Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)
-   -   How many UNESCO World Heritage sites have you visited? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/how-many-unesco-world-heritage-sites-have-you-visited-651708/)

laverendrye Mar 12th, 2016 11:23 AM

Since my post in 2014 I've added 16 more from travels in Ecuador, India, France and Scotland for a total of 135. It's hard to say which is my favourite since they are so diverse.

However, if pressed, I would say the Taj Mahal. I was prepared to be let down by the reality of the site after seeing so many photos. However, on seeing it in the light of dawn, I was simply overwhelmed by it. It is surely one of the greatest works of humankind.

Whathello Mar 12th, 2016 11:32 AM

It confirms that I don't go often enough (or long enough) to Spain - I saw only one site there...
And I didn't even see all the sites in Belgium - a big country - Big like the grand Canyon park...

Michael Mar 12th, 2016 11:45 AM

<i>Plus, it's a lot harder for us North Americans to reach these places than for those of you in Europe! </i>

Quite a few in the States:

http://www.state.gov/p/io/unesco/c48319.htm

kwren Mar 12th, 2016 11:53 AM

That was fun!
54 for me and 1 more to be added next month.
I'll check back in a few years to see if I've gone to any more.

sundriedtopepo Mar 12th, 2016 02:57 PM

Plus, it's a lot harder for us North Americans to reach these places than for those of you in Europe!

Quite a few in the States:

Michael, just for an example, Ohio to Carlsbad Caverns is 1500 miles, and Ohio to Skagway Alaska is 3000 miles, not to mention Puerto Rico, and Hawaii.
Just saying... :)

nytraveler Mar 12th, 2016 03:48 PM

Not necessarily harder for americans. For us on the east coast a trip to europe is really no longer than a trip to CA. Have been to the former more than 100 times and the latter only about 8 or 9.

Can't count exactly how many I have seen - around 84 as close as I can come.

brubenow Mar 12th, 2016 07:05 PM

For The Average American, it IS harder to reach those UNESCO sites in Europe, when you consider the cost of flights to Europe, vs. say, driving or taking a train when you actually live in Europe. Not to mention taking 1-2 weeks off work if you are American, as opposed to a maybe just a long weekend if you are European.

If Average American really wanted to get to California, and couldn't afford the plane ticket, he could drive or take a bus. It would take several days, but he could do it for a reasonable price. He can't drive to Europe.

If you've been to Europe over 100 times, nytraveler, you're very fortunate, but not the norm.

There are only 21 UNESCO sites in all of the United States. There are 35 in France alone, which is about the size of Texas.

brubenow Mar 12th, 2016 07:09 PM

Good point, Sundriedtopepo!

flygirl Mar 15th, 2016 05:51 AM

Distance definitely matters. Italy and Spain have even more sites than France, the last time I checked.

welltraveledbrit Mar 16th, 2016 12:55 PM

Hi Flygirl, after meeting on Instagram I saw this thread ;)

I've seen 167 in 53 countries, which means I'm really old or I've been busy, or perhaps both!!! A while ago I wrote a blog post on this which tells me I have too much time on my hands!

I agree it's easier to "collect" them abroad, only six of mine are from the US. Though looking over the blogpost I see I can add some from Ireland too, obviously it wasn't a very exhaustive survey on my part!

Here's the post along with pictures from places like Easter Island, Borobudur, Palmyra and Iguazu Falls.I think the reason I did the post originally was to use photos from all over the place!

http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2013/...nescos-so.html

- But of course I haven't been shown around UNESCO in Paris with an official delegation so I'll never catch up with Thin ;)
-Reading others' lists above makes me realize a miss the contributions from Thit Cho who hasn't posted here in ages.

flygirl Sep 2nd, 2016 05:44 AM

Hello WTB! You are an inspiration!

I have been good about tallying my various milestones as of the past few years (including times crossing the Atlantic Ocean - so far 55 trips to Europe) but I am still only at 67 sites. This is despite a visit to Thailand which I was sure would up that number but it did not.

flygirl Sep 2nd, 2016 05:45 AM

oh wait! 68! Somehow I missed Dublin. I wonder if there are others I missed. I never do go back and check to see if places I have visited later became UNESCO sites...

Christina Sep 2nd, 2016 06:02 AM

I'm on the East Coast and it is longer to fly to Europe than to California. It takes about 7.5 hrs nonstop to fly to either Paris or London from Washington, DC. It takes 5:20 to fly to Los Angeles. Not to mention it is a lot more expensive to fly to Europe and a bigger time change, so that makes it more difficult, also.

From New York, it is about 6 hrs to fly to LAX but 7 hrs to fly to London and abut 7.5 to fly to Paris.

Whathello Sep 2nd, 2016 07:01 AM

111

Stil a lot to see.

StCirq Sep 2nd, 2016 07:49 AM

108 now, 6 more than when I first answered. But I don't think the list is totally up to date, as it doesn't include the Grotte du Sorcier in St-Cirq, which is next door to us, and I've certainly visited it. It's only been on the list for a few years, but still, they are constantly adding sites. So, 109 I guess as of right now. Planning to see more in Spain, Hungary, and Italy before the end of the year.

denisea Sep 2nd, 2016 09:21 AM

24 - I need to get cracking! I till feel lucky to have been to the places I have been able to get to.

progol Sep 2nd, 2016 09:43 AM

Hmm, I'm not anywhere near as traveled as many here, but I've managed to come up with 82 on the list! Having been to France, Italy and Spain seems to rack them up quickly!

flygirl, I don't see Dublin on the list. Is there something I'm missing?

The list does seem arbitrary, though -- there are so many sites that seem to be real world heritage sites that aren't listed. Hopefully, more places will be listed eventually.

flygirl Sep 2nd, 2016 10:31 AM

progol

Ireland is not part of the UK!

You need to look at the Ireland list not the UK list.

flygirl Sep 2nd, 2016 10:33 AM

Question: if an item on a list seems to have more than one site (for instance, belfries of France and Belgium) would you count one per each site you visited?

There are a few other which seem to cover more than one site in one listing. How would you count that? I am only counting one.

Whathello Sep 2nd, 2016 10:47 AM

Sure. If we count one per belfry I have visited 200 sites !


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:14 AM.