The world has no shortage of beautiful places to photograph, but you should keep in mind that many of the most visually stimulating can be somewhat off the beaten track. After all, a usually stunning place can be somewhat less so when thronged with tourists.
Here are some compelling candidates for the accolade of ‘most beautiful place in the world’, enabling you to start packing your camera equipment with greater confidence.
The Greek Islands
In 2020, historian Bettany Hughes told the Daily Mail about her experiences of filming a documentary series with a TV production crew in Greece: “Say ‘Greek island’ and the stereotype of blue skies, blue seas and blue-domed churches springs to mind. We found all that and more.”
She highlighted the island of Santorini and its town of Akrotiri, where you could enjoy checking out “spooky streets” as well as “fabulous artwork and houses three storeys high”.
Kisoro District, Uganda
It’s easy to underestimate the sheer size of Uganda — even just the southwest of this landlocked East African country is abundant in beautiful lakes and volcanoes.
In a BuzzFeed article rounding up awe-inspiring photos taken by holidayers, one of them has shared a photo of Uganda’s Kisoro District, adding: “Here is a kind reminder of how beautiful Africa is. The lake in the background is Lake Mutanda, which is near Kisoro in the southwest.”
Teotihuacán, Mexico
Another traveller quoted by BuzzFeed has reported: “I took an early morning hot air balloon ride over the pyramids of Teotihuacán, Mexico, and it was breathtaking — the view of the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon.”
In the area, you would be able to join an adventure tour that takes you around the pyramids by foot. However, the most exciting photo opportunities could actually be from the air, as many people who have taken a balloon ride above these pyramids would likely be happy to attest.
Camargue, France
“You don’t have to travel to the ends of the Earth to get somewhere truly remote,” Amateur Photography contributor Steve Davey has insisted.
He added: “The Camargue in Southern France is a vast wetland, where cowboys or ‘gardians’ on white horses raise black bulls, and flamingos fly up from Africa.”
To reach the Camargue, you could book one of the Cunard cruises that stop at Marseille, allowing you to travel from this prefecture situated in France’s Provence region. This itinerary would also give you access to many photo-worthy sites even on your way to the Camargue.
Blue Mosque, Turkey
The Blue Mosque, or Sultan Ahmet Camii, stands as a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture, blending Byzantine Christian elements with traditional Islamic design. Its grandeur is magnified by the six slender minarets that pierce the skyline, a unique feature at the time of its construction that caused controversy as it equaled the number of minarets at the holy mosque in Mecca. The interior of the mosque is equally breathtaking, adorned with more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles in a symphony of blues, greens, and reds, set against vast windows that illuminate the intricate designs with natural light. Additionally, the mosque’s central prayer hall is topped by a magnificent main dome, flanked by eight secondary domes, creating a visually stunning structure that draws visitors from around the world.
Beyond its architectural beauty, the Blue Mosque remains an active place of worship, offering a profound sense of spirituality and tranquility to those who wander its vast, echoing halls.
