Places Mat Wants to Go

This Turkish cave boasts some rather bizarre associations with the King of Mount Olympus.

A small etching on the white marble parapet was written in runic script by a Viking mercenary.

The best-preserved ancient theater in the world.

Standing proud atop a Turkish bluff, this Ottoman palace has retained its grandeur despite being abandoned for centuries.

Roman ruins, natural methane fires and a lovely beach.

Ottoman-era houses lovingly preserved.

Once described as the "Eagle's Nest," this ruined ancient city rests on a remote mountaintop.

Live a night as a Byzantine King, with a minibar and private jacuzzi.

Naturally protected city carved from a rock face.

An abused and forgotten metropolis, abandoned for centuries.

A Lycian city of the dead carved into the hillside of Southern Turkey, complete with startlingly human touches.

These tombs were built into the side of a mountain so that ancient angels could reach the dead.

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.

Roman ruins top white travertine terraces formed by ancient hot springs.

In this historic region, homes and churches are carved into ancient volcanic rock formations.

An ancient church on a tiny island covered in stone bible stories has controversially been turned into a museum.

Relics from an era long gone, sit idle outside this Estonian museum.

This Estonian watchtower looks like a big tree with two giant bird nests on it, complete with a "golden egg."

A historic scientific breakthrough that crosses nine borders.

This abandoned fighter jet launch center is now a haunting street racing course.

Rusted cars, trucks, and buses form a fascinating collection of Soviet-era machinery.

A forest park outside Tallinn full of architectural and artistic curiosities.

This former Nazi labor camp is now a poignant memorial, complete with giant Soviet-style monuments.

This abandoned beacon is moving closer and closer to the sea.