The world's most popular tourist attractions
Planning y our next trip? Add these destinations to your bucket list. These landmarks are the world's most popular tourist attractions, according to TripAdvisor which announced the winner's of it's Travelers' Choice awards. The determination was based on the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings.
Click through to see the top 20 surprising and not so surprising places that made the list.
Chichén Itzá, the famous complex of Mayan ruins in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, is No. 20.The Pyramid of Kukulcan El Castillo, seen here, is a massive pyramid that dominates the pre-historic complex that is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
19. Big Ben
London's Big Ben is ranked No. 19. The clock tower, completed in 1859, stands at the north end of the Houses of Parliament.
Though "Big Ben" actually refers to the Great Bell of the clock, most people just call the whole tower by that name.
18. Corcovado - Cristo Redentor
Christ the Redeemer sits atop Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and is ranked No. 18. The mountain and 710-meter statue is located in Tijuca Forest. The impressive statue and breathtaking views draw more than 300,000 visitors a year.
17. Acropolis
The Acropolis, which sits above Athens in Greece, is ranked No. 17. The most famous of the structures is the Parthenon seen here.
The Acropolis and its monuments represents some of the greatest examples of Greek Antiquity.
16. Great Wall at Mutianyu
China's Great Wall made it to No. 16. Though the Great Wall in China is more than 5,000 miles long, the most visited spot is at Mutianya, 70 km (43 mils) from Beijing. The biggest attractions are the densely spaced watchtowers in the longest and best restored section of the Great Wall.
15. Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral along the Seine in the heart of Paris is not to be missed at No. 15. It took approximately 300 years to build and was one of the very first Gothic cathedrals. A noted feature are the gargoyles the towers.
In 1909. Joan of Arc was famously beatified by Pope Pius X in Notre Dame.
14. Eiffel Tower
While you're in the City of Light make sure you make a visit to the Eiffel Tower, named for its engineer Gustave Eiffel, which came in No. 14.
France consistently ranks as the most visited country in the world so you won't be alone by a long shot.
13. Grand Palace Brussels
The Grand Palace in Brussels, or Grote Markt in Dutch, on the central square in the city is ranked No. 13.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
12. Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) in Istanbul's old city is ranked No. 12. The once Greek Orthodox Christian basilica turned imperial mosque is now a museum.
It's massive dome, seen here, is an example of quintessential Byzantine architecture at its best and most beautiful. Hagia Sophia reigned as the world's largest cathedral for nearly a 1,000 years.
11. Golden Gate Bridge
The red-hued Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco represents the U.S. on the list in the No. 11 spot. The one-mile-long suspension bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County also garnered the No. 2 spot on the list of most popular U.S. landmark attractions.
Opened in 1937, the bridge has been declared one of the Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Engineers.
10. Milan Cathedral
No. 10 is the Gothic-style Milan Cathedral in Italy. It is the second largest church in Italy and the third largest in the world. It took nearly six centuries to complete and was well worth the effort.
9. Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
Perhaps forever identified by Americans as the location of Rev. Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech, the Lincoln Memorial's reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. is No. 9 on the list. The pool topped came out No. 1 on the list of most popular U.S. attractions.
The pool was designed by Henry Bacon and built in 1923, following the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial. It receives around 24 million visitors a year.
8. The Alhambra
The Alhambra in the city of Granada in Spain sits on top of a hill above the river Darro. The 9th century castle and fortress, described by Morrish poets as "a pearl set in emeralds," in Andalusia is No. 8.
7. Church of the Savior on Spilt Blood
The Church of the Savior on Spilt Blood in St. Petersburg, Russia is No. 7. It was built on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated in March 1881, in the spirit of romantic nationalism.
One of the most impressive features is the 80,729 square foot of mosaics, more than any other church in the world according to the restorers.
6. Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba
Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, in Andalusia, Spain is considered one of the most accomplished monuments built by the Moors. It is the 6th most popular landmark in the world. It was divided into Muslim and Christian halves when Muslims conquered Spain in 711 and then converted back to a Roman Catholic church again, with the current cathedral being built into the 10th century mosque.
5. Taj Mahal
Britain's Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, aren't the only ones visiting India's famous monument to love -- the Taj Mahal -- in Agra. The marble mausoleum, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his great love, Mumtaz Mahal is No. 5.
4. St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City should be high on your list when in Italy. It came in as No. 4 worldwide. It is (no surprise) the largest church in Italy and home to the pope, of course.
3. Angkor Wat
Cambodia's Angkor Wat temple complex, the largest religious monument in the world, in Siem Riep is No. 3.
Angkor Wat, which means "City of Temples," was built in the 12th century.
2. Sheikh Zayed Mosque
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu-Dhabi, UAE is No. 2.
The country's grand mosque, under construction from 1996 to 2007, is the largest in the U.A.E. More than 3,000 workers were involved in its construction and it can hold 40,000 worshippers.
1. Macchu Pichhu
The world's most popular landmark to visit is the UNESCO World Heritage site Macchu Pichhu, high up in the Andes Mountains in Peru.
The 15th century Incan citadel was built of stones fit together without mortar. According to National Geographic, the Inca left no record of why they built the complex of palaces, temples and homes or how they used it.