Places to discover: 25 Surprising Places Around The World To Discover Solo

25 Surprising Places Around The World To Discover Solo

Deciding to travel solo can sound quite freighting and intimidating, but it’s something that everyone should experience at some point in his or her life. There are many reasons why you should travel alone and believe it or not, there are numerous destinations across the world that are ideal for exploring solo.

Solo traveling can be therapeutic and is the ideal opportunity for you to discover something new without having a companion influence your decisions. Learning new cultures, meeting new people and experiencing new adventures while traveling alone has a lot of benefits. You are on your own voyage of discovery and you might just enjoy it even more than with a friend.

You can pretty much travel anywhere around the world, but you might be faced with a few challenges if you aren’t prepared. Is the place I’m traveling to overall a happy place? Are the locals accepting and willing to help if I get lost or confused? And most of all is this place safe? If you’re new to traveling alone, we’re here to help. This list of 25 places around the world to travel solo is countries and cities that are safe and are excellent places to discover if you’re just starting your journey of self-discovery while on your solo adventure.

25/25 Paris, France

Traveling to Paris sounds like a vacation for couples in love since it has a reputation for being one of the world’s most romantic cities. However, that’s not all true and Paris is a fantastic place for someone to explore. The city is very walkable and is full of history and charm. There are numerous sites to explore like the Sainte-Chapelle, a royal chapel where you can admire the stunning assortment of stained glass windows, the Musee D’Orsay, a museum housed in a stunning railway station with plenty of awe-inspiring French art, and the famous Musee du Louvre, the world’s largest art museum, where you can spend an entire day admiring the artwork. You’ll also want to walk along the Seine, grab a bite to eat, drink a glass of wine and admire Parisian lifestyle.

24/25 Rome, Italy

Rome is full of history and you’ll probably benefit from exploring it on your own because there is just so much to see and you don’t want to feel limited. While here you’ll have to explore all the ancient sites, the Pantheon, Roman Forum, and Coliseum, the Trevi Fountain and feel like you’ve stepped back in time during the Roman Empire. Make your way to the Vatican City to see the pope’s home and see the glorious St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, which is most famously known for Michelangelo’s 16th century painted ceiling. Don’t be shy to explore the numerous Piazza’s or squares, like the Piazza Navona, where you’ll find street artists, bars and lots of shopping.

23/25 Iceland

The most peaceful country in the world is Iceland, which has been on the top of the Global Peace Index since 2008. Iceland is defined by its dramatic landscape, with volcanoes, waterfalls, hot springs and glaciers. These natural wonders of Iceland are a must see like the Blue Lagoon, a famous geothermal spa with seawater, the Gullfoss Waterfall, one of the most stunning and impressive waterfalls on the island, and the jaw-dropping Northern Lights, the glowing and flickering displays of colors in the sky. Take the Golden Circle Route, which is probably the easiest way to see all of these spectacular attractions and you’ll find other solo travelers on this route as well. Make your way to Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik also to learn more about Iceland’s Viking history and do a little shopping.

22/25 New York City

New York City is an amazing city to discover alone because there are endless things to do. Check out a few of the cool art museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art or discover human cultures at the Natural Museum of History. There are a plethora of cool and hip bars and restaurants serving food from different nations around the world for you to try and it’s very okay to eat alone here. With an easy public transportation system, you can go from checking out trendy Brooklyn to the posh Upper East Side in Manhattan. Escape crowds and avoid Times Square as much as you can. After you’ve done your sightseeing, you must grab a New York slice of pizza at the many local spots around the city.

21/25 New Zealand

Like Iceland, New Zealand has been called one of the safest and friendliest countries in the world, so it’s a good place to start if you’re traveling for the first time on your own. New Zealand is a great country to travel to if you consider yourself the outdoorsy type with its stunning landscapes, its many black sand beaches, fjord-filled national parks, and caves, you can find yourself busy exploring every inch of the nation. Even though you’ll be alone, you don’t have to worry about being lonely because you’ll meet a ton of other people traveling solo and seeing the same sights at you. There are plenty of backpack adventure tours offered and you’ll instantly make friends while you’re summiting a peak or exploring Auckland, a large city where you’ll find wineries, volcanoes, beaches and walking tracks.

20/25 Guatemala

Guatemala is a popular destination for solo travelers with the main attractions including its colonial city Antigua and tourist-friendly town Flores, which is also the gateway to the countries most famous cultural attraction, Tikal. Antigua is extremely picturesque situated in a valley surrounded by volcanoes. The city is famous for its cobbled streets, baroque architecture, restaurants and bars, and you can easily find other solo travelers exploring this historic city. Make your way to Flores, which is packed with tourists, and while there you’ll make your way through dense jungle to see the famous ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal.

19/25 Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai is a city in mountainous northern Thailand with a vibrant culture and is home to hundreds of intricately decorated Buddhist temples. A city is an amazing place for photographers, especially when you explore the Old City, which is practically a living museum with the best temples and historical buildings surrounded by crumbling ancient walls and moats. You’ll want to explore Doi Inthanon National Park, known as a sanctuary for a wide range of animals and natural beauty. Visit the busy markets that have just about everything you can think of and where after 5 p. m., these same markets buzz with music, street food and plenty of tourists so you won’t feel alone.

18/25 Glacier National Park, Montana

If you want to explore a natural wonder in the United States and enjoy hiking, backpacking or camping, you can easily do it on your own at Glacier National Park in Montana. The park is a 1,583 square mile wilderness area in the state’s Rocky Mountains with more than 700 miles of hiking trails for you to discover. If you consider yourself an expert hiker, make your way to the heart of the park and find the famous Grinnell Glacier. Hidden Lake is one of the most awe-inspiring places in the park, with views of a lake surrounded by numerous mountain peaks. If you’re driving, Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the most scenic roads in the Rocky Mountains that will leave you speechless.

17/25 Melbourne, Australia

To see all the sights in Melbourne, Australia, a great activity as a solo traveler is to go on a tour. According to Culture Trip, a tour is a great way to meet other people who want to explore the same areas as you. A tour will take you to see the amazing Twelve Apostles, a collection of limestone stacks off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park, visit wildlife like penguins at Phillip Island and you’ll love walking around the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne which encompasses 94 acres of greenery. Before you leave this exhilarating city, you must grab a coffee. Degraves Street is one of the most famous streets to grab a cup of Joe, however, there are other cafes serving up warm and tasty coffee whichever way you look.

16/25 Alberta, Canada

If you’re looking for another outdoor adventure closer to the states, make your way to Alberta, Canada. For a safe and friendly destination to hike and explore, you’ll love Alberta, which encompasses mountains, parries, desert badlands, and vast forests. Check out Kananaskis Country, which features Rocky Mountain vistas, pristine glacier lakes, and beautiful alpine meadows. You’ll also want to make your way to Moraine Lake, a dramatic, glacier-fed lake with a pretty blue-green color and plenty of hiking trails. After you’ve trekked your way through the wilderness, visit Calgary, a cosmopolitan city with plenty of places to eat and drink, museums and shopping.

15/25 Cusco, Peru

Cusco is a well-preserved historic city in the Peruvian Andes that was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Everything you want to see is easily done on foot, with churches, museums and ruins are located within walking distance. Cusco is literally surrounded by Inca ruins with Plaza de Armas is the center of the Old Town and the prime sightseeing location. Some of the unique places to visit include the Pisaq Market, which sells handicrafts, medicinal herbs, jewelry, and local food and if you don’t want to stay in town for your entire trip, make your way to Sacsayhuamán, a monumental Inca fortress that still today is an archeological mystery.

14/25 Kenya

According to Expert Africa, Kenya is a fantastic country to visit if traveling solo. Most small safari camps and lodges are sociable and guests have the ability to dine together and take part in safari trips together, so you won’t be alone most of the time. Locals are friendly and will help if you aren’t familiar with transportation. Discover Africa notes that on safaris, small private camps and private concessions’ reserves are better suited for solo travelers than larger lodges because you’ll experience a more hands-on and personalized service. The main highlights in Kenya are of course the thrilling safari rides through the bush seeing the wide array of wild animals like elephants, lions, zebras, and giraffes. You’ll also want to check out Kenya’s coastal resorts with Malindi being the most popular and sociable.

13/25 Hokkaido, Japan

Hokkaido is the northernmost and least developed island of Japan’s four main islands, which means its a heavenly destination for those who like to be outdoors. Not many people have heard of this island, but it makes it all the more thrilling to check out on your own. One of the main attractions here is the stunning Daisetsuzan National Park, it’s the largest national park in Japan with miles of volcanic peaks, rivers, dense forest of fir, a species of evergreen coniferous trees and beech, a large tree with glossy leaves. Make your way to central Hokkaido to Furano most famous for its colorful fields of flowers that are a photographers dream. When you make your way south of Hokkaido you can take a gondola to see the “sea of clouds,” when a dense river of fog blankets over the cliffs of Unkai Terrace.

12/25 Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen is a laid back and easy city to explore on your own and you’ll find a number of things to do. The colors of the boathouses and the mix of old and new architecture are definitely mesmerizing. If you want to get to certain places, it seems like biking is the way to go and it’s certainly a cheaper option. Spots like Nørrebro are a must for first-time travelers who want to check out a hip neighborhood, which features late-night bars and eateries and trendy coffee shops. To feel more relaxed, you might want to walk through The Kings Garden, the oldest park in the city where you can end up chatting with a local. Culture Trip advises first-time travelers to the city to explore it by water, taking a boat tour and seeing the famous Little Mermaid statue, Christiansborg Palace and many interesting museums.

11/25 Cuba

Cuba is rich in history and culture and exploring the country solo may sound a little scary at first, but the country is safe and there are low crime rates. Havana will take your breath away with and make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time with the plethora of colorful 1950s Chevys, cigars, salsa music, and the crumbling old architecture. Blogger Justine Mfulama took a trip solo to Cuba and mentioned that you should definitely explore outside of Havana. “In Varadero, you will find some of the most beautiful beaches and fun nightlife. In Vinales, on the other hand, you can relax in the middle of nowhere and explore the local tobacco plants. Finally, in Trinidad you will feel like a real Cuban Girl, dancing to beautiful Salsa and Bachata rhythms all night,” she writes.

10/25 Vietnam

Traveling to Vietnam alone might sound intimidating, but it shouldn’t and there are plenty of people who travel here solo. According to Intrepid Travel, blogger Amanda Williams traveled alone to Vietnam and wrote that the nation has an established tourist trail that will make first-time visitors feel at ease. The main sites on the trail include places like Ha Long Bay, known for its dazzling emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands, Hoi An, a well preserved ancient town, Ho Chi Minh City, a city with tons of energy and entertainment and the Mekong Delta, which is a vast maze of rivers, swamps and islands.

9/25 Vienna, Austria

Vienna has a rich 2000-year long history and there is a long list of sites to visit here while you are discovering the city solo. Of all the city’s main attractions, its Imperial landmarks stand out the most. You must check out the museums at the Hofburg Imperial Palace and make your way to the Ringstrasse, a circular boulevard that features many of Vienna’s most important buildings and sights, including the Opera and the Fine Arts Museum. The area is also a great place to walk around and explore all the tourist sites. Sologuides recommends walking along the Danube banks or taking a walk in the City Park to do some solo discovery and take in the beauty of this city.

8/25 Norway

Norway has a lot of charm and its beautiful natural landscapes and small cities make it a great solo destination. Norway is one of the safest countries in the world and natives speak some of the best English outsides of native English-speaking countries. Norway is a large country, so if it’s your first time, you’ll want to stick to going to city’s like Oslo, where you’ll find museums showcasing Norway’s vast history like the Viking Ship Museum, or the city of Bergen, with its picturesque colorful wooden structures sitting between the seven mountains and breathtaking fjords. If you’re looking for some quiet time and maybe a little self-discovery, make your way to the Norwegian countryside. Take on a track and go hiking or even arrange a day trip sailing to see the stunning fjords.

7/25 Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a great place to have a solo adventure, and unless you really want to seclude yourself from the rest of the country, you most likely want to be someplace where you have the chance to meet other people, try a bunch of different foods and be within close proximity to a number of outdoor activities. Some of the nation’s main attractions include Tamarindo, a place known for its beaches and strong surf, and where you can also take your very own surfing lesson. The beautiful Santa Teresa, where forest frames a small beach and there is an absence of buildings and where you can find yourself lying under a palm tree and reading a book is also a great option. Culture Trip recommends travelers to take up a yoga class or a guided nature tour to see all of the natural beauty of this nation.

6/25 Lagos, Portugal

Lagos, Portugal is an important city with a lot of history, pristine beaches, and a buzzing nightlife. Lagos is considered a resort town, however, it is filled with history and contains a plethora of historical monuments and buildings of the past. Some of the most notable buildings include the San Antonio church and the 17th century Bandeira Fort. Lagos has a beautiful harbor and you can easily spend a whole day walking down its cobbled streets. You’ll love spending a relaxing day on the golden sands of the Meia Praia, but to see some of Lagos’ natural wonders, join a boat tour to see the Ponta da Piedade, a series of beautiful sandstone cliffs that are surrounded by turquoise sea waters.

40 Breathtaking Places To Visit Before You Die

Our world is filled with indescribable beauty and places to go, both human-made and natural, and it’s hard to say whether a single lifetime would indeed be enough to experience all of it. Most of us will probably never see everything that the world has to offer us, but it’s worth a shot! Here are 40 incredible places to see around the world that are definitely worth adding to your bucket list of best vacation spots.

Some consider travel to be a luxury or even an unnecessary burden, while others believe it to be vitally important to living a fulfilled life. Still, others don’t even have the opportunity to make that decision. But if you are afflicted with a case of wanderlust, you know that seeing the most beautiful places to visit can be a profoundly moving and valuable experience.

My personal favorite is ecological tourism – climbing mountains, exploring deserts or in merely drinking in the sights of the countryside. However, you can’t deny the appeal of some of the human-made structures as well – from the epic, ancient grandeur of the Pyramids of Giza to the sunny charm of sea-side villages in Greece.

It’s a wonderful and beautiful world we live in, so make sure to check these places to visit before you die! Here’s an excellent quote from St. Augustine that will hopefully inspire you to choose a place to visit before you die and just go: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

Scroll down below to see our picks of the most beautiful places to visit in the world.

1. Bagan, Myanmar

Image credits: Martin Sojka

2. Zhangye Danxia Landform in Gansu, China

Image credits: unbelievableinfo. blogspot.it

Images credits: Melinda Chan

3. Li River, China

Image credits: Weerapong Chaipuck

Image credits: Peter Stewart

Image credits: Ed McGowan

4. Meteora, Greece

Image credits: Darby Sawchuk

5. Salar de Uyuni: One of the World’s Largest Mirrors, Bolivia

Image credits: dadi360

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Image credits: dadi360

6. Tianzi Mountains, China

Image credits: Richard Janecki

7. Santorini Island, Greece

Image credits: paowmagazine.com

8. Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Image credits: Randall Collis

Image credits: lecercle

9. Yosemite Valley, USA

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Image credits: Conrad Casper

10. Hitachi Seaside Park, Japan

Image credits: nipomen2

11. Bamboo Forest, Japan

Image credits: Yuya Horikawa

12. Petra, Jordan

Image credits: Gloria Castro Salvador

13. Machu Picchu, Peru

Image credits: Lubomir Koulev

14. Cave in Algarve, Portugal

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Image credits: Bruno Carlos

15. Halong Bay, Vietnam

Image credits: Nic

16. Pamukkale, Turkey

Image credits: Ahmet Sahin

Image credits: riccio

17. Rice Terrace Fields in Mu Cang Chai, Vietnam

Image credits: Thang Soi

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Image credits: Sarawut Intarob

18. M0nument Valley, USA

Image credits: Jouni Välkki

19. Naica Mine, Mexico

Image credits: nicole_denise

Image credits: nicole_denise

20. Hang Son Doong, Vietnam

Image credits: National Geographic

21. Venice, Italy

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Image credits: Constantin Gololobov

Image credits: Peter Young

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22. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

Image credits: Manu

Image credits: Jack Brauer

23. Lençóis Maranhenses, Brazil

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Image credits: brasilvip.net

24. Navagio Bay, Greece

Image credits: Johan Björling

25. Provence, France

Image credits: Benh Lieu Song

Image credits: Giovanni Allievi

26. Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe

Image credits: Vittorio Chiampan

Image credits: Mark Smith

27. Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Image credits: Pierre Lesage

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Image credits: David Kosmos Smith

28. Moraine Lake, Canada

Image credits: Thomas Spinner

29. Tulip Fields in Netherlands

Image credits: Allard Schager

Image credits: Normann Szkop

30. Geiranger Fjord, Norway

Image credits: norwegianfjordtravel.com

31. Mount Roraima, Venezuela/Brazil/Guyana

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Image credits: imgur.com

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32. Vatnajokull Glacier Cave, Iceland

Image credits: orvaratli

33. Batu Caves, Malaysia

Image credits: Danny Xeero

34. Gásadalur, Faroe Islands

Image credits: Gareth Codd

35. Antelope Canyon, USA

Image credits: CSMphotography

36. Iguazu Falls, Argentina/Brazil

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Image credits: vacationadvice101.com

Image credits: leonlagben

37. Giza Pyramids, Egypt

Image credits: Edward Ewet

Image credits: Dale Johnson

38. McWay Falls, USA

Image credits: Helena W

39. Cappadocia, Turkey

Image credits: Beng Lieu Song

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Image credits: Kani Polat

Hey, wait, there are only 39 places here! Can you suggest a 40th?

How to find cool places to travel in Russia

August 28, 2014iOSTraveling

Iya Zorina

Lifehacker author, athlete, CCM

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or on business. What is there to see? Where to go? The same applies to a short or budget vacation. There is something to see in Russia, in each region there are places that will not only be liked, but will delight and be remembered for a lifetime. But the problem is, how do you find them? Read about it below.

Recently I spent a vacation in the Urals: hiking in the mountains, the cleanest lake Turgoyak, a city surrounded by mountains. There were a lot of impressions, but, despite the approximate plan of the trip, there were still problems with planning the trip.

Even before getting on the train and going to another region, my friend and I tried to find what to see in another city, how to get to the Taganay National Park and what to see already in it.

In the end, everything turned out by itself, but still we didn’t have time to visit some places, for example, go to the weapons shop where you could buy a knife made of damask steel, or climb the bell tower to look at the city from a height. Of course, if you knew in advance, you could somehow adjust your schedule and do everything in time.

And if you are going not to rest, but on business, wanting to see the city along the way, a clear plan of action is generally necessary, otherwise one will be disappointed. So where to look for interesting places to visit?

Ask on the social network

This is a great way, especially if you get to a person who knows and loves his city. I usually look for a group on social media, something like “…. — my favorite city”, I choose a few people who I like and ask them. So far, not a single person has refused to answer questions like: “What do you see in the city?”.

It’s much easier than looking for the sights of the city in a search engine, especially since the information on different sites may be outdated, and you will get the most up-to-date information from people.

If you are used to being guided by the visual part, you can search Foursqare: there are photos of beautiful places and marks on the map. True, there is no detailed description of the sights.

There is another opportunity to make a clear travel plan for myself, which, unfortunately, I learned about only upon arrival. This application TopTripTip with interesting places in different regions of Russia.

TopTripTip

This is a free app for iOS 7 (not yet optimized for iOS 8) with which you can not only prepare for a trip, but also navigate offline maps along the way.

So far, there are 23 destinations in the application – major cities and regions. Over time, new regions will be added to cover all the interesting places in Russia.

First you need to download the destination guide. I uploaded the Samara region, because in early October we will go to the “Festival 404”, so we need to find out what we can see along the way in this city.

We go into the guide and see several editions. These are blocks in which sights and simply interesting places on a certain topic are collected.

For example, “Russian customs” or “For those who love mountains”. We choose what we like best, go to the editorial office and look for specific places to visit.

Full information on the place

Unlike correspondence with local residents, there are marks on the map and photos, unlike Foursqare – a detailed description.

TopTripTip can be used not only during preparation, but also on site. The application will determine your location, show places of interest distributed by distance, and take you to your destination.

Another plus is related objects. If the place you have chosen is somehow connected to another, for example, two natural monuments that are close to each other, you will see this in the attraction card and you can visit two cool places in one trip.

To make it easier to search, there are filters by objects. We go to the “Objects” section, click on the icon in the upper left corner and set filters, for example, we distribute objects by popularity or by distance and select categories that are of interest.

Most likely, before the trip, you will only look at the sights and tourist routes, with which you can not be afraid of a boring trip.

But during the trip, you may need other objects: shops, hospitals or police – and all this is in the application’s filters.

Creating a route

Of course, in TopTripTip you can not only see the sights, but also create a completely consistent plan of action. And given the full information – the opening hours of interesting establishments and their contacts – you can plan the perfect route and do everything in time.

If you like a place, just click on “Visit”, create a list and add it. You can create lists for different cities or even for different days. For example, if you are traveling for three days, for each, determine lists of attractions that you need to visit.

Once you’ve visited a place, you can like it and post it to social media right from the app. Also in TopTripTip you can see the likes of other users and you can roughly estimate how popular a certain place or event is.

By the way, about events: some festivals, exhibitions and reconstructions can be remembered even better than just interesting places. The main thing is the relevance of the information, but it seems that TopTripTip has everything in order with this.

Relevance and calendar

To fill TopTripTip with relevant content, application editors monitor the situation in different cities and regions and update information. The TopTripTip service even has an affiliate program for this.

By constantly updating the data, the application has an up-to-date events calendar, where you can see upcoming events at your destination.

This is especially useful if you don’t have a clear travel date and can reschedule it to any day of the week. All interesting events are marked on the calendar with a green dot, so you can immediately see what date it is worth taking tickets for.

What’s more, the app has a reminder feature to help you remember to attend your scheduled events.

Push notifications will remind you of plans and new interesting places that have just appeared at your destination, because the database of routes, objects and events is constantly updated.

And the last thing: before buying tickets and planning trips, look at one more tab – “Weather Forecast”.

It is unlikely that you will be pleased with a trip with a heavy backpack in the rain, no matter how beautiful nature is. And city attractions are unlikely to be remembered if at this time you will be tormented by cold or heat.

appbox fallback https://apps.apple.com/ru/app/906969274

How do you find cool places to travel in Russia? Share your experience in the comments.

Procedure for detecting a suspicious object that may be an explosive device

– It is strictly forbidden to touch, open, move or take any other actions with the discovered object.
– It is not recommended to use mobile phones and other means of radio communication near such an object.
– It is necessary to immediately report the discovery of a suspicious item to the police or other competent authorities.

By public transport:
If you find a forgotten or abandoned item in public transport:
1. Interview people nearby. Try to establish whose it is and who could have left it.
2. If the owner is not identified, report the find to the driver immediately.

In the entrance of a residential building:
If you find an unknown object in the entrance of your house:
1. Ask your neighbors. Perhaps it belongs to them.
2. If the owner of the item is not identified, immediately report the find to the competent authorities.

In an institution:
If you find an unknown object in an institution, organizations:
1. Immediately inform the administration or security of the institution about the find.
2. Record the time and place of finding the unknown object.
3. Get people as far away from the suspicious object and danger area as possible.
4. Wait for the arrival of representatives of the competent authorities, indicate the location of the suspicious object, the time and circumstances of its discovery.
5. Don’t panic. Report a possible bomb threat only to those who need to know about what happened.
It is also necessary to remember that the appearance of an item may hide its true purpose. The following signs may indicate the presence of an explosive device, other dangerous objects:

Signs of an explosive device:
– Presence of wires, small antennas, electrical tape, twine, rope, tape in the bag, or sticking out of the bag.
– Noise from detected suspicious items (packages, bags, etc.). This may be the ticking of a clock, clicks, etc.
– The presence of batteries (batteries) on the found suspicious object.
– Stretch marks from wire, ropes, twine, fishing line;
– Unusual item placement;
– The presence of an object unusual for the area;
– A specific smell, unusual for the area.

Terrorism: how not to become a victim
Recently, a dangerous weapon has appeared in the hands of terrorists – sacrificial terrorism using suicide bombers. Participation in the sabotage-terrorist struggle of suicide bombers is intended not only to inflict maximum damage with a large number of victims, but also to create an atmosphere of panic, to sow uncertainty about the ability of the state to ensure the safety of its citizens. Methods of carrying out terrorist acts are extremely cruel, they are committed in crowded places with the use of explosive devices attached to the body and cars filled with explosives.
The primary task of a suicide bomber is to dissolve in the mass of people and not attract attention to himself. The Moscow events show that on the territory of the Russian Federation, as a rule, women are used by their organizers as suicide bombers-perpetrators of terrorist acts.

When committing a terrorist act, female suicide bombers dress in clothes typical for the area. Nevertheless, there are a number of characteristic features in their clothes and behavior.

Women have a headdress, while not only a traditional blind scarf is possible, but also light gas scarves, baseball caps. In the summer, the clothes of a suicide bomber do not match the weather: spacious, designed to hide an explosive device on the body.

Characteristic features of suicide bombers are:
• inadequate behavior;
• unnatural pallor;
• some inhibition of reactions and movements caused by a possible overdose of tranquilizers or narcotic substances;
• desire to avoid CCTV cameras (attempt to lower head, turn away, cover face with hand or handkerchief, hide behind taller person).

The terrorist usually carries a mobile phone with him to contact the leader in case of difficulties. Since terrorists, as a rule, are not residents of the capital, their characteristic features are uncertain orientation in the area, uncertain possession of a mobile phone, lack of skills in using cards for travel in the subway and land transport.

The nationality of the suicide bomber does not play a fundamental role for the organizers of terrorist actions. Meanwhile, an analysis of the latest manifestations of sacrificial terrorism on the territory of Russia shows a desire to use representatives of remote rural settlements in the southern regions of the country.

Be careful! If a suicide bomber senses the attention of others, he can detonate the explosive device immediately. Therefore, in order to protect yourself and those around you, try to remain calm and, without attracting the attention of a person who is suspicious of you, report him to administrative or law enforcement agencies or security services.

FSB of Russia
Address: Moscow, 107031, st. Bolshaya Lubyanka, 1/3
Phone: (495) 224-70-69 (24 hours)
Helpline: (495) 224-22-22
Fax: (495) 914-26-32

Reception FSB of Russia
Address: Moscow, 101000, st. Kuznetsky most, house 22
Phone: (495) 624-31-58

Hostage taking for ransom. What to do?

If someone close to you is taken as a hostage and some action is required as a condition for his release, first of all, make sure that he is alive and unharmed. It is unlikely that you will be given the opportunity to personally see the captured person, but it is simply necessary to talk to him on the phone. At the same time, the blackmailer should firmly state that you will not negotiate anything with him until you talk to the hostage.

While talking:

1. First, make sure that the person on the other end of the wire is really the person in question. Telephone communication is imperfect, and it is not always possible to identify even a very close person by the voice, so in a conversation try to get information that will convince you that it is really him;
2. secondly, conduct a conversation in such a way as to make sure that you are communicating with a living person, and not a tape recording;
3. thirdly, try to calm the hostage by saying that you will do everything in your power to free him as quickly as possible;
4. fourthly, ask if everything is in order with him, how he is being treated, whether they have caused any harm;
5. fifthly, convince him that it would be better if he does not take any active steps so as not to aggravate the situation and not harm himself;
6. sixth, in no case do not try even indirectly to find out who captured him and where he is. This kind of curiosity can be very costly.

After that, you can listen to the blackmailer and his conditions. Most likely, we will talk about a certain amount of money in rubles or foreign currency. Regardless of whether you have such an amount available or not, try to ask for a deferral of payment, motivating that there is no such money at hand at the moment (except for the situation when you are immediately told that this amount of money lies with you in the bottom drawer of your desk).

If negotiations are going on in person, ask for a second meeting, if by phone – a second call. And during this time, you should quickly decide what to do: fulfill the conditions of the criminal without turning to anyone for help, or still resort to the help of law enforcement agencies or a private firm (keep in mind that at present not all firms that undertake the solution problems of this kind can really solve them).

As world experience shows, blackmailing gives a delay for a very short time, and if you decide to turn to professionals for help, you should do it right away, since in order to develop a plan of joint action and prepare a group specializing in the release of hostages, it is necessary for a while.

It is best to do this immediately, but by telephone, since the possibility of establishing surveillance of your movements from the moment of contact with the blackmailers should not be ruled out. Be prepared for the fact that when you call again, they can state with a confident voice that they absolutely know that you called the police and asked for help. In a personal meeting, such a question can also be asked, and here the matter is complicated by the fact that they only hear you on the phone, but they also see you in a personal meeting. You need to be psychologically prepared for such questions.

If the next telephone conversation with a person who has taken your loved one as a hostage will take place in the presence of law enforcement officers, try to discuss with them in advance the scheme and various options for talking with the criminal. This will eliminate the possibility of delays in answering questions, and there will be no suspicion on the other end of the wire that after each question you are getting advice from someone about what and how to answer.

It often happens that the blackmailer demands at any cost to speed up the exchange time. In this case, try, without losing self-control, to convince him that everything possible is being done, but due to circumstances beyond your control, you are not yet ready to give what is expected of you. Most importantly, do not forget to remind this person that you are much more interested in the successful outcome of the case than he is. You can justify the impossibility of obtaining the requested amount in such a time by saying that the person from whom you wanted to receive money is currently on a business trip and will return in a few days, but without even waiting for his return, you are trying to find this money through other channels. It is quite possible that the pause that you bargain for will make it possible to better prepare the operation to free the hostage, and increase the guarantee of his safety.

When you agree on where and at what time to bring what the extortioner demands, set the condition that this is possible only if you have guarantees that nothing threatens the hostage. Either this will be an exchange, or before transferring the money, you will receive information that the hostage is already in a safe place at the moment.

Don’t follow the kidnappers on all issues. The firmer and more reasonable your position, the greater the chance of a favorable outcome.

Do not forget that as soon as you fulfill their demand, the hostage will no longer be needed by the attackers, it is possible that they will want to get rid of him as a dangerous witness, so the only right decision in such situations is to seek help from law enforcement agencies and strict adherence to the recommendations of their employees.

It should be clearly understood that attempts to hide something, play a “double game”, show unnecessary initiative, can significantly complicate or make it impossible to release a hostage, endanger both his life and your own.

Precautions in the event of terrorists taking hostages

Unfortunately, none of us is immune from a situation where we can be held hostage by terrorists. But still there are a few universal rules, following which you can avoid mistakes and save your life.
In a situation where there are signs of a threat of hostage-taking, try to avoid getting into their number. Leave the danger area immediately or hide. After hiding, wait for the terrorists to leave and leave the shelter as soon as possible and retire.

The exception is situations when you are in the field of view of terrorists or there is a high probability of meeting with them.

If you see an armed or suspicious group of people heading towards you, run immediately. If it was not possible to escape from the criminals, and you were taken hostage, try to remain calm and not show your fear. Do not offer resistance to terrorists, do not try to enter into conversation with them, do not seek to pity them or dissuade them from carrying out their plan. Fulfill their demands and do not react to their actions in relation to other hostages. You shouldn’t express your outrage. Do not violate the rules set by terrorists, so as not to provoke a deterioration in the conditions of your detention. You should not, for example, try to contact relatives or law enforcement agencies. This may be perceived by your captors as defiance.

When taking hostages, remember that only at the very moment of the capture is there a real opportunity to escape from the scene. If this was not possible, tune in psychologically that you will not be released immediately, but this will certainly happen.

If the operation to free you (assault) has begun, you must fall to the floor and cover your head with your hands; try to take a position away from windows and doorways. Stay away from terrorists because snipers can shoot at them during the operation. Explosions of walls, doors, windows, fire and smoke are also possible, therefore, it is necessary to determine for yourself the places of possible shelter from damaging elements, remove all synthetic clothing in advance, as it increases the likelihood of burns. It is also advisable to remove belts, straps from handbags and hide them in pockets – these items, if necessary, can be used as a hemostatic agent.

Do not take up arms in order not to be confused with terrorists. If an explosive device is planted next to you or directly on you, if possible, by voice or hand movement, let the intelligence officers know about this, who may approach you during a special operation. Record in memory all the events that accompany the capture. This information will be very important to law enforcement.

A person taken hostage at first cannot believe that this has happened and adequately assess the situation. As the analysis of the behavior of the hostages shows, some of them may have an uncontrollable reaction of protest against the violence committed. It is important not to lose your temper, as in this situation the terrorists often kill the rebels. Terrorists, as a rule, are in a state of extreme stress and therefore are extremely aggressive.

The hostages, after the shock of the first hours of captivity, usually begin the process of adaptation – adaptation to absolutely abnormal conditions of existence. However, this is given at the price, first of all, of psychological traumas and disorders. The sharpness of sensations and experiences is quickly dulled, thus, the psyche protects itself. What revolted or led to despair is perceived as commonplace. At the same time, it is important not to lose the human face.

If possible, do not withdraw into yourself, try to look at other people, find out if someone needs help. Even a trifle – an understanding look, a word of support – will contribute to the fact that a contact will arise between you. If a person feels support, it becomes easier for him and everyone who is close to him. However, the hostages, as a rule, fail to avoid outbreaks of apathy and aggressiveness in their relations with each other. They are caused by a subconscious desire to relieve emotional overstrain, but this can further exacerbate the situation, provoke terrorists to aggressive actions.

A common misconception that people who are held hostage often fall into is the desire and attempts to “understand” the kidnappers and arouse sympathy in them. However, this is a harmful illusion. Terrorist sympathies can be your first step towards betrayal of other hostages. Do not think that the militants will perceive you somehow in a new way.

The constant threat to life and the realization of one’s helplessness can lead to the development of other mental phenomena. It may seem that you hear the sounds of an assault that seems to have begun, the voices of absent people, you see something strange in the darkness. However, this is not a sign of insanity, but a disorder that will pass no later than two weeks after release.

One should not allow oneself to focus on experiences. There are many ways to get distracted: try to come up with some kind of game for yourself, remember half-forgotten poems, anecdotes, etc. For believers, prayer is a great help. It is very important not to forget about personal hygiene.

Being a hostage inflicts psychic trauma even on very resistant people. Those released are often burdened by feelings of guilt and shame, loss of self-respect, and various kinds of fears. Remember that this is a normal reaction for former hostages. It takes quite a long time to return to normal life.

Terrorism. How to recognize danger?

Most often, the fight against terror is a war without a front line. Terrorists can at any moment be among us under the guise of ordinary citizens. Are there signs by which it is possible to identify terrorists and their criminal intentions to prepare a terrorist act in order to take the necessary preventive measures?

The activities of terrorists are not always evident. But it may well seem suspicious and unusual. If signs of strange behavior are obvious, you must immediately report this to law enforcement agencies.

For criminal purposes, terrorists usually use typical industrial and home-made explosives, ammunition, pyrotechnics, and other dangerous substances and mixtures that can explode under certain conditions.

Terrorists also actively use various improvised explosive devices: improvised booby traps; mines surprises imitating household items or things that attract attention.

Concealed under clothing and in carry-on baggage is the most common way to bring terrorist items to the scene of a terrorist attack. Most often, this channel is used for the delivery of firearms. Firearms in assembled and disassembled form have well-known, quite specific and recognizable forms of units, parts and mechanisms. Explosive devices and radioactive substances can also be delivered under clothing and in hand luggage.

Carried explosive devices, both manufactured and improvised, may be camouflaged to look like household items. In practice, there were flashlights stuffed with explosives, hair dryers, fans, lamps, radios and tape recorders, electric shavers, coffee cans, canned food, thermoses, etc.
Be careful, try to remember the signs of criminals, the distinctive features of their faces, clothes, names, nicknames, possible scars and tattoos, speech and behavior patterns, etc.
Do not try to stop them yourself – you can become the first victim.

Be especially vigilant and beware of people who are clearly out of season; if you see a person in summer wearing a raincoat or a thick jacket – be careful – terrorists most often hide bombs under such clothes; it is best to stay away from him and draw the attention of law enforcement officers to him;

Beware of people with large bags and suitcases, especially if they are in a place that is not suitable for such luggage (in a cinema or at a holiday).

Try to move as far as possible from those who behave inappropriately, nervously, frightened, looking around, checking something in their clothes or luggage.

If you cannot get away from a suspicious person, watch his facial expressions; experts say that a criminal preparing for a terrorist attack usually looks extremely concentrated, his lips are tightly compressed, or move slowly, as if reading a prayer.

Never pick up forgotten things: bags, mobile phones, wallets; do not accept any gifts from strangers, do not take things with a request to transfer to another person.

Actions in the event of a terrorist attack

Always be aware of the situation around you, especially when you are at transport facilities, cultural, entertainment, sports and shopping centers.

If you find forgotten things, without touching them, notify the driver, employees of the facility, security service, police. Do not try to look inside a suspicious package, box, or other object.

Do not pick up abandoned items, no matter how attractive they look.

Explosive devices (in beer cans, cell phones, etc.) can be camouflaged in them. Do not kick objects on the ground outside.

If the security forces and law enforcement agencies suddenly become active, do not show curiosity, go in the other direction, but do not run, so that you will not be mistaken for the enemy.

In the event of an explosion or start of shooting, immediately fall to the ground, preferably under cover (curb, market stall, car, etc.). For greater safety, cover your head with your hands.