What's the most fascinating place you've ever been?

[ImaLumberJack]

Just read through the disappointing famous places thread, and it got me thinking of the morning at interesting places. For me, it's either Siem Reap (especially Angkor Wat, but all kinds of other things too) or Rome (which made it onto the disappointing thread a few times ). How about you?

Berlin. Every street is a piece of history and I don't think I will ever tire of it.

The Vasa Museum in Stockholm. It’s a virtually complete 17th century warship and is amazing, worth the trip to Stockholm in its own.

In terms of cities, I go back to Rome over and over again as i find it endlessly fascinating, as is St Petersburg. And a trip down the Nile blew me away.

Sadly, I also went to Damascus, Nineveh and Palmyra in the mid 00s. They were beautiful jewels of places but seem to be largely destroyed now. It’s heartbreaking as they were all incredible in different ways.

A private evening concert in the library at Ephasus in Turkey
The Ice Hotel Sweden, just amazing to see the art and how it is built
Venice esp Doges palace out of season
The Tranquility of the bay of Kotor in Montenegro

Rome. I haven't been to a lot of places, but Rome was fascinating and we must have gone at a not too popular time because I don't remember it being ridiculously crowded.
After reading this thread, I have now added plenty of places to my already quite long list of places I would like to visit one day when DC are older and we have money.

Venice and Florence. Bologna has lots of history but it's smaller and quieter.

Gettysburg

I second the Vasa in Stockholm, absolutely stunningly displayed. Also the space shuttle in the Kennedy Space Center, which is strangely similar in feel.

The wild west coast of Tasmania is stunningly beautiful and truly fascinating with a rich history of early convict settlements, mining, forestry and nature. Taking a trip up the Franklin river was like going back in time. I totally loved north-west Tasmania and hope one day I can go back again.

Back at the opposite side of the world, I am very lucky to live in the heart of London's East End. It may be hipster central these days (great coffee, great food, great bars and shopping....I'm not complaining) but the history of the area is fascinating and so very rich. Jack the Ripper killed his first victim on my street, my local pub is the infamous Blind Beggar and Methodism began just across the road. There are so many layers to local history and so many moving stories that even after two decades of living here, I feel like I have just scraped the surface.

Has no one mentioned Cromer yet? 😁

I'd agree with Isfahan in Iran, particularly the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque which is the most beautiful building I've ever seen.

Tokyo. So familiar to home (London) but so different. It's like another world. So busy but it all comes together so well. I want to go back for 3 months and just walk around.

southern Albania, Svalbard and the far north of Greenland.

Hong Kong off the beaten track and down the little alleys. Also the temples and markets. Love it all.

Berlin, inc east Berlin Oct 1989, very shortly before the wall came down.

Japan - so very different, loved trying to work it out.
Havana
New Orleans (I have a thing for decaying cities)
Bryce Canyon (knocks the socks off the Grand Canyon on a winter's day with a bright blue sky and a dusting of snow)

The Mayan ruins in Tulum, Mexico. Ruined Mayan city, picture perfect beach and crystal clear waters. Perfect.
Of course that was 20 odd years ago. It's probably tourist central now.

Efes in Turkey, a whole ancient city. It was incredible.
Also Syracuse in Sicily.

I like ancient places.

Ah OP, I read your title and was thinking of Angkor Wat, so I love that Siem Reap was your thought too.
Also Berlin. So much history. Would go every year if I could.

The ruins of Dodoni in Greece (Epirus region, near Parga), really interesting. I love historic sites and this one really stood out.

I also really loved a church in a Greek village, Kastania in the Mani region. It had amazing wall paintings. Meteora too, I love the frescos in the monastery/nunnery and the strange rock formations.

Landscape around Stonehenge is weird and fascinating.

A church in Devon that had a very old and interesting partial wall painting. I cant remember the name of the place.

I'm going to Tulum in a few weeks so hope it's just as nice!

Summer holiday in Iceland - I loved it and would love to go again.

Palmyra in Syria. I have visited quite a lot of roman ruins in N Africa and the Middle East so was expecting more of the same but it was wonderful - deserted, beautiful at sunset. Sadly will never get to visit it in the same way again.

I also unexpectedly loved Bucharest - something about the juxtaposition of the brutalism and art nouveau was quite brilliant.

Thackray Medical Museum in Leeds.

Ha ha tapas I live in Leeds and have been to many local museums but am too squeamish to go there .

And Yucatan in Mexico. We did a road trip tour and the pyramids and ruins are amazing - but you need to get away from Cancun and the mega complex hotels.