This page lists 89 famous places that start with S, running from “Sagrada Família” to “Seven Mile Beach”. They include cathedrals, palaces, national parks, waterfalls, islands and busy cities across every continent except Antarctica. You can use the list to plan a trip, find ideas for your bucket list, or settle a geography quiz.

Famous places are locations that attract attention from people around the world because of their beauty, history or cultural meaning. “Stonehenge” is a good example, since its giant stones were raised roughly 4,500 years ago and still puzzle visitors today.

Below you’ll find the table with the place, country, type, annual visitor count and description for each entry.

Place: The name of each landmark, city or natural wonder, so you can quickly spot the ones you know and discover new ones.

Country: The country where you’ll find the place, which helps you group destinations by region and plan a route between them.

Type: The kind of place it is, such as a cathedral, national park or waterfall, so you can pick attractions that match your interests.

Visitor Count (Annual): The approximate number of people who visit each year, which shows you how crowded a place may be. “N/A” means no reliable figure is available.

Description: A short summary of what makes the place special, with key facts and details that help you decide whether it deserves a spot on your itinerary.

Famous places

PlaceCountryTypeVisitor Count (Annual)
Sagrada FamíliaSpainBasilica4,700,000
Sacré-CœurFranceBasilica11,000,000
Sahara DesertAlgeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and othersDesertN/A
Saint Basil’s CathedralRussiaCathedralN/A
Saint Isaac’s CathedralRussiaCathedral3,000,000
Saint Peter’s BasilicaVatican CityBasilica10,000,000
Saint Paul’s CathedralUnited KingdomCathedral1,000,000
Saint Vitus CathedralCzech RepublicCathedral2,000,000
Saint Stephen’s CathedralAustriaCathedralN/A
Saint Mark’s SquareItalyPublic squareN/A
Saint Catherine’s MonasteryEgyptMonasteryN/A
Salar de UyuniBoliviaSalt flatN/A
SantoriniGreeceIsland2,000,000
Statue of LibertyUnited StatesMonument4,000,000
Space NeedleUnited StatesObservation tower1,300,000
Santa Monica PierUnited StatesPier9,000,000
SedonaUnited StatesTown3,000,000
Sequoia National ParkUnited StatesNational park1,200,000
Shenandoah National ParkUnited StatesNational park1,500,000
Saguaro National ParkUnited StatesNational park1,000,000
San FranciscoUnited StatesCity22,000,000
Stanley ParkCanadaUrban park8,000,000
Sydney Opera HouseAustraliaPerforming arts venue10,900,000
Sydney Harbour BridgeAustraliaBridgeN/A
SydneyAustraliaCity3,500,000
StonehengeUnited KingdomPrehistoric monument1,300,000
Skara BraeUnited KingdomNeolithic villageN/A
SnowdoniaUnited KingdomNational park4,000,000
Seven SistersUnited KingdomChalk cliffsN/A
Science MuseumUnited KingdomMuseum3,300,000
Shakespeare’s GlobeUnited KingdomTheatreN/A
Schönbrunn PalaceAustriaPalace4,000,000
SalzburgAustriaCityN/A
SanssouciGermanyPalaceN/A
SpeicherstadtGermanyHistoric districtN/A
Seville CathedralSpainCathedral2,000,000
Seville AlcázarSpainRoyal palace2,500,000
Santiago de CompostelaSpainPilgrimage city450,000
SintraPortugalTownN/A
Sforza CastleItalyCastleN/A
Sistine ChapelVatican CityChapel6,800,000
Spanish StepsItalyStaircaseN/A
SienaItalyCityN/A
Scrovegni ChapelItalyChapelN/A
Stelvio PassItalyMountain passN/A
Saint MoritzSwitzerlandResort townN/A
SplitCroatiaCityN/A
Saint PetersburgRussiaCityN/A
Sedlec OssuaryCzech RepublicChurch ossuary300,000
SkansenSwedenOpen-air museum1,300,000
SvalbardNorwayArchipelagoN/A
SognefjordNorwayFjordN/A
StrokkurIcelandGeyserN/A
SkógafossIcelandWaterfallN/A
SeljalandsfossIcelandWaterfallN/A
Süleymaniye MosqueTurkeyMosqueN/A
Sumela MonasteryTurkeyMonasteryN/A
SphinxEgyptMonumentN/A
Suez CanalEgyptCanalN/A
Sheikh Zayed Grand MosqueUnited Arab EmiratesMosque6,000,000
Serengeti National ParkTanzaniaNational park350,000
Simien MountainsEthiopiaNational parkN/A
Stone TownTanzaniaHistoric districtN/A
SossusvleiNamibiaSalt and clay panN/A
Skeleton CoastNamibiaCoastlineN/A
Sun CitySouth AfricaResortN/A
Sugarloaf MountainBrazilPeak1,000,000
SacsayhuamánPeruInca fortressN/A
Sacred ValleyPeruValleyN/A
Shwedagon PagodaMyanmarPagodaN/A
SigiriyaSri LankaRock fortressN/A
Sukhothai Historical ParkThailandArchaeological siteN/A
Similan IslandsThailandIsland groupN/A
SingaporeSingaporeCity-state13,600,000
Singapore Botanic GardensSingaporeBotanical garden4,500,000
SentosaSingaporeResort island19,000,000
Summer PalaceChinaImperial gardenN/A
Shanghai TowerChinaSkyscraperN/A
Sensō-jiJapanBuddhist temple30,000,000
Shibuya CrossingJapanIntersectionN/A
Shirakawa-goJapanVillageN/A
Shuri CastleJapanCastleN/A
Seoraksan National ParkSouth KoreaNational park3,000,000
Seongsan IlchulbongSouth KoreaVolcanic craterN/A
Statue of UnityIndiaStatue5,000,000
SundarbansBangladesh and IndiaMangrove forestN/A
Shalimar GardensPakistanMughal gardenN/A
Samaria GorgeGreeceGorgeN/A
Seven Mile BeachCayman IslandsBeachN/A

Descriptions

Sagrada Família
Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece in Barcelona, famous for its towering spires and forest-like interior. Construction began in 1882 and is still continuing today.
Sacré-Cœur
A white-domed basilica on the summit of Montmartre in Paris. It offers some of the best panoramic views over the city.
Sahara Desert
The largest hot desert in the world, covering much of North Africa. It is known for its vast sand dunes, rocky plateaus and nomadic cultures.
Saint Basil’s Cathedral
The colorful, onion-domed cathedral on Red Square in Moscow. Built in the 16th century, it is one of Russia’s most recognizable landmarks.
Saint Isaac’s Cathedral
A huge neoclassical cathedral in Saint Petersburg with a golden dome. Visitors can climb the colonnade for views over the city.
Saint Peter’s Basilica
The largest church in the world and the heart of Catholic pilgrimage. It houses Michelangelo’s Pietà and a dome designed in part by Michelangelo.
Saint Paul’s Cathedral
Christopher Wren’s baroque masterpiece on London’s skyline. Its dome is one of the largest in the world and features the Whispering Gallery.
Saint Vitus Cathedral
A Gothic cathedral inside Prague Castle, taking nearly 600 years to complete. It holds the tombs of Bohemian kings and the Czech crown jewels chapel.
Saint Stephen’s Cathedral
Vienna’s Gothic cathedral, known for its colorful patterned tile roof and tall south tower. It sits at the center of the city.
Saint Mark’s Square
Venice’s main square, surrounded by the basilica, the bell tower and the Doge’s Palace. It is famous for its pigeons and for flooding at high tide.
Saint Catherine’s Monastery
One of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world, sitting at the foot of Mount Sinai. It holds a priceless collection of manuscripts and icons.
Salar de Uyuni
The world’s largest salt flat. After rain, it turns into a giant mirror reflecting the sky.
Santorini
A Greek island of white-washed villages perched on volcanic cliffs above a flooded caldera. It is famous for its sunsets and blue-domed churches.
Statue of Liberty
A giant copper statue on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. A gift from France, it has welcomed immigrants and visitors since 1886.
Space Needle
Seattle’s 605-foot tower, built for the 1962 World’s Fair. Its rotating glass floor and observation deck give wide views of the city and Puget Sound.
Santa Monica Pier
A historic Californian pier with an amusement park, a Ferris wheel and ocean views. It marks the end of the old Route 66.
Sedona
An Arizona town surrounded by glowing red sandstone formations. It draws hikers, photographers and visitors interested in its reputed energy vortexes.
Sequoia National Park
A Californian park home to some of the largest trees on Earth, including the General Sherman Tree. It also has deep canyons and granite peaks.
Shenandoah National Park
A Virginia park known for Skyline Drive, waterfalls and hiking trails along the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is especially popular in autumn.
Saguaro National Park
An Arizona park protecting forests of giant saguaro cacti, the symbol of the American Southwest. It is split into two sections on either side of Tucson.
San Francisco
A hilly Californian city known for the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars and Alcatraz. It blends Victorian architecture with a strong tech and arts culture.
Stanley Park
A large waterfront park in Vancouver with forest trails, beaches and the seawall path. It is also home to a collection of totem poles.
Sydney Opera House
An icon of modern architecture with its sail-like roof shells, standing on Sydney Harbour. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site hosting theater, opera and music.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
A steel arch bridge nicknamed the Coathanger, opened in 1932. Visitors can climb to the top for views of the harbor.
Sydney
Australia’s largest city, built around a famous harbor. It is known for its beaches, the Opera House and its New Year’s Eve fireworks.
Stonehenge
A ring of massive standing stones on Salisbury Plain in England, built roughly 4,500 years ago. Its exact purpose is still debated.
Skara Brae
A well-preserved stone-built village on Orkney, Scotland, dating back over 5,000 years. It is older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.
Snowdonia
A mountainous national park in north Wales, home to Mount Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales. It offers hiking, climbing and steam railways.
Seven Sisters
A line of dramatic white chalk cliffs on the English south coast in East Sussex. They have appeared in many films and are popular for coastal walks.
Science Museum
A free London museum covering everything from steam engines to space travel. It is a favorite for families.
Shakespeare’s Globe
A reconstruction of the open-air theater where Shakespeare’s plays were first staged, on the banks of the Thames in London. It still hosts performances today.
Schönbrunn Palace
The former summer residence of the Habsburg emperors in Vienna. Its 1,441 rooms, gardens and zoo make it one of Austria’s top attractions.
Salzburg
The birthplace of Mozart and the setting of The Sound of Music. Its baroque old town sits beneath a hilltop fortress.
Sanssouci
Frederick the Great’s rococo summer palace in Potsdam, near Berlin. It is surrounded by terraced gardens and other royal buildings.
Speicherstadt
The world’s largest warehouse complex on wooden piles, in Hamburg. Its red-brick buildings and canals are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Seville Cathedral
The largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the burial place of Christopher Columbus. Its Giralda bell tower was once a minaret.
Seville Alcázar
A royal palace in Seville with stunning Mudéjar architecture, tiled halls and lush gardens. It is still used by the Spanish royal family and appeared in Game of Thrones.
Santiago de Compostela
The end point of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. Its cathedral is said to hold the remains of Saint James.
Sintra
A hilltop town near Lisbon filled with fairy-tale palaces and castles. The colorful Pena Palace and mysterious Quinta da Regaleira are the best known.
Sforza Castle
A large 15th-century fortress in Milan, now home to several museums. It holds Michelangelo’s last sculpture, the Rondanini Pietà.
Sistine Chapel
The Vatican chapel famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes, including The Creation of Adam. It is also where new popes are elected.
Spanish Steps
A wide stairway of 135 steps linking the Piazza di Spagna with the church above in Rome. It is a popular meeting spot, especially in spring when flowers fill the steps.
Siena
A medieval Tuscan city centered on the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo. It is known for its Gothic cathedral and the twice-yearly Palio horse race.
Scrovegni Chapel
A small chapel in Padua covered in frescoes by Giotto, painted around 1305. It is considered a turning point in Western art.
Stelvio Pass
One of the highest paved mountain passes in the Alps, famous for its 48 hairpin bends. It is a favorite with cyclists and drivers.
Saint Moritz
A glamorous Swiss Alpine resort that hosted two Winter Olympics. It is known for skiing, luxury hotels and winter sports.
Split
A Croatian port city built around the ruins of Roman emperor Diocletian’s palace. Locals still live and work inside its ancient walls.
Saint Petersburg
Russia’s imperial capital, founded by Peter the Great in 1703. It is known for the Hermitage Museum, grand palaces and canals.
Sedlec Ossuary
A small chapel near Kutná Hora decorated with the bones of tens of thousands of people. It includes a chandelier made from every bone in the human body.
Skansen
The world’s oldest open-air museum, on an island in Stockholm. It shows Swedish life through historic buildings and also has a zoo of Nordic animals.
Svalbard
A remote Arctic archipelago with polar bears, glaciers and the northern lights. It is also home to the Global Seed Vault.
Sognefjord
Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, stretching about 205 kilometers inland. It is surrounded by steep mountains and small villages.
Strokkur
A geyser in southwest Iceland that erupts every five to ten minutes, shooting water up to 100 feet into the air. It is part of the Golden Circle route.
Skógafoss
A 200-foot waterfall on Iceland’s south coast, often topped with a rainbow on sunny days. A staircase leads to a viewing platform at the top.
Seljalandsfoss
An Icelandic waterfall with a path that lets visitors walk behind the falling water. It is especially photogenic at sunset.
Süleymaniye Mosque
A grand 16th-century mosque on one of Istanbul’s hills, designed by the architect Sinan. It dominates the city skyline and overlooks the Golden Horn.
Sumela Monastery
A Greek Orthodox monastery built into a sheer cliff face in the Black Sea mountains. It dates back to the 4th century.
Sphinx
The giant limestone statue with a lion’s body and a human head, guarding the pyramids at Giza. It is about 4,500 years old.
Suez Canal
A man-made waterway linking the Mediterranean and Red Seas, opened in 1869. It is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
A gleaming white marble mosque in Abu Dhabi with 82 domes and one of the world’s largest hand-knotted carpets. It welcomes visitors of all faiths.
Serengeti National Park
Home to the Great Migration, when over a million wildebeest and zebras cross the plains. It is one of Africa’s top safari destinations.
Simien Mountains
A rugged mountain range in northern Ethiopia with jagged peaks and deep valleys. It is home to rare animals such as the gelada monkey and the Walia ibex.
Stone Town
The old quarter of Zanzibar City, with narrow alleys, carved wooden doors and Swahili, Arab and European influences. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sossusvlei
A pan surrounded by some of the tallest sand dunes in the world, in the Namib Desert. The dunes glow a deep orange at sunrise.
Skeleton Coast
A foggy, desolate stretch of Namibia’s coast littered with shipwrecks and whale bones. It is one of the most remote places in Africa.
Sun City
A large resort and entertainment complex in South Africa’s North West province. It has casinos, golf courses and a wave pool.
Sugarloaf Mountain
A granite peak rising from Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro. A cable car takes visitors to the top for views of the city and its beaches.
Sacsayhuamán
An Inca site on the edge of Cusco, built with enormous stones fitted together without mortar. It is the setting of the annual Inti Raymi festival.
Sacred Valley
A fertile Andean valley near Cusco filled with Inca ruins, terraces and markets. It is the main gateway to Machu Picchu.
Shwedagon Pagoda
A gold-covered stupa towering over Yangon, believed to be over 2,500 years old. It is the most sacred Buddhist site in Myanmar.
Sigiriya
A 650-foot granite rock topped by the ruins of a 5th-century palace. Visitors climb past ancient frescoes and giant lion paws to reach the summit.
Sukhothai Historical Park
The ruins of Thailand’s first capital, with temples, Buddha statues and ponds set across a peaceful park. It dates to the 13th century.
Similan Islands
A group of islands in the Andaman Sea known for clear water, white beaches and excellent diving. They are only open to visitors during the dry season.
Singapore
A modern island city-state known for Gardens by the Bay, clean streets and hawker food. It is a major global trade and finance hub.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
A UNESCO-listed tropical garden founded in 1859. It has a famous orchid garden and rainforest.
Sentosa
A resort island off Singapore’s southern coast with beaches, theme parks and golf courses. It can be reached by cable car, bridge or monorail.
Summer Palace
A vast imperial garden in Beijing centered on Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. It served as a summer retreat for China’s emperors.
Shanghai Tower
At 632 meters, it is the tallest building in China and one of the tallest in the world. Its twisting shape and high observation deck dominate Shanghai’s skyline.
Sensō-ji
Tokyo’s oldest temple, founded in 645 and famous for its giant red Kaminarimon lantern gate. A lively market street leads up to the main hall.
Shibuya Crossing
Often called the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world, in Tokyo. Hundreds of people cross at once whenever the lights change.
Shirakawa-go
A mountain village in Japan known for its steep thatched farmhouses, built to withstand heavy snow. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Shuri Castle
The former royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom in Okinawa, with bright red walls and Chinese-influenced design. It was damaged by fire in 2019 and is being rebuilt.
Seoraksan National Park
A mountainous park in northeast South Korea with jagged granite peaks, hot springs and temples. It is especially popular for its autumn colors.
Seongsan Ilchulbong
A volcanic tuff cone on Jeju Island that rose from the sea. It is a popular spot for sunrise views.
Statue of Unity
The tallest statue in the world at 182 meters, honoring independence leader Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat. A viewing gallery sits near the chest.
Sundarbans
The world’s largest mangrove forest, spread across the Ganges delta. It is the home of the Bengal tiger.
Shalimar Gardens
A Mughal garden complex in Lahore built in the 17th century, laid out in terraces with fountains and pavilions. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Samaria Gorge
One of the longest gorges in Europe, on the island of Crete. The hike is about 16 kilometers through dramatic cliffs.
Seven Mile Beach
A long stretch of soft white sand on Grand Cayman, lined with resorts and calm turquoise water. It is the island’s best-known beach.
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