What are the top 10 places to visit in the world?
It is a challenge to pick the top 10 places to visit in the world. I picked the top 10 places based on a combination of cultural, historical and sightseeing factors. This list would be a great 2-3 month bucket list travel itinerary.
I would plan on spending at least 5-7 nights in each spot to see the highlights and get a feel of the place. I have been fortunate to visit all of these places for at least a week and 5 of the places for a month or more.
- London
- Paris
- Rome
- Bangkok
- Singapore
- Bali
- Tokyo
- Kauai
- Las Vegas
- New York City
1. London
London is the first of the top 10 places to visit in the world. It is English history at its best. The best thing is that most of the sightseeing is in the central part of London and you can walk everywhere. We have spent days and days walking around London Central.
Make sure you take the Hop on Hop off bus for a quick overview and take a private tour. One of our favourite is the Jack the Ripper tour beginning at dusk through the East End of London.
Top 5 Things to See and Do in London
1. British Museum – free admission. The first public museum in the world opened in 1759. It has over 8 million artefacts with 50,000 on display at any time. It contains important historical artefacts such as the Rosetta Stone, the Magna Carta and the Parthenon sculptures. Lunch in the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court, the covered central quadrangle, is a wonderful experience.
2. Buckingham Palace – the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II of England when she is in London. Open to the public from July to October the admission is about $35. The daily changing of the guard in the forecourt is free to watch. Afterwards, walk down the flag lined Mall, the road that connects the royal palace to Trafalgar Square.
3. Shakespeares Globe Theatre – first built in 1599 the replica located on the Thames River was opened in 1997. Watch and participate in Shakespeare plays. You can stand in the pit or pay more money and get a seat on a bench. We have been to several plays here. The last one was Midsummer’s Night Dream – one of my favourites. They also have afternoon tours of the theatre.
4. The Seven Stars – this beautiful historic pub is located behind the Royal Courts of Justice in the centre of London. Built in 1602, it survived the fire of 1666 making it is the oldest pub in London. The luminaries include Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe, and James Joyce.
5. Borough Market – a market has been going on at this site for over a thousand years. Located in Central London the latest buildings were built in 1850. It is the largest food market in London and has all kinds of speciality shops. I love the cheese shops where you can sample cheese by the dozen.
There is so much more to see and do in London. It is one of those places that you can go to many times and still find new things to see and do.
More reading about London one of the top 10 places to visit in the world.
For more first-hand information, visit our London Destination Guide for detailed information on the top museums, theatres, historic buildings, markets, cafes, restaurants, palaces, gardens, tours and day trips.
Also, read my article on, Things That Happen When You Visit London to find out the crazy things that happen when we travel.
2. Paris
Paris, also known as The City of Lights and the City of Romance, is the second of my list of the top 10 places to visit in the world. We have been there 5 times and are still discovering new things to see and do. A week will let you see the highlights. Take your time and plan your days well.
Top 5 Things to See and Do in Paris
1. The Louvre – one of the most famous museums in the world, it is also one of the largest. You can not see it in one visit so choose the area that you want to see. I love the old masters section. It is one of the largest collections in the world. Save standing in line for an hour and purchase your ticket online for about $15. There are a variety of people who qualify for free admission so check out the linked website. Go as early as possible and walk down the Champs Elysee to it in the early morning for a great experience. Make it your first stop of the day.
2. The Eiffel Tower – built for the 1889 World’s Fair it is the monument known throughout the world. It is massive when you are standing at the bottom. Every night it is covered in gold lights and sparkles for 5 minutes every hour. Make sure you buy your tickets online to get a spot.
3. Palais Garnier – the Paris Opera house is one of the most famous opera houses in the world and was the most expensive building in the late 1800s. The setting for the Phantom of the Opera, the building is astounding. You can spend hours just looking at the outside. The Italian designed theatre was built for the audience to see and be seen. It is a must to see with its red velvet, gold and crystal. If you can not get tickets to a performance or workshop, there are tours during the day.
4. Boullion Chartier – in Montparnasse since 1896. This braisserie is traditional and a bargain. It is also an experience. The service is swift and brusque. Entrees start around $3 and the main starts at $15. This is my idea of simple, traditional French food. No reservations.
5. Marché Saxe-Breteuil – just a 5 minute walk from the Eiffel Tower. You will see mostly locals doing their daily shopping. The market is large with many stalls and lots of things to shop for. It is a good place to pick up a picnic lunch to eat on the lawns of the Eiffel Tower.
More reading about Paris one of the top 10 places to visit in the world
For much more first-hand information visit our Paris Destination Guide for detailed information on the top museums, theatres, historic buildings, markets, cafes, restaurants, palaces, gardens, tours and day trips.
Also, read my article on, Things That Happen When You Visit Paris to find out the crazy things that happen when we travel.
3. Rome
Top 5 Things to See and Do in Rome
1. St. Peter’s Basillica – the largest and most famous church in the world. It can hold 20,000 people and is awe inspiring the first time you enter. Make sure you get there for the 7 am opening to enjoy the Basillica without the crowds. Climb the 551 steps up to the cupola for a wonderful view of Rome. There is a gift shop at the top where I bought my mom a beautiful red rosary. Buy your ticket in advance and get the combo tour ticket that will give you a guided tour of the Basillica, Sistine Chapel and the Vatican museums.
2. Roman Forum – the original ruins of Rome. Sit and stare and you can imagine the buildings that lined the Forum. It is best to see reconstruction pictures of the Forum before visiting. It really helps put things into perspective. Read a little on the history will also put it into perspective or hire a private guide. I have sat there in the early morning when I was the only person in the Forum.
3. Galleria Borghese – an art gallery holding wonderful works of antiquity and Renaissance art. The gallery is housed in the marvelous 17th century home of the Borghese. The villa is surrounded by formal gardens and fountains.
4. Trattoria da Teo – this trattoria is very popular and it is difficult to get in without a reservation. Traditional food that is simply delicious. They have great inexpensive house wines. Located in the Trastevere area which should be on your list of places to visit in Rome.
5. Campagna Amica Market – Vendors are only allowed to sell freshly harvested food grown in the Rome area. It supports local farmers and is the best farm to table market in Rome. This is where we shop when we are in Rome.
More reading about Rome one of the top 10 places to visit in the world
For much more first-hand information visit our Rome Destination Guide for detailed information on the top monuments, churches, museums, squares, markets, restaurants, parks, neighbourhoods, and shopping areas.
Also, read my article on, Things That Happen When You Visit Rome to find out the crazy things that happen when we travel.
Bangkok
Top 5 Things to See and Do in Bangkok
1.Grand Palace – the most visited place in Bangkok, this opulent complex of buildings on 54 acres was built in 1782 for the Kings of Siam. It also houses the Emerald Buddha in Wat Phra Keo. It is extremely busy so get there for opening at 8:30 am. Tour buses with hundreds of people start arriving about 9:30 am. There is a very strict dress code that is enforced. If you do not conform, the guards will not let you on the palace grounds.
2. Wat Pho – the temple of the Reclining Buddha. It is one of the most visited temples and is next to the Grand Palace. The Reclining Buddha is 46 metres long covered in gold leaf and is amazing to see. The temple is regarded as the first university in Thailand specializing in religion, science and literature. It is now known for traditional medicine and massage. After wandering around, have a Thai massage.
3. Siam Paragon| Siam Center and Discovery| Gayson| Chit Lom Shopping Malls – these malls are side by side. It literally will take a day or more to go the entire mall space. Each floor specializes in different goods. Siam Paragon has a whole floor of super cars on display including Ferrari, McLaren, Aston Martin, and Rolls Royce among others. Chit Lom has 2 floors of food markets and restaurants.
4. Chatuchak Weekend Market – the largest market weekend market in the world with 15,000 stalls and over 200,000 people a weekend. We took the Skytrain from Nana station on Sukhumvit. Plan on spending the whole day there. We spent several hours just looking at wood carvings and were lost most of the time. There are of course, lots of places to eat and drink. You can also go to the market on Friday nights just after the vendors set up for the weekend. There are a lot less people then.
5. Sukhumvit Road– or Hwy 3 is one of the main roads in Thailand. It is the centre of business in Bangkok and a tourist haven with lots of things to see and do. There are many highrise chain and independent hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shopping. We stayed here for a week and found it very easy to get around to all the things to see in Bangkok.
More reading about Bangkok one of the top 10 places to visit in the world
For much more first-hand information visit our Bangkok Destination Guide for detailed information on the top museums, theatres, historic buildings, markets, cafes, restaurants, palaces, gardens, tours and day trips.
Also, read my article on, Things That Happen When You Visit Bangkok to find out the crazy things that happen when we travel.
Singapore
Top 5 Things to See and Do in Singapore
1. Gardens by the Bay – rated the #1 attraction in Singapore. It includes a number of top attractions including the World’s largest glass Conservatory with a flower dome and a cloud forest with the highest indoor waterfall in the world. The Supertree Grove made up of giant living man made trees that become a fantastic light show at night. The theme gardens and large sculptures throughout the park can be toured walking around or you can ride the free shuttle train. This free park is not to be missed during the day and then again at night.
2. Singapore Botanical Gardens – the #1 rated garden in Asia and the only tropical garden that is an UNESCO heritage site. The gardens are free and are beautiful, lush and a must see when visiting Singapore. The outdoor National Orchid Garden (small fee) is astounding with over 3,000 types of orchids. It was my favourite section of the gardens.
3. National Museum of Singapore – dedicated to telling the history of Singapore in an immersive experience the museum is the oldest in Singapore and located in an architectural icon. The exhibitions in the museum are well thought out and very enjoyable. I really enjoyed the light show theatre.
4. Esplanade – Theatre on the Bay – with over 3000 performances and activities a year, there is always something going on in this spectacular architectural theatre on the bay. It is designed to look like a durian fruit. Each month there is a free symphony orchestra performance. We were lucky enough to be in Singapore to attend one in the beautifully designed theatre. There are 3 active stages that have performances throughout the day.
5. Hawker Centres – are open outdoor food markets with affordable meals. Meals start at $3. There are a number of them and they are located in the centre of residential areas. Hawker Centres are a unique aspect of Singaporean culture and lifestyle and are a must see and experience when visiting Singapore.
More reading about Singapore one of the top 10 places to visit in the world
For much more first-hand information visit our Ultimate Singapore Destination Guide for detailed information on the top museums, theatres, historic buildings, markets, cafes, restaurants, palaces, gardens, tours and day trips.
Also, read my article on, Things That Happen When You Visit Singapore to find out the crazy things that happen when we travel.
Ubud, Bali
Ubud is the spiritual centre of Bali. There are dozens of temples in the surrounding area. Located about an hour upland from the airport, Ubud is in a lush rural setting surrounded by rice fields. In the 70s and 80s it became a very popular destination for artsy spiritual people. The area has developed a lot since then and there are many wonderful places to stay for all range of budgets.
We stayed in our own Balinese house in a low keyed spa in the middle of a rice field outside of a small village. It included breakfast and we had fantastic hour massages for $10 everyday. They ran a free shuttle into Ubud twice a day and we rented a car and driver from them on several days to tour us around.
Top 5 Things to See and Do in Ubud
1. Ubud Royal Palace – known as Puri Saren Agung, the palace is located in the centre of Ubud. There are traditional cultural performances that change every night in the courtyard at 7:30 pm. Tickets are sold in advance beginning in the afternoon until 7 pm. Seating is not assigned so go early and you can pick where you want to sit. We sat right on the sidelines and could touch the performers. We saw the Barong dance and it was fantastic. I can not believe how they can bend their fingers and the facial expressions are unbelievable.
Admission into the palace during the day is free. Take the time to wander around and take in the beautiful carvings and architecture. They even have a traditional bungalow for rent where you can stay right in the palace grounds.
2. Ubud Monkey Forest – a very sacred Hindu forest located right in Ubud. It was established back in the 1300s. There are 3 temples and over 600 monkeys that live in 3 different groups within the forest. I loved the afternoon we spent there. The monkeys are so cute. I had little ones playing with my toes with their soft hairy hands. But be careful as they will try to steal any food or shiny things you have. There are lockers at the entrance you can put your stuff before entering the lush jungle forest. The monkeys are continually studied and every monkey is known by sex and date of birth.
3. Tegallalang Rice Terrace – located about a half hour drive up the mountain from Ubud the rice terraces are a beautiful UNESCO site. Go early before the many shops along the ledge are open. We walked along the terrace paths for an hour before other tourist began showing up. The rice had been recently harvested and the terraces were being worked and repaired before being flooded with water.
4. Tirta Empul Temple – not far from the Tegallalang rice terrace is this very important Hindu temple with a fascinating legend. It is a water temple that was built around an artesian spring that feeds ponds and a unique purification pool where pilgrims go through a ritual purification.
5. Ubud Art Market – opposite the Royal Palace in the centre of Ubud the art market, Pasar Seni Ubud, sells handicrafts from the surrounding villages. A congested building with small stalls overloaded with goods. We bought several traditional purses. Being the first customers of the day we were given the special first sale price. A good first sale will be lucky for the rest of the day. Haggling on price is expected. Offer half the asking price and go from there.
More reading about Ubud, a top 10 place to visit in the world
For much more first-hand information visit our Ubud Destination Guide for detailed information on the top museums, theatres, historic buildings, markets, cafes, restaurants, palaces, gardens, tours and day trips.
Also, read my article on, Things That Happen When You Visit Ubud to find out the crazy things that happen when we travel.
Tokyo
Japan is the Land of the Rising Sun. Tokyo is one of the most vibrant, clean and safe metropolises in the world making it one of the top 10 places to visit in the world. To really see just Tokyo you need to spend a week. I spent a week in Tokyo as part of a 5 week trip to Japan and fell in love with Tokyo. There is an incalculable amount of things to see, do and experience. Tokyo is made up of 23 cities making it the largest city in the world. During feudal times it was called Edo. All the nobles from around Japan were required to spend most of the year in Edo. That way the Emperor could keep a close watch on them to discourage plots against him.
Top 5 Things to See and Do in Tokyo
1. The Imperial Palace – or Kokyo in Japan is the home of the Emperor of Japan. It is located in the heart of Tokyo and is a peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. The East Garden is open daily to the public and is free. Tours of the rest of the palace grounds are available and tickets are free. There are 200 advance tickets a day and 300 tickets in person per day.
2. Ginza – is the most glamorous shopping district in Tokyo. Just before opening the staff all line up and at precisely 10 am the doors open and the customers enter with the staff all bowing and greeting customers as they walk in for the first few minutes with traditional music playing in the background. People moving on the street are all dressed like fashion models in designer clothes. It is a very impressive sight.
3. Ueno Cultural Park – located in the centre of Tokyo this vast park is the home of many of the important museums of Japan including the National Metropolitan Art Museum, National Science Museum, National Western Art Museum and the Tokyo National Museum. It also house the Toshugo Shrine and the zoo. The park has over 1000 cherry trees and the entire park is full of cherry blossoms in the spring.
4. Harajuku – is the area of Tokyo where young people and various subcultures go to shop and hang out. Takeshita Street is filled with small youthful boutique shops. Restaurants cater to young people with all kinds of amazing foods like animal shaped ice cream cones.
Yoyogi Park is a gathering place on the weekends filled with punk rock bands, shamisen players, pop bands, and cover bands every 50 feet. There are fire breathers, exotic animal handlers and all kind of strange sights. It has a great energy and is so much fun.
5. Akihabara – called Electric City is the mecca of technology with hundreds of shops selling millions of components and everything that runs on electricity. It is also the hangout for gamers, anime, manga and cosplayers dressed in their costumes. At night every building is lit up with colourful lights and signs.
More reading about Tokyo, a top 10 place to visit in the world
For much more first-hand information visit our Tokyo Destination Guide for detailed information on the top museums, theatres, historic buildings, markets, cafes, restaurants, palaces, gardens, tours and day trips.
Also, read my article on, Things That Happen When You Visit Tokyo to find out the crazy things that happen when we travel.
Kauai
Kauai is the place that most people think of when they think of Hawaii. Nicknamed the Garden Isle, it is the most lush and tropical feeling of the Hawaiian Islands. The most northern of the island chain it is also the oldest with rugged mountains heavily eroded and emerald green. The Hawaiian people are gracious hosts and live their lives with the spirit of Aloha. The beauty of the island and the people make Kauai one of the top 10 places to visit in the world.
Top 5 Things to See and Do in Kauai
1. Waimea Canyon – the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, was created from the overflow from Mount Wai’ale’ale the rainiest place in the world. The canyon is about 10 miles long and 3,000 feet deep. You can drive from the town of Waimea to the the top of the canyon. There are 3 lookouts along the way.
2. Na Pali Coast – an isolated 17 mile expanse of rugged and beautiful green cliffs on the North West side of Kauai. There is a rugged trail that takes 2-3 days to hike, but the best way to see the coast is from a helicopter or a boat tour. You can also see a good section of the coast from the Kalalau lookout at the top of Waimea Canyon.
3. Hanalei Valley – a beautiful lush valley that is absolutely gorgeous. The emerald green mountains slope down to patchwork green fields that grow taro and other cash crops. Hanalei Town is a lovely small town with historical buildings and tourist attractions such as art galleries and restaurants. Hanalei Bay is protected and is great for swimming and beginner surfers.
4. Wailua Falls – a spectacular double falls located just a few minutes from Lihue the main city on Kauai. It is one of the few falls that you can drive to without having to hike for an hour. The water falls 80 feet into a 30 foot pool.
5. Poipu Beach – rated one of the top beaches in the United States, the beach is a protected sandy beach made up of a series of golden sand crescents. It is a popular spot for swimming, snorkeling, boogie boarding and surfing.
More reading about Kauai, a top 10 place to visit in the world
For much more first-hand information visit our Kauai Destination Guide for detailed information on the top things to do in Kauai along with budget tips to save $1000s and make your trip a reality.
Also, read my article on, Things That Happen When You Visit Kauai to find out the crazy things that happen when we travel.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas is an adult’s playground. There is nothing that you can’t do in Vegas. It is so easy spending a week in Las Vegas with pools, restaurants, adult attractions, theatre and shows, professional sports, motor sports, outdoor recreation, gambling and live music at every turn that makes it one of the 10 best places to visit in the world.
Top 5 Things to See and Do in Las Vegas
1. Mega casino hotel resorts – Las Vegas casino hotels are massive and in some cases the size of small cities. Corporations try to outdo each in the extravagance of their properties to attract customers. To fully explore just the 6 major casino resorts takes 3-4 days. The casino resorts have beautiful pool areas, specially built theatres, lounges and numerous restaurants for each budget.
2. The Las Vegas Strip – a 5 mile stretch of highway south of the city of Las Vegas through the unincorporated towns of Paradise and Winchester. It is listed as a United States Scenic Byway. The lights of all the casino hotels and their attractions that line the strip are spectacular at night. There are numerous tours from limousines to Jeeps and helicopters.
3. Las Vegas Shows – with over 100 performances a night, there are more shows here then any other place in the world. The greatest performers in the world in pop, country, r&b, and rock play here. The top comedians, magicians, and circus shows play here. World class musicals like the Phantom of the Opera play in specially built theatres.
4. Restaurants – Every top celebrity chef in the world. 10 Michelin star restaurants. A respectable number but more importantly, the Las Vegas restaurants are feeding 41 million visitors a year from a broad spectrum of people. They do a good job and there are many, many quality places to have fantastic meals. Make sure that you budget accordingly. You can get by on about $50 per day eating out but a better budget is $100 a day that lets you alternate nights for more expensive dinners or budget $200 a day for an extravagant week of fabulous dining in the best settings that you will find anywhere in the world.
5. Pools and Spas – from May to October it is all about the pool. Each casino resort has an incredible pool area and there are a number of private party pool facilities that have popped up the last few years. Many of the casino resorts have day and night pool parties with top DJs. The bigger ones and the private pools have European pools where you only have to wear bottoms and you rent a cabana with full bottle service.
More reading about Las Vegas, a top 10 place to visit in the world
For much more first-hand information visit our Las Vegas Destination Guide for detailed information on the top museums, theatres, historic buildings, markets, cafes, restaurants, palaces, gardens, tours and day trips.
Also, read my article on, Things That Happen When You Visit Las Vegas to find out the crazy things that happen when we travel.
New York City
New York City has a wonderful energy about it. The New York City that most people think about is the Manhattan borough of NYC. New York City is actually comprised of 5 boroughs; Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island.
We have spent many weeks in Manhattan because our daughter went to fashion school there for 4 years. There are so many museums, live music bars, cultural activities, restaurants, diners and neighbourhoods to explore that it would take months to see and do everything. That makes New York City one of the top 10 place to visit in the world.
Top 5 Things to See and Do in New York City
1. Central Park – a world famous urban park that is 843 acres in size and located in the middle of Manhattan between the Upper East and West Sides. Built over a period of 20 years the design is to bring people together with the wide Mall pathway, sweeping views, fields for events and water features. It is a green, cool, quiet place to walk, run or bike during the day. I usually end up here everyday, often just to walk through the park.
2. Museum Mile – refers to the 6 museums located in the Carnegie Hill area of Manhattan between 82nd and 105th Streets on the Upper East Side. These include the Metropolitan Museum of Art that gets 6 million visitors a year and the Guggenheim art museum designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Each museum has a different free day. A little known museum is the Frick Museum which was their house. It is something to see.
3. Theatres of Broadway – there are 41 theatres on Broadway so it would take several months to see them all. Not including the other theatres that are off Broadway. About 12 million people a year see performances on Broadway and bring in over a billion dollars into the economy. There are discount tickets available in Time Square and in the Financial District downtown. In addition, there are many restaurants around this area for a pre or post dinner.
4. Shopping on 5th Avenue – also known as Millionaire’s Row, 5th Avenue is the best shopping in NYC with the most expensive retail space in the world. The displays in the windows are visual pieces of art and people flock to the windows when they change each season. I find it amazing that the windows have a Thanksgiving display and then presto, magic, overnight the numerous display windows are changed in a few hours to Christmas displays. The next time I am in NYC when the displays change, I am going to wander 5th Avenue at 3 am to see this wonder in staging. There must be an army of display artists to pull this off.
5. Manhattan Restaurants – there are so many great restaurants at reasonable prices. Download a current restaurant app to find the ones you like. When I would visit my daughter for a week or two, I would take her out every night to a different local restaurant. In a 10 minute walk we had a choice of dozens of restaurants. From a French Bistro that only had 4 tables and created a new daily special dish like rabbit sausage poached in tarragon tomato cream sauce, or an Asian infusion restaurant where they plop down a free carafe of wine when you sit.
More reading about New York City, a top 10 place to visit in the world
For much more first-hand information visit our New York Destination Guide for detailed information on the top museums, theatres, historic buildings, markets, cafes, restaurants, palaces, gardens, tours and day trips.
Also, read my article on, Things That Happen When You Visit New York City to find out the crazy things that happen when we travel.