30 Real-Life Places That Seem Too Surreal To Exist

AI image generators were first introduced a couple of years ago, enabling people to create pictures of incredible things and places that don't exist in real life. However, I've never needed AI tools to capture such images. How is that possible, you may wonder? I spend long hours searching for these bizarre locations, and then I take a train and travel to document them on my website, Off the Beaten Track, a project dedicated to exploring unusual places. These include various decorated gardens, sites classified as art environments, and other strange, eye-catching sights.

So far, I have visited almost 200 unusual places, but it’s not over yet, as my bucket list is still growing. Many of these locations are so bizarre that, if you didn’t know they existed, you might think they were generated by AI. Below are 80 of the most incredible places. For more, feel free to visit my website.

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30 PHOTOS

#1 Extraordinary Grave Of Little Boy, Czech Republic

It’s unbelievable how the saddest things can be turned into something beautiful. Moreover, the mix of beauty and sorrow creates such an amazing combination that they can be easily called a masterpiece. A perfect example is a cute stone sculpture of a house that made me stop for a while and take a few shots. Seeing it, you are barely able to think about anything sad, and only the nicest thing would come to your mind if not for the fact that it’s situated in a graveyard.

As the name of my project suggests, I wanted to step "off the beaten track." Many people travel and visit only the main tourist attractions, but I needed something different—places that nobody else was visiting. It was challenging at first because I didn’t have a clear definition of what an "unusual place" meant to me. However, little by little, I found what I could call my kind of place, and I’ve now visited so many extraordinary locations that I can even categorize them.

#2 Fairytale Bus Stop, Czech Republic

Sometimes, the bus arrives directly at the primary destination of the trip. In Němčovice, a charming town in the Czech Republic, there exists a bus stop so extraordinary that it undeniably merits a visit in and of itself. This particular bus stop transports you into the enchanting world of the Czechoslovakian children’s television series “Pohádky z mechu a kapradí” (English: “The Tales of Moss and Fern”), featuring its beloved main characters, Křemílek and Vochomůrka, two forest-dwelling individuals.

#3 Cute Watermill, Serbia

There’s a charming painted watermill located in Temska, Serbia, surrounded by the forest of Stara Planina National Park. Despite showing signs of slight decay, the vibrant flower paintings on its walls are just as vivid as the picturesque surroundings. I couldn’t resist taking some photos to capture the beauty of this peaceful spot.

I use various methods to search for bizarre and unique places. I review many resources dedicated to art environments—both exteriors and interiors filled with diverse decorations, sculptures, and any form of art, usually created by self-taught artists.

Quite often, unusual places are marked on Google Maps. I also occasionally come across articles in online media about local eccentrics who have turned their homes into something bizarre. Sometimes, I simply imagine the kind of place I want to find and search for it by entering specific keywords in Google. I once found an unusual location this way—a garden decorated in the style of Alice in Wonderland!

Followers of my project have shared many incredible locations with me, and who knows secret, unique places better than the locals? I’ve also discovered a surprising number of new places while researching other locations. And finally, I found some fascinating sites by accident while traveling to ones I had already planned to visit.

#4 Green Monster, Poland

#5 Cozy Bus Stop, Czech Republic

You’d never complain about a bus being delayed if you waited for it at the bus stop in Slatiňany, a small town in the Czech Republic. Why? Because waiting there feels as cozy as being at home. Tables, chairs, books, cups, and a colorful interior – this bus stop has everything to ensure waiting is as pleasant as possible.

I’ve visited many bizarre places, but the most memorable so far is still one of the first unusual locations I visited—the house of hanging dolls in the Czech Republic. Imagine a cabin on the outskirts of a village, surrounded by thousands of creepy dolls hanging in the garden, on the walls of the building, and even inside. And an old man living there, surrounded by these dolls. After leaving the place, there was only one question in my mind: "Why?"

#6 Unusual Hotel, Slovakia

#7 House Of Pots, Lithuania

If you had to imagine a place with plenty of dishes, what would it be? A huge cupboard in the kitchen? Endless shelves in the shop of dishes? And what about the roof and walls of the old wooden cabin? The house of Pots in Žagarė (Lithuania) makes everyone stop by, and even more—the building is so unusual that it attracts tourists there because of its extraordinary appearance.

With almost 200 places visited, the next step for Off the Beaten Track is to search for even more unusual locations. I also want to develop more efficient research methods that will lead me to incredible sites that barely anyone knows about. The more unusual places I visit, the more similar they start to feel, so I hope to find locations that are truly different from everything I’ve seen before. I achieved that this year by discovering the amazing moving watermills in the Czech Republic, and I hope there are even more hidden gems out there waiting to be found.

#8 Eiffel Tower In The Middle Of Nowhere, Romania

With almost 200 places visited, the next step for Off the Beaten Track is to search for even more unusual locations. I also want to develop more efficient research methods that will lead me to incredible sites that barely anyone knows about. The more unusual places I visit, the more similar they start to feel, so I hope to find locations that are truly different from everything I’ve seen before. I achieved that this year by discovering the amazing moving watermills in the Czech Republic, and I hope there are even more hidden gems out there waiting to be found.

#8 Eiffel Tower In The Middle Of Nowhere, Romania

#9 House On The Pillar, Czech Republic

#10 Colorful House, Lithuania

#11 Fighter Aircraft In The Yard, Poland

If you’re uncertain about what to place in your backyard, consider an unconventional choice: a fighter plane! In a small village somewhere in Poland, an inhabitant has come up with an extraordinary idea—to position a military aircraft in his yard, to be more specific, a Mig 21-PF. The presence of such a plane in this location is so unusual that it will undoubtedly catch your attention.

#12 Giant Strawberry, Poland

There is a spectacular sight somewhere in Poland—a huge, decaying strawberry left in the fields. Its once vibrant red body has changed so much that it looks rotten, and the previously vivid green leaves now seem dry. Seeing this gives the impression that Decay wanted something sweet and decided that a huge fruit was the best choice.

#13 Tram Full Of Mannequins, Czech Republic

A tram full of weird passengers that seem to be frozen in time. Creepy gazes create an impression as if their heads were full of thoughts and not necessarily peaceful ones which turns the mannequins inside into horrific creatures.

#14 Extraordinary House, Czech Republic

#15 Piano Under The Bridge, Lithuania

Do you like open-air concerts? If so, what about attending one where you wouldn’t even feel the ground under your feet? There was a performance in Vilnius, Lithuania, that brought a concert to a completely different level – it wasn’t just an open-air concert, but literally ‘an air concert’.

#16 Tram On The Rooftop, Czech Republic

The next stop: the rooftop! An old tram in Jihlava (Czech Republic) has found itself in a truly unusual place. The idea to place the vehicle on the rooftop of the garage came from a local association dedicated to preserving historic trolleybuses and buses. By acquiring the T3 SUCS tram, the association aimed to pay tribute to one of the most successful T3 trams. The unconventional location was selected to provide better visibility for people to appreciate the tram. Undoubtedly, it proved to be the best choice.

#17 Colorful House, Lithuania

#18 Car Registration Plate House, Lithuania

#19 Soldiers In The Water, The Netherlands

#20 Keys Tree, Lithuania

#21 Decorated House, Czech Republic

Located in the picturesque landscape of the Czech Republic lies a cabin surrounded by extraordinary and whimsical sculptures. Setting itself apart from other comparable locations, this particular haven boasts an added layer of charm with accompanying sound effects. How is it possible, you may wonder, within an uninhabited cabin? Come closer to experience the extraordinary atmosphere of this site.

#22 Skull Totem, Poland

Deep in the woods of Poland lies a mysterious and eerie sight – a tree adorned with animal bones. The atmosphere of this secluded location is undeniably spooky; one can almost feel death lingering in the air, especially when confronted by numerous skulls adorning the tree trunk.

#23 Plenty Of Decaying Sculptures, Hungary

When you stroll down one of the streets in the center of Budapest, Hungary, you might stumble upon a peculiar sight behind a fence. There’s a large group gathered in the backyard, with its members engaged in lively conversation and expressive gestures. At first glance, you might think it’s just a regular gathering, but upon closer inspection, it’s truly unusual – these aren’t people but sculptures, there are too many of them in one place to be mere decoration, and they are completely naked.

#24 Doll Garden, Latvia

#25 Decorated Garden, The Netherlands

#26 Cozy Minilibrary, Czech Republic

Would you like a cozy little place to read books for hours? The inhabitants of a small village in the Pelhřimov district of the Czech Republic are lucky to have just such a place. The Neighborhood Library, or ‘Sousedská knihovna’ in Czech, is a spot where everyone can borrow and exchange books and, most amazingly, stay there to read them.

#27 Cute Moving Watermills, Czech Repulic

Discover an amazing location hidden in the Havlíčkův Brod District in the Czech Republic: two miniature watermills inhabited by various fairytale creatures. I made several visits to properly document this enchanting site; equipped with gumboots to traverse the water surrounding the buildings, I took not only photos but also videos, immortalizing the charming movements of the figurines that bring this place to life. Though it was the most time-consuming location I’ve explored this year, every moment spent there was undeniably worth it.

#28 Sculpture Garden, Poland

It proved to be one of the most enchanting stops on our late autumn journey through Poland. It’s not every day that you come across a captivating garden adorned with a stunning array of animal sculptures, featuring elegant deer, graceful swans, and an assortment of other mesmerizing creations. Crafted with meticulous detail by a resident of the nearby house, these artworks beckon you to pause and delve into their intricate beauty.

#29 Self-Service Pub, Czech Republic

What would you like to find the most during a long hiking trip? How about a pub in the middle of the forest? You might think it’s impossible because nobody would work that far from civilization. But no problem—this can be a self-service pub like ‘The Forest Pub’ (Lesní bar in Czech) near the village of Lipová-lázně in the Czech Republic.

#30 Bra Tree, Czech Republic

What might one find growing on a tree? Apples? Pears? How about bras? Such an unconventional and eye-catching sight can be found in Malá Úpa, a municipality in the Czech Republic.