15 Places to Visit in Antarctica, Tourist Places & Attractions

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Other Attractions

South Shetland Islands

The South Shetland Islands are amongst the top attractions and places to visit in Antarctica. Located on the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, these groups of islands are also home to the unique Deception Island and an active volcano. The islands offer breath-taking views of ice sheets, icebergs and glaciers, and it is here where you can find thousands of penguins flocking around. The interior black sand beaches on the South Shetland Islands are also sites of several research stations and ancient whaling stations that you can pay a visit to.

Location: 120 kilometres north of the Antarctic Peninsula

Highlights: penguin colonies, research stations, Deception Island, elephant seals, icebergs

Antarctic Peninsula

Known as the northernmost part of Antarctica, the Antarctic Peninsula boasts of a wide range of polar wildlife. From iceberg-clad waterways and passages to frequent polar expedition cruises, natural harbours and snowy islands, the Antarctic Peninsula is a wonder in itself. You can also soak in stunning views of towering glaciers, penguin colonies and various types of whales here, including the minke whale, humpback whale, killer whales and more.

Location: Northernmost part of Antarctica

Highlights: whale sighting, majestic glaciers, penguins, icy passages

Drake Passage

One of the best places in Antarctica, the Drake Passage is home to the roughest seas in the world. It is here in Drake Passage where the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean converge with the Southern seas. This wide stretch of water between Antarctica and South America is full of adventure, adrenaline and dread. You are sure to experience the fear in your stomach from excitement, in addition to the choppy waves, huge gales of water and more. The Drake Passage is also a great place for albatross sightings in Antarctica.

Location: Between South America and Antarctica

Highlights: Huge icebergs, giant albatross sighting, choppiest water on earth, unique wildlife

South Georgia

Amongst the top tourist places in Antarctica, South Georgia is a narrow but long island in the South Atlantic Ocean. Surrounded by rising mountains, South Georgia is known for its verdant grasslands, meadows, stunning glaciers and majestic fjords. This place also boasts of an abundance of wildlife species, from different types of penguins and seas to whales and more. You can also explore the remnants of the whaling stations of the past here.

Location: South Atlantic Ocean

Highlights: Abundance of wildlife, albatross sighting, Fortuna Bay, beaches with penguin colonies, breath-taking glaciers

Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands in Antarctica is known all over the world for its vibrant biodiversity, making it one of the most popular tourist attractions in the continent. Exuding a British vibe and ambience, the islands take inspiration from the British architecture and design, which is very clearly present here. The island also serves as a home and nesting area to many different species of birds and marine animals, such as albatross, penguins, etc. You can also visit several museums and historical monuments here.

Location: South Atlantic Ocean, Patagonian Shelf

Highlights: Port Stanley, Dockyard Museum, East Falkland Villages, penguin sighting at Volunteer Point

Lemaire Channel

The Lemaire Channel is a natural strait that stretches across 11 kilometres and is often known as the Kodak Gap in Antarctica. Located on the Antarctic Peninsula, this narrow passage is amongst the best places in Antarctica, and is surrounded by tumbling glaciers, pristine icebergs and towering mountains. For lovers of marine life, the Lemaire Channel is a great place to be for spotting all kinds of seals and different whale species, including orcas and humpbacks. It is also a haven for photographers, with mesmerising sceneries and landscapes.

Location: Kiev Peninsula, between Graham Land and Booth Island, Antarctica

Highlights: whale sighting, seal spotting, photography

Port Lockroy

When looking for places to visit in Antarctica, do not forget the natural harbour of Port Lockroy. Located on the north western shore of the Wiencke Island, Port Lockroy is a major tourist attraction, especially for those entering Antarctica in cruise ships. This natural harbour has been in use since the second World War, and has served as home for whaling stations as well as military bases. As of now, Port Lockroy is being used as a research station. You can visit the post office and museum here to learn about the port’s history.

Location: North-western shore of Wiencke Island, Palmer Archipelago, Antarctic Peninsula

Highlights: historic significance, Penguin colonies, Penguin Post Office, Bransfield House

Ross Sea

This is a deep bay located in the Southern Ocean in Antarctica, and is known for being the largest ice shelf of the continent. Being several hundred metres thick, the Ross Sea is also considered to be amongst the most beautiful natural attractions on the planet. The sea is also home to the Ross Island, which is the abode of Mt Erebus, an active volcano. From large colonies of penguins and majestic glaciers, to historical sites, icebergs and immense natural beauty, Ross Sea has it all.

Location: Southern Ocean, Antarctica

Highlights: immense natural beauty, the largest floating body of ice on the continent, penguin colonies, photography

King George Island

King George Island is also one of the top tourist places in Antarctica. The largest of the South Shetland Islands, King George Island is usually the first stop in an Antarctic expedition, and is home to many scientific research stations. Named after the British king George III, the island has presence of many different countries, including Argentina, Russia, South Korea, Chile, Germany and more. As of today, the island serves as an aerodrome for flights to Antarctica. You can also spot numerous different wildlife species and marine animals like seals, penguins and more here.

Location: South Shetland Island, Southern Ocean, Antarctica

Highlights: Trinity Church, research stations, different types of seals, Penguin Island, Admiralty Bay

Ice Cube Research Station

When in Antarctica, pay a visit to the IceCube Research Station and get a chance to see the largest neutrino telescope in the world. Learn about the secrets of the universe at the South Pole at the station and see numerous sensitive monitoring equipment and particles in ice. Speak to scientists here, who are studying the behaviour and workings of the neutrinos, otherwise known as the most mysterious building blocks in the entire universe.

Location: IceCube Array, Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica

Highlights: Southern Lights, learn about the way the universe works, speak to scientists

Colossal Penguin Colonies

Antarctica is known for its penguins and penguin colonies. While you can find colossal penguin colonies in most places in the continent, there are some locations where they are found in giant numbers. You can spot a stunning emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea. Alternatively, you can also head over to the Antarctic Peninsula to catch sightings of the chinstrap, gentoo and adelie penguin colonies.

Highlights: different penguin colonies, unique colonies that can only be found in Antarctica

Trinity Church

Amongst the famous tourist places in Antarctica, the Trinity Church is also the southernmost Russian orthodox church in the whole world. Located on King George Island, this church was built by the Russians and then transported here in the mid-1990s. You can find two Russian priests here all through the year. In addition to being one of the eight churches on the continent, Trinity Church is also the southernmost Eastern orthodox crouch in the world.

Location: Airport Rd, Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva, Antarctica

Highlights: Built in the traditional Russian style of architecture, one of the only churches at the bottom of the world

Blood Falls

Considered to be one of the most unique places to visit in Antarctica, the Blood Falls is nothing less than a scientific and visual wonder. The waterfall is bright red in colour and originates from the Taylor Glacier in McMurdo’s Dry Valleys in Antarctica. Scientists have attributed this to the fact that life exists in the waters of the Blood Falls in the form of minute, iron-rich microbes that were frozen in time due to the formation of the surrounding glaciers almost two million years ago. The microbes have existed in this five-storey blood red waterfall with no heat or light and very little oxygen all these years.

Location: Taylor Glacier, McMurdo’s Dry Valleys, Victoria Land, East Antarctica

Highlights: bright red waterfall, helicopter rides

Deception Island

One of the best places in Antarctica, the Deception Island stands true to its name. There is way more than what meets the eye of this island. The island is actually a caldera of an active volcano, with warmer waters than the rest of the continent making it a great spot to indulge in a polar plunge. From old whale skeletons, dilapidated buildings and rusty oil drums to black volcanic sand beaches, the island is often regarded as one of the spookiest attractions of Antarctica. Furthermore, this island is also home to the only thermal spa in all of Antarctica, all due to the volcanic activity present below the surface here.

Location: South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula

Highlights: polar plunge, active volcano, old whaling stations, thermal spa

Mt. Erebus

Confused about some of the most stunning places to visit in Antarctica? The answer is Mt Erebus, which is the southernmost volcano on earth. The volcano is still very much active, and people often regard Mt Erebus as the place where fire meets ice. This is due to the contradicting temperatures in and around the volcano. Whilst the inside of Mt Erebus has swirling pools of molten magma that are miles deep, the outside of the volcano has freezing temperatures with ice caves.

Location: Mt Erebus, Ross Island, Antarctica

Highlights: Mount Erebus Volcano Observatory, consistently active volcano

Which are the places to visit in Antarctica for exploring wildlife?

1. Falkland Islands: Also known as Islas Malvinas, Falkland Islands is one of the best tourist places in Antarctica to explore the rich wildlife of this land. It is famous for its rich and endangered species of wildlife. From penguins, seals and whales to the striated caracara as well as the almost extinct warrah are all found here.

2. Neko Harbour: If you wish to see gentoo penguins, kelp gulls and skuas, the famous Neko Harbour is the ultimate place to be. This inlet of the Antarctic Peninsula is also a great place to enjoy whale sighting, from humpback and killer whales to the orcas.

3. Weddell Sea: On your expedition of places to visit in Antarctica, head over to the icy waters of the Weddell Sea and explore the unique wildlife here. It is here where you can get a chance to see the Weddell Seal, in addition to emperor penguins, crabeater seals, leopard seals, adelie penguins and many species of seabirds. You can also see humpback, sperm and orca whales here.

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Which are the best places to stay in Antarctica?

1. Magellan Explorer: This is the first polar expedition ship in the world and a great place to stay during your Antarctic holiday. Custom-built for the polar waters, the ship boasts of many suites and cabins with private balconies, observation lounge and bar facilities. The ship can accommodate 100 passengers and also has a gym, sauna, gift shop, meeting room and barbecue area.

2. Whichaway Camp: This is the most luxurious camp and places to stay in the continent. Accessible only by a charter flight, the camp can accommodate just 12 people and offers a once in a lifetime experience. The camp has six luxury sleeping pods, all heated up and complete with double beds, wash area and toilets.

3. Union Glacier Camps: For a memorable polar holiday, stay at one of the tents in the Union Glacier Camp, the only one of its kind in all of Antarctica. This full-service camp is accessible only by air, and can accommodate up to 70 people. All the tents here are equipped with a cot, mattress, pillows and a wash basin, with shareable communal services.

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What is the best time to visit Antarctica?

The best time to visit Antarctica is during the summer months of the region, between the months of November and March. It is during these months that you can enjoy 24 hours of daylight, in addition to less harsh weather, wildlife at its best and more.

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What is famous in Antarctica?

Known as the southernmost continent of the world, Antarctica is also the highest, driest, coldest and windiest place on earth, with 98 percent of its land covered with ice. Besides that, the continent is famous for being home to some of the largest colonies of penguins, types of whales and seals. It is here where you can catch sights of giant albatrosses, in addition to elephant seals and more. The continent is also famous for its research stations and bases, whaling stations, icebergs and rough seas.
Is Antarctica expensive to visit?

Yes, Antarctica is quite expensive to visit. Owing to its remote location, simply reaching Antarctica is relatively expensive. Furthermore, you can expect to spend anywhere between USD $500 to USD $2,500 per day on accommodation, travel, food and other experiences, which makes a trip to Antarctica heavy on the pockets.
What is the ideal duration to visit and explore Antarctica?

Anywhere between 10 to 20 days is ideal to visit as well as explore Antarctica. Since a trip to this continent is nothing short of extraordinary, a time frame of 10 to 20 days is the best to explore attractions like the Drake Passage, Antarctic Peninsula, Falkland Islands and South Georgia, in addition indulging in adventure activities like the polar plunge, kayaking, zodiac cruising, whale watching, etc.