Real Mythological Places You Can Visit

The Parthenon, a temple which rests on the Acropolis of Athens, is cherished for its association with Greek mythology. In fact, the temple was dedicated to the city’s patron, the goddess Athena. For thousands of years, the structure has held countless religious festivals, cult gatherings, and even political protests.

The 228-foot-long building is surrounded by 46 columns of brilliant white marble, supporting the grand structure on a hill where it can be seen from anywhere in the city. Unfortunately, a significant part of the temple was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BCE and again by the Venetians in 1687.

Mount Olympus, widely known as the home of the 12 Greek gods and goddesses, won't disappoint mortals visiting for either a glimpse of mythology or a nature retreat. It's easy to imagine Zeus stepping out onto the rocks of the mighty structure in ancient times and hurling his powerful thunderbolts.

A part of the mountain serves as the Mount Olympus National Park, showcasing rich flora and fauna. In fact, the park is one of the most important bird areas of Europe. The 9,573-foot-tall mountain is hikeable, but serious endurance is required to reach the peak.

At first glance, the beauty of the Alepotrypa cave isn’t how one might imagine the gate to hell. It’s a place that mythological Greek gods descended upon to visit Hades, the god of the underworld. The cave is located in Diros Bay, Mani, in southern Greece, an area dense with mythological sites.

The huge cave features the remains of an old village, burials, artifacts connected to Hades, and a chamber that held blazing rituals more than 5,000 years ago. The cave, which had been hidden for centuries, was discovered in 2012 and is now open for tours.

While the Pharaohs laid to rest in this ancient burial ground are indeed real, the Valley of the Kings near Luxor, Egypt, has its share of mythological connections. Most of the 63 royal tombs and chambers discovered in this area are decorated with scenes from Egyptian mythology, portraying the ancient practices, ritual, and worship to the gods.

The valley has gained much more popularity since the discovery of the tomb of King Tutankhamun, which inspired rumors of the curse of the pharaohs. Apparently, the curse says that anyone who disturbs the mummy of an ancient Egyptian will be doomed.

This secret site of the Mayan underworld dates back to 750-850 BCE. It's located in on the Yucatan Peninsula, and its believed that this cave was constructed to mimic the Mayan underworld. The entire Mayan civilization, which mysteriously collapsed in the 10th century, stretched from southern Mexico to northern Belize.

The area is filled with caverns, underground rivers, natural pools, and dark recesses. According to Mayan mythology, sinkholes and caves serve as sacred entrance portals to the other world, Xibalba, roughly translated as "place of fear," where all the gods and blood-thirsty predators lived. 

Bran Castle, on the border of Transylvania and Wallachia in Romania, is one of the most famous real-world places associated with Dracula. It's believed the castle inspired the setting for Bram Stoker's novel about the fictional blood sucker.

While the towering enclave doesn't house any actual vampires today, it serves as a museum where visitors can explore the impressive interior of the 2,500-foot-tall building tucked away in the lush greenery of the surrounding mountains.