Travelling and exploring new places is one of the most exciting things to do. The world is filled with loads of different cultures and places to visit, some of which are just as unusual as they are beautiful.
If you are looking for places to explore that are a little (or a lot) out of the ordinary, take a look at these seven bizarre tourist attractions that you can add to your bucket list. From extraordinary human-made wonders to a deserted ghost town, here are our top picks.
1. Casa Terracota, Columbia
Casa Terracotta. Picture: Flickr Commons / Myriam Mahecha
Casa Terracota is located in Villa de Leyva, a colonial mountain village in Columbia. The cottage is a massive piece of pottery that combines a blend of architecture and art to create a whimsical space. The 5,400-square-foot, two-story structure was sculpted entirely from clay by Colombian architect Octavio Mendoza. The clay was baked and hardened in the sun to create a sturdy and quirky ceramic building. It is widely known as ‘the world’s largest piece of pottery’.
It was designed to mimic the rolling hills on the horizon with soft and imperfect edges that blend seamlessly into the environment. Inside the cottage are colourful mosaics created out of different textured tiles that add to the artistic side of the creation. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, there are also fully functioning bathrooms, bedrooms and even a patio for guests to explore.
It costs USD$3.50 (R50) for a self-guided tour of the home and it is only about a 30-minute drive away from the nearest town.
2. Village of Dolls, Japan
Village of dolls. Picture: Flickr Commons / SocialHermit
This may be one of the strangest tourist attractions on our list, and it is the Village of Dolls in the slowly shrinking village of Nagoro in Japan. If you’re into exploring creepy places then this should be on your list. Most of its inhabitants left to find work or simply passed away over time, so a resident of the village, Tsukimi Ayano decided to populate the area with dolls to feel less lonely. Each doll is supposed to represent a former resident.
There are currently around 350 life-size dolls in the village. They are dressed in old clothes and made of straw – even the old classrooms have seated students waiting for a lesson. Ayano is still making dolls to this day after she first made one in the likeness of her father. They can be seen doing various activities, like fishing by the river, relaxing outside or working in the fields.
Four busses a day make their way through the town so it is relatively easy to visit and should be on the to-do list if you want to see this quirky village of dolls in person.
3. The stone house, Portugal
The stone house. Picture: Flickr Commons / Feliciano Guiarmares
The Stone House, located in Portugal, also known as Casa do Penedo, has been a topic of controversy since it first surfaced on the internet. Many people thought it may have been a hoax or that it was photoshopped. But after some digging, it was discovered that the house in the Fafe countryside does exist. This house feels prehistoric and was inspired by the kids’ cartoon the Flintstones. It has been featured in a film called ‘Moon’ which is a Portuguese production.
The road to get there is very steep so it is not too easily accessible, after it gained loads of attention online a fence has been erected around the property and so the home can only be viewed from a distance. A place like this shows the extent of human creativity and what can be brought to life from nothing.
4. Hotel de Glace, Canada
Bar at Hotel de Glace. Picture: Flickr Commons / Matthew Paulson
Fancy staying in a luxury ice hotel for a few nights? If so, then Hotel de Glace in Canada has got you covered, and it’s sure to provide an experience that you’ve never had before. Open every winter from January to March and located just 30km from Quebec city in the Valcartier Vacation Village, the ice hotel offers one of the best Nordic escapes.
Visitors can expect to see crystal clear ice sculptures, grand snow arches and breathtaking interiors that change every year. There are ice slides for the kids to enjoy or even a grand ice chapel for you to tie the knot in if you’re looking for a more romantic escape. There are also a whopping 21 themed rooms to choose from that despite being oh so cold are also very snug and cosy. Each room also has a sauna and a hot tub if you’re craving a bit of warmth.
If this is something that interests you be sure to pack a camera because it certainly is a once in a lifetime experience that will make you feel as though you belong on the pages of a fairy-tale.
5. Easter Island Statues, Chile
Easter Island, Peru. Picture: Flickr Commons / The TerraMar Project
Easter Island or Rapa Nui is a great destination for you to visit if you are fascinated with ancient history and mysterious historic structures. The geology and culture of the island that the early Rapa Nui people inhabited is still being investigated and the meaning behind the giant moai statues is still unknown.
The Island lies in the southeastern Pacific Ocean about 3,800 kilometres away from Chile and is part of the nation’s territory. The island is very remote and can only be accessed by plane. The shortest flight takes around five hours but it is worth it as it is almost untouched by pollution and its waters are known to be some of the clearest in the world, a snorkeller’s paradise.
It is said that chief Hotu Matu’a and his people settled on Easter Island after travelling across the ocean between 800 and 1 700 years back. Thousands of people are believed to have lived there from this point but may have suffered epidemics, famine, civil wars and slave trades. Today around 8 000 people live on the island of which half are considered to be indigenous Rapa Nui.
6. Cancun Underwater Museum, Mexico
Cancun Underwater Museum. Picture: Flickr Commons / 2il org
If you love being in the water then this is a great attraction worth paying a visit to. The Cancun Underwater Museum, also known as MUSA is a non-profit organisation based in Cancun, Mexico. It is a submerged art museum with over 500 sculptures to marvel at. Three different galleries are between three and six metres beneath the surface.
It was the idea of Marine Park Director Jaime González Cano and Jason deCaires Taylor, who thought of the idea to help save coral reefs by creating a different destination for divers and snorkellers. Activities include going on a glass-bottom boat, snorkelling and diving. There is certainly something for every member of the family to do and enjoy.
7. The Ghost Town, Namibia
The Ghost Town. Picture: Flickr Commons / Thomas Halfmann
This surreal-looking town is called Kolmanskop and is located in Namibia. Although it is hard to believe, it was once one of the richest towns in Africa during the diamond boom in 1910. In the following years, the town was slowly deserted and nature took over all of the abandoned buildings. It is situated only 15 km east of the small coastal town of Lüderitz.
The run down and derelict buildings show off old German architecture and are only a whisper of the town’s former glory. If you’d like to produce some unusual content for your social media pages that will certainly stand out from the rest then this is an ideal place to do that.
Over the years Kolmanskop attracted the attention of tourists who flooded the area fascinated by both its history and its derelict state. Some of the houses have even been dug out and restored for visitors to explore. Guided tours of the ghost town can be taken and are done in English, German or Afrikaans, they operate from Monday to Sunday and are very informative.
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