When it comes to discovering natural beauty around the world, there are no better places to do this than at National Parks. These Parks are protected by the government of the country they belong to and are made for conservation purposes.

There are over 6,500 National Parks worldwide, and local governments are adding to this number each year. Sure, it would be amazing to visit all of them, but let’s be realistic, that’s not going to happen.

That’s why I made a list of the world’s top 10 most beautiful National Parks.

Most Beautiful National Parks in the World

If you love nature and want to protect it, then visiting a National Park is the perfect vacation. You will get to enjoy the great outdoors and have an experience that a lot of people won’t have when visiting that country.

From the great Serengeti to the jaw-dropping views of the Grand Canyon, we are going to cover National Parks from every continent and see which one comes out on top.

10. Calanques National Park

The breathtaking Calanques National Park, showcasing a deep turquoise inlet surrounded by rugged limestone cliffs and lush greenery under a clear blue sky." — Photo. Credit: Deposit Photos.

Now I might be a little biased because I live only an hour away from the Calanques National Park, but you have to agree that it is one of the most beautiful places you’ve ever seen! The crystal-clear, turquoise water is absolutely perfect and will leave you stunned.

Calanques National Park Is located near Marseille, France, and is easy to get to. Once you are in Marseille, take a train to the quaint beach town of Cassis. This is where most people start their hike across the Calanques (or inlets).

This National Park has 26 Calanques that you can hike to, but to do this would take 3 days to complete.

I would suggest only doing the first three: Calanque de Port-Miou, Calanque de Port-Pin, and Calanque d’En-Vau. This will give you a taste of the Park while letting you enjoy the rest of your French Riviera vacation.

9. Serengeti National Park

An intimate glimpse of a young lion cub peering curiously from behind tree branches in the wild, detailed textures of fur and bark are visible — Photo Credit: Deposit Photos.

Serengeti National Park is the perfect place for people who love wildlife. Over 90 species of mammals, 500 species of birds, and thousands of other animals live in this park. The most famous species are the leopard, lion, hippo, rhino, giraffe, and cheetah.

The best way to get to the Park is by flying to the Kilimanjaro International Airport and starting your safari from here. Keep in mind that this National Park is over 5,700 square miles, so visiting here can be overwhelming.

The best way to see the Serengeti is by booking a drive-in safari that will take you to where the wildlife is and let you see these incredible animals up close and personal.

8. Komodo National Park

A panoramic view of the serene Komodo National Park, with its rolling green hills, calm blue bays, and distant rugged islands under a soft cloudy sky — Photo Credit: Deposit Photos.

Want to see more animals? Head to Komodo National Park! Here you will find the 1,400 Komodo Dragons left in the entire world. They live on the 5 islands that make up this National Park, which are some of the most beautiful islands in the world.

To get to this National Park, take a flight into Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. From there, you can book a boat tour to the National Park. I would recommend booking an overnight tour so you get two full days to spend in this fantastic National Park.

7. Tongariro National Park

The dynamic landscape of Tongariro National Park featuring a vibrant waterfall cascading into a crystal-clear blue pool, flanked by lush forest and rock formations — Photo Credit: Deposit Photos.

Lord of the Rings nerds need to go to Tongariro National Park. Here you can literally hike to Mordor and Mount Doom! This UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its endless hiking trails, stunning vistas, and epic volcanoes.

One of the most popular things to do at this National Park is to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a 10-mile hike that is renowned as being one of the top 10 best day hikes in the world.

Getting to this National Park is a bit more complicated than the previous ones. You’ll have to drive 4-5 hours from either Auckland or Wellington to the main gateway of Park in Whakapapa Village. This National Park has so much to offer, so make sure to add it to your bucket list!

6. Torres del Paine National Park

The striking Torres del Paine National Park with its iconic jagged peaks rising sharply above a landscape of verdant forests and a serene river, under a clear blue sky — Photo Credit: Deposit Photos.

This National Park in Chile has some of the world’s best mountain and glacier views (if you are lucky enough to be here on a clear day). Torres del Paine National Park is known for having very extreme weather, and rain or snow is possible year-round.

Some of the park’s most iconic features are Las Torres, Salto Grande, and Serrano Glacier. The best ways to see the Park are on foot, by kayak, or on horseback.

The easiest way to see the Park is by flying into Punta Arenas and then taking a bus to Puerto Natales, which is the gateway of the Park.

You don’t need a guide because the trails are well-marked and are not too difficult to hike. However, I recommend booking a guide if you want to go deeper into the park and explore more remote places.

5. Plitvice Lakes National Park

The enchanting Plitvice Lakes National Park during autumn, displaying a symphony of waterfalls amidst lush foliage in shades of green, orange, and red, with turquoise waters below — Photo Credit: Deposit Photos.

Located in Croatia, Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the most well-known parks in the world. Don’t let the name of this park fool you- lakes aren’t the only thing that makes this park unbelievable. There are over 90 waterfalls in what are known as the Upper and Lower Lakes.

The best place to base yourself out of for this park is Zadar. From here you can either book a tour or rent a car and drive there yourself. The whole Park can be done is a single day even if you choose to do the longest hikes the park has to offer.

4. Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon is one of the 7 wonders of the world and for a good reason. This massive canyon is over 270 miles in length and is over 6,000 feet deep!

Standing on the canyon’s rim is one of the most thrilling and scary things you will ever do. Some of the highlights of Grand Canyon National Park are the Rim-to-Rim Trail, Havasu Falls, and rafting down the Colorado River.

The South Entrance Station is the easiest way to access the Grand Canyon, but wait times can be long, so be sure to get here early. Once you are in, you can go to Mather Point, which is right by the entrance and get a fantastic view of the Grand Canyon.

3. Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

A picturesque view of Mount Fuji in the background with its snow-capped peak, overlooking a vibrant pink shibazakura flower festival with patches of pink and white flowers near a tranquil lake — Photo Credit: Deposit Photos.

We’re now in the top three National Parks in the world! The Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park covers about 500 square miles of Japan and consists of Mount Fuji, Fuji Five Lakes, the Izu Peninsula, the Izu Islands, and Hakone. Mt Fuji is an active volcano in the center of the Park and is the most popular attraction.

If you’re brave and in good enough shape, you can hike to the summit of this iconic mountain and look into the volcano’s crater.

This Park is just a short train ride from Tokyo and can either be done on a group tour or solo. I would recommend taking at least 2 days to explore this park, so you have time to hit all the major spots.

2. Sagarmatha National Park

Majestic Mount Everest, bathed in the warm glow of sunset, with its peak touching the vibrant orange sky, while the surrounding snow-clad mountains bask in the last light of day — Photo Credit: Deposit Photos.

This protected area in the Nepal Himalayas is best known for being home to the most famous mountain in the world, Mt. Everest. At 29,035 feet, this stands as the tallest mountain in the world. The best part is that anyone can hike to its base! The Everest Base Camp Trek is 80 miles long and finishes at an elevation of 18,500 feet.

The best way to get to Sagarmatha National Park is by plane. You can take the terrifying flight on a little prop plane from Katmandu to Lukla, where the start of the trek begins. T

hen, you’ll need to hike another 17 miles before reaching the entrance. Some of the most incredible sights here are the Gokyo Lakes, the Taboche Monastery, and Cho La Pass.

1. Yosemite National Park

Dusk falls over Yosemite Valley, showcasing the majestic granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome in the distance, with a foreground of pine trees and a subtle gradient of warm colors painting the sky — Photo Credit: Deposit Photos

Again, I might be a little biassed here because I grew up in California, but Yosemite is THE MOST beautiful place on earth (in my opinion). With its gigantic granite mountains, massive waterfalls, and a blanket of green that covers the valley floor, there is truly no place like it.

Some of Yosemite National Park’s most famous spots are Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Yosemite Falls.

If possible, it’s best if you stay inside the Park at one of the many camping grounds and lodges but they fill up about 6 months in advance so book long before you go.

Staying outside the park is not an option because there are few hotels. Yosemite is a National Park that you will not want to miss, so make sure to reserve your accommodation for at least 3 nights.

Well, there you have it! The 10 most beautiful National Parks in the world. I hope that I was able to make your decision a little easier on which National Parks to add to your bucket list.

Which park do you want to visit first?