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Tripadvisor ranking

And the top attraction in the world is…

When you think of Peru, you immediately associate it with the legendary Inca city of Machu Picchu.
When you think of Peru, you immediately associate it with the legendary Inca city of Machu Picchu. The Incas started building the "estate" around AD 1400 but abandoned it as an official site for Inca rulers a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Although known locally, it was unknown to the outside world before being brought to international attention in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. Since then, Machu Picchu has become an important tourist attraction. Since the site was never known to the Spanish during their conquest, it is highly significant as a relatively intact cultural site. Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. In 2007, Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a worldwide Internet poll. Photo: Getty Images

September 16, 2024, 6:44 am | Read time: 3 minutes

The ranking that Tripadvisor has now published is somewhat surprising at first glance: you won’t find the Eiffel Tower in Paris in the top ten most popular attractions in the world, but you will find a few surprises. Here is, how the ranking can be explained and the top three attractions worldwide.

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Almost every major city and some regions worldwide have at least one sight from all their attractions that is so inextricably linked to the cityscape or townscape that it has become a landmark over time. And holidaymakers visiting a place for the first time inevitably make a pilgrimage to these very landmarks. Even if it’s just to be able to say at some point, “I’ve been there before.”

However, which of these landmarks are particularly popular worldwide is not only measured by the number of visitors. It is also measured by how they perceive the place and how much (or little) they are impressed by it. It is precisely this combination of the number and quality of reviews on Tripadvisor that was taken into account in the ranking of the most popular attractions worldwide for 2016.

The Travelers’ Choice Awards were explicitly awarded to landmarks. Top attractions only include buildings and not other attractions such as theme parks or similar. Nevertheless, the rankings have a few surprises in store.

The top attractions worldwide

1st place: Machu Picchu, Peru

When you think of Peru, you immediately associate it with the legendary Inca city of Machu Picchu. The well-preserved terraced ruins at an altitude of more than 2000 meters are one of the most popular sights in the whole of South America and the number one of the top attractions worldwide. Unfortunately, this has a negative impact on the environment in the region. But despite around 2000 visitors a day, Machu Picchu is the most popular landmark in the world. This was shown in the numerous positive reviews on Tripadvisor. One user writes: “Yes there are a lot of tourists here, you should know that when you come here, but it’s also one of those places you should see once.” Another raves: “Of course, we had read a lot about the sacred mountain of the Incas beforehand, but the reality simply surpasses everything.”

2nd place: Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates is not necessarily one of the most visited destinations in the world – but in terms of the number of positive reviews on Tripadvisor, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the capital’s landmark, is the second of the most popular attractions worldwide. The magnificent white sacred building has space for up to 40,000 worshipers. It impresses inside with its marble, gold leaf, and hand-knotted carpets. One visitor writes, “Really impressive! We were there in the evening, and the splendor is simply fascinating. This mosque shines out at you from afar. You can’t describe the atmosphere – you have to see it!”

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3rd place: Angkor Wat, Cambodia

The Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap, Cambodia, ranks third in Tripadvisor’s rankings of the world’s most popular attractions. As absurd as it may sound, the charm of the buildings also lies in their decay. The decay is caused by the effects of weather, vegetation, and human destruction. For example, thick tree roots snake around the walls of the Ta Prohm temple, which has become the most photographed place in Angkor Wat. One traveler writes on Tripadvisor: “A must-see for any traveler. The complex leaves you speechless.”

Also interesting: The 12 most underrated travel destinations in the world

The original version of this article was published in 2016.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TRAVELBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@travelbook.de.

Topics Peru
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