The World's Most Iconic Landmarks

In travel, we seek out landmarks, those iconic images that have come to define a place and, sometimes, a feeling. Visit the USS Arizona Memorial in Honolulu, and we respectfully remember those killed. Stand at the Statue of Liberty and we can pay homage to those relatives who had the faith and bravery to venture to a new land.

Expedia.com, the travel planning and booking site, released its Travelers’ Choice awards for landmarks. The USS Arizona and the Statue of Liberty both make the list of top 10 sites in the US. New York City has five of the survey’s top 10 US landmarks. Washington, DC’s Lincoln Memorial, a symbol of freedom, is the number one U.S. landmark as well as the only U.S. site to be among the top 10 world landmarks.

“These Travelers’ Choice award-winning landmarks attract millions of visitors each year and represent some of the world’s most impressive examples of human ingenuity,” says Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor.

Consider visiting the landmarks you have not seen this summer.

Expedia’s Top 10 US Landmarks

1. Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Washington, DC

The site of protests and gatherings, the Lincoln Memorial conjures freedom and hope. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech at this site.

2. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA

The 4,200-foot bridge spans the Golden Gate strait and can be best viewed from Marin County.

3. Alcatraz, San Francisco, CA

The former prison, reachable by boat, once housed such nefarious criminals as Al Capone and James “Whitey” Bulger.

4. USS Arizona Memorial, Honolulu, HI

The memorial, built over the site of the USS Arizona, pays tribute to the more than 2,000 Americans killed during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

5. Grand Central Terminal, New York, NY

More than 750,000 people pass through the cavernous structure each day.

6. Statue of Liberty, New York, NY

Lady Liberty has been welcoming newcomers to the U.S. since 1886.

7. Empire State Building, New York, NY

The Art Deco building, featured in more than 200 movies and TV shows, offers panoramic views of the city from its observation deck.

8. Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

This is what money can build. George Washington Vanderbilt II had this mega-mansion of more than 178,000-square feet constructed between 1889 and 1895. Take time to stroll the gardens.

9. Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn, NY

Each day more than 124,000 vehicles cross this bridge, opened in 1883. Walk across the bridge to savor the stunning views.

10. Rockefeller Center, New York, NY

Built in 1939, Rockefeller Center covers 22 acres. “Saturday Night Live” is among the television shows broadcast from NBC studios.

Expedia’s Top 10 World Landmarks

1. Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu, Peru

This impressive 15^th century urban Inca site is situated 7,970 feet above sea level.

2. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Covering more than 30 acres, the Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates.

3. Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

This temple complex, at 1.6 million square feet, is among the world’s largest religious monuments.

4. St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City

This church is a prominent example of Italian Renaissance design and, according to Catholic tradition, the burial site of St. Peter.

5. Taj Mahal, Agra, India

The 17^th century complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site noted for its architecture and Muslim art in India.

6. Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain

Begun in the 8^th century, the mosque, an important statement of Moorish architecture, is noted for its columns and arches. In the 13^th century the mosque was converted into a church.

7. Church of the Savior on Spilt Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia

Constructed on the site where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated in 1881, the church is noted for its architecture and interior mosaics.

8. The Alhambra, Granada, Spain

This palace-fortress, begun in the 9^th century and completed in the 14^th, stands as a monument to Moorish rule of Andalusia. Allow time to stroll the gardens.

9. Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Washington, DC

Built to commemorate Abraham Lincoln, the memorial and reflecting pool have served as the site for many protests and gatherings. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I have a dream speech” at this site.

10. Milan Cathedral (Duomo), Milan, Italy

The impressive Gothic structure, the second largest church in Italy, was completed over six centuries.