The earth is full of strange and unexpected things that give goosebumps. From abandoned corners with a creepy atmosphere to almost unexplained natural phenomena, there are so many amazing places you can find. You may have seen some of them in stock photos for free. We have collected unique destinations that are definitely worth visiting at least once. At least to make sure once and for all: our planet is amazing.
1. Japanese city of Nara with wild deer
From the center of Osaka to the city of Nara, the first capital of Japan, only an hour by train Inspired by the majestic Buddhist temples, go for a walk in the park and prepare to meet the most famous inhabitants of Nara – hundreds of wild deer, which have long been considered sacred in this area of Japan. Deer roam the area without restrictions, and it seems as if you found yourself in some abandoned place from the distant past. To get even closer to animals, feel free to buy special crackers in local shops and make new friends. Just don’t forget about safety: these guys, of course, never mind having lunch, but they can easily butt your head if they don’t get the treat fast enough!
2. Amazing places in Turkey: Avanos Hair Museum
If you meet Chez Galip at his popular ceramics studio in Cappadocia, you can hardly guess his secret hobby. Having bought a couple of handmade souvenirs, rush to the other side of the city, straight to his old studio, where the Hair Museum is now located. Galip began collecting his collection back in the 70s – and it was exclusively about women’s hair. Since then, the museum has overgrown with 16 thousand bundles with explanatory tags, and Galip himself turned his hobby into a good deed. Every year organizes a lottery for people whose hair is kept in the museum and gives a couple of winners training in Turkey.
3. Ronda – Spanish city on the rocks
Ronda is known not only for its rich history – it was founded in the 6th century BC – but also for its amazing location. A huge gorge cuts the Andalusian town in half so that hotels, restaurants, and other buildings almost fall into an abyss more than 100 meters deep. Have the courage to look down from the legendary Puente Nuevo Bridge and hear the sound of the Guadalevin River at the bottom of the gorge. You can end your adrenaline ride nearby – for example, at Plaza de Toros, one of the oldest bullfighting arenas in the country.
4. The glowing caves of Waitomo in New Zealand
Amazing places are the norm in New Zealand. Waitomo descends into the glowing caves not for treasures, but for precious memories. Local New Zealand fireflies are scattered across the vaults of the dungeon-like stars in the night sky. However, entertainment is clearly not for everyone: to see a masterpiece of nature, you need to go deep underground with a rope or even slide down a pipe. But the hardest thing is to get used to the thought: there are thousands of creepy insects around, and civilization has remained somewhere high above your head.
5. Blue Lagoon in Grindavik, Iceland
The Blue Lagoon is the perfect spot for those looking to unwind to the fullest. The famous geothermal pool is hidden near Reykjavik airport – and we all know that after a long flight there is nothing better than to plunge into the mineral waters. A beautiful picture is attached: a warm haze mysteriously rises above the water that looks like blue glass. And if the stars converge, Iceland can also give you the Northern Lights – a dance of light that paints the night sky in unique colors.
6. The gates of hell in Turkmenistan
Darvaza crater appeared in Turkmenistan in the 70s, when Soviet geologists discovered an accumulation of natural gas here. After excavation, the earth collapsed, and in its place was a hole filled with gas. To prevent this gas from getting out, they set it on fire with the confidence that the fire would go out in a few weeks. Predictions did not come true: in 2021, the crater continues to light no worse than Valery Leontyev at the Blue Light, and people from all over the world come here to see with their own eyes the Gates of Hell – a huge fiery cauldron that would fit an entire football field.
7. Shootouts and ghosts of the past in Tombstone, Arizona
If one day you want to make your own western – a classic American cowboy movie – you can hardly find a better place than Tombstone. The dusty streets of the town, where brave men in hats once staged bloody shootings, seem to be forever stuck in the past – cinematic, cruel, sandy yellow. However, vintage Wild West isn’t just about cowboys. At Tombstone, you will be told about opium dens and the plight of gold and silver miners – you can even go underground for a tour.
8. Abandoned house in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Abandoned buildings can be easily found in almost any large American city – especially on the outskirts. But one house in Oklahoma stands out even among them. The reason: not a single window and a strange facade of a couple of hundred rhombuses. The building called “Life in Abundance” was built in Tulsa in the late 50s: the guys planned to set up a trendy business center in the city center. Instead, after thirty years, the house was completely empty and, moreover, lost all hopes for a bright future due to the accumulation of asbestos inside – the current owners are threatening to send the building to a landfill. So yes, if you’ve always dreamed of getting ready-made scenery for a mysterious murder scene in some thriller, you need to hurry up.
9. Ghost Forest in Nesquin, Oregon
While walking along Neskowin Beach in Oregon, it is important to periodically look at your step to avoid accidentally bumping into pieces of rotting trees peeking out of the sand. It is no coincidence that the beach, especially at sunset, resembles an alien landscape. Thousands of years ago there was a forest here, but a series of natural disasters left only black stumps that still miss the past and gaze melancholy into the ocean.
10. National Park «Arikok» in Aruba
When the beaches of Aruba are attacked by tourists, the central part of the island seems deserted – especially given the corresponding landscape. And although the atmosphere of this place does not seem like a resort at all, it is still worth stopping by and spending time in the Arikok National Park. Inside the park are the world-famous caves of Guadirikiri, Fontaine, and Huliba, and inside the caves themselves, riddled with the rays of the sun, colonies of bats have settled down. The sensations are already creepy, but to get a real rush of adrenaline, and at the same time feel like Batman, come here at night, when the mice are most active.
11. Where to look for amazing places in the Czech Republic: Museum of Alchemists and Magicians in Prague
The Harry Potter posters you have from school do not mean that you have become an expert in magic. But if the interest in magic persists, the Prague Museum of Alchemists and Magicians is a great place to wake up the curious student again. The inside of the museum is full of exhibits that tell the history of the city to music through the prism of abandoned places and long-disappeared people. In the end, learning history from the stories of wizards, witches, and black magic lovers is clearly more fun than at a desk.
12. Alamir Falls in California
Most of the waterfalls descend into a large lake, but have you ever seen one that falls straight into the ocean? Alamir Falls is one of those. To see how the water escapes free, you need to be patient: the first part of the path can be traveled by car (about an hour from San Francisco), but the remaining 7 kilometers will have to be walked. However, even from the photo, it is clear: it’s worth it.
Interesting and surprising places from this list will definitely inspire you to add a couple of new locations to your routes. Start with those that most resemble fiction: you need to be convinced of their existence with your own eyes!