The 22 Most Beautiful Places in the World

All of the Greek islands are undeniably beautiful, but head to the hillside town of Oia for some of the best views of the bright blue Aegean Sea.

While Japan is beautiful year-round, the few weeks each spring when cherry trees across the country explode with blossoms is a particularly pretty time to visit.

Located at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, Marrakesh has changed little since the Middle Ages. You could spend days here wandering around maze-like alleyways discovering the city's colourful souks, palaces and gardens.

With turquoise lagoons, coral reefs and overwater bungalows, this small island in the South Pacific is basically heaven on Earth.

Most travellers head to North India for its Mughal palaces and forts, but the Southern state of Tamil Nadu is where most of the country's major Hindu temples are found, including the brightly-coloured Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple seen here and the Meenakshi Temple Complex, which is so large it's considered a mini-city.

If you're looking to get off the grid, head to Chile's Patagonia region for some of the most beautiful mountain views you'll ever see.

Located in the centre of Beijing, the Forbidden City was the imperial palace of China's emperors for five centuries and is one of the most beautifully preserved examples of ancient Chinese architecture.

There are so many beautiful places in Italy it's hard to pick just one—but the Amalfi Coast's idyllic hillside towns, like Positano, bump it to the top of our must-see list.

Located on southern Thailand's west coast, this province's coastline is dotted with limestone cliffs and hundreds of islands just offshore in the Andaman Sea, making it one of the world's most popular beach vacation destinations.

Each year starting in the end of November and peaking in early December, fields of bright purple Russell Lupins bloom across New Zealand's South Island. One of the most beautiful spots to go Lupin-spotting is in Fiordland National Park, home to the equally gorgeous Milford Sound.

This ancient city in central Myanmar is made up of thousands (yes, thousands) of Buddhist temples and pagodas. One of the prettiest views is from above—we recommend going for a hot air balloon ride at sunrise.

Before you can swim in these beautiful blue-green waters located near Grand Canyon National Park, you have to hike ten miles to get there. Trust us, it's totally worth the trek.

With 82 domes and enough room to accommodate 40,000 worshippers, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is not only one of the largest mosques in the world but also one of the most beautiful with a marble courtyard featuring mosaics of flowers native to the Middle East.

Situated on a series of hills over the Tagus River, Portugal's scenic capital is brimming with magnificent views, pastel-coloured buildings and charming yellow streetcars.

While the rest of the world descends upon Rio for the Olympics, head to this remote volcanic archipelago (located about 200 miles off Brazil's coast) that is famous for pristine white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters filled with sea turtles and dolphins.

Legend has is that after St. Basil's Cathedral was completed in the 16th century, Ivan the Terrible had the architect blinded to prevent him from creating anything as stunning ever again.

Located southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon gets its trademark color from the silica-rich waters that feed it. And it isn't just pretty—the geothermal water is great for your skin too.

Located in Namibia's coastal desert, the remote Sossusvlei region is home to the world's tallest sand dunes including one that is nearly a quarter-mile high.

It's hard not to fall in love with a city like Paris. Every arrondissement is full of postcard-worthy architecture, idyllic city parks seem to outnumber the people...and the food! Even that's beautiful—macarons, anyone?

While Jaipur is known as the "Pink City" for the trademark color of its buildings, Hawa Mahal, which translates to Palace of the Winds, is one of the most beautiful examples of the city's rosy-hued architecture.

We couldn't help adding our hometown to this list. While New York is undeniably noisy and crowded, don't knock it until you've watched the sunset over the Manhattan skyline–which is just plain beautiful.

From: Harper's Bazaar