Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more
From crystal caves to a yacht with major royal ties, there are plenty of tourist attractions around the world.
Not to mention an endless list of experiences to be had, cities to explore and tours to book on.
Tripadvisor’s annual 2026 Travellers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things To Do highlights the highest rated attractions and experiences across the globe.
Based on the millions of reviews left on the huge travel guidance platform, the winners have now been announced.
And a UK spot has taken the crown, being named the best tourist attraction in the world.
Read on to see the whole list…
Top attractions around the world
The Royal Yacht Britannia has been crowned the top attraction in the world, and can be found in Edinburgh
Located in Edinburgh, The Royal Yacht Britannia is Tripadvisor’s number one attraction.
Formerly called HMY Britannia, the boat was once the royal residence of Queen Elizabeth II.
The boat impressively sailed over one million nautical miles between 1953 to 1997 before it decked in Edinburgh in 1998 and is the last surviving British royal yacht.
Nowadays, visitors can hop on board and explore Britannia’s five decks and even see the gleaming engine room.
Guests can also dine in the Royal Deck Tearoom – the very room where the Royal Family used to play games and entertain.
On the award, Franck Bruyère, chief executive of The Royal Yacht Britannia, said: ‘We are incredibly proud of The Royal Yacht Britannia’s success and wish to thank our visitors for taking the time to share their gift of feedback.
‘Being number one in the world is a tremendous achievement and a testament to our team’s unwavering commitment to delivering an exceptional visitor experience.’
The Basílica de la Sagrada Familia was designed by architect Antoni Gaudi, and has been under construction since 1882.
While the structure of the central towers was finally completed in February 2026, work on the basilica’s decorative details, sculptures and main staircase are expected to continue until 2034.
As well as placing second in TripAdvisor’s awards, la Sagrada Familia also boasts UNESCO World Heritage Status for its crypt and nativity facade.
Visitors can go all the way to the top of the towers in a lift and take in panoramic views of Barcelona.
‘An amazing must see if visiting Barcelona. Stunning all throughout, nothing else like it,’ one review raves.
Over in Singapore, the Gardens by the Bay consist of a lush green area in Marina Bay
Spread across 101 hectares, Gardens by the Bay is located in Singapore’s downtown, Marina Bay.
It boasts three waterfront gardens called Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central, and is home to a huge collection of 1.5million plants.
A tourist penned: ‘Gardens by the Bay was really good fun and there is a lot to see. The gardens are very impressive and the Supertrees are especially worth seeing, particularly in the evening when they light up.
‘The only downside was that it was very busy, which took away from the experience slightly. Even so, it is still worth visiting and is one of the best attractions in Singapore.’
The Empire State Building, in New York, placed fourth overall
With over 97,000 reviews, the Empire State Building ranks as the fourth best attraction in the world.
Located in New York City, it stands 1,454 feet tall and was the Travelers’ Choice Award best attraction in 2025.
The building is used for offices but also houses a museum and two open-air observatories.
One visitor gushed: ‘This is an outstanding experience. The museum was extremely well done and the views spectacular.
‘It is a must experience and something you could enjoy in multiple visits. The staff was very helpful, engaging, and appeared to really enjoy their job.’
Another must-see attraction is the Cayman Crystal Caves in Grand Cayman (pictured)
The Cayman Crystal Caves consist of jaw-dropping natural underground formations of stalactite and stalagmite crystal structures and more.
The caves sit in a rainforest on the North Side of Grand Cayman and visitors are welcome to explore through guided tours or even private trips.
One visitor, who opted for a private tour described it as ‘an incredible experience’ and continued: ‘The caves are so beautiful, so magical! This is a must-see if you’re visiting the Caymen Islands!’
6. The Real Mary King’s Close, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
The second Scottish site to make the top 10, The Real Mary King’s Close can also be found in Edinburgh
Another Scottish attraction, The Real Mary King’s Close lies beneath the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.
The historical landmark is the city’s only preserved 17th century underground street and is open for visitors throughout the year.
Tourists call it a ‘must-do’ in reviews on Tripadvisor, and one raved, ‘Was worth it and great way to learn a bit about the history of Edinburgh’.
Miniatur Wunderland is an impressive tiny world that visitors can admire in Hamburg, Germany
The world’s largest model train exhibit, Miniatur Wunderland, can be found in Hamburg, Germany.
Each building is carefully crafted and has fascinating levels of details – from the streets of Austria to the Grand Canyon – and all have tiny trains running through the scenes.
One visitor has been twice and described it as ‘sensational,’ meanwhile someone else gushed over the ‘technical and artistic masterpieces’.
Perhaps one of the most recognisable structures in the world, the Eiffel Tower ranked eighth
Located right in the heart of the City of Love is the iconic Eiffel Tower – one of the most well-known landmarks in the world.
It boasts a whopping 143,853 reviews on Tripadvisor at the time of writing, averaging at 4.6 out of five.
Visitors can take a lift to one of the two viewing points, or brave the 674 steps to the second floor and then take a lift to the summit.
Countless visitors urge other tourists to book tickets for the iconic site, and one person penned: ‘If you’re going to Paris you will surely visit the Eiffel Tower, so just book it. Cheaper than other capitol landmarks for an elevator to the top Gustave Eiffel’s iconic 1889 tower remains a must.’
Over in America, the Sun Studio is an iconic music venue still working as a studio during the evenings
The legendary music studio can be found in Memphis, Tennessee and is the very spot where Elvis Presley, at 18 years old, recorded his first song.
Sun Studio is often dubbed the ‘birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll’ because of its strong musical roots and history.
It still operates as a working music studio in the evenings but guests can enjoy a tour during the day.
One visitor raved: ‘An awesome tour, highly recommended. Such a seemingly small slice of music history explodes into a hundred legends, all converging briefly at this humble recording studio.’
The 156-metre tall waterfall in Bodoquena, Brazil rounded off the top 10 attractions
Rated as the number one thing to do in Bodoquena, Brazil, the 156-metre tall waterfall, Cachoeira Boca da Onça, is a breath-taking natural spectacle.
It’s surrounded by hiking trails, beautiful swimming spots and lush greenery. It can take around six hours to complete the seven kilometre trek, with lots of swimming and photo opportunities, according to Tripadvisor.
‘It exceeded our expectations,’ a visitor penned. ‘Wonderful reception space and breathtaking trails with waterfalls. Transparent water with stops for river and waterfall bathing.’
Top Experiences in the World
The Unvanquished Tour through Porto city centre has been ranked as the top experience in the world
As for tours and experiences, the Unvanquished Tour in Porto city centre takes the top spot.
It is recommended by 99 per cent of travellers on Tripadvisor and has a stunning five star overall rating from more than 26,800 reviews.
The walking tour takes visitors through 2,000 years of history and is operated on a flexible pay system, with guests encouraged to pay the amount that they feel reflects their enjoyment of the tour.
The Peaceful Hiroshima and Miyajima UNESCO one-day bus tour, in Japan, follows in second
Another five-star rated experience is the full-day tour from Hiroshima which takes tourists through the Atomic Bomb Dome to various other sites including the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima.
It takes eight hours to complete and the guide can speak Japanese and English. Prices start from £92.47 per adult.
Many reviewers praise the guide for her English skills and knowledge, while others comment on it being a day well spent learning about the history and area.
The ‘Barcelona in one day’ tour allows visitors to see the best landmarks across the city in a short amount of time
The ‘Barcelona in one day’ tour takes holidaymakers through the best sights of the city in just a day.
It’s perfect for those who are only making a fleeting visit and want to see as much as possible.
‘This is highly recommended for people who have limited time in Barcelona,’ one reviewer said, and many others complimented their tour guide for being knowledgeable and friendly.
Amsterdam’s boat tour takes holidaymakers along the canal
Holidaymakers can explore the city of Amsterdam by boat on an all-inclusive tour down the canal.
The experience includes drinks and snacks to enjoy whilst passing by major landmarks like the Rijksmuseum and the Skinny Bridge.
It has thousands of raving reviews and one tourist penned: ‘Highly recommend this tour. It was relaxing and educational! Great way to see the city and meet new people.’
In fifth is the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour in Liverpool (pictured)
Beatles fans can hop on board a colourful bus and take the Magical Mystery Tour through Liverpool.
The bright coach stops at many key spots relating to the Beatles for guests to take photos, including Penny Lane, Strawberry Field, and the childhood home of Paul McCartney.
One music lover wrote: ‘So much information! Much more thorough than we anticipated. Very detail oriented, highly recommend this tour.’
Berlin’s Best tour shows holidaymakers significant landmarks across the city
In just two hours this tour takes holidaymakers through some of the most significant sites in the city.
From the Brandenburg Gate to Checkpoint Charlie, as well as Hitler’s Bunker, the tour covers the Third Reich and Cold War eras.
Many walkers have left stellar reviews about the quality of the guides, as well as the depth and variety of locations the tour explores.
One penned: ‘Excellent tour, filled with interesting locations and a unique perspective on things.’
The Lodon Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs takes tourists away from the typically popular pubs and to the more historical and interesting venues
This experiences takes tourists away from the more popular, crowded spots, and to the pubs of London that are loved by locals and have an interesting history.
It gives visitors the opportunity to drink in iconic breweries and learn interesting tales.
‘Great tour, different side of London I wouldn’t have seen. Honestly could have done longer than 3 hours,’ one person said.
The four-day trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu ranks in eighth place
With over 11,000 reviews and an overall five-star rating, the four-day trail trek from Cusco all the way to Machu Picchu is an impressive feat to complete.
Prices start from £627.42 per person and the tour includes four-man tents provided for two people at a time, as well as meals and drinkable water.
Walkers do have to bring their own sleeping bags and trekking poles, however.
There are countless reviews praising the tour for being a great experience and the tour guides.
One wrote: ‘This tour was incredible, the guides were great and helped make this a truly special trip.’
The Krakow to Zakopane tour lets holidaymakers see the best of both Polish cities
This tour is perfect for those staying in Krakow but who also want to see Zakopane too.
It involves stopping by two villages as well as a visit to the Chochołów thermal pools.
Many of the reviews rave about the driver and guides. Meanwhile, one tourist penned: ‘Value for money very good experience.’
The Amanda Cruise is a multi-day trip across Ha Long Bay, in Vietnam
The Amanda Cruise takes travellers on a multi-day adventure across Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site in northern Vietnam.
Holidaymakers can choose from a two-day, one-night option, or three days and two nights.
Meals are included and prices start from £42.08. The tour is rated an impressive 4.9 out of five overall.
Source link
CHECK OUT: Top Travel Destinations
READ MORE: Travel News
