10 Magical Destinations That Literally Glow in the Dark
After the sun dips below the horizon, some places around the world begin to light up. These spots come alive with soft glows and nature-made (or human-made) light shows. Check out our top picks for places where night looks anything but ordinary.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand
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New Zealand’s North Island hides a network of caves where tiny glowworms turn darkness into something cinematic. These caves feel like someone installed a starry sky underground by casting a soft blue-green light to attract their prey. As a result, they wow their human visitors, too. You can float through by boat, gliding under what looks like a galaxy in the rocks.
Mosquito Bay, Vieques, Puerto Rico
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Kayak through this bay at night, and it’s like paddling through liquid light. Tiny plankton called dinoflagellates flash neon blue when disturbed. It’s one of the brightest bioluminescent spots on Earth, but you’ll need a guide, and no swimming is allowed. These glow-makers are fragile.
Toyama Bay, Japan
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Every spring, the sea off Japan’s western coast starts glowing—thanks to firefly squid. These little creatures light up their tentacles during mating season. You can join a boat tour from Namerikawa, or check out the local museum for a deep dive into these shimmering phenomena.
Ghost Mushroom Lane, South Australia
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There are no tricks here—just mushrooms that glow. In late autumn, a pine forest in Glencoe comes alive with ghost fungi that glow faintly green. These poisonous mushrooms resemble oysters by day but reveal their otherworldly glow by night. A designated trail called Ghost Mushroom Lane allows safe, up-close viewing during the brief season when these organisms thrive.
Salt River Bay, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
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The calm waters of the Caribbean bay are hidden among mangroves and are home to bioluminescent plankton that flash if you mess with them. Join a guided kayak tour and watch as your paddle traces glowing ripples through the night.
Neon Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada
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Old Vegas gets a second act here. The Neon Museum—affectionately called the Boneyard—houses vintage signs from casinos and hotels that once lit up the Strip. After dark, they glow again and become an electric art walk.
Bioluminescent Bay, Krabi, Thailand
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At Railay Bay, some nights feel like magic. Under the right conditions—clear skies and little moonlight—bioluminescent plankton drift close to shore. Dip a paddle, move your hand, and the water shimmers back.
Glowworms, Springbrook National Park, Australia
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In a cave behind a waterfall in Queensland, glowworms hang like tiny lanterns in the dark. They use their glow to trap insects, but the effect is pure enchantment. These glowworms appear between December and March, and are unique to Australia and New Zealand’s humid forests.
Bioluminescent Beach Worms, Jersey, UK
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On low-tide nights, beaches in Jersey can twinkle with bioluminescent bristle worms that light up the seabed with pale green glows. They’re often active during new moons and create streaks of light beneath the water, especially visible at La Rocque Harbour. The phenomenon completely changes the vibe on the beach, for the better, of course.
Moonbow at Cumberland Falls, Kentucky
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This lunar rainbow appears during clear, full moon nights when mist from Cumberland Falls refracts moonlight into a faded arc. Moonbows are rare and delicate and occur in only a handful of locations worldwide. Kentucky’s falls, sometimes called the “Niagara of the South,” provide a near-ideal setting for the elusive effect.
Fireflies, Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
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Each year, synchronous fireflies flash in unison during their short mating season and create short bursts of light that sweep across the forest floor. Head to Elkmont in late May or early June to catch the show.
Firefly Squid, Namerikawa, Japan
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Tiny but bright, firefly squid gather in Toyama Bay during spring and illuminate the water with blue light. Visitors can join nighttime boat tours or explore the Hotaruika Museum, where interactive displays simulate the ocean’s glow. The squid’s flashing tentacles are one of Japan’s most visually striking seasonal events.
Disco Shrimp, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
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They don’t throw parties, but they sure light one up. In Grand Cayman’s bioluminescent bay, ostracods—nicknamed disco shrimp—glow blue during their underwater mating dance. The effect is like underwater confetti, which is brief, brilliant, and gone before you know it.
Blue Tears, Matsu Islands, Taiwan
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From April to October, disturbed water near the Matsu Islands glows thanks to dinoflagellates nicknamed “blue tears.” The glow intensifies in darkness, and boat tours take visitors through tunnels and open bays to experience it. Boats skim across the surface as the sea lights up behind them.
Van Gogh Cycle Path, Eindhoven, Netherlands
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This bike path is like a painting you can ride through. Inspired by The Starry Night, Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde created a stretch of glowing trail using solar-charged stones. At night, it lets cyclists glide through their own little piece of art history.