12 of the Most Beautiful Temples in the World

Kyoto is a top temple-travel destination in Japan, but don’t limit yourself to this one (albeit spectacular) city. Further south, an easy day trip from Hiroshima, is beautiful Itsukushima Island, nicknamed Miyajima (Temple Island). The “temple” is actually a Shinto shrine—in Japan, Buddhism has temples and Shintoism has shrines—that welcomes visitors with large red torii gates. Here, the torii stands in water at high tide, and sometimes even appears to float.

Insider tip: While the temple architecture is spectacular, it's worth exploring the island further: Head out for a hike or a cable car ride to the top of the island's Mt. Misen.

Sikh religious buildings are called gurudwaras, but the English name of the holiest site in the Sikh faith, the Sri Harmandir Sahib, is the Golden Temple. Located in the North Indian city of Amritsar, the Golden Temple is worth making a special trip to Punjab to see. The gurudwara—which is actually coated in gold—sits within a shallow pond, where devotees come to bathe, listen to kirtan (hymns), and engage in other religious activities. The Golden Temple isn't the only impressive site in the area, though. If you don’t have time to visit Amritsar, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, in New Delhi, is another beautiful and atmospheric gurudwara, just off Connaught Place.

Insider tip: People from all faiths and backgrounds are welcome here, and all visitors must cover their heads.

At the other end of India, Madurai in Tamil Nadu is a common stop on many multi-day tours, thanks to its 16th and 17th–century Hindu Meenakshi Temple complex. This structure, built in South India’s Dravidian style of temple architecture, is flanked by gopura, brightly painted gateway towers with many Hindu deities, celestial beings, animals, and other figures. While non-Hindus may enter the precinct, some buildings and enclosures are restricted to respect worshippers, so be mindful during your visit.

There are so many stunning temples to visit in Nepal that it’s hard to pick the best. But, arguably, Kathmandu’s UNESCO–listed Swayambhunath Stupa takes the top prize. This temple is sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus, and its striking architectural features—a large white dome crowned with a golden pinnacle and festooned with multi-colored prayer flags—date back more than 2,000 years. But maybe the most unique features of Swayambhunath Stupa are the many cheeky rhesus macaques living there, which you can spot as you explore the temple.

Insider tip: Don’t feed the monkeys at Swayambhunath, or let them know you have any food, as they can get aggressive. They can also snatch at anything in your hand that looks like food. Walk around the temple with your palms clearly open, fingers outstretched—the monkeys will realize you’re not hiding anything they can grab.

Until 1959, Lhasa’s vast Potala Palace was the traditional winter seat of the Tibetan Buddhist Dalai Lamas. The hilltop complex includes many Buddhist temples and living quarters, and exploring the vast palace is a must-do while in the capital of Tibet—be sure to book a guided tour of the palace, which is the only way to access the complex.

Insider tip: Give yourself time to acclimate to the altitude—at 12,140 feet (3,700 meters), the palace's elevation (and many stairs) can be challenging to weather.

As a culturally Tibetan Buddhist nation, Bhutan is home to many temples and monasteries that resemble those found across the Tibetan world—including Tibet itself, India’s Ladakh, and parts of Nepal. Perhaps the most striking is the Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang), accessible from Paro. The 17th-century structure is built into a cliffside above the Paro Valley, and you can hike here: It takes 4-6 hours round trip, with some of the best views of the monastery at the halfway point of the hike. For a relaxed experience at this tranquil site, build a half-day or day trip to the Tiger's Nest into your Bhutan tour itinerary.

Thai temples are an architectural embodiment of bling, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) in Bangkok is one of the most dazzling. It’s also one of Thailand’s most important Buddhist structures, making it one of the best temples for tourists to visit. Located within the Grand Palace, which houses many other jewel-like buildings, this temple gets its English name from the ancient Buddha statue carved out of a single block of green jade (not emerald). The exterior, covered in mirrored and metallic tiles, gleams in the bright Thai sun. While you can take in this beautiful temple independently, a private tour offers more insight into its history.

The beauty of Beijing’s 15th-century Temple of Heaven (Tiantan) lies in its careful design and layout—it reflects the relationship between earth, the heavens, and China’s emperors, which is at the heart of Confucian beliefs. The 3-story circular pagoda contains beautifully decorated prayer halls and is surrounded by pine trees and gardens. It’s located in the western part of the Forbidden City, the Ming Dynasty’s vast palatial complex that was off-limits to ordinary people for most of its history. Spend at least half a day—ideally a full day—touring the Forbidden City on foot.

These days, Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, but this wasn’t always so. Ancient Buddhist and Hindu traditions can still be seen all over the archipelago, especially in Java, as well as Hindu-majority Bali. One of the most spectacular surviving examples is the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Borobudur, accessible from Central Java’s cultural capital, Yogyakarta. It’s officially the largest Buddhist complex in the world. Stone stupas are arranged around huge pyramidal and circular bases, rising to a central stupa, which all looks like a mandala from above—a Buddhist representation of the universe. It’s one of the most important historic temples globally.

Insider tip: While visiting Yogyakarta, make sure to check out Prambhanan Temple too, which resembles the Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia. The 9th-century Hindu temple lies on the city’s outskirts and can easily be combined with Borobudur on a day trip.

Although many iconic temples around the world represent living religions, The Great Temple of Ramses II in Southern Egypt, and other nearby temples at Abu Simbel are archaeological sites that teach us about the ancient Egyptian civilization. They date from the 13th-century BC, meaning they predate Christianity by about 1,300 years and Buddhism by about 700 years. Enormous but surprisingly detailed sandstone statues of King Ramses II sitting guard outside the cave-like temple building are considered to be among the finest examples of ancient Egyptian art. One great way to visit is on a Nile River cruise.

Many of Mexico’s religious buildings are churches or cathedrals, but the Maya Temple of Chichen Itza in Yucatan predates them all. The Temple of Chichen Itza—also called El Castillo, or the Temple of Kukulkan—sits at its center of Chichen Itza, a whole 5th-century town that’s now an archaeological site. The 4-sided pyramidal structure contains stairs leading up to a temple at the top, flanked by two columns representing open-mouthed snakes. A cenote lies beneath the temple and is believed to represent the center of the Mayan world. Visit on a day trip from Cancun, on the Caribbean coast.

No list of must-see temples in the world would be complete without ancient Greece. Athens’ hilltop Acropolis, one of the most famous temples worldwide, dates from the 5th-century BC. The complex contains numerous temples and monuments, including the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike. The white stone columns and minimalist style of these temples reflect Classical Greek architecture, which influenced European and global design throughout centuries. Take special note of the marble columns holding up the roof of the Erechtheion—they’re caryatids, six virgins draped in classical robes. Visit on a walking tour or e-bike tour of Athens.