Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature about the best world heritage sites to visit. If you are hoping for a unique kind of holiday, there are many ways to approach this. You could decide to go off the beaten track a little and find something new that way, of course. Or you might choose to go along with what other people know to be amazing. Even this approach is likely to mean that you end up in some pretty fantastic places which you might not have otherwise discovered, and today I want to share with you the best world heritage sites that you might want to visit on your trip.

The Best World Heritage Sites to Visit

One thing in particular it might be worth paying attention to here is finding places which are universally recognized as being great places to visit. A good standard for that, though there are many, is the UNESCO World Heritage marker. There are plenty of these in the world (you can find a list of world heritage sites here), and they are all likely to be great for tourists. But which World Heritage sites are the best? Let’s take a look.

World Heritage sites

Vienna

Who isn’t at least partially intrigued by the beautiful city of Vienna? This Austrian city is its largest, and its federal capital, and it is absolutely full of fascinating history to boot. If you want to go and hear some great classical music, there is hardly anywhere better in Europe or even the world, and it’s also a great spot for museums and art galleries. It was in Vienna that Sigmund Freud practiced and developed his influential psychotherapy, and today there is a Freud museum outlining his life’s work.

Or, if you’re not much of a psychology buff, you might just want to wander the streets, admiring the incredibly intricate and unique architecture. Either way, this city is a fabulous jaunt worth visiting. (And I know I promised you a blog post all about Vienna and it’s coming soon………. ). The photo below is at the Schönbrunn Palace, one of the most important architectural, cultural and historical monuments in Austria, and itself, one of the World Heritage sites.  

Best world heritage sites

Bath

Although there have been other sites of ancient communal baths throughout the former Roman empire, the city of the same name in Southwest England has to be one of the more impressive examples.

So impressive, in fact, that it is indeed a world heritage site – and wandering around its Georgian gorgeous streets, you can see why. At its heart is a winding, wide river and narrow streets, reminiscent of times gone by and with a distinctly European feel which is somewhat unusual for an English city. You can still go and visit the baths too – although, as of a few years ago, you can no longer bathe in them. However, just down the road there is now a modern spa, using the same thermal natural waters that you’ll find in the Roman baths – the perfect opportunity to spoil yourself.

old temple facade reflecting in roman baths in england

 

Granada

Granada and the Andalusia region are well worth a visit, and the Alhambra complex is one of the most visited attractions in Spain. 

The Alhambra was built during the mid-14th century as a palace for the Moorish princes and stands on two adjacent hills, separated by the river Darro.  After the Moors were driven out of Spain in 1492, the Christians continued to use it as a palace, and it later became a UNESCO World Heritage site.

world heritage sites

The Alhambra is not a singular building, but an entire walled city within Granada, that you wander around over the course of a few hours. The three key areas (that all require you to show your ticket) are the Nasrid Palaces, the Alcazaba, a fortress that offers spectacular views of Granada below and the Generalife, which includes beautiful gardens and a small summer palace.

Visitor numbers are restricted so be sure to book your tickets in advance.

Melaka

No doubt, you have heard of Bath, Granada and Vienna, but this next city is a little less well known. Melaka is a city in Malaysia, just outside of Kuala Lumpur. It’s often less visited than the capital, of course, but those who go and see Kuala Lumpur and don’t stop over here are truly missing something.

Amongst its most fascinating sights is the so-called Huskitory, a husky-loving experience where you get to cuddle them, pet them, feed them and just generally hang out with them. When you’ve had enough of this cute joy (if that’s possible), you can be sure that you’ll be able to unwind at a great restaurant – and afterwards, you can even find some amazing accommodation to spend your evenings in.

In fact, even finding a house for rent in Melaka is pretty easy, and surprisingly inexpensive, so you can be sure it’s an easy enough place to tour.

World Heritage Sites

Bethlehem

Okay, so the city of Bethlehem itself is not entirely a World Heritage Site, but there is one part of it that is recognised as such. That is, obviously enough, the apparent birthplace of Jesus Christ, the Nativity Church. This gains a lot of visitors every year from Christian pilgrims, but it is also just a fascinating thing to see if you are a keen secular tourist who likes to delve into the history of religion.

city palestine bethlehem star street

In fact, it’s such an incredible sight that you will absolutely want to think about staying for a few days at least, so unique and unusual are the sights for many visitors. If nothing else, it’s a holy place you won’t forget in a hurry.

I hope you enjoyed this feature about The Best World Heritage Sites to visit, and have a look here for more of our travel tips and inspiration.

I will be back soon with more style, lifestyle and travel inspiration and don’t forget to subscribe to the blog below to make sure you never miss a post,

 

 

With love,