These are the 24 new UNESCO World Heritage sites for 2024
From breathtaking deserts to ancient cultural treasures, these newly-minted UNESCO sites will inspire your next great adventure.
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has revealed its latest list of World Heritage-listed sites for 2024. Spanning continents and centuries, these 24 sites reflect humanity’s greatest achievements and the planet’s most remarkable natural wonders.
1. Beijing Central Axis, China
The Beijing Central Axis stretches from the Yongding Gate to the Bell and Drum Towers. (Image: Getty Images/oksanaphoto)
The Beijing Central Axis is the historical spine of Beijing, stretching from the Yongding Gate to the Bell and Drum Towers. Showcasing the grand city planning of ancient China, connecting palaces, temples and vibrant marketplaces, you’ll see 15 major landmarks along the way.
2. Brâncuși Monumental Ensemble of Târgu Jiu, Romania
These sculptures are a homage to the Romanian heroes of the First World War. (Image: Getty Images/Alexander Gabriel)
A tribute to Romania’s celebrated sculptor Constantin Brâncuși, the Brâncuși Monumental Ensemble of Târgu Jiu features his masterpieces that fuse modernist creativity with local cultural motifs.
3. Cultural Landscape of Kenozero Lake, Russia
Wooden buildings are the key landmarks of the area. (Image: Federal State Establishment/Dmitriy Arkhipov)
Surrounded by serene forests and dotted with historic chapels, Kenozero Lake’s landscape is a window into Russia’s traditional rural life.
4. Frontiers of the Roman Empire, Dacian Limes, Romania
It represents the longest land border of a former Roman province in Europe. (Image: National Museum of Transylvanian History/Máté Szabó)
Unveiling remnants of ancient Rome’s expansive borders, these forts and roads capture the might of the empire in Eastern Europe.
5. Hegmataneh, Iran
Iran’s newest UNESCO site is where the Median Dynasty was founded. (Image: HHCH Base Archive/Einollah Khazaei)
Once the summer capital of the Medes, Hegmataneh’s ruins reveal layers of Iran’s ancient history through its urban layout and archaeological finds.
6. Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites, South Africa
The Orlando Towers are iconic to Soweto, South Africa’s oldest and largest township. (Image: Getty Images/Thegift777)
From Robben Island to the Qunu homestead, these locations in South Africa honour Nelson Mandela’s journey and the fight for justice and equality.
7. Melka Kunture and Balchit, Ethiopia
An extraordinary archaeological site featuring early human tools and remains, Melka Kunture and Balchit offer insights into humanity’s origins in Africa.
8. Moidams, India
The property contains the royal necropolis of the Tai-Ahom. (Image: Directorate of Archaeology, Government of Assam)
These sacred burial mounds of the Ahom dynasty in Assam merge historical grandeur with spiritual reverence.
9. Phu Phrabat Historical Park, Thailand
The most impressive rock formation in the park is called Ho Nang Usa. (Image: Getty Images: Mai111)
A stunning blend of natural rock formations and ancient art, Phu Phrabat Historical Park in Thailand highlights millennia of human creativity and belief systems.
10. Royal Court of Tiébélé, Burkina Faso
The earthen architectural complex was established in the 16th century. (Image: Getty Images/Alexander Bee)
The intricately painted houses of Tiébélé reflect the artistic heritage and communal traditions of the Kassena people.
11. Sado Island Gold Mines, Japan
A pit in an abandoned gold mine on Sado Island. (Image: Getty Images/Tokio Marine Life)
A fascinating glimpse into Japan’s gold-mining history, the Sado Island Gold Mines showcase Edo-period engineering and the island’s natural beauty.
12. Tell Umm Amer, Palestine
The ruins of Tell Umm Amer represent one of the earliest monastic sites in the Middle East. (Image: UNESCO Ramallah Office)
An archaeological marvel in the Gaza Strip, the remains of the Monastery of Saint Hilarion reveal the cultural crossroads of Byzantine and early Islamic civilisations.
13. Schwerin Residence Ensemble, Germany
Schwerin Castle is a 19th-century castle. (Wolfgang Weiser/Unsplash)
A jewel of Northern European architecture, this palace complex blends Baroque and Gothic styles in a lakeside setting in Germany.
14. Niah Caves, Malaysia
Niah Caves is the oldest recorded human settlement in East Malaysia. (Image: Getty Images/Lillitve)
Home to prehistoric human remains, the Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park’s Caves Complex in Malaysia chronicles over 40,000 years of human history and biodiversity.
15. Al-Faw, Saudi Arabia
Al-Faw showcases human habitation from prehistoric times to the 5th century. (Image: Thomas Creissen)
A desert city of ancient Arabia, the Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw unveils ruins that tell stories of trade, religion and early urban life.
16. Pleistocene Occupation Sites, South Africa
This series of archaeological sites showcases evidence of early human settlement and technological advancements.
17. Gedi, Kenya
The abandoned city of Gedi was one of the most important Swahili cities from the 10th to 17th centuries. (Image: Getty Images/MariusLtu)
Ruins of a Swahili coastal town, the Historic Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi is a hauntingly beautiful testament to the region’s trade and cultural networks.
18. Umm Al-Jimāl, Jordan
The property preserves the vestiges of a rural settlement that developed organically on the site. (Image: Dietmar Rauscher)
Known as the “black oasis,” this ancient city features basalt architecture and insights into Nabataean and Roman history.
19. Via Appia, Italy
This Roman road served as an important access road into the city. (Image: Getty Images/Renata Tyburczy)
One of the Roman Empire’s oldest roads built in 312 BCE, the Via Appia (The Appian Way) connects history and nature through its ancient cobblestones and rural surroundings.
20. Badain Jaran Desert, China
The Badain Jaran Desert is a meeting point for three sandy regions of China. (Image: Getty Images/Alberto Sánchez cerrato)
With towering sand dunes and hidden lakes, this mesmerising desert is one of China’s most unique natural landscapes.
21. Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil
The park is home to four endangered species. (Image: Getty Images/Andre Luis Michelon)
Famed for its otherworldly sand dunes and crystalline lagoons, Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in Brazil is a must-visit natural wonder.
22. The Flow Country, Scotland, UK
UK’s newest World Heritage site is known for its actively accumulating blanket bog landscape. (Image: Getty Images/Chunyip Wong)
Europe’s largest expanse of blanket bog, this Scottish site is a vital habitat for wildlife and a critical carbon sink.
23. Vjetrenica Cave, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The most biodiverse cave in the world. (Image: Getty Images/Diogo Pereira and Sanja Vrzic)
With 7.6 kilometres of passages, the intricate Vjetrenica Cave system houses rare species and awe-inspiring stalactites, a hidden gem for nature lovers.
24. The Marquesas Islands, France
The Marquesas are a beautiful, remote stretch of islands in French Polynesia. (Image: Getty Images/Florian Ruess)
A cultural and natural marvel in French Polynesia, Te Henua Enata (The Marquesas Islands) celebrates Polynesian heritage amid striking volcanic landscapes.
Which new UNESCO World Heritage site will you explore first?
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil