U.K. company Design Bundles analysed how many times the 145 most popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites were tagged on the Gram and ranked them accordingly.

Covid-19 meant that no one was going on holiday, which then meant that everyone was going on holiday vicariously through Instagram.

So where did everyone go? Here are the 10 most popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites according to Instagram.

1. Rome, Italy - 61,244,436 posts

Not particularly shocking, Italy is a wonderfully popular tourist destination and for good reason too. There’s just so much to see and do from the Colosseum to the food.  

2. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 45,039,569 posts

It is Brazil’s primary tourist attraction and resort with over 2.82 million international tourists a year. World class hotels and fabulous beaches? It’s popularity is no small wonder.

3. Venice, Italy - 25,755,922 posts

Do I even need to explain why? It’s got beauty, history, and food! What else do you really need?

4. Kiev in Ukraine, with 21,914,502 posts

Bet you didn’t see this one coming. Since Ukraine introduced a visa-free regime for EU-member states (plus Switzerland) in 2005, the country has been receiving a steady increase of tourists each year. After the UEFA Euro’s in 2012, the city became the most popular destination for European tourists.

5. Florence, Italy - 21,516,815 posts

Much like Rome and Venice, all the same reasons they’re amazing apply for anywhere in Italy. You’re just changing the scenery.

6. Prague, Czech Republic - 17,731,077 posts

Prague is just an awesome place to visit. You’ve got these brilliant gothic buildings, great food, and the nightlife, wow, it’s something else.

7. Budapest, Hungary - 14,665,910 posts

There’s so much culture in Budapest. It’s renowned for it’s pre-war cityscape that has been very well-preserved. There’s a tonne of restaurants and cafes, museums, libraries, and sights. 

8. Brasilia, Brazil - 13,277,931 posts

Another I didn’t expect to see on this list, but apparently Brasilia is party central! It hosts these large festivals called ‘festas juninas’ that celebrate several Catholic saints. It’s also the birthplace of Brazilian Rock with several legendary figures hailing from the city. As a result, Brasilia is equipped to host any event. 

9. St. Petersburg, Russia - 11,987,336 posts

Of course this is on here, it’s called the ‘Cultural Capital of Russia’ for God’s sake. The city has 221 museums, 2,000 libraries, more than 80 theatres, 100 concert organizations, 45 galleries and exhibition halls, 62 cinemas, and 80 other cultural establishments. Every year they host over 100 festivals and a bunch of arts and culture competitions. 

10. Quito, Ecuador - 9,854,551 posts

Quito has the largest, least-altered, and best-preserved historic centre in all of the Americas. This historic centre is one of the most important areas in all of Latin America. There are over 130 monumental buildings that host a bunch of art and history. 

Tags: