24 Places All About Snakes

Slither over to these serpent-centric destinations.

by Roxanne Hoorn, Staff Writer

24 Places

In our first days of the Lunar New Year, we’re saying goodbye to the dragon and hello to the snake. We’re also showcasing snake-centric places from around the globe. Some with snake themes, others with actual, slithering snakes (careful!).

Kediri, Indonesia

Tanah Lot

Dodge the sea snakes said to be guarding this remote Hindu temple.

EricGrundhauser

Added by EricGrundhauser

Kuala Penyu, Malaysia

Snake Island of Borneo

Admire, from a safe distance, this tiny island in the South China Sea that’s crawling with venomous sea snakes.

Sachaw

Added by Sachaw

José María Morelos, Mexico

Cave of the Hanging Snakes

Look up (or don’t) in this cave, where bat-eating snakes hang from the ceiling.

Added by E Alvarado Reyes

Burlington, Iowa

Snake Alley

Cruise down this treacherous, snaking road.

Added by crissroberts

Việt Hưng, Vietnam

Snake Village

Knock back a still-beating snake heart in vodka while visiting this tiny Vietnamese village.

Bangkok, Thailand

Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute

Carefully—we mean it—explore this collection of venomous snakes and reptiles.

barnumbrownie

Added by barnumbrownie

Akrotiri, Cyprus

Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas of the Cats

Pet the cats that were once brought to this church to ward off snakes.

EricGrundhauser

Added by EricGrundhauser

Gimli, Manitoba

Narcisse Snake Dens

See the largest single concentration of harmless garter snakes.

Added by claude chappe

Bayan Lepas, Malaysia

Snake Temple

Come in, light some incense, and ignore the live snakes around you.

samanthachong

Added by samanthachong

Iwakuni Shirohebi Shrine

Honor the sacred white snakes of Iwakuni at the shrine dedicated to them.

Fred Cherrygarden

Added by Fred Cherrygarden

Santa Maria delle Grazie

Attend the annual Festival of the Snakes.

Allison

Added by Allison

The Temple of Pythons

Visit the 60 or so pythons housed and worshipped within the walls of this Vodun temple.

Erin Everywhere

Added by Erin Everywhere

Wolf Lake, Illinois

Snake Road

Watch your step on this road that closes twice a year for the migration of thousands of snakes.

dbuckenmyer

Added by dbuckenmyer

Snake Island (Ilha da Queimada Grande)

Definitely don’t go to this off-limits island full of venomous pit vipers.

Added by Ushanka

São Paulo, Brazil

Butantan Snake Institute

Learn about venom and medicine at this university snake farm.

Josh

Snake Island

Find out if there are even snakes here.

ATX Mike

Added by ATX Mike

Marlborough, Connecticut

Snake Rock

Don’t miss this mysterious roadside wonder.

e1savage

Added by e1savage

Kyaukse, Myanmar (Burma)

Snake Pagoda of Myanmar

Pamper these holy snakes.

Added by lieblink

Snake Canyon

Check out the natural water slides named after the slithering creature.

AaronNetsky

Added by AaronNetsky

Kokilamukh, India

The Molai Forest

Help replant this forest inspired by a slither of dead snakes.

Josh

San Jose, California

Quetzalcóatl Sculpture

See for yourself why this serpent structure is loved (and ridiculed) by locals.

Tony Dunnell

Added by Tony Dunnell

Constanța, Romania

Glykon

Stop by this museum to see an ancient Roman snake god carved expertly into stone.

Michelle Cassidy

Added by Michelle Cassidy

Mexico City, Mexico

Serpents of the Great Temple

Explore the symbolism of Aztec serpents from the Great Temple.

Monsieur Mictlan

Added by Monsieur Mictlan

Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, France

Serpent D'Océan

Learn the Chinese mythology behind this aluminum skeleton in France.

EricGrundhauser

Added by EricGrundhauser

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