Atlas Obscura - Curious and Wondrous Travel Destinations

The definitive guide to the world’s hidden wonders.

Before its dilapidation, Croatia's Samobor Castle shifted from Roman-Gothic to Renaissance style.

See Europe’s Ruined Medieval Castles Come Back to Life

Seven virtual reconstructions offer a glimpse at the fortified past.

by Isaac Schultz

Place of the Day

Fred Smith's Wisconsin Concrete Park

An oddly poignant roadside attraction celebrating American folklore.

Found: The Cold War Wreck of a World War II Submarine

A training exercise in 1958 sent the USS Stickleback to the ocean floor.

A Chinese Fishing Village Regains Its Rightful Place in California History

Let Your Mind Wander With These Gloriously Detailed Maps

The spirit of discovery and community

Wonder From Home

Is Saint Corona a Guardian Against Epidemics?

To Save Madagascar’s Wildlife, an Entomologist Is Helping Revive a Bug-Based Cuisine

Top Countries

Top Cities

Battle of Almansa Museum

Commemorating a battle where French troops were commanded by an Englishman, and English troops by a Frenchman.

Dr Alan P Newman

Added by Dr Alan P Newman

Oxford, England

The Painted Room Oxford

This hidden 13th-century tavern room has a few Shakespearean connections.

ajh93

Loktak Lake

The largest freshwater lake in northeast India is also the only floating national park in the world.

SamR

Mbabane, Eswatini

Sibebe Rock

This granite mountain is the largest rock in Africa and the second-largest monolith in the world.

Added by HannahT

Fairfax Station, Virginia

St. Mary's Church

The most historic church in Fairfax County played a role in the creation of the American Red Cross.

eazyeschendor

Added by eazyeschendor

Add a Place to the Atlas

Top Place Tags

history & culture

Scotland: Highland Clans and the Trail of Tartan

From $6,780 USD

culinary adventures

Forest to Table in Alpine Slovenia

From $2,865 USD

Alongside local experts, we'll munch our way through Slovenia's stunning alpine pastures, forests, and lakes—gathering wild mushrooms, making mountain tea, and crafting a charismatic cheese.

art & performance

Santa Fe Weekend: New Art, Ancient Traditions

From $1,280 USD

Spend a weekend immersed in the rich history, deeply rooted tradition, and constantly evolving art-scape of northern New Mexico.

science & nature

Wildlife of the Ecuadorian Amazon

From $4,635 USD

Delve into this equatorial paradise for a week-long journey full of adventure and learning in some of the wildest corners of the Amazon basin.

Inside Look at The Bunny Museum

Altadena, California

New York City Clock Walk

New York, New York

Atlas Obscura's Wonders of FiDi

New York, New York

From 'Hell' to The High Line

New York, New York

White House Tales of Scandal & Intrigue

Washington, D.C.

Exploring a Secret Fort

Washington, D.C.

Walking the Hidden Wonders of Midtown

New York, New York

Studio Visit With Juan Alonso-Rodríguez

Seattle, Washington

The Abandoned Zoo Ruins of Griffith Park

Holllywood, Los Angeles, California

Scent-Making and Hollywood History

Los Angeles, California

The World of Beekeeping & Native Bees

Chicago, Illinois

Urban Parks Playdate

San Francisco, California

View All Experiences

How 'Shoebox Lunches' Made Black Travel Possible During Jim Crow

Humble shoeboxes allowed African-Americans to dine with dignity.

Nicole Taylor March 27, 2020

The Chef Bringing Native American Flavors to Communities in Quarantine

For Brian Yazzie, the COVID-19 pandemic evokes a history of smallpox, European colonization, and indigenous resilience.

Reina Gattuso March 27, 2020

Silent Films, Flower Festivals, and Cooking Classes to Enjoy at Home

Feast your eyes or sharpen your brain, from a distance.

Jessica Leigh Hester March 27, 2020

Balconies, Windows, and Rooftops Are the New Public Squares

The power of seeing and being seen, hearing and being heard.

Winnie Lee March 26, 2020

Inside One Distillery’s Pivot to Hand Sanitizer

The small Massachusetts outfit supplies local police, firefighters, and hospitals.

Luke Fater March 26, 2020

How to Help Scientists Without Leaving Home

Gaze out the window or at your computer, in the name of data.

Jessica Leigh Hester March 25, 2020

The Charmed Second Life of Australia's Cursed 'Disco Dong'

The sculpture was loathed as a public-art installation. Now its 4,000 aluminum birds are treasured in private collections.

Vivienne Pearson March 25, 2020

An Ancient Ballcourt in Oaxaca Expands a Sport’s Footprint

3,000 years before the Aztecs, Mesoamericans were already playing ball.

Isaac Schultz March 25, 2020

A Healing Spirit From 19th-Century Japan Is Back to Face COVID-19

Artists are bringing back Amabie, a 'yōkai' associated with protection from disease.

Claire Voon March 25, 2020

The 'Pie Engineer' Who Designed a Dessert For the Jazz Age

With a new filling and a new crust, an American innovator changed pie forever.

Rossi Anastopoulo March 24, 2020

The Ocean’s Largest Shark Has a Little Something to Say

An online video raised a strange question: Do whale sharks make sounds? And would it matter if they did?

Claudia Geib March 24, 2020

For Sale: The Wooden Stage From The Beatles' First Concert

Including its old Victorian-era nails.

Matthew Taub March 24, 2020

Read All Stories