Have you ever been to the smallest city in the world? Or seen a lake that becomes a park in summer? We give you the list of the 5 best unusual places to vacation and we hope that some of them will make you pack your bags and visit these wonders of nature.
1. Giethoorn, the Netherlands:
What would you say if you had to live in a place that has no roads? Impossible, right? Well, you were wrong. The village of Giethoorn, similar to a fairy tale, is located in Holland, in the province of Overijssel, to be precise. It is a town entirely built on small islands connected by canals and more than 180 wooden bridges. Popularly called the Dutch Venice, Giethoorn has been attracting tourists for decades, but those who live there are even more fortunate. The usual day in a not so usual village consists of regular boat trips and each island has a path along the canals. Make sure you visit the Giethoorn Museum ‘t Olde Maat Uus, where you can see what life was like in Giethoorn a few centuries ago. In short, we can agree on one thing, it is an amazing place to visit!
2. Pamukkale, Turkey:
Okay, it may not be in the “European” part of Turkey, but it certainly deserves to be on this list. Pamukkale, or Cotton Castle, is another nature reserve that makes people think “how is it possible that something like that exists?”. This natural site in Denizli, Turkey, is one of the most visited attractions in this country. Pamukkale is known for its thermal waters and white travertine terraces. The temperature in hot springs varies from 35 ° C to 100 ° C and most of them are not accessible to tourists. Tourists can only dip their feet in shallow pools and the whole area is free of shoes, which means that they must walk barefoot since these springs can be easily contaminated.
3. Mont Saint Michel, France:
This unique fortified “city” on an island is one of the most emblematic monuments of France and every year more than three million tourists decide to choose Mont Saint Michel as their destination. Mont, as many like to call it, was also cataloged as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, more precisely, by its bay. Interestingly, the island was accessible only if there was a backflow, but fortunately, today it is connected to the mainland by a bridge.
The main attraction of the island is the Benedictine monastery on the top of the hill of the island visited by more than 50 000 pilgrims each year on the day of St. Michael. Visit the History Museum with a rich collection of ancient weapons, paintings, and sculptures and discover old jails and cells (Mont Saint Michel was accustomed to a prison during the reign of Louis XI). And make sure you leave some time to shop for souvenirs and have a delicious crepe. Who would have thought there are so many things to do on such a small island?
4. Green Lake, Austria:
Also known as Grüner See (in German), Green Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe due to its crystal clear emerald green waters. However, that is not why it deserves a place on our list of unusual places. This lake is made of melted snow from the Hochschwab mountains. Every summer, due to high temperatures, it dries up and again in spring, the park fills with water, sometimes up to 12 meters deep! The lake was an access point for divers exploring the underwater park (you could even see benches and trails!), But unfortunately, diving or any other type of water activity is prohibited since last year due to possible contamination environmental.
5. Kjeragbolten, Norway:
This is a perfect example of how nature is truly magical and unpredictable. Kjeragbolten is a mountain rock located in the county of Rogaland in Norway. The rock is “placed” between two cliffs at a height of 984 meters, so you practically feel as if you are floating in the air. Besides being a popular tourist attraction, Kjeragbolten is also one of the favorite places for base jump addicts. Getting there can be a challenge, especially in mountain climbing because some parts require equipment to climb. However, once you get there, all the hard work will be rewarded because the view from the rock is absolutely incredible. And remember, do not look down!
