Some structures stop you mid-step. Not because they are the largest, the oldest, or the most expensive — but because they have become so deeply embedded in the world's visual vocabulary that seeing them in person, for the first time, feels like a kind of recognition. The Eiffel Tower at dusk. The Burj Khalifa at sunrise. Mount Fuji through morning cloud. These are the landmarks that every traveller puts on the list and never regrets reaching. This guide covers seven of the most iconic: where they are, what makes them extraordinary, and how to plan the visit. Book your flights, hotels, and a ctivities to every destination in one place on Traveloka, Southeast Asia's leading travel platform trusted by over 100 million users.

The Eiffel Tower was built as the entrance arch for the 1889 World's Fair (Exposition Universelle) to mark the centenary of the French Revolution. Designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel, it rises 330 metres (including its broadcast antenna) and was the world's tallest structure for 41 years until the Chrysler Building surpassed it in 1930. Constructed from 18,038 iron parts held together by 2.5 million rivets, the tower weighs approximately 10,100 tonnes. It is the most visited paid monument in the world, receiving over 6 million visitors per year.

The tower has three levels open to the public. The first floor (57 metres) has a glass floor section, a restaurant, and exhibits on the tower's history. The second floor (115 metres) is widely considered the best photography level, with close views of the iron lattice and the sweep of Paris in every direction. The summit (276 metres) is the highest accessible point, offering clear-day views extending up to 70 kilometres. Gustave Eiffel's original private apartment, restored to its 1889 appearance, is also on the summit level. The tower illuminates with 20,000 light bulbs every evening, with a five-minute sparkle display on the hour from dusk until 1am (2am in summer) — best seen from the Trocadero plaza across the Seine.

Tickets must be booked in advance at the official Eiffel Tower website — walk-up queues at peak season can exceed three hours. Lift access to the summit costs approximately EUR 32.80 for adults; the second-floor lift ticket is approximately EUR 19.40. Stair access to the second floor is available for those who prefer it. The tower is busiest from June to August and on weekends year-round. The best lighting for photography is early morning (the tower faces east) and the golden hour before sunset. Book an airport transfer from Charles de Gaulle Airport to your Paris hotel to arrive rested and ready for the city.

Paris has hotels across every category — from legendary palace hotels on the Right Bank to family-run boutique properties in the 7th arrondissement within walking distance of the tower. Browse and compare the full range on Traveloka.

Eiffel Tower reserved-access tickets, Paris city bus tours, and Seine River cruises with Eiffel Tower views are all bookable through Traveloka's activities platform.

The Sydney Opera House is one of the most distinctive buildings of the 20th century, located on Bennelong Point on Sydney Harbour. Designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon, it was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973 after 14 years of construction and a budget that grew from the original estimate of AUD 7 million to a final cost of AUD 102 million. The roof consists of 1,056,006 self-cleaning ceramic tiles in two colours that change appearance in different light conditions. The building was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 — unusually fast for a modern structure — recognised as a masterpiece of human creative genius.

The Sydney Opera House is a working performing arts centre with over 40 performances per week across its five main venues. The Concert Hall, with a capacity of 2,679 and one of the largest mechanical organs in the world, hosts the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The Opera Theatre, Drama Theatre, Playhouse, and the Studio complete the programme of opera, ballet, theatre, and contemporary performance. Attending a performance — anything from a world-class opera to a weekend comedy show — is the most complete way to experience the building. Daytime guided tours cover the performance spaces, backstage areas, and architectural history in detail. The building's exterior is best seen from a ferry crossing the harbour or from the Royal Botanic Garden, which flanks the Opera House to the east.

The Sydney Opera House is a 12-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay, reachable in minutes by bus, train, or on foot from central Sydney. Performance tickets vary enormously by event — check the official Opera House programme for what is on during your visit and book well ahead for headline productions. Guided tours cost approximately AUD 45 for adults; the Backstage Tour (AUD 175) is limited to 10 guests and includes breakfast. Use a car rental to explore Sydney's beaches, the Blue Mountains, and the wider New South Wales region during your stay.

Sydney offers hotels from heritage properties in The Rocks neighbourhood steps from the Opera House to mid-range options throughout the CBD and boutique apartments in Surry Hills and Potts Point. Compare the full range on Traveloka.

Sydney Opera House guided tours, architectural tours, backstage tours with breakfast, and performance tickets are all bookable through Traveloka's activities platform.

The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the world's tallest building, standing at 828 metres across 163 floors above ground. Construction began in 2004 and the tower was officially opened on 4 January 2010. Designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (the same firm that designed the Sears/Willis Tower in Chicago), the tower's Y-shaped floor plan minimises wind forces at extreme heights. The Burj Khalifa holds multiple world records including the highest occupied floor, the highest outdoor observation deck, and the longest distance travelled by an elevator. It anchors the Downtown Dubai district alongside the Dubai Mall (the world's largest shopping centre by total area) and the Dubai Fountain (the world's largest choreographed fountain system).

At the Top (Level 124 and 125) is the main public observation deck at 452 metres, offering 360-degree views across Dubai, the Arabian Gulf, and on clear days as far as the Hajar Mountains of Oman. At the Top Sky (Level 148) is the highest observation point at 555 metres, accessible with a premium ticket. Sunrise and sunset are the peak times for both views and photography — book accordingly. The Dubai Fountain, directly below the tower in Burj Khalifa Lake, performs shows daily at 1pm, 1:30pm, and every 30 minutes from 6pm to 11pm, each lasting 3 to 5 minutes to a soundtrack of classical and Arabic music, with water jets reaching up to 150 metres. The Dubai Mall, connected to the tower by a bridge, houses an ice rink, an indoor aquarium, a VR park, and over 1,200 retail stores.

At the Top tickets cost approximately AED 149 (Level 124 and 125) to AED 379 (Level 148) for standard slots, with peak-time and same-day tickets priced higher. Booking in advance is strongly recommended — slots at golden hour sell out days ahead. The Burj Khalifa is served by the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station on the Red Line. Dubai International Airport (DXB) is approximately 20 minutes by metro. Check Traveloka promotions for current deals on flights and hotels to Dubai before booking your trip.

Downtown Dubai has a full range of accommodation from ultra-luxury hotels with Burj Khalifa views to mid-range properties within walking distance of the fountain and mall. Browse and compare on Traveloka.

Burj Khalifa observation deck tickets, Dubai city tours, Dubai Marina boat tours, and hop-on hop-off bus tours are all bookable through Traveloka's activities platform.

The Sagrada Família is a Roman Catholic basilica in Barcelona, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, who dedicated the last 43 years of his life to the project. Construction began in 1882 and is still ongoing — the projected completion is around 2026–2028 for the main towers. The building fuses Gothic architecture with Art Nouveau in a way that has no parallel in architectural history. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated it as a minor basilica. The Sagrada Família is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of Spain's most visited monuments, receiving approximately 4.5 million visitors per year.

The basilica has two contrasting facades: the Nativity Facade (facing northeast), completed under Gaudí's supervision and covered in exuberant naturalistic sculpture of plants, animals, and the birth of Christ; and the Passion Facade (facing southwest), deliberately angular and stark, depicting the Crucifixion. The interior, flooded with coloured light through stained glass designed by artist Joan Vila Grau, is extraordinary — branching stone columns dissolve into a canopy of parabolic vaults, and the quality of light changes dramatically with the time of day. Lift access to the towers of the Nativity and Passion facades provides panoramic views over Barcelona and the Mediterranean coast. The Crypt Museum beneath the basilica shows Gaudí's original architectural models and documents the construction history since 1882.

Entry to the Sagrada Família costs approximately EUR 26 for basic access; combined tower access tickets cost EUR 36 to EUR 40. All tickets must be booked in advance online — walk-up entry is not available at peak times and frequently sells out entirely. Morning light (before 10am) illuminates the Nativity Facade's intricate carved detail most dramatically. The surrounding Eixample district — Gaudí's Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (La Pedrera) are both within 15 minutes on foot — rewards a full day of architectural exploration.

The Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World) stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, a gift from France to the United States formally dedicated on 28 October 1886. Designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi with an iron framework engineered by Gustave Eiffel (the same engineer behind the Eiffel Tower), the statue rises 93 metres from the base of its pedestal to the tip of the torch. The figure represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, holding a torch above her head and a tablet inscribed with the date of American Independence (July 4, 1776). The Statue of Liberty is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and among the most universally recognised symbols in the world.

Access to Liberty Island is by ferry from Battery Park (lower Manhattan) or Liberty State Park (New Jersey). The island is free to explore, but entry to the statue's pedestal and crown requires timed tickets purchased well in advance — crown tickets (limited to 240 per day) sell out months ahead. Inside the pedestal, the Statue of Liberty Museum opened in 2019 and houses the original 1886 torch (replaced in 1986), documents from the construction process, and the complete story of the statue's creation. The adjacent Ellis Island Immigration Museum is included in the same ferry ticket and tells the story of the 12 million immigrants who passed through the island between 1892 and 1954 — one of the most moving museum experiences in the United States. The view of the Manhattan skyline from Liberty Island is itself reason enough for the ferry crossing.

Ferry departures from Battery Park run frequently throughout the day; the crossing takes approximately 15 minutes. Standard ferry tickets include access to both Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Statue of Liberty National Monument is managed by the US National Park Service. The best time to visit is weekday mornings (Tuesday to Thursday) when crowds are thinnest. New York City is served by John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA), and Newark (EWR).

New York City has one of the world's broadest ranges of accommodation — from iconic historic hotels near Central Park to budget-friendly options in Midtown and the outer boroughs. Compare and book on Traveloka for the best available rates.

Mount Fuji (Fuji-san) is Japan's highest peak at 3,776 metres above sea level, located on Honshu island approximately 100 kilometres southwest of Tokyo. It is an active stratovolcano whose last eruption was in 1707. Fuji's near-perfect conical shape — formed by centuries of symmetrical lava flow over its slopes — has made it one of the most depicted natural subjects in Japanese art and culture, most famously in Hokusai's Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji woodblock prints. The mountain was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013 as a Cultural Site — recognising its profound influence on Japanese art, religion, and national identity — rather than as a natural site. The Shinto shrine Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha at the mountain's base is one of Japan's most important religious sites.

For those who do not attempt the summit climb, the classic Fuji views come from the Fuji Five Lakes (Fujigoko) region — Lake Kawaguchiko in particular is the base for the most photographed angle of the mountain across the water. Chureito Pagoda in Fujiyoshida, a five-storey pagoda with Mount Fuji as a backdrop, is one of Japan's most reproduced images. Oshino Hakkai, a UNESCO-listed area of eight spring ponds fed by snowmelt from Fuji, is a short drive from Lake Kawaguchiko and exceptionally photogenic. For climbers, the official climbing season runs from early July to early September — the Yoshida Trail from the 5th Station is the most popular route, with a return time of 5 to 9 hours depending on fitness level. Accommodation at mountain huts (mountain lodges) on the upper trails can be booked for overnight summit attempts to watch the sunrise.

From Tokyo, the fastest access to the Fuji Five Lakes area is by direct bus from Shinjuku Bus Terminal (approximately 2 hours to Lake Kawaguchiko). The nearest shinkansen (bullet train) stop is Mishima (JR Tokaido Shinkansen), about 45 minutes from Tokyo, then local connections to the Fuji area. The best visibility of the mountain is in winter (December to February), when cold, clear air gives the sharpest views of the snow-capped summit. The climbing season (July to August) offers the most accessible summit experience but the worst visibility due to summer haze and clouds.

Lake Kawaguchiko and Fujiyoshida are the primary bases for Fuji visits, with a range of traditional ryokan inns and modern hotels. Tokyo works equally well as a base for day trips. Browse options on Traveloka across all price points.

Mount Fuji day tours from Tokyo — including scenic spots at Lake Kawaguchiko, Arakurayama Sengen Park, Oshino Hakkai, and Hakone — are all bookable through Traveloka's activities platform.

Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya in Turkish, meaning Holy Wisdom) in Istanbul is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture, built between 532 and 537 AD under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. For nearly 1,000 years, it served as the largest cathedral in the world. Its central dome, measuring 31 metres in diameter and rising to 55 metres above the floor, was an engineering feat with no equal at the time of its construction. Following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the building was converted into a mosque by Sultan Mehmed II. It was converted to a museum in 1934, then returned to active use as a mosque in 2020. Non-Muslim visitors are welcome outside prayer times, with free admission.

Entry to Hagia Sophia is free for all visitors, making it one of the world's great accessible monuments. The interior is overwhelming in scale — the dome appears to float on a ring of 40 windows, and the gold mosaics of the Byzantine era are partially visible alongside the Ottoman calligraphy discs added after 1453. Key highlights include the Deesis mosaic (a 13th-century masterpiece on the upper gallery showing Christ enthroned, considered among the finest Byzantine mosaics in existence), the Viking runic graffiti carved into a gallery railing by Varangian Guard members, and the Weeping Column with its copper casing worn smooth by centuries of pilgrims. The adjacent Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque), built between 1609 and 1616 with six minarets, is a 3-minute walk and equally essential. The Topkapi Palace, the administrative centre of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years, is 10 minutes on foot from Hagia Sophia.

Hagia Sophia is in the Sultanahmet district, the historic heart of Istanbul. The nearest tram stop is Sultanahmet on the T1 line, one stop from the Grand Bazaar. Istanbul is served by Istanbul Airport (IST), approximately 45 kilometres northwest of the city. During the five daily prayer times, non-Muslim visitors are asked to leave the building — check the prayer schedule (which changes daily with sunrise and sunset) to plan your visit around it. The best time to visit is early morning, when the light enters from the eastern windows and illuminates the mosaics most effectively.

Istanbul's Sultanahmet district has boutique hotels steps from Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace. Larger international hotels are concentrated in Beyoglu across the Golden Horn. Browse the full range on Traveloka for the best available rates.

Every landmark on this list rewards the traveller who arrives prepared — with tickets pre-booked, the right time of day chosen, and a guide on hand to explain what the crowds and cameras can easily miss. The sparkle on the Eiffel Tower, the light inside the Sagrada Família, the view from the top of the Burj Khalifa at sunrise: these are the moments that make a landmark into a memory.

Traveloka brings every element of these trips together in one app. Southeast Asia's largest online travel platform, trusted by over 100 million users and available across Asia and beyond — from Indonesia to Japan, Korea, and Australia — Traveloka covers flights, hotels, activities, car rentals, travel insurance, and eSIM all in one place. The top-rated travel app on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in Southeast Asia, Traveloka is built for travellers who want to spend less time booking and more time standing in front of something extraordinary.

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