25 Interesting Travel Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

Whether quirky, fun or unbelievable, here are 25 of my favorite travel facts you probably didn’t know. From a city syndrome to a country that lives in another time, let’s discover these facts and expand our knowledge of the world together!

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1. Ethiopia’s different timeline

Who wouldn’t want to travel back in time to explore and see what life was like before we were born and maybe even meet some dinosaurs, as long as it doesn’t go wrong like in Jurassic Park? Well, it’s possible, sort of, in Ethiopia where you’re not really in 2025 but in 2017.

You’d say it’s imposible but it is, however, the truth, because the Ethiopian calendar, similar to the Coptic calendar (ancient Egyptian calendar) actually starts the year on September 11 (or 12 for leap years) and has 13 months (with 5 or 6 days for leap years).

I mean, I wouldn’t mind being 8 years younger, would you?

2. No scolding from your boss because of a train delay in Japan

How many times have I been late (even leaving an hour before my shift started) because of lousy public transport? Too many times to be honest, which forced me to explain, while trying not to get scolded by my boss, just how untrustworthy buses or trains in some countries can sometimes be.

Well, you should know that in Japan, if a train is delayed by 5 minutes or more, you’ll receive a little certificate as proof of your tardiness to your boss. How awesome is that?

But then again, considering the efficiency of public transport in Japan, I can guarantee that this rarely happens.

3. The smart airline tactic

Have you ever wondered what would happen if the pilot and copilot both fell ill at the same time while carrying passengers? It could certainly be dangerous in terms of safety. And that’s why, to remedy this kind of issue and prevent both parties to get food poisoning, airlines often have a policy requiring that the pilot and copilot don’t eat the same meal on board.

I say often because not all airlines require it anymore but I can personally understand it and I think everyone else will too, especially if you’ve ever suffered from food poisoning.

4. Free wine for everyone

Are there any wine lovers reading this post? This travel fact is for you then!

In the beautiful region of Abuzzo in Italy, more precisely in the small town of Caldari di Ortona, you’ll see something pretty unique: a fountain where free wine flows every day to the delight of visitors.

A red treasure within everyone’s reach, and yet another reason to visit Italy, of course!

5. The country with the most time zones

I still remember, when I was traveling in Australia, the confusion of having to change the time on my watch (sometimes only 30 minutes) when I was still in the same country.

But what I didn’t know, until a few weeks ago, was that the country with the most time zones isn’t actually the one you think of, (I thought it was Russia, mainly due to its large territory) when it’s, in fact, France.

Yes, with 12 time zones, French territories included, France holds the record for the country with the most time zones.

I guess we learn something new every day!

6. China’s simplicity and efficiency

Okay, let’s stay on this topic for a bit longer and learn another travel fact that I wish all countries would implement: China, unlike many other countries, has only one time zone.

How simple and efficient! No adjustments, no frustration, just one single time for all the country!

Can we all agree to suppress daylight saving time too, please, so as not to disrupt our circadian rythm or have to change the clocks every time?

7. A sleep worth its weight in gold

That’s what you can expect if you book the Royal Mansion inside Atlantis The Royal hotel in Dubai, where the aforementioned penthouse will set you back a mere $100,000 a night.

At this price, you can obviouldy expect luxury treatment and all the amenities you’d wish for.

Of course, you can’t use your Genius discount here, sorry!

8. A major tourist change

We’ve all heard about that new form of tourism, provided you can afford it: space tourism.

But did you know that the first space hotel is due to open in 2027? Next to that, I guess the rooms at the Atlantic Royal Hotel will definitely look cheap.

I’m not even sure I want to know how much a room there will cost, it’s not like I’ll ever get the chance to go there anyway!!

9. The real reason airplane food tastes so bad?

Let me ask you, how many times have you actually looked forward to the food served on board? If you say you couldn’t wait for it, I won’t believe you anyway! No, but jokes aside, besides two or three airlines I’ve traveled with, I can honestly say that I always eat before a long haul flight to avoid starving in flight.

But maybe the real reason for this lack of taste or plainly distasteful food is that we lose a third of our taste buds to sweet and salty foods when we’re at altitude. Or maybe it’s just an excuse for simply bad food.

Either way, take my advice and grab something to eat before your flight or bring your own food/snacks!

10. Instagram’s impact on travel

Instagram is a nice place to share your memories, tips and experiences, I won’t deny it because it’s also how I can share my adventures and reassure my family and friends when I’m on the other side of the world.

But here’s the thing, it also has a negative impact (at least in my opinion) as another trend has emerged with it: people traveling to a place just for its Instagrammable spots, forgetting about the real experience of the culture, the people and everything else that makes travel unique in the first place.

Just going to a place to take beautiful pictures is a shame, and can also have side effects on the environment as well as on how the locals will perceive future travelers.

A trend that I, for one, don’t understand!

11. Australia and its many beaches

Over 10,000 to be exact, which is a lot when you compare it to the size of its territory!

It certainly makes it an ideal place for beach lovers. Plus, it would take you quite some time, years, to see them all! And if you’re not really into swimming, sunbathing or just feeling the sand between your toes, don’t worry, because Australia has plenty to offer: such as the Daintree Rainforest, numerous national parks and beautiful cities.

Click here to discover 10 more facts about the country!

12. The most visited museum in the world

It may come as no surprise to some, but The Louvre is, in fact, the most visited museum in the world, with around 9 million visitors a year!

Don’t forget to book your tickets in advance if you intend to visit during peak hours!

Pro tip: the museum is free after 6pm on the first Friday of every month (booking required)!

13. The number of flights per day is equal to the definition of a city

Which, for those of you who aren’t in the know, amount to 100,000 (all type of flights included). And although that doesn’t sound like much, as a number isn’t always easy to imagine, this interesting travel fact may look a little clearer if you calculate the number of flights per hour: 4,166 or 69 per minute.

Enough with the mathematics before my head starts spinning and hurting. All I’m saying is that it’s actually quite a lot, especially when you think about the responsibility and attention it takes to keep everyone safe with so many planes flying at the same time.

14. The biggest cruise ship in the world

I’ve never been on a cruise, at least not yet, but when I saw the Icon of the Seas, aka the biggest cruise ship in the world, I can say it definitely build up my interest.

Launched in January 2024 and accommodating 5,610 guests, I wouldn’t mind leaving the mainland, even for a long time, especially considering the range of activities available. Mini golf, sports court, pools, waterpark…. I mean, a waterpark on a boat?? Where do I sign up?

15. $185 for a tourist visa?

That’s what you’ll have to pay if you want to visit the USA and your country isn’t part of the waiver program, making it the most expensive tourist visa in the world.

Personally, if I had to pay that much, I’d make sure I stayed for the whole duration of the visa, so I could make the most of my stay!

16. The fastest train isn’t the Shinkansen

I used to think that the Shinkansen, with its sleek elegance, was the fastest train in the world, mainly because it’s often referred to as the “bullet train”, but I was wrong, as it only comes in 5th place (ex aequo with the French TGV).

So which one comes out on top? The Shanghai Maglev train, with a maximum operating speed of 460km/h.

17. The country of 60 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

I’m pretty sure the photo gave the game away, but if not, here’s another travel fact for you: the country with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites, bordered by the Mediterranean sea and steeped in Roman history, is Italy of course!

With 60 locations, Italy ranks first ahead of China (59) and Germany (54).

18. Unusual place names

I’ve previously mentioned the longest place name in the world, found in New Zealand, but did you know that there are also unusual place names with only one letter? And you can actually find more than one of them all over the world.

There’s Å in Norway, Y in France, Ö in Sweden…

And speaking of unusual, here are three of the funniest city names: Batman in Turkey, Dull in Scotland and Boring in the USA. I only hope these unfortunate names don’t reflect the reality of life in these parts of the world.

19. Disappointment has a capital city name

We’re all familiar with the annoying jet lag phenomenon, but what about the Paris syndrome? Yes? No?

The term used to describe the disappointment felt by some travelers after being struck by the reality of Paris, of which they had high expectations or an idyllic image, ends up creating a gap between with what they actually experience once they’ve visited.

First highlighted in the 80s, the syndrom is often experienced by Asian tourists, particularly the Japanese, who have always had a romanticized vision of the “City of Light”, thus feeling sad and extremely disappointed when the city doesn’t live up to their hopes and dreams.

For your information, I’m the first to warn my foreign friends of the reality of Paris, because I’ve often found that they have a distorted and overly beautiful vision of the capital.

20. The air routes with the most passengers

With 6.8 million seats a year, the busiest international air route is the one between Hong-Kong and Taipei. The ranking, in fact, mostly held by Asian countries (7 out of 10) shows that factors like leisure travel are booming in this part of the world, but not only, as the destinations are also renowned for their important business hubs.

As for the busiest domestic flight route, the one between Jeju to Seoul in South Korea (14 million seats) tops the ranking, ahead of Sapporo to Tokyo (11 million seats).

21. A restaurant opened since 1725

This Spanish restaurant called Restaurante Botín is de facto the oldest restaurant in the world still standing and most importantly serving customers delicious food every day.

The business firstly opened by Jean Botín, a French cook, and after surviving difficult times such as the Civil War is now about to celebrate is 300th anniversary. So if you’re planning a visit to Madrid, why not book a table and try their famous suckling pig?

22. A country of 673 citizens

With less than 1,000 people, Vatican City holds the title of the smallest country in the world. But what’s, in fact, even more fascinating is that out of its 673 citizens, less than 500 actually live inside the walls, 120 of them members of the Papal Swiss Guard.

This must be the quietest, most peaceful and most singular country in the world.

23. The Hexagon is the most visited country

The Hexagon, the Land of Baguettes… or more commonly known as France is, with 100 million visitors a year, the most visited country in the world.

Its food scene, its history, its diverse landscapes… have made France the most popular destination for 30 years now, but some say the country could soon be dethroned, as Spain is hot on its heels, so who knows which country will be the most visited next year!

24. Jet lag and the east don’t mix too well

This is what I’ve heard many travelers say, but what also seems to be a common topic on the Internet: traveling east would worsen jet lag because you’re actually losing time, which would apparently disrupt our circadian rhythm even more.

I’m not sure about that, but what I’m sure of is that nobody likes suffering from jet lag.

Want to bid goodbye to jet lag? Check out my tips for avoiding it or getting rid of it!

25. The only living organism visible from space

You’ve probably heard that The Great Wall of China can be seen from space and while this may seem believable, given that the fortification stretches for 21,196 kilometers, it’s not true.

The only living organism actually visible from space is the beautiful and amazing Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Having been lucky enough to see its mesmerizing beauty in real life a few years ago, I can only imagine how magnificent it must be from outer space.

That’s a wrap on the most interesting travel facts you probably didn’t know. I hope this list has helped you learn a little more about the surprising world around us, and inspired you to discover its many other curiosities.

Traveling to Europe soon? Here are my 15 tips you need to know!