Our 21 favorite UNESCO World Heritage Sites to visit, according to TPG experts

07.08.2024 - 20:35 / thepointsguy.com / Nick Ewen

UNESCO recently added 24 sites of "outstanding universal value" to its World Heritage List during its 46th annual session in New Delhi.

Lencois Maranhenses National Park in northeastern Brazil and the Via Appia in Italy now join the list of 1,223 World Heritage Sites that counts Yellowstone National Park and Machu Picchu among some of its most well-known landmarks. To be inscribed on the list, a cultural or natural site must meet at least one of 10 criteria, such as having "exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance," representing "a masterpiece of human creative genius" or being "an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement." A spot on the list gives these places cultural significance and guarantees certain protections to preserve them for future generations.

To help narrow your list of can't-miss places, here are 21 must-see UNESCO World Heritage Sites the experts at TPG consider among their favorites — plus an insider tip or two.

Petra, the ancient Nabataean city in Jordan, is a must-visit UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's hard to imagine a more impressive buildup (and reveal) than strolling through the walled walkway of the Siq until you come upon the Treasury, the stone facade carved into the sandstone walls (famously used as the backdrop for the final scenes of "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," which came out in 1989 shortly after UNESCO added Petra to its list).

You can spend hours wandering between tombs and hiking to additional structures, and while I only had two days there with my family in 2022, the stunning beauty and astonishing architecture left a lasting impression. — Nick Ewen, senior editorial director

I hiked Croatia's Plitvice Lakes National Park in 2019, and it remains one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. It almost feels like you're on another planet. The water is crystal clear, the waterfalls are stunning and the trails are well maintained and relatively easy to traverse. There are multiple trails to choose from, so you can easily cater your trip to your fitness level and preferred hike length.

Stay at one of the hotels near the entrance to the park (I chose Hotel Plitvice, located within a protected midcentury building), and schedule your entrance ticket first thing in the morning to avoid the worst of the crowds and heat if you're there in summer. — Madison Blancaflor, managing editor of content operations

Many describe the charming walled section of Quebec City as a miniature French village — a petite Paris, even — and upon driving through the stone-fortressed entrance a few years ago during my first visit, my initial thought was, "Mon Dieu! They're right!" The city is distinctly European, with its dramatic cliffside perch, cobblestone