Currently, there are more than one thousand UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the world, and the list keeps growing. With so much to choose from, it can be overwhelming. We listed the eight places you should start with.

Austria: Historic Centre of Vienna

As the muse of classical music, Vienna is well known for its artistic roots. The architecture of the castles, churches, and gardens in the Historic Centre of Vienna demonstrate how the past shaped the musical city to what it is today.

Brazil: Amazon Conservation Complex

Protected for over nineteen years, the six million hectares of the Conservation Complex in the Amazon are home to a multitude of endangered species.

Turkey: Pergamon

This ancient site reflects the Greek, Roman, and local influences in Turkey. Located near the Aegean sea, this is the perfect place to tour and discover its theater, library, spas, multiple temples, and admire the diverse architecture of the ruins.

Related: Save Up To 40% On Turkey Tours

Canada: Pimachiowin Aki

This is one of the most recently appointed UNESCO site and home to the Anishinaabeg tribe. They maintain their culture and traditions alive by respecting all forms of life while also using the “Land that Gives Life” for sustenance.

Australia: Great Barrier Reef

Off the coast of Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef is home to the largest coral reef ecosystem in the world and thousands of different underwater species.

Croatia: Plitvice Lakes National Park

This site offers seven different routes to tour the lakes and four hiking trails. Although the main attractions in this reserve are the lakes, they make up less than 1% of the park.

Japan: Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto

Built in 794 A.D., the monuments are a representation of Japanese culture and traditional architecture. Ancient Kyoto is made up of seventeen different parts, all full of religious buildings, gardens, and one castle.

Related: Know when to visit Japan.

Mexico: Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve

In their 8-month long migration, Monarch butterflies travel from the reserve, located in Mexico, to Canada and back. During this journey, four generations born and die. Every autumn, the butterflies fill the branches of the trees until they bend from the weight.

These UNESCO Sites all offer a bit of history, adventure, and of course, the inspiration we need to explore what the world has to offer.