Can you name the 11 landmarks the world wants to see the most?

With travel restrictions being imposed due to the pandemic, the only option left for the hodophiles of the world was to satiate their wanderlust by turning to their favourite search engine. While sitting comfortably on the couch with a cup of something warm and searching for their favourite travel locations can bring along a feeling of solace, it has left many yearning to see the world.

In an effort to identify the most popular tourist sites, tour company Kuoni recently conducted a study for which they analysed Google data for more than 230 landmarks all over the globe. From locations in Spain to Peru and even India, here are the famous landmarks the world wants to see in person.

The most famous landmarks in the world

Burj Khalifa, UAE

The pride of UAE and also the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa was found to be the most popular by a total of 66 countries according to Google data. Some of the countries that are searching for the Burj include India, Turkey, Indonesia, Singapore and a majority of those in Africa

Eiffel Tower, France

Originally a temporary monument, the beloved Eiffel Tower in Paris was supposed to stand for 20 years before being torn down. Now, it is a structure that wants to be visited by travellers from 29 countries including South Africa, Australia, China and Canada.

Machu Picchu, Peru

This Incan citadel lies more than 7,000ft above sea level and is the most visited location in all of Peru. On the wishlist of 19 countries including Spain, Mexico and Argentina, Machu Picchu and its panoramic view will surely have one awestruck.

Big Ben, UK

Situated at the north end of the Palace of Westminster stands Big Ben, which is the colloquial name for the Elizabeth Tower in London. It remains an evergreen landmark, with folks from a total of 11 countries such as Russia, France and Poland wanting to visit the tower that has a bell weighing 11,794 kg inside it!

Taj Mahal, India

The monument that is often referred to as the epitome of love was constructed in the 17th century by a famous Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his late wife Mumtaz Mahal. The serene landscape featuring the huge white marble monument makes it to the wishlist of travellers from 11 countries. These include Madagascar, Japan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Sweden and Iceland.

Pompeii, Italy

The perfect example of the beauty that lies in ruins, Pompeii is an archaeological site that was once a Roman city. Sitting at the base of Mount Vesuvius, this city was buried under pumice after the eruption of the volcano in 79 AD. Visitors from nine countries including The Philippines, Thailand and Libya want to experience seeing this monument in real life.

Alhambra, Spain

This Roman palace situated in Andalusia, Spain has many visitors each year and has made it to the wishlist of five countries such as Lithuania and the Czech Republic. The name translates to “the red one” which is due to the colour of the material with which it is built.

Notre Dame, France

Despite having been destroyed in a fire in 2019, this landmark remains on the bucket list of many across the globe. One of the world’s finest examples of French Gothic architecture, the Notre Dame in Paris is a Medieval catholic cathedral. The church, built on the ruins of two older churches, has captured hearts and secured its place on this list with people from four countries wanting to visit, including the USA and Brazil.

Stonehenge, UK

Located on the Salisbury Plain in the UK, Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument of naturally standing stones. It is said to be a part of a larger sacred landscape which was approximately 15 times the size of the current Stonehenge. Those from four countries around the world including Italy, Hungary and Greece want to visit this landmark the most.

Petra, Jordan

Capital of the Nabataean kingdom, Petra has earned its name of the ‘Rose City’ due to the pink sandstone that makes up all the temples and buildings on the site. Data suggests that countries such as Ghana and Bulgaria are particularly curious to see this landmark.

Great Wall of China, China

This series of fortifications were built on the northern border of old China to protect them against nomadic intrusions. Three countries including Papua New Guinea had voted to visit the masterpiece.

The study was conducted taking into consideration the Google search data from 176 countries across the world. Whilst travel restrictions still exist, there has been a 20% surge in online searches for these famous landmarks. This can only mean that the world is getting ready to travel again.

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