The world is physically a lot more accessible these days, though not always financially. However, if you are fortunate enough to visit some of the most famous tourist attractions, you may be interested to learn some of the most mind-blowing facts about them!
And even if you are unable to travel to the destinations themselves, technology can allow you to feel as if you are there even if you’re not. In fact, some places, like The Louvre in Paris and the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, offer virtual tours.
So grab your passports and let’s dive into the most popular tourist attractions around the world and learn some of the most mind-blowing facts about them!
1. Buckingham Palace (London, UK)
While most commonly known as the home of the United Kingdom’s monarchy, Buckingham Palace has some interesting facts surrounding it.
During WW2, Buckingham Palace was bombed nine times! Some of the bombings even occurred when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later, the Queen Mother) were there.
Given that it is a royal residence, there is quite a bit of intentional (justified) secrecy surrounding its design and layout. That being said, there are rumors that there are tunnels that connect the palace with Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament.
2. Burj Khalifa (Dubai, UAE)
The Burj Khalifa is most recognized for its sheer size – it is the tallest building, structure, and free-standing structure in the world. However, this impressive building also features 57 elevators that are among the fastest in the world, which can reach speeds of up to 33 feet per second!
If elevators aren’t your thing, the Burj Khalifa also features a private helipad on its roof – one of the highest helipads in the world! Usually, it’s just used by VIPs and for emergency situations.
3. Chichen Itza (Yucatan, Mexico)
Chichen Itza, once a vibrant and bustling city built by the Maya people, is an active archaeological site and popular tourist destination. The ruins of Chichen Itza most notably feature the pyramid El Castillo.
As an important archaeological site, Chichen Itza has provided many details about how the Maya lived during the ninth-thirteenth centuries.
For instance, the Maya enjoyed a sport that involved throwing a heavy ball through a stone ring on a high wall. Sounds fun, right?
Not so fast, the winners sometimes had their heads chopped off if the game was a substitute for waging a war against a city.
4. Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
An iconic and popular tourist attraction of Brazil, Christ the Redeemer is an impressive sight. The statue was completed in 1931 and stands at 98 feet tall. The outstretched arms span 92 feet.
Many people don’t know that there is a small chapel at the foot of the statue where you can even request to hold a wedding ceremony! Baptisms, pilgrimages, and masses are also held in the chapel.
5. Colosseum (Rome, Italy)
The Colosseum in Rome is best known for its bloody battles between gladiators and animals. They even held mock sea battles by flooding the arena with shallow water!
However, the Colosseum had many other events during ancient times. For example, huge parties were held here too.
In 107 CE, Emperor Trajan held a party that lasted 123 days and featured 10,000 gladiators and over 10,000 animals!
6. Eiffel Tower (Paris, France)
The Eiffel Tower has been a distinct symbol for the city of Paris for over 130 years. It is an impressive iron structure that was once the highest building in the world.
The Eiffel Tower is often at the center of many national events, such as fireworks on Bastille Day and fireworks to ring in the New Year.
For the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Tower is even being painted gold! Not only that, but winners at the Olympics will also be taking a piece of the Eiffel Tower home with them.
Literally! The medals will feature scraps from the Eiffel Tower embedded in them!
7. Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, USA)
The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic landmark of San Francisco. It has even been featured in numerous television programs and movies, such as Full House (1987-1995) and Avengers: End Game (2019).
The Golden Gate Bridge, opened in 1937, has also headlined prominently in the lives of several families. Three babies, all boys, are known to have been born on the bridge!
8. Hollywood Walk of Fame (Los Angeles, USA)
Since 1958, the Hollywood Walk of Fame has been a popular tourist destination that celebrates the talents of celebrities in six categories: movies, television, radio, recording, live performance, and sports entertainment.
There are over 2,700 stars on the Walk of Fame. Some celebrities, such as Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra, have more than one star. Indeed, Gene Autry has five!
There are even some fictional characters, such as Mickey Mouse and Snoopy, that feature on the Walk of Fame.
Interestingly, at his request, Muhammad Ali’s star is the only star that cannot be walked on; it’s located on the wall.
9. King Tut’s Tomb (Luxor, Egypt)
Discovered in 1922, the Tomb of Tutankhamun has been a tourist destination shrouded in mystery and intrigue.
The tomb’s discovery offered insight into an ancient way of life and made King Tut an icon.
However, upon discovery, whispers of a curse have plagued the archaeological site for over a century! The archelogist’s benefactor of the discovery died suddenly, not long after the opening of the tomb.
While perhaps superstitution, the tomb is said to be protected by the curse of the pharaoh.
10. London Eye (London, UK)
The London Eye is an iconic feature of London’s skyline, which was constructed to commemorate the new millennium.
The wheel, which is currently the seventh largest Ferris wheel in the world, features a 30-minute ride in one of its 32 capsules.
Interestingly, the 32 capsules represent the 32 different boroughs of London. However, they’re actually numbered from 1 to 33. Due to superstition, there is no capsule 13!
11. London Zoo (London, UK)
Since 1828, the London Zoo has been at the forefront of scientific study and conservation. The zoo has included some exotic animals in its time, but it has also featured two very iconic animals.
Winnie the bear was the “pet” of Canadian Lieutenant Harry Colebourn. Colebourn’s regiment was sent to England for training in 1914 and he brought Winnie with him. She became the unofficial mascot of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade.
When Colebourn was deployed to France during WWI, Winnie was transferred to the London Zoo to be cared for. Winnie became the inspiration for AA Milne’s beloved Winnie the Pooh stories.
Another famous resident of the London Zoo was Jumbo the elephant. Likely born in 1861, Jumbo arrived at the zoo in 1865 and eventually grew to 11 feet tall.
His size was so well known, that his name became an adjective for large! Previous to the elephant, the word “jumbo” did not exist.
12. The Louvre (Paris, France)
The Louvre is one of the most famous museums in the world. It features many iconic pieces of art such as the Venus de Milo Statue and the Mona Lisa, among many others.
The Louvre is so large, it would apparently take someone approximately 200 days to see everything! This is only allowing for only 30 seconds of viewing of the over 35,000 pieces of art on display.
Arguably one of the Louvre’s most famous pieces, the Mona Lisa, has an interesting history too. It has been stolen once and vandalized six times. When it was stolen, Pablo Picasso was accused of its theft!
13. Niagara Falls (Canada/USA)
Niagara Falls, which straddles the border between Canada and the USA, is an impressive sight all on its own. In fact, the falls were recognized as a symbol of America and the New World until 1886 when the Statue of Liberty was erected.
While not the tallest waterfall in the world, it is one of the most remarkable, due to its combination of height and the large volume of water that flows over it.
Throughout history, Niagara Falls has been the backdrop for many daredevil stunts! One person tightrope walked across Niagara Gorge over 300 times. However, he didn’t just walk, he also rode a bicycle, pushed a wheelbarrow, and even crossed with his hands and legs bound.
Many others have successfully crossed Niagara Gorge by tightrope, but there has also been one fatality.
To push the limits, many people successfully and unsuccessfully have chosen to go over the falls in various ways, including in barrels, boats, kayaks, and jet skis. However, many people have also died attempting to go over the falls.
14. Sagrada Familia (Barcelona, Spain)
As the most visited monument in Spain, Sagrada Familia is a popular tourist attraction!
Most famously designed (in part) by Antoni Gaudí, the building features different facades that represent Christ’s life: birth, death, and glory. The inside is intended to represent heavenly spirituality.
Interestingly, the Sagrada Familia is incomplete. There is ambition to complete the church by 2026, 100 years after Gaudí’s death.
In fact, Gaudí anticipated and planned that the building would not be complete in his lifetime, so he left plans and instructions for successive architects.
15. Walt Disney World (Florida, USA)
Walt Disney World is one of the most iconic amusement parks in the world. In fact, it’s considered the most visited vacation resort in the world.
While the magic of Disney’s storytelling is second to none, the way Walt Disney World smoothly operates is an impressive feat.
For example, to keep Walt Disney World looking immaculately clean, the park has a unique pneumatic tube system for trash disposal. In some locations, this system literally sucks the trash through vacuum tubes and sends it to a central location for further disposal.
Not only that, Walt Disney World has trash cans placed every 30 feet!
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.