Split, Croatia and I cannot recommend it enough. Mostar is much different then any other city I’ve been to. The ethnic, religious, and cultural diversities is what makes Mostar a tourist hot spot. Mostar is beautiful, the Mostar Bridge is probably one of the prettiest in the world and the main road that goes through town is unique and photogenic.
But step off the main road and go a block over and you will see the remains of war torn and bullet riddled buildings. In 1992, a war broke out in the region after Bosnia declared independence from Yugoslavia. Mostar was heavily destroyed including the famous bridge but this area has since been rebuilt. Mostar was added to the UNESCO list in 2005.
Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn, Vienna
My first time in Vienna, Austria was 2008, I recently visited there again in 2019. I love Vienna and it remains my favorite city in the world. All throughout the city you will be in awe looking at the massive baroque style buildings, churches, statues, etc..
One of Vienna’s most famous attractions is Schönbrunn Palace. Schönbrunn was listed as a UNESCO site in 1996. The palace is a great example of baroque style architecture and is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Within the grounds you can find the world’s first zoo, which opened its doors in 1752. Schönbrunn was the emperor palace of the Habsburg family and primarily used as a summer residence. I recommend touring the inside of the palace but afterwards, spend time exploring the gardens as they are massive. One of the best views in all of Vienna can be found at the Gloriette. There is a Roman Ruin fountain in the park along with other fascinating fountains and structures.
Split and Dubrovnik Croatia
Both Split and Dubrovnik deserve their own post as there is so much to see in both cities plus both cities are quite the opposite from one another. Both cities are UNESCO sites and I fell in love with each city equally. Split was added to the list in 1979 because it is the site of the ruins of Diocletian’s Palace. The palace was constructed for Diocletian who was a Roman Emperor around the fourth century A.D. and Split was the site of his retirement residence. Split is along the Adriatic Sea and is near Trogir which is another UNESCO site. There is so much history in this area, but I recommend coming here without a plan and just walking around the town, exploring the narrow alley ways and looking at the Roman architecture.
Dubrovnik, made popular by Game of Thrones is considered the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’ located along the Dalmatian coast. Dubrovnik was also added as a UNESCO site in 1979. Dubrovnik is famous for it’s Gothic and renaissance architecture. Dubrovnik is also a strikingly beautiful walled city in one of the most picturesque locations. Dubrovnik is somewhat hilly, there is a main road on flat ground, but branching off in any direction from this road you can find yourself walking up steep and narrow alleyways. Do walk the city walls but know it is not cheap! I recommend getting a city pass, it includes admission to the walls and other attractions around Dubrovnik. Located so close to the Sea, a dip in the ocean is always an option after exploring during the heat of the day.
Town of Bamberg, Germany
Bamberg is one of my favorite cities in the German State of Bavaria. The whole city of Bamberg reminds me of the typical medieval city you think of when Europe comes to mind. Bamberg has been a dominant city since the 10th century and became a UNESCO site in 1993. The whole downtown area is full of historical buildings, cathedrals, and cobblestone streets. One of the more popular buildings in Bamberg is the Altes Rathaus or Old Townhall. The Rathaus is located on the side of a building on the Obere Brücke (bridge) above or more like hanging over the Regnitz River. Obviously, you can’t visit Bamberg without trying a Rauchbier or Smoked Beer. Pop in the Schlenkerla to try a Rauchbier and order some bratwursts while you are at it.
For more information on Bamberg, check out this Ultimate Travel Guide to Bamberg, written by Joey from Joey is a Traveler.
Wachau Cultural Landscape, Austria
The Wachau Valley is a portion of the Danube River Valley between the towns of Melk and Krems, Austria. I’ve never heard of this area until our recent Danube River Cruise trip. Our cruise ship stopped at two towns here, Melk and Dürnstein and they were both down right gorgeous. The Wachau Valley was added to the UNESCO list in the year 2000 because of the monasteries, castles, towns, and use of agriculture in the area.
Dürnstein – This small town was our first stop on the cruise and easily recognizable by the blue church tower hovering above the town and the ruins of Castle Dürnstein resting perched on a hill. Rumor has it that King Richard I was a prisoner at this castle during the crusades.
Melk – The first thing visitors notice when coming to Melk is the massive Baroque Benedictine Monastery on a hill above the small town of Melk. The monastery is named Melk Abbey and is well worth visiting, it is probably the most beautiful church I’ve seen. The church itself is small in size but so decorative and covered in layers of gold. This town is old, first being brought up around the year A.D. 831, but the Abbey was not founded until about two hundred years after in the year 1089, but the current abbey you see today was constructed in the early 1700’s.
Works of Antoni Gaudi
Antoni Gaudi was a Spanish Architect, most notable for his unique architecture around Barcelona, Spain. La Sagrada Familia is probably the most famous but there are 7 buildings in total. It is hard to explain his work, but very noticeable with the shape of the buildings, stained glass, and overall creativity. You can see some of his work simply by walking around Barcelona, La Sagrada Familia is a Basilica located in the Eixample District. The basilica is not yet finished and probably won’t be anytime soon, unfortunately while the basilica was being constructed Gaudi was hit by a tram and passed away in 1926. Even though La Sagrada Familia is not complete, visitors can still see this remarkable church and tour the insides. I recommend booking a day in advance because it is such a popular tourist attraction and there are time slots. The other buildings created by Gaudi that are on the UNESCO list include Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, Casa Vicens, Cripta Guell, Park Guell, and Palau Guell.
Würzburg Residence, Würzburg, Germany
Würzburg, Germany will always feel like home to me, since I lived in the area and have gone back countless times. Würzburg has one of the most incredible and beautiful Residence’s. The Residence to me stands out as one of the prettiest and most meaningful UNESCO sites I’ve been to. The Residence made the list in 1981 due to its stunning Baroque architecture and magnificent gardens. The Residence was constructed because the Marienberg Castle that overlooks Würzburg was to small and the Bishops at the time wanted to create something more grand, something that would rival the Palace of Versailles or Schönbrunn in Vienna. Today, visitors from around the world visit the Residence. The elaborate gardens are free to explore and you can tour the inside for just a few Euros. Do not miss the chapel located to the right of the entrance.
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