Looking for an adventure off the beaten path? Here are 10 unique places with crazy claims to fame that prove the world is full of surprising stories and unforgettable scenery.
Explore 10 Unique Places Around the World
10 Cairo’s Necropolis, the City of the Dead (and Living)
The ancient builders of Egypt chose the west bank of the Nile—where the sun sets—to lay their tombs, reserving the opposite side for the living. Fast‑forward to today, and Cairo’s sprawling metropolis of over 22 million souls has run out of room, pushing countless families into the historic necropolis that dates back at least 1,200 years.
This sprawling graveyard, known as the City of the Dead, is billed as the oldest and longest‑in‑use Muslim cemetery on the planet. Thousands of households now call the marble mausoleums and unmarked graves home, sharing space with the departed. Yet the settlement hangs in the balance, as municipal planners eye the site for a new highway that could erase centuries of living history.
9 Arizona Sky Village, the Desert Outpost Where Everyone’s an Astronomer
Imagine a community built expressly for stargazing. In southeast Arizona, a 450‑acre parcel has been transformed into a “rural development of stargazers,” where each home is equipped with a domed observatory and deliberately kept unlit to preserve the night sky.
Nestled far from Tucson—about 150 miles (241 km) away—and shielded by the Chiricahua mountains, the village avoids urban sky glow. Every house forgoes outdoor lighting, and windows are fitted with blackout shades, ensuring that the 21 households can plunge nightly into deep‑space observation without a single stray photon spoiling the view.
8 Giethoorn, the Dutch Venice
Founded in 1230, Giethoorn proudly claims the title of the most beautiful, fairytale‑like village in the Netherlands. Its claim to fame rests on a network of hand‑dug canals—originally carved to transport peat—making it the “Venice of the Netherlands” and a place where roads simply do not exist.
Without cars, life drifts at a leisurely rhythm across 176 charming bridges that link tiny islands dotted with farmhouses and thatched‑roof homes. Over a million visitors flock here each year, yet the village manages to retain its tranquil character, letting tourists glide silently by boat through its postcard‑perfect waterways.
7 Masuleh, an Ancient Iranian Village of Rooftops
Perched on a steep 60‑degree slope of the Alborz mountains, Masuleh rises nearly 3,500 feet (1,066 m) above sea level. Its origins trace back more than a millennium to an iron‑working settlement that was forced to relocate after a plague and an earthquake, prompting a clever use of the rugged terrain.
The town’s stepped architecture climbs the incline, turning rooftops into public plazas, streets, and gathering spots. Cars are banned, so residents live on the roofs of their neighbors, strolling from one terrace to another as if the sky were a bustling town square.
6 Casey, the Little Town of Big Things
Giant roadside novelties are a staple of American highway culture, and Casey, Illinois, has turned that tradition into an art form. The town boasts a collection of oversized objects, from nearly 14‑foot‑tall knitting needles to a 32‑foot‑tall measuring stick, each paired with an uplifting religious quote.
Beyond the novelty items, Casey proudly displays twelve of the world’s biggest attractions, including a 54‑foot wind chime, an 82‑foot seesaw that actually works, gigantic wooden shoes, and a 28‑foot Chevrolet truck key bearing a scripture verse about the keys to heaven.
5 Sighișoara, the Fortified Medieval Town
Romania may be famous for Dracula lore, but Sighișoara offers a genuine medieval experience. The UNESCO‑listed citadel has served as a strategic and commercial hub on the edge of central Europe for centuries, preserving a fairy‑tale atmosphere that feels straight out of a storybook.
Founded around 1280 by German craftsmen and merchants, the town’s fortified walls enclose churches, civic buildings, and winding cobblestone streets, all of which showcase the architectural heritage of the Middle Ages.
4 Laredo, the Old West Town (in England)
Laredo recreates an authentic American Wild West settlement as it would have appeared between 1865 and 1889. The meticulously built village includes a grand hotel, a bustling saloon, a working blacksmith, a saddlery, an undertaker’s office, a ranger’s station, and even a tobacconist.
Located just 20 miles (32 km) from London, Laredo was founded in 1971 and has become a premier filming location for period pieces. After a recent blaze that razed six major structures and nine smaller cabins, the town is being lovingly rebuilt to preserve its historic charm.
3 Maaloula, Where They Still Speak the Language of Jesus
Perched 35 miles (56 km) northeast of Damascus, Maaloula is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited Christian villages. Its claim to fame lies in the fact that its residents still converse in Aramaic, the very language spoken by Jesus.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, the village endured a turbulent recent history: captured by the Al‑Nusra Front in 2013, its Christian population fled as holy sites were looted, only for the Syrian army to liberate it a year later.
2 Nzulezo of the Dark Waters
Floating on the surface of Lake Tadane in Ghana, Nzulezo is a swamp‑bound village of roughly 500 inhabitants. The settlement boasts a modest bar, two churches, a guesthouse, and a school that serves over 80 children across four classrooms.
Teaching staff are scarce—only a couple of teachers—because many newcomers can’t swim, and swimming isn’t traditionally taught in Ghanaian schools. The lake’s dark, deep waters rise quickly during rain, sometimes submerging houses, making life on the water both precarious and fascinating.
1 Hum, the World’s Smallest Town
When you think of a “town,” you picture bustling markets and lively streets, but Croatia’s Hum flips that script. Measuring just about 300 feet (91.5 m) long and 100 feet (30.5 m) wide, it’s widely regarded as the smallest town on the planet, home to roughly 50 residents.
Legend says giants once hauled massive stones to build nearby cities, leaving a handful for this tiny settlement. Enclosed by walls dating back to the 11th century, Hum stands as a miniature fortified city—an adorable relic that still feels alive today.