5 Places to Visit That Don’t Exist – The Traveling Professor’s List

Travel often takes us to places filled with history, legends, and fascinating stories. But sometimes, the stories aren’t exactly true—and the places we’re visiting might not be what we think they are. Here are The Traveling Professor’s top five “places to visit” that, well, don’t really exist.

1. Juliet’s House – Verona, Italy
Verona is breathtaking, and Juliet’s balcony is one of its most visited attractions. But here’s the twist—Juliet, a fictional character from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, never lived there. The balcony is a tourist invention, but still makes for a great photo.

2. Loch Ness Monster – Scotland
Every year, thousands flock to Loch Ness hoping to glimpse the legendary “Nessie.” On our small group Scotland tours, we even board a sonar-equipped ship to search for her. Unfortunately, science says she doesn’t exist—though a dram of Scotch from the ship’s bar might make you think otherwise.

3. Columbus’ Final Resting Place – Seville, Spain
Seville’s cathedral proudly displays what it claims is the tomb of Christopher Columbus. But historians and scientists still debate whether his remains are actually there. Regardless, Seville itself—with its tapas, flamenco, and rich history—is worth the visit.

4. The Bastille – Paris, France
Visitors often ask to see the infamous Bastille prison during our Paris small group tours. The truth? It was demolished in 1789. Today, a memorial marks the spot, and the surrounding neighborhood offers some great cafes and history walks.

5. Westminster Abbey’s “Missing” Burials – London, England
Tourists come here expecting to find the graves of Shakespeare, C.S. Lewis, Diana, Princess of Wales, and Lewis Carroll. None of them are buried here—though the Abbey is still one of London’s most beautiful and historic landmarks.

Travel is about discovery—but sometimes the most fascinating discoveries are the myths themselves. Even if these places don’t quite live up to the legends, they still offer charm, history, and great stories to tell back home.