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Discover World Heritage Sites
Humanity’s Greatest Treasures
The tradition of conserving heritage goes back to ancient times, when people sought to protect sacred groves and mountains, churches and waterways that mattered to a particular community. People visited and used these places with care and reverence.
In 1972, with the adoption of the World Heritage Convention, the world’s nations came together under the auspices of UNESCO to formally recognize and conserve heritage of value and importance not just to one community, but to all of humanity. It was agreed that their loss would constitute an impoverishment of the world’s shared heritage, and thus we must protect these places deemed to have “Outstanding Universal Value.”
These outstanding qualities have, today, made World Heritage sites some of the most visited places on Earth, which can have both positive and negative impacts on their conservation and on the experience of visitors and residents.
World Heritage Journeys is an initiative by UNESCO, in collaboration with National Geographic and local heritage and tourism managers, to showcase World Heritage destinations and help travellers experience them in ways that protect and support their outstanding value and the local communities that sustain them.
- Use this platform to learn more about World Heritage, with in-depth travel guides for featured destinations and basic information for all World Heritage sites.
- Discover hidden gems where increased visitation can help support conservation and sustainable development.
- Get insider tips for experiencing popular iconic sites more deeply, in ways that avoid the crowds and protect their heritage.
Travel Differently, Travel Deeper
Tourism at World Heritage sites can help support heritage management and local economic development, but it can also erode or destroy a site’s outstanding universal value. With tourism and the number of heritage properties growing, it's important to understand how to enjoy a trip without damaging the awe-inspiring sites you're exploring.
Our Shared Heritage
The sites within these pages are special, deemed worthy of preservation and protection for the treasures they offer to the world. But to appreciate the value of World Heritage sites, it’s important to understand what heritage is and why it matters.
© UNESCO World Heritage Centre 2025