The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, dates back to the 15th century, making it one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world. Throughout 61 covered maze-like streets, around 4,000 vendors offer a dizzying selection of textiles, spices, colorful housewares, jewelry, and more. Some 90 million tourists and locals come through the Grand Bazaar every year, making it a vibrant and must-see shopping and cultural destination.

Perched atop a hill in Sintra, Portugal’s Pena Palace is famous for its vibrant colors. Built in the mid-19th century after the original building on the site (a small monastery) was lost in an earthquake, the current building served as a summer residence for Portugal’s royal family. Its vivid red, yellow, and blue hues accentuate the stunning Romanticist architecture, which draws some 1.5 million tourists each year.

St. Petersburg’s Peterhof Palace features opulent architecture, gardens, and fountains reminiscent of France's Palace of Versailles — which has earned it a similarly regal nickname. The “Russian Versailles” was built in the early 1700s as Peter the Great’s summer residence. In 1852, it opened to the public, and each year, around 4 million people visit.

The Zocalo once served as a hub of Aztec life and was home to the ceremonial site known as the Templo Mayor. Today, the Zocalo is Mexico City's main square, hosting Mexican Independence Day festivities, markets, and concerts — with some 85 million people passing through every year. A massive Mexican flag in the center of the plaza is raised and lowered daily.

Poland is home to some 3,000 palaces and castles, the most popular among them being Wlianow Palace in Warsaw. Built by King Jan III Sobieski in the 17th century, it is renowned for its Baroque architecture and extensive symmetrical gardens. Inside, visitors — some 3 million of them annually — can admire 17th-century frescoes and portraits of the palace’s successive owners throughout history.

Malaysia’s Petronas Towers have defined the skyline of the country’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur, since their completion in 1998. The 88-floor skyscrapers are connected by a skybridge located halfway up. Standing at almost 1,500 feet tall, the modern structures were designed to resemble familiar Islamic art patterns, reflecting the region’s large Muslim population.

The Cuypers Library is part of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Named after architect Pierre Cuypers, it is the largest and oldest art history library in Europe. Each year, almost 3 million visitors come to this stunning Gothic Renaissance building to explore 800 years and 8,000 objects of Dutch art and history. The most famous work at the Rijksmuseum is Rembrandt’s 1642 “Night Watch” painting.

The Emerald Buddha is a revered monument of the Buddha in meditation, carved from green jasper and clothed in gold. It measures about 26 inches tall and resides in Bangkok’s Grand Palace. The palace was built in 1782 and has served as a royal residence for generations. It welcomes around 8 million tourists a year, and the Emerald Buddha is one of the most celebrated Buddha statues in all of Thailand.

In the 16th century, Emperor Maximilian II of the Habsburgs took over the grounds of the future Schonbrunn Palace and developed it into an enclosed hunting ground. He brought in deer, ducks, pheasants, and other animals. By the mid-1600s, the family had built a summer residence on the property. Around 1779, Schonbrunn was opened as a public park, and today it welcomes about 8 million tourists each year.

The Sensoji Temple, located in Tokyo's Asakusa district, was founded in 628 CE and is dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. A staggering 30 million people visit each year. They are greeted by the well-known Kaminarimon gate, or “thunder gate,” which is adorned with a recognizable red lantern.

Barcelona’s Park Guell was designed by famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, and is a masterful display of his well-known colorful mosaic artworks. Offering panoramic views over the Barcelona skyline, this UNESCO site is the most-visited spot in Spain. Gaudí’s well-known salamander sculpture, known as "El Drac," welcomes the park’s nearly 9 million visitors each year.

The Cologne Cathedral’s famous twin spires dominate the German city’s skyline. Construction began in 1248 but wasn’t completed until 1880. About 6 million people visit the cathedral each year to witness notable artworks and artifacts, including the Gero Crucifix of the late 10th century and the Shrine of the Three Kings, the largest relic container in Europe.

The sprawling 16,000-acre grounds of the Windsor Estate include the Windsor Great Park, the most popular tourist attraction in the U.K. in 2022. Around half of the estate is protected under conservation efforts. Its beautiful lakes, grasslands, and the tree-lined path known as the Long Walk draw upwards of 5 million visitors a year. The Windsor Estate is run by the Crown Estate, belonging to the British monarch.

Drawing over 12 million annual visitors, Niagara Falls is Canada's most visited tourist attraction. It actually consists of three waterfalls: the Horseshoe Falls (also known as the Canadian Falls), the American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls. The falls straddle the border of Canada and the U.S. — combined, the cities on either side bring in about 20 million year-round tourists.

The remains of several ancient citadels, monuments, and temples — including the Parthenon — comprise the ancient Acropolis site. Dating back to the fifth century BCE, these architectural marvels draw an average of over 20,000 daily visitors. Located on a hilltop overlooking Athens, Acropolis translates to “high city.”

The Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, is China's most-visited palace, with around 15 million annual visitors. Built from 1406 to 1420, it was the residence of both the Ming and Qing dynasties. The UNESCO World Heritage Site in Beijing showcases exquisite historical architecture and features cultural relics from China's imperial past.

France is the most visited country in the world, and Disneyland Paris is the most popular attraction in the country. Welcoming over 15 million visitors annually, it opened in 1992 as Euro Disney, and now comprises two parks, Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. The park has a number of unique rides and foods not found in other Disney parks around the world.

Each year, around 4 million of Italy’s 75 million annual visitors come to the Colosseum in Rome. The ancient amphitheater took around eight years to construct, starting around 70 CE, and went on to host gladiator competitions and events for over 400 years. As an iconic symbol of Rome's imperial past, the Colosseum remains a cornerstone of Italy's tourism circuit.

Built in the 17th century by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, the Taj Mahal is renowned for its architectural detail and symmetry. The white marble mausoleum draws around 8 million visitors each year to marvel at its iconic onion-shaped dome and sprawling courtyard along the Yamuna River.

With an average of 40 million visitors every year, Times Square is the most visited public tourist site in the U.S. — and one of the most popular in the world. ​​The iconic location is made up of six pedestrian plazas in Manhattan that beam with vibrant lights, Broadway theaters, and bustling foot traffic. Originally named Longacre Square, it was renamed in 1904 after the New York Times moved its headquarters there.