Atlas Obscura - Curious and Wondrous Travel Destinations

The definitive guide to the world’s hidden wonders.

Welcome back to England, buddy!

Reintroduced Beavers Might Make a Damn Difference on an English Estate

These ecosystem engineers have a good track record in helping restore wetlands.

by Jessica Leigh Hester

Place of the Day

Ben Abeba

In Ethiopia, an otherworldly eatery is perched on the edge of a cliff.

How Frothy Waves of Sea Foam Coated the Coast of Chennai

Don't play in the bubbles.

December 5, 2019

How a Fossilized Snake With Legs Fits Into the Lineage of Lizards

Sled Dogs Have Long Been Central to Life in the Arctic

Atlas Obscura Goods

Holiday Gifts

In France, a Bloody WWI Battlefield Has Become a Wildlife Refuge

How a Master Mezcalero Makes a Unique Venison Mezcal

Top Countries

Top Cities

Seattle, Washington

Denny Substation

The Denny Substation has been called "the coolest substation in the world" and sits in a densely populated Seattle neighborhood.

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Added by tjmuehleman

Petrovaradin, Serbia

'Catacombs' of Petrovaradin Fortress

A maze of underground tunnels hides below one of the most beautiful forts in Serbia.

Added by alexplorer

Cuenca, Ecuador

Museo Pumapungo (Pumapungo Museum)

This museum’s collection includes rescued birds, fine art, and a collection of shrunken heads.

Scott Mansfield

Added by Scott Mansfield

Schramberg, Germany

Da-Bach-na-Fahrt (Journey Down the Stream)

Whimsical wash tubs row down the stream as part of this Carnival celebration.

Added by ThomasSchneider62

Bangkok, Thailand

Jok's Kitchen

A three-table eatery sits inside the home-kitchen of a seafood virtuoso in Bangkok's Chinatown.

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Added by lukefater

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Top Place Tags

art & performance

Cambodia: Contemporary Art, Spiritual Traditions, and Hidden Wonders

From $3,215 USD

Explore the vibrant art, religion, and food culture of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and spend time with the country's leading artists and performers.

science & nature

Science After Dark: Spotting Squid in the Tides of Oahu

From $3,535 USD

Just beneath the waves off the Hawaiian coast, there are schools of tropical fish, flotillas of sea turtles, and squads of squid. We’re diving in to explore some of their secrets.

art & performance

Desert Canvas: Art of Joshua Tree and the Mojave

From $2,360 USD

Join us as we venture deep into the High Desert, glimpsing massive sculptures, revitalizing domes, and fluorescent painted mountains along the way.

history & culture

Tunisia Through the Sands of Time

From $3,660 USD

Myth, Film, and Studio Tour

Los Angeles, California

Walking the Hidden Wonders of Midtown

New York, New York

On the Trail of DC's First Brewmaster

Alexandria, Virginia

Discover Greenbelt Town of Tomorrow

Greenbelt, Maryland

The Chicago Underground Scavenger Hunt

Chicago, Illinois

Sci Fi Sewage Sanctuary

Los Angeles, California

The Spies of Georgetown

Washington, D.C.

Japanese Incense and Tea Experience

Seattle, Washington

Tour NYC’s Industrial Waterway

Brooklyn, New York

Tour Chicago's Largest Prop House

Chicago, Illinois

Exploring Historic Homes of the Stars

Santa Monica, California

Explore Historic Murals of West Seattle

Seattle, Washington

View All Experiences

The Photographer Who X-Rayed Chernobyl

How to make the invisible visible.

Winnie Lee December 4, 2019

After a Century Abroad, a Collection of Cuneiform Is Heading Home to Iraq

Some will remain in Philly, but only because they might be too fragile for the trip.

Isaac Schultz December 3, 2019

Copenhagen Wants You to Forage on Its City Streets

It’s part of a movement to introduce local foods to Danish diets.

Reina Gattuso December 3, 2019

The History and Mystery of Russia’s 'Valley of Death'

A volcanic gorge in remote Kamchatka has given up some of its secrets—but not all of them.

Robin George Andrews December 3, 2019

A Kiln That Fired Millions of Clay Pipes Was Unearthed Under a Montreal Bridge

Archaeologists recently dug it up—but now they're putting an end to its brief affair with open air.

Jessica Leigh Hester December 2, 2019

Found: A Manuscript Sloppily Edited by Queen Elizabeth I

Her Latin was impressive, but her cursive wasn't.

Isaac Schultz December 2, 2019

Inside the Abandoned Babylon That Saddam Hussein Built

“If I could, I would go without shoes here, because it’s a holy place,” says a guide to the ancient site.

Pesha Magid December 2, 2019

A Newly Digitized Menu Collection Shows Off America’s Lost Railroad Cuisine

Once, Americans rode the rails for charbroiled steak, golden French toast, and prunes.

Claire Voon December 2, 2019

Israel’s Stalagmites Have Climate Stories to Tell

Formed by dripping water over thousands of years, the rocky formations point to ancient monsoons.

Jessica Leigh Hester November 29, 2019

14 Unusual, Spectacular Shopping Experiences Around the World

Celebrate Black Friday with a unique cultural experience.

How Radar Detected Prehistoric Footprints Beneath White Sands National Monument

Researchers have found Pleistocene-era proof of a human, mammoth, and ground sloth trundling along.

Jessica Leigh Hester November 27, 2019

China’s Dead Sea Is a Visual Feast

Yuncheng Lake is one of the country's oldest salt-production sites.

Reina Gattuso November 27, 2019

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