I think to myself, what a beautiful world. There’s so much beauty in so many of the world’s nations. From magnificent coasts to breathtaking forests, and from savannahs to cityscapes. Here are the twenty most beautiful countries of all. Best get saving for some travel!
- Nepal
The mountain country of Nepal is predictably stunning. The capital of Kathmandu is possibly the most famous, and has exceptionally distinctive architecture, but the second largest town of Pokhara is the real jaw-dropper as it is looked upon by some of the tallest mountains on earth, in the Annapurna massif.
At the time of this list's publication, Nepal has been rocked by a devastating earthquake that has claimed the lives of many. Our thoughts are with the people of the beautiful mountain nation.
- Australia
Australia has 16,000 miles of coastline, boasting some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the greatest natural wonders in the world, the Island of Tasmania is one of the world's 10 most beautiful, and Sydney is one of the world's ten loveliest cities. The Hamersley Mountain range is the second oldest in the world. The Land Down Under is over the top beautiful!
- Philippines
Often overlooked because of neighbouring beauty Thailand, the Philippines is one of the most stunning countries in the world. It's made up of over 7000 stunning islands in the Pacific Ocean! Palawan in particular has been called the most beautiful island in the world!
- Brazil
The world's most biodiverse country is also its fifth largest. Within such a massive area, it is unsurprising that there are scenic highlights. Foremost is undoubtedly the unparalleled Amazon Rainforest and Amazon River. The Rain Forest is by far the largest on earth, and would be the sixth largest country in the world were it independent. The Pantanal is one of the best wildlife destinations in the world, the Iguazu falls named the second most amazing waterfall in the world, and Rio de Janeiro has been named the second most beautiful city in the world.
Switzerland
Europe's mountain nation encompasses probably the very most beautiful parts of the Alps. The Matterhorn is listed number two on the most incredible mountains in the world list, and the Bernese Oberland makes up some of the most beautiful highlands on earth. The country has earned it's cliché for near-perfection, as it is amongst the cleanest on earth. Wandering through the streets of some of the most beautiful towns and villages in the world, like Lugano and Luzern, one feels it would be possible to eat off the streets themselves!
Canada
The Canadian Rockies are justifiably famous as amongst the most beautiful in the world. The stunning view of the Twelve Apostles from Moraine Lake in Banff National Park is one of the most beautiful in the world, Vancouver is one of the world's loveliest cities, the Baffin island mountains are known by few but are totally unmissable travel highlights, the country has the longest coastline in the world, and as featured in a recent list the mind bending Sam Ford Fjord is seen by some as the world's most impressive fjord on planet earth! And you thought they only had Bieber?
Italy
Probably the most beautiful country in all of Europe, Italy is one of the world's great tourist destinations for a reason. Not only are the Dolomite Alps some of the loveliest mountains on earth, but the Mediterranean finds its very most beautiful landscape on the Amalfi Coast, named the third most beautiful coastal drive in the world. Rome is one of the most stunning cities on earth, and Positano has been named the loveliest town in all the world. Some more of the world's loveliest coast is found in the stunning island of Sicily, which also boasts some of the world's most beautiful wildflowers in spring – as does Umbria! Add lakes like Como, a huge number of the most beautiful churches in the world, some of the greatest art works on the planet, and several of the most beautiful small cities on earth – including Florence and Venice – and Italy is certainly one of the most beautiful countries on earth!
China
The world's third largest country has some of its finest scenery. The Mekong River is one of the most extraordinary rivers in the world, arising in the vast Tibetan Plateau. This plateau is the largest and highest plateau in the world, with tens of thousands of glaciers including the Rongbuk, Midui and Hailuogou that eventually help feed the Mekong and many other rivers. If regarded as a canyon, the Yarlung Tsangpo Canyon is certainly the largest on Earth, stretching over 300 miles in length and attaining a mind boggling maximum depth of almost 20,000 feet near Mount Namcha Barwa in the Himalayas.
And of course the Himalayas are probably the ultimate visual highlight of the great country of China. Everest and Mount Qogir, the two tallest mountains on earth, are both on the border of China. Nine of the world's fourteen 'Eight Thousanders' are in China or on the Chinese border.
Aside from the Himalayas, Mount Hua, Mount Tianmen and mount Tianzi are stunning. The Detian Falls, on the border with Vietnam, have been listed as some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world and the hills of Guanxi province are utterly astonishing.
As if that wasn't enough, China has urban beauty and cultural beauty that rivals anywhere on the planet. Its cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, are world famous and in a prominent list Hong Kong has recently been rated one of the world's most beautiful. The Forbidden City, The Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall of China are just three of the magnificent ancient structures that justify China's place in the most beautiful countries on earth.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
OK, we're biased, but the good old US of A is one of the most stunning places in the world, and pretty much no one could argue that point. From the jaw dropping Yosemite to the awesomeness of New York City, few countries can compete with what's on offer in America.
Half of the most beautiful canyons in the world are here, including Zion, Antelope, Bryce, Paria, Waimea and of course the Grandest of them all. The Painted Desert is one of the most beautiful in the world, and Tracy's Arm is amongst the most beautiful fjord's in the world. The Everglades are amongst the most beautiful wetlands, Yellowstone is by far the world's greatest geothermal site and it's not too bad for wildlife either. The States has two of the world's top ten waterfalls in the form of Niagara and Yosemite, one wide, one tall, and both stunning.
The country has some of the most stunning mountains in the world, including the Colorado Rockies, the Grand Tetons and the Sierra Nevada. Glacier National Park is incredible, and the most awesome forest in the world is Sequoia. It is home to the largest living thing by volume, the magnificent General Sherman tree.
As if that were't amazing enough, the oldest trees are also found in the US! Methuselah is a Bristlecone Pine estimated to be 4,846 years in age! That means he's been looking over the stunning California landscape since before the Great Pyramids of Egypt were even dreamt of!
There are also ancient mountains including the Appalachians, St Francois and the Black Hills all of which are over a billion years in age and amongst the ten oldest ranges in the world. The Mississippi is one of the great rivers of the world, and Lake Superior is just the biggest of five great lakes which together hold one fifth of the world's fresh water reserves. For beauty though, Crater Lake is pretty much as pretty as its possible to be, although Tahoe gives it a run for its money, as does St Mary Lake in Glacier National Park, or Jenny Lake in Wyoming.
Not only does New England have the most beautiful Fall in the world, but Texas, Mount Rainier and California are three of the world's ten best places to go in Spring and witness wildflower displays. The Bering Glacier is one of the most amazing glaciers in the world, and Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on Earth. The Mammoth Cave System is the longest known in the world, and the Na'apali coast is one of the most beautiful on Earth! Denali, as Mount McKinley is traditionally known, is not only North America's tallest mountain, but has probably the greatest base to top height distance of any mountain in the world at an incredible 18,000 feet.
All of which makes the country pretty much perfect for road-tripping, which one can choose to do on not one, not two, but three of the twelve most beautiful coastal drives in the world - Oregon, Hana and Big Sur.
Even without the nature, this country is incredible. Whether you're looking for beautiful small towns, small cities or huge cities, the US features on every list in the form of places including Bardstown, Santa Fe, Savannah, San Francisco and New York. New Orleans has been named one of the most beautiful small cities, and their Mardi Gras is probably the world's biggest and coolest party outside of Brazil's carnival! Las Vegas has to have more lights per inhabitant than anywhere else on the planet, and was voted the second highest city 'you have to see before you die' by the BBC.
The urban skylines in America are the stuff of legend. New York takes the cake, with probably the most iconic skyline in the world, but Chicago is not far behind, and Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston, Seattle and Atlanta are all pretty much instantly recognisable too from their awesome skylines.
The Chrysler Building has repeatedly been named the world's most beautiful skyscraper, and The Empire State Building is arguably the most iconic building in the world. The Brooklyn Bay Bridge is only beaten by the magnificent Golden Gate to the title of world's most famous! With incredible monuments like Mount Rushmore, The Lincoln Memorial and the Statue of Liberty, this is a country with more beauty than anyone could handle.
Whether you're looking for a glacial lake or bright lights to shop by, we've got it. Basically, the States has just about everything, and is one seriously bad-ass beautiful country.