Travel Tuesday: Top landmarks to visit in 2016
This post is sponsored by TripAdvisor
When is a vacation more than a vacation? When it’s educational, historical and cultural — as well as a fun getaway.
Whether you visit a national park or important landmark around the world, there’s so much exploring to do on this planet.
Here are some of our favorite historical landmarks to visit on your next vacation, inspired by TripAdvisor’s recent Travelers’ Choice rankings.
Ready to start exploring? Be sure to check out TripAdvisor where you’ll find reviews, questions and answers from your fellow travelers, and be able to book your trip.
This large religious monument is ranked TripAdvisor’s No. 1 landmark in the world, and it’s no wonder. Travelers can visit this 12-century Hindu temple (later converted into a Buddhist temple), tucked inside the protection of a large moat. Angkor Wat is one of the most famous images of Cambodia and a must-see on every savvy traveler’s bucket list. Find the best hotels in Cambodia at TripAdvisor.com,
If you’re looking for a jaw-dropping landmark in Europe, head to Rome. The entire city is full of historical and religious sites to explore, but one of our favorites is St. Peter’s Basilica. Even if you’re not religious, you will be amazed to see the famous artwork that lives in and around this church. And the bird’s-eye view of Rome from the top of the church is postcard worthy.
The Appia Antica hotel in Rome is consistently ranked one of the best (if not the best) in the city. Appia Antica Resort, TripAdvisor.com
3. Cristo Redentor statue, Brazil:
Although many of TripAdvisor’s top landmarks (such as the Eiffel Tower, Machu Picchu and the Lincoln Memorial) are famous, even among the less traveled, there are a handful you may not have heard of before. Take the Cristo Redentor statue in Brazil. You may recognize the pictures — this status perches 2,300 feet above the city on a mountain — but you can learn all about the history of this Wonder of the World when you visit Brazil. Tip: Make sure you witness it both during daylight and at night, when it appears to glow and float above the earth.
Find safe and quality lodging by researching hotels through TripAdvisor’s website and reading other travelers’ reviews. The Babilonia Rio Hostel lands in the top three specialty hotels in Rio de Janeiro (and the price point is great for even budget travelers). Babilonia Rio Hostel, TripAdvisor.com
4. Alcatraz, San Francisco, Calif:
You don’t have to leave the country to get a good taste of history and excitement. Alcatraz, a former max-security prison on an island off the San Francisco shoreline, was named one of TripAdvisor’s top-10 landmarks for 2016.
Today, the prison is no longer occupied, but visitors can tour the grounds, hear the stories and imagine what it felt like to work — or stay — there, with the likes of Al Capone and George Kelly. Book your hotel in San Francisco through TripAdvisor.com