To celebrate some of the world's most spectacular sights, Lonely Planet has rounded up 120 breath-taking buildings in a new book, . From national treasures to quirky constructions, here's a selection of the must-see monuments.
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Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Built between 1631 and 1648 by order of the emperor Shah Jahan in tribute to his favourite wife, this white marble mausoleum is one of the most iconic .
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Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia
Since its opening in 1973, this performing arts centre has become Australia's most recognisable building.
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St Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia
One of Moscow's most-photographed sites, this colourful cathedral has stood at the southern end of the Red Square since 1561.
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Roman Baths, Bath, England
Known as one of the UK's most historic sites, Bath's thermal springs attract over one million tourists a year. A recent £5.5 million redevelopment hopes to preserve the baths for the next century.
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Pena Palace, Sintra, Portugal
This palace in the Sintra hills, near Portugal's capital Lisbon, is loved for its Moorish style of architecture. It can be seen from any point of Pena park.
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Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln, England
Described by Lonely Planet as an "English dream," this stunning 11th century cathedral is the third highest building in England. As well as its impressive tower, this building is also home to a stunning display of stained-glass windows.
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Hang Nga Guesthouse, Vietnam
Known as the Crazy House in Dalat, Lonely Planet sums up the design of this private home as: "think of Gaudí and Tolkien dropping acid together."
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Grand Lisboa, Macau
A golden lotus-shaped tower, this 400-bedroom hotel is the tallest building in Macau.
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The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Gustave Eiffel's company built Paris' most famous monument for the 1889 World's Fair. The 1,063 ft iron structure is now one of the world's most popular landmarks.
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The Crooked House, Sopot, Poland
'The little crooked house' looks like something from a fairytale, but it is in fact a shopping centre on a street in Sopot's Monte Cassino.
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Colosseum, Rome, Italy
The 50,000-seat amphitheatre is cherished today as a spectacular display of Roman imperial power. It has recently undergone a multi-million pound restoration, for the first time in its 2,000 year history.
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The Bird's Nest, Beijing, China
The Beijing National Stadium, nicknamed 'The Bird's Nest,' staged the 2008 Olympic Games.
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The Basket Building, Ohio, USA
This unique building was constructed in 1997 as the then head office for Longaberger, the company behind these trademark baskets. The 180,000-square-foot landmark recently sold for $1.2 million.
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Alhambra, Granada, Spain
This Islamic palace complex is one of Spain's top attractions. "Their showpiece palaces, the 14th-century Palacios Nazaríes, are among the finest Islamic buildings in Europe," writes Lonely Planet.
