12 world-famous landmarks that every travel buff should visit

• Seeing a world-famous landmark can be the best part of traveling.
• Sites like the Sydney Opera House and Machu Picchu may be crowded, but they're worth seeing.
• Here are 12 we think you should visit.

One of the best parts about travel is seeing a site that makes your jaw drop. It could be a snow-capped mountain, a decadent cathedral, a historical monument, or even a well-known landmark.

Even if you're an experienced traveler who prefers less crowded destinations, many world-famous sites are worth seeing.

Here are 12 spectacular landmarks every travel buff should visit.

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The Sydney Opera House is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.

You can't miss the brilliant white arcs of the Sydney Opera House. The elegant building was completed in 1973 and designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon. Thanks to him, it's one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. It's also Australia's number one tourist destination, bringing in over 8 million people each year.

Christ the Redeemer stands at the summit of Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro.

At the summit of Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro stands the magnificent, 98-foot-tall Christ the Redeemer. After taking millions of votes into account, the New7Wonders foundation declared the Art Deco statue one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.

San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge crosses the Golden Gate Strait.

The Golden Gate Bridge spans 1.7 miles across the Golden Gate Strait, the strip of water where the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay meet. Joseph Strauss was the chief engineer of the bridge, which was completed in 1937. While the original 1922 design was deemed "ugly" by the local press, the bridge now sees more than 10 million visitors a year.