The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is an organization of the United Nations aimed at creating peace through cooperation among every country. One thing they’re especially known for is their list of “world heritage sites” which is a list of sites around the world that are of historic, cultural, or scientific importance. Many people use this list as a checklist of places to visit on an upcoming trip, as many of the sites included are must-see attractions. Every year, more sites are voted on and become designated as world heritage sites added to this list. It’s almost impossible to visit all of them as some are very remote or in countries dealing with conflict, but that doesn’t stop many from trying to see all. While I do refer to the UNESCO list when planning a trip, I don’t always go out of my way to visit nearby sites, but I do like to visit as many as possible. There have been times where I was really close to one (Olympic National Park, for example) but chose to go somewhere else instead based off recommendations (Mount Rainier). And there are many important sites that haven’t been included yet as well (Golden Gate Bridge or Niagara Falls). As of 2022, there are 1,154 sites on the list, and if you want to check out the list for yourself, you can visit their website. Below, I’ll rank each of the 15 UNESCO sites I’ve visited based off my own experiences.
15. Mount Kenya National Park/Natural Forest
So I feel like I’m cheating by including this one on the list. I haven’t visited Mount Kenya National Park, but I’ve heard amazing things about it. I could see Mount Kenya from several different places in Kenya, and it was always an awesome sight! The reason I’m including it on my list of UNESCO sites is because they specifically include the Natural Forest. While examining the route I took from Nyahururu to Nanyuki to Isiolo to Samburu National Reserve, the road I took passes right through the edge of Mount Kenya Natural Forest. I remember passing through that area and noticed how beautiful it was. In fact, there are many fragrant flowers that are farmed in that area which are used to make perfumes, so it had a nice aroma as I passed through. I also remember it being cold there, a contrast from the hot desert areas surrounding it. The only reason it’s this low on my list is because I didn’t really spend any time there, so I can’t say much about it. But if I’m ever in Kenya again, I want to return to actually visit the park.
14. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
The Cahokia Mounds in Collinsville, Illinois are actually really impressive. It’s the largest ancient Native American site in the United States. The main mound is called Monks Mound, and it’s the largest prehistoric earthwork in America. It was built by carrying basket-loads of dirt one at a time, making it a very impressive build considering the tools the Native Americans were working with. I visited the site while it was snowing and really enjoyed the whole experience. When compared to other UNESCO sites, it’s not as impressive, so it gets a low ranking on my list, but I was glad I drove out to visit it.
13. Biblical Tels – Meggido, Hazor, Beer Sheba
Some people only claim a site of they visit every part of it, but I think that if you’ve been to any of it you should be able to count it. I haven’t been to Meggido or Hazor, but I did spend some time in Beer Sheba while passing through the Negev Desert in Israel. I didn’t have much time there, but I enjoyed it while I was there. I specifically remember getting turned around during a dust storm too. UNESCO’s description of this site is a flat land that contains remains of cities with biblical connections. Beer Sheba is mentioned several times in the Bible. The main site I visited was Abraham’s well, an old well that historians believe Abraham built when he was in town. It was a cool place to visit, but it wasn’t something I’d go out of my way to see.
12. Statue of Liberty
This is probably a controversial placement for the Statue of Liberty, but as with the rest of New York, I’ve never had a great experience there. The first time I saw it was in 2001 when I also saw the Twin Towers just months before 9/11. I briefly saw the statue and moved on. But when I returned in 2010, I arrived at 4:30, half an hour before the last ferry left, and the rude people in the ticket booth told me that I wouldn’t have time to reach the ferry before it left… I was looking right at the ferry, maybe a 5-minute walk from me, but they refused to give me a ticket, so I had to settle for viewing it from the park in Jersey. I’ve made several attempts to revisit it since, and my plans always fail dramatically, so I don’t think it’s meant for me to return. It would be last on my list for sure because I always have negative opinions of it, but I can’t overlook how iconic of a site it is, so it gets placed at number 12.
11. San Antonio Missions
Everyone has heard about the Alamo in San Antonio, but there are actually 4 other old churches in the area, and the 5 of them together make up the San Antonio Missions. While the Alamo is the most popular, the other 4 are worth visiting as well and will have fewer visitors if you do decide to go. They were built in the 1700s and were used to help house and educate the Native Americans in the area. They are all Catholic churches and are still used for mass each week. The architecture here is really cool, and my favorite of the 4 is Mission San José. I spent a couple hours with my family trying to make it to each one before they closed, so the overall experience was a little lower than it could’ve been because we were rushed, but I’m still glad I went.
10. White City of Tel-Aviv – the Modern Movement
Tel Aviv is a modern city that was built in the middle of a desert and then developed over time, giving it both a cultural and historic importance. While in Tel Aviv, I stayed in a beautiful hotel near the Mediterranean that had awesome views of the city. I was recovering from the flu and an injured foot at the time, so I didn’t explore it as much as I would’ve liked, but I did take a little bit of time to see it. I visited several museums and local restaurants, but that’s pretty much it. I’d like to return someday to fully explore the city. One thing that really annoys me is that my GoPro messed up all my pictures from Tel Aviv by covering up half the picture in a weird gray color or putting stripes going down the center, so I don’t have many decent pictures of it. I did sneak up to the roof of the hotel though, and I have a nice picture from up top.
9. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
In the Pensacola area, it seems like every time someone gets vacation time, they either head to Disney World or the Smoky Mountains. While I agree that the Smoky Mountains are beautiful, I just prefer a little more variety when I travel. I have been to the Smoky Mountains many times, staying in both hotels and cabins and hiking many of the trails found within the park. I’ve seen a lot of deer and bears, along with other unique animals. The most recent time I visited, I made a stop at Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the park and then drove through Cades Cove where I saw a family of bears up close. If you’re wanting to find a place to just enjoy nature, Smoky Mountains National Park is a great place to go. Just don’t throw your trash from Thanksgiving into an outside trashcan, or you’ll be busy cleaning up the side of a mountain the following day because a bear got ahold of it!
8. Everglades National Park
The Everglades is an iconic area of wetlands found in South Florida. It’s known for legends of alligators and invasive snakes, but it’s so much more than that. There are many different types of plants and animals that are only found here, so it’s an important habitat for those. It’s actually a huge, slow-moving river made entirely of rainwater. And Native American tribes used to live in the Everglades and travel around on dugout canoe. Today, the best way to travel around the Everglades is by airboat, but even then you’re restricted to a small area. I’m including it here because of its importance and beauty and because I had a great time while visiting. I loved the airboat tour of the Everglades and even got to see some alligators, even though I went during the wrong time of year for them. I definitely recommend visiting!
7. Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca
Cuenca is often considered to be the most beautiful city in Ecuador. Its old buildings and cobblestone streets make it a fun place to visit, and it’s very walkable too. The Catedral Nuevo is the most iconic building in Cuenca, and everything seems to be built around it. Walking these streets, you never know what you might come across: crowded markets, smaller cathedrals, large plazas, and more. And almost everywhere you look is picture-worthy. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Cuenca. If you’re ever planning a trip to Ecuador, I would highly recommend stopping by Cuenca as it’s such a unique and special city. If you’re not careful, you can forget that you’re not in Europe because of the old Spanish colonial architecture found throughout.
6. Redwood National and State Parks
While I haven’t been to the official Redwood National Park yet, the wording of “National and State Parks” to the name of this UNESCO site means that it isn’t just the national park but other nearby parks as well. Because Muir Woods is in the general area and is run by the National Park Service, I’m counting it as part of this UNESCO site. I visited Muir Woods when I was in San Francisco back in 2011, and it’s a beautiful place! The size of the redwood trees is just incredible. It makes you feel very small when you’re walking through a forest of redwoods that are just towering over you as high as you can see. Unfortunately my pictures from this trip are awful, but that doesn’t change my opinion of how amazing this place is. Hopefully someday I can visit the national park, but either way, I have been to the UNESCO site.
5. Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra
I was a little confused at the wording for this site as I was trying to determine if I had seen enough to claim a visit. At first it seems like they’re talking about Kyiv itself, but they’re really only referring to the specific buildings mentioned. I haven’t been inside either building listed, but I have been to the “related monastic buildings” for the Saint Sophia Cathedral in the historic center of Kyiv. Kyiv, Ukraine, was probably the biggest surprise for me in all my travels. I wasn’t expecting much from the city but grew to love it in the half-day I was there! The architecture is beautiful, and the history surrounding the entire city is fascinating. The Saint Sophia Cathedral is included on the UNESCO list for its contributions to the spreading of the Orthodox faith in Ukraine. It was modeled to rival the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, though it really doesn’t compare. I visited the square out front of the cathedral where the bell tower stands. Unfortunately I didn’t have enough time to explore the cathedral as I had a plane to catch, but I really enjoyed what I saw of it.
4. Historic District of Old Québec
Québec City is another city I only spent a few hours in, but I loved everything about it! I stopped here on a roadtrip from Montréal to New Brunswick in 2015, and I’ve really wanted to return to the city since then. The city was built by the French in the 1600s, and it hasn’t changed since. The old cobblestone streets are still there, and the architecture remains as well. There is very little English spoken in the city, which even added to the authentic French atmosphere. The Château Frontenac is a large hotel in the center of the city that looks like a castle, and it claims to be the most photographed hotel in the world. (Of course I have a hard time accepting that because the Atlantis in Nassau and the Vegas Strip are both photographed a lot too, along with Burj al-Arab in Dubai). It’s a beautiful building either way.
3. Masada
Masada is one of the coolest ruined cities in the world. It is on top of a mountain, completely surrounded by the Judean Desert in Southern Israel. It’s really hot, but after touring the ruins, you can head right over to the Dead Sea to cool off. (How is the Dead Sea not included on this list?!) The story of Masada is depressing. This was the last stronghold of the Jews against the Romans. The Romans surrounded the city, blocking their access to food and water and eventually started to build ramps up to the city to take them captive. When the Jews determined they would rather die than be captured by the Romans, they committed mass suicide. While the story isn’t satisfying at all, the views from the top are. You can choose to hike up in the extreme heat or take the cable car to the top. I’d definitely recommend visiting Masada if you’re ever in the area!
2. Grand Canyon National Park
My favorite national park in the US so far is the Grand Canyon, which I visited in 2014. I was really close to it back in August 2020 as I drove from Las Vegas to Utah, but I decided to visit the Mighty 5 parks instead since I had never been there before. There’s a reason the Grand Canyon is such an iconic site! It’s one of the most impressive examples of God’s Creation in the world. Standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, looking out over a mile-high drop is hard to explain, but it’s one of those places you just have to visit someday. I only visited it from the rim when I went, but I’d like to hike down into the canyon someday if I ever get the chance to return. Unfortunately there are many places I’d like to return to someday, but I have a hard time choosing to return somewhere I’ve already been when there are so many places that I haven’t been to yet.
1. Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls
My favorite city in the world is Jerusalem. It’s an amazing city that I still think about all the time. As a Christian, it was amazing seeing many important biblical sites that are important to my faith, including the Garden Tomb, Golgotha, and the Mount of Olives. But from a traveler’s perspective it’s also an amazing city! The Old City in particular is a unique blend of cultures, all contained within one square mile. The Western Wall and Temple Mount are some of the most important religious and cultural sites in the world, and visiting during Shabbat is a must. The Old City is divided into 4 quarters: Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, and Armenian, and I enjoyed seeing each area. Jerusalem is not only my favorite city in the world but possibly my favorite place in general. There are just so many reasons to love it!
Overall, the UNESCO World Heritage list is a decent checklist of places to see around the world, but it’s not perfect. Some sites are more boring than others, and there are many important locations around the world that probably should be included but aren’t. I also have some issues with the way UNESCO treats Israel, but that’s a different discussion. It’s a great list to look at as a traveler, and I hope to visit many more of these sites in the future!
Tyler's Travels 