From jaw-dropping natural wonders to stunning man-made structures and everything in between, our world is jam-packed with gorgeous sights everywhere you look. Whether it's canyons, waterfalls and mountains or quaint towns, impressive buildings and historic cities, there's plenty on the planet to please the eye. Join us on an armchair tour of the world's 103 most beautiful places.

Click through the gallery to discover the most gorgeous sights on Earth...

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is one of Kyoto's most enchanting spots and it's easy to see why. The lush green stalks of bamboo rise tall, filtering the light from above and creating a magical atmosphere down below. Part of the Arashiyama district on the western outskirts of Kyoto, it's a nationally designated Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty alongside the Moon Crossing Bridge, Tenryu-ji temple and the hamlet of Kiyotaki.

Far-flung Easter Island – one of the most remote inhabited islands on Earth – is a remarkable place, made even more so by its mysterious moai. These giant stone-carved heads and torsos stand stoically on sites around the volcanic island. It's widely thought, but not known for certain, that they were carved by the Rapa Nui people between the 11th and 14th centuries.

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It's not surprising the subtropical forests, deep ravines and towering sandstone buttes of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park served as the inspiration for the film Avatar. The place most definitely resembles a lost world. This ethereal spot is part of the vast UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area in central China’s Hunan Province, and is home to rare species such as the ginkgo tree as well as unusual primates and birds.

A mesmerising swirl of bright white silica sand and striking azure waters located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays certainly look like paradise on Earth. It’s not hard to see why the 4.3-mile-long (7km) Whitehaven Beach, captured from above in this stunning shot, has been showered with awards and typically attracts visitors from all over the world.

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The Galápagos is an isolated group of islands 605 miles (974km) off the west coast of Ecuador. Famous for being the place that inspired naturalist Charles Darwin’s work On the Origin of the Species, the diversity of wildlife here is mind-blowing. The Galápagos is home to over 300 different reptile species and birds such as the blue-footed booby, with 50% of the world’s breeding pairs living here.

One of the world's most alluring buildings and India's most famous monument, the white marble mausoleum has become symbolic of enduring love. It was built in the 1630s by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. An exquisite example of Islamic architecture, it took about 22 years to complete with a workforce of around 20,000 people.

One of the world's most famous waterways, Venice’s Grand Canal snakes through the heart of the famous floating city. At just over two miles long (3km), the Grand Canal is the main artery of Venice and flows past some of the city’s most famous landmarks. This view, captured from the Ponte dell'Accademia, is undeniably one of the most stunning cityscapes in the world.

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Stretching 249 miles (400km) from Torquay to Nelson along Australia's southern coast, the Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s most spectacular drives. Hugging the dramatic Victoria coastline, the road passes by forests, rocky seashore platforms, wild surf beaches and towering cliffs with soaring views of the Southern Ocean-lashed coast and famous rock formations Twelve Apostles and London Arch.

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Mont-Saint-Michel is a tiny tidal island crowned by a medieval abbey and set in an incredible bay straddling Normandy and Brittany. One of Europe's most unforgettable sights, it's only accessible during low tide. The fairy-tale abbey is mesmerising any time of day, but when the sunset paints it a pastel pink, it's at its most charming.

High on many travellers' wish lists, Mount Denali is North America’s tallest peak, rising a dizzying 20,310 feet (6,190m) above sea level. Located in south-central Alaska, the native Koyukon Athabascan people named it Denali, which translates as The Great One. However, in 1896, a gold prospector decided to name the mountain after then-presidential nominee William McKinley, spurring a naming dispute which lasted more than a century. After a 40-year stint of officially being called Mount McKinley, the name was changed back to Denali in 2015.

It might be called a palace, but Pena Palace is in fact a castle, and few are so heart-flutteringly pretty. Its butter-yellow turrets and brick-red towers rise above the treetops in hilly Sintra, just outside Lisbon. The multicoloured beauty, an example of 19th-century Romantic architecture, was commissioned by King Ferdinand II and completed in 1854, and has been home to Portuguese royals through the years.

Few sights rival that of the sunrise over Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple, with Mount Merapi in the distance. Yet there is a dark history behind the serene image: Merapi is volcanic, and many scientists now believe that eruptions and earthquakes between 928 and 1006 led monks to abandon Borobudur. The Mataram Kingdom erected the temple in around AD 824, which means it enjoyed barely 200 years of use before the forest reclaimed it. The temple was brought to the West's attention by British and Dutch explorers in 1814.

Greece is so blessed with natural and man-made beauty, it’s almost embarrassing. But it’s hard to think of a view that more succinctly sums up the country’s gorgeousness than the blue domes of Santorini island. The most famous whitewashed buildings are in Oia, a clifftop village perched prettily by the Aegean Sea, whose azure hue perfectly matches those rooftops. Come sunset, it's indisputably magical.

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One of the most magnificent cathedrals in the world, the stunning marble facade of Santa Maria del Fiore is instantly recognisable. Located in Florence's Piazza del Duomo along with The Baptistery of St John and Giotto's Bell Tower, the cathedral is one of the most famous in the world. One of its most notable features is Brunelleschi's Duomo – more than 500 years after completion it still remains the largest masonry dome in the world.

South Africa's flat-topped mountain is one of the most famous and admired peaks in the world. It's also one of the most ancient at over 260 million years old. Now part of a national park, it's home to an incredible array of flora and fauna, including endemic species such as the Table Mountain ghost frog and a whopping 1,470 flower species.

Niagara Falls isn’t the biggest or the tallest waterfall in the world, or even the US, but it's among the most famous – largely thanks to the dramatic confluence of its three broad, thunderous cascades. Located near Buffalo in New York State and splashing across the border into Canada, it’s made up of Horseshoe Falls (the biggest), American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. Its distinctive green-blue hue, caused by a mix of rock flour and mineral salts, also contributes to its global fame.

Famed for its awe-inspiring vistas, cliffs and lush forests, Yosemite National Park is full of big-hitter attractions, but there's nothing quite like Yosemite Valley. Seen here from the Tunnel View viewpoint, you can really appreciate the jaw-dropping landscape in all its splendour.

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With its characteristic Cotswolds stone buildings and winding countryside roads, it’s no wonder Castle Combe has often been called the prettiest village in England. The historic site was first settled by Celts in ancient times, before becoming a regional hub for the wool industry during the Middle Ages. Many of its landmarks, including a market cross, an old water pump and the Church of St. Andrew, were built during this period.

Thailand is sprinkled with incredible temples, but none are so stunning as Wat Rong Khun. Unusually, it’s privately owned and is more of an artwork than religious place. Full of symbolism, the temple entrance is surrounded by a sea of grappling white hands representing human desire, while the temple's interior walls are decorated with politically motivated murals, depicting demons and Western idols like the Terminator, Superman and Kung Fu Panda. 

This classic shot opens up from the summit of Mount Snowdon and while the peak is pretty to look at, it’s this view of Llyn Llydaw that has previously been voted the UK’s best sight. The skinny, squiggly lake lies within Snowdonia National Park, cradled by emerald-green valleys and surrounded by mountains. It’s also linked to the legend of King Arthur and the Lady of the Lake.

Often regarded as one of the most enchanting places in Northern Ireland, this mythical tunnel of beech trees looks like a doorway into another world. Originally planted by the Stuart family in the 18th century as an impressive entrance for their Georgian mansion, today the trees are one of the country’s most-photographed natural wonders. Avid fans of the HBO series Game of Thrones may recognise The Dark Hedges as the location for the Kingsroad.

Set amid rocky coastal cliffs, Manarola is one of the five fishing villages that make up the breathtaking Cinque Terre in northwestern Italy. It's probably the most recognisable of all five thanks to the pastel houses clinging to the cliffside. Legend has it that they were painted in bright colours so returning fishermen could spot their homes more easily. The village is at its most stunning during sunset, when the low evening sun casts a honey hue over the pretty buildings.

We're not sure about you but we've never seen anything more incredible than the Nā Pali Coast in Hawaii. This dazzling shoreline is punctuated by razor-sharp sea cliffs, delicate winding valleys and cascading waterfalls. If the eye-catching area reminds you of another age when dinosaurs ruled the world, it's no wonder – the coast was the backdrop for sci-fi classic The Lost World: Jurassic Park.

Whether you're religious or not, the sight of the 98-foot (30m) sculpture of Christ rising above Rio de Janeiro's magical mountainous landscape with outstretched arms can't fail to stir you. The largest Art Deco statue in the world, this world-famous monument was the brainchild of a priest in the 1850s but it wasn't built until the 1920s. Dedicated in 1931, the concrete Christ has surveyed the city from the top of the forest-clad Corcovado mountain ever since.

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The town of Pamukkale in Turkey is celebrated for its natural travertine terraces which cascade down its hillside like clouds. These 17 mineral-rich thermal pools are part of an ancient Roman spa city. The pools are formed by calcium carbonate deposits on the surface of the water and are said to have healing properties.

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The most striking feature of this Catholic church is its setting: the grey stone structure spans a forested gorge 150 feet (46m) above a river. Its story is one of miracles and determination, beginning in 1754 when a mother and daughter, sheltering from a storm, saw an image of the Virgin Mary in the rocks. According to the story, the daughter was cured of her muteness and deafness. After hearing of the miracle, a blind man spent 10 years collecting funds to build a chapel in the spot – and his sight returned. Inspired by these marvels, the vertiginous church was finally built between 1916 and 1949.

The perfect snow-capped cone of Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan, is a defining symbol of the nation, interwoven in its culture and religion. Revered over the centuries, the mountain, located around 60 miles (97km) west of Tokyo, is seen as many things, including a living being and the home of spirits, deities and the spirits of ancestors. Today, climbing the peak is seen as a path to transcendence by Japan’s two major religions, Shinto and Buddhism. Their shrines line its sacred slopes and torii gates mark the transition from the profane to the holy.

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The startling beauty of the ancient hand-hewn sandstone city of Petra cannot be overestimated. Established in 213 BC, it was once the capital city of the Arab Nabateans who were famed for their skill at carving buildings into rocks. Despite now being firmly on the tourist trail, this age-old wonder remains astonishing.

However you look at it, this huge, thundering waterfall on the Zambezi River is pretty incredible. Straddling Zimbabwe and Zambia, with cascades more than 5,500 feet (1,700m) wide and 355 feet (108m) tall, it’s one of the world’s largest waterfalls. It’s also among the loudest, making such a racket and creating such a cloud of mist that the Kalolo-Lozi people named it Mosi-oa-Tunya, or The Smoke That Thunders.

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Translating as the 'red fortress above the Tauber river', the ancient, red-roofed village of Rothenburg ob der Tauber leaves a lasting impression. Set along southern Germany’s Romantic Road, it's one of many medieval storybook settlements with defensive towers, narrow timber-clad houses and cobbled streets. If wandering around the picturesque place isn't enough, there's plenty to entertain visitors, including museums, gardens, enticing shops and buzzy cafes.

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With soaring snow-capped mountains, dazzling waters and lush rainforest, the majesty of New Zealand's Fiordland National Park gives Norway a run for its money. The jewel in the crown of this magical region in the island's southwest corner is Milford Sound, one of 14 fiords. Writer Rudyard Kipling was definitely onto something when he called it the "eighth wonder of the world”.

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Manhattan’s jagged, glinting, gleaming cityscape is one of the world’s most famous and recognisable vistas. It looks gorgeous in any light, from the pale haze of dawn to sunset and after dark, when New York City’s bright lights shimmer over the broad Hudson River. And it's not just the skyline. From the glorious green space that is Central Park and the famous cables of the Brooklyn Bridge to the city’s famous brownstones, every inch of the Big Apple is ridiculously photogenic.

Featuring a constellation of roughly 1,600 limestone karst islands, Ha Long Bay takes its name from an ancient legend about the dragon Ha Long, who is thought to act as protector of the Vietnamese people. It’s not hard to see why local people turned to myths and legends to make sense of the landscape here: mist-draped and suffused with emerald light in this atmospheric shot, the sprawling archipelago looks every bit as otherworldly as the ancient tales suggest.

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Looking out to the Venetian lagoon, Burano's eye-catching houses line the streets and canals in a colourful maze. It's thought that the island got its signature look back in the day when fishermen painted their houses as brightly as possible, so they would be easier to spot in the thick fog so common on the lagoon. A popular day-trip destination from Venice, Burano is also famous for its artisan lace-making.

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It's tricky to pinpoint the most eye-catching aspect of Abu Dhabi’s spectacular mosque, completed in 2007. Could it be the piercingly tall minarets, or the 80 marble domes that form the roof? Perhaps it’s the gold-topped pillars or the sheer amount of pure white marble that makes up the modern Islamic masterpiece. It could equally be the chandeliers that shimmer in the main prayer hall, or the detailed floral designs laid into the floor. All of this together, though, places it among the most beautiful buildings in the world.

The unique colour of these rocks – a range of rosy tones from amber to coral, offset by the crystalline teal of the ocean – is created by an exceptionally rare natural combination of quartz and feldspar. The Pink Granite Coast, with its enchanting palette and amazing formations, runs along more than six miles (10km) of coastline in Brittany.

The Holy City, the Place of the Gods, the centre of Tibetan Buddhism – Lhasa has a lot to live up to. But it would be hard not to be moved by the first sight of Potala Palace or the fervour of pilgrims walking the Barkhor circuit around the Jokhang temple in winding, incense-scented alleys. Perhaps it’s the altitude, but Lhasa seems to have something magical about it.

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The surface of Moraine Lake, a highlight of Banff National Park, dances its way through the day with altering shades of soft teal, milky turquoise and icy sapphire. Its pristine appearance looks even more dramatic against a backdrop of snow-dusted mountains and shores edged with pine trees. Ice forms on the glacial-fed lake in winter and in early spring, floes often break off and shimmer under the water’s surface for an extra layer of beguiling beauty.

Built by the Islamic monarchs of Andalucia on a leafy plateau above the city of Granada, the majestic Alhambra is a sight to behold. This fortified palace was primarily constructed between 1238 and 1358, though several sections were reworked when Spain reverted to Christianity in the 16th century. But the Arabesque influence still looms large in the Alhambra's architectural details and decor, like its elaborate archways, painted tiles and reflecting pools.

The world's driest non-polar desert (and its oldest of any kind) is the closest you can get to walking on the moon without leaving Earth. The lunar-like landscapes of the Atacama Desert, which spans around 600 miles (1,000km) of western Chile between the Pacific coast and the Andes Mountains, were even used by NASA to test equipment for outer space. Far from being a lifeless abyss, it is marked by lakes, salt flats, volcanoes, geysers and dancing dark skies.

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