What constitutes the most beautiful countries in the world is, of course, all in the eye of the beholder. But we’re willing to bet that the ancient architecture, jungle waterfalls, snow-capped mountaintops, and glowing caverns on this list will be more than a little alluring to most. So consider this an anthology of top architectural attractions, a compendium of cultural wonders, and a shortlist of the most sure-to-impress natural scenery on the planet. Read it like a where’s where to travel and add each destination to your personal bucket list, or simply appreciate these beautiful places for all they offer.
What makes a country beautiful?
As subjective as beauty can be, we did use some concrete data points when creating our list. First, we considered the US News & World Report list of the most scenic places from its 2024 Best Countries ranking. This is based on the perceptions of nearly 17,000 people from around the globe. The top 10 countries from the US News list are all included below. We also considered countries with UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Italy (with 60 sites, Italy has the most of any country in the world). Sustainability and efforts to preserve natural beauty also played a role: We’ve included Sweden, which has topped multiple lists as the greenest nation on the planet.
In addition to the above, we considered both natural allure as well as cultural landmarks, including top-notch architecture, museums, parks, and palaces.
What is the most beautiful country in the world?
While we’re willing to whittle down all the beauty in the world to 21 countries, we can’t choose just one to be the all-out top charmer. That’s why our 21 picks are unnumbered. Though if you still feel the urge to crown the single highest-ranking country, it’s worth noting that Greece nabbed the number one spot on the US News list.
Is the most beautiful country the most visited?
Interestingly, no; Greece isn’t the most visited country in the world. That honor goes to France, which hosted 100 million international tourists in 2023, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization. And that wasn’t just due to pre-Olympics excitement. France has been the top tourism destination for some 30 years.
That being said, Greece has had its fair share of tourism (it ranks in the top 10), and as a result, recently announced plans to combat overtourism from cruise ships with levies. So perhaps this list can serve another purpose: introduce beauty-seeking travelers to new destinations and spread the tourism love.
Which cities are the most naturally beautiful?
Queenstown, New Zealand, with its picturesque Kawarau River; Pamukkale, Turkey, with its white terraced pools; and Hallstatt, Austria, with its idyllic Alpine environs all get a shoutout below for their breathtaking natural scenery. We’ve also done a full list of the 20 most beautiful cities in the world.
Without further ado, and in no particular order, these are 21 of the most beautiful countries in the world.
