The world is peppered with hundreds of amazing monuments and natural wonders that most of us would recognize without any trouble. However, things get trickier when the camera zooms in. We've found 26 of the most famous and awe-inspiring landmarks ready for their close-up – can you guess what and where they are?

A landmark building in New York City, this 102-story skyscraper was the world's tallest building for almost four decades, before it was surpassed by the World Trade Center's North Tower in 1970.

One of the most important examples of Art Deco-style architecture in the world, the Empire State Building has featured in more than 250 TV shows and films to date. Today, two of the floors (the 86th and 102nd) are turned into observatories, which both offer incredible views across Manhattan.

A multi-venue performing-arts center, this iconic building is located by one of the most famous harbors in the world in Australia's largest city.

One of the 20th century's most distinctive and recognizable buildings, Sydney Opera House has been a symbol of the city and, in fact, Australia ever since it was officially opened in 1973. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, it's one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. It was also in the running to become one of the New7Wonders of the World. Love this? Now try guessing these UK landmarks from their super close-ups.

This letterbox can be found at a famous political address on a private road in the British capital. It's part of an iconic door, belonging to a building finished in 1684.

Headquarters of the British Prime Minister, the most famous front door in the world hasn’t always been black. Herbert Henry Asquith, a Liberal Prime Minister from 1908 to 1916, once had it painted green. And, of course, that polished brass letterbox is just for show. Boris Johnson, the current Prime Minister, doesn’t really live here as he's opted to take up the four-bedroomed flat above number 11 Downing Street, which is usually the official residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

This world-famous wall is part of an engineering masterpiece that was finished in 1936. Millions of people tour this site every year and it's incredibly important for the states of Nevada, Arizona and California.

This dam was (and still is) an incredible feat of engineering, built around 30 miles (48km) southeast of the bright lights of Las Vegas. Upon its completion, it saved the surrounding farmlands from the frequent flooding caused by the Colorado River, but saw a death toll of 96 during its construction. It played a major role in the development of Sin City and the field of engineering, and its huge scale is still as impressive today as it used to be.

It's located in a park created by a notable Catalonian architect. The architect is famous for his mosaic work and for several buildings in one of Spain's most important cities, including an iconic cathedral.

Originally intended as a private garden for the wealthy living in the area, Park Güell has been a public park since 1926. Not only does it offer breathtaking views over the city, but it's almost an open-air art gallery in itself. A permanent feature throughout the park is Gaudí's exquisite multicolored mosaic work, most prominent on the main terrace (pictured), where a long bench in the form of a sea serpent frames the stunning vistas.

A landmark building designed by one of the 20th century's most important architects, Frank Lloyd Wright, this museum has been a New York City icon since it opened in 1959. It's also been featured on the silver screen many a time, including notable appearances in Men in Black and Mr Popper's Penguins. 

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is one of the most visited in New York City and its most notable feature remains its cylindrical gallery – it contains a ramp inside that rolls out from ground level up to the ceiling skylight in a continuous spiral. The collection features Impressionist, early modern and contemporary art, including paintings by Paul Cézanne and Vasily Kandinsky. Now take a look at the world's most beautiful museums.

A palace complex in the Chinese capital, this famous attraction covers an incredible area of 178 acres and generally welcomes more than 16 million visitors per year.

The Forbidden City served as the imperial palace to China's emperors, from the Ming dynasty to the end of Qing dynasty in 1912. A ceremonial and political center for Chinese government for more than five centuries, it's now the Palace Museum, showcasing an extensive amount of artworks from the imperial collections. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and is the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures on the planet.

This Aegean island is known for its white-washed walls, luxury hotels and stunning views stretching far across the horizon.

Known as the Queen of the Aegean, Santorini is often dubbed one of the most beautiful islands in Greece. Balmy temperatures, sugar-cube architecture and plush accommodation have enticed visitors for decades.

Constructed as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair, this iconic tower was supposed to be demolished after the exposition but instead it’s become one of the most iconic structures in France's capital.

Designed and built by engineer Gustave Eiffel’s company, the Eiffel Tower in Paris is tipped as the most visited paid monument in the world. The tower has three observation decks, two restaurants and a small apartment Eiffel built for himself. 

A famous Catalan architect's lifetime project, this unique building is synonymous with Spain’s second city. It’s renowned for the unique combination of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles.

A dominant feature of Barcelona’s skyline, the Sagrada Família has been a work in progress since 1882, when construction started. Designed by Antoni Gaudí, the basilica is expected to be finished by 2026 – the centenary of Gaudí’s death. Take a look at the world's most beautiful cathedrals.

Located in the US capital, this national monument honors one of the country’s greatest presidents. The memorial has been the location for several historic speeches, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream”.

Built at the start of the 20th century, the Lincoln Memorial is dedicated to the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. The memorial’s frieze has inscriptions of the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death and the dates on which they joined. The memorial is part of the larger National Mall that includes the Reflecting Pool, the Washington Monument and the US Capitol.

Dating back to around 2560 BC, it’s one of the seven wonders of the world. Located in Egypt, this man-made structure has puzzled scientists for decades because no one’s really sure how exactly it was built.

The largest pyramid in the Giza complex, on the outskirts of Cairo, the Great Pyramid is more than 481-feet (147m) tall. One of Egypt’s most popular attractions, it was originally built for pharaoh Khufu and has intrigued people around the world ever since. Now read 22 new secrets of the world's ancient wonders revealed.

Located in the British capital, this site has been the official meeting place of the country’s parliament for more than 700 years. It was also at the center of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605.

Originally a royal residence in the 11th century, the Palace of Westminster was mostly demolished in a fire in 1834 and rebuilt as we know it later in the 19th century. Today, it’s the meeting place for both houses of parliament in the United Kingdom – the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

Located high in the mountains of Peru, this ancient city was an Inca emperor's estate. It was recognized as one of the new seven wonders of the world in 2007 too.

Built by the Inca people in the 15th century, Machu Picchu is one of South America's greatest wonders. Never found by Spanish conquistadors, it wasn’t discovered by the Western world until American historian and explorer Hiram Bingham was led there by a local in 1911, and major clearing and excavation began in 1912. 

Located in an emirate on the coast of the Persian Gulf, this is one of the newest attractions in the sprawling city.

Rising from Dubai’s Zabeel Park, the Dubai Frame is positioned with a view of the old city on one side and modern landmarks on the other. The top of the frame is an observation deck.

This ivory-white mausoleum in India usually attracts millions of visitors each year and is the backdrop of an iconic photograph featuring the late Princess Diana sitting on a bench.

Commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his wife in the 17th century, the Taj Mahal has become a symbol of eternal love across the world. Located in Agra in northern India, it’s universally admired as one of the most beautiful masterpieces of Mughal architecture.

Situated in the Russian capital, the domes of this brightly colored cathedral resemble the flames of a fire. It was built on orders from Ivan the Terrible and has been a symbol of Russia ever since.

Standing in Moscow’s Red Square, opposite the Kremlin, it’s one of the most recognizable buildings in Russia. Confiscated from the Russian Orthodox community during the Soviet Union’s program of state atheism, it’s been used as a State Historical Museum since 1928.

Located in Brazil’s second-largest city, these tiles form a promenade along one of the most famous beaches in the world. Designed by Roberto Burle Marx, the promenade was first built in the 1930s and then restored in 1970.

Stretching along Brazil’s Atlantic shore, Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro plays host to millions of people taking part in its New Year’s Eve celebrations and most years it’s the official venue for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. In 2013, some three million people gathered on the beach to listen to Pope Francis’ mass in Brazil. 

Standing at the western end of Champs-Élysées, it is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Paris. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from the First World War.

Officially called Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile, it commemorates the French soldiers who fought and died in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Inscriptions of all French victories and generals cover the arc’s inner and outer surfaces.

Built by the Maya people in modern-day Mexico, this structure was once part of one of the largest Maya cities. It’s also one of the most visited archaeological sites in the world.

Chichén Itzá, located in the eastern part of Yucatán in Mexico, was a major pre-Columbian economic power with well-established trade routes reaching all the way to southern Central America. It was then conquered by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century and abandoned by the end of the century. It's now considered one of the New7Wonders of the World.

Nicknamed The Coathanger, this bridge is the main site for the official New Year’s Eve fireworks in this Australian city. It also overlooks a famous opera house.

Opened in 1932, Sydney Harbour Bridge is the tallest steel arch bridge in the world, and connects the Sydney Central Business District and the North Shore. Together with the Sydney Opera House, the bridge forms the postcard-perfect view of Sydney. Check out 29 of the world's most beautiful bridges.

One of the planet's most famous cathedrals, this Florence icon has the largest masonry dome in the world. It is also among the biggest cathedrals in the world.

This cathedral’s distinctive green and pink marble exterior; its monumental dome designed by Brunelleschi; and Vasari’s frescoes of the Last Judgement have been attracting art and architecture lovers for centuries. Read on for incredible stories behind the world's most historic cities. 

These are the toes of Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty, who used to welcome immigrants arriving on ships to one of the biggest cities in the world.

Officially called Liberty Enlightening the World, the Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France. The monument was designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, and the internal structural elements of the statue were realized by none other than Gustave Eiffel. Take a look at the world's most jaw-dropping sculptures and statues.

Encircling a famous square in the world’s smallest country, these colossal columns were built in the 17th century. According to the sculptor and architect Bernini who designed them, they symbolize "the maternal arms of Mother Church".

Forming two Doric colonnades, leading from the main entrance of the Vatican to St Peter’s Basilica, the towering columns are a defining and instantly recognizable part of St Peter’s Square.

Located at the peak of Corcovado mountain, this statue overlooks one of Brazil’s most famous cities. A symbol of Christianity across the globe, it’s also one of the new seven wonders of the world.

Usually visited by almost two million people every year, Christ the Redeemer is one of Rio de Janeiro’s most popular attractions. Unveiled in 1931, it’s undergone extensive restorations several times due to erosion, high winds and lightning.

An icon of the Golden State, this was both the longest and the tallest suspension bridge of its time. It’s also a popular filming location and has featured in such films as A View to a Kill, San Andreas and Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Finished in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most recognizable bridges in the world. It’s also among the world’s most expensive – it cost a total of $1.14 billion (£1.1bn) at today’s value. Discover more of the incredible bridges in every US state.