30 Awesome Attractions You Might Not Know Exist

Now that it's the New Year, it's time to set some new travel goals! Hopefully, international travel will only get easier this year, but either way, here are some incredible places, natural and ancient wonders, that you might not have known existed, but definitely deserve your recognition. They're even more memorable in person! Read on and discover some of the world's lesser-known but no less magical wonders.

East of Reykyavik, near the larger Seljalandsfoss waterfall, is a more mysterious waterfall that's partially hidden in a cave that travelers can enter, taking them into a wet, mysterious cave. Gljufrafoss, meaning "Cave Dweller" or "Canyon Falls," is a smaller waterfall than Iceland's many others, but its partially hidden presence and inner cave area makes it a great option for people who enjoy exploring caves or experiencing a different type of watery wonder.

Roros, Norway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a reason: once built as a copper mining settlement, this town was built completely of wooden structures, including houses. This method hasn't changed since the mid-1600s: some of Europe's oldest lumber-built buildings are located here, side by side with brightly painted, newer timber buildings. Travelers to Roros can sip coffee at a quaint cafe, take photos of the humble, beautiful architecture, including the stunning Roros Church. Adventurers can also take a step inside the minds of the original residents by exploring the abandoned copper mines. It's also one of the best places in Norway to visit during Christmas, with markets, decorations and all the winter snow activities one can imagine!

On the uninhabited Scottish island of Staffa lies a mysterious cave of myth and legend, known for its brilliant acoustics and strange structure. Fingal's Cave has been a place of legend for thousands of years, the local myth attributing its creation to a giant. Queen Victoria, Sir Walter Scott and even the composer Mendelssohn were some of the notable individuals who explored this cave and took back with it a sense of wonder and inspiration. The looming volcanic basalt columns seem like they were carved not from geologic activity, but by hand. Travelers to Scotland can take a boat tour to Fingal's Cave with two approved tour companies, Turus Mara and Staffa Tours.

Many of us have heard of Mont Saint-Michel in France, a medieval walled city whose roads leading to the city on the island become submerged during high tide, but did you know there's also a similar town in England? St. Michael's Mount in Cornwall, England is a smaller yet still incredibly charming tidal island offering a historic castle, church, gardens and village. While it's currently closed through February of 2022, it is a lovely place to venture forth and learn about some of the earliest parts of English religious history, discover a truly historic English village and enjoy meandering through a gorgeous castle.

About one hour away from Dresden, Germany, travelers can discover one of the most stunning examples of historic German engineering: the Bastei Bridge in the Saxon Switzerland National Park. The 250-foot-long man-made bridge seems carved from the towering peaks to hover over the picturesque valley. The views from on the bridge are stunning: the valley below, the river Elbe, the Lilienstein mountain and the Koenigstein Fortress are just some of the things you can take in from on top of the bridge. Travelers can hike to the bridge or drive there. There's also a restaurant nearby that also offers panoramic views.

Located high within the German Alps is a picturesque blue lake surrounded by verdant green grass and clouds. Schrecksee is nearly 6,000 feet above sea level, making it difficult to access for people unused to mountain climbing. While its name is translated to "Fright Lake," because it's often covered in a hazy fog, this beautiful place is the highest alpine lake in Germany and isn't as frightening as its name might suggest. Travelers to the lake can also peer down into Austria, since it's very close to the Austrian border.

French artist Claude Monet is easily one of the most famous artists in the world, known for his beautiful paintings of nature. Did you know that the gardens that were often the subjects of his works are available to explore in France? The village of Giverny, France was once the home of the painter and offers his family home, castles, mills, archaeological sites and, of course, Monet's gardens, home to the same flowers, ponds and trees that feature in some of his most beloved work, including the blue Japanese bridge that features in his "The Water Lily Pond" painting.

The small fishing town of Benagil, Portugal isn't just known for its fresh seafood. It also attracts plenty of visitors to the natural Benagil Beach Caves, a cave system that's open to both sea and sky. Travelers can walk the Sette Vales trail above the caves to take in the gorgeous ocean views, or get close and personal with a tour that takes them inside the caves. It's an unreal experience that offers the memory of a lifetime.

Travelers wanting to breathe in a destination where time seems to have stood still for centuries can look no further than the UNESCO World Heritage City of Segovia, Spain. This incredibly preserved medieval town in Castilla y Leon, near Madrid, offers history lovers so much to explore and discover, like a still-standing ancient Roman aqueduct, the Alcazar Fortress, the well-preserved medieval city walls and the town's three churches. Each street winds it way throughout history and offers some of the most beautiful streets and buildings to photograph.

Italy is known for having villages located near cliffsides and on mountains, but one in particular stands out the most: Civita di Bagnoregio. This town is seemingly located on a single rock jutting high into the air, and only a small pedestrian bridge suspended above the ground is the way to access it. This ancient city dates back to the Etruscans 2,500 years ago, the town offers some of the most beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and is a beautiful Italian town to explore.

Near the town of Ljubuški lies one of the greatest natural wonders in Bosnia and Herzegovina: the Kravica Waterfall. This popular summer spot offers a stunning pool of water to swim in and enjoy a warm day while relaxing to the sound of the rushing falls. So after a day spent exploring the towering medieval Herceg Stjepan Fortress above Ljubuški, cool off in the beautiful pools below the falls and bask in the beautiful scenery. 1

River cruisers sailing along the Danube between Romania and Serbia can see an attraction that seems taken right out of a Lord of the Rings book: the statue of Decebalus, a towering statue that takes the world record as the biggest rock sculpture in Europe. While it portrays Decebalus, the last king of Dacia, a Roman-era king of the region that would one day become Romania, it's fairly new, having finished construction in 2004. The creators chose Decebalus as the honored figure because he defended the region from Roman might. Today, he proudly stands sentinel in the region of the Danube known as the Iron Gates, a stark reminder that independence has long been a right worth defending.

Vardzia is a complex of man-made caves cut into the rock in the Erusheti Mountains in Georgia. This structure, inhabited from the twelfth century onwards, operated as a type of fortified monastery and is incredibly important to Georgian history. With examples of Georgian art, script and architecture well-preserved for archaeologists and tourists alike to discover, Vardzia is an incredible place that will make any traveler wonder at the ingenuity and creativity of the people who came long before us.

"The City of Stone" isn't just an accurate moniker for Gjirokastra; it's been the primary method of building houses and buildings for this UNESCO World Heritage Site since the fourth century A.D.! The town's homes, like its 4th-century castle, are primarily made of stone and resemble small fortresses. Cobblestone streets, medieval stone buildings and other remnants of its past offer a breathtaking experience for the history lover. The town's castle itself is the biggest in Albania, making this a great place to discover to the country's more medieval history. Also nearby is the archaeological park of Antigone, the remains of an ancient city founded in 295 B.C.

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site is another town many people probably don't recognize. Ohrid, located along the beautiful Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia, is a picturesque town offering beautiful weather, lake activities, great food, beaches and more. But it's most notable feature is its churches. There are over 365 churches in Ohrid, built over the centuries since the town's founding, giving architecture and religion lovers plenty of fun places to check out. It's also cheaper than other, more popular destinations in Europe.

Turkey is one of the most interesting countries in the world, with plenty of history to explore, but the city of Mardin is special. This UNESCO World Heritage City is almost an open-air museum, known for its architecture and dating back to the fourteenth century, when it was the capital of the Middle Assyrian Empire and went by the name Izala. The monasteries of Mor Hananyo and Mor Gabriel, as well as the ancient Roman city of Dara nearby are just some of the city's attractions, not to mention its food.

Most people recognize the name St. Nicholas and attribute it to the fictional Santa Claus, but did you know that the real St. Nicholas was born in Turkey? He was born in the Lycian city of Patara, but became the Bishop of Myra during the 4th century A.D., the ruins of which are located now in the city of Demre, Turkey. St. Nicholas became canonized as the patron saint of children, merchants, and sailors, and was beloved for his kind acts, especially towards children. Today, travelers to Demre can explore Myra Antik Kenti, the rock tombs of early Christians, the Church of St. Nicholas, the ancient Roman theatre and more.

The Temple of Hathor is part of the Dendera Temple Complex in Qena, Egypt, near Luxor. It's considered one of the best preserved Egyptian temple. The temple can be explored as part of the three temples within the Dendera Temple Complex with a registered tour guide. While the area's structures can date all the way back to 2,500 B.C., the Temple of Hathor is 2,000 years old and dates back to the Ptolemies, most notably Cleopatra VII. It's a great place to learn about Egypt and its ties to Rome and Greece, the influences of both visible in the temple.

While the Colosseum of Rome is the most popular, there's an incredibly preserved one across the Mediterranean in Tunisia. The Amphitheater at El Jem could hold up to 35,000 people and was built in the 3rd century, when El Jem was the thriving Roman city of Thysdrus. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its preservation, construction and sheer immensity, as well for its importance to Roman African history.

The Great Zimbabwe National Monument, located about 30 km from Masvingo, is a Medieval African walled city dating back from around the eleventh century. This UNESCO World Heritage Site might not be well-known, but it should be. According to legend, it was the home of the Queen of Sheba and was built by the lost Bantu civilization, the Shona. The site has given archaeologists a wealth of information, finding artifacts hailing from as far as China, Persia and Arabia, proving that it was a strong center for trade during its heyday.

Located in Marrakech, Morocco, the Saadian Tombs are one of the biggest attractions of the Saadian dynasty, under which Moroccan art, culture and wealth flourished between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The necropolis is famous for its art and design, including beautiful stone carvings showcasing the wealth and artistic style of the Saadian period.

Between late July and August, the region of Namibia and South Africa known as Namaqualand is awash in color. Richly colored flowers cover the usually dry, desert-like region in a blanket of oranges, pinks, yellows and more. This region is also home to some incredible animals, like the African wildcat, the aardwolf, the Namaqua speckled padloper (the smallest tortoise in the world) and more. It's a beautiful place to enjoy experiencing a different but not less stunning part of southern Africa. South Africa offers easy access to this region through its Namaqua National Park.

Japan is known for offering residents and travelers alike all types of creative animal-centric experiences, like cat cafes, owl cafes and other fun activities. Its Ehime Prefecture is also known for Aoshima Island, an island where cats outnumber the human population greatly! While the cats roam free and are wild, they're still curious and affectionate towards the humans who feed them. Travelers to this island can enjoy petting, feeding and taking photos of the many cats on the island.

Dongchuan Red Land is a place near Kunming, in the Yunnan Province of China. It's nicknamed "God's palette" for its beautiful and unique coloring. The ground consists of deeply red earth, which contrasts with the deep green of the plants that are grown there for agriculture. The red fields and verdant fields offer a beautiful place to explore away from any big cities and it's perfect for photography lovers because of its unique color contrasts.

While it might upon first sight seem like a normal lake, between the months of December and February, Thailand's Nong Han Lake is awash with richly colored pink water lily blossoms. This unique ecosystem draws both tourists and scientists alike. Travelers to the lake, located in the northeast corner of the country, can enjoy a scenic boat ride through the otherwordly scene, spotting birds, fish and, of course, the lake's famous water lilies.

Located in Vietnam is the world's largest cave system, Han Son Doong. Only discovered in 1991 by a local and later by British cavers in 2009, this cave system includes its own ecosystem, with a river, forests and more. It's large enough to easily accommodate an airplane or a small town! Intrepid explorers can even take an expedition to explore the cave, which continues being studied for its unique features.

Australia is known for its natural environments, but most Americans only think of it as having a desert-like climate, like the Outback. Australia, however, also has its own rainforests! The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia are a UNESCO-protected World Heritage Area and are located past Newcastle and Queensland. Like the temperate rainforests of Chile, the Gondwana Rainforests are protected because within them grow several plant species with ancient ties to our world's past. Travelers can hike, drive through or camp in the lush, warm rainforest.

Closer to home is an incredible natural wonder most travelers to Oaxaca don't know exist: Hierve el Agua. Meaning "the water boils," in Spanish, Hierve el Agua is a picturesque series of petrified waterfalls nestled between the Sierra Norte and the Sierra Mixe mountains. Yes, you read that right. Petrified. Waterfalls. What are they, you ask? Petrified waterfalls take thousands of years to develop their strange structures, but their high concentration of calcium carbonate calcifies part of the structure as the water falls down, making it look almost like a dripping candle and creating calm pools for people to enjoy photographing. The only other place in the world where one can find a petrified waterfall is in Turkey, making this one a more accessible destination for us North Americans.

Bolivia might not be considered a popular destination among American travelers, but that's a shame. There's one natural wonder located in Bolivia that puts even the Salt Flats in Utah to shame: Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat. It's over 11,000 square kilometers and offers some of the most stunning scenes one can experience on this planet. Its incredibly flat surface also turns into a mirror-like surface after rain, as seen in the photo above, giving it an otherwordly reflection of the sky above. Adventurers and photographers alike should take note of this incredible natural gem.

Lastly, but certainly not least, is the island of Chiloe, Chile. While most people could recognize the Chilean islands of Rapa Nui, in which the giant Easter Island heads are located, Chiloe offers a culturally different side to Chile and its islands. Chiloe is unique in its construction: many of its churches and buildings are made entirely of wood! Sixteen of its churches are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their unique, ship-inspired construction. One of its main cities, Castro, also provides a unique way of constructing houses, called palafitos. Palafitos are structures built over the sea on wooden stilts to protect them from high tides or inclement weather. These buildings are brightly painted to stand out and offer a gorgeous backdrop for photography.