Wonders of the World

There are countless incredible sights to be seen all across the globe, from natural wonders to the best architecture mankind has to offer. But what time of year will give you the best chance of seeing these attractions in their full glory?

Each year, thousands of people search for the perfect time to visit the world’s biggest attractions, but with the information spread widely across the internet, it’s not always easy to find a straight answer. Luckily, Next Vacay is here to compile it all into one place.

After identifying the world’s most popular attractions from their visitor numbers, we’ve used their website and their official area’s website (as well as other related sources when these weren’t available) to discover the perfect time of year to visit.

Flowers blooming, leaves growing back on trees, baby animals everywhere you look: spring is a great season. And it’s even better for the following attractions. If you’re planning on visiting any of these destinations soon, we’d suggest holding off until spring comes round again.

When it comes to a getaway in Istanbul, spring is a great season to go. Temperatures aren’t as hot, you’ll find fewer crowds, and accommodations are much more affordable. The Grand Bazaar in the city, one of the oldest covered markets in the world, has been offering customers unique goods since 1455, and sees 91 million visitors every single year. So, if you want to experience this little bit of history without the claustrophobic crowds of the summer season, March to June is the perfect time to book your trip.

Sin City sees a huge influx of visitors both in the winter—especially over New Year’s Eve and the Super Bowl—and in the summer, when the temperatures soar to over 100 degrees. Each year, there are around 42 million visitors to the area, so to have more of the casinos to yourself (and loads more rooms available in the top hotels), visiting in spring is a surefire way to avoid the Strip at its busiest times.

If you find yourself in Chicago, Millennium Park is a must-see. Not only is it the home of the iconic “Bean”, but there are also stunning gardens and fountains dotted around the area, enjoyed by around 25 million visitors every year. From rock climbing to occasional concerts, there’s something for everyone in this park. For the best of Chicago’s weather and a buzzing but not too busy atmosphere, springtime is ideal.

For the best weather and the most activities happening for tourists, warm but breezy spring is perfect for visiting the Forbidden City. The attraction is all outdoors, so you’ll be grateful for the mild weather when leisurely exploring the historical complex. Try to avoid going on weekends, though, as this is an especially busy time for the attraction—you’ll have to share the city with a large percentage of the 19 million yearly visitors on these days.

While greenery needs water in order to grow, it’s not always a fun experience to wander around an outdoor space in the pouring rain. The Gardens by the Bay in Singapore consists of acres of beautiful flora that you can explore (from around $15) and is visited by 13 million people every year—but the majority of the sights are completely outdoors. Visit on a dry spring day for the best trip.

Summer is many people’s favorite season to vacation in, and for many of the world’s most popular attractions, it’s also the best time to visit. How convenient. If any of these are on your bucket list, make sure you use your summer vacation to tick them off.

Berlin’s iconic gate attracts 12 million visitors a year, but when is the best time to see this stunning structure? Well, if there’s one night to be avoided, it’s New Year’s Eve. Around one million people visit the Gate on this evening to ring in the new year, so if crowds aren’t your thing, this won’t be the best time for you. Instead, soak in the German summer sun and enjoy a leisurely walk around the attraction anytime between May and September.

Visiting Paris will never be crowd free. The city sees over 30 million visitors every year, and nine million of them will visit The Louvre. So, no matter when you choose to go, you’ll have to share the sights with plenty of other tourists. Since this is the case, you may as well visit when the weather’s ideal—and that’s summer. The months of June and August in Paris are stunning, with temperatures in the high 70s and plenty of sun.

Six million people visit Cologne Cathedral each year, making it one of the most popular attractions in Germany. The Gothic architecture here is iconic around the world and best enjoyed under a brilliant summer sun. We’d recommend visiting between May and September to see the Cathedral in the best possible light (literally).

Seeing the Sistine Chapel is on many people’s bucket lists—and there’s no question as to why. The stunning painting adorning the ceiling is one of the most recognizable artworks of all time, and 5 million people make their way to see this beauty every year. Hot tip: between May and October (excluding the peak season of August), you can pre-book tickets to see the Sistine Chapel in the evening, after everyone else has gone home.

Yosemite National Park is one of the world’s most beautiful areas, so naturally, it’s best enjoyed in the stunning summer weather of California. Around 4.5 million people visit the park every year, showing that it’s clearly a popular attraction for locals and tourists alike. The park is over 1,100 square miles, so even in the peak tourist season of summer, you’ll have plenty of open space to explore.

Traveling in fall, as the weather begins to turn and the nights get cooler, is the perfect choice for many people. Some of the world’s top attractions are best when visited at this time of year due to the lack of summer crowds and—in some cases—more manageable temperatures. These are the most popular ones that fall (no pun intended) into this category.

Australia’s warmest months fall in our fall/winter, so these months tend to bring a large number of tourists to the country—the majority of the country’s 10.9 million yearly visitors choose this season for travel. So, to avoid the crowds, still experience the warm Aussie weather and find cheaper accommodation, fall is a great time to visit. The Sydney Opera House is open throughout this season, offering tours that are bound to be less packed than in the height of summer.

The Golden Gate Bridge may be a sight worth seeing, but if you visit on a warm summer morning, chances are it won’t even be ‘visible. Fog covers the whole bridge on mornings like that, so for your chance of getting the best pictures of this attraction, fall is an ideal time to make the trip. There are 10 million visitors to the bridge each year, so some are bound to be caught out by the fog: don’t be one of them!

As fall enters Washington DC, the sweltering heat and crowds of tourists leave. The orange leaves start to arrive, and they look stunning against the marble structures that adorn the city. One of these, The Lincoln Memorial, sees 7.8 million visitors each year—but to get the best view of the big man himself, avoid the crowds by visiting between September and November.

The iconic Parisian landmark, the Eiffel Tower, has 7 million people arriving every year to take in the breathtaking sights. Built in 1887, countless tourists have enjoyed the structure in all weathers, but the best time to visit is the fall. In this season, lines for the tower are much shorter than in the height of summer, and the slight chill in the air means you can flaunt your cosiest, Parisian-inspired outfits.

The Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney is a 70 acre heritage listed botanical garden. To take in the garden’s beauty—without risking an Australian summer heatstroke—, we recommend visiting in the fall, or between September and November. This wonder attracts 4.4 million visitors a year,because who wouldn’t want to be wowed by a beautiful array of flowers?

From seasonal events going on at the top attractions to the coziness of wrapping up warm when setting out on a day of exploring, the festive joy of winter makes it a great time to travel. If you’re planning a vacation in this season, we’d recommend trying to fit one of these attractions into your itinerary.

If you want to be one of the 20 million yearly visitors to Disney World, we’d recommend planning your trip for the winter months. In summer, the huge numbers of Disney lovers descending on the park make it difficult to get around smoothly. Once the weather cools down, crowds become thinner and, more importantly, there are shorter lines for all the best rides.

Summers in Egypt get hot. Over 100 degrees hot. So, it’s often a better idea to vacation there in the winter when temperatures average a much more manageable 85 degrees. There are 14.7 million visitors to the country’s most famous wonder—the Great Pyramids of Giza—every single year, but going between October and April is bound to be a much more pleasant (and crowd-free) time to soak in the history.

The Grand Palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam since 1782, meaning there is history steeped into every part of this structure. Eight million people visit this palace every year, so try to arrive early on a weekday for some peace and quiet, or go during American winter in the dry season so you can make the most of the stunning scenery. This way, you’ll have the best experience possible and avoid the (sometimes) huge crowds.

Ocean Park provides a fun-filled day out for any tourists (or locals) in Hong Kong. With 7.7 million visitors each year, there are some days to steer clear of if you want to avoid the big crowds gathering for a day of jam-packed activities. Visit the park in October and November for some amazing weather for a winter vacation—warm and dry, perfect for a day of theme-parking.

Hoover Dam in Nevada is admired by 7 million people every year. It’s been around since the Great Depression, but there’s one season in which to visit the structure to make sure you’ll feel the greatest happiness while you take in the sights: winter. In this season, the temperature is perfect for spending time outdoors exploring, and there are fewer crowds around to block the magnificent views.

No matter what iconic landmark you want to visit across the world, Next Vacay can help you get there. To find the best deals on flights anywhere around the globe, sign up to our newsletter to stay informed. Start planning your next big trip today!

Based on number of visitors per year we created a top 10 ranking for which wonders of the world were the most popular to visit for each season (Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring, including the hot and wet seasons for Asia). Sites which had no data provided for admissions were omitted.