10 famous homes around the world – and why you need to visit them in your lifetime

For architecture and design lovers, there is no greater joy than traveling to faraway lands and experiencing the buildings that have shaped the location's history. While sampling regional cuisines and shopping like a local allows you to get a feel for a new destination, nothing truly captures the spirit of a place quite like the buildings rooted in its heritage.

Religious sites, museums, and iconic structures (for example, the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building) are often, rightly, at the forefront of most travel guides – but we would say that nothing feels quite as personal (and revealing) as visiting a home.

In some cases, for example, Buckingham Palace and the White House, these 'homes' are renowned for their regency and power – while others (such as Claude Monet's Home in Giverny) offer intimate details of the figures who lived there. Either way, they're equally worth visiting. These are ten of the world's best homes you need to visit in your lifetime – and what makes them so eternally influential.

1. The White House, Washington DC

The most famous home in the country, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, or The White House, as it is better known, has served as the President's home for more than two centuries.

This uniquely private and public space is much more than a home – it's a symbol of power that's at the center of every significant decision in the nation. If you plan ahead (no less than 21 days before your trip), you can book a 45-minute tour of its interiors, but the exterior alone is impressive enough for a visit. Constructed between 1792 and 1800 by Irish-born architect James Hoban, the façade is one of the finest examples of Neoclassical style in the country. Meanwhile, its Aquia Creek sandstone walls are painted white, ensuring it will always stay true to its name.

2. Casa Milà, Barcelona

No architect has left a legacy on Barcelona quite like Antoni Gaudí. The Catalonian-born designer is arguably best known for his work on Sagrada Família (only 1.5 kilometers up the road from here), but Casa Milà is perhaps his most unmissable residence. The home (also known as La Pedrera, which is Catalan for 'stone quarry') is categorizable by its unconventional rough-hewn appearance, making it a Modernista landmark in the heart of the architect's playground.

Gaudí designed 17 buildings in his lifetime, but Casa Milà was his final private residence, built between 1906 and 1912. Just as he did with Casa Batlló, Gaudí made furniture specifically for the main floor, and models of these designs are visible to visitors today.

3. Villa Savoye, Poissy

What makes Villa Savoye a modernist icon? It's a rare embodiment of all 5 points of the new architecture: stilts, free facade, band window, open-plan, and a roof terrace. Designed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret between 1928 and 1931, it remains one of the most renowned examples of the 'International Style' architectural movement.

Located in Poissy, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is an unmissable pilgrimage for any design lover. In its (almost) century-old history, it has survived a world war (among several other threats), but today, it's a restored celebration of modernity that's just as worth visiting as any other Parisian landmark.

4. Fallingwater, Pennsylvania

There are a number of Frank Lloyd Wright houses open to the public, but none holds the same prestige as Fallingwater. The iconic architect designed his masterpiece in 1935 for the Kaufmann family, owners of Kaufmann’s Department Store in Pennsylvania – and it has since become one of the most revered properties in both the state and the country.

Wright designed Fallingwater to rise above the waterfall over which it is built, a perfect illustration of his organic architecture philosophy. The result is a unique and visually striking harmony between the structure and the surrounding nature. To date, its original furnishings and artworks remain intact, offering Wright enthusiasts a remarkable look back through history.

5. Frida Kahlo's House, Mexico City

Aptly named Casa Azul (Blue House), this property is described as Frida Kahlo’s private universe in the Colonia del Carmen neighborhood of Coyoacán in Mexico City. The acclaimed painter spent most of her life in this vibrant home, first with her family and, years later, at her husband Diego Rivera's side. In this home, the surrealist pioneer welcomed a host of luminaries from Mexico and abroad, drawn by the charisma of both artists.

Today, it's a celebration of the couple and their admiration for Mexican culture and art, from the 'Artist's Bedroom' to the studio where you’ll find the easel Kahlo received from Nelson Rockefeller.

6. Buckingham Palace, London

Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch and, consequently, one of the most recognized landmarks in the world. Like all royal residences, it's synonymous with regency, luxury, and power, having served the sovereign since 1837, when Queen Victoria first settled into the 775-room home. In its history, the palace has hosted royals, politicians, and other heads of state from other nations, but you can follow in their footsteps when it opens in the summer.

For those who don't get tickets for the State Rooms, you can experience its splendor from the outside (and, if you time it right, enjoy the Changing the Guard ceremony during your visit).

7. Potala Palace, Tibet

Situated atop Marpori, 425 feet above the Lhasa River valley, Potala Palace is one of the most influential structures in Tibet. It once served as the seat of the Tibetan government but is more recognized as the main residence (and winter palace) of the Dalai Lamas from 1649 to 1959.

The palace's interiors pay tribute to its rich heritage, featuring tombs of eight Dalai Lamas, hundreds of sacred Buddhist scrolls, numerous shrines, and more than a thousand rooms that attract pilgrims from every continent.

8. Claude Monet's Home, Giverny

Artist Claude Monet resided in this beautiful Giverny residence for forty-three years (from 1883 to 1926), during which time he decorated to his own tastes and the needs of his family. The quintessential property is a trove of French decor ideas, from the blue sitting room to the kitchen covered with tiles of Rouen. As part of the tour, art lovers can enjoy Monet's first studio (which later became his smoking room, where he welcomed art dealers, critics, and collectors) and, most significantly of all, his water garden.

The garden served as Monet's inspired painting 'The Water Lily Pond,' yet he is said to have painted around 250 canvases of this spectacular water garden. It's no understatement to say this home shaped art history, and a visit will show you why.

9. Jardin Majorelle, Marrakesh

The Majorelle Garden is a botanical paradise created by French Orientalist artist Jacques Majorelle in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Majorelle spent over forty years (starting in 1923) curating these perfect gardens, including a Cubist villa designed by French architect Paul Sinoir in the 1930s. In more recent history, fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent purchased the land and restored it into one of the most stylish destinations that jet-setters can visit. The villa now houses the Berber Museum, and in 2017, the Yves Saint Laurent Museum opened nearby.

10. The Hemingway Home, Key West

If you bottled vibrant Floridian style in the 1930s and resurrected it today, you would be left with something similar to Ernest Hemingway's House. The writer's residence, located on the southern coast of Key West, is a time capsule of southern beauty with two eclectic twists. The first is the yellow-painted shutters that adorn the white-painted exterior, bringing a tropical flair alongside the surrounding palm trees. The second quirk is the cats.

Over 60 polydactyl (six-toed) cats call Ernest Hemingway's house their home, meaning you are likely to come across many felines during your visit. This is no surprise, given Hemingway's affection for the animal, however. He named all of his cats after famous people, and the estate managers follow the same tradition today. So, you never know who you'll meet while wandering the property.

There are thousands more iconic homes worth visiting, but beginning with these ten is a failsafe starting point. How many have you already seen? Share your travels in the comments, along with any other suggestions that similar design enthusiasts will love.