Angkor Wat tops the list of best UNESCO world heritage sites
Does it surprise you much?
TripAdvisor has revealed its list of the best UNESCO world heritage sites and taking out the top spot is Angkor Wat.
The list, which is compiled annually, looks at travellers reviews of UNESCO sites on TripAdvisor throughout the year, bringing them together to find the best rated.
No stranger to TripAdvisor's best of lists, Angkor Wat has previously been named the #1 best landmark in the world list and is the #1 thing to do in Siem Reap on the TripAdvisor site. As far as recommendations go, it is unparalleled, boasting a 5/5 rating from over 36,000 reviews and counting.
It was closely followed up by the Taj Mahal in Agra, which welcomes over 8 million visitors annually and also boasts a praise-worthy 5/5 star rating on TripAdvisor.
Coming up third was China's Great Wall, rounding out the top three as an all-Asia affair.
Of the top 10, two entrants, Machu Picchu and Iguazu Falls are in South America with the remaining five sites being centred around Europe and the Middle East.
Europe's top 10 featured more than its fair share of Spanish winners including the aqueduct of Segovia, the old town of Segovia, Serra de Tramuntana and the old town of Cáceres making the country a clear winner when it comes to heritage holidays.
Asia's top 10 was better dispersed with the Batad rice terraces in the Philippines and the great living chola temples in India joining the above mentioned Asian sites. TripAdvisor also placed sites in Jerusalem, Israel and Turkey under this list due to their being on the Asian continent.
Looking for inspiration for your next historical deep dive? We know a few places that come highly recommended.
Top 10 UNESCO world heritage sites
- Angkor Wat, Cambodia
- Taj Mahal, India
- Great Wall, China
- Machu Picchu, Peru
- Iguazu Falls, Argentina/Brazil
- Sassi of Materia, Italy
- Auschwitz, Poland
- Old City of Jerusalem, Israel
- Historic areas of Istanbul, Turkey
- Historic Krakow, Poland
Top 10 UNESCO world heritage sites in Europe
- Sassi of Matera, Italy
- Auschwitz Birkenau, Poland
- Historic Krakow, Poland
- Aqueduct of Segovia, Spain
- Old Town of Segovia, Spain
- Monreale, Italy
- Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey, UK
- Serra de Tramuntana, Spain
- West Norwegian Fjords, Norway
- Old Town of Cáceres, Spain
Top 10 UNESCO world heritage sites in Asia
- Angkor, Cambodia
- TajMahal, India
- Great Wall of China
- Old City of Jerusalem, Israel
- Historic Istanbul, Turkey
- Goreme National Park, Turkey
- Wadi Rum, Jordan
- Batad Rice Terraces, Philippines
- Tubbataha Reefs, Philippines
- Great Living Chola Temples, India
