Underground Attractions In Europe To Beat This Summer’s Heat

Record heatwaves have been hitting Europe, with Spain even naming its heatwaves, just like hurricanes. They are that exceptional this year. One heatwave, dubbed Zoe, brought temperatures of 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) to Seville. The UK may have gone through Brexit, but it also suffered the same heatwave, with record temperatures of 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius. France has also been hot and has joined Spain in a number of wildfires. For those visiting Europe this summer, yes, it will be hot, but there are a number of underground attractions to enjoy to escape the heat for a while. Read on to find out more.

The Catacombs of Paris, France

If you are traveling to Paris this summer and are feeling the heat, visit the Paris Catacombs to cool down. Your visit starts with a 130-step spiral staircase down into the depths. Once there, you will explore the intricately placed human bones and inscriptions.

The catacombs were built in the past when Paris ran out of room in its cemeteries. It may be a little eerie to visit, but it certainly is fascinating. Hundreds of skulls are arranged in rows, with leg or arm bones in between. This is one place where your leg bone isn’t necessarily connected to your thigh bone! Cameras are allowed, but you are not allowed to touch any of the displays.

Ticket prices are €29 ($29.50) for adults, including an audio guide. Children can visit for €5 ($5.09) this doesn’t include an audio guide.

Derinkuyu Underground City, Turkey

In 1963, a man in the Nevşehir Province of Turkey decided to knock down a wall in his cave home and made an amazing discovery. Behind his wall was an entire underground city. As he explored, he found many tunnels crisscrossing under the ground going down 18 stories.

While the exact age of Derinkuyu Underground City is unknown, experts place its origins anywhere between 1500 to 700 BCE. Pictured above and top of this article, around 20,000 people are believed to have lived here at some time.

A ticket to enter costs 60 Turkish Lira (around $3.35), or for a higher price, guided tours are available.

Real Mary King’s Close, Edinburgh, Scotland

The Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland is a worthy visit, but can get crowded. Meanwhile, lying beneath these busy streets are some much older streets without crowds. In fact, the alleyways, lined with houses, have remained almost untouched since the 17th century, giving a different look into the history of the city. As the city grew, Edinburgh decided to build a Royal Exchange, close to where Mary King’s Close was situated. However, instead of knocking down all the buildings, they removed the top floors and used the lower floors as foundations for the Royal Exchange. These days, visitors can explore these streets, accompanied by costumed tour guides, playing the roles of residents of the Close.

Tickets for adults cost £19.50 ($23.50) and £12.95 ($15.60) for children.

Enjoy a cool visit to these unique and fascinating underground attractions in Europe this year.