The world's weirdest tourist attractions

Dominated by an 18th century fort and one-time prison built on the site of a medieval monastery, Spike Island in Cork, Ireland is hardly lacking in history. But it may still come as a surprise to learn that it beat out the likes of the Eiffel Tower and the Acropolis to be named Europe’s best tourist attraction at the World Travel Awards 2017, the “Oscars” of the travel industry.

Since opening to the public in 2015, €5.5m of government funding has been spent on turning the site into an international tourist attraction - and the effort has paid off. As well as the recent award, Spike Island now attracts 45,000 visitors a year, says the Evening Echo.

But Spike Island is far from the strangest site to become a mecca for tourists. Here are five of the world’s weirdest tourist attractions:

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Bubblegum Alley

First used as a repository for gum by rogue high schoolers in the 1950s, “Bubblegum Alley” has evolved “from a lingering prank into a full-fledged civic landmark and guidebook highlight,” of the California town of San Luis Obispo, says the Los Angeles Times.

Not all residents enjoy squeezing down a 70ft alleyway lined with mashed-up chewing gum, but so far city officials have let it remain untouched - possibly because an attempt to chisel off a similar “attraction” in Seattle simply resulted in visitors giving the wall a fresh coat of gum.

Tashirojima, “Cat Island”, Japan

Felines outnumber humans on this tiny island, one of a dozen or so “cat islands” around the coast of Japan.

Until recently, few people outside Japan paid attention to the island, home to 100 mostly elderly residents.

In the 21st century, however, the existence of a “Cat Island” has predictably made waves on the cat-crazy internet. “The tourist trickle reached flood levels after a series of videos on the island hit YouTube starting in 2014,” says Quartz.

Feline lovers already planning their next holiday should bear in mind that the kitties - whose ancestors were brought to the island by fishermen to protect their lines from silkworms - are feral rather than friendly.

Unclaimed Baggage Center, Alabama

The only lost luggage store in the US - and possibly the world - Alabama’s Unclaimed Baggage Center sells nothing but items left behind on a plane.

“Part lost-and-found, part thrift store, this 40,000 sq ft superstore takes literally every lost suitcase in America, sifts through it, and puts the best stuff on its shelves,” says Thrillist. The store buys its stock from airlines, which gain possession of any lost baggage not claimed within 90 days.

Around one million people pass through the Unclaimed Baggage Center’s doors every year, and they are clearly not disappointed - nearly 1,000 glowing TripAdvisor reviews make it Scottsboro’s most popular attraction.

The Icelandic Phallological Museum, Reykjavik

A Reykjavik must-see, Iceland’s phallological museum collects penises belonging to every kind of mammal found in the nation. Visitors can feast their eyes on more than 200 specimens in all, including the dismembered members of polar bears, whales, seals and - we know you were wondering - human.

But wipe that smirk off your face, please - as the museum’s website explains, “phallology is an ancient science” and the collection allows interested parties to “undertake serious study into the field of phallology in an organized, scientific fashion”. Or just giggle.

The Big Lobster, South Australia

A 56ft tall steel and fibreglass lobster might stand out anywhere else in the world, but in Australia “Larry”, as he is known to locals, fits right in.

The country is home to more than 150 oversized sculptures across the country, depicting everything from mushrooms, to chickens to a miner’s lamp.

Colloquially referred to as the “big things”, these giant novelty statues first started appearing along Australia’s highways in the 1960s to attract travellers keen to break up long journeys through the outback.

However, artist Reg Mobassa told the Sydney Morning Herald they have come to have a wider resonance in Australian culture. “Australia doesn’t have historic old buildings like in other countries, ”he said. “The Big Things are a way of saying ‘we’re here, this is our place’”.