Aside from joy, freedom, and new experiences, many of us travel for other reasons: to see unfamiliar places, explore destinations beyond our own, and learn how different their cultures are from ours. We’re often amazed by how they’ve preserved their heritage and how their economies compare to ours.
But travel isn’t just fun—it’s about respecting cultures, too. What’s acceptable in one country might be offensive in another, so knowing cultural etiquette is key to avoiding unintended offense.
For example, Turkey isn’t just beaches and skiing—did you know that?
Here’s a collection of 50 of the most unusual and amazing travel facts from around the world that will blow your mind!
1. 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia –
No Rivers!
🌵 Saudi Arabia is one of
the only countries without any permanent rivers due to its desert climate. It
relies on underground aquifers and desalination plants for water.
2. 🐑 Falkland Islands –
Sheep Outnumber People
With roughly 2,600 people, the Falkland Islands have nearly
500,000 sheep — that's about 153 sheep for every person!
3. 🏨 Russia – Hotel Supreme
AZIMUT Hotels in Moscow boasts 7,500 beds and 5,000 rooms,
making it one of the largest hotel chains in Russia.
4. 💎 Switzerland – Hotel
Elite
The Royal Penthouse Suite at Hotel President Wilson has 12
marble bathrooms and costs over £40,000 per night!
5. 🇲🇾 Malaysia –
Hotel Grand
The First World Hotel in Malaysia has more than 7,351 rooms,
making it the largest hotel as of 2020.
6. ✈️ USA – A Nation of High Flyers
At any given time, there are at least 61,000 people flying
on planes in the USA — more than a small city!
7. 🌋 Indonesia – Volcano
Mania
Indonesia has the most active volcanoes in the world
— 127 active volcanoes, with many close to populated areas.
8. 🇫🇷 France – The
Most Popular
France remains the world’s top tourist destination,
welcoming over 100 million visitors in 2023.
9. 🌆 Singapore – No Farms
Singapore is practically devoid of farmland due to its small
size and urban landscape.
10. 🇨🇦 Canada – Lake
Central
Canada has the most lakes in the world, thanks to its large
size and glacial history.
11. 🏘️ Hum, Croatia –
Smallest Settlement
Hum is considered the world’s smallest town, with a tiny
population and a main street you can walk through in minutes.
12. 🏜️ Algeria – Made of Sand
Over 90% of Algeria is covered by the Sahara Desert, the
largest hot desert on Earth.
13. 🌊 Maldives – How Low?
Most of Maldives’ islands sit less than 1 meter above sea
level, making it vulnerable to rising seas.
14. 🧂 Jordan – Very Low
The Dead Sea, shared by Jordan and Israel, is the lowest
point on Earth at 414 meters below sea level.
15. ⚡ Norway – Go Green
Over 99% of Norway’s electricity comes from renewable
hydropower.
16. 🌳 Haiti – Trees-less?
Due to severe deforestation, Haiti has almost no trees left.
17. 🗣️ Papua New Guinea –
Tongue Twister
With over 840 languages, Papua New Guinea is the most
linguistically diverse country in the world.
18. 🍔 Tonga – Land of the
Heavy
Tonga has the highest adult obesity rate worldwide, with
over 71% of adults classified as obese.
19. 🧱 China – Brick in the
Wall
The Great Wall of China is the longest wall in the world,
stretching 8,852 kilometers!
20. 🔤 Papua New Guinea –
Shortest Alphabet
Papua New Guinea’s alphabet has only 11 letters: a, b, e, g,
i, k, o, p, r, t, u.
20. 🔤 Papua New Guinea –
Shortest Alphabet
Papua New Guinea’s alphabet has only 11 letters: a, b, e, g,
i, k, o, p, r, t, u.
21. India 🇮🇳
Milk & Stamps? India isn’t just the land of spices — it also has the
largest number of post offices 📬 in the world and
the most cows 🐄, boasting 307.5 million as of 2023. Talk
about a country that’s got milk and mail covered!
22. Andorra 🏔️
Get High! Nestled in the Pyrenees, Andorra la Vella stands as Europe’s
highest capital city at 1,023 meters (3,356 feet) above sea level.
Breathe that crisp mountain air! 🌬️
10. Sweden 🇸🇪
Island Life! Sweden reigns supreme with 267,570 islands 🏝️,
mostly uninhabited! Even Stockholm, its capital, spreads across 14 islands
connected by over 50 bridges 🌉. Island hopping,
anyone?
23. Greece 🇬🇷
Love Thy Country! Greece holds the record for the longest national
anthem 🎶 — “Hymn to Liberty” by Dionysios Solomos —
with so many stanzas it’s practically an epic poem set to music. Sing your
heart out! 🎤
24. Africa 🌍
Dr. Doolittle’s Nightmare! Forget hippos — the tiny mosquito 🦟
is Africa’s deadliest animal, spreading malaria, dengue, and West Nile virus,
causing hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. Size isn’t everything.
25. Iran 🇮🇷
Ancient Tree! Iran hosts the world’s 2nd oldest tree 🌳,
an ancient natural monument estimated to be 4,000 years old. A living
testament to history standing tall.
26. Thailand 🇹🇭
Wait for It! Bangkok’s full ceremonial name is so long it might break
your tongue! Known as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon... 🏙️,
it holds the title for the longest city name in the world.
27. Spain 🇪🇸
Oil Country! Spain produces nearly 45% of the world’s olive oil 🫒,
leading the global market with a whopping 24% share in 2022. Olé for Spain’s
liquid gold!
28. Benin (West Africa) 🇧🇯
Seeing Double! Benin boasts the highest rate of twins 👯
worldwide with 27.9 per 1,000 births, thanks to genetics among certain ethnic
groups. Twins here are celebrated as special gifts. 🎉
29. Japan 🇯🇵
It’s Not Round, It’s Square! Japan grows unique square watermelons
🍉🟦
primarily for decoration. Grown in molds and harvested early, these pricey
oddities are an art form as much as a fruit!
30. Guernsey 🇬🇬
Independent Country! Though tiny and linked to the British Crown 👑,
Guernsey governs itself, isn’t part of the UK or EU, and even issues its own
currency 💰. Small island, big autonomy!
31. Tuvalu 🇹🇻
Get Rich! With just 11,000 people, Tuvalu earns big bucks by leasing its
.tv domain 💻 online — enough to
cover its hefty $20,000 UN membership fee. Clever island economics!
32. Iceland 🇮🇸
Friendlies! Voted the friendliest nation 😊
by the World Economic Forum, Iceland’s low crime and welcoming culture make it
a top destination for safe, warm-hearted visits.
33. Nepal 🇳🇵
Feminist Religion! Nepal uniquely worships a living goddess, the
Kumari 👧 — a young girl regarded as a living
incarnation of the goddess Taleju, residing in Kathmandu’s Kumari Ghar palace 🏰.
34. Jamaica 🇯🇲
Voodoo Religion! Jamaica still practices Obeahism, a voodoo tradition 🔮
believing spirits can bring both good and bad luck — though it’s officially
outlawed and carries harsh penalties. ⚖️
35. Palau 🇵🇼
Jaws! Palau was the first country to create a shark sanctuary 🦈,
banning commercial shark fishing and protecting their ocean ecosystem — a win
for nature and tourism alike.
36. The Baltic States 🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹
Hold My Hand! In 1989, about 2 million people formed the Baltic Way,
a 675 km human chain 🤝 across Estonia, Latvia,
and Lithuania, symbolizing unity and a call for freedom from Soviet rule.
37. Ladonia 🏴
Lads Me Not! Ladonia is a micronation inside Sweden 🇸🇪,
founded as a rebel art state celebrating freedom of speech 🗣️,
creativity 🎨, and expression — with over 29,000 global
“citizens.”
38. Costa Rica 🇨🇷
Peacefully Yours! Known as Central America’s most peaceful country ☮️,
Costa Rica boasts no army, strong democracy 🗳️, and a focus on social
programs, consistently ranking high on the Global Peace Index.
39. Samoa 🇼🇸
Boy Meets Girl! Samoa’s culture embraces the Fa’afafine, men
raised and identifying as women 🚻 — a recognized third
gender with a unique and respected place in society.
40. Vietnam 🇻🇳
Drink a Snake! Fancy a health boost? In Vietnam, you can sip rice wine
infused with a whole snake 🐍🍶 — said to
improve vitality. Would you dare to try this exotic elixir?
41. Comoros 🇰🇲
Friends for All! This small island nation belongs to the African Union 🌍,
Francophonie 🇫🇷, Islamic Cooperation ☪️,
and the Arab League 🇸🇦 — proving it’s
a champion of global friendship and diplomacy.
42. Turkmenistan 🇹🇲
Bring a Pitchfork! The Door to Hell 🔥,
a blazing crater in Turkmenistan’s desert, has been on fire for over 40 years —
a fiery natural wonder 70 meters wide you have to see to believe.
43. Paris (France) 🇫🇷
Up High! The Eiffel Tower’s elevators 🚡 travel a combined 64,000
miles per year. It even sways in storms 🌪️ and grows a few
centimeters taller in summer heat — a true iron giant.
44. Gibraltar 🇬🇮
Let’s Drive! Gibraltar has a staggering 1,444 vehicles per 1,000
people 🚗🚙, making it one of the world’s most
car-packed places — a busy hub on a tiny rock!
45. Colorado Plateau (USA) 🇺🇸
The Oldest Giant! Fishlake National Forest is home to the Pando Tree 🌲
— one of the world’s oldest living organisms, with a root network estimated to
be 80,000 years old.
46. Spain 🇪🇸
Is it Done Yet? The Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona 🏰
has been under construction since 1882 — longer than the pyramids! Nope, it’s
still not finished.
47. Philippines 🇵🇭
Island in a Lake in an Island! The Philippines hosts the Vulcan Point
Island 🏝️ — an island inside a lake, inside an
island, inside a lake, inside an island. Mind blown! 🤯
48. Iceland 🇮🇸
None at All! Iceland has no mosquitoes at all 🚫🦟
— not a single one! The land of fire and ice is also the land of zero pesky
bites.
49. Canada 🇨🇦
Lake Central! Canada is the country with the most lakes 🏞️
in the world, thanks to its massive size and northern glacial landscape.
50. The Americas 🌎
Longest Drive! The Pan-American Highway 🛣️ stretches through 14
countries, making it the world’s longest motorable road. Road trip, anyone?
I’m not familiar with most of these countries, but learning these fascinating facts really opens your eyes to the diversity and wonder of our world.
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