The world is packed with picture-perfect views. There are the parks, plains and wilderness areas that unfurl seemingly endlessly, and mountains, lakes and rivers so beautiful they hardly seem real. Then there are the spectacular skylines and buildings that have sprung from the human mind. With all this going on, it can sometimes be hard for travellers to know where to look first. You can start by gazing upon this stunning selection.

In our opinion, these are the world's most wonderful views. Click through the gallery to see how we've ranked them...

This row of fat-bottomed baobab trees is as bizarre and beguiling as the island’s tangerine-eyed lemurs, and probably just as frequently photographed. The Avenue of the Baobabs, on a dirt road between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina in western Madagascar, is made up of majestic centuries-old trees, reaching up to 100 feet (30m) tall.

Think Germany's idyllic Neuschwanstein Castle looks familiar? It might be because this incredible structure in the foothill of the Alps, built by Bavaria's King Ludwig II in the latter part of the 19th century, is known to have inspired the vision and works of a young Walt Disney. Also known as the Swan King or Fairy Tale King, the shy royal Ludwig had built the castle in order to withdraw from public life. Seven weeks after his death in 1887, it was open to the public. These days, 1.4 million people visit the attraction annually.

The African continent is home to some of the finest views on the planet. Right down at the bottom of this enormous landmass, on the coast of South Africa, you'll find one of its very best. At 3,563 feet (1,086m) high, the iconic flat-topped Table Mountain overlooks the city of Cape Town and the Atlantic Ocean. Whether you're taking in the glorious panoramic from the top here or simply enjoying its epic form from the urban sprawl below, nobody can argue that this incredibly scenic part of the world isn't worthy of a spot on this gallery. 

Valencia's futuristic and otherworldly City of Arts and Sciences supposedly went four times over budget, with the project's final cost reported to be the equivalent of just over £1 billion ($1.3bn). When huge sums like that are involved, it can be easy to criticise. Ask anyone who's had the privilege of seeing these immense sci-fi structures up close though and they'll likely tell you that they were blown away by the site's stunning architectural vision. For the perfect view, see it lit up at night and reflected in the surrounding water. 

There’s something mystical about the pinnacles and hoodoos that rise jaggedly across the landscape of this beguiling national park. Or perhaps that’s just if you stare at them for too long. The cream and apricot rock formations are certainly fascinating, especially the amphitheatre seen from Inspiration Point (pictured).

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London has a lion's share when it comes to iconic landmarks and a generous scattering of recognisable bridges spanning the River Thames too. But this Gothic Revival–style suspension bridge, built between 1886 and 1894, is one of the most famous – and most photographed – of them all. Tower Bridges' namesake two towers and pastel blue cables add a fairy-tale quality to the landscape.

Sometimes natural and man-made beauty conspire to create something truly wonderful. The vineyards of Portugal’s Douro Valley are a prime example. Etched into the hillsides, they perfectly demonstrate that practical can be very pretty indeed. The terraces are carved into the steep banks of the River Douro, taming the land to grow the grapes that produce the region’s renowned port and red wines.

Chicago is packed with incredible views, from the bold blue of Lake Michigan to the skyscrapers that make up the jagged skyline. Yet it’s a bean-shaped sculpture, by Sir Anish Kapoor, that steals the show. Cloud Gate – nicknamed The Bean – is a gleaming landmark in Millennium Park. It creates a striking image with a backdrop of some of the Chicago's most recognisable buildings, while its mirrored surface captures the cityscape to perfection.

This classic view opens up from the summit of Mount Snowdon. The skinny, squiggly lake you can see pictured 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. Views in the UK don't get much more magnificent than this one. 

Japan has cherry blossom, the US states of New England have fall colours and Provence, in southern France, has endless swathes of lavender. Each summer, farms and fields bloom into a bright sea of lilac, violet and magenta, and infuse the air with delicate, floral perfume. Just gorgeous. 

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From its apricot and honey-hued rooftops to its wide, marble roads, Dubrovnik’s 13th-century Old Town is almost too pretty to be true. It’s encased by thick stone walls that give clear views in every direction. If that wasn’t enough, it looms over the Adriatic Sea, with views of the sapphire water dotted with verdant islands.

Mexico’s Caribbean coast is rich in Mayan archaeological sites, but there’s something especially fascinating about those in Tulum. The ruins of the 13th-century walled city perch on a bluff overlooking the sea, creating a striking image against pale-sand beaches and turquoise waters.

The rolling sand dunes of this vast national park in Tularosa Basin, New Mexico are so snow-white you might expect the ground to feel cold – especially when people sled down the slopes. Dunes curve and dip seemingly endlessly, although actually the desert covers 275 square miles (443sq km) between the San Andres and Sacramento mountain ranges.

New Zealand's most famous and photographed tree, That Wanaka Tree (also known as That Wanaka Willow) has been a social media celebrity ever since Christchurch's Dennis Radermacher's image of it one misty June morning won the 2014 New Zealand Geographic photograph of the year competition. Since then, it has become a regular on Instagram feeds. You'll find it at the southern end of Lake Wanaka, in the South Island's Otago Region. Set your alarm and get there early to beat the selfie stick crowds.

Some views are always on display, while others choose to reveal themselves only when they’re ready. Crater Lake is definitely in the latter category. The caldera basin – formed in a collapsed volcano and fed by rain and snowmelt – is America’s deepest lake, reaching depths of 1,963 feet (598m). It’s often shrouded in fog which only makes its bold blue beauty feel even more special when it clears.

This San Francisco icon is a classic for good reason: its beautifully bold, rust-red curves and lines are just mesmerising to look at, and from pretty much every angle and distance. And, although the Golden Gate Bridge is a man-made, engineering marvel, it complements the city’s parks and beaches as effortlessly as it does the gleaming downtown skyline.

A church on an island on a teal lake – views don’t come much more picture-perfect than those over Lake Bled, in the Slovenian resort town of the same name. The islet, in the centre of the lake, is dominated by the medieval Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary or ‘Lady of the Lake’, whose tower peeps through the trees. Throw in a dramatic backdrop of the Julian Alps and the Karawanks mountain range, and you have a fairy-tale scene.

Depending on the light and time of day, the surface of Moraine Lake, one of the most gorgeous sites in Banff National Park, can appear a soft teal, a shimmering icy blue or a milky turquoise colour. The pristine nature of the glacially fed lake is framed by a backdrop of snow-dusted mountains and shores edged with pine trees. Ice forms in winter and early spring, with floes often floating under the water’s surface – adding an extra layer of beguiling beauty.

Barren doesn’t really cut it. Lunar-like, perhaps, or simply surreal. Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat, covering nearly 4,633 square miles (12,000sq km) with crackly, crunchy white salt and rock formations. It’s the result of a prehistoric lake that dried out, leaving behind the dazzling desert-like landscape.

These surreal sculptures are part of the Gardens by the Bay, whose conservatories are filled with lush plants and blooms. The ‘trees’ tower between 82 feet (25m) and 164 feet (50m) and are illuminated at night, adding a new dimension – and extra lights – to the already sleek, shiny cityscape of Singapore.

In the north of this vast, fascinating country, Simien Mountains National Park has gaspingly gorgeous vistas at every turn. The green, undulating mountains are roamed by curved-horned wail ibex, Ethiopian wolves and – easiest to spot – endemic gelada monkeys, who gather in groups to preen and play in the meadows.

When a village that's home to just 800 residents is getting over three million visitors a year, you know there's probably something quite special about the place. Sandwiched between towering Alpine hills and a beautiful blue lake, adorable Hallstatt is comfortably one of the planet's most picturesque spots. Thought to have inspired the fictional kingdom of Arendelle in Disney's 2013 blockbuster Frozen, in recent years the locals here have protested overtourism and called for limits on the number of daily tourists.

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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 and most iconic 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'.

This fjord on the country’s South Island is surrounded in lush rainforest and waterfalls, and home to seals, penguins and dolphins. What more could you want in a view? Mountains, perhaps, like the much-photographed Mitre Peak, which dominates the shores. Even rain is a joy here, setting in motion a series of temporary waterfalls that cascade down the mountain slopes.

Mist and mystery shroud this town of temples, the capital of the ancient Bagan Kingdom between the 11th and 13th centuries. The archaeological site sits on a bend of the Ayeyarwady River in Myanmar’s central plain. It’s an incredible, museum-worthy, collection of golden temples, monasteries and sculptures. The view is even more spectacular when hot air balloons drift over the ornate landscape at sunrise.

Let's hear it for New York, home to arguably the most famous skyline in the world. To see the Big Apple in all its glory, with the instantly recognisable Empire State Building very much front and centre, head up the Rockefeller Center and enjoy the view from the Top of the Rock observation deck. If you can, try and time your visit so you're up here when the sun is setting. Watching the city's countless lights coming on as the sun fades beneath the horizon is a moment that will stay with you forever.

The Matterhorn might not be the world's biggest mountain, but it can lay claim to being the most recognisable one. Famous, amongst other things, for its appearance on the packaging of Toblerone chocolate bars, the much-photographed mountain straddles the border between Switzerland and Italy. Shaped like a jagged tooth, the iconic Matterhorn towers over the picture-perfect Alpine town of Zermatt and pulls in adventurous souls from around the world. Sitting 14,692 feet (4,478m) above sea level, its summit is a big draw for experienced climbers.

Bright white and shimmering turquoise are a match made in hue heaven, and there are few places that demonstrate that more gorgeously than the thermal pools of Pamukkale, a town in western Turkey. The travertine terraces, whose staggered steps tumble down the mountainside, are the result of limestone deposited over millennia from the natural hot springs, which flow over and form milky-blue pools.

In a country as rich in epic terrain and stunning architecture as France, being considered its most impressive sight takes some doing. Step forward Mont-Saint-Michel. This holy island set in a breathtaking bay shared by Normandy and Brittany, with its gravity-defying abbey seemingly erupting up out of the sand, has been one of Europe's major pilgrimage destination for centuries. When it comes to this spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site, seeing really is believing.

Greece, and perhaps particularly its islands, 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 (very) prettily by the Aegean Sea, whose azure hue perfectly matches those rooftops.

No list claiming to be a rundown of the world's best views would be complete without the iconic Pyramids of Giza on it. Situated just outside the hustle and bustle of modern-day Cairo, in the ultimate display of old meets new, these enormous man-made structures in the desert captured the public's imagination a long time ago (and never really let go). The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest of the Egyptian pyramids. Thought to be over 4,500 years old, at its current height of 450 feet (137m) tall it stands proudly as a symbol of ancient Egypt's architectural prowess.

There really is no shortage of wonderful views on Scotland's Isle of Skye. In all honesty, we probably could have filled this gallery with a few more images of the island's epic and otherworldly terrain. For now, you'll just have to settle for this jaw dropping shot of the iconic Old Man of Storr up on the Trotternish Ridge. The pinnacle of basalt rock, measuring 180 feet (55m) high, is all that's left of a volcanic plug that's 2,800 million years old.

The Great Barrier Reef is famously so vast it can be viewed from space. It looks good both underwater and from dry land. It’s the world’s largest reef system, made up of nearly 3,000 reefs and encompassing more than 135,000 square miles (350,000sq km). It’s also home to whales, dolphins, sea turtles and thousands of species of fish. Even without all that, the dazzling, dappled expanse of blue is pretty lovely to look at.

Petra is so spellbinding it’s been given several nicknames, each of them delightful: Pink City, Rose City and Lost City. The first two are due to the blushing hue of its sandstone, while the latter refers to the fact it was unknown to the Western world until 1812. Arguably the best view is of intricately-carved Al Khazneh (the treasury), reached through a curving slot canyon, the Siq.

Some landscapes just have a way of putting things into perspective, or at least making you feel very small indeed. The Grand Canyon is the master at this and although there are really no bad views to be found in this vast national park, the South Rim is arguably the best for vistas. The rolling and undulating valley of jagged rust-red rock formations is washed with lilac and pink at sunrise.

Japan blooms and blossoms with so much beauty, it’s tough to narrow down the best views. But we reckon the most classic vista is the perfect peak of Mount Fuji, whose snow-capped dome appears almost symmetrical. It’s surrounded by stunners too, from Lake Ashi in Hakone to the city of Fujiyoshida, where the peak can be viewed from Chureito Pagoda.

Think of the Australian Outback and chances are your mind will immediately conjure up images of the iconic Uluru. At 1,142 feet (348m) high, the enormous sandstone monolith towers over the surrounding landscape and is thought to be 550 million years old. Climbing up this huge rock might have been banned in October 2019, but the view of it stretched out on the horizon (especially at sunrise and sunset) is still as memorable as ever. Get it on your bucket list.

The views from the world’s longest man-made structure – which stretches for more than 12,427 miles (20,000km) – certainly aren’t bad. But it’s the wall itself, snaking through forests, mountains and rivers, that really captures the imagination and makes you catch your breath. The series of fortresses was built between the 3rd century BC and the 17th century, and is so large that, like the Great Barrier Reef, it can be seen from space (with the help of magnification). 

When does a beautiful building become a beautiful view? When it’s as magnificent and iconic as the Taj Mahal, which stands elegantly on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the city of Agra. The white marble mausoleum is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, built between 1632 and 1648 as a tomb for an emperor’s wife. Its ivory domes, ornately carved details and minarets are surrounded by manicured gardens, with the beauty further enhanced by a long reflecting pool.

Few places capture the imagination like this archaeological site, a citadel built by the ancient Incas in the 15th century and mysteriously abandoned. Machu Picchu's network of dry-stone walls and agricultural terraces etch the mountaintop site, surrounded by Andean peaks. Throw in llamas and alpacas, who graze on grassy slopes nearby, and you have a winner.

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