New UNESCO World Heritage Sites worth visiting in 2024

Every year since 1978, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has added new sites to its World Heritage List, recognizing their outstanding cultural, historical and natural significance. From ancient ruins that reveal some of the secrets of lost civilizations to unforgettable landscapes that showcase wonders of the wild, these new additions highlight humanity’s rich heritage and the planet’s incredible biodiversity. Once a site is added to the list, local authorities are responsible for its conservation and protection to ensure it can remain on the list, and UNESCO will provide assistance when sites are at risk.

The organization recently announced its new selection for 2024: a group of two dozen locations around the world.

These wonders total 1,223 sites in 168 countries, including places like the Great Barrier Reef in Australia (declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981), Mount Fuji in Japan (2013) and Bagan, a sacred site of more than 2,000 temples in Myanmar (2019). Together, they offer deeper insights into the stories that shape our world and underscore the global effort to preserve these irreplaceable treasures for future generations.

Here are seven of the new UNESCO World Heritage sites that are worth planning a trip to.

A metal lion statue in the foreground with a palace building of the Forbidden City in ancient Chinese design with red and gold accents in the background — The Forbidden City is one of the sites that form part of Beijing’s central axis.

Central Axis Beijing, China

The nearly five-mile-long Beijing Central Axis from the Drum and Bell Towers to Yongdingmen Gate connects dozens of the most famous historical and cultural landmarks in the historic heart of the Chinese capital. Some must-see stops include the Forbidden City (also called the Imperial Palace), the Temple of Heaven and the Palace Museum. Many of the buildings date back to the 13th century. Most sites, such as the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the Imperial Divine Temple, require an entrance ticket, but some, such as Tian’anmen Square and Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, are free to visit. Opening hours vary, with the earliest opening being 5 a.m. and the latest closing at 10 p.m.

View of marshy moors with grasses emerging from the water in the Flow Country in Scotland — Head to Flow Country and experience impressive nature in one of the last untouched places in Europe.

The Flow Country, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland

Flow Country in the Scottish Highlands is one of Europe’s last truly wild places and the world’s largest raised bog. Rich in biodiversity, this vast, undulating peatland is a haven for rare birds, plants and wildlife. It’s also vital for storing carbon on a large scale. Flow Country can be visited all year round, but the summer months offer the best weather conditions and abundant birdlife. The main entry points are the small towns of Thurso and Wick; you can reach both by train from Inverness or by land. Countless hiking trails offer options for varying levels of experience, but a popular choice is the Forsinain Trail, a six-mile circular walk through bogs and woodland.

A large statue of Nelson Mandela with outstretched arms in front of the historic Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa, surrounded by manicured greenery. — The Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa, are among 14 UNESCO sites that are of crucial importance to Nelson Mandela’s story.

Nelson Mandela Heritage Sites, South Africa

This estate spans the whole of South Africa and includes 14 sites significant to Nelson Mandela’s history, including the Union Buildings (now the official seat of government), the Sharpeville Sites (commemorating the massacre of 69 people protesting against the unjust pass laws) and the Great Place in Mqhekezweni (where Mandela lived as a young man). According to UNESCO, “these sites reflect key events associated with the long struggle against the apartheid state; Mandela’s influence in promoting understanding and forgiveness; and belief systems based on philosophies of non-racialism, Pan-Africanism and Ubuntu, a concept that implies that humanity is not only rooted in an individual.”

Entrance to the mines of Sado Island in Japan with a cave-like opening surrounded by rocks and trees, with wooden railings and covered information sign in the foreground — Visiting the mines on the Japanese island of Sado combines a historical learning experience with the beauty of the island.

Gold mines of Sado Island, Japan

The Sado Island Gold Mines on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, Japan are historic mining sites with a history spanning more than 400 years. These mines were once Japan’s largest gold and silver producers and operated from the Edo period until their closure in the 1980s. Visitors can explore two main sections: the Sodayu and Doyu tunnels. The former recreates mining scenes from the Edo era, while the latter showcases the modernized mining techniques of the Meiji era and beyond. To visit them, tourists can take a ferry from Niigata Port to Ryotsu Port on Sado Island, then get to the site by local buses or a rental car. The mines are open year-round.

View of Schwerin Castle in the background with well-kept gardens, a pond, a statue and trees in the foreground — Travel to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern for an opulent visit to Schwerin Castle.

Residence Schwerin, Germany

Built in the 19th century as the then capital of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in northeastern Germany, this sprawling estate comprises 38 elements, including the famous Schwerin Castle and the surrounding gardens, courtyards, outbuildings and the Pfaffenteich lake. The castle’s magnificent rooms and halls are open to visitors year-round. Guided tours in several languages offer insight into the castle’s history, architecture and cultural significance. There is also the option of taking self-guided tours with audio guides. Schwerin is easily accessible by train or car from major German cities such as Berlin or Hamburg. The castle is just a short walk from Schwerin’s main train station.

Part of the ancient Roman road Via Appia in the Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica in Rome, a cobblestone path lined on both sides by grass and large trees with a few people walking along it — In the Parco Regionale dell’Appia Antica in Rome, visitors can walk parts of the park.

Appian Way, Italy

Built between 312 BC and the 4th century, the Appian Way is one of the most famous ancient Roman roads. It was crucial to the expansion of the Roman Empire as it facilitated the transport of troops, goods and travellers. The road (also known as Regina Viarummeaning Queen of the Roads) originally connected Rome with the southern city of Capua, and later extended to Brindisi in southeastern Italy, 400 miles away. Numerous significant historical events took place along the route, and it is lined with monuments, tombs, and milestones. It is most easily accessed from Rome; popular sites include the Catacombs of San Callisto and San Sebastiano, the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, the Circus of Maxentius, and the Parco Regionale dell’Appia Antica, a regional park where visitors can walk or cycle sections of the ancient road.

An illuminated path in the Vjetrenica Cave — Explore the wondrous Vjetrenica Cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Vjetrenica Cave, Ravno, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Located near the village of Ravno in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vjetrenica Cave is known for its complex network of underground passages, striking limestone formations, and rich biodiversity, including subterranean aquatic fauna and rare species such as the blind salamander. Visitors can explore the cave on guided tours that run year-round, during which guides lead guests through the main chambers and explain the history of the cave, its geological features, and its unique fauna. Located about 10 miles from the town of Ravno and about 50 miles from Dubrovnik in Croatia, Vjetrenica Cave is accessible by car.

The complete list of the new UNESCO World Heritage List for 2024

UNESCO has also added Tell Umm Amer, a historic monastery in the Gaza Strip, to the list of World Heritage in Danger due to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. According to UNESCO, the monastery is one of the oldest sites in the Middle East and home to the first monastic community in the Holy Land.