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Looking for a little luck this year? While you could wish on a star or hunt for a four-leaf clover, there are certain locations around the world that are famous for bringing people good fortune in love, work, family, finances and more.
Looking for a little luck this year? While you could wish on a star or hunt for a four-leaf clover, there are certain locations around the world that are famous for bringing people good fortune in love, work, family, finances and more.
Hoover Dam (Nevada) | If you're looking to see an American man-made marvel and get a little luck while doing so, head to the Nevada side of the Hoover Dam. At the monument of the dam's dedication, there are a pair of 30-foot-tall bronze Art Deco statues known as the Winged Figures of the Republic. The figures' feet have been rubbed shiny and smooth by countless visitors touching their toes for good luck.
Hoover Dam (Nevada) | If you’re looking to see an American man-made marvel and get a little luck while doing so, head to the Nevada side of the Hoover Dam. At the monument of the dam’s dedication, there are a pair of 30-foot-tall bronze Art Deco statues known as the Winged Figures of the Republic. The figures’ feet have been rubbed shiny and smooth by countless visitors touching their toes for good luck.
Blarney Stone (Blarney, Ireland) | Located at Blarney Castle, the world-famous Blarney stone is known for its ability to bestow the gift of gab to those who kiss it — “blarney” means skillful flattery or nonsense. The stone is set into a castle wall and visitors must lean backward while holding on to an iron railing to be able to give it a peck.
Intihuatana Stone (Machu Picchu, Peru) | The Intihuatana Stone is a ritual stone located at the renowned archaeological site Machu Picchu in Peru. Visitors used to press their foreheads onto the stone, believing that would grant them visions of the spirit world. However, now the stone is roped off and tourists are not allowed to touch it.
Intihuatana Stone (Machu Picchu, Peru) | The Intihuatana Stone is a ritual stone located at the renowned archaeological site Machu Picchu in Peru. Visitors used to press their foreheads onto the stone, believing that would grant them visions of the spirit world. However, now the stone is roped off and tourists are not allowed to touch it.
Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey) | The Hagia Sophia is a 6th-century place of worship turned museum in Istanbul, Turkey, that is considered one of the world's great monuments. Along with taking in its beautiful art and architecture, visitors can also test their luck at the famous wishing column, also known as the weeping column. If you stick your thumb into a small hole in the copper facing of the column and it comes out wet, you will be cured of all ailments.
Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey) | The Hagia Sophia is a 6th-century place of worship turned museum in Istanbul, Turkey, that is considered one of the world’s great monuments. Along with taking in its beautiful art and architecture, visitors can also test their luck at the famous wishing column, also known as the weeping column. If you stick your thumb into a small hole in the copper facing of the column and it comes out wet, you will be cured of all ailments.
Trevi Fountain (Rome, Italy) | Perhaps the most famous lucky fountain in the world is the majestic marble Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy. Visitors fling a coin over their backs into the fountain to guarantee that they will return to Rome and find love. More than $1 million in coins is collected from the fountain every year and donated to a local charity.
Trevi Fountain (Rome, Italy) | Perhaps the most famous lucky fountain in the world is the majestic marble Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy. Visitors fling a coin over their backs into the fountain to guarantee that they will return to Rome and find love. More than $1 million in coins is collected from the fountain every year and donated to a local charity.
4 Money doesn't grow on trees, but it sure looks like it does at St. Nectan's Glen in Cornwall, England. Along with supposedly being home to pixies and fairies, this serene, spiritual spot also has a tree whose trunk has been jammed full of coins by people hoping for good luck and financial prosperity.
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Money doesn’t grow on trees, but it sure looks like it does at St. Nectan’s Glen in Cornwall, England. Along with supposedly being home to pixies and fairies, this serene, spiritual spot also has a tree whose trunk has been jammed full of coins by people hoping for good luck and financial prosperity.
Casa di Giulietta (Verona, Italy) | Casa di Giulietta, or the House of Juliet, in Verona, Italy, is a historic home once owned by the Cappello family. Their name sounding close to the name of the Capulets from Shakespeare’s fictional classic “Romeo and Juliet” led to it being considered the house of the tragic heroine. The home features a balcony and a bronze statue of Juliet in the courtyard below. Visitors, especially those who are unlucky in love, rub the statue’s right breast for good luck.
Abraham Lincoln’s Tomb (Springfield, Illinois) | The quest for good fortune “nose” no bounds at Lincoln’s Tomb in Springfield, Illinois. Millions of people have rubbed the massive nose on a bronze bust of Abraham Lincoln for luck over the years, so much so that holes have been worn through it, which have been repaired by a metalsmith.
Gentleman from Paris (Havana, Cuba) | Locals and tourists looking for a little luck in colonial Havana head to a life-size bronze statue known as the Gentleman from Paris. Touching his finger is meant to bring prosperity, while stroking his beard will guarantee that you'll return to Havana one day. Eager luck-seekers have rubbed the patina off in these spots, leaving his finger and beard a shiny gold.
Gentleman from Paris (Havana, Cuba) | Locals and tourists looking for a little luck in colonial Havana head to a life-size bronze statue known as the Gentleman from Paris. Touching his finger is meant to bring prosperity, while stroking his beard will guarantee that you’ll return to Havana one day. Eager luck-seekers have rubbed the patina off in these spots, leaving his finger and beard a shiny gold.
Goose Girl (Göttingen, Germany) | Göttingen, Germany, is known for the Gänseliesel, or Goose Girl, a statue located atop an old well in front of the Old Town Hall. Just-graduated doctoral students from the nearby University of Göttingen will come decorate her with flowers and kiss her on the cheek for good luck after receiving their degree.
Goose Girl (Göttingen, Germany) | Göttingen, Germany, is known for the Gänseliesel, or Goose Girl, a statue located atop an old well in front of the Old Town Hall. Just-graduated doctoral students from the nearby University of Göttingen will come decorate her with flowers and kiss her on the cheek for good luck after receiving their degree.
Point Zero (Paris, France) | Point Zéro des Routes de France is the spot from which every distance from Paris is measured. Located outside Notre Dame Cathedral, it's marked with a brass plaque with a compass rose. The legend goes that if you walk over this point, your footsteps will bring you back to Paris.
Point Zero (Paris, France) | Point Zéro des Routes de France is the spot from which every distance from Paris is measured. Located outside Notre Dame Cathedral, it’s marked with a brass plaque with a compass rose. The legend goes that if you walk over this point, your footsteps will bring you back to Paris.
Charles Bridge (Prague, Czech Republic) | Charles Bridge, the oldest bridge in Prague, offers a chance for good luck with an amazing view. Visitors who touch the plaques on the statue of St. John of Nepomuk will have good luck. If you want a wish to be granted, look for the nearby black grille with five stars and a relief of the drowning of St. John of Nepomuk. If you touch each star and then place your left hand on the cross on the railing under the grate, your wish will come true. Also on the bridge is a statue of St. Anne, the patron of pregnant women who is also an intercessor for a happy wedding and marriage.
Charles Bridge (Prague, Czech Republic) | Charles Bridge, the oldest bridge in Prague, offers a chance for good luck with an amazing view. Visitors who touch the plaques on the statue of St. John of Nepomuk will have good luck. If you want a wish to be granted, look for the nearby black grille with five stars and a relief of the drowning of St. John of Nepomuk. If you touch each star and then place your left hand on the cross on the railing under the grate, your wish will come true. Also on the bridge is a statue of St. Anne, the patron of pregnant women who is also an intercessor for a happy wedding and marriage.
Tunnel of Love (Klevan, Ukraine) | A “tunnel of love” was a popular amusement park attraction for couples, but there’s a real-life romantic tunnel in Ukraine that’s not only a magical stroll but will also give you and your partner good luck in love. One of the most photographed places in Ukraine, this natural tunnel of trees has been carved out by a train that has run along this path since the Cold War. If a couple go through it together and makes a wish, it will come true if their love is sincere.
Magic Owl of Dijon (Dijon, France) | The lucky talisman of the city of Dijon, France, has also become it’s unofficial mascot. “La chouette,” or the owl, is a stone figure carved into the buttress of an inauspicious building. The owl has been worn down by passersby touching the bird with their left hand while making a wish.
Fountain of Wealth (Suntec City, Singapore) | Located in the Suntec City shopping complex in downtown Singapore, the Fountain of Wealth was inspired by the design of the Hindu mandala to imbue it with positive “qi” energy. Visitors should encircle the fountain clockwise three times with their right hand stretched out over the water then make a wish.
Il Porcellino (Florence, Italy) | Il Porcellino is a bronze boar statue in Florence, Italy, that draws hundreds of visitors a day hoping some of its good luck will rub off on them. Passersby give the boar's snout a rub while dropping a coin in the boar's open mouth. If the coin slides out and falls through the grating beneath the statue, that guarantees good luck.
Il Porcellino (Florence, Italy) | Il Porcellino is a bronze boar statue in Florence, Italy, that draws hundreds of visitors a day hoping some of its good luck will rub off on them. Passersby give the boar’s snout a rub while dropping a coin in the boar’s open mouth. If the coin slides out and falls through the grating beneath the statue, that guarantees good luck.
Madron Well (Cornwall, England) | For centuries, people flocked to Cornwall's Madron Well for the water's purported healing properties. Traditionally, visitors would take pieces of rag or ribbon, known as clouties, that were torn from a part of the body where they had an injury or illness. They would tie the clouties in a nearby tree, and as the piece disintegrated, their affliction would also disappear. Today, the tree is still filled with colorful pieces of cloth for blessings and luck.
Madron Well (Cornwall, England) | For centuries, people flocked to Cornwall’s Madron Well for the water’s purported healing properties. Traditionally, visitors would take pieces of rag or ribbon, known as clouties, that were torn from a part of the body where they had an injury or illness. They would tie the clouties in a nearby tree, and as the piece disintegrated, their affliction would also disappear. Today, the tree is still filled with colorful pieces of cloth for blessings and luck.
Wishing Tree (Lam Tsuen, Tai Po, Hong Kong) | The Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong are famous for their wish-granting abilities. Originally, the tradition was for locals and tourists alike to write a wish on a piece of paper, tie it to a mandarin orange, and toss the fruit as high as possible into the banyan tree's branches; if the orange got caught, the wish would come true. The tradition has become extremely popular, especially around the Lunar New Year, and visitors now tie or toss their wishes on nearby racks or throw plastic oranges to help protect the trees.
Wishing Tree (Lam Tsuen, Tai Po, Hong Kong) | The Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong are famous for their wish-granting abilities. Originally, the tradition was for locals and tourists alike to write a wish on a piece of paper, tie it to a mandarin orange, and toss the fruit as high as possible into the banyan tree’s branches; if the orange got caught, the wish would come true. The tradition has become extremely popular, especially around the Lunar New Year, and visitors now tie or toss their wishes on nearby racks or throw plastic oranges to help protect the trees.
Ferdinand Magellan Monument (Punta Arenas, Chile) | In the main square in Punta Arenas, Chile, there is a statue of Ferdinand Magellan gazing out at his namesake strait. Along the base, there are multiple figures, including an Indigenous Patagonian whose dangling foot has been touched and kissed to a shine by people heading out to sea. It's said to bring good luck and guarantee you'll be back to Punta Arenas.
Ferdinand Magellan Monument (Punta Arenas, Chile) | In the main square in Punta Arenas, Chile, there is a statue of Ferdinand Magellan gazing out at his namesake strait. Along the base, there are multiple figures, including an Indigenous Patagonian whose dangling foot has been touched and kissed to a shine by people heading out to sea. It’s said to bring good luck and guarantee you’ll be back to Punta Arenas.
Stump Pass Beach State Park (Englewood, Florida) | The white sand beaches of Florida's Stump Pass Beach State Park are a hidden gem for collecting seashells and other beach treasures like shark teeth. Beachcombers often hang their beautiful finds on the beach's trees and stumps for good luck, creating a truly unique sight.
Stump Pass Beach State Park (Englewood, Florida) | The white sand beaches of Florida’s Stump Pass Beach State Park are a hidden gem for collecting seashells and other beach treasures like shark teeth. Beachcombers often hang their beautiful finds on the beach’s trees and stumps for good luck, creating a truly unique sight.
Schöner Brunnen (Nuremberg, Germany)| The Schöner Brunnen is a 14th-century fountain in Nuremberg's market square. Its tiers of stone religious figures are topped with a Gothic spire and surrounded by a protective railing. Within the railing is a shiny brass ring that has been replaced several times over the centuries as people believe turning it brings good luck.
Schöner Brunnen (Nuremberg, Germany)| The Schöner Brunnen is a 14th-century fountain in Nuremberg’s market square. Its tiers of stone religious figures are topped with a Gothic spire and surrounded by a protective railing. Within the railing is a shiny brass ring that has been replaced several times over the centuries as people believe turning it brings good luck.
The Guardhouse Monkey (Mons, Belgium) | The residents of Mons, Belgium, also have their own famous good luck statue. The Guardhouse Monkey is a small iron statue of a monkey outside of city hall with unknown origins. According to the legends, if you rub the monkey's head with your left hand, you'll have a year of good luck. Single women looking for love and couples who want to have a child will also have their wish granted with a pat of the monkey's head.
The Guardhouse Monkey (Mons, Belgium) | The residents of Mons, Belgium, also have their own famous good luck statue. The Guardhouse Monkey is a small iron statue of a monkey outside of city hall with unknown origins. According to the legends, if you rub the monkey’s head with your left hand, you’ll have a year of good luck. Single women looking for love and couples who want to have a child will also have their wish granted with a pat of the monkey’s head.
Xia Hai City God Temple (Taipei, Taiwan) | Back in 2019, about 500 people a day looking for luck in love were visiting Taipei's Xia Hai City God Temple. Those numbers were more like 1,000 on Valentine's Day or around the Lunar New Year. This small, popular temple has a big track record of singles from around the world finding a partner after praying and making an offering to a statue of the god of marriage and love here. Successful couples are supposed to return and bring cookies or cakes from their wedding as a thank you, and the temple receives thousands a year.
Xia Hai City God Temple (Taipei, Taiwan) | Back in 2019, about 500 people a day looking for luck in love were visiting Taipei’s Xia Hai City God Temple. Those numbers were more like 1,000 on Valentine’s Day or around the Lunar New Year. This small, popular temple has a big track record of singles from around the world finding a partner after praying and making an offering to a statue of the god of marriage and love here. Successful couples are supposed to return and bring cookies or cakes from their wedding as a thank you, and the temple receives thousands a year.