The Best Things To Do in the World

The Great Wall of China

Built and rebuilt over roughly two thousand years, the Great Wall is a network of fortifications across northern China. Badaling near Beijing is the easiest section to reach; Mutianyu has restored towers, a cable car and fewer crowds; Jinshanling is the walkers' pick. Start early, before the coaches arrive and the light flattens.

Best time: April to May, September to October

Petra

The Nabataean capital was carved into rose-coloured sandstone more than two thousand years ago. You enter through the Siq, a narrow canyon that opens onto the Treasury. The site is far larger than the famous facade: the Monastery, the Royal Tombs and the High Place of Sacrifice each take an hour or two.

Best time: March to May, September to November

Christ the Redeemer

The statue on Corcovado has watched over Rio since 1931. The view takes in Sugarloaf, Copacabana, the lagoon and the Tijuca forest in one sweep. The cog train through the rainforest is the classic way up. Clouds settle on the summit often, so check conditions first and keep a second morning free.

Best time: May to October (dry season)

Machu Picchu

The Inca citadel sits on a ridge above the Urubamba River, largely unknown to the outside world until 1911. Entry is by timed ticket on fixed circuits, so book weeks ahead in the dry season. Most visitors sleep in Aguas Calientes and take the first buses up. The Inca Trail needs a permit months in advance.

Best time: May to September

Chichen Itza

The great Maya city is dominated by El Castillo, the pyramid of Kukulcán, whose four staircases plus top platform add up to 365. At the equinoxes the afternoon light casts a serpent's shadow down the northern stairs. About two hours from Cancún and Tulum; most day tours add a cenote swim and Valladolid.

Best time: November to March

The Colosseum

Rome's amphitheatre opened in AD 80 for gladiatorial games and public spectacles and is now the most visited monument in Italy. Entry is strictly by timed ticket; separate tickets add the arena floor or the underground chambers. The same ticket includes the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill next door.

Best time: October to April

The Taj Mahal

Shah Jahan built the white marble mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is closed on Fridays, opens before sunrise on other days and is at its best in that first hour, when the marble turns from grey to pink to gold. Agra is about three hours from Delhi by road, less by the fastest trains.

Best time: October to March

The Great Pyramid of Giza

The pyramid of Khufu is the only surviving wonder of the ancient world and holds honorary status alongside the modern seven. The Giza plateau sits on the edge of Cairo, so a half-day covers the three pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum nearby. Go early or late; summer midday is punishing.

Best time: October to April

The Grand Canyon

Carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. The South Rim is open all year with the classic viewpoints; Grand Canyon West, with the glass Skywalk, is the closest section to Las Vegas, reached by coach or helicopter.

The Great Barrier Reef

The world's largest coral reef system. Cairns and Port Douglas are the gateways, with day boats to the outer reef for snorkelling and diving. Winter brings the clearest water and the fewest stingers.

The Harbour of Rio de Janeiro

Guanabara Bay, ringed by granite peaks including Sugarloaf and Corcovado. The best views are from the top of Sugarloaf at sunset and from a sailing boat on the bay itself.

Mount Everest

You do not need to climb it to see it. The trek to Everest Base Camp from Lukla takes about twelve days round trip; scenic flights from Kathmandu give a close view in an hour.

The Northern Lights

Charged particles from the sun colliding with the upper atmosphere. Tromsø, Abisko, Iceland, Finnish Lapland and the Yukon are the most reliable bases. Allow at least three nights to improve your odds.

Parícutin Volcano

The volcano began erupting in 1943 and grew to more than 400 metres before going quiet in 1952, the only natural wonder whose birth was witnessed and recorded. Hike or ride to the crater and to the church tower still rising out of the lava.

Victoria Falls

The Zambezi produces the largest sheet of falling water on the planet. Local people call it Mosi-oa-Tunya, the smoke that thunders. Water peaks around March and April; by October the flow allows a swim in the Devil's Pool at the lip of the falls.