World's Coolest New Tourist Attractions 2015 (PHOTOS) | HuffPost Life

The World's Coolest New Tourist Attractions

By

TravelandLeisure.com

TravelandLeisure.com

|

This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.

The year 2015 is all about reimagining old icons in new ways: from Paris to Singapore, architects are transforming existing spaces to the surprise and delight of visitors.

Take, for instance, the Eiffel Tower, or London's Tower Bridge, both of which have lately been outfitted with impressive new glass floors, providing never-before-seen perspectives of much-loved cities that seem to have been viewed from every possible angle.

That's not to say there's nothing new-new on the horizon. Gleaming cultural spaces are descending upon cities not previously known for their arts scenes, like Orlando, FL, and Kraków, Poland--in a few years, perhaps we'll find ourselves mentioning them in the same breath as New York and Paris. Sound far-fetched? Visit the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando and the ICE Kraków Congress Centre before making up your mind.

Whether you're prone to nostalgia or keep an eye firmly fixed on the future, there are plenty of exciting new attractions to add to your travel wish list.

--By Sarah Khan

See All of the World's Coolest New Tourist Attractions 2015

More from Travel + Leisure:
Best Places to Travel in 2015
Most Important Travel Trends of 2015
World's Most-Visited Tourist Attractions
Best New Restaurants in Cape Town
America's Best Food Halls

World's Coolest New Tourist Attractions 2015

Eiffel Tower, Paris(01 of07)

See More of the World’s Coolest New Tourist Attractions 2015

How do you update a 125-year-old landmark? For the Eiffel Tower, the answer came in the form of a glass floor from the 187-foot-high first-floor level. Visitors can now be transfixed by not only the city views unfurling all around them, but also those below them—in the latest example of a recent trend that includes the Grand Canyon’s Skywalk and Chicago’s Willis Tower. The first floor’s $38 million renovation includes restaurants, solar panels, shops, and a museum. But the highlight remains this new see-through floor. So next time you’re at the Eiffel Tower, keep an eye out lest you trip over selfie-takers lying down on the glass.

Photo: Michel Denancé

Goods Line, Sydney(02 of07)

See More of the World’s Coolest New Tourist Attractions 2015

New York City’s wildly successful High Line elevated park has set off a global chain reaction of inventive urban spaces reclaiming run-down zones. Case in point: Sydney’s planned corridor from Ultimo (by the also-new Frank Gehry–designed business school at the University of Technology, Sydney) to Darling Harbour. The 800-foot-long North Section, to be revealed first, will feature cafés and a new Mary Ann Street amphitheater for outdoor events. Look for an early 2015 opening, in conjunction with the unveiling of the Gehry building.

Photo courtesy of ASPECT Studios

Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Laverstoke, England(03 of07)

See More of the World’s Coolest New Tourist Attractions 2015

What the Guinness Storehouse is to Ireland's favorite stout is what the Thomas Heatherwick-designed Bombay Sapphire Distillery aspires to be for England’s popular gin brand. The celebrated British starchitect constructed sinuous glass houses that seem to sprout from the walls of the historic paper mill he was tasked to revamp. It’s a whimsically beautiful home for a product that, as some critics point out, is short on heritage (Bombay Sapphire gin only launched only in 1987). Still, the distillery is sure to be a hit with travelers who may not have otherwise ever discovered the village of Laverstoke.

Photo: Bombay Sapphire DIstillery

Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg(04 of07)

See More of the World’s Coolest New Tourist Attractions 2015

Leave it to the Canadians to come up with an entire museum dedicated to human rights. Jazzing up the Winnipeg skyline with a swirly glass design culminating in a single gleaming spire, the 260,000-square-foot ode to tolerance and hope opened in September 2014. Inside, you’ll find thought-provoking exhibits encompassing the Holocaust, ethnic cleansing in Bosnia, and leaders like Nelson Mandela and Gloria Steinem.

Photo courtesy of CMHR

Markthal Rotterdam, Netherlands(05 of07)

See More of the World’s Coolest New Tourist Attractions 2015

It’s a building that appears to defy logic at first glance: a giant horseshoe-shaped arch in Rotterdam houses 228 apartments inside, and underneath, you’ll find the world’s funkiest covered market. Officially unveiled in October 2014, the space beneath the 130-foot roof showcases 100 produce stalls and dozens of restaurants and shops, making it the city’s hottest new gathering place. A massive 36,000-square-foot mural by Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam called Cornucopia—with a rainbow of colorful fruits, vegetables, and other food finds—covers the entire inner arch. The humble food market has never looked so cool.

Photo: Steven Scholten

Harvard Museum Extension, Cambridge, MA(06 of07)

See More of the World’s Coolest New Tourist Attractions 2015

Natural light pours into the dramatic new extension of Harvard’s art museum complex, courtesy of a five-story glass atrium. Renzo Piano stripped the buildings housing the hallowed university’s Fogg Museum, Busch-Reisinger Museum, and Arthur M. Sackler Museum of all post-1925 additions, and instead focused on preserving existing façades and adding airy new spaces for both viewing and studying art. It’s a shiny new home for an age-old collection, showcasing everything from ancient Greek vases to sculpture by Rodin—and a work of art in itself.

Photo: Zak Jensen

Shanghai Tower(07 of07)

See More of the World’s Coolest New Tourist Attractions 2015

While Dubai’s Burj Khalifa continues to hang on to the world’s-tallest-building title (for now), there is a new behemoth on the block: at more than 2,000 feet high, China’s almost-complete Shanghai Tower vies for second place. In the Pudong financial district, it towers over the Huangpu River with a 125-story spire; the twisting shape comes courtesy of U.S. architectural firm Gensler. Plans call for a mix of office and event space, high-end shops, and a sightseeing platform accessible by a speedy one-minute elevator ride.

Photo: Gensler

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.

Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

Support HuffPost

Related

travel slidepollajax Travel + Leisure tourist attractions

Suggest a correction

|

From Our Partner

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

REI's Hiking Apparel Was Already Kind Of A Steal — And It's On Ultra-Sale Right Now

The 1 Shoe That Has Helped Eliminate My Dad’s Plantar Fasciitis Pain

This Classic '90s Shoe Brand Is Having A Major Moment

Why Brushing Your Pet’s Teeth Is Way More Important Than You Think (Plus The Best Products To Use)

AirPods Are On Sale For The Lowest Price This Year

MORE IN LIFE

Style & Beauty

OK, But Is Sunbathing Really THAT Bad? Here’s The Realistic Answer

Wellness

The 1 Word Therapists Say You Need To Stop Using With Yourself

Relationships

‘Boysober’ And Celibate By Choice: Why These Women Are Swearing Off Sex

Food & Drink

7 Grocery Shopping Mistakes That Cause You To Overspend

Wellness

Do You Have ‘FOPO’? Here’s How To Spot The Damaging Habit.

Work/Life

6 Work Habits That Are Secretly High-Functioning Anxiety In Disguise

Relationships

These Are The Top 5 Fantasies Women Want To See More Of In Porn

Parenting

The Funniest Tweets From Parents This Week

Shopping

This Back-Saving Electric Spin Scrubber Is Under $40 With A Coupon For A Limited Time

Parenting

German Parliament To Relax Strict Restrictions On Family Names

Life

The Funniest Tweets From Women This Week

Shopping

This Internet-Famous Cleaner Is Somehow Less Than $100 — And The Sale Could End Any Second

Shopping

5 Inflatable Hot Tubs That Amazon Shoppers Love

Shopping

This Inconspicuous And Truly Effective Bug Hack Is Only $20 On Amazon

Shopping

13 Products That Make Cleaning Hard-To-Reach Places Actually Easy

Shopping

These Cult-Favorite K-Beauty Products Are Hiding In Plain Sight On Amazon

Shopping

37 Effective Products You'll Want To Immediately 'Add To Cart'

Shopping

The 1 Thing You Need To Prevent Your Bed Pillows From Turning Yellow

Parenting

8 Things You Should Never, Ever Say To A Teenager

Relationships

5 Signs Your ‘New Relationship Energy’ Is Actually Unhealthy

Shopping

These Nike Sneakers Feel Like 'Walking On A Cloud' & They're 50% Off

Shopping

The Travel-Friendly AeroPress XL Makes The ‘Best Coffee Ever.’ Get It For 30% Off.

Shopping

Some Reviewers Chose These Earbuds Over AirPods — And They’re On Sale For $19

Shopping

These Beloved North Face Rain Jackets Are Up to 50% Off At REI

Shopping

Reviewers Love This Tiny Speaker’s ‘Small But Mighty’ Sound Quality — And It’s Under $50

Life

Love Petting Your Cat? There's A 'Red Zone' You Need To Avoid.

Shopping

A Podiatrist Reveals The Best Walking Sandals You Can Buy

Shopping

These 10 Mascaras Will Be Game-changing If Your Eyelashes Have Zero Curl

Shopping

Highly-Rated Outdoor Enclosures For Your Pet That You Can Get On Amazon

Shopping

The Best Anti-Theft Bags To Carry While Traveling

Shopping

35 Essential Items That Everyone Should Have In Their Home

Shopping

Reviewers Say These ‘Life-Changing’ Sandals Really Help With Foot Pain

Parenting

The 1 Phrase You Should Never, Ever Say To A Toddler

Shopping

This Top-Rated Humidifier has Over 45,000 5-Star Ratings. Grab One Now At 25% Off.

Shopping

Reviewers Love This Tiny Speaker’s ‘Small But Mighty’ Sound Quality — And It’s Under $50

Shopping

Reviewers Say This 2-Basket Air Fryer Is '100% Necessary' — And It's On Sale Now

Shopping

These Are The Eight Books That I Caught HuffPost Editors Reading

Shopping

12 Non-Breakable Dishes For Outdoor Dining That Aren't Ugly

Shopping

If You Deal With Plantar Fasciitis, Podiatrists Say These 7 Products Can Help

Shopping

31 Comfortable Bottoms Guaranteed To Make You Forget All About Jeans