50 iconic buildings around the world you need to see

From the Taj Mahal to Fallingwater, how many of these have you seen?

Contents

1. Hagia Sophia — Istanbul, Turkey 2. The Guggenheim — New York City, USA 3. Taj Mahal — Agra, India 4. Dancing House — Prague, Czech Republic 5. Château de Chenonceau — Chenonceaux, France 6. Niterói Contemporary Art Museum — Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 7. The Pyramids of Giza — Giza, Egypt 8. Acropolis of Athens — Athens, Greece 9. Le Centre Pompidou — Paris, France 10. The Gateway Arch — St. Louis, Missouri, USA 11. Musée d’Orsay — Paris, France 12. The Gherkin — London, U.K.13. Metropolitan Cathedral of Brasília — Brasília, Brazil 14. Mosque of Córdoba — Córdoba, Spain 15. Westminster Abbey — London, U.K.16. Dresden Frauenkirche — Dresden, Germany 17. Château Frontenac — Québec, Canada 18. The Colosseum — Rome, Italy 19. One World Trade Center — New York City, USA 20. The Lotus Temple — New Delhi, India 21. St. Basil’s Cathedral — Moscow, Russia 22. Dome of the Rock — Jerusalem, Israel 23. Casa Milà — Barcelona, Spain 24. The White House — Washington, D.C., USA 25. Forbidden City — Beijing, China 26. Sagrada Família — Barcelona, Spain 27. Lincoln Center — New York City, USA 28. The Shard — London, UK 29. Le Mont-Saint-Michel — Normandy, France 30. Bran Castle — Bran, Romania 31. Angkor Wat — Siem Reap, Cambodia 32. Sultan Ahmed Mosque — Istanbul, Turkey 33. Konark Sun Tower — Konark, India 34. Chrysler Building — New York City, USA 35. Sacré-Coeur — Paris, France 36. Potala Palace — Lhasa, Tibet, China 37. Musée du Louvre — Paris, France 38. Sydney Opera House — Sydney, Australia 39. Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao — Bilbao, Spain 40. Fallingwater — Mill Run, Pennsylvania, USA 41. The Pantheon — Rome, Italy 42. Space Needle — Seattle, Washington, USA 43. Villa Savoye — Poissy, France 44. House of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower — London, U.K.45. Burj Khalifa — Dubai, UAE 46. Leaning Tower of Pisa — Pisa, Italy 47. São Paulo Museum of Art — São Paulo, Brazil 48. The Flatiron Building — New York City, USA 49. The Sistine Chapel — Vatican City 50. Eiffel Tower — Paris, France

When it comes to learning about the history of a new destination, travelers should look no further than its iconic buildings. Of course, there are other ways to discover the local culture, which can be reflected in the food, the textiles, and the dialects, but it’s the buildings that can reveal the most about a place. Local landmarks are—in essence— silent witnesses to past eras, kingdoms, and tastes, but they can also offer us clues to what the future holds (not to mention make for a great travel gram, too).

Consider this lineup to be a travel bucket list of sorts. These buildings are renowned for various reasons—some for their architectural charm, others for their historical significance, and some for a healthy mix of both. A fair amount of them are well-known, of course: Think Europe’s museums, churches, and other landmarks whose replicas live on in souvenir shops and countless photos. There are also, of course, a decent number on this list designed by famous architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Oscar Niemeyer too. And while some of these edifices exist off the beaten path, they’re just as important in their own right. Here, ADrounds up iconic buildings from around the world that you’ll be glad you’ve seen when you look back on your travels. It’s been said that travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer, and we couldn’t agree more.