Famous Landmarks: 100+ Iconic Places Around the World (2026)

The most famous landmarks in the world include the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Great Wall of China, the Statue of Liberty in New York, the Taj Mahal in India, the Colosseum in Rome, Machu Picchu in Peru, the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro and the Sydney Opera House. Each one is instantly recognizable, packed with history and on almost every traveler’s bucket list.

This guide covers 100+ famous landmarks around the world, sorted by country and by US state. Every landmark comes with a quick passport stamp: where it is, when it was built and why it is famous. You will also find what changed in 2026, height comparisons, fun facts and tips for visiting.

The 20 most famous landmarks in the world (2026)

These world landmarks are the ones people recognize from a single photo. They are ranked by how iconic they are worldwide, not by size.

1. Eiffel Tower (Paris, France, 1889): Built for the 1889 World’s Fair and now 330 meters tall. It was meant to be temporary and was almost torn down in 1909.
2. Great Wall of China (Northern China, 7th century BC to 1600s): A chain of walls stretching about 13,000 miles (21,000 km) in total. No, you cannot see it from space with the naked eye.
3. Statue of Liberty (New York, USA, 1886): A gift from France, 305 feet (93 meters) from the ground to the torch. Her copper skin turned green from oxidation.
4. Taj Mahal (Agra, India, 1653): A white marble tomb built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The marble changes color from pink at dawn to gold at sunset.
5. Colosseum (Rome, Italy, AD 80): The largest amphitheater ever built in ancient Rome, with room for about 50,000 spectators.
6. Machu Picchu (Cusco Region, Peru, about 1450): An Inca citadel high in the Andes, unknown to most of the world until 1911.
7. Pyramids of Giza (Giza, Egypt, about 2560 BC): The Great Pyramid was the tallest human-made structure on Earth for nearly 4,000 years and is the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World.
8. Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1931): A 98-foot (30-meter) statue with a 92-foot arm span on top of Corcovado mountain. It gets struck by lightning several times a year.
9. Sydney Opera House (Sydney, Australia, 1973): Its shell-shaped roofs are covered in more than one million tiles.
10. Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament (London, UK, 1859): Big Ben is actually the name of the giant bell, not the clock tower, which is called the Elizabeth Tower.
11. Sagrada Família (Barcelona, Spain, started 1882): Antoni Gaudí’s basilica reached its full height of 172.5 meters in February 2026, more than 140 years after construction began.
12. Leaning Tower of Pisa (Pisa, Italy, 1372): It started leaning while it was still being built because of soft ground.
13. Petra (Jordan, about 1st century BC): A city carved straight into rose-colored cliffs. The Treasury facade is its most famous view.
14. Chichén Itzá (Yucatán, Mexico, about AD 600 to 1200): At the spring and fall equinox, a shadow shaped like a serpent slides down the steps of El Castillo.
15. Angkor Wat (Siem Reap, Cambodia, 12th century): The largest religious monument in the world, and it appears on Cambodia’s flag.
16. Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, USA, 1937): Its famous color is called International Orange, chosen so it stays visible in fog.
17. Stonehenge (Wiltshire, England, about 3000 to 2000 BC): A prehistoric stone circle that lines up with the sunrise on the summer solstice.
18. Acropolis and the Parthenon (Athens, Greece, 447 to 432 BC): A temple to the goddess Athena that has stood on its hilltop for about 2,500 years.
19. Burj Khalifa (Dubai, UAE, 2010): The tallest building in the world at 828 meters, with 163 floors.
20. Mount Fuji (Honshu, Japan, natural): Japan’s highest mountain at 3,776 meters and an active volcano that last erupted in 1707.

Landmark	Country	Completed	Type
Eiffel Tower	France	1889	Tower
Great Wall of China	China	1600s (Ming era)	Wall
Statue of Liberty	USA	1886	Statue
Taj Mahal	India	1653	Tomb
Colosseum	Italy	AD 80	Amphitheater
Machu Picchu	Peru	About 1450	Ancient city
Pyramids of Giza	Egypt	About 2560 BC	Pyramids
Christ the Redeemer	Brazil	1931	Statue
Sydney Opera House	Australia	1973	Performing arts
Big Ben	United Kingdom	1859	Clock tower

What’s new for famous landmarks in 2026

Landmarks are not frozen in time. These are the biggest landmark stories of the past year, and what they mean if you are planning a visit.

• Sagrada Família reached its final height. On February 20, 2026, the cross was placed on the central Tower of Jesus Christ, bringing the basilica to 172.5 meters and confirming it as the tallest church in the world. Work on the rest of the building continues.
• The Grand Egyptian Museum is fully open. The giant museum near the Pyramids of Giza officially opened on November 1, 2025, with the complete Tutankhamun collection on display. Pair it with a pyramids visit.
• Notre-Dame de Paris is back. The cathedral reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire, and it is once again one of the most visited landmarks in Paris.
• America turns 250. July 4, 2026 marked 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, putting Independence Hall in Philadelphia and other American landmarks in the spotlight all year.

Famous landmarks by country

Planning a trip, studying for a test or just curious? Here are the top landmarks in Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa and Oceania, country by country, from Japan landmarks to Mexico landmarks. The famous landmarks in Japan and Italy come first because they are two of the most searched.

Japan landmarks

• Mount Fuji (Shizuoka and Yamanashi, natural): Japan’s sacred, snow-capped volcano.
• Fushimi Inari Taisha (Kyoto, 711): A mountain path lined with thousands of bright orange torii gates.
• Tokyo Skytree (Tokyo, 2012): At 634 meters, the tallest tower in the world.
• Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) (Kyoto, 1397): A Zen temple covered in gold leaf, reflected in a mirror pond.
• Himeji Castle (Hyogo, 1609): Japan’s best-preserved original castle, nicknamed the White Heron.

Italy landmarks

• Colosseum (Rome, AD 80): Ancient Rome’s great arena.
• Trevi Fountain (Rome, 1762): Toss a coin over your shoulder and legend says you will return to Rome.
• Leaning Tower of Pisa (Pisa, 1372): The world’s most famous tilt.
• Florence Cathedral (Duomo) (Florence, 1436): Brunelleschi’s dome is still the largest brick dome ever built.
• Grand Canal (Venice, natural waterway): Venice’s main street, lined with palaces and gondolas.

France landmarks: Paris and beyond

• Eiffel Tower (Paris, 1889): The symbol of Paris and the first of the Paris landmarks on most lists.
• Louvre Museum and Pyramid (Paris, glass pyramid added in 1989): Home of the Mona Lisa and the most visited museum in the world.
• Notre-Dame de Paris (Paris, 1345): Gothic cathedral, reopened in December 2024.
• Mont-Saint-Michel (Normandy, abbey from 966): A tidal island abbey that becomes an island at high tide.
• Arc de Triomphe (Paris, 1836): Napoleon’s triumphal arch at the top of the Champs-Élysées.

Mexico landmarks

• Chichén Itzá (Yucatán, about AD 600 to 1200): Maya city and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
• Teotihuacan (near Mexico City, about 100 BC to AD 550): Climb the Pyramid of the Sun, one of the largest pyramids in the Americas.
• Palacio de Bellas Artes (Mexico City, 1934): A white marble palace of art with a stunning glass curtain.
• Tulum ruins (Quintana Roo, about 1200): Maya ruins on a cliff above the Caribbean Sea.

Spain landmarks

• Sagrada Família (Barcelona, started 1882): The world’s tallest church in 2026.
• Alhambra (Granada, 1300s): A Moorish palace with some of the most detailed tile and plaster work anywhere.
• Park Güell (Barcelona, 1914): Gaudí’s colorful mosaic park overlooking the city.
• Plaza Mayor (Madrid, 1619): Madrid’s grand central square.

Germany landmarks

• Brandenburg Gate (Berlin, 1791): A symbol of a reunited Germany.
• Neuschwanstein Castle (Bavaria, begun 1869): The fairy-tale castle that inspired countless storybook castles.
• Cologne Cathedral (Cologne, 1880): Gothic twin spires that took more than 600 years to finish.

London landmarks and the UK

• Big Ben (London, 1859): The great bell inside the Elizabeth Tower.
• Tower Bridge (London, 1894): Its roads lift up to let tall ships pass.
• Tower of London (London, 1078): Home of the Crown Jewels and the famous ravens.
• Buckingham Palace (London, 1703): The King’s official London home. Catch the Changing of the Guard.
• Stonehenge (Wiltshire, about 3000 to 2000 BC): Prehistoric mystery on Salisbury Plain.

Greece landmarks

• Acropolis and Parthenon (Athens, 432 BC): The heart of ancient Athens.
• Santorini’s blue domes (Oia, Santorini, 1800s churches): Whitewashed villages above a volcanic caldera.
• Meteora (Thessaly, 1300s monasteries): Monasteries balanced on top of giant rock pillars.

China landmarks

• Great Wall of China (Northern China, Ming sections 1368 to 1644): The longest structure ever built.
• Forbidden City (Beijing, 1420): The imperial palace with about 9,000 rooms, according to legend.
• Terracotta Army (Xi’an, about 210 BC): Thousands of life-size clay soldiers guarding China’s first emperor.
• The Bund (Shanghai, 1800s to 1900s): A riverfront walk with old banks on one side and a futuristic skyline on the other.

India landmarks

• Taj Mahal (Agra, 1653): The world’s most famous monument to love.
• Red Fort (Delhi, 1648): A red sandstone Mughal fortress.
• Qutub Minar (Delhi, 1220): A 73-meter brick minaret, one of the tallest in the world.
• Gateway of India (Mumbai, 1924): An arch on the waterfront facing the Arabian Sea.

South Korea landmarks

• Gyeongbokgung Palace (Seoul, 1395): The largest of Seoul’s royal palaces. Visitors in hanbok get in free.
• N Seoul Tower (Seoul, 1971): Love locks and the best views over the city.
• Bukchon Hanok Village (Seoul, 1300s to 1900s): Hundreds of traditional wooden houses.

Brazil landmarks

• Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro, 1931): Arms open over Rio.
• Sugarloaf Mountain (Rio de Janeiro, natural): Ride the cable car to the top at sunset.
• Iguazu Falls (Brazil and Argentina border, natural): About 275 waterfalls along nearly 2 miles.

Peru landmarks

• Machu Picchu (Cusco Region, about 1450): The Lost City of the Incas.
• Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) (Cusco Region, natural): Stripes of red, gold and turquoise minerals.
• Nazca Lines (Nazca Desert, about 500 BC to AD 500): Giant drawings in the desert best seen from the air.

Argentina, Chile and Colombia landmarks

South America’s southern half is packed with natural wonders, and Colombia landmarks mix colonial cities with jaw-dropping churches.

• Perito Moreno Glacier (Patagonia, Argentina, natural): A glacier you can hear cracking and crashing into the lake.
• Obelisco de Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1936): The city’s most famous meeting point.
• Moai of Easter Island (Rapa Nui, Chile, about 1250 to 1500): Nearly 1,000 giant stone heads, which actually have bodies buried underground.
• Torres del Paine (Patagonia, Chile, natural): Granite towers above glacier lakes.
• Walled City of Cartagena (Cartagena, Colombia, 1500s to 1700s): Colorful colonial streets inside stone walls.
• Las Lajas Sanctuary (Nariño, Colombia, 1949): A church built into a canyon over a river.

Canada landmarks

• CN Tower (Toronto, 1976): 553 meters tall, with a glass floor and the EdgeWalk around the outside.
• Niagara Falls (Ontario, natural): Shared with New York and best seen from the boat tours.
• Lake Louise (Banff National Park, Alberta, natural): Turquoise water below Victoria Glacier.
• Château Frontenac (Quebec City, 1893): Often called the most photographed hotel in the world.

Australia landmarks

• Sydney Opera House (Sydney, 1973): A UNESCO World Heritage icon.
• Sydney Harbour Bridge (Sydney, 1932): You can climb to the top on a guided BridgeClimb.
• Uluru (Northern Territory, natural): A sacred sandstone monolith that glows red at sunset.
• Great Barrier Reef (Queensland, natural): The world’s largest coral reef system.

Egypt landmarks

• Pyramids of Giza (Giza, about 2560 BC): The last Ancient Wonder still standing.
• Great Sphinx (Giza, about 2500 BC): A lion’s body with a human head, carved from one piece of rock.
• Grand Egyptian Museum (Giza, 2025): The largest museum in the world dedicated to one civilization.
• Abu Simbel (Aswan, about 1264 BC): Temples that were moved, block by block, to save them from flooding.

Ireland landmarks

• Cliffs of Moher (County Clare, natural): Cliffs rising about 700 feet above the Atlantic.
• Newgrange (County Meath, about 3200 BC): Older than Stonehenge and the pyramids.
• Blarney Castle (County Cork, 1446): Kiss the Blarney Stone for the gift of gab.

Famous landmarks in the USA

The US has some of the most famous landmarks on Earth, from city skylines to national parks. Here are the best American landmarks, sorted by state and city.

New York landmarks

• Statue of Liberty (Liberty Island, 1886): The welcome sign of America.
• Empire State Building (Manhattan, 1931): An Art Deco icon, 1,454 feet to the tip.
• Central Park (Manhattan, 1858): 843 acres of green in the middle of the city.
• Brooklyn Bridge (Brooklyn and Manhattan, 1883): Walk across for the classic skyline view.
• Times Square (Manhattan, 1904): The famous New Year’s Eve ball drop.

Washington DC landmarks

• Lincoln Memorial (National Mall, 1922): Where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his I Have a Dream speech.
• Washington Monument (National Mall, 1884): A 555-foot marble obelisk.
• US Capitol (Capitol Hill, 1800, dome 1866): Home of Congress. Free tours are available.
• White House (Pennsylvania Avenue, 1800): Every president since John Adams has lived here.

California landmarks

• Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, 1937): The most photographed bridge in the world.
• Hollywood Sign (Los Angeles, 1923): It originally read Hollywoodland.
• Yosemite’s Half Dome and El Capitan (Yosemite National Park, natural): Granite giants loved by climbers.
• Alcatraz Island (San Francisco Bay, prison opened 1934): The famous island prison you can tour today.

Texas landmarks

• The Alamo (San Antonio, mission founded 1718): Site of the famous 1836 battle. Remember the Alamo!
• San Antonio River Walk (San Antonio, 1941): A leafy riverside path of cafes and boat tours.
• Space Center Houston (Houston, 1992): The visitor center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
• Texas State Capitol (Austin, 1888): Taller than the US Capitol in Washington.

Florida landmarks

• Kennedy Space Center (Merritt Island, 1962): Watch real rocket launches from the Space Coast.
• Everglades National Park (South Florida, 1947): The only place on Earth where alligators and crocodiles live side by side.
• Castillo de San Marcos (St. Augustine, 1695): The oldest masonry fort in the continental US.
• Miami Beach Art Deco District (Miami Beach, 1920s to 1940s): Hundreds of pastel Art Deco buildings.

Chicago landmarks

• Cloud Gate (The Bean) (Millennium Park, 2006): A giant mirror-like sculpture.
• Willis Tower Skydeck (The Loop, 1974): Step onto The Ledge, a glass box 1,353 feet up.
• Navy Pier (Lake Michigan, 1916): Rides, food and fireworks on the lake.

Boston landmarks

• Freedom Trail (Downtown Boston, 1951): A 2.5-mile red-brick path past 16 historic sites.
• Fenway Park (Fenway, 1912): The oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball.
• Old North Church (North End, 1723): One if by land, two if by sea.

More famous American landmarks

• Grand Canyon (Arizona, natural): Up to 18 miles wide and over a mile deep.
• Mount Rushmore (South Dakota, 1941): Four presidents carved into granite, each face about 60 feet tall.
• Gateway Arch (St. Louis, Missouri, 1965): At 630 feet, the tallest arch in the world.
• Space Needle (Seattle, Washington, 1962): Built for the 1962 World’s Fair.
• Hoover Dam (Nevada and Arizona border, 1936): Holds back Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the US.
• Independence Hall (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1753): Where the Declaration of Independence was signed, 250 years ago in 2026.
• Yellowstone’s Old Faithful (Wyoming, natural): A geyser that erupts about every 90 minutes.
• Pearl Harbor National Memorial (Honolulu, Hawaii, 1962 memorial): Honors the USS Arizona and the 1941 attack.

Turning these into a road trip? Add them to your bucket list and check our 2027 calendar for every long weekend next year.

Famous landmarks by height: how they compare

Some famous landmarks are huge, and some are surprisingly small. Christ the Redeemer is shorter than most people expect, while the Burj Khalifa is taller than the Eiffel Tower stacked on itself twice.

Landmark	Height	Fun comparison
Burj Khalifa	828 m (2,717 ft)	About 2.5 Eiffel Towers
Tokyo Skytree	634 m (2,080 ft)	The world’s tallest tower
Eiffel Tower	330 m (1,083 ft)	As tall as an 81-story building
Gateway Arch	192 m (630 ft)	As wide as it is tall
Sagrada Família	172.5 m (566 ft)	The world’s tallest church
Great Pyramid of Giza	about 139 m (455 ft)	Originally about 147 m
Statue of Liberty	93 m (305 ft) with pedestal	The statue alone is 46 m
Christ the Redeemer	38 m (125 ft) with pedestal	Shorter than the Statue of Liberty

Famous landmarks by continent

Continent	Most famous landmarks
North America	Statue of Liberty, Golden Gate Bridge, Grand Canyon, Chichén Itzá, CN Tower
South America	Machu Picchu, Christ the Redeemer, Iguazu Falls, Moai of Easter Island
Europe	Eiffel Tower, Colosseum, Big Ben, Sagrada Família, Acropolis, Stonehenge
Africa	Pyramids of Giza, Great Sphinx, Victoria Falls, Table Mountain
Asia	Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal, Mount Fuji, Angkor Wat, Petra, Burj Khalifa
Oceania	Sydney Opera House, Uluru, Great Barrier Reef

How to visit famous landmarks in 2026

See famous landmarks from home: walk or drive there virtually

Can’t travel right now? Our free Explore the World tool drops you into real street-level footage filmed by people walking and driving through famous places, from Tokyo at night to the Cinque Terre coast. Pick Walk or Drive below to start.

You can keep the real street sound, switch to a live local radio station from the city you are visiting or play your own music. When you are done, test what you learned with our fun quizzes or find more websites to cure boredom.

Famous landmarks: FAQ

Which famous landmark is next on your list? Save this guide, pick one landmark to learn about this week and add the rest to your bucket list ideas.