Underground cities are some of the most unique places to visit around the world. They have existed for centuries all over the world and served many different purposes. Some were built as places of refuge from invaders, while others, like Underground Montreal in Canada, were built as refuge from harsh weather conditions. Others were built with more functional purposes in mind, such as a means to easily access different parts of the city or for mining purposes.
Regardless of the reason why underground cities exist, they are fascinating places to visit and provide a truly one-of-a-kind way to experience a city. Many cities have some form or another of underground life available for visitors to explore, often with guided tours, showing them a side of the city most travelers often miss.
Perhaps one of the most significant underground cities in existence today, Berlin Underground (known as Berliner Unterwelten in German) is a living lesson in history. Thanks to a dedicated organization that maintains and operates tours of the tunnels, visitors to Berlin are able to explore a series of underground bunkers originally designed to provide residents a safe escape from World War II air raids and escape tunnels that helped people escape under the Berlin Wall.
Portland has a fascinating underground history dating back to the early days of the city. A maze of tunnels under the city have a sordid history that earned them the nickname “The Shanghai Tunnels.” These tunnels were once home to homes and business, but were most famously known for underground bars and gambling dens that lured men to drink themselves unconscious, only to wake up ‘shanghai’d’ into slavery on a ship that had already set sail. Portland Walking Tours offers daily excursions into the sinister tunnels beneath the city.
Underground house patio vintage, Coober Pedy, Australia. Photo: Inge Hogenbijl | Dreamstime.com
A fully functioning underground city, Coober Pedy is a mining town in the middle of South Australia. Famous for its opal mines, this desert town is a warren of underground homes and businesses dug out of necessity to escape the oppressive heat and the predatory wildlife that calls the area home. Visitors to this town can not only take tours of some of its mines and dwellings, but they can also stay in an underground hotel, such as the Lookout Cave Underground Motel so they can experience the reality of underground living.
Rumor has it Amsterdam is planning a massive underground city project that will run underneath the city’s canals. Designed for shopping and parking in an effort to boost the economy and help alleviate the city’s parking problem, this subterranean development is sure to be a welcome addition to the underground cities of the world.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
Oct 2, 2023Fall and Halloween Family Fun Await at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Mansfield, Pennsylvania
With cooler weather and fall colors on its way, it’s time to plan your fall family travels. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort PA Wilds in Mansfield is the perfect destination, and with both scary and not-so-scary events, kids and parents alike can celebrate the festive season with trick-or-treating, fall crafts, fun with the Yogi Bear characters and more.
Sponsored Content
Interior Upgrades Begin Rolling Out Across United Fleet
United Airlines is in the midst of a major initiative to modernize its fleet over the next several years. After first announcing the plan in 2021, planes fitted with United’s signature interior are finally beginning to appear across the airline’s narrowbody fleet of Boeing and Airbus planes. United flyers are sure to notice these enhancements from the moment they step on board: Each new or updated plane sports remodeled seats, seatback entertainment screens for everyone, Bluetooth connectivity and more, all adding up to a better experience on every journey.
Destinations / North America
Oct 2, 20234 U.S. Oktoberfest Events for Families to Enjoy
Oktoberfest is not all about beer. Although beer does play a major role, many of these German-themed fall festivals include activities fun for the whole family. You don’t need to travel to Munich to enjoy the oom-pah bands, lively dances, colorful Bavarian dress and traditional German foods; you can find them in almost all regions of the United States this October. Here are some good choices for families:
Destinations / Europe
Sep 29, 2023How to Find the Best Gelato (And Spot the Fake Stuff) on Your Travels Through Rome
Rome is a city full of musts for visitors. You must visit the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps. And the list goes on, all the way down to trying gelato. No trip to Rome would be complete without the obligatory sweet treat, and for good reason. Gelato is delicious, refreshing and it comes in every flavor you can imagine. But while you can find it just about everywhere you turn in the Eternal City, it’s important to know not all gelatos are created equal. The city is brimming with fakes, and once you know how to tell the difference, not only will you see the fake stuff everywhere, but you will also refuse to settle for less than authentic.
Sponsored Content
United Airlines Celebrates its First Class of United Aviate Graduates
As the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school, United Airlines already hit a major milestone, and now the carrier celebrates another important — and historic — step as the inaugural class of United Aviate Academy pilots graduates, leading the next generation of aviators. The 51 students in the graduating class were majority, at 80 percent, women and people of color — another stride toward United’s goal of training 5,000 new pilots by 2030 with half women or POC.
Destinations / North America
Sep 29, 2023Kidzania: A City Built for Kids, Run by Kids
Looking for a unique, fun and educational activity for the kids during your next family travels? Well, Kidzania has you covered. Located in Dallas, Texas, this city is not only built for kids but also run by kids. It’s unlike any other entertainment parks; in Kidzania, kids learn useful knowledge, skills and experiences, all while having the chance to be independent.
ShareThis