There are several reasons why people would want to travel to the different wonders of the world. The first one is pretty obvious. People want to travel to unique places where they can see the sights, experience the culture, go to certain events and learn more about the world. When traveling to a marvelous place, knowing what you have ahead of you and imagining the details are very exciting. While you are at your travel destination, the friction of wonder is no longer present, and you’re out to discover as many things as you can. When you travel to special places, it broadens your horizons regarding what goes on in the world today. You come away with being a more vibrant and interesting person. When you come home, there are tons of stories that you can tell your friends and family. Life can be very mundane if you allow it to be, but if you travel, your life can be full of excitement. Re-energize yourself and take a trip to the most infamous wonders of the world. We found at least 100 places that you could go. But we selected the top 15 that you just have to see before your life ends.

15. The Grand Canyon

Around 5 million people visit the Grand Canyon every year. With this much traffic, if you haven’t seen this amazing wonder, you should definitely put traveling there on your list. Looking at photographs of the Grand Canyon is amazing, but it doesn’t do the site justice. The Grand Canyon is a place that you have to see for yourself. Photographs can’t capture the Grand Canyon’s all amazing beauty. The Grand Canyon is the oldest National Park in the United States. The total size of the Grand Canyon is 1,217,403 acres. On top of that, the canyon is a mile deep and around 10 miles wide. This place isn’t just old; it’s ancient. Some of the rocks found there are around 2 billion years old. Not only does it have history but there are also over 4,800 archaeological sites. You can see some of the most amazing animals in the Grand Canyon like a mule deer and a great horned owl. The sunrises and sunsets are incredible.

14. Amazon Rain Forest

The Amazon Rain Forest is one of the most attractive tourist destinations. There are about ten reasons why you should visit the Amazon Rain Forest. The rivers are the largest freshwater reserves in the world. Visiting them is extremely impressive. If you like visiting animals, this is the best place to see them in their natural habitat. There are thousands of birds, fish and around 300 mammals. The best way to see the Amazon Rain Forest is through a local guide. They will show you the best of what the Amazon Rain Forest has to offer. People can visit the Riverside community and see how people live. At night and in the morning, the sunsets and sunrises are amazing. The rainforest is very peaceful and quiet. Depending on how you travel, the trip is adventurous. You can also go canoeing. You’ll never feel the same way about food as you will when visiting the rain forest. The food is out of this world. You’ll have the chance to taste Amazonian fish, mostly the tambaqui, which is the tastiest of all and of course, typical fruits like cupuaçu, taperebá, and ingá!

13. Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest and most extensive coral reef system in the world. It goes from Bundaberg in the south to beyond Cape York in the north and is an international icon. The size of the Great Barrier Reef is about 1,429.154 miles long. It has around 3000 coral reefs, 600 continental islands, 300 coral Cays and around 150 inshore mangrove islands. The Great Barrier Reef is around the same size as Japan, Germany, Malaysia, Italy or about half the size of Texas. It’s absolutely huge. Being that the Great Barrier Reef is enormous, it can even be seen from space. There are thousands of animals. You have 100+ species of jellyfish, 3,000 varieties of mollusks, 1,625 types of fish, 133 varieties of sharks and rays, and more than 30 species of whales and dolphins. This is the only place where you will see the majestic manta rays. Depending on what time of year you travel to the Great Barrier Reef, you can swim with dwarf minke whales. This experience is truly unforgettable. While snorkeling, you can see seven species of marine turtles in the crystal blue waters.

12. Jerusalem Old City

The Old City of Jerusalem is one of the tensest places in the world! It is the middle of the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian religions. This one-kilometer area in the center of Jerusalem is beyond words and cannot be missed. The Old City is home to the Western Wall (aka Wailing Wall and in Hebrew Kotel). This was a part of the Jewish Temple that is left, and now is the most sacred site in the world for Jews. If you look at the top of the Western Wall, you will see the Dome of the Rock which Muslims hold sacred. The Church of the Sepulcher is a few yards away, where some believe Jesus was crucified and buried. If you see the old city of Jerusalem, consider taking a guide with you. There is a half-day Old City tour or the Jerusalem day tour that will give you a sense of what the place is about. The Old City of Jerusalem is divided into four quarters: the Jewish Quarter, the Armenian Quarter, the Christian Quarter, and the Muslim Quarter. There are seven different gates you can go through to get into the city. The most demanding entry for tourists is the Jaffa Gate, which is next to the Tower of David Museum. This is where you get the history of Jerusalem within the Old City Walls. Each section has its own one-of-a-kind atmosphere and observations, sights, smells, and experiences.

11. Qin Terracotta Warriors

This museum of warriors is an absolute must-see that you should put on your list. The museum is located in West China. Due to the fact that it is an indoor attraction, you can visit this place any time during the year. Because it is so popular, it can also be extremely crowded. The worst time to go is between October 1st and the 7th and May 1st through the 3rd. There is a lot to see, so it is in your best interest to arrive early before the large tour buses arrive. If you don’t mind having a late lunch, this is a good time to visit parts of the museum. It’s best to take a private tour because the museum is packed with people and the tour guide knows how to escape the crowds. Another reason you want to get a guide to take you on a tour is because they don’t have signs in English. While there, visit the three pits. This is where the warriors are on display and you can also see the exhibition of the bronze chariots.

10. Colosseum, Rome

There is something different about visiting the Colosseum in Rome. It can be a love or hate kind of trip depending on when you travel there. While touring the Colosseum, the crowds can be overbearing, the weather can be harsh and the traffic of the city can leave you awestruck. Despite its disadvantages, there is no place in the world where you will see so many archaeological wonders in one place. This is one of the places that you can step back in time and see what ancient Rome was all about. Because the trip can be so overwhelming, you need some sort of plan. This is an oval shaped amphitheater which resides in the center of Rome. This is one of the largest amphitheaters that was ever built.

9. St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican

Up until recently, the St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City was the largest church ever built. It represents the most holy sacraments of Christianity. You can visit the Vatican by yourself or take a guided tour. There is the dome of St. Peter, which is as distinctive landmark to visit. You can visit the Vatican Museums where you will see the Sistine Chapel. There is no charge for admission accept a few parts, like the Vatican treasury. There are a few signs explaining what you are looking at, but to get the most out of your experience, you should consider getting a travel guide. When you go through the door, immediately off to the right is the information desk where you can rent an audio guide in various languages. If you pre-book a skip-the-line ticket, you can get an app to download on your cellphone. It can take pretty long depending on what type of service you have. If you want to climb to the top of the St. Peter’s dome, there is a price to do so. If you go into the St. Peter’s treasury, there are no photos allowed, but there is an admission charge for the tour. The Vatican Grottoes is a massive secretive cemetery or crypt which is below the Renaissance basilica and above Constantine’s 4th century basilica. The slender entry staircase down from within the basilica can’t really be seen so if it is important you ask for guidance at the information desk. It holds the tombs of scores of popes as well as kings and queens from the 10th century. The monuments to Paul VI (1978) and Pope John Paul II (2005) are also in the grottoes.

8. Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel houses the most famous rooms in the world. The paintings were all created by Michelangelo. He based his paintings on scenes from the Old Testament and they’re described as the most powerful visions of art ever created. Underneath are the wall’s frescoes, which were created  by an all-star lineup of 15th-century artists like Sandro Botticelli and Luca Signorelli. Sandro Botticelli and Luca Signorelli art pieces are right behind Michelangelo’s painting of The Last Judgment. The Sistine Chapel is where they have the most awe-inspiring collection of art that anybody can ever see. Depending on when you visit the Sistine Chapel, the crowds can be overwhelming. Michelangelo created his artwork in 1508. During that time period, Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, and Luca Signorelli were the most renowned artists of their time. The artwork isn’t actually a painting. it’s a fresco. A fresco is where the pigments are applied to damp plaster. When the artist began to create a piece, that section had to be done on the very same day.

7. Carlsbad Caverns National Park

One of the best things that there is at the Carlsbad Caverns National Park is that people are always discovering new things every day. It is one of the most traveled places in the country today. With over 116 known caverns to explore, you can either take a tour on your own or be guided by a professional. There is a lot to see so it can be a little difficult to figure out where to start. If you let a ranger give you a tour, your experience will be wonderful. They show you some of the least seen caverns. It’s best to reserve a guide ahead of time if you plan to visit this place. There are two self-guided trails that you can check out. The first is the Natural Entrance Trail which goes down about 79 stories from the beginning to the entrance of the Big Room. Then you have the Big Room trail. If you’re lucky, there are bat program tours at night. If you can’t hike your way down into the cave, they have elevators.

6. Stonehenge

If you visit England, you should definitely make a trip out to Stonehenge. It’s one of the oldest places in the world to see. The archaeological site takes you back in time to around 2,600 BC. It’s a world of magic. One of the best things to discover about Stonehenge is the mystery that surrounds it. Since no one knows how the stones were actually constructed together, the stones also have myths of healing powers. Recent research has also found that Stonehenge might be an ancient burial site. This background makes it interesting to see Stonehenge. The design is incredible, and it is said to be built between 3,000 BC and 2,500 BC. While there, you can explore the Visitors Center and exhibition. The Visitors Center has almost 300 exhibits of archaeological value. Everything was either found at the site or buried or used for its construction.

5. Pompeii

Once an active and popular town, Pompeii’s doom happened with the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Today, it’s one of the most visited archaeological spots in the world. The best way to visit Pompeii is to do it through some sort of guided tour. A nice thing about Pompeii is that it’s easy to get to. It doesn’t have visitor facilities and there is only one restaurant. It’s interesting to visit. You can walk through the streets of the city and see the destruction. Lots of the relics from Pompeii are located in the National Museum of Archaeology, because they were directly ordered to Naples in the 1700s by the Neapolitan king. If you’re into history or archaeology, you should absolutely take a look at the museum. It has the best art of Pompeii that still exists, which ranges from enormous statues and mosaics to intimate objects of everyday life.

4. The Leaning Tower of Pisa

In August 1174, builder Bonnano Pisano put a marble foundation sufficient enough to park about 16 automobiles. He started building the bell tower as a place of worship. The Romanesque Tower of Pisa has 14,000 tons of white marble and was completed 176 years later – but it leaned badly to one side. Due to the water underground, Bonnano was able to put the base of the building only about 10 feet down into the ground. When the first part of the tower was finished, the south side began to sink. The builders attempted to make it look better by putting columns and arches on the south side about an inch taller than those on the north side. However, when they reach the fourth story, they had to make the southern columns 2 inches taller than the northern ones. The tower just kept leaning to one side, and due to the circumstances, the construction of the building was halted.

3. Eiffel Tower

If you ever traveled to Paris, you must stop by to see the Eiffel Tower. It has beautiful lights. People in Paris call the Eiffel Tower “Our Iron Lady.” The Eiffel Tower was constructed in 1888 by the architect Gustave Eiffel. Once you gaze your eyes on this impressive structure, you will stand in awe by its greatness. It even brings tears to certain people’s eyes. While at the Eiffel Tower, you can begin a long climb up the stairs to the second floor. On the second floor, you can see the structure’s fantastic iron rods that put together this piece. While on the second floor, there is a panoramic view of Paris at your feet. When you are at the Eiffel Tower, there are many things you can do. The best time to visit the structure is at night, because of the gorgeous lights. If you’d like to try something different, you can sip a glass of champagne at the very top of the Eiffel Tower. There is also a restaurant on the first floor.

2. Pyramids of Giza

Getting to the Pyramids of Giza is not as difficult as it is traveling to other parts of the world. Getting to the Pyramids is very straightforward. You can hop on the bus in downtown Cairo and stop right near the Pyramids. You can go to the Egyptian Museum stop and brush up on the knowledge that you might find of the Nile Valley. When you get there, it’s probably in your best interest to hire a horse or a camel to get around. At the pyramids, you can see the burial sites and ancient settlements that lie beneath the sand. The Pyramids are the tallest man-made structure that you can find in the world that came before the modern skyscrapers. If you visit the pharaohs’ tombs, they are in amazing condition. Because there are threats of terrorism in the region, you can take advantage of rock-bottom prices for hotels.

1. Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is a magnificent piece of engineering from the past. It gives you direct access to the legendary emperors that lived in China long ago. The wall keeps China separate from the rest of the world. The wall is made of brick, stone, tampered earth and wood. It goes over the mountainsides of northern China. There are many ways to explore the Great Wall of China. You can take a bicycle along in sections, take a helicopter flight or spend the night by the wall in a boutique hotel. You can even sleep in the watchtower. Visitors have accessibility to cable cars and toboggan rides, which are good especially if you are traveling with children. Consider visiting the various tombs that you can find next to the wall.

Sources: listchallenges.com, telegraph.co.uk, jumalodge.com, australia.com, chinahighlights.com