When people travel, one of the things they look forward to exploring are the historical elements within the country they are visiting. But what about exploring the future? While humans have yet to invent time travel, there are places in the world where you can experience what earth may look like years from now. From scenery that will bring out your inner Avatar to uniquely designed experiences and landmarks in Japan that will make you wonder if you’re in a computer game, here are some of the most futuristic places you can travel to as soon as tomorrow in the world’s most modern cities!
Tokyo, Japan
Japan is such an exciting country. On the one hand, it is rooted in ancient arts and tradition, but on the other, it’s one of the top places in the world to feel like you’re in the future. Osaka may have plenty of futuristic attractions, but Tokyo is a state-of-the-art city like no other. With trains that can whip you from one location to the next at 200mph, vending machines offering everything from flowers and clothing to electricity, and bathrooms equipped with automatic toilets, who needs a time machine in one of the world’s most futuristic cities?
If you find yourself in Tokyo and have some downtime on tour or need a little inspiration for cool things to see on your trip, go to the Odaiba area and you will find a 60-foot life-size Gundam statue that looks like something out of a movie. For more science-fiction-type experiences, head to the Robot Restaurant, where alien-like robots will put on a show for you while you chow down.
Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, Valencia
Like many places in Europe, Spain is renowned for its old-world charm, cobbled streets, and buildings that go back centuries. However, it’s possible to transport yourself to the future in Spain as well. Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences), is a collection of futuristic structures and green spaces mostly designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Spanning across 350,000-sq-metres of the old Turia riverbed, the City of Arts and Sciences looks like something from a different planet. The opera house, science museum, 3D cinema, and aquarium are the main attractions, but even walking around the complex will make you feel like you’ve dropped into a science fiction movie.
Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
Spread across 101 hectares, the Gardens by the Bay are probably one of the most beautiful ecosystems created in a city. Over the last 45 years, Singapore has planted over two million trees, but the Gardens by the Bay is one of its most outstanding urban projects. Home to 1.5 million plants and stunning contemporary architecture, this site makes earth’s days to come look more hopeful and beautiful than the bleak landscapes often painted in movies like Blade Runner and Tron. Two large conservatories rise alongside Marina Bay; one harbours ancient olive trees, and the other a soaring, tropical mountain. There are also the hypnotic botanical Supertrees that glow magically every night Garden Rhapsody sound-and-light show.
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Singapore is one of those cities with futuristic architecture that fuses with its environment. One of the country’s distinctive landmarks, Marina Bay Sands, was created in harmony with the water and nature that surrounds it. Three towers come together to form a sky garden which features plenty of greenery and some of the best views across the city. It’s another attraction in the city that adds to Singapore’s futuristic appeal and glamour for visitors seeking urban adventures with an edge.
Astana, Kazakhstan
The Guardian Newspaper described Astana like a “space station in the steppes,” and CNN dubbed it as “the world’s weirdest capital city.” Perhaps they are both right. Either way, in Astana, Kazakhstan the weird has never been more wonderful. It’s where you’ll discover a fantastical cityscape teeming with futuristic architecture that appears to rise out of nowhere. With its eclectic buildings influenced by Asian, Western, and Soviet styles, it’s a city for tomorrow! Although Astana is filled with many landmarks, some highlights well worth checking out include the Baiterek Tower and Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center.
Sky Garden, Seoul
The 24-hour city of Seoul has many futuristic city concepts. From the Robot Museum, where visitors can discover yesterday’s relics to tomorrow’s AI, and the Yongsan Electronics Market, where over 3,000 stores sell every kind of electronic imaginable, and even gardens that are grown in the sky; Seoullo 7017 is a sky garden that spans from Seoul Station to Namdaemun Market. Converted from a former overpass, Seoullo 7017 is a 1024m park that has over 20,000 plants and views across the city.
Fly Geyser, Nevada
For almost two decades no one has been able to explore this icon, but it’s been easily visible to travellers about one-third of a mile off Route 34. Fly Ranch is located 21 miles north of Gerlach, Nevada. Fly Geyser sits on that private land, and up until now, it wasn’t possible to visit the rainbow-coloured landmark on the edge of Black Rock Desert, but the new owners, Burning Man, intend to open it up to the public for guided nature walks. This alien-looking natural wonder is the result of a human error and natural geothermal pressure – a venture to drill a well happened to tap into geothermal boiling temperatures, and these vibrant cones were formed over the years.
The 5 Million Star Hotel, Iceland
Unless you happen to be an astronaut, being able to jet off to a galaxy far far away isn’t possible for the average human (yet). And while commercial space travel may not be a reality anytime soon, it is possible to sleep in the stars. Iceland’s 5 Million Star Hotel lets visitors sleep in clear pod under a night sky full of stars. The bubble-like rooms, which look like something out of The Jetsons, are powered by noiseless technology and allow for a fully immersive experience with the surroundings. A soundless ventilation system renews the air in the bubble and keeps it inflated, and each one comes with a heating system and thermostat, so you’ll be warm and cosy throughout your panoramic stay in the stars.
And, in the not-so-distant future…
Svart, Norway
This state-of-the-art hotel is no ordinary experience. Set to open in 2021, from the outside, it looks like a spaceship has landed in front of the Svartisen Glacier. Extending from the shoreline by the foot of the glacier and into the clear waters of the Arctic fjord, it offers 360-degree views of the incredible scenery and heightened proximity to nature. It is the world’s first hotel to be designed after the energy-positive Powerhouse standard—an eco-friendly movement inspiring to build structures that add value to the environment and reduce energy consumption. Svart is located just above the Arctic Circle, where the summer days are wondrously long and the winter nights are bright with northern lights.
Rotating Skyscraper, Dubai
From one building to the next, Dubai reads like a portfolio for the future. Possessing some of the world’s tallest buildings, the city already emanates futuristic vibes and is continually looking for innovative ways to define tomorrow. The city has proposed to build the world’s first rotating skyscraper by 2020, where residents will be able to program their apartments to move with the sun, so they get light throughout the day. Initially proposed in 2008, the project had several setbacks, but it now appears to be underway once again! Each apartment will rotate in such a way that it will be independent of the floors above and below, and the entire building will be powered by wind turbines.
Do you dream of time travel as well? Share your favourite futuristic destinations throughout the world in the comments below!
