This page lists 46 famous places that start with I, from “Iguazu Falls” to “Isola Bella.” The list covers waterfalls, islands, big cities, sacred shrines, museums and national parks across every continent except Antarctica. You can use it to plan a trip, find new destinations, or just learn where some of the world’s best-known spots are.
Famous places are locations that people recognize and visit because of their beauty, history, culture or importance. Some are so well known that they shape a whole country’s image, like Istanbul, the only major city that sits on two continents at once.
Below you’ll find the table with the place, country, type, visitor count and description of each one.
Place: The name of each destination, listed in alphabetical order, so you can quickly find a spot you already know or discover a new one.
Country: The country where each place is located. Some sites sit on a border, so you may see two countries listed together.
Type: The kind of place it is, such as an island, shrine, museum or national park. This helps you pick destinations that match your interests.
Visitor count: A rough number of people who visit each year. It shows you how busy a place is, and “N/A” means no reliable figure is available.
Description: A short summary of what makes each place special, including key sights and facts, so you know what to expect before you go.
Famous places
| Place | Country | Type | Visitor count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iguazu Falls | Argentina / Brazil | Waterfall | 3,000,000 |
| Istanbul | Turkey | City | 17,000,000 |
| Ibiza | Spain | Island | 3,000,000 |
| Iceland | Iceland | Country | 2,000,000 |
| Isle of Skye | United Kingdom | Island | 650,000 |
| Ipanema Beach | Brazil | Beach | N/A |
| Intramuros | Philippines | Historic district | 1,000,000 |
| Inca Trail | Peru | Hiking trail | 50,000 |
| Itsukushima Shrine | Japan | Shrine | 4,000,000 |
| Ise Grand Shrine | Japan | Shrine | 8,000,000 |
| Imam Reza Shrine | Iran | Shrine | 25,000,000 |
| Independence Hall | United States | Historic site | 700,000 |
| Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum | United States | Museum | 1,000,000 |
| Indianapolis Motor Speedway | United States | Race track | 300,000 |
| Indiana Dunes National Park | United States | National park | 3,000,000 |
| Isle Royale National Park | United States | National park | 25,000 |
| Innsbruck | Austria | City | 1,500,000 |
| Interlaken | Switzerland | Town | N/A |
| Inverness | United Kingdom | City | N/A |
| Isfahan | Iran | City | N/A |
| Isle of Man | Isle of Man | Island | 300,000 |
| Isle of Wight | United Kingdom | Island | N/A |
| Iona | United Kingdom | Island | 130,000 |
| Ischia | Italy | Island | N/A |
| Ishigaki | Japan | Island | 1,000,000 |
| Ithaca | Greece | Island | N/A |
| Iwo Jima | Japan | Island | N/A |
| Ilulissat Icefjord | Greenland | Fjord | 50,000 |
| Inle Lake | Myanmar | Lake | N/A |
| Iberá Wetlands | Argentina | Wetland | N/A |
| Irazú Volcano | Costa Rica | Volcano | N/A |
| Ibirapuera Park | Brazil | Park | 14,000,000 |
| Itaipu Dam | Brazil / Paraguay | Dam | 1,000,000 |
| India Gate | India | Monument | N/A |
| Imperial Palace | Japan | Palace | N/A |
| Israel Museum | Israel | Museum | 1,000,000 |
| Imperial War Museum | United Kingdom | Museum | 1,000,000 |
| Icehotel | Sweden | Hotel | 50,000 |
| Ironbridge Gorge | United Kingdom | World Heritage Site | N/A |
| Ilha Grande | Brazil | Island | N/A |
| Ipoh | Malaysia | City | N/A |
| Incheon | South Korea | City | N/A |
| Irkutsk | Russia | City | N/A |
| Ibn Tulun Mosque | Egypt | Mosque | N/A |
| Imam Mosque | Iran | Mosque | N/A |
| Isola Bella | Italy | Island | N/A |
Descriptions
Iguazu Falls
A huge system of about 275 waterfalls spread across the border of Argentina and Brazil. The Devil’s Throat, a U-shaped cliff where the water plunges, is the most dramatic viewpoint.
Istanbul
The only major city that spans two continents, split by the Bosphorus Strait between Europe and Asia. It is known for Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, and more than 1,500 years as an imperial capital.
Ibiza
A Balearic island in the Mediterranean famous for its superclubs and star DJs. It also has quiet coves, a walled old town (Dalt Vila), and a relaxed hippie-era side.
Iceland
A Nordic island nation of volcanoes, glaciers, geysers, hot springs and northern lights. Many visitors drive the Ring Road, which loops around the whole island.
Isle of Skye
The largest island of Scotland’s Inner Hebrides, known for jagged mountains and sea cliffs. Highlights include the Old Man of Storr, the Fairy Pools and Neist Point lighthouse.
Ipanema Beach
A stretch of sand in Rio de Janeiro made famous by the song “The Girl from Ipanema.” It is a favorite for sunsets over the Two Brothers mountain and for people-watching.
Intramuros
The walled old city of Manila, built by the Spanish in the late 1500s. It contains Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church and cobblestone streets lined with colonial-era buildings.
Inca Trail
A 26-mile trek through the Andes that ends at Machu Picchu. Daily permits are limited, so hikers usually book months in advance.
Itsukushima Shrine
A Shinto shrine on Miyajima Island whose giant red torii gate appears to float on the water at high tide. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ise Grand Shrine
Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrine, dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu. Its main buildings are rebuilt in the same style every 20 years.
Imam Reza Shrine
A vast complex in Mashhad that holds the tomb of the eighth Shia Imam. It is one of the largest mosque complexes in the world and a major pilgrimage destination.
Independence Hall
The Philadelphia building where both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were debated and signed. Visitors can tour the Assembly Room where it happened.
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
A museum built around a retired aircraft carrier on the Hudson River in New York City. Its collection includes a Concorde, a submarine and the space shuttle Enterprise.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The home of the Indianapolis 500, one of the world’s most famous auto races. The track opened in 1909 and its infield alone can hold well over 100,000 fans.
Indiana Dunes National Park
A national park on the southern shore of Lake Michigan with sand dunes, beaches, wetlands and forests. It is an easy getaway from Chicago.
Isle Royale National Park
A remote island in Lake Superior reachable only by boat or seaplane. It is known for backcountry hiking and a long-running study of its wolves and moose.
Innsbruck
An Alpine city in the Tyrol region surrounded by steep mountains. It has hosted the Winter Olympics twice and mixes a medieval old town with ski slopes a short ride away.
Interlaken
A small town between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz in the Swiss Alps. It is a hub for paragliding, hiking and trips up to the Jungfrau region.
Inverness
The main city of the Scottish Highlands, on the River Ness. It is the usual starting point for visits to Loch Ness and Culloden Battlefield.
Isfahan
A historic Persian city famous for its blue-tiled mosques, bridges and the huge Naqsh-e Jahan Square. A saying calls it “half the world.”
Isle of Man
A self-governing island in the Irish Sea known for the Isle of Man TT motorcycle races, steam railways and tailless Manx cats.
Isle of Wight
A holiday island off England’s south coast known for sandy beaches, chalk cliffs and the Needles rock stacks. It also hosts a well-known annual music festival.
Iona
A tiny Scottish island that is a cradle of Christianity in Britain. Saint Columba founded a monastery here in 563, and Iona Abbey still draws pilgrims.
Ischia
A volcanic island in the Bay of Naples known for thermal spas and hot springs. It is quieter and less crowded than nearby Capri.
Ishigaki
A subtropical island in Okinawa Prefecture with clear water, coral reefs and white sand. It is a gateway to the other Yaeyama Islands.
Ithaca
A small Ionian island best known as the home of Odysseus in Homer’s epic poem. Today it is a quiet spot with pebble beaches and sailing harbors.
Iwo Jima
A volcanic island in the Pacific that was the site of a major World War II battle in 1945. The famous flag-raising photo on Mount Suribachi was taken here.
Ilulissat Icefjord
A UNESCO-listed fjord where one of the world’s most active glaciers sheds huge icebergs into the sea. Boat trips and hiking trails offer close views.
Inle Lake
A freshwater lake in Shan State known for floating gardens and stilt villages. Local fishermen are famous for rowing with one leg wrapped around the oar.
Iberá Wetlands
One of South America’s largest wetlands, full of caimans, capybaras, marsh deer and birds. It is a growing destination for wildlife watching.
Irazú Volcano
Costa Rica’s tallest active volcano, with a crater lake that can shift from green to turquoise. On clear days you can see both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans from the summit.
Ibirapuera Park
São Paulo’s biggest and most popular city park, with lakes, museums, bike paths and modernist buildings by architect Oscar Niemeyer.
Itaipu Dam
A giant hydroelectric dam on the Paraná River shared by Brazil and Paraguay. It is one of the largest power producers in the world and offers guided tours.
India Gate
A 42-meter war memorial in New Delhi honoring Indian soldiers who died in World War I. It is a popular evening gathering spot with lawns and food stalls.
Imperial Palace
The residence of Japan’s emperor in central Tokyo, set within moats and stone walls. The outer gardens and East Gardens are open to the public.
Israel Museum
Israel’s national museum in Jerusalem, home to the Dead Sea Scrolls in its Shrine of the Book. It also has a large art collection and an archaeology wing.
Imperial War Museum
A London museum covering modern conflict from World War I to the present. Exhibits include aircraft, tanks and personal stories from soldiers and civilians.
Icehotel
A hotel in Jukkasjärvi, in Swedish Lapland, rebuilt each winter from ice and snow from the Torne River. Even the beds and art are carved from ice.
Ironbridge Gorge
The English valley where the world’s first iron bridge was built in 1779. It is seen as a birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and has several museums.
Ilha Grande
A car-free, jungle-covered island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state. It has dozens of beaches and hiking trails.
Ipoh
The capital of Perak state, known for its limestone cave temples, colonial buildings and street food such as white coffee and bean sprout chicken.
Incheon
A port city west of Seoul that is home to the country’s main international airport. It also has a historic Chinatown and Songdo’s modern waterfront district.
Irkutsk
A Siberian city with wooden houses and a famous location near Lake Baikal. It is a common stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
Ibn Tulun Mosque
A 9th-century mosque in Cairo, one of the oldest in Egypt still in its original form. It is known for its large courtyard and spiral minaret.
Imam Mosque
A 17th-century mosque on Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, decorated with colorful tilework. It is considered a masterpiece of Persian architecture.
Isola Bella
A small island on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, home to a baroque palace and terraced gardens where white peacocks roam.