NEEDHAM, MASS. - TripAdvisor announced the winners of its Travelers' Choice awards for Landmarks. Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for landmarks worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period. This year's awards recognized 759 landmarks across 68 countries and eight regions across the globe.
"For travelers thinking about anchoring their trips with a visit to an iconic site, there's no better starting point than the list of Travelers' Choice award winners," said Brooke Ferencsik, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor. "With awe-inspiring temples, poignant memorials and breath-taking examples of architectural innovation, there's a wide variety of options to inspire those looking for culturally enriching experiences."
TripAdvisor has also identified highly rated tours and experiences at these award-winning landmarks. TripAdvisor is home to more than 100,000 bookable tours, activities and experiences worldwide to help travelers unleash the full potential of their trips.
Top 10 Landmarks in the World
- Angkor Wat – Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Plaza de Espana – Seville, Spain
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- St. Peter's Basilica – Vatican City, Italy
- Mezquita Cathedral de Cordoba – Cordoba, Spain
- Taj Mahal – Agra, India
- Duomo di Milano – Milan, Italy
- Alcatraz Island – San Francisco, California
- Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco, California
- Parliament – Budapest, Hungary
Top 25 Landmarks — Europe
- Plaza de Espana, Seville, Spain
- St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Italy
- Mezquita Cathedral de Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
- Duomo di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Parliament, Budapest, Hungary
- Old Town Square, Prague, Czech Republic
- Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France
- Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
- Tower of London, London, United Kingdom
- Acropolis, Athens, Greece
- Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
- Pantheon, Rome, Italy
- Tower Bridge, London, United Kingdom
- Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium
- Main Market Square, Krakow, Poland
- Anne Frank House, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic
- Reichstag Building, Berlin, Germany
- Basilica du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre, Paris, France
- Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
- Ponte de Dom Luis I, Porto, Portugal
- Big Ben, London, United Kingdom
- Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany
- Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin, Ireland
Top 10 Landmarks in the U.S
- Alcatraz Island – San Francisco, California
- Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco, California
- Lincoln Memorial – Washington, D.C.
- Grand Central Terminal – New York City, New York
- USS Arizona Memorial – Honolulu, Hawaii
- Empire State Building – New York City, New York
- Statue of Liberty – New York City, New York
- Brooklyn Bridge – New York City, New York
- Biltmore Estate – Asheville, North Carolina
- Cloud Gate – Chicago, Illinois
This popular stainless steel structure in Millennium Park, affectionately known as "the Bean," has become a Chicago icon. "It's one of the most recognizable pieces of public art. Something about this huge silver bean just makes you feel like a kid. It's fun not only to look at, but to touch, take pictures and people watch," noted a TripAdvisor reviewer.