The twin towers.

In the US, I agree. statue of liberty and the GGBridge.

Mount Rushmore?

Empire State Building

I actually think the commentator may be right. As noted above, virtually anyone could not only name the Eiffel Tower, and I suspect virtually anyone could also tell you that it is in Paris. And it is singular in it's appearance - one could look at the Parthenon, for example, and be forgiven for confusing it with another ancient building, but the Eiffel Tower is the Eiffel Tower.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The Brandenburg Gate
Tower Bridge
Arc de Triomphe
The Vatican

to name but a few. I cvan hear the strains of Dixie fading into the night....

Even though, as a Brit, it guts me to say it, I thought 'Eiffel Tower' as well. Although when I see it, I don't think 'Europe', I think 'Paris'. But maybe that's because I live in Europe so am in the habit of distinguishing by country.

For USA it has to be the Statue of Liberty.

This is fun. Can we do it for other continents?
For S.America, I'm voting for the Jesus statue in Brazil (shamefully, I don't know what it's called).
Indian subcontinent: Taj Mahal
Asia: Great Wall?
I'm struggling for a single site in Africa. Maybe Table Mountain?
Australasia: Sydney Harbour with bridge and opera house in view

<<<one could look at the Parthenon, for example, and be forgiven for confusing it with another ancient building,>>>

Really??

<i>Really??</i>

Yes, really. The Parthenon is a particularly nice piece of Greek architecture, but it is just one in a long line of Greek temples that share many similar features. Look at the Agrigento Temples or those at Paestum and you will see what I mean.

"I'm struggling for a single site in Africa"

The Pyramids
The Nile
Hapshetsut's temple
Karnak
Jama el Fanar

Must be loads of others.

Well.

Eiffel Tower is the most well known. Colosseum perhaps second. MANY people have never heard of the Acropolis and while Big Ben is memorable - not close to the Tower.

<<<MANY people have never heard of the Acropolis >>>

I am genuinely astounded by these claims.

What on earth do they teach in schools these days? I can understand it may not spring to mind as an iconic emblem to everyone but to say MANY people have never heard of the Acropolis is a shocking reflection of the education system.

<i>I can understand it may not spring to mind as an iconic emblem to everyone but to say MANY people have never heard of the Acropolis is a shocking reflection of the education system.</i>

Why? Just how much Greek history and architecture should the average schoolchild be exposed to?

Education is about balancing what you cover given limited resources (time). Shortchanging the Ancient Greeks may seem like a bad thing, but what would you suggest they replace? Should they trade study of WWII (or the plains Indians, or Sherman's March to the Sea, or Commodore Perry or...) for the study of the architecture of the Acropolis or the history of the Ancient Greeks? In the abstract, everything seems important.

Travelgourmet - I was not suggesting everyone should have an indepth knowledge of Greek History, but the statement said "MANY people have never heard of the Acropolis"

That is what I find so shocking, along with the fact people are defending such ignorance as acceptable.

How could the Nile be a well known sight unless there some identifible thing on the shore?

Maybe it is an American thing but unless you see the Acroplois from a distance as to know its location, it could look like Agrigento.

The Kremlin is much more distinctive than the Acropolis.
I would vote for the Eiffel Tower. And it so much easier to see than the interior structure of the Statue of Liberty.

US-Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, McDonald's
Asia-Great Wall, Taj Mahal, Mt. Fuji
Africa-Sphinx, Pyramids, Kilimanjaro, vuvuzela

"The Pyramids"

Doh. Insert pic of emoticon slapping forehead here.

<<< I'd have probably chosen the Vatican/ St Peter as easy or easier to recognize. >>>

Among a couple of hundred other churches with a dome - I wuld say not.

The main thing about famous is how unique the place is - so Eiffel Tower scores highly as few people have heard of the Blackpool Tower, the one in Prague or the one in Las Vagas.

Of buildings the only one that is as instantly recognisable is the Taj Mahal

Adu - When people start making such statements and seem to find it acceptable, its difficult not to get angry at such complacency and ignorance.

<i>That is what I find so shocking, along with the fact people are defending such ignorance as acceptable.</i>

See, you say ignorance, while I think that you are valuing trivia over knowledge. Being able to pick the Athenian Acropolis out of a lineup of other acropolises or various and sundry temple complexes is fun at cocktail parties, but not overly valuable, IMO.