UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the digital era: which one is the most popular to travel to?

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the digital era: which do you need to factor into your travel plans?

The Historic Centre of Rome is the most Instagrammable UNESCO World Heritage Site, a new study has found. Rome has always been popular holiday destination and is well worth including in any Italian travel itinerary you are planning. It also makes a great city break travel destination.

The study, conducted by creative resources expert Design Bundles, selected the 145 most popular World Heritage Sites, and analysed how many times each place has been tagged in Instagram posts.

Rome, whose World Heritage Site also includes the Properties of the Holy See and the Papal Basilica San Paolo Fuori le Mura, came out in first place with a whopping 61,244,436 posts featuring the hashtags #Rome and/or #Roma. The historical centre of the city is home to world famous landmarks such as the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and the Roman Forum.

Second on the list is Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s second-most populous city, with 45,039,569 posts. Rio’s most famous landmark is Christ the Redeemer, but the city has much more to offer like the Museum of Tomorrow and the Niteroi Contemporary Art Museum.

The third most Instagrammable UNESCO World Heritage Site is Venice and its Lagoon, the second of three Italian locations in the top 10, with 25,755,922 posts. Venice’s yearly average of 4.2 million tourists can enjoy landmarks such as St. Mark’s Square, the Grand Canal, and the Bridge of Sighs.

(Image from Canva)

All the sites in the top 10 are cultural sites, which refers to historic buildings and town sites, important archaeological sites, and works of monumental sculpture or painting.

Top 10 most Instagrammable World Heritage Sites 2021

The most Instagrammable natural site in the list, the Yosemite National Park in the United States, ranks 15th, with 4,611,905 posts. Meanwhile the first mixed site, including both natural and man-made elements, is the Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia in Turkey, which ranks 23rd with 3,009,297 posts.

(Image from Pixabay)

Italy not only has three sites in the top 10, but with 58 sites is the country with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites, followed by China with 56 and Germany with 51.

“It is fascinating to see how regardless of the advancing of time and new technologies always around the corner, a milestone of art, culture and tradition like Rome still receives the kind of attention that has generated more than 60 million Instagram posts dedicated to it.” a spokesperson from Design Bundles commented, “This study shows that these stunning places still inspire and amaze people around the world, and they are likely to be high on the list of people’s dream destinations as the world begins to open up again.”

The research was carried out by Design Bundles, which provides a high-quality and professional marketplace for premium and affordable design resources. 

Most Instagrammable World Heritage Sites 2021, positions 11 to 30

Top 10 Countries with the most World Heritage Sites 2021