World's Greatest Places

Want to see the world? TIME magazine has made a list of the World’s Greatest Places. Join TIME for Kids on a tour of our favorites. We’ll take you from city to wilderness. We’ll travel from tiny villages to faraway islands. You’ll be awed by the beauty of these places. Maybe you’ll want to visit them in person. Each one reminds us of the importance of protecting the environment. Enjoy the ride. And spread the word about our wonderful planet!

Higher Learning

You’ll find lots to learn in Ahmedabad, India, in Asia. A place called Gujarat Science City is there. It’s dedicated to science education. Visitors can learn about local plants and practice yoga at the nature park. Or they can explore the new robot gallery. An aquarium features species from around the world.. —By Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

In the Clouds

Feeling courageous? Sky Bridge 721 is the world’s longest hanging footbridge. It’s in Dolní Morava. That’s a village in the Czech Republic, in Eastern Europe. The bridge is nearly half a mile long. It hangs more than 300 feet in the air. —By Kathleen Rellihan

Saving Rhinos

White rhinos roam near Hwange National Park. That’s in Zimbabwe, in Africa. In May, two of the animals were taken to an area near the park. Local people will care for them. White rhinos are in trouble. They have not been seen in the park since 2007. One problem is poaching × poaching CHRIS MINIHANE/GETTY IMAGES the illegal capture or killing of an animal (noun) Poaching could lead to the extinction of the rhinoceros. . —By Terry Ward

Culture Trip

Rapa Nui is an island in the Pacific Ocean. It’s also known as Easter Island. It’s famous for its sculptures. They were made by the Rapa Nui people, who arrived about 1,200 years ago. Hotu Matu’a was their early king. His spirit is said to have become a sea turtle. —By Johanna Read

Lively Spot

The Galápagos Islands are off the coast of Ecuador. That’s in South America. The islands are very biodiverse × biodiverse MALAKPET PS—500PX/GETTY IMAGES having many different species of plants and animals (adjective) Most animal species can thrive only in biodiverse places. . Marine-life protections have been expanded there. They limit fishing. And they create safe paths where animals can travel. —By Karen Catchpole

Ancient Past

Alentejo is a rural part of Portugal, in Europe. It’s covered with forests and olive groves. There are ancient cities there, too. A museum in Estremoz shows off traditional tiles. In Esperança, hikers can see 5,000-year-old cave paintings. They might also see eagles and vultures. —By Robin Catalano

Bike it!

Bogotá is the capital of Colombia. That’s in South America. The city is the perfect place for a bike ride. Bogotá has taken steps to reduce pollution. It has more than 350 miles of bike paths. It also has a bikeshare program. There will be bicycles for people with disabilities to use. —By Kate Crittenden

Trail Mix

ew Zealand is an island country in the Pacific Ocean. It’s near Australia. It’s also home to Fiordland National Park. The park has a system of trails. Hikers can scale mountain peaks. And they can dip into valleys. Lakes there are fed by waterfalls. —By Yulia Denisyuk

Icy Views

This is the visitor center in Ilulissat, Greenland. It was designed to look like a snowy owl in flight. A boardwalk leads to a view of Ilulissat Icefjord. That’s an icy body of water with steep sides. The center reminds visitors of how this wilderness could be lost to climate change. —By Jennifer Duggan