Inspiration

The 30 Most Repinned Travel Destinations of All Time

From Australia to Alaska—and everywhere in between.

January 9, 2019

Image may contain Nature Outdoors Cliff Ocean Sea Water Shoreline Mountain Coast Promontory Cave and Cove

Can't decide where to go next? Fear not. To help you out, we've rounded up a collection of Condé Nast Traveler's most repinned (and downright breathtaking) travel destinations. Whether it's a waterpark in Beijing, safari camp in South Africa, or surreal ice cave in Alaska, these 30 photos are guaranteed to inspire your wanderlust.

This gallery was originally published in 2015. It has been updated with new information.

Getty
Reynisfjara Beach, Vík, Iceland
Vík is Iceland's southernmost village, and spectacularly shaped basalt columns on the nearby Reynisfjara shore help make it the most impressive black-sand beach in the country. —Katherine LaGrave, The 10 Most Beautiful Places in Iceland
Getty
Cobh, Ireland
Cobh redefines "charming" with its rows of candy-colored homes along the water and towering cathedral standing sentry over the harbor. This town is particularly popular with cruise-lovers—about 60 ships stop there every year. In fact, Cobh was the final port of call for the RMS Titanic, and a commemorate museum stands in the city today. —Caitlin Morton, The Most Beautiful Places in Ireland

Getty
Road to Hana, Maui, Hawaii
I drive west along the Hana Highway, which dips down into shaded valleys and then curves around wide-open headlands, the ocean coming in and out of view. The road rises and falls until it cuts straight past a cane field, lit up yellow in the morning light, and there’s the water spread out before me, uninterrupted. —Alexander Maksik, Welcome to Maui—Now Leave
Alamy
Roosevelt Island, New York
This small island is an oddity in the middle of the East River. Before the 20th century, it was a home for New York City’s sick and imprisoned, with several hospitals, mental institutions, and prisons dotting the island. (The remains of one of these, the Renwick Smallpox Hospital, still sit, unused, at the island’s southern end.) It has become more residential in recent decades, and opened a Cornell offshoot in 2017, but the island is still plenty weird: It has NYC’s only pneumatic trash system, and it’s the only place in the city that’s accessible via an aerial tram. (Take it—you’ll get stunning views of the city during the approximately five-minute ride.) —Amy Plitt, Weird Things to Do in NYC

Getty
Printemps, Paris
Printemps is a Parisian department store, but here's a little secret: After doing some shopping, take the elevator to the top floor's cafe. The view is incredible, and you can drink a coffee outside (or inside) and be in the heart of Paris. Plus, the coffee there is surprisingly cheap! —Rachel Coleman and Mary Quincy, 9 Secret Places To Get A Gorgeous View of Paris
Getty
Sénanque Abbey, Provence, France
The seemingly endless stretches of lavender make Provence one of the prettiest (and best-smelling) places in France. One of the most scenic spots to enjoy the flower fields is Sénanque Abbey, a twelfth-century church near the village of Gordes. The gentle heather-gray color of the abbey looks custom-made for its surroundings, particularly in the summer when the acres around it bloom into a sea of purple. —C.M., The Most Beautiful Places in France

Getty
Duomo di Milano, Italy
It took almost six centuries to build this spectacular duomo—Italy’s largest Gothic cathedral and the third-largest church in the world. It boasts 135 marble spires, 135 gargoyles, and more than 3,400 statues, which you can admire up close from its rooftop. (Look out for Madonnina, the golden statue of Mary that stands atop the cathedral’s highest spire.) The inside is just as impressive: you’ll find 52 marble columns, magnificent stained glass windows, and stunning altars designed by famed Renaissance architect and artist Pellegrino Tibaldi. —CNT Editors, The Most Beautiful Churches in Italy
Courtesy Singita Lebombo
Singita Lebombo, South Africa
The camp’s nothing to sneeze at, but it’s largely the wildlife in the remote Greater Lebombo Conservancy, at the border with Mozambique, that makes Singita Lebombo such an easy sell. You’re not likely to run into anyone else the whole time you’re out on game drives. And when you return to the camp, set spectacularly into an escarpment in thick green bush, you can revel in some of Africa’s first, and still best, avant-garde design—mixing indigenous textiles with Lucite chairs and cloud-soft linens in the open-air suites. —CNT Editors, The Best Safari Lodges and Camps in Africa

Alamy
Playa de Las Catedrales, Galicia, Spain
This small stretch of sand on the Galician coast [is] where natural stone arches form a walkable "cathedral" at low tide. —K.L., The Best Beaches in Spain and Portugal
Getty
Bergen, Norway
Norway's second most populated city is enduringly, painstakingly pretty. Colorful wooden buildings, views of fjords and mountains, and even some Northern Lights appearances—what's not to love? —C.M., 35 Winter Wonderlands Around the World

Happy Magic, Beijing, China
Officially known as the Beijing Water Cube Water Park, Happy Magic is part of the National Aquatics Center and is now Beijing’s most visited tourist spot after the Great Wall. Thanks to a major renovation in 2011, the place looks even more futuristic than on opening day in 2008: think splashy colored tubes, transporting human water rockets through a system of slides twisted this way and that. —Lauren Viera, The World’s Coolest Indoor Water Parks
Getty
Gran Vía, Madrid, Spain
A stroll along Gran Vía in central Madrid is highly entertaining, day or night. The thoroughfare is lined with hundreds of shops, cafés, and restaurants, so it's always buzzing with people; but what makes it truly unique is its many historical theaters and cinemas. It's akin to New York City's Broadway, with beautiful architecture that's worth the walk alone. —Like a Local, 10 Best Free Things to Do in Madrid

Getty
Miami, Florida
Even seasoned visitors to the Magic City can make the occasional misstep. Avoid that with our guide to what you should (and shouldn’t) do next time you’re in Miami—which includes making sure you go to bed early enough to catch one of the city’s best sights. —Mark Ellwood, What Not to Do in Miami
Getty
Portland Head, Maine
This historic lighthouse has a rich history dating back to the late 1700s, when the new town of Cape Elizabeth posted guard at Portland Head to warn citizens of British attacks. The tower was first lit in 1791 with 16 whale oil lamps. —CNT Editors, These Lighthouses in Winter Are Picture-Perfect

Courtesy Ashford Castle
Ashford Castle Hotel, Ireland
This thirteenth-century castle, formerly the Guinness family home, is set against an impressive backdrop of thick forest, mountains and Lough Corrib. Its 83 guest rooms feature high ceilings, vintage furnishings, and four-poster beds; some boast fireplaces and claw-foot tubs. Activities like skeet shooting, falconry, and private hawk walks make the most of the beautiful grounds; its Prince of Wales Bar is the perfect spot to unwind with a champagne cocktail (the Arthur’s Bellini comes topped with Guinness). —CNT Editors, The Best Hotels and Resorts in Ireland
Alamy
Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia
The duo of North and South Stradbroke Islands are an easy day trip for travelers to Brisbane and Queensland's Gold Coast. Since Stradbroke is a sand island, like its neighbor Fraser Island though not nearly as large, the favorite activities are focused on the beaches and the relaxed village life of the island's three little townships. —Cynthia Drescher, Australia's 13 Most Beautiful Islands

Alamy
Rakotzbrücke (Rakotz Bridge), Kromlau, Germany
Hidden in Kromlau's Rhododendron Park, Rakotzbrücke is a 19th-century bridge that creates a perfect stone circle when reflected in the waters below it. Rakotzbrücke is often referred to as "Devil's Bridge," since the structure seems so impossible that it must have been built by, well, the devil. —C.M., 20 Places That Are Straight Out of Fairy Tales
Getty
U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.
Whether you consider the U.S. Capitol the shining symbol of democracy or the site of *House of Cards-*style demagogy, you can’t deny that this landmark is an international icon. Take a free 45-minute weekday tour or simply stop for a photo op in front. —Chaney Kwak, The Perfect Weekend in Washington, D.C.

Courtesy Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, Massachusetts
You’ll find one of the world’s most impressive private art collections at Isabella Stewart Gardner’s grand Venetian-style palazzo. It’s often overshadowed by the Museum of Fine Arts next door, but if you’re short on time, go to the Gardner instead. It’s that great. —Lindsay Talbot, The Local's Guide to Boston
Gallery Stock
Mendenhall Ice Caves, Juneau, Alaska
The ice caves inside Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier are not easily accessible nor for the faint of heart—those who want to see them in person must first kayak to the glacier and then ice-climb to reach it. But once adventurers stand under the glowing blue ceilings of ice, we’re pretty sure they’ll tell you it’s worth the trek. —C.M., 10 Places You Have to See to Believe

Getty
Metropolitan Cathedral, Mexico City
Revel in the grandeur of Zocaló, officially called the Plaza de la Constitución, the nation’s symbolic center and one of the world’s largest public squares. This walkable area is a visual manifestation of Mexico’s history. Look out for the Renaissance–style National Palace and the hallowed Templo Mayor archaeological site, which showcases the glory of Aztec Tenochtitlán civilization. The Metropolitan Cathedral, built over 240 years, reflects three centuries of architectural heritage, from its Baroque façade to churrigueresque columns. —C.K., How to Spend a Layover in Mexico City
Gallery Stock
Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris, France
One of the most famous green spaces in Paris (and even greener during the spring), Jardin du Luxembourg is a favorite spot for locals to stroll and relax. While the overall vibe here is quite grand and regal, there are still intimate corners to be found. —C.M., The 25 Most Beautiful Places in Paris

Getty
Pensacola Beach, Florida
This seemingly endless expanse of sand and dolphin-rich waters is often cited as the crown jewel of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, an exquisite patchwork of barrier islands stretching 160 miles across the Gulf of Mexico, from Mississippi to the Florida Panhandle. —Paul Rubio, The 15 Best Beaches in Florida
Getty
Le Sirenuse, Positano, Italy
Concealed in the crags of the Amalfi Coast—think ruby red and pearly pink facades stacked on an Italian hillside, like scoops of gelato—Le Sirenuse looks straight out of a movie. The Moorish Baroque design hinges on whitewashed walls and domed ceilings, with glazed floor tiles, shuttered French doors, and vines winding in and around public spaces. —Betsy Blumenthal, 40 Best Hotels in Italy

Getty
Chicago, Illinois
Ditch that guidebook for our much cooler guide to Chicago—we'll tell you what to really do, and what not to do, in the Windy City. (Spoiler alert: ditch Willis Tower, the Navy Piers, and er, ketchup). —Molly Fergus, What Not to Do in Chicago
Getty
Yellowknife, Canada
Photographer Dominic Chiu captured a perfectly timed progression of the famed Northern Lights on a recent trip to Yellowknife, Canada, capital of the Northern Territories. —Corrie Vierregger, 6 Incredible Photos of the Northern Lights in Yellowknife, Canada

Getty
Delphi, Greece
The Greeks considered Delphi the navel of the world, and journeyed there to have Pythia, the priestess of Apollo, predict their future with the help of oracles. These days, it’s as scenic as it is sacred—the ruins sit on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a picturesque mountain town removed from the hustle and bustle of Athens (but only by two hours). —Laura Carroll, 10 of the World's Greatest Ruins
Courtesy Halcyon House
Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach, Australia
Equidistant from the overdeveloped Gold Coast and the bucolic bohemia of Byron Bay, Halcyon represents a new era of boutique properties in Australia, distinguishing itself through distinctive design, an excellent but low-key restaurant, and an abiding commitment to the classic beach vacation. —David Pryor, Australians' Best-Kept Surfside Secret

Getty
Harbour Island, Bahamas
No Caribbean island is ugly, but Harbour Island easily wins Prom Queen for the region. The impossibly pretty stretch of rose-colored sand is due to a less-than-pretty source: the remaining calcium left by teeny tiny marine animals called foraminifera. You’re lounging on the corpses of amoeba-like creatures, but wow, are they beautiful. —Kaitlin Menza, Where to Find Every Color of Sand
Courtesy Surf Lodge
Surf Lodge Restaurant, Montauk, New York
This Long Island hot spot is home to beach-chic decor, concerts by the likes of Patti Smith and the Flaming Lips, and beautiful water views. —Elizabeth Stamp, The World's Most Spectacular Waterfront Restaurants

Reynisfjara Beach, Vík, Iceland

Cobh, Ireland

Road to Hana, Maui, Hawaii

Roosevelt Island, New York

Printemps, Paris

Sénanque Abbey, Provence, France

Duomo di Milano, Italy

Singita Lebombo, South Africa

Playa de Las Catedrales, Galicia, Spain

Bergen, Norway

Happy Magic, Beijing, China

Gran Vía, Madrid, Spain

Miami, Florida

Portland Head, Maine

Ashford Castle Hotel, Ireland

Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia

Rakotzbrücke (Rakotz Bridge), Kromlau, Germany

U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, Massachusetts

Mendenhall Ice Caves, Juneau, Alaska

Metropolitan Cathedral, Mexico City

Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris, France

Pensacola Beach, Florida

Le Sirenuse, Positano, Italy

Chicago, Illinois

Yellowknife, Canada

Delphi, Greece

Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach, Australia

Harbour Island, Bahamas

Surf Lodge Restaurant, Montauk, New York

The Daily