These Are The World’s Best Natural Attractions

These are the world’s best natural attractions — and four are in Europe

[ad_1]

Cliffs of Moher at colourful sunset Co. Clare, Ireland — The Irish cliffs have inspired creatives for centuries (Picture: Getty Images)

While you can’t deny that landmarks like the Great Pyramids or St Peter’s Basilica are awe-inspiring, some of the most incredible sights on Earth are thanks to Mother Nature.

From waterfalls and canyons, to snow-covered peaks, the natural world has a lot to show off about.

A recent study analysed data from TripAdvisor reviews, Google searches and the number of posts and views on social media sites, to rank the best natural wonders of the world.

And, while every continent has an impressive site to boast, you’d don’t have to pay for a long haul flight to see them. In fact, four are just a few hours away in Europe.

The closest natural wonder to the UK ranked on the list is the Cliffs of Moher, in Ireland, which comes in at number nine.

Located on the west coast of Ireland, the nine mile stretch off sea cliffs formed over 300 million years ago. They’ve inspired poets, musicians and writers for centuries, and have even appeared in films like Harry Potter and The Princess Bride.

These are the world’s best natural attractions — and four are in Europe — They’ve appeared in films including Harry Potter (Picture: Getty Images)

They’re an important home to seabird colonies and offer stunning views across the Aran Islands in Galway Bay.

‘It was absolutely stunning and worth every penny,’ wrote one satisfied visitor on TripAdvisor. ‘The cliffs were spectacular,’ added another.

Elsewhere in Europe, you can head to Switzerland to see the Matterhorn, which ranked at number six.

Rising up to 14,692ft, the Matterhorn is a near symmetrical peak in the Alps, and one of the highest in the famous mountain range, and in Europe.

Known as the ‘jewel of the Swiss Alps’, the Matterhorn cannot be accessed by cable car – so the only way to get to the top, is to climb. Alternatively, tourists can view it from the Swiss town of Zermatt.

The Matterhorn Mountain, Zermatt, Switzerland, Landscape Natural Scenery of Matterhorn Mountain Peak at Daylight. Scenics Nature Outdoors of Swiss Alps, Explore Destination and Europe Travel Vacation — The Matterhorn is one of the highest peaks in the Alps (Picture: Getty Images)

‘A trip to the summit of the Matterhorn should be on everyone’s bucket list,’ read one TripAdvisor review.

Coming in at number 18 are the Piltvice Lakes National Park in Croatia. Made up of 16 lakes joined by cascades and waterfalls, the park is also home to incredible wildlife, including bears wolves and otters.

The stunning scenery is a big hit, with one reviewer writing: ‘This is what a fairy kingdom, a magical land, a lost paradise would look like.’

The waterfalls of Plitvice National Park — The stunning waterfalls of Piltvice Lakes in Croatia (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The last of Europe’s offerings is Pulpit Rock, in Norway, which comes in at number 20.

Another peak, the flat topped cliff towers 604m above a breathtaking fjord below. It’s a popular hiking destination, and takes around four hours to reach the summit.

Preikestolen, Norway — Norway’s Pulpit Rock towers above a beautiful fjord (Picture: Getty Images)

Again, visitors love the views. One TripAdvisor user wrote: ‘I felt like [I was] in fairy tale with all that nature around, felt speechless for a moment.’

The rest of the list, complied by Titan Travel, included famous bucket list sights, such as Mount Everest, Angel Falls and The Grand Canyon.