This page lists 66 famous places that start with K, running from “K2” to “Kamikochi”. You’ll find towering mountains, ancient temples, royal palaces, national parks, tropical islands and busy cities from every part of the world. Use the list to plan a trip, find new destinations, or learn more about places you have only heard about.
Famous places are locations that people around the world recognize for their beauty, history or cultural meaning. Take “Karnak Temple” in Egypt, which was built and expanded over about 2,000 years and still draws visitors today.
Below you’ll find the table with the place, country, type, visitor count and description for each entry.
Place: The name of each famous location, listed alphabetically so you can quickly find a destination you know or discover a new one.
Country: The country where the place is found, which helps you group destinations by region and plan a trip around a single area.
Type: The kind of place it is, such as a mountain, temple, national park or city, so you can browse by the experience you want.
Visitor count: The approximate number of visitors the place receives each year. A value of “N/A” means no reliable figure is available, so you can judge how busy it may be.
Description: A short summary of what makes the place special and what you can see or do there, so you know whether it fits your interests.
Famous places
| Place | Country | Type | Visitor count |
|---|---|---|---|
| K2 | Pakistan/China | Mountain | N/A |
| Kaaba | Saudi Arabia | Religious shrine | N/A |
| Kaiteur Falls | Guyana | Waterfall | 10,000 |
| Kakadu National Park | Australia | National park | 200,000 |
| Kamakura Great Buddha | Japan | Monument | 2,000,000 |
| Kanchenjunga | Nepal/India | Mountain | N/A |
| Kandy | Sri Lanka | City | N/A |
| Karlstejn Castle | Czech Republic | Castle | 250,000 |
| Karnak Temple | Egypt | Temple complex | N/A |
| Kasuga Taisha | Japan | Shrine | N/A |
| Kata Tjuta | Australia | Rock formations | N/A |
| Kathmandu Durbar Square | Nepal | Historic square | N/A |
| Kennedy Space Center | United States | Space center | 1,500,000 |
| Kensington Gardens | United Kingdom | Royal park | N/A |
| Kensington Palace | United Kingdom | Royal palace | N/A |
| Kenai Fjords National Park | United States | National park | 400,000 |
| Kenrokuen | Japan | Garden | 2,000,000 |
| Kerala Backwaters | India | Waterway network | N/A |
| Kew Gardens | United Kingdom | Botanical garden | 2,000,000 |
| Key West | United States | Island city | 2,000,000 |
| Khajuraho Temples | India | Temple complex | N/A |
| Khan el-Khalili | Egypt | Bazaar | N/A |
| Kilauea | United States | Volcano | 1,500,000 |
| Kilimanjaro | Tanzania | Mountain | 50,000 |
| Kilmainham Gaol | Ireland | Former prison | 400,000 |
| Kinderdijk | Netherlands | Windmill village | N/A |
| Kings Canyon National Park | United States | National park | 600,000 |
| King’s Cross Station | United Kingdom | Railway station | N/A |
| Kings Park | Australia | Park | 5,000,000 |
| Kinkaku-ji | Japan | Temple | 5,000,000 |
| Kiyomizu-dera | Japan | Temple | 4,000,000 |
| Kizhi Pogost | Russia | Wooden church complex | N/A |
| Knossos | Greece | Archaeological site | N/A |
| Knott’s Berry Farm | United States | Theme park | 4,000,000 |
| Koh Phi Phi | Thailand | Island group | N/A |
| Koh Samui | Thailand | Island | N/A |
| Komodo National Park | Indonesia | National park | 150,000 |
| Konark Sun Temple | India | Temple | N/A |
| Kornati National Park | Croatia | National park | N/A |
| Kotor | Montenegro | Historic town | N/A |
| Kourion | Cyprus | Archaeological site | N/A |
| Kowloon Walled City Park | Hong Kong | Park | N/A |
| Krabi | Thailand | Province and resort area | N/A |
| Kremlin | Russia | Fortress complex | N/A |
| Krka National Park | Croatia | National park | 1,300,000 |
| Kruger National Park | South Africa | National park | 1,800,000 |
| Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | City | N/A |
| Kuala Lumpur Tower | Malaysia | Tower | 1,000,000 |
| Kuang Si Falls | Laos | Waterfall | N/A |
| Kuta Beach | Indonesia | Beach | N/A |
| Kuwait Towers | Kuwait | Landmark towers | N/A |
| Kyiv | Ukraine | City | N/A |
| Kyiv Pechersk Lavra | Ukraine | Monastery | N/A |
| Kyoto | Japan | City | 50,000,000 |
| Kyoto Imperial Palace | Japan | Palace | N/A |
| Kazan Kremlin | Russia | Fortress complex | N/A |
| Keukenhof | Netherlands | Flower garden | 1,500,000 |
| Kangaroo Island | Australia | Island | 200,000 |
| Kronborg Castle | Denmark | Castle | 250,000 |
| Kylemore Abbey | Ireland | Abbey and castle | N/A |
| Killarney National Park | Ireland | National park | N/A |
| Konigssee | Germany | Lake | N/A |
| Kapellbrucke | Switzerland | Bridge | N/A |
| Kinabalu | Malaysia | Mountain | 35,000 |
| Kodaikanal | India | Hill station | N/A |
| Kamikochi | Japan | Mountain valley | 1,200,000 |
Descriptions
K2
The second-highest mountain on Earth at 8,611 meters. Famous for its steep, technical climbing and a fatality rate that earns it the nickname “Savage Mountain”.
Kaaba
The cube-shaped structure at the center of the Great Mosque of Mecca. Muslims around the world face it when they pray, and pilgrims circle it during Hajj and Umrah.
Kaiteur Falls
One of the world’s most powerful single-drop waterfalls, plunging about 226 meters into the Guyanese rainforest. It sits deep in Kaieteur National Park and is usually reached by small plane.
Kakadu National Park
Australia’s largest national park, in the Northern Territory. It protects wetlands, waterfalls, wildlife and some of the world’s oldest rock art, created by Aboriginal people.
Kamakura Great Buddha
A 13-meter bronze Buddha statue at Kotoku-in temple. Cast in the 13th century, it has sat outdoors since a tsunami destroyed its hall in the 1400s.
Kanchenjunga
The third-highest mountain in the world at 8,586 meters, on the border of Nepal and India. Local communities regard it as sacred, and climbers traditionally stop just short of the summit.
Kandy
A hill city in central Sri Lanka and the last capital of the ancient Sinhalese kings. It is best known for the Temple of the Tooth, which houses a relic of the Buddha.
Karlstejn Castle
A Gothic castle perched on a hill near Prague. Emperor Charles IV built it in the 14th century to guard the crown jewels and holy relics.
Karnak Temple
A vast complex of temples, pylons and obelisks near Luxor, built over about 2,000 years. Its Great Hypostyle Hall holds 134 enormous columns.
Kasuga Taisha
A Shinto shrine in Nara founded in the 8th century. It is known for its thousands of stone and bronze lanterns and the deer that roam the surrounding forest.
Kata Tjuta
A group of 36 large domed rock formations in central Australia, not far from Uluru. Also called the Olgas, it is sacred to the Anangu people and popular for walks like the Valley of the Winds.
Kathmandu Durbar Square
The old royal square of Kathmandu, filled with palaces, pagodas and temples. Much of it was damaged in the 2015 earthquake, and restoration continues.
Kennedy Space Center
NASA’s launch site on Florida’s Space Coast. Visitors can see rockets, a Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit and the Apollo Saturn V display, and sometimes watch a launch.
Kensington Gardens
A large royal park in west London next to Hyde Park. It contains Kensington Palace, the Serpentine Gallery, the Albert Memorial and the Peter Pan statue.
Kensington Palace
A royal residence in London that was the home of Princess Diana. Parts of it are open to the public, including the State Apartments and the Sunken Garden.
Kenai Fjords National Park
An Alaskan park where glaciers flow from the Harding Icefield into the sea. Boat tours show visitors whales, sea otters, puffins and calving ice.
Kenrokuen
A landscape garden in Kanazawa, regarded as one of Japan’s three great gardens. It is known for its ponds, stone lanterns and carefully supported pine trees that are lit up in winter.
Kerala Backwaters
A web of lagoons, lakes and canals along India’s southwestern coast. Visitors drift through villages and rice paddies on traditional houseboats called kettuvallams.
Kew Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens in southwest London, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It holds one of the world’s largest plant collections, along with glasshouses and a treetop walkway.
Key West
The southernmost city in the continental United States, at the end of the Florida Keys. It is known for its sunsets, Hemingway’s home and a lively, laid-back nightlife.
Khajuraho Temples
A group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples in central India, famous for their detailed stone carvings. Many of them were built around 1,000 years ago.
Khan el-Khalili
A historic market in Cairo dating to the 14th century. Shoppers browse spices, jewelry, lanterns and souvenirs in narrow lanes, with old cafes along the way.
Kilauea
One of the most active volcanoes in the world, on the Big Island of Hawaii. It lies within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where visitors can see lava flows and steaming craters.
Kilimanjaro
Africa’s highest mountain at 5,895 meters, and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. Hikers can reach the summit without technical climbing gear, which makes it very popular.
Kilmainham Gaol
A former prison in Dublin where leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were executed. Guided tours tell the story of Irish nationalism and the harsh conditions inside.
Kinderdijk
A village in the Netherlands with 19 historic windmills built in the 1700s to drain the polders. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a classic picture of Dutch landscape.
Kings Canyon National Park
A California park of deep canyons and giant sequoia groves in the Sierra Nevada. It adjoins Sequoia National Park, and its huge granite valleys are often compared to Yosemite.
King’s Cross Station
A major London railway station, known for its Victorian architecture and its modern concourse. Fans of Harry Potter flock to its Platform 9 3/4 photo spot.
Kings Park
A large park and botanic garden overlooking the Swan River and skyline of Perth. It is known for its wildflowers, tree-top walkway and war memorial.
Kinkaku-ji
The Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, a Zen temple whose top two floors are covered in gold leaf. It reflects beautifully in the pond in front of it.
Kiyomizu-dera
A famous Buddhist temple in Kyoto with a large wooden terrace jutting out from a hillside. The structure was built without a single nail and offers views across the city.
Kizhi Pogost
A group of wooden churches on an island in Lake Onega. The 22-domed Transfiguration Church is especially famous and was built without nails.
Knossos
The largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete, linked to the Minoan civilization. It is associated with the myth of the Minotaur and the labyrinth.
Knott’s Berry Farm
A theme park in Buena Park, California, that began as a berry stand and a chicken dinner restaurant. It is known for its roller coasters and its Old West Ghost Town.
Koh Phi Phi
A group of islands in the Andaman Sea, known for limestone cliffs, clear water and Maya Bay, which was made famous by the film The Beach.
Koh Samui
Thailand’s second-largest island, in the Gulf of Thailand. It is known for its palm-fringed beaches, resorts, waterfalls and the Big Buddha statue.
Komodo National Park
A group of Indonesian islands that are home to the Komodo dragon, the world’s largest living lizard. The park is also known for its pink beach and excellent diving.
Konark Sun Temple
A 13th-century temple in Odisha designed as a giant chariot of the sun god Surya. It has 24 intricately carved stone wheels and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kornati National Park
An archipelago of about 89 barren islands in the Adriatic Sea. Its dramatic cliffs and clear waters make it a favorite for sailors and divers.
Kotor
A walled medieval town on a deep bay surrounded by steep mountains. Visitors climb the old fortress walls for views over the Bay of Kotor.
Kourion
An ancient Greco-Roman city on a cliff above the sea in southern Cyprus. It is known for its well-preserved mosaics and a theater that is still used for performances.
Kowloon Walled City Park
A park built on the site of the once densely packed Kowloon Walled City, which was torn down in the 1990s. It keeps remnants of the old walls and a Qing-era yamen.
Krabi
A province in southern Thailand known for towering limestone cliffs, beaches like Railay and island-hopping tours. It is a popular spot for rock climbing.
Kremlin
The fortified complex in the middle of Moscow, home to the Russian president’s offices. It includes cathedrals, palaces and the walls that overlook Red Square.
Krka National Park
A park in Croatia with a series of cascading waterfalls and travertine pools along the Krka River. Boardwalks let visitors walk right through the falls.
Kruger National Park
One of Africa’s largest game reserves. It is famous for safaris where visitors can see the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalo.
Kuala Lumpur
The capital of Malaysia, a city of skyscrapers, street food and multicultural neighborhoods. It is home to the Petronas Towers and the Batu Caves.
Kuala Lumpur Tower
A 421-meter telecommunications tower with an observation deck and a revolving restaurant. It gives wide views of the city and the nearby Petronas Towers.
Kuang Si Falls
A multi-tiered waterfall near Luang Prabang, with turquoise pools that visitors can swim in. A trail leads up to the top of the main falls.
Kuta Beach
A long sandy beach on the southwest coast of Bali, popular for surfing lessons, sunsets and nightlife. It remains one of the island’s most visited spots.
Kuwait Towers
Three slim towers on the Kuwait City waterfront, the tallest topped with a sphere that holds a restaurant. They are an icon of the country.
Kyiv
The capital of Ukraine and one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe. It is known for its golden-domed churches, wide boulevards and the Dnipro River.
Kyiv Pechersk Lavra
A historic Orthodox monastery complex in Kyiv with gilded domes, cave catacombs and an 11th-century origin. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kyoto
Japan’s former imperial capital, with about 1,600 temples, traditional wooden houses and geisha districts. It is one of the best places in the country to see classical culture.
Kyoto Imperial Palace
The former residence of Japan’s emperors in Kyoto, set in a large park. Visitors can walk the grounds and tour the buildings through guided visits.
Kazan Kremlin
The historic fortress in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan. It contains the white Kul Sharif Mosque and the Annunciation Cathedral, reflecting the city’s Muslim and Orthodox traditions.
Keukenhof
A large spring garden in Lisse, known as the Garden of Europe. Each year it displays millions of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths over about eight weeks.
Kangaroo Island
An island off the coast of South Australia, known for its wildlife. Visitors can meet kangaroos, koalas and sea lions, and visit rock formations like Remarkable Rocks.
Kronborg Castle
A Renaissance castle in Helsingor, Denmark, famous as Elsinore in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It sits on the narrowest part of the strait between Denmark and Sweden.
Kylemore Abbey
A Gothic-style abbey beside a lake in Connemara, originally built as a private castle in the 1860s. It is surrounded by a walled Victorian garden and woodland walks.
Killarney National Park
Ireland’s first national park, in County Kerry. Its lakes, mountains and woodland include Muckross House and Torc Waterfall.
Konigssee
A deep, clear alpine lake in the Bavarian Alps, framed by steep cliffs. Electric boats take visitors to the pilgrimage chapel of St. Bartholomew.
Kapellbrucke
The Chapel Bridge in Lucerne, a covered wooden footbridge from the 14th century. A stone water tower stands beside it, and painted panels line the roof.
Kinabalu
The highest mountain in Borneo at 4,095 meters, in Sabah, Malaysia. Fit hikers can reach the summit in two days, with a stop at a mountain hut.
Kodaikanal
A cool hill town in Tamil Nadu, set among forests, lakes and misty valleys. Visitors come for boating on its star-shaped lake and for scenic viewpoints.
Kamikochi
A high alpine valley in the Japan Alps, with the Azusa River and clear mountain air. It is a popular spot for hiking and short scenic walks.