Beautiful national parks

National parks are the perfect place to experience the wonders of the natural world. From majestic wildlife to craggy peaks, there are plenty of beautiful sights no matter where you choose to go. Thanks to excellent transport links from cities like Phoenix and Asheville in the USA, to Manchester and Newcastle in the UK, it has never been easier to step out into nature.

But which national parks can be crowned the most beautiful across the world?

The team at Bounce has looked at the number of Instagram posts, TikTok views, online reviews, and Google searches to reveal the prettiest parks around the world for 2023.

The world’s most beautiful national parks

1. Kruger National Park, South Africa

Beauty score: 8.29 out of 10
Taking the top spot is South Africa’s Kruger National Park, just a short flight away from Cape Town. The country’s oldest national park is a haven for wildlife, so it's no surprise it’s the most picturesque on the list. With over 900,000 Instagram posts, it takes the top spot for the factor and ranks second for both TikTok views and Google searches with 387.6 million and 1.8 million respectively. The park ranks highly for average Google reviews too, sharing third place for the factor with a score of 4.7 out of 5.

2. Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil                    

Beauty score: 7.90 out of 10
Up next is Brazil’s Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Covering 600 square miles of rolling white sand dunes and rainwater lakes, the park is popular with eco-tourists thanks to its stunning landscapes and rare wildlife. Lençóis Maranhenses is the highest rated for Google reviews, scoring 4.9 out of 5, and it ranks third for TikTok views, at just over 292 million. The park also ranks fifth for Instagram posts at 505,603 and Google searches for “Lençóis Maranhenses” total 70,800. For those looking to take a trip from the country’s capital, Brasília, you would need to take a flight to the park. But it’s certainly worth it for the stunning scenery on offer.

3. Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, Indonesia                      

Beauty score: 7.89 out of 10
Rounding up the top 3 is Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, located on the island of East Java, Indonesia. Home to an active volcano, the park scores highly on social media, taking the top spot on TikTok with 1 billion views and second place for Instagram posts, at 934,532. The park is also one of the highest-reviewed on the list, sharing second place with an average score of 4.8 out of 5. However, the park doesn’t fare so well when it comes to Google searches, placing outside the top 10 with only 63,500 searches for “Bromo Tengger Semeru” over the last 12 months.

The world’s most beautiful national parks on…

Instagram -  Kruger National Park, South Africa - 938,665 posts

Just a short flight away from Cape Town, and with over 938,000 Instagram posts, Kruger National Park is the world’s most picturesque park on the list. The 7,500 square-mile park attracts visitors all year round thanks to its reputation as a safari destination, home to elephants, lions, giraffes, and 507 different bird species.

TikTok - Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, Indonesia - 1,000,000,000 views

Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park is the most viewed park on TikTok with 1 billion views, thanks to its diverse landscape, including waterfalls, craters, and a sand sea. The park is also home to numerous temples, giving travelers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the rich cultural history of the area.

The most searched national park - Plitviče Lakes National Park, Croatia - 2,114,500 Google searches

Croatia’s Plitviče Lakes is the most popular national park for Google searches, with more than 2.1 million searches for “Plitviče Lakes” over the last 12 months. Located just 2 hours by road from the capital Zagreb, the park plays host to 16 crystal-clear lakes, stunning waterfalls, and lush greenery.

The highest reviewed national park - Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil - 4.9 out of 5

Lençóis Maranhenses in Northeastern Brazil has the highest Google review score on the list, scoring an average of 4.9/5. The park attracts more than 60,00 visitors a year thanks to its unique landscape of deserted beaches and mangrove swamps, which can be toured by car or on horseback. 

The USA’s most beautiful national parks

1. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

 Beauty score: 8.63 out of 10
Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park is the highest-scoring park in the US, ranking higher than most for the number of searches with “Rocky Mountain” racking up 2.8 million over the last year. It also has 782,416 Instagram posts dedicated to it, ranking seventh for this factor, and 91.1 million TikTok views. Only 70 miles from the state capital Denver, the national park also shares the highest review score in the index at 4.9 out of 5. 

2. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming       

Beauty score: 8.35 out of 10
In second place is The Equality State’s Grand Teton National Park, sharing the top spot for its average review score of 4.9 out of 5. Only a short drive from Jackson, Google searches for “Grand Teton” total just under 2.7 million, placing it in the top 10 for this factor. The park is less popular on social media, with only 612,510 Instagram posts and 87.3 million TikTok views, placing it outside of the top 10 for both factors. 

3. Acadia National Park, Maine          

Beauty score: 8.26 out of 10
Acadia National Park takes third place. Taking up most of the idyllic Mount Desert Island on the coast of Maine and only 3 hour's drive away from Portland, the park is one of the most Googled on the list, racking up more than 3.6 million searches over the last 12 months for “Acadia”. It’s also one of the 13 parks on the list that share the top spot for its high average review score of 4.9 out of 5. Despite its high rankings for reviews and searches, the park only has 602,947 Instagram posts and 79.3 million TikTok views, preventing it from reaching higher than third place.

The USA’s most beautiful parks on…

Instagram -  Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona - 4,333,170 posts

Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park can be crowned the most picturesque national park in the US. Just an hour away from Flagstaff, the national park has over 4 million posts dedicated to its awe-inspiring landscape of deep orange rock formations, which can reach a mile deep at its lowest.

TikTok - Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona - 695,400,000 views

Grand Canyon National Park also takes the top spot for TikTok views, clocking in at 695.4 million views. The south rim of the Grand Canyon is the most popular tourist spot in the park, being home to the most lookout points and amenities, making it perfect for day trips. 

The most searched national park - Yellowstone National Park, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho - 9,657,000searches

The 9.65 million Google searches for “Yellowstone National Park” make it the most searched for US national park. Not far from the popular tourist town Bozeman, the park is perched on top of a dormant volcano and is world-famous for its hot springs and geysers. It’s also home to iconic American wildlife, including buffalo and grizzly bears.

The highest reviewed national parks - Acadia National Park, Badlands National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Crater Lake National Park, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Grand Teton National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Redwood National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park - 4.9 out of 5

National parks play a hugely important role in protecting the wonders nature has to offer, preserving the jaw-dropping landscapes and the unique wildlife that call it home. A whopping 13 parks share the top spot for their average review score all scoring 4.9 out of 5 thanks to their natural beauty. 

The most beautiful national parks in the UK

1. Lake District                                                 

Beauty score: 10 out of 10
The Lake District can be crowned the most beautiful national park in the UK, scoring a perfect 10 out of 10. It takes the top spot for all 4 factors in the index, scoring particularly highly for TikTok views at 525.2 million and Instagram posts with 4,220,863. The 4,770,000 searches for “Lake District” are also double that of second place and it shares the top spot for Google reviews with an average score of 4.9/5. With brilliant train links from major cities such as Manchester, you can visit the Lake District with ease.

2. Peak District                                                             

Beauty score: 9.29 out of 10
Just a short drive away from popular cities such as Stoke-on-Trent and Sheffield, the Peak District National Park ranks second, scoring highly across the board. The Derbyshire park covering an area of over 500 miles and packed with rugged peaks has more than 2.2 million Instagram posts, 272.1 million TikTok views, and sees 2.2 million Google searches for “Peak District”. The park also scores an average of 4.8 for its Google reviews.

3. Snowdonia National Park (Eryri) and Northumberland National Park  

Beauty score: 8.22 out of 10
Named after Wales’ highest mountain, Snowdon, Snowdonia (Eryri) takes third place. The national park ranks in the top 5 when it comes to social media, with 1.2 million Instagram posts and 172 million TikTok views. It also shares the highest average review score of 4.9 with The Lake District and ranks third for searches, with 2 million searches for “Snowdonia” over the last year.   
Sharing third place is Northumberland National Park, ranking third for both Instagram posts and TikTok views with 1,721,737 posts and 187,400,000 views respectively. The park is also one of the highest-rated, with a score of 4.8 out of 5, and it saw over 1.4 million Google searches for “Northumberland National Park” in the last year. For those who live in Newcastle, you can travel to the park in less than an hour, making it a brilliant destination for a day out!

The most beautiful UK parks on…

Instagram -  Lake District - 4,220,863 posts

The Lake District claims the title of the most picturesque national park in the UK, racking up over 4.2 million posts on the platform. This comes as no surprise as an estimated 18 million visitors, from the likes of London, Edinburgh and Liverpool flock to see the spectacular landscapes each year.

TikTok - Lake District - 525,200,000 views

The Lake District is also the UK’s most viewed national park on TikTok, with 525 million views on the platform. Only a short distance from the popular tourist town of Kendal, and an hour's drive from Manchester, the park’s natural beauty has inspired writers and musicians for generations, from Beatrix Potter to Taylor Swift.

The most searched national park - Lake District - 4,770,000 searches

Yet again taking the top spot, The Lake District is the UK’s most searched national park, with “Lake District” racking up 4.7 million searches over the last 12 months. One of the UK’s most popular staycation destinations, the national park is packed full of things to do, from hiking the famous fells to taking in stunning views from one of the seven Michelin-starred restaurants dotted through the park.

The highest reviewed national park - Lake District, Snowdonia -  4.9 out of 5

Two national parks share the top spot when it comes to their average review score, with The Lake District and Snowdonia both scoring 4.9 out of 5. The parks both receive a lot of praise for their spectacular scenery, from the Lake District’s Striding Edge to the Glyderau mountain range in Snowdonia.

Methodology

Beginning with a list of national parks from around the world taken from list articles, we analyzed each one on the following factors. We then gave each national park a normalized score out of ten for each of the factors, before taking an average across each of these scores to reach our final overall score out of ten.

Instagram posts
The total number of Instagram posts using the hashtag #[national park].
TikTok views
The total number of views for TikTok videos using the hashtag #[national park].
Google searches
The total number of Google searches for each national park using the keyword [national park] from October 2022 to September 2023 according to Google Ads. 
Google review score
The average review score for each national park according to Google reviews.

Data correct as of 11/01/2023.