World ' s Most Amazing ViewsFrom the snow - topped Matterhorn to the Paris skyline , the best views from around the globe By Adam H . Graham , Provided by : Travel + LeisureFrom the Grand Canyon to the Matterhorn , the world ’ s most iconic vistas are part of the travel canon for good reason . They induce wanderlust . They get us thinking about the four corners of the earth as well as humankind ’ s minor place in the scheme of things . And when we see them in person , we are startled and humbled by their physical magnificence . The Cliffs of Moher , Ireland Cliffs of MoherWhy It ’ s Amazing : Stand on the blustery edge of Ireland ’ s steep , rocky Atlantic - battered cliffs and you ’ ll feel as though you ’ ve arrived at the true end of the world , with nothing but 2 , 000 miles of briny Atlantic swells between you and Newfoundland . Secret Viewing Spot : The view of the ocean from atop Moher is breathtaking , but experiencing it on the water is sublime . Hop on a surfboard at the nearby Lahinch Surf School and try to conquer Aill na Searrach , also known as the giant wave of Moher . When to Go : Crowds dissipate in October , when you ’ ll also find the best swells . The Great Wall of China Great Wall of ChinaWhy It ’ s Amazing : Millions of people over the course of 21 centuries helped construct , rebuild , and maintain the Great Wall of China , which dips , rises , and bends across the country for some 6 , 000 miles . The theory that it ’ s visible from space is now debated , but its immense engineering achievement and man - made beauty are unquestionable . Secret Viewing Spot : You ’ ll find the otherworldly ruins of unrestored wall segments in Gubeikou , a less - visited part of the Yanshan Mountain range in the northeast of Miyun County . When to Go : October ’ s brisk temperatures and lighter foot traffic make for ideal wall hiking . Paris skyline Paris SkylineWhy It ’ s Amazing : Napoleon is credited for transforming the City of Light during the Second Empire , but it was engineer Gustave Eiffel who helped define the cityscape with a colossal iron lattice tower , which has become a symbol of romance that can be seen sparkling from even the remotest corners of Paris ’ s 20 th Arrondissement . Secret Viewing Spot : The glimmering , glass - walled Nomiya is a temporary , 12 - seat restaurant and art installation on top of the Palais de Tokyo museum ; it ’ s open until July 2010 . When to Go : Winter . Yes , it ’ s chilly , but the twinkling lights and cold Seine breeze create a tableau that is pure Paris The Matterhorn , Switzerland The MatterhornWhy It ’ s Amazing : Five hundred mountain climbers have died attempting to reach the rocky 14 , 692 - foot summit of Switzerland ’ s majestic Matterhorn . The snow - covered , sawtoothed peak has a pyramidal summit that has become the textbook illustration of alpinism ’ s goldeage and all its triumphs . Secret Viewing Spot : Ascend Gornergrat by railway and exit at quiet Rotenboden station . Walk down the 3 - kilometer path to Lake Riffelsee , which on clear days offers majestic reflections of the mountain . When to Go : The trail to Lake Riffelsee is open from July to October ; the later you go , the less crowded it will be . The Grand Canyon Grand CanyonWhy It ’ s Amazing : It ’ s big . Real big . We ’ re talking 277 miles long , up to 18 miles wide , and one mile deep . While it ’ s not the world ’ s deepest or widest canyon , it ’ s undoubtedly the most colorful . The Grand Canyon also exposes ancient Proterozoic and Paleozoic strata ― two billion years of earth ’ s rust - hued history ― a visual experience that is not easily captured on film and can ’ t be found anywhere else in the world . Secret Viewing Spot : Head toward tranquil Shoshone Point , an unmarked trail on a dirt road off East Rim Drive between mileposts 244 and 245 . When to Go : March to May , before the RVs arrive . Machu Picchu , Peru Machu PicchuWhy It ’ s Amazing : Though many theories exist about Machu Picchu ’ s purpose ( a prison , a resort , an agricultural test site , an aristocratic estate ) , there ’ s no denying the cosmic beauty of these methodically carved , fog - covered peaks , engineered by the Incas in the 15 th century . To witness dawn spilling over the lush Peruvian Urubamba Valley is an unforgettable experience . Secret Viewing Spot : only the first 400 visitors to the site are given access to Huayna Picchu , the peak that overlooks Machu Picchu ’ s ruins and offers spectacular vistas of the surrounding cloud forest . When to Go : June is a quiet month ; on Sundays many tourists head to the nearby Pisac Market instead . The Tiger ’ s Nest ( Paro Taktsang Monastery ) , Bhutan Tiger ’ s NestWhy It ’ s Amazing : The Tiger ’ s Nest ( or Paro Taktsang Monastery ) clings like lichen to rocky cliffs in Bhutan ’ s Paro Valley and creates an awed silence among visitors , broken only by the sound of rustling prayer flags and chanting monks . Secret Viewing Spot : The best vistas are from the gardens of Sangtopelri and hermitages atop the mountain above Tiger ’ s Nest , accessed by the winding trail used by monks . When to Go : April and May , for the spring flowers and Paro Festival . The Great Barrier Reef , Australia Great Barrier ReefWhy It ’ s Amazing : The world ’ s largest reef system , off the coast of Australia , casts a cerulean underwater glow that is unlike any color you ’ ll find above the surface . Thousands of species live on the reef , including endemic sea - dragons , giant cuttlefish , saltwater crocodiles , and 125 species of sharks . Secret Viewing Spot : Try off - beach diving and snorkeling from tranquil Lady Elliot Island , home to a population of manta rays and renowned for its crystal - clear waters . When to Go : September and October , when visibility is at its best and whales are breeding