Katie Lockhart

A red sandstone amphitheatre. An ancient woodland on the English coast. A teeny tiny island with a black sand beach. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes – luckily, the world isn’t held to the same rigid beauty standards as humans are – and we’ve curated this list to celebrate that.  It goes without saying that Time Out’s ranking of the world’s most beautiful places is entirely subjective and by no means exhaustive, but what we can guarantee is real-life experience. Every single beach, lake, city and valley on this list has been visited and vetted by our globetrotting network of travel writers. In short, they’re all well worth making the journey to see for yourself (no social media fakery here).We update this list regularly, ensuring we’re including the big-hitters while considering the impact of overtourism and spotlighting lesser-known beauty spots. So here it is: Time Out’s guide to the most beautiful places on planet Earth. Happy travels!Updated March 2026: There are seven new additions to the list this year, including a terracotta-coloured Old Town in Italy, an opulent Renaissance-style library in New York and a compact mountain range in northern Spain.Grace Beard is Time Out’s travel editor, based in London. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. RECOMMENDED:⛰️ The most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites🗺 The most underrated travel destinations i

A bonafide honeymoon haven, Asia’s resorts have long been a go-to for newlyweds and couples on the hunt for some R&R. Now, the word is out on Asia’s next-level resort scene, bringing families and solo travellers to its silica shores and lush rainforests. From a remote Indonesian outpost to an oasis in the Cambodian jungle, these resorts are worth pining (and saving) for. Treat yourself to an afternoon massage followed by a Mai Tai or three at any one of our picks for the best resorts in Asia. READ MORE: The absolute best hotels in Asia and The best bars in Asia Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Asia newsletter for the best travel inspiration, straight to your inbox.  

There’s a lot of monkeying around at this resort—literally. Situated on Monkey Mountain, you’ll likely get a few curious primates testing out your private pool, plus fun monkey motifs decorating your glammed-out villa. A Central Vietnam stalwart since it opened in 2012, it arguably has the country’s best design (courtesy of the famous Bill Bensley) along with a pristine bay beach. One of the many fun, kitschy touches here is the resort’s funicular, taking you from the clifftop “Heaven” level down to “Sea.”

If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation—the kind you fantasise about at work—book a villa at Soneva Fushi. The OG barefoot luxury brand, this private island paradise is a playground for adults and kids. Soneva Fushi’s myriad dining options are truly out of this world, including a zip-line dining experience, a breakfast buffet with multiple rooms (think separate chocolate, ice cream and cheese rooms) and an overwater sushi extravaganza. It’s home to one of the continent’s biggest kid’s clubs, with a pirate ship and waterslide you’ll have to drag the little ones away from. And while the kids run wild, butlers can arrange everything from a private movie screening under the stars to snorkelling with manta rays.