Asia has some of the world’s most stunning natural and manmade structures and these are the 25 most famous landmarks in Asia that you can see.
Personally I have been travelling to, and living in, Asia since 1998 and some of the most remarkable places I have seen have been on that continent.
This is not an extensive list as there are so many great landmarks in Asia, but these are the 25 famous ones I have narrowed it down to in order to give you a good idea on which ones to see, and they cover all parts of the continent.
Great Wall of China (China)
The Great Wall of China is easily one of the most famous landmarks in Asia. It’s so iconic and huge that you can see it in satellite images from space stretching for around 21,196 kilometres (13,171 miles).
It’s a must-visit if you are in Beijing or any other part of China that is near it.
Angkor Wat (Cambodia)
Out of all the temples in Asia to visit, Angkor Wat stands as the most impressive of them all, in my opinion. Located near Siem Reap in Cambodia it’s the temple that you would dream of visiting.
It’s part of a huge ancient temple complex and is a must-visit if you have any interest in temples.
Taj Mahal (India)
The Taj Mahal! No list of famous landmarks in Asia would be complete without it and it’s one of the most recognisable man-made buildings in the world.
It’s located near the city of Agra in India and is a mausoleum.
Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
The thousands of small limestone islands that dot Ha Long Bay are an iconic site in Vietnam and one of the most stunning natural areas by the sea in Asia.
The Cát Bà National Park in the area is great for hiking and rock climbing.
Mount Fuji (Japan)
Mount Fuji is an iconic natural landmark in Japan and one of the most photographed mountains in the world.
It’s possible to climb to the top but it’s a strenuous climb so you will need some strength for it.
Read: The best day trips from Tokyo.
Mount Everest (China & Nepal)
The granddaddy of all mountains. Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world and that makes it one of the most famous landmarks in Asia.
Located in both Nepal and China it’s a mountaineers’ dream destination. You can trek to the Everest Base Camp if you are fit enough. Also, if you have the money, the time, and the fitness level, you can climb it on a professional tour, but that will set you back 10s of thousands of dollars.
Borobudur Temple (Indonesia)
Borobudur is easily one of the best temples in Asia to visit and definitely the best temple structure in Indonesia.
It looms over the surrounding countryside and is an ancient Hindu temple in Indonesia.
Chocolate Hills (Philippines)
The chocolate hills of Bohol are the ultimate destination out of all the natural landmarks in the Philippines that you can see.
They are, aside from the beaches and sea, my favourite nature area that I saw in the country.
Forbidden City (China)
Along with the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City is another of the great structures built by the Chinese imperial dynasties.
It’s located in the heart of Beijing and is a must-visit if you have any interest in old Chinese architecture and history.
Tip: It’s always busy there with tourists, but what I did was go later in the day, when it was still busy, but just 15 minutes before closing it empties out and you will have more of the place to yourself to take pictures without the crowds, like in my photo above.
Read: Things to do in Beijing.
Royal Grand Palace (Thailand)
The Royal Palace in Thailand is one of the most stunning palaces in Asia and stands out as some of the most impressive architecture in Thailand.
Along with the temples in Chiang Mai, this palace is my favourite traditional building in Thailand, although it can get busy with tourists.
Read: 20 best palaces in Asia to visit.
Paro Taktsang (Bhutan)
Paro Taktsang is a monastery in Bhutan that clings to the cliff face. It is a Buddhist site and one of the most sacred sites for Buddhists in the area. It’s easily one of the best landmarks in Asia as far as Buddhist sites go.
Note that Bhutan charges a high daily tourist tax to visit ($200 a day as of 2022) so if you’re on a budget it will be hard to visit.
Petra (Jordan)
Petra in Jordan has some of the most stunning ancient architecture and history in Asia. The famous landmark of the structure carved into the side of a cliff face (see pic above) is one of the most known images in ancient archaeology.
Visitors can roam around the vast complex of buildings and wander through the narrow passageways with the cliffs towering above.
Tian Tan Buddha (Hong Kong)
Tian Tan Buddha is my favourite large statue of Buddha in Asia and makes a great day trip as it’s located on a small island away from the main busy streets of Hong Kong. It’s made out of bronze and is an impressive sight.
Getting up to the statue is half the fun as you can take the Ngong Ping Cable Car to reach it which gives great views of the area.
Cappadocia (Turkey)
Cappadocia is a magical wonderland in central Turkey and truly is an enchanting place to visit. The rock formations here are unique and one of the most famous landmarks in Asia for it.
The landscape is out of this world and along with ancient underground cities and cave dwellings makes it a truly special place to visit.
Petronas Twin Towers (Malaysia)
The twin Petronas Towers stand epically in the centre of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. They are supertowers and are an iconic sight in the city.
As far as famous skyscrapers in Asia go, the Petronas Twin Towers rank high on the list.
Amber Fort (India)
The Amber Fort is the ultimate fort/palace in India to visit, out of so many good ones. It’s located in Rajasthan state, which has so many palaces and temples to visit. As far as landmarks in Asia go with forts, this is one of the most impressive ones.
It’s located nearby Jaipur city, where you can also see the Hawa Hamal Palace (see further down the post).
Read: The best castles in India to visit.
Komodo National Park (Indonesia)
Komodo dragon! I’ll never forget the first time I saw a massive Komodo dragon in this national park back in 2001. It blew me away!
But not just that, the area itself is stunningly beautiful and stands out as one of the most scenic places in Indonesia and it also has some of the best snorkelling in the country.
Burj Khalifa (Dubai)
The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world and that makes it stand out as one of the most famous landmarks in Asia.
Located in Dubai, it hovers over all the other buildings. Go at nighttime for an impressive water fountain show with lights and one of the best times to take photos of it.
Read: How to spend one day in Dubai.
Marina Bay Sands (Singapore)
The Marina Bay Sands in Singapore is the most iconic structure in the city and is easily one of the most famous landmarks in Asia in recent years.
Located in the bay area, you can go to the top and relax in the swimming pool up there with epic views of Singapore.
Read: How to spend one day in Singapore.
Zhangjiajie National Forest (China)
The Zhangjiajie National Forest has been made famous as being part of the inspiration behind the land in the movie Avatar, and it’s a mythical place to see.
The scenery here really is out of this world and it’s located in central China in Hunan province. The Wulingyuan Scenic Area is the main part that you will want to visit.
Wat Arun (Thailand)
Wat Arun is the most recognisable temple along the river that flows through Bangkok. Take a passenger ferry down the river and you will see it easily standing out, especially at sunset.
Although there are lots of temples in Bangkok and along the river, Wat Arun is the one you will definitely not want to miss.
Leshan Giant Buddha (China)
The Giant Buddha in Leshan, China, is (as the name may suggest) the largest stone Buddha sculpture in the world, and is carved out of the side of a cliff.
It’s one of the most impressive stone sculptures I have ever seen.
Read: Guide to visiting the Leshan Giant Buddha.
Potala Palace (Tibet)
The Potala Palace looms large over the capital of Tibet, Lhasa. It was the winter home to the Dalai Lama until he fled Tibet for China following the Chinese invasion and today it is a museum.
This is one f the best palaces in Asia you can visit.
Victoria Peak (Hong Kong)
Out of all the city skylines in Asia, it’s the view across Hong Kong from Victoria Peak, especially at night, that is the most magnificent sight.
Victoria Peak is great for hiking around during the day and staying up there for sunset and then the nighttime view of the city.
Read: 3 days in Hong Kong.
Hawa Mahal (India)
The Hawa Mahal is an epic palace in Jaipur, India. It’s made from pink and red sandstone which makes for a stunning building.
Jaipur and the region of India have many impressive heritage buildings and the Hawa Mahal stands out as one of the best.
Landmarks in Asia
Those are 25 of the most famous landmarks in Asia, both natural, and man-made, that you can see.
I recommend using SafetyWing Travel Insurance for your trip, just in case, it’s best to be prepared.
For more on Asia have a look at my guides to Asia.
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