We’ve been to many of the places on this list of most popular tourist attractions in the World and I have to say that they are certainly great sites to experience! If you are looking for more information about day trips to take, please feel free to browse our list of destinations. For centuries, some of the attractions on this list forbade visitors from entering their boundaries. However, as empires fell into disarray and democracy took over, countries started opening their borders to international visitors, thereby kick starting an era of travel that saw attractions once hidden from view, opening their gates and attracting millions of visitors each year. The South Asian country of Thailand is also known as the "Land of Smiles", and offers both modern comforts and wild adventure. Thailand's capital, Bangkok, receives over 20 million visitors every year. Popular attractions include the Grand Palace in Bangkok; beaches including Railay, Long, and Monkey beach; the ancient city Ayutthaya and ornate Buddhist wat Coi Suthep, and national parks including Khao Yai (where wild elephants roam) and the otherworldly Khao Sok.