The World’s Coolest & Weirdest Underground Attractions

Few people are at ease traveling deep beneath. There’s something terrifying about diving into the pitch-black abyss, into the mysteries at the Earth’s core. Even at its best, being underground may seem claustrophobic, inescapable, and terrifying.

But humans have been going underground for as long as they have been humans, mining, caving, dwelling, and so on. That means there are plenty of intriguing, strange, and downright beautiful attractions buried down there. Some are man-made marvels, while others are natural occurrences. There are numerous spectacular underground occurrences all throughout the planet. Here are some of our favorites.

1. Thrihnukagigur, Iceland

Climbing up to a volcanic creator or observing it from afar isn’t always enough. Some folks must go the extra mile and venture inside a volcano. Sounds crazy, yet you can do it in Thrihnukagigur in Iceland. A elevator sends guests 700 feet down into the lava chamber of the volcano. We’ve been promised that Thrihnukagigur is’safely dormant,’ not erupting in 4,000 years, but nonetheless… It takes a particular type of thrill-seeker to actively seek out the opportunity to get up close and personal with a volcano.

2. Under, Norway

Under in Kristiansand, Norway, deserves a spot on this list despite the fact that it is not so much underground as it is underwater. Diners tuck down while chilly North Sea currents rush across the windows at this sophisticated eatery five and a half metres below the surface. Despite the stormy waters, there’s an unnerving quiet to Under… though you never know what can emerge from the depths.

3. Ajanta Caves, India

The 30 or so Ajanta caves are remarkably brightly illuminated for being dug deep into a rock face. And it’s also a nice job. All of the light makes it much easier to appreciate this magnificent collection of Buddhist temples, monasteries, and monuments from the first and second century BC. They have some of the best remaining examples of old Indian wall painting: granite that has been carved with exquisite decoration rather than painted.

4. Salina Turda, Romania

A ‘Transylvanian underground theme park’ sounds like something out of an episode of Scooby-Doo. But it exists – and it’s not at all creepy. Salina Turda, a vast salt mine deep beneath the Earth’s surface, contains attractions such as a panoramic wheel, mini-golf, bowling, table tennis, and even boating on a mine lake. What the park lacks in classic high-thrill rollercoasters, it more than makes up for in breathtaking landscape.

5. Derinkuyu, Turkey

Derinkuyu, in Turkey’s Cappadocia area, is an underground city that stretches back thousands of years. It is the region’s deepest of its sort, an intricate system of winding corridors spanning eight levels reaching a depth of 85 meters. Living underground allowed the people of Derinkuyu to avoid harsh temperatures and oppose invaders more easily. Though no longer occupied, the site has the ruins of schools, stores, and churches. It’s an enthralling example of the human desire to survive.

6. Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, Colombia

The fact that engineers, miners, and sculptors were able to carve out a cathedral beneath 200 meters of salt, rock, and minerals is an incredible achievement in and of itself. But what’s even more astonishing is the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá in Colombia. Just have a look at it. The light filters beautifully through it, bathing the chambers and tunnels with a neon-like haze of blues and purples. On a Sunday, you’ll notice another oddity: it’s still a fully operational Roman Catholic church.