Eight Places To Find The End of the World
Before diving into the details of the Eight “End of the Worlds,” I must share something that never fails to excite us and bring a smile to our faces.
Many people ask about our next destination, and when we say "Svalbard," their reactions are priceless:
It's a delightful reminder that our travels often take us to the most unique and obscure corners of the world.
Sometimes, amidst the flurry of researching new destinations—reading countless articles, watching endless YouTube videos, and scrolling through hashtags from those who have already "been there, done that"—it can start to feel like everyone has already been where we’re headed. It’s one of the quirks of social media: you can get so immersed in a subject that you forget how truly unique it is.
But then we see those reactions, and it brings back the thrill of exploring the unknown. It’s these moments that reignite our passion for adventure and remind us why we love to travel.
Ok moving on to the Eight Places to Find the End of the World….
Sometimes you visit places in foreign countries and remember their foreign names but don’t put much thought into the meaning of them. A couple years ago, we spent time in Ushuaia, Argentina before and after our Antarctica cruise. If you’ve visited there, you can’t help but notice that Ushuaia has a tagline – Fin del Mundo which translates to “End of the World.”
This instantly took me back to our walk on the Camino de Santiago, from Saint Jean Pied de Port, France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. After completing the journey, we drove to Cape Fisterra in Galicia, Spain, where we spent a night. The name Finisterre comes from the Latin finis terrae, meaning "end of the earth."
That got me thinking... there must be more places around the globe that claim to be the World’s End. If I found two, there had to be more! So, I dived into Google and compiled a list of all the locations where you can visit the "end of the world."
Ushuaia - Argentina
Ushuaia, Argentina is located on the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, the southernmost tip of South America and nicknamed Fin del Mundo, or “End of the World.” Is it a resort town and the starting port city for many Antarctica expedition cruises. There is also a nearby island visited by many called, Isla Yécapasela, known as “Penguin Island,” for its penguin colonies.
Ushuaia began as a home for Argentina’s most dangerous prisoners. It was established as a penal colony by the Argentine government in 1883. This is where the government sent the many of their worst prisoners. Ironically, it was these prisoners that played a large part in the building of Ushuaia. They built the prison and much of the infrastructure that makes up the city. You can learn all about the prisoners story and the history of Ushuaia by touring the Museo Maritimo del Presidio de Ushuaia.
Cape Finisterre - Spain
The fishing town of Fisterra is located on the Atlantic Coast of Galicia, Spain. It is roughly 100km away from Santiago de Compostela, the final destination for pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago. Just outside of town is Cape Finisterre and its lighthouse which, if you continue your walk from Santiago de Compostela to the Cape, completes another leg for pilgrims known as Camino Finisterre.
It is said to be the westernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula and, in Roman times, the Cape was believed to be an end of the known world. The name Finisterre, like that of Finistère in France, is derived from the Latin finis terrae, meaning “end of the earth.”
Land's End - England
Land’s End is on the westernmost peninsula of the county of Cornwall, England. Its tip is the southwesternmost point of England and lies about 870 miles (1,400 km) by road from John o’ Groats, traditionally considered the northernmost point of Great Britain. So the popular expression “from Land’s End to John o’ Groats” means “from end to end of Britain.”
Land’s End is a major British tourist attraction and vacation spot. There are a number of B&Bs, galleries, shops and a famous signpost that was erected in the 1950s to mark the iconic spot.
World's End Close - Scotland
This one I found on one of our favorite sites for unique locations, Atlas Obscura. World’s End Close is situated on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh and appears to be just a typical alleyway in a part of the city that was once a fish market.
Before the mid 18th-century, the Scottish capital was significantly smaller than it is today with a high-density population of mostly poor residents. World’s End Close served as the marker for the city limits as it was once located inside a gatehouse called the Netherbow Port. This served as a passageway between the Royal Mile and the Canongate region of Edinburgh’s Old Town.
The Netherbow Port required travelers to pay a fee to both enter and leave the gates. Therefore, those who were unable to afford the toll were confined to Edinburgh for their entire lives. So for some, World’s End Close was literally the end of their world.
Verdens Ende - Norway
Verdens Ende (World’s End) on the southern tip of Tjøme in Norway is probably best known for “Vippefyret” – the lighthouse, made by stones from the local beaches. The lighthouse is a replica built in 1932. Verdens Ende is the center of Faerder National Park in Oslofjorden.
Færder National Park has a lot of coastal areas with popular outdoor activities like boating, kayaking, hiking and swimming. The visitors and tourists make this an important area for the area residents and cottage owners.
Færder National Park is a distinctive archipelago landscape that is the result of the work carried out by the enormous ice masses from the Ice Age.
Swing at the End of the World - Ecuador
La Casa Del Arbol in Banos, Ecuador earned its nickname as The Swing At The End Of The World because from the right camera angle it looks like you’re swinging off the edge of a giant cliff with certain death below you. There are actually swings to suit any level of thrill-seeker, ranging from smaller swings for the kiddos, up to the Insta-famous swing attached to the Tree House. There is plenty of fun here for the entire family. You’ll also find scenic gardens, zip lines, and a cafe. I’ve read that the big swing is not as extreme as it looks in pictures, but you’ll have to see for yourself. According to the reviews on Tripadvisor though, this one is a “don’t miss!”
World's End - Massachusetts
World’s End is a 251-acre park and conservation area located on a peninsula in Hingham, Massachusetts. The site has some unique history in that it was nearly developed as a residential area in the late 1800’s but it only got as far as the roads and trees being put in. In 1945, it was proposed as a location for the United Nations. Then in the 1960’s a nuclear power plant was considered being built here as well.
Now the land is open for public used and is managed by the Trustees of Reservations. In 1996, it was made part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. It’s a beautiful park for relaxation containing tree groves, fields with butterflies, grasslands used by nesting birds and 4.5 miles of walking paths.
The Yamal Peninsula - Russian Siberia
There’s a place in remote Russian Siberia that’s called the Yamal Peninsula, which translates into English as “the end of the world.”
There are two unique stories I found about this area. One is about the mysterious gigantic hole that opened up here in 2014. You can read about it in more detail in this article but it’s speculation that it was caused by global warming in conjunction with natural gas lines.
The second is that the Peninsula is known for Nenets community. The Nenets are an indigenous nomadic community of reindeer herders native to Siberia. Each year, they move gigantic herds of reindeer from summer to winter pastures across the Arctic tundra. And if you are interested in visiting for an immersive experience, check out this tour company.
End of the World Cinema - Egypt
Another find, thanks to Atlas Obscura. At the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, there is a bizarre site of an abandoned movie theater, dubbed the “End of the World Cinema.” It was built by Frenchman Diynn Eadel in the late 1990s, but it unfortunately suffered a power cut on what was supposed to be its premiere night. No one knows what went wrong, but the rumor is that local authorities weren’t thrilled by the prospect of a movie theater in the middle of the desert and were the ones responsible for the generator’s malfunction.
While this location likely peaked the attention of many travelers and photographers reading this article, know that the area has been badly damaged and looted and is now closed to tourists by the local government. I’m not sure if there is any way to access this area.
BONUS - Travel Tip!
If you haven't heard of the 24-hour cancellation policy for flights, you need to read this from Thrifty Traveler and understand how it works! Thanks to a federal rule established by the U.S. Department of Transportation, you can cancel your flight to, from, or within the U.S. within 24 hours of when you booked it for a full refund. Read More
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