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50 Times Travelers Were Shocked, Amused, Or Amazed In Other Countries (New Pics)
TravelFEB 27, 2025

50 Times Travelers Were Shocked, Amused, Or Amazed In Other Countries (New Pics)

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Traveling isn't just about taking a break from work and spending your money on comfortable accommodations; although nice and often necessary for our burnt-out bodies and minds, these luxuries are only part of the essence, which lies in exploring new places, meeting interesting people, and opening up to unfamiliar experiences.
To show you how much these things can broaden our understanding of the world, we at Bored Panda collected a bunch of unforgettable moments tourists shared online from their international journeys. From innovative uses of communal spaces to unorthodox transportation solutions, sometimes you don't even know what's possible until you see it.
Continue scrolling to check out the pictures and don't miss the chat we had with travel blogger and writer from Norway, Lisa Stentvedt.

#1 The German Circus Uses Huge 3D Holograms Instead Of Live Animals

The German Circus Uses Huge 3D Holograms Instead Of Live Animals
216points

#2 Splurged On A Hotel In Patagonia

Splurged On A Hotel In Patagonia
195points

Whenever we embark on a new trip, we can get so excited that we forget about the people around us. But as we check destinations off our bucket list, it's important to remain mindful of others—especially on planes, where passengers can quickly get on one another's nerves.

But "generally, as long as people act normally and leave each other alone, they don’t affect the flight experience much at all," Lisa Stentvedt, the woman behind Fjords & Beaches, a travel blog dedicated to everyone who refuses to stop exploring, told Bored Panda.

"All it takes is a smile and polite conversation to improve it, or a pair of bare feet on your armrest to detract from it."

#3 There Is A Mini Rijksmuseum In The Amsterdam Airport To View Paintings While You Wait For Your Flight

There Is A Mini Rijksmuseum In The Amsterdam Airport To View Paintings While You Wait For Your Flight
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192points

#4 My City Has Lines That You Can Follow That Direct You To Certain Places For Tourists

My City Has Lines That You Can Follow That Direct You To Certain Places For Tourists
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187points

#5 A Cheese Vending Machine In A Mountain Village In Switzerland

A Cheese Vending Machine In A Mountain Village In Switzerland
177points

Out of all the annoying things, "What I experience the most is people who forget that the seat in front of them actually has another passenger in it," Lisa said.

"Too many people use the seat in front of them to pull themselves out of their own seat (instead of the armrest), aggressively tap their video screen to change their movie, or even lean on the seat when getting into their own. All of these actions disturb the person sitting in that seat and can be really annoying."

#6 The Way This Window Turned To Look Like A Painting. Florence, Italy

The Way This Window Turned To Look Like A Painting. Florence, Italy
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177points

#7 This Toilet At A Dutch Supermarket Lets You Test The Brands Of Toilet Paper They Sell

This Toilet At A Dutch Supermarket Lets You Test The Brands Of Toilet Paper They Sell
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169points

#8 My Bubble Hotel Room In Petra, Jordan. At Night, You Could See All The Stars In The Sky

My Bubble Hotel Room In Petra, Jordan. At Night, You Could See All The Stars In The Sky
165points

#9 I Rode On A Boat, On A Lake, In A Cave

I Rode On A Boat, On A Lake, In A Cave
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163points

And as tricky as flights can be, Lisa of Fjords & Beaches tries to avoid open conflict whenever possible. "I would personally never bother the crew for anything that isn't an actual violation of safety or airline protocols," she said. "If someone smells bad, for example, that's not something the stewards can do anything about. Nor is it against airline policy, as far as I am aware." So, be empathetic, stick to your boundaries, and when you land, you will (hopefully) be in a good enough mood to make the best of your journey.

#10 Lisbon Consists Of 7 Hills. In Order To Make It Easier For Residents And Tourists To Move Between The Different Neighbourhoods, This Open-Air Escalator Was Installed

Lisbon Consists Of 7 Hills. In Order To Make It Easier For Residents And Tourists To Move Between The Different Neighbourhoods, This Open-Air Escalator Was Installed
161points

#11 Icelandic Park Benches With Footrests

Icelandic Park Benches With Footrests
157points

#12 This Supermarket In An Old Theatre In Venice, Italy

This Supermarket In An Old Theatre In Venice, Italy
148points

#13 Barrier-Free Access To The Sea For Wheelchair Users In Zadar, Croatia

Barrier-Free Access To The Sea For Wheelchair Users In Zadar, Croatia
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147points

The Pew Research Center examined the travel habits of people from 24 countries. The data showed that the share of those who have traveled abroad ranges from a low of 3% in India to more than 99% in Sweden and the Netherlands.

Overall, a median of 79% across the 24 countries surveyed say they have been to at least one other country, while a median of 21% have not traveled outside their homeland.

#14 Stumbled Across This Cemetery In Kyoto During A Festival Tonight. All The Lanterns Were Candle Lit And It Was Stunning

Stumbled Across This Cemetery In Kyoto During A Festival Tonight. All The Lanterns Were Candle Lit And It Was Stunning
Without wandering, without a plan and getting lost you miss out on opportunities like this.
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145points

#15 My Hotel Room Is Under Water

My Hotel Room Is Under Water
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143points

#16 My Hotel Phone In Iceland Has A Special Button That Will Wake You Up If There Are Northern Lights In The Sky

My Hotel Phone In Iceland Has A Special Button That Will Wake You Up If There Are Northern Lights In The Sky
142points

#17 This Slide At The Berlin Mall

This Slide At The Berlin Mall
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137points

There are large differences by region, with Europeans being the most likely to have traveled to a country other than their own: about two-thirds or more in every nation on the Old Continent surveyed have traveled abroad. By contrast, roughly a third or fewer people from India, Indonesia, and the Latin American and African nations surveyed have done the same.

#18 Snack Serving Robot In China Upset With Me Because I Didn't Take Any Snacks

Snack Serving Robot In China Upset With Me Because I Didn't Take Any Snacks
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133points

#19 These Beautiful Movie Tickets In South Korea

These Beautiful Movie Tickets In South Korea
130points

#20 City Of Szczecin In Poland Offers Tourist Map With Dotted Line Marking The Attractions. The Same Dotted Line Is Also Painted On The Streets

City Of Szczecin In Poland Offers Tourist Map With Dotted Line Marking The Attractions. The Same Dotted Line Is Also Painted On The Streets
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130points

While the physical size of the country or the region someone is from may play some role in people's travels, it is not the only explanation. Economic factors are also important.

Higher-income countries have much higher rates of international visits. For example, Sweden and the Netherlands are among the richest nations surveyed, and in both places, nearly all respondents said they had traveled to another country.

The country that departs from this pattern is the US. While it's at the top of the countries surveyed in terms of gross domestic product per capita, about half of the nations had higher rates of international travel.

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