By Eric Bowman
TravelPulse
Do you know how many UNESCO World Heritage Sites there are in the world?
The answer is now 1,248 landmarks, spanning across more than 170 countries after recent additions to the list.
UNESCO added multiple sites during July, with Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle arguably the most well-known of the new properties. The fairy-tale castle inspired Walt Disney’s creation of Sleeping Beauty’s palace.
UNESCO plays a vital role in helping ensure these historic sites around the world are preserved.
The list of World Heritage Sites certainly piques the interest of travelers from all over.
However, it’s important for all of us to remember that responsible tourism is so incredibly important at these places.
Broken down into different categories, the list consists of sites of cultural importance, natural beauty, and what they describe as a mix of both.
Machu Picchu, the Great Wall of China, the Galapagos Islands—to name a few—are places that need to be respected when visited.
It would be quite the feat to one day visit all of them. But the best part for that goal is it may never end, as UNESCO appears to add places year after year.
You know what would be a fun challenge? How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites can you visit in 24 hours?
2025 UNESCO Heritage Site Additions
Australia: Murujuga Cultural Landscape
Brazil: Cavernas do Peruaçu National Park
Cambodia: Cambodian Memorial Sites: From centers of repression to places of peace and reflection
Cameroon: Diy-Gid-Biy Cultural Landscape of the Mandara Mountains
China: Xixia Imperial Tombs
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea: Mount Kumgang—Diamond Mountain from the Sea
Denmark: Møns Klint
France: Megaliths of Carnac and of the shores of Morbihan
Germany: The Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Schachen and Herrenchiemsee
Greece: Minoan Palatial Centres
Guinea-Bissau: Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of the Bijagós Archipelago—Omatí Minhô
India: Maratha Military Landscapes of India
Iran (Islamic Republic of): The Prehistoric Sites of the Khorramabad Valley
Italy: Funerary Tradition in the Prehistory of Sardinia—The domus de janas
Jamaica: The Archaeological Ensemble of 17th Century Port Royal
Malawi: Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape
Malaysia: Forest Research Institute Malaysia Forest Park Selangor
Mexico: Wixárika Route through Sacred Sites to Wirikuta (Tatehuarí Huajuyé)
Panama: The Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá
Republic of Korea: Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream
Russian Federation: Rock Paintings of Shulgan-Tash Cave
Sierra Leone: Gola-Tiwai Complex
Tajikistan: Cultural Heritage Sites of Ancient Khuttal
Turkey: Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli of Bin Tepe
United Arab Emirates: Faya Palaeolandscape
Vietnam: Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes
Copyright 2025 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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