The Ten Weirdest Tourist Attractions Around The World
When you’re traveling, you could go to the normal tourist attractions, see the same stuff, and take the same pictures as everyone else. You could go to one of these places, the top ten weirdest tourist attractions from around the world, and come back with stories that will blow your friends’ minds. Here they are in no particular order!
1. The Museum of Death in Hollywood, California
Check out art by famous serial killers, photos of famous crime scenes, and the severed head of “The Bluebeard of Paris,” who killed 11 people in the early 1900’s.
“The World Famous Museum of Death was established in June 1995 and was first housed in the Wyatt Earp building, which was San Diego’s first morgue. Originating from the contentious art gallery Rita Dean, owners JD Healy and Cathee Schultz made death their life’s work after realizing there was a need for death teaching in this nation.
The world’s largest collection of artwork by serial killers, images from Charles Manson crime scenes, the guillotined head of the Blue Beard of Paris (Henri Landru), original crime scene and morgue photos from the horrific Black Dahlia murder, a collection of body bags and coffins, full size execution device replicas, autopsy and mortician instruments, pet death taxidermy, and much more can be found at the Museum of Death, which reopened in Hollywood, California.
Real (not reenacted) death footage, including videos of autopsy, serial killers, the famed Traces (not Faces) of Death film, and the recruiting video for the Heaven’s Gate Cult, are also on exhibit.
2. Yunessun Spa Resort, Japan
Take a spa bath in green tea, coffee, sake, wine, or another liquid usually reserved for drinking.
Imagine Yunessun Spa Resort as a theme park featuring hot springs and baths of different liquids in place of rides. (Well, there is one location that could qualify as a “ride,” but more on that in a moment.) You’ll be soaking up the health benefits of red wine and coffee here instead of waiting in huge lines for ferris wheels. The finest aspect? There is absolutely no chance that you will throw up after negotiating a rickety wooden roller coaster.
These themed baths are not simply colored water, don’t get me wrong. If the sign reads “wine bath,” you are indeed taking a bath in real wine, but you need also use chlorinated water to protect your bathing suit.
The Yunessun Spa Resort in Hakone, Japan offers wine swimming!
This truly is the realization of my dream. We also regret the poor quality of the photos; we were forced to utilize our outdated water camera. Just a reason to purchase a GoPro eventually…
If you’re feeling particularly daring, you can take a bath in your birthday suit in the second location, which is called Mori no Yu (“No Clothes”). We didn’t go this time, which was understandable considering my prior American shyness about taking a naked shower at the Blue Lagoon, but we might next time since taking a naked bath is a traditional aspect of the Japanese onsen experience.
3. Sedlec Ossuary, Czech Republic
This Roman Catholic chapel, which includes a chandelier, is decorated with 40,000 human bones.
How all these bones were found in a little chapel in the Czech Republic may be a mystery to you. It all began in 1278 when the Bohemian King dispatched the Sedlec Cistercian Monastery’s abbot to Jerusalem.
The abbot carried the “Holy Soil,” a jar containing earth from Golgotha, with him when he returned. Before long, individuals from everywhere wanted to be buried in Sedlec. As a result, the cemetery there needed to be enlarged.
Near the cemetery was a Gothic church constructed in the fifteenth century, with an ossuary located in the basement. The bones remained there for generations until Frantisek Rint, a woodcarver, was hired in 1870 to arrange them. The outcome was strikingly unexpected.
Lastly, even though the Sedlec Ossuary may look terrifying, a visit there will probably leave you feeling calm rather than scared. The 40.000 deceased individuals first traveled to Sedlec because they wanted to be buried in a sacred location, and today their remains are situated in the center of the chapel.
4. The Parasite Museum, Tokyo
The Meguro Parasitological Museum in Tokyo is a unique and disturbing institution that is the only establishment in the world entirely devoted to parasites. The museum has a collection of over 60,000 different parasite specimens, with more than 300 on display at any given time. The ground floor displays parasites that infect animals, while the second floor focuses on parasites that infect humans. The museum’s prize attraction is the world’s longest tapeworm, measuring 8.8 meters. The museum also has a gift shop that sells parasite-themed T-shirts, keyrings, and birthday cards. Admission is free, and donations are accepted. The museum is located a 15-minute walk from JR Meguro station, and a map is available on their website. The Meguro Parasitological Museum is a popular offbeat attraction and even a date spot in Tokyo.
5. The Island of the Dolls, Mexico
Legend has it that a man living alone in the island found the body of a drowned girl, so to appease her spirit, he began to decorate the trees with doll and doll parts. There are now hundreds, staring down creepily at tourists.
The Island of Dolls, also known as Isla de las Muñecas, is a eerie location south of Mexico City, where thousands of mutilated dolls hang from ceilings, trees, and boats. The island is haunted due to the strong concentration of energy and paranormal activity. The dolls have been collected for 70 years, with the majority being ugly, old, burnt, mutilated, or deformed. The island attracts tourists from around the world, who can sense a different energy and feel goosebumps. Visitors are allowed to bring their own dolls to meet the residents, but they are advised not to disturb or touch the dolls. The island’s success has led to the creation of several replicas along the Xochimilco channels in the surrounding areas.
6. The Icelandic Phallological Museum, Iceland
For years, one man has collected over 276 penises from 46 different species and preserved them for display. Samples include human, hamster, and whale phalluses.
The Icelandic Phallological Museum, located in Reykjavík, houses over 300 penises from various mammal species, including whales, polar bears, seals, walruses, and land mammals. The museum, founded by historian and teacher Sigurður Hjartarson in 1974, has been continuously growing since its inception. The museum has undergone extensive changes to improve visitor experience, including more space for viewing specimens and enhanced technology with touch screens. The museum also features a phallus-themed bistro, offering local and international food, coffee, and beers on tap. Open daily from 10:00 – 19:00, the museum is a must-see for visitors to Reykjavík and will be a conversation piece for years to come.
7. Chiesa del Sacro Cuore del Suffragio, Rome
This museum consists of a little room in the church where visitors can find evidence of souls trapped in purgatory trying to reach out to the living. You can see Bibles, tables, clothes, and other materials with burned handprints on them.
The Chiesa del Sacro Cuore del Suffragio, also known as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Praetorian Barracks, is a Roman Catholic church located in Rome, Italy. It was built between 1879 and 1887 at the behest of Pope Pius IX, with the construction being interrupted due to the annexation of Rome to the Kingdom of Italy. The church is characterized by its neo-Renaissance style, with a facade featuring a contrast between white travertine and brick red. The interior houses frescoes considered to be Virginio Monti’s masterpiece, depicting the Triumph of the Virgin and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The church is also known for its association with Don Bosco, who was invited by Pope Leo XIII to build a church in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and it is where Don Bosco wept during Mass in 1880. The Chiesa del Sacro Cuore del Suffragio is a significant religious and historical site in Rome, attracting visitors from around the world.
8. Electric Ladyland, Netherlands
Try not to pass out as you enjoy the fluorescent art (sculptures, glowing rocks, UV-light activated paintings), accompanied by the music of the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.
Electric Ladyland is a museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, dedicated to fluorescent art. It is described as the world’s first museum of fluorescent art and is owned and operated by artist Nick Padalino. The museum consists of two parts: a large fluorescent area where visitors can experience “participatory art,” and a permanent exhibition featuring fluorescent minerals, works from the 50s, various objects, and advertising prints from before 1938. The museum is known for its surreal and psychedelic atmosphere, with some visitors likening the experience to an “acid trip.” It is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 2 pm to 6 pm and requires advance booking for visits. The museum’s website provides up-to-date hours and directions for visitors
9. Capuchin Catacombs, Italy
6th-century monks discovered that corpses became naturally mummified when placed here. Now, you can see 8,000 mummies hanging from the walls.
The Capuchin Catacombs, located in Palermo, Italy, are a macabre yet historically significant site. They comprise several tiny chapels beneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, containing the skeletal remains of 3,700 bodies, mostly Capuchin friars, buried between 1500 and 1870. The catacombs are not meant to be macabre but serve as a silent reminder of the swift passage of life on Earth and our own mortality. The mummies in the catacombs represent an extraordinary scientific and historical resource, providing valuable data about medical issues and embalming techniques. The site is open to visitors, and the ticket price is €3.00, with free admission for children under 12 years old
10. Cockroach Hall of Fame, Texas
This museum is filled with the corpses of cockroaches dressed up and posing as different celebrities, like “David Letteroach” and “Marilyn Monroach.”
The Cockroach Hall of Fame Museum was a unique attraction located in Plano, Texas, that featured collections of dead cockroaches dressed in various costumes and accessories, as well as live hissing cockroaches. The museum was part of the Pest Shop, a small do-it-yourself shop that sold extermination products for getting rid of pests in homes, such as mice, roaches, and rats. The owner of the museum, Michael Bohdan, had a passion for cockroaches and believed that the museum helped educate people and change their perceptions about these insects