Architectural Digest names Dominica among the ’21 Most Beautiful Places in the World’

Dominica has made the list of the ’21 Most Beautiful Place in the World’ compiled by the international magazine, Architectural Digest.

In its latest edition, published on March 10, 2025, the magazine painted the list as an “ode to earth’s biggest blockbusters” when it comes to beauty.

“Among the most beautiful places in the world, you will find black-sand beaches and blue ice caves, granite peaks and glacial ice, the City of Light and a city carved in stone,” it said in an editorial introducing the 21 places.

“They include both Mother Nature’s handiwork as well as beauty crafted by human hands.”

Dominica, the only Caribbean island on the list, was placed ninth for its “unspoiled charm” and was described as “an under-the-radar paradise.”

‘The Caribbean has no shortage of alluring islands, but one stands apart for its unspoiled charm — Dominica, a.k.a. the Nature Island,” the magazine wrote. “Unlike other tropical locales, the beaches here aren’t overwhelmed by mega resorts and cruise ships. Instead, you’ll find pristine black- and white-sand beaches, tranquil rainforest hikes, and snorkeling adventures in magically bubbling waters. Yes, it’s still possible to uncover an under-the-radar paradise today.”

Top of the list is the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

“It’s hard to top the jaw-dropping natural drama of waterfalls, and Victoria Falls in southern Africa is one of the planet’s most stunning examples,” the magazine wrote about the falls.

“Located on the Zambezi River, which forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, Victoria Falls is considered the largest sheet of falling water in the world, based on both its width (5,604 feet) and height (354 feet). In pre-colonial times it was known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, or “the smoke that thunders.”

The 21 most beautiful places in the world according to Architectural Digest are as follows:

Victoria Falls
Paris (France)
Amazon Rainforest (South America)
Lapland (Finland)
Torres del Paine National Park (Chile)
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (Japan)
Banff National Park (Canada)
The Alhambra (Spain)
Dominica
Vatnajökull National Park (Iceland)
Great Barrier Reef (Australia)
Petra (Jordan)
Sea of Cortez (Mexico)
Shetland Islands (Scotland)

Jaipur (India)
Grindelwald (Switzerland)
Zhangjiajie National Forest (China)
Machu Picchu (Peru)
Serengeti National Park (Tanzania)
Grand Canyon (USA)
Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)