Unesco00001

UNESCO-listed Holidays

Cultural heritage conservation is key to travel - and that’s where the UNESCO system comes in.

Visiting the tapestry of UNESCO-listed sites around the world is an excellent way to get a glimpse of what a country has to offer. These specially appointed sites help tell the rich cultural and historic tales of an area, offering travellers the opportunity to go deeper on their holidays.

Across the world, there are currently 1,154 UNESCO-listed sites. You can explore the interactive map here. In order to be considered for the World Heritage List, sites must be of “outstanding universal value” and also align with UNESCO values such as representing a masterpiece of “human creative genius”, being a testimony to cultural traditions or societies (existing or extinct), or containing “superlative natural phenomena” or aesthetic significance. In short, becoming a UNESCO-listed site is no small feat.

There’s no universal UNESCO-listed site, no typical landmark that makes the list. Head to Europe, and you can find anything from Salzburg in Austria to Dubrovnik’s Old Town in Croatia to Alhambra Palace in Spain. Plus there’s the listed Amalfi Coast and Venice’s canals in Italy, which is home to the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the entire world. And if you’re interested in venturing further afield to Asia, you will be rewarded with legendary UNESCO-listed sites such as the Taj Mahal in India and Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

Of course, not all UNESCO sites are the big hitters, around the world there are a range of lesser-known gems and underrated attractions, including the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka and the Historic Quarter of Valparaíso in Chile.

Our favourite World Heritage holidays

Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland
  • 6 days from £845pp

    was £945pp

  • Dates Available

    September 2024 - October 2025

  • Duration

    6 days

  • Depart From

    11 airports

  • Excursions

    4 included

  • Meals

    8 included

Capri Island Landscape From Mount Solaro, Italy
  • 8 days from £1,249pp

    was £1,399pp

  • Dates Available

    September 2024 - October 2025

  • Duration

    8 days

  • Depart From

    7 airports

  • Excursions

    3 included

  • Meals

    14 included

Angkor Wat
  • 15 days from £2,849pp

    was £3,049pp

  • Dates Available

    November 2024 - November 2026

  • Duration

    15 days

  • Depart From

    5 airports

  • Excursions

    8 included

  • Meals

    26 included

Paradors, Spain
  • 8 days from £1,656pp

    was £1,839pp

  • Dates Available

    September 2024 - November 2025

  • Duration

    8 days

  • Depart From

    3 airports

  • Excursions

    5 included

  • Meals

    11 included

Adobestock 295098527 Mostar Bridge, Bosnia
Adriatic Coast - Dubrovnik, Neum and Mostar
Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovinia
  • 8 days from £1,169pp

    was £1,269pp

  • Dates Available

    May 2025 - October 2025

  • Duration

    8 days

  • Depart From

    7 airports

  • Excursions

    3 included

  • Meals

    14 included

Sh 120725032 Everest Nepal EDIT
  • 17 days from £3,498pp

    was £3,998pp

  • Dates Available

    October 2024 - November 2026

  • Duration

    17 days

  • Depart From

    1 airport

  • Excursions

    19 included

  • Meals

    38 included

Ranthambhore Tiger in India
  • 14 days from £3,519pp

    was £3,719pp

  • Dates Available

    January 2025 - November 2025

  • Duration

    14 days

  • Depart From

    1 airport

  • Excursions

    6 included

  • Meals

    11 included

Taj Mahal, Agra
Save up to £1300 per couple
  • 11 days from £1,545pp

    was £1,795pp

  • Dates Available

    September 2024 - December 2026

  • Duration

    11 days

  • Depart From

    3 airports

  • Excursions

    12 included

  • Meals

    22 included

Discover our blog

Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland

Best UNESCO Sites

A dose of inspiration for those ever-growing wish-lists…

Ruins of a temple on a hill, with view of mountains in the distance

The best archaeological sites to visit in Greece

Tour the birthplace of democracy on a fascinating trip to Greece’s best-preserved historical sites.

Kalyan Mosque, Bukhara, Uzbekistan

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Experience the destination which was once part of the world’s most epic trading route: the Silk Road.

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