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Viktorija Strelciunaite

52 Spectacular Sculptures Across The Globe That Deserve A Spot On Your Travel Bucket List

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It shouldn’t come as a surprise that some of life’s best memories are created outdoors, and thanks to modern and historic artists, being in the open air has become a positively thrilling experience. Across the globe, they’ve managed to turn ordinary streets and even bare cliff edges into museums with sculptures so spectacular they almost don’t feel real. Some of these pieces honor historical legends, while others are simply mind-bending works of art, but all of them were created to captivate anyone who walks past. We’ve put together this list of 52 sculptures from around the world that are so unbelievable, you’ll want to see them in person.

#1 Tombili, Istanbul, Turkey

#2 The Kelpies, Grangemouth, Scotland, United Kingdom

#3 Puppy, Bilbao, Spain

#4 Gallos, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

#5 Dragon Bridge, Da Nang, Vietnam

#6 The Fork - Alimentarium, Vevey, Switzerland

#7 Golden Bridge, Da Nang, Vietnam

#8 Digital Orca, Vancouver, Canada

#9 Christ The Redeemer, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

#10 Virgen Del Socavon, Oruro, Bolivia

#11 Statue Of Lord Shiva, Murdeshwar, India

#12 The Awakening, Maryland, USA

Naturally, most pieces of art are undeniably captivating, but only a select few are record breakers, and the Statue of Unity in Gujarat’s Narmada Valley certainly makes the cut. Standing at around 597 feet, this massive monument honoring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first deputy prime minister, comes in at number one on the list of the world’s tallest sculptures.

#13 Lion Monument, Lucerne, Switzerland

#14 Apennine Colossus, Tuscany, Italy

#15 The Force Of Nature Westminster, Westminster, England

#16 Diminish And Ascend, Christchurch, New Zealand

#17 Wat Plai Laem, Koh Samui, Thailand

#18 Leshan Giant Buddha, Leshan, China

#19 Adiyogi Shiva Bust, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

#20 Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, Bali, Indonesia

#21 Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

#22 Christ Of The Abyss, Key Largo, Florida, USA

#23 Men By The Sea, Esbjerg, Denmark

#24 Amazon Statue, Cotonou, Benin

#25 Angel Of The North, Gateshead, England, United Kingdom

While most sculptures are truly something to marvel at, some tend to draw more attention than others. It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that the Statue of Liberty, Christ the Redeemer, and the David sculpture by Michelangelo are some of the most popular in the world. These works of art are global icons that are loved not just for their powerful symbolism and historical significance but also for their impressive craftsmanship.

#26 Franz Kafka, Rotating Head, Prague, Czech Republic

#27 The Architectural Fragment, Melbourne, Australia

#28 Moai, Easter Island

#29 The Burghers Of Calais, London, England, United Kingdom

#30 Cristo Protetor De Encantado, State Of Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil

#31 Rock Sculpture Of Decebalus, Orsova, Romania

#32 Statue Of Liberty, New York, USA

#33 Lord Murugan Statue, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

#34 La Mano Del Desierto, Atacama Desert, Chile

#35 El Oso Y El Madrono, Madrid, Spain

#36 Spring Temple Buddha, Henan, China

Although there’s no official world record for the “most sculptures in one city,” Rome would probably win the title, with Skopje in North Macedonia coming in as a close second. The Italian city is home to a generous mix of fountains, ancient ruins, and Renaissance works of art on almost every street corner, making the entire city feel like an outdoor gallery.