Date of publication 25/02/2026
100 fun facts from around the world to inspire the next trip
The world is full of unexpected details that can make travel even more rewarding. These little-known fun facts are not only great conversation starters. They can also help inspire the next destination. From family-friendly hotels with a story behind them to upscale resorts in surprising places, this collection of curiosities is a strong starting point for the next getaway.
Fun facts about the world: destinations that break records
Travel often brings unexpected discoveries that feel almost hard to believe. Many of these facts are tied to destinations known for some of the world’s best beach hotels.
1. The origin of time: San Marino is considered the world’s oldest republic, founded in Europe in 301 AD.
2. Impossible names: New Zealand is home to a hill with one of the longest place names in the world, with 85 letters.
3. Unexpected borders: France’s longest land border is with Brazil, a surprising detail to keep in mind when looking at hotels in more far-flung destinations.
4. A planet that goes against the grain: Venus rotates clockwise
5. It’s illegal to die: In Longyearbyen in Norway and on Itsukushima in Japan, the law restricts burials for climatic or sacred reasons.
6. The traveler’s trail: Chargers and beauty products are the most commonly forgotten items in hotel rooms.
7. Lost luggage: Around 25 million suitcases are lost each year, one more reason to choose all-inclusive hotels, so the essentials are still within reach if a bag is delayed.
8. Legendary flights: The New York-to-Singapore route takes more than 18 hours.
9. Solar architecture: The Pyramid of Chichén Itzá has 365 steps. A must-visit if staying at hotels in Riviera Maya.
10. Islands on land: Llívia is a Spanish town completely surrounded by France.
11. Inclusive travel: Spain and Canada rank among the world’s most LGBTQ+ friendly destinations.
12. Where the word “tourism” comes from: The term traces back to the 18th-century British “tours” taken for learning and leisure.
13. Snow in the fire: The Sahara Desert has recorded real snowfall.
14. Vegan vacations: In Varanasi, India, local law prohibits the consumption of meat.
15. Monopoly lessons: The game was created by a woman as a critique of capitalism.
Fun facts about Spain: where to book your next getaway
Spain is a popular destination for millions of travelers. For anyone looking for hotel deals in Spain, these facts make a strong case for just how unique the country is.
Mediterranean gems and the islands
16. The Posidonia heart: The Balearic Islands are home to one of the largest living organisms on Earth. So when choosing hotels in Mallorca or Ibiza, it is worth remembering that those clear waters are part of a centuries-old natural treasure beneath the surface.
17. Museums under the sea: Lanzarote is home to Europe’s only underwater museum, a memorable option for anyone booking hotels in the Canary Islands with diving on the agenda.
18. Art and avant-garde: Palma de Mallorca has more art galleries per capita than any other capital city.
19. Blue Flag record: Spain leads the world in high-quality beaches. Many beachfront hotels carry this distinction.
20. High-end gastronomy: The world’s most expensive restaurant, Sublimotion, is in Ibiza.
History and nature on the mainland
21. Biosphere reserves: With 52 Biosphere Reserves, Spain leads the world, making it a natural fit for travelers looking for more sustainable hotels.
22. The highest station: Sierra Nevada is the highest ski resort in Europe.
23. Monuments that last: Granada’s Alhambra remains the most visited site in the country.
24. Vineyards for days: Spain has the largest vineyard surface area in the world.
25. The bar spirit: With roughly one bar for every 75 people, it is easy to find a lively local scene close to almost any city hotel.
The animal kingdom: nature at its purest
Many of our sustainable resorts support efforts to protect these species that never fail to amaze.
26. Powerful hearts: The heartbeat of a blue whale can be heard from 3 km away.
27. Natural engineers: Squirrels plant thousands of trees every year simply by forgetting where they stored food.
28. Jurassic survivors: Sea turtles, which can be spotted near our hotels in Mexico or Tenerife, have been on Earth for 200 million years.
29. Model parents: Male seahorses are the ones that give birth.
30. Local symbols: The Ibiza wall lizard is an emblem of Ibiza and Formentera.
Fun for kids: family-friendly hotels
For anyone looking for kid-friendly hotels or hotels with waterslides, these facts can keep little ones entertained throughout the vacation:
31. Stars vs. trees: There are more trees on Earth than stars in our galaxy.
32. Bear skin: Polar bears have black skin under their white fur.
33. Zero gravity: On the Moon, you would weigh about six times less. Just imagine the jumps in the pool.
34. Water fun: Some hotels have water parks where kids can put that extra energy to good use and experience all that splashy fun firsthand.
35. Creative recycling: It takes 22 plastic containers to make one technical T-shirt.
36. The color of Christmas: Santa Claus originally wore green, not red.
Exploring the world: curiosities for seasoned travelers
37. Mayonnaise is Spanish: It was born in Mahón (Menorca) and is a buffet favorite at our hotels in the Balearic Islands.
38. Bars everywhere: Spain has the highest density of bars in the world, ideal for those who step out of adults-only hotels to enjoy the local scene.
39. “French” omelet with Spanish roots: It was invented in Cádiz due to a potato shortage during the Peninsular War.
40. Centuries-old cuisine: Gazpacho is one of Spain’s oldest recipes, perfect for cooling off at our hotels with pools.
41. The siesta myth: 60% of Spaniards never take a siesta. They prefer making the most of the day at family hotels with endless activities.
42. UFO files in Spain: Spain’s Ministry of Defense has declassified 80 UFO sighting files, a fun reason to look up at the sky on the next resort stay.
43. Nobel laureates in literature and science: Spain has eight award winners, a rich culture that can be explored from our hotels in Spain.
44. Underage monarchs: Spain has had three sovereigns who reigned before turning 10.
45. Hunting and Brigitte Bardot: The actress played a key role in promoting the protection of greyhounds in Spain.
46. Sylvia Plath in Benidorm: The writer chose this sun-and-sea destination long before the rise of luxury hotels.
47. John Lennon’s time in Mallorca: The Beatle visited the island in the 1970s, a destination that now hosts Iberostar’s best adults-only hotels.
48. A heart in the head: Shrimp have their vital organ in their head, a fun detail to share over a seafood dinner by the sea.
49. Ants that do not sleep: Not in the human sense. They take hundreds of micro-naps to stay active.
50. One-way kangaroos: A kangaroo never walks backward due to its anatomy. Always forward, just like the urge to travel.
51. Scotland’s unicorn: It is Scotland’s national animal, a detail that tends to captivate kids at our family hotels.
52. Blue lobsters: So rare that only one is born in two million. Spotting one is almost as exclusive as a luxury hotel stay.
53. The axolotl’s regeneration: This amphibian can rebuild its heart and brain, a natural wonder from Mexico.
54. Elephants’ infrasonic language: They communicate over miles through vibrations the human ear cannot detect.
55. Exclusive blushing: Humans are the only animals that turn red from shyness or embarrassment.
56. Seahorse dads: They carry the eggs and give birth, rewriting the rules of the animal kingdom.
57. Electric platypuses: Along with laying eggs, they detect prey through electrical impulses.
58. Ostrich eyes: Larger than their own brain, which gives them remarkably wide vision.
59. Hyperactive lions: The big cats with the highest sexual activity, mating up to 100 times in a day.
60. Koalas and their 22 hours of sleep: For that level of rest, hotels with a spa are the best alternative.
Fun facts for kids
61. Snails and three-year naps: They can sleep for incredibly long stretches to survive drought.
62. Long-living queen bees: While worker bees live for weeks, the queen can live up to five years.
63. Eleven-inch eyes: The giant squid has the largest eyes on the planet, built for seeing in the darkness of the ocean.
64. Corals are animals: They are not plants. They are colonial animals that build the reefs we help protect at ourhotels in the Dominican Republic.
65. Cats do not taste sweetness: Their taste buds are not designed to detect sugar.
66. Cow friendships: They have best friends and become distressed if they are separated from the group.
67. Owls and a 280-degree turn: They can watch what is happening around them without moving a single body muscle.
68. A pigeon’s compass: They use Earth’s magnetic field to navigate thousands of miles without getting lost.
69. Methuselah, the oldest tree: This pine in California has more than 4,800 years of history.
70. Tomatoes are a fruit: Even if they show up in a buffet salad, botanically, they are a fruit.
71. Plant-based meat menus: At Iberostar, culinary innovation is part of the commitment at our sustainable hotels.
72. The sneeze reflex: It is physically impossible to sneeze with eyes open due to an automatic response from the brain.
73. Hippo sweat: It is pink and works as a powerful disinfectant and a natural sunscreen.
74. Blue spider blood: Their blood uses copper instead of iron, which gives it that distinctive blue tone.
75. Centipedes with fewer legs: Most species have only 30 to 50 pairs, far from the thousand the name suggests.
76. Predator Furbys: With forward-facing eyes, they fit the morphological category of hunters, not prey.
77. Atoms never touch: The empty space between atoms means that, technically, nothing is ever in physical contact with anything else.
78. Record-breaking reads: The world’s longest book has more than 3,000 pages, an ideal companion for downtime at our hotels with pools.
79. Magical alebrijes: These figures from Mexican folk art represent a blend of different protective animals.
80. The origin of “Coco”: This children’s legend is centuries old and has been used to encourage good behavior.
81. Dinosaur feathers: Many of the great reptiles of the past looked more like giant birds than scaly lizards.
82. Moon gravity: You could jump six times higher on the Moon, almost as high as at hotels with waterslides.
83. A water planet: 70% of Earth is ocean, which is why our beach hotels are such a direct window into the world.
84. A liquid core: The center of the planet is a sphere of molten iron and nickel at extreme temperatures.
85. Pure white: This color appears when an object reflects all wavelengths of visible light.
86. Literary Christmas trees: A sustainable trend is creating fir trees out of books, something found at our charming hotels.
87. Polar bear black skin: Their fur is translucent, but their skin is black to retain heat from the Arctic sun.
88. Posidonia and crystal clear water: This organism is why hotels in Mallorca have beaches with such a distinctive blue.
Fun facts from around the world that will spark wonder
89. Tourism etymology: It comes from the French word tour, originally linked to educational journeys taken by the nobility.
90. Snowy Sahara: Although it is one of the hottest places on Earth, historic snowfall has been recorded on its dunes.
91. Varanasi, a sacred city: A destination where spirituality runs so deep that meat is prohibited by law.
92. Dunbar’s number: Humans can only maintain stable social relationships with a maximum of 150 people.
93. A musical heart: Heartbeats speed up or slow down to synchronize with the music playing at adults-only hotels.
94. The Pratfall effect: People who make occasional mistakes are often seen as more likable and more human.
95. Nutmeg as a hallucinogen: In excessive doses, this spice can cause psychoactive effects due to myristicin.
96. Million-ton clouds: Even if they look as light as cotton, clouds carry enormous weight.
97. Water contamination: A single drop of oil can spoil the taste of thousands of liters of water.
98. Plants that “scream”: They release chemical compounds into the air to warn other plants that herbivores are nearby.
99. Jamaica and churches: It is the country with the most Christian churches per square kilometer, a curiosity to discover from hotels in Jamaica.
100. Dominican larimar: This blue gemstone exists in only one mountain range in the world, very close to our hotels in the Dominican Republic.
Plan the next trip with Iberostar
From the calm of adults-only hotels to the energy of family resorts, the world is full of details worth discovering. These 100 facts are only the beginning of what can be learned in the next destination.
