A closer look at the most beautiful countries in the world

France
One of the largest countries in Europe, France is known for both
manmade and natural beauty. Paris offers urban beauty in the fields of
architecture (Eiffel Tower), art (the Louvre), food, and fashion. But move
out of the city and France offers a plethora of beautiful sights from snow-
capped mountains to rolling fields of vineyards and lavender to sunny
beaches.

Greece
Greece could probably make this list based upon the island of Santorini
alone, whose iconic white buildings with bright blue domes are virtually
guaranteed to appear on any photographic essay of places with beautiful
scenery. Mainland Greece, of course, is home to architectural sites
including the Parthenon, the scenic ruins of Delphi (and their dramatic
mountainside views), and the monasteries at Metéora. Beaches are
abundant in Greece, and feature sand in a wide range of colors: white,
black, pink, or red, all surrounded by jewel blue Mediterranean waters and
(more often than not), interesting mountains and rock formations.

Iceland
Few countries can offer as much raw natural beauty as this tiny island
country, which is sometimes known as the Island of Fire and Ice due to its
collection of active volcanoes, glaciers, hot springs, ice fields, geysers,
lava tunnels, and other geological wonders. Located in the North Atlantic,
Iceland joins Canada as one of the best places on Earth to view the
Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis. Sights such as the Skaftafell Ice
Cave, the Dettifoss Waterfall, the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach are among the most unique and beautiful
anywhere on the planet.

Indonesia
A tropical island country south of the Philippines and north of Australia,
Indonesia offers some of the most gorgeous beaches on the planet (Bali),
8th-century Buddhist temples (Borobudur), and volcanoes including Mount
Krakatau and the breathtaking Mount Bromo. Indonesia is also a
destination for wildlife tourism, with ample reef diving opportunities and
wildlife parks where visitors can see orangutans, sea turtles, and the
massive Komodo dragon—the world's largest monitor lizard—in their
natural habitat.
Italy
With more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country, this
European country is packed with beautiful places. Every city seems to
have something unique and beautiful: the Coliseum and other
archeological sites in Rome, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the cathedrals in
cities such as Florence, the gondola-strewn canals of Venice ... not to
mention the ancient architecture that can make even simple buildings look
like a work of art. Italy also boasts an overabundance of lovely
landscapes, from the oceanside cliffs of the Amalfi coast to rolling green
hills and snowy mountain peaks.

Japan
Japan is another country that is well prepared to satisfy most any person's
definition of beauty. Inspiring scenery is everywhere, from a grove of
blooming cherry trees with Mount Fuji rising in the background to a tranquil
shot of Kinkaku-ji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, surrounded by a
calm lake and a flourishing forest. Lush gardens and exotic temples (such
as the Fushimi Inari shrine) are in fact arguably commonplace in Japan.
Japan also has much to offer those who prefer a more urban type of
beauty, such as the neon-drenched Dotonburi district in Osaka or the
equally vibrant pop culture overload of Tokyo's Harajuku district. And for
the fans of off-kilter beauty, Japan has the Jigokudani Monkey Park,
where snow monkeys venture down from the snowy mountains to soak in
steaming hot springs.

New Zealand
This island country includes so many dramatic landscapes and
breathtaking environments that it has become a favorite choice for
filmmakers creating fantasy films (such as Peter Jackson's Lord of the
Rings trilogy). Nature-loving beauty seekers can visit attractions including
picturesque mountains, lush green rainforests, stunning beaches, vibrant
coral reefs, and world-class stargazing. One can even see the Southern
Lights (Aurora Australis) or take a "blackwater rafting" trip that floats
through caves lit by bioluminescent glowworms.