50 Iconic Buildings Around the World You Need to See Before You Die
Perhaps one of the greatest joys of traveling is drinking in the local culture. Its essence is all around: reflected in the food, the textiles, the dialects, and of course, the architecture. Each destination's local flair infuses itself into landmarks that have stood the test of time and serve to teach us about the past (and make for a great travel 'gram, too). It's been said that travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer, and we couldn't agree more.
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 iconic, of course: think Europe's museums, churches, and other landmarks whose replicas live on in souvenir shops and countless photos. Others on this list are more off the beaten path, but just as important in their own right. Here, AD rounds up architectural gems from around the world that you'll be glad you've seen when you look back on your travels.
1. Hagia Sophia — Istanbul, Turkey
View of Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
TURKEY - MAY 12: View of the Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya), Istanbul, Turkey, 6th century. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)
DEA / ARCHIVIO J. LANGE2. The Guggenheim — New York City, USA
An exterior view along Fifth Avenue May
An exterior view along Fifth Avenue May 14, 2009 of the Guggenheim Museum in New York as the museum marks its 50th anniversary with an exhibition "Frank Lloyd Wright: From Within Outward". The building itself was designed by Wright. AFP PHOTO/Stan Honda (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)
STAN HONDA3. Taj Mahal — Agra, India
Scenes of India
AGRA, INDIA - SEPTEMBER 30: The Taj Mahal is seen on September 30, 2010 in Agra, India. Completed in 1643, the mausoleum was built by th Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who is buried there alongside Jahan. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Julian Finney4. Dancing House — Prague, Czech Republic
Dancing House By Architect Frank Gehry, Prague, Czech Republic
Dancing House By Architect Frank Gehry, Prague, Czech Republic (Photo by: Insights/UIG via Getty Images)
Insights5. Château de Chenonceau — Chenonceaux, France
Chateau de Chenonceau and the Cher river. France
FRANCE - DECEMBER 13: View of Chateau de Chenonceau and the Cher river. France, 16th century, Loire Valley (UNESCO World Heritage List, 2000). France. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)
DEA / W. BUSS6. Niterói Contemporary Art Museum — Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
7. The Pyramids of Giza — Giza, Egypt
EGY: The Pyramids at Giza
GIZA, EGYPT - NOVEMBER 13: The three large pyramids of Menkaure (L), Khafre (C) and Khufu loom over the horizon November 13, 2004 at Giza, just outside Cairo, Egypt. The three large pyramids at Giza, built by King Khufu over a 30 year period around 2,550 B.C., are among Egypt's biggest tourist attractions. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Sean Gallup8. Acropolis of Athens — Athens, Greece
Olympic Features Day 13
ATHENS - AUGUST 26: The temple of Parthenon is pictured lit up at night atop the ancient Acropolis of Athens on August 26, during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)
Milos Bicanski9. Centre Georges Pompidou — Paris, France
Facade of a museum, Pompidou Center, Paris, France
UNSPECIFIED - JULY 24: Facade of a museum, Pompidou Center, Paris, France (Photo by DEA / C. SAPPA/De Agostini/Getty Images)
DEA / C. SAPPA10. The Gateway Arch — St. Louis, Missouri, USA
St. Louis Cityscapes And City Views
ST. LOUIS, MO - NOVEMBER 02: Gateway Arch, in St. Louis, Missouri on NOVEMBER 02, 2012. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Raymond Boyd11. Musée d'Orsay — Paris, France
Paris Seen From The Banks of the Seine River
PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 12: The Orsay museum is seen from a boat on the river Seine on October 12, 2016 in Paris, France. The city of Paris remains the a top tourist destination but the number of foreign visitors has fallen due to terrorism fears throughout Europe. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images)
Chesnot12. The Gherkin — London, UK
Tower 42's Bird Study Project 2011
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 08: 'The Gherkin' or 30 St Mary Axe stands near Tower 42, the City of London's tallest occupied building on April 8, 2011 in London, England. The group, led by David Lindo who is known as 'The Urban Birder,' have observed several rare birds in the Capital from the top of the 600ft tower. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)
Oli Scarff13. Notre-Dame Cathedral — Paris, France
Cathédrale Notre-Dame
Montage panoramique effectué à partir de 15 photographies de taille 3008 x 2000.Appareil : Nikon D50Objectif : SIGMA 28-200mm DG MACRORéglages :Vitesse : 1/800Ouverture : f/6.3Sensiilité : 200 ISOFocale : 55mm (équiv. 83mm)Balance des blancs : ensoleillement
Jérôme BLUM14. Mosque of Córdoba — Córdoba, Spain
Spain - Cordoba: columns at the mosque / cathedral Mezquita
(GERMANY OUT) Spain - Cordoba: columns at the mosque / cathedral Mezquita (Photo by Gerig/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
ullstein bild15. Westminster Abbey — London, UK
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey in London, England, circa 1965. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)
Archive Photos16. Dresden Frauenkirche — Dresden, Germany
Dresden 70 Years Since The Allied Firebombing
DRESDEN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 10: The Frauenkirche church, which was obliterated by the Allied firebombing of February 13-14, 1945 and rebuilt in 2005, stands at night in Neumarkt square on February 10, 2015 in Dresden, Germany. The city of Dresden will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the 1945 firebombing attack by British and American bombers that devastated the city and killed at least 25,000 people on February 13. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Sean Gallup17. Château Frontenac — Québec, Canada
![[UNVERIFIED CONTENT] The Ch?teau Frontenac in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada and one the famous landmark of Quebec City.](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/hq8YLTDJLN5ARttQkgNLRw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYzOQ--/https://media.zenfs.com/en-US/homerun/architectural_digest_422/70979ae22351de3e9868df247b4f5361)
Chateau Frontenac
[UNVERIFIED CONTENT] The Ch?teau Frontenac in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada and one the famous landmark of Quebec City.
Jayakumar Radhakrishnan#12619118. The Colosseum — Rome, Italy
The ancient Roman Colosseum is illuminat
The ancient Roman Colosseum is illuminated to mark World AIDS Day, 01 December 2007 in Rome. The World Health Organization who started World AIDS Day promotes awareness and focus on the global AIDS epidemic. AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI (Photo credit should read ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images)
ALBERTO PIZZOLI19. One World Trade Center — New York City, USA
One World Trade Center Deemed Tallest Building In North America
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 12: One World Trade Center towers over lower Manhattan on November 12, 2013 in New York City. The building was deemed the tallest building in North America today; the title was previously held by Willis Tower in Chicago (previously titled Sears Tower). (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
Andrew Burton20. The Lotus Temple — New Delhi, India
Temple lit up at dusk, Lotus Temple, New Delhi, India
Temple lit up at dusk, Lotus Temple, New Delhi, India. (Photo by: Exotica.im/UIG via Getty Images)
UniversalImagesGroup21. St. Basil’s Cathedral — Moscow, Russia
14th IAAF World Athletics Championships Moscow 2013 - Previews
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - AUGUST 06: A general view is seen of St Basil's Cathedral in Red Square ahead of the IAAF World Championships on August 6, 2013 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Mark Kolbe22. Dome of the Rock — Jerusalem, Israel
Dome Of The Rock
The Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel, October 1980. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)
Archive Photos23. Casa Milà — Barcelona, Spain
![[UNVERIFIED CONTENT] Casa Mil?, commonly known as La Pedrera is the largest civil building designed by Antoni Gaud?. The apartment block was constructed between 1906 and 1910. It was Gaud?'s last work before devoting himself to the construction of the Sagrada Fam?lia. It is located on Passeig de Gr?cia in the Eixample district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/nnhEqzgNhAtLgrC5hAAWgg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYzOA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en-US/homerun/architectural_digest_422/cd31f37a7746af841af7d62ca2c69419)
La Pedrera
[UNVERIFIED CONTENT] Casa Mil?, commonly known as La Pedrera is the largest civil building designed by Antoni Gaud?. The apartment block was constructed between 1906 and 1910. It was Gaud?'s last work before devoting himself to the construction of the Sagrada Fam?lia. It is located on Passeig de Gr?cia in the Eixample district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Michelle McMahon#8602624. The White House — Washington, D.C., USA
Magazine Reveals Identity Of Watergate's "Deep Throat"
WASHINGTON - MAY 31: The exterior view of the south side of the White House is seen May 31, 2005 in Washington, DC. Vanity Fair Magazine reported that former FBI official W. Mark Felt claimed himself was ?Deep Throat,? the anonymous source who provided information to Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward?s famous Watergate investigation report that led to the former President Richard Nixon's resignation. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Alex Wong25. Forbidden City — Beijing, China
Forbidden City In Beijing
Forbidden City in Beijing. About 2000. (Photo by Imagno/Getty Images) .
JK26. Sagrada Familía — Barcelona, Spain
27. Lincoln Center — New York City, USA
28. The Shard — London, UK
Aerial Views Of The Shard
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: An aerial view of the Shard on June 28, 2012 in London, England. Standing at 309.6 metres high the Shard is the tallest buliding in Europe and was designed by architect Renzo Piano. (Photo by Greg Fonne/Getty Images)
Greg Fonne29. Le Mont-Saint-Michel — Normandy, France
Assorted Location Shoots
The tidal island of Mont Saint-Michel on the Normandy coast at sunrise, taken on October 15, 2011. (Photo by Jeff Morgan/PhotoPlus Magazine via Getty Images)
PhotoPlus Magazine30. Bran Castle — Bran, Romania
Dracula's Castle Up For Sale
BRASOV, ROMANIA - JUNE 23, 2005: Bran Castle is being offered for sale to the Brasov County Council by the U.S.-based owner, Dominic von Habsburg who is a descendant of the Romanian royal family June 23, 2005 in Brasov, Romania. The castle built by the Teutonic knights in 1212 was used briefly by Romanian ruler Vlad the Impaler who was partly the inspiration for Bram Stoker's novel Dracula. Passed through royal hands for many generations the castle was the principal home of Queen Marie whose grandson Dominic von Habsburg had the castle returned only in May of 2006 by the Romanian governmen. In preparation for Romania joining to the European Union the government has been handing back assets seized during communist rule. The castle is reported to be worth $25-million (USD) (Photo by Wojtek Laski/Getty Images)
Laski Diffusion - Wojtek Laski31. Angkor Wat — Siem Reap, Cambodia
An aerial view of the Angkor Wat temple
Siem Reap, CAMBODIA: An aerial view of the Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province some 314 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh, 02 March 2007. Angkor is at the very heart of Cambodia's identity, and with nearly two million tourists coming to the country in 2006 -- more than half of those visiting Angkor -- it is recognising the need to keep these precious ruins intact. Some 500 years after a failing irrigation system forced Angkor's rulers to abandon the sprawling Khmer capital, a lack of water is again threatening Cambodia's most famous temple complex. AFP PHOTO/ TANG CHHIN SOTHY (Photo credit should read TANG CHHIN SOTHY/AFP/Getty Images)
TANG CHHIN SOTHY32. Sultan Ahmed Mosque — Istanbul, Turkey
TOPSHOT-TURKEY-BLAST
TOPSHOT - A bird flies over the Blue Mosque after a blast in Istanbul's tourist hub of Sultanahmet on January 12, 2016. At least 10 people were killed and 15 wounded in a suspected terrorist attack in the main tourist hub of Turkey's largest city Istanbul, officials said. A powerful blast rocked the Sultanahmet neighbourhood which is home to Istanbul's biggest concentration of monuments and and is visited by tens of thousands of tourists every day. / AFP / BULENT KILIC (Photo credit should read BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)
BULENT KILIC33. Konark Sun Tower — Konark, India
INDIA-ART-ARCHITECTURE
Tourists visits the Konark Sun temple in Konark, in eastern Orissa state on December 12, 2014. The Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century Sun Temple built by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty around 1250. The temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been built in the shape of a gigantic chariot with elaborately carved stone wheels, pillars and walls and a major part of the structure is now in ruins. AFP PHOTO/ Prakash SINGH (Photo credit should read PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images)
PRAKASH SINGH34. Chrysler Building — New York City, USA
Chrysler Building Celebrates 75th Anniversary
NEW YORK - MAY 27: The Chrysler Building is seen from the roof of the Met Life building as the press were given a tour to mark the 75th Anniversary of the New York Landmark May 27, 2005 in New York City. The Art Deco building is now owned by Tishman Speyer Properties and was opened on May 27, 1930. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Mario Tama35. Sacré-Cœur — Paris, France
Sacre-Coeur
circa 1970: The Cathedral of Sacre-Coeur at Montmartre. (Photo by L. V. Clark/Fox Photos/Getty Images)
L. V. Clark36. Potala Palace — Lhasa, Tibet, China
Potala Palace In Lhasa
LHASA - CHINA - MARCH 20: (CHINA OUT) A view of the Potala Palace on March 20, 2009 in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region. (Photo by Yin Shichang/VCG via Getty Images)
VCG37. Musée du Louvre — Paris, France
Da Vinci Code Locations
PARIS - AUGUST 24: The Pyramide of the Louvre museum designed by I.M. Pei is seen on August 24, 2005 in Paris, France. Dan Brown is the author of numerous bestsellers, including Digital Fortress, Angels and Demons, and Deception Point. His acclaimed novel "The Da Vinci Code"has become one of the most widely read books of all time. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Pascal Le Segretain38. Sydney Opera House — Sydney, Australia
"Stations Of The Cross" Re-Enacted Across Sydney For World Youth Day 08
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 18: The Cross is transported to the Opera House by boat along Sydney Harbour with thousands of fans gathering along the shores to catch a glimpse. Actors including Alfio Stuto (Jesus) and Marina Dixon (Mary) re-enact scenes including Jesus before Pilate, Jesus being scourged and crowned with thorns and Jesus taking up His cross at Location 4 of 'Stations of the Cross', a travelling dramatised re-enactment of the last days of Jesus' life acted across seven CBD locations, at Sydney Opera House on July 18, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. Organised every two to three years by the Catholic Church, World Youth Day (WYD) is an invitation from the Pope to the youth of the world to celebrate their faith. The celebration, being held in Sydney from July 15 to July 20, 2008, will mark the first visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to Australia. (Photo by Gaye Gerard/Getty Images)
Gaye Gerard39. Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao — Bilbao, Spain
Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain
SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 22: Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum, The Spider sculpture, Iberdrola Tower and River Nervion at Bilbao, Spain (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)
Tim Graham40. Fallingwater — Mill Run, Pennsylvania, USA
Exterior of Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright
Exterior of Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright (Photo by © Richard A. Cooke/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
Richard A. Cooke III41. The Pantheon — Rome, Italy
Exterior View Of The Pantheon. Originally Built In The Reign Of Augustus, Rebuilt Under Hadrian. Ded Artist: Werner Forman.
Exterior view of the Pantheon, Rome. Originally built in the reign of Augustus, rebuilt under Hadrian. Dedicated to all the gods, this temple has a soaring dome which rises to a height of 142 feet. Country of Origin: Italy. Culture: Roman. Credit Line:. (Photo by Werner Forman Archive/Heritage Images/Getty Images)
Heritage Images42. Space Needle — Seattle, Washington, USA
A general view of the Space Needle
SEATTLE - MAY 5: A general view of the Space Needle in Seattle, Wahington during the MLB game between Blue Jays and the Mariners at Safeco Field on May 5, 2001. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images)
Otto Greule Jr43. Villa Savoye — Poissy, France
44. Houses of Parliament — London, UK
Big Ben Clock Tower
LONDON - OCTOBER 13: View of Big Ben, Westminster Palace and Westminster Bridge across the River Thames from the Millennium Bridge on October 13, 2016 in London, Great Britain, United Kingdom. (Photo by Waring Abbott/Getty Images)
Waring Abbott45. Burj Khalifa — Dubai, UAE
Burj Hotel Dubai Nears Completion
DUBAI, UAE - SEPTEMBER 23: EXCLUSIVE Aerial image of the Burj Dubai taken on 23rd September 2009. The Burj Dubai is currently 818m tall and 162 floors. Towering above the Dubai skyline, the world's tallest man-made construction edges closer to completion. Consisting of 162 floors and two below ground, The Burj Dubai building has cost an estimated US$1 billion. With construction work beginning in September 2004, the official opening of the building has yet to be confirmed though it is expected in the coming months. Including the first Armani Hotel to open, the tower will include 800 private apartments and an observatory 442 metres above the ground on the 124th floor - the highest publicly observation desk in the world. Estimated to exceed 700 m the official height of the tower is yet to be confirmed however the tip of the spire can be seen from 60 miles away. In addition to the tower itself, the Downtown Burj Dubai development, which includes The Dubai Mall - the world largest shopping mall and the Burj Dubai Lake Hotel will cost a reported US$20 million to build. (Photo by Chopper Shoot LLC / Barcroft Media / Getty Images)
Barcroft46. Leaning Tower of Pisa — Pisa, Italy
47. São Paulo Museum of Art — São Paulo, Brazil
48. The Flatiron Building — New York City, USA
Bravo And The Museum Of Broken Relationships Present: The EX-hibition
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 16: A view of the Flatiron Building and the Flatiron Plaza on July 16, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)
Noam Galai49. The Sistine Chapel — Vatican City
Pope Celebrates Baptisms In The Sistine Chapel
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - JANUARY 13: A general view as Pope Benedict XVI celebrates baptisms in the Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, January 13, 2008 in Vatican City. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
Franco Origlia50. Eiffel Tower — Paris, France
Earth Hour In Paris
PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 31: The Eiffel Tower is seen before the lights are switched off for Earth Hour 2012, on March 31, 2012 in Paris, France. According to organisers the biggest ever Earth Hour has participants including individuals, companies and landmarks in 147 countries and over 5,000 cities, agreeing to switch off their lights for one hour at 8:30pm. The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Big Ben Clock Tower in London, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro and the Empire State Building in New York are among the monuments whose operators have agreed to participate in the demonstration. (Photo by Antoine Antoniol/Getty Images)
Antoine Antoniol
