It's peak travel season in the Northern Hemisphere. As many of us know, scenic nature, gorgeous architecture, and yummy food are the best parts of a well-rounded trip. But seasoned travelers also know a little secret: some cities might have unique little features that make them even cooler.
Feeling some serious travel FOMO, we've compiled the most interesting quirks cities from all over the world offer. Whether they're practical hacks, impressive feats of city planning, or neat ecological solutions, we present them to you here in this list. If you're still looking for a last-second trip, maybe these could make your decision easier?
#1 In Finland You Pay Fines Based On Your Salary!
Image credits: fanaticflierel
#2 In Wroclaw, Poland Each Cathedral And Even The Rivers Have A Tactile Model Nearby For Blind People To See Them Too
Image credits: zushini
#3 This Tunnel In Belfast Is An "Influencer Free Zone"
Image credits: butterbaps
In a world where anti-billionaire sentiments are growing stronger with each passing day, Finland's income-based system for fines seems like a dream to many. And it's not just speeding that it's applied to. Shoplifting, breaking securities, and financial trading laws are also fined depending on the person's income. The logic is the same as with progressive taxes: if you earn more, you should be fined more.
In 2023, a multimillionaire Finnish businessman Anders Wiklöf, 76, was fined almost $140k for driving 18.6 mph over the limit. His speed was 82km/h in a zone with a 50km/h limit. It wasn't his first time getting fined like this: in 2018, he got a fine of $730k, and $110k in 2013.
That only made his third offence worse, but the businessman wasn't salty about it. "I have heard the government wants to save €1.5bn on healthcare in Finland, so I hope that my money can fill a gap there," he said.
#4 When You Turn 18 In Sweden, You Get This Guidebook For How To Be An Adult
Image credits: JacsweYT
#5 In Italy, Under The Trevi Fountain There's A Huge Roman House That's Been Excavated
Image credits: kombuchawow
#6 Japanese Vending Machine Adapted To The Surroundings
Image credits: 9999monkeys
Tactile models of famous architectural sites like the one in Wroclaw are popping up in other part of the world as well. The WHO estimates that about 2.2 billion people in the world have some kind of vision impairment. So, these tactile models really shouldn't be just "a cool feature" but the norm.
Recently, social media influencer James Charles went viral for his ignorant video about tactile pavement in the U.S. The YouTuber apparently didn't know that the yellow truncated domes help visually impaired people to detect key points in public areas. Charles was shamed by other netizens so much that he took his video down later.
#7 Manhole Cover In Wiesbaden, Germany
Image credits: megaleks
#8 In France, We Don't Have The Tooth Fairy, But The "Little Mouse". At The Dental Practice I Went To, There Is A Door For The Mouse In The Waiting Room
Image credits: Akdetry
#9 My Local Store Puts Out "Warning, Product Got Smaller!" Labels
Image credits: gamerleo_1
The Roman house under the Trevi fountain in Italy was excavated in the late 1990s. Actually, there's an entire apartment complex under there! Called Vicus Caprarius, or the City of Water, it's an archaeological site that tourists can visit for around $4 only.
The pools still fill up with water thanks to the ingenious aqueduct system of Rome. Archaeologists say that it dates back to the first century and is a glimpse into the lives of upper-class Romans.
#10 Projected Markings In Oulu, Finland, When Snow Covers The Ones Painted On The Street
Image credits: Penkinvaltaaja
#11 This Antique Door From 1380 In Regensburg (Germany) Helps Finding The Keyhole After You Drank Too Much Wine
Image credits: alphapaul98
#12 A Little House For Ducks In A Small Marina In Galaxidi Greece
Image credits: 736384826
The 'Influencer-free zones' in Belfast are not the only ones in the world. In 2019, there was an unofficial campaign in the NYC subway system where you could see the stickers titles "Influencer free zone" on the ticket machines.
The campaign was the work of artist Joseph Grazi and he titled it "Culture Cures." "With the rise of 'the influencer' individual comparison is at an all time high, and thus morale at an all time low. Comparison is the chief destroyer of joy, and todays culture seems to show just that."
"And while we've always sought validation, it was usually for our achievements. Now the achievement IS the validation. Celebrity. Beauty. The coveted blue verified check that has become the cross of social media's religion. Just as worshiped. And the closer one is, the more special and validated they feel." Grazi's mission was to turn the attention back from the 'influencer' to the 'follower.'
#13 A Seat To Put Your Baby While You Use Stall In Japan Public Bathroom
Image credits: reddit.com
#14 Everyone Knows Rocking Horses, But In Finland We Have Rocking Mooses
Image credits: Bob_The_Sponge
#15 My Hotel In Switzerland Has Different Plug Sockets For Guests From Different Parts Of The World
Image credits: bide1
Don't we all wish someone told us how to be adults once we've turned 18? Although the phrase is cliche, adulting really is hard. The book contains chapters on how to manage your finances (how to pay bills, take out loans, etc.), recipes for healthy meals, how to choose the right education and career path, and how to get a job or start a business.
There are also tutorials on how to wash your clothes, how to pass a driver's test and buy a car, how and when to move out of your house, and many more life lessons.
#16 When You Land In Georgia (The Country) The Passport Police Give You A Bottle Of Wine
Image credits: atomicpete
#17 In Bilbao, Spain, There Are Escalators On The Sidewalks To Help Older People Up Steep Hills
Image credits: No-Step-5015
#18 Knee-Activated Water Taps At A Supermarket, Italy
Image credits: 4t0m77
The pic of the manhole cover in Wiesbaden, Germany, might look cool at first glance. But when you look at it closer, you notice that there are stairs leading underground. Unfortunately, it's not a Batcave; that's an entrance point to the city's waste water system. Here's a cool picture of what it looks like underneath!
#19 This Road In Qld Australia Has Trivia Signs To Help Keep You Awake
Image credits: kmo11
#20 I Am Not Plastic - Cassava Starch Bags That Returns To Mother Nature Within Months From Bali, Indonesia
Image credits: Jillandjake
#21 In Japan, Baggage Scales Are Flat On The Ground, So You Don't Have To Lift Your Heavy Suitcases
Image credits: ibrahim_a
You don't have to be a germaphobe to be grossed out about sinks in public bathrooms. So, these knee-activated water taps at a supermarket in Italy look pretty neat. Sinks are the second dirtiest place in a public bathroom after the floor in front of the toilet. Yet, surprisingly, the toilet seat itself is the least gross area!
#22 The Cost Of Giving Birth To A Child In Finland
The € is almost the same over a $. My wife and I spent three nights at the hospital, were served food four times a day, all three days, and while in labor she got every drug available. Epidural etc. The total cost of the whole process was under $300.
Image credits: zachnifique
#23 These Street Lamps I Saw In Iceland Are Shaped Like People Doing Kung Fu
Image credits: NikeFreakShow
#24 McDonald's In Finland Serves Burgers On Rye Bread, Hot Wings, Sweet Potato Fries And Banana Milkshakes
Image credits: groenroos
Which one of these little features did you find the most impressive, Pandas? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. And if you have a neat similar thing you saw during a vacation abroad, don't hesitate and share it with us too. While you're here, check out our previous lists of cool city features here and here!
Be careful though – some of them might make you seriously consider moving there!
#25 In Sweden, If You Work For The State For 30 Years You Receive A Gold Medal
Image credits: Etroutha
#26 This Cafe In A Giant Tree On Top Of A Mountain In Chiang Mai, Thailand
Image credits: tiburon12
#27 Wine Vending Machine On German Hiking Route (Ahr)
Image credits: drlyle
#28 This Robot Uses Cameras And Machine Learning To Identify And Sucking Up Cigarette Butts. It Has Been Built To Clean Italian Beaches
Image credits: giuliomagnifico
#29 Oslo, Norway Has Mobile Charging Stations That Are Powered By Solar Panels
Image credits: spynman
#30 Tokyo Train Station Has A Face-To-Face “Live” Translation Window With 12 Languages
Image credits: BeardedGlass
#31 This Gas Station In Finland Has A Tiny Library
Image credits: Tuomas246
#32 Self Cleaning Roads In South Korea
Image credits: engrandarch
#33 Sidewalks In Helsinki Are Heated From Under
Image credits: reddit.com
#34 Hotel I Stayed At In Greece Had Wooden Bikes For Guests To Use
Image credits: colaboy1998
#35 A Half Pipe Table Tennis Table In Munich, Germany
Image credits: Abraxyn
#36 Just A Few Thousand Bikes At The Rotterdam, Netherlands Train Station
Image credits: Emax231
#37 Crossing In Spain Tells You Which Way Vehicles Are Coming From
Image credits: JoshTendoooo
#38 A Machine To Test If Your Avocado Is Ready To Eat
Image credits: dannybluey
#39 Machine Themed Restaurant, You Call The Waiter By Turning On A Light. Cambridge, UK
Image credits: reddit.com
#40 Keyhole On A Side Door Of The Bourdeux Cathedral, France
Image credits: Rich-Infamous
#41 My Irish Pub In Germany Has A Designated Sink For Vomiting
Image credits: MrFlow
#42 Krzywy Domek (“Crooked House”) Is An Actual Building In Sopot, Poland
Image credits: dread3ddie
#43 In South Korea, China, And Germany, They Have Specific Painted Parking Spots For Women
Image credits: angrysandwich_
#44 A Finnish Prison Cell
Image credits: liukasteneste28
#45 Vending Machine That Super Cool The Drinks In Seconds
Image credits: just-new-4416
#46 Chefchaouen, Morocco. Almost Everything In This City Is Painted Blue!
Image credits: Mopperen
#47 Tokyo’s Subway Tunnel Clean Floodwater So Clear, It Looks Like A Pool
Image credits: BeardedGlass
#48 A House Covered In Sea Shells In Saint Cougat, Spain
Image credits: Quantum353
#49 There Is A 23 Storey Building In Duisburg, Germany With Absolutely No Windows (German National Archives)
Image credits: ManicSheep
#50 This Is A Self-Heating Bento Sold On The Train Of Japan!
Image credits: The_oOFFICAL
