100 Stunning Photos of the World: Our Favorites from the 2016 T+L Photo Contest

By Travel + Leisure and Travel + Leisure Staff

December 09, 2016

Credit: Noe DeWitt

We’re all travel photographers, when you think about it. Whether you find yourself pulling your phone out to capture a gorgeous sunset from your backyard, or packing serious camera equipment to go off and document a remote village along the Amazon River, you’re inspiring wanderlust in whoever sees your Instagram post.

When we asked the world to share their best photos under a number of categories: Sunsets and Sunrises, Water, Animals, Architecture, Staycation, and Nature, we were overwhelmed by the response. Tens of thousands of photo submissions made tough work for our team of contest judges. In the end, nine entrants became finalists. (Meet all the 2016 T+L Photo Contest Finalists)

Our finalists not only showcased technical skill with their submissions, but they also incorporated unexpected angles and views, throwing us straight into the frame itself.

While this handful of photographers will be competing for the grand prize of a seven-day trip to Colombia, there were still so many stunning shots worth sharing. Here, we’ve pulled together 100 of our favorite entries highlighting places big and small around the world. Expect to explore beaches, mountains, deserts, city scenes, museums, temples, forests, monuments, crowds of penguins—it’s enough to keep you lost in the throws of a mental vacation for days.

These photos are an extension of our #TLPicks community on Instagram. While it may not be the same people submitting their work in the 2016 T+L Photo Contest (and in some cases, it is!), the theory stands: Share your view of the world with the world, and help inspire someone to visit a new place.

Whether you’re looking for some inspiration to take your own photos of the world, need a quick work break, or just want to look at some stunning photos, scroll on.

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