Holidays seem to involve as much panic and rush as our daily lives, with the need to see all the sights and to frantically enjoy ourselves pushing actual relaxation way down the agenda. Well this year it’s time to slow down and focus on doing very little on holiday and we’ve come up with the perfect way to have it all. Spend just one day at one of these miniature marvels and you’ll have seen plenty, so you can kick back and relax with a cold drink for the remainder of your holiday.

Mini Siam

by Argenberg

In Pattaya on the Gulf of Thailand you’ll be spoilt for choice! Not only will you get to see some of the most famous landmarks in the country, but some from all around the world. That’s right, see the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and Wat Phra Srisanpet alongside the Eiffel Tower and Trevi Fountain in the Mini World section! Pattaya is a stunning spot with lovely beaches just waiting for you once you’re done.

Miniaturk

by saragoldsmith

Turkey boasts a long history and plentiful landmarks, but if you want to see them all for real you’ll have to do a lot of travelling. Even better, just head to the miniature versions where Haghia Sofia, Epheseus and even the Mausoleum of Helicarnassus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, await you. Why not consider spending a day in Istanbul seeing the sights here and enjoying the view then head off to the Black Sea coast for some R&R.

Swiss Model Village

by Pazit Polak

This Swiss-style model village in Lugano boasts models of the country’s most beautiful buildings plus plenty of transportation to keep those mini people moving around. Set in pretty gardens it’s easy to get into the relaxed holiday mindset. Spend the rest of your holiday in Switzerland on the shores of Lake Lugano or in the foothills of the Swiss Alps, perfect for getting away from it all.

Tobu World

by nissy1121

You’ll find scale models of over a hundred world famous buildings and UNESCO World Heritage sites here at this Japanese park. Divided into continents it really is like a whistlestop tour of the world with everything from the Statue of Liberty to Angkor Wat, Buckingham Palace and even the Great Sphinx of Giza! You have plenty of choices here once you’ve seen it all, you can head into the mountains for a quiet retreat, enjoy Tokyo safe in the knowledge you’ve seen all the sights, or even head to the beach.

Minimundus

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hueneborg/451165585/

by DHausBT

This Austrian theme park is a little closer to home than the Tokyo park and it too showcases the best of the world’s sights. Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Taj Mahal and the Sydney Opera House sit alongside the Space Shuttle and its launch pad whilst trains rattle between the destinations. This leafy park in Klagenfurt is closed in winter when all the models go on tour but if you head there for some summer sightseeing you can relax and feel smug by the Wörthersee.

Bekonskot Model Village

by bortecristian

If you’re spending your holiday in the UK this year, never fear there are plenty of miniature places across the country. This is the pick with its six 1930s villages set in a pretty park and even though it doesn’t have any famous landmarks there is still plenty to see. There are thousands of people populating the scenes giving it a “Where’s Wally?” feel with convicts to spot amongst others, and lots of mini transportation too which is sure to be a hit with small children.

top image by nissy1121