15 unusual attractions in Europe

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European castles, fortresses and monuments are all well and good, but sometimes it's exciting to see some unusual sights in Europe. Here are some of the most unusual sights we've come across around Europe.

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Different sights in Europe

Do you like quirky and special places? We do! Travelling around Europe, we have come across a number of unique places. Here we present 15 unusual sights in Europe.

1. Rummu quarry (Estonia)

At the Rummu quarry in Estonia, a type of limestone was quarried between the 1930s and 1990s, with the help of prisoners in Soviet prisons. When Estonia gained independence in 1991, the prison was closed and the quarry was abandoned and flooded. Today, it is an unexpected bathing and sunbathing paradise.

2. Tisá - filming location for Narnia (Czech Republic)

It's easy to see why they filmed the film Narnia here, because this is a place that should belong to the world of fairy tales. The dramatic rock formations are densely packed, and offer absolutely magical views.

3. Green Citadel in Magdeburg (Germany)

The Green Citadel in Magdeburg is both a residential building and a spectacular sight. Designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, this house offers playfulness, but also lovely greenery in the centre of the city.

4. Skellig Michael (Ireland)

The steep, 230-metre-high island of Skellig Michael is 12 kilometres from the west coast of Ireland. The jagged cliff is home to a medieval monastery built as early as 588 AD. Star Wars films have also been filmed here!

5. Syri spring in Kaltër (Albania)

The "Syri i Kaltër" spring, or Blue eye, is located in southern Albania, not far from the town of Saranda. This natural phenomenon consists of a spring a few square metres in size and at least 50 metres deep. The clear, drinkable water is constantly bubbling up and you can swim if you want, at 12.7 degrees centigrade.

6. Las Fallas festival in Valencia (Spain)

The Las Fallas festival is held every year in March in the Spanish city of Valencia, during which huge statues are set up around the city. Around 500 statues compete against each other and at the end of the festival, they are all burnt in a festive fire.

7. Europe's largest sand dune Dune du Pilat (France)

Europe's largest sand dune, the Dune Du Pilat on the west coast of France is around 3 kilometres long, 110 metres high and 600 metres wide. It is quite simply very much sand. A fascinating place!

8. Bialowieza National Park with Visents (Poland)

Bialowieza National Park includes a wild primeval forest that stretches over a vast area on both sides of the border between Poland and Belarus. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you can see a variety of animals here, including wild bison.

9. Boat lift in Niederfinow (Germany)

The boat lift at Niederfinow in the German Oder-Havel Canal is a fascinating lift, lifting boats up to 36 metres. Every year, 11 000 boats pass through here, and the lift is also a popular attraction, attracting half a million tourists a year.

10. Aladzha Cave Monastery (Bulgaria)

The Aladzha Monastery in Bulgaria is a cave monastery where monks once lived an ascetic life in silence, with little food and limited daylight. Today it is an interesting historical site, carved into a 25-metre high limestone cliff, in the Golden Sands Natural Park.

11. MUSAN underwater museum (Cyprus)

MUSAN in Ayia Napa is something as unique as an underwater sculpture park. The Cypriot sculpture park, inaugurated in summer 2021, can be seen while diving or snorkelling.

12. The world's largest ice cave Eisriesenwelt (Austria)

Eisriesenwelt in Austria is the largest ice cave in the world. The cave is reached by a combination of cable car and hiking. The cave itself is a labyrinth with a total length of over 42 kilometres. As a tourist, you only walk through a tiny, tiny part of it, yet you climb 134 metres up winding stairs.

13. Devil Heads (Czech Republic)

The Devil Heads are a very special sight, found in the Bohemian forests of the Czech Republic. Created by sculptor Václav Levý between 1841 and 1846, the nine-metre-high figures are said to be the second largest carved heads in the world, after the granite busts of Mount Rushmore in the USA.

14. The Sunken Palace (Turkey)

Yerebatan Cisterns, the Sunken Palace or the Basilica Cistern - all names describe a very underground place in Istanbul. This water reservoir was built under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the 5th century. Today, it's a brightly lit attraction.

15. Rack railway up Mount Pilatus (Switzerland)

Lucerne is a stunningly beautiful city, surrounded by mountains and lakes. Here you can get to the top of Mount Pilatus, using the world's steepest rack railway. This is an adventure that offers amazing views!

More unusual attractions in Europe?

Do you have any other tips for unusual sights in Europe? Please let us know!

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