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The World’s Most Beautiful Places
The 44 most beautiful places in the world, according to travellers who’ve seen them all
From Vietnam’s Hà Giang loops and Hội An Ancient Town, from China’s rainbow mountains to a high Baroque cathedral in Malta, these destinations are some of the most beautiful you’ll find on Earth | Time Out | Friday 28 March 2025
01. Komodo National Park, Indonesia
02. Victoria Falls, Africa
03. Punakha Valley, Bhutan
04. St John’s Co-Cathedral, Malta
05. Disko Island, Greenland
06. Brecon Beacons, Wales
07. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, USA
08. Choquequirao, Peru
09. New Forest, England
10. Hà Giang, Vietnam
A border province and official Frontier Area, Ha Giang lies in the remote far northern region of the country. To visit this province is to journey back in time and encounter some of Vietnam’s most rugged and grand landscapes. Ha Giang is best experienced as a road trip on two wheels, soaking up the majesty of the landscape and the atmosphere of the remote towns and minority villages.
11. Lakeland, Finland
12. Lillafüred, Hungary
13. West Cork, Ireland
14. Altiplano, Bolivia
15. Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi
16. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
17. Highlands, Scotland
18. Dakhla, Western Sahara
19. Kotor Bay, Montenegro
20. Zhangye National Geopark, China
21. Storms River, South Africa
22. Elephant Rock, Iceland
The day I saw the Elephant Rock (or should I say, the day I pulled up right in front of it during a terrifying speedboat ride), I wasn’t expecting to see it. That’s probably partly what made it so magical, at least for me – though I’ve heard people have travelled across the world just to see it and burst into tears as soon as they saw it. The Elephant Rock is just that, an elephant-shaped rock rising from the sea in Iceland’s Westman Islands archipelago. But there’s something hauntingly beautiful about it, complete with an almighty body, eyes and sturdy trunk, as if it’s drinking from the sea that created it.
Time Out tip: Fancy seeing the Elephant Rock up close? Combine your city break in Reykjavik with a trip to the Westman Islands – it’s a three-hour drive and a 40-minute ferry from the city centre, and there’s plenty of lodgings to stay overnight.Ella DoyleGuides Editor
23. Bacalar Lagoon, Mexico
I hadn’t heard of Bacalar Lagoon until a friend of mine (who had a family member living in Mexico) told me it was an absolute must on our itinerary, and I’ve never been so grateful for a recommendation. It’s tucked away right next to the Belizean border in Mexico’s resort-filled Quintana Roo state, but feels worlds away from the sunbed-lined beaches of Cancun and Tulum. Instead, this vast expanse of gleaming turquoise water (which is 60km long, and 2km across at its widest) is a peaceful, slow-paced patch of outstanding nature. The water varies in depth, meaning it produces a spectrum of blue (it’s known locally as the ‘lagoon of seven colours’), from pale aquamarine to deep teal. Along the shores of the town of Bacalar, little wooden jetties jut out into the lagoon, where you can lie in the sun, stretched out on a beach towel, listening to the water gently lap at its posts.
Time Out tip: You can’t fully appreciate the lagoon without heading out on a boat. Go for a stroll through Bacalar’s central Zócalo and you’ll find tour guides dotted around – we booked with Laguna Adventures for a day-long yacht trip and spent the afternoon bobbing around in the sun with beers, crisps and tropical fruit on offer, as well as plenty of stops for swimming.Liv KellyWriter, Time Out Travel
24. Stelvio National Park, Italy
Visit Stelvio National Park in the Italian Alps in any season and each time will feel like new. In the summer, its lower valleys are coated in green meadowy pastures, pink and yellow flora and friendly mountain cows. It’s the perfect time for hiking, but come prepared with comfy boots (and walking sticks, if you’re a beginner). Come winter, it’s nothing short of a wonderland, especially for skiers who brave the frigid, below-zero temperatures to glide down Stelvio’s contours. No matter when you visit, the massive Forni glacier looms overhead.
Time Out tip: Rifugio Branco stands 2493 metres above sea level on the southeast border of Stelvio, and is a great stopping point to rest and savour local cuisine like pizzoccheri – the region’s most popular pasta dish. The picturesque view of the Forni glacier across the park isn’t bad either.Daniela ToporekContributing writer
25. Lord Howe Island, Australia
26. Janjske Otoke, Bosnia and Herzegovina
27. Erg Chebbi, Morocco
28. Big Sur, USA
29. Three Whale Rock, Thailand
30. Paradise Bay, Antarctica
31. Milford Sound, New Zealand
32. Koh Rong Samloem, Cambodia
33. Ella, Sri Lanka
34. Maria Island National Park, Tasmania
35. Ocho Rios Blue Hole, Jamaica
36. Puglia, Italy
37. Cavendish Beach, Canada
38. Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
39. Kinkaku-ji, Japan
40. Registan Square, Uzbekistan
41. Savannah, USA
42. Jaipur, India
43. Hormuz Island, Iran
44. Hoi An, Vietnam
Hoi An is a place where the bold march of progress peters into a leisurely amble. In this one-time trading port, the Thu Bon River meanders past crumbling shop houses and weathered pagodas, while sampans come and go from the old ferry quay. Outside the Old Town, two-lane roads slice through waving rice fields and emerge at a frothy coastline. Stay a couple of days, and Hoi An’s easygoing beauty and lantern-lit nights may leave you hopelessly beguiled. Your journey to Hoi An awaits! Check out these Hoi An explorations to prepare for your upcoming trip!
Time Out | The world’s most beautiful places
The lantern, brought by Chinese and Japanese merchants when they came to Hoi An to trade and settle in the late 14th century, is one of Hoi An’s most famous symbols.The traditional lantern crafting in Hoi An has been lasting for over 400 years until today.
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