6 Weird Post Offices To Visit Around The World

While post offices are usually associated with long lines and inefficient service, that doesn't necessarily mean they should be totally kept off the travel itinerary.

# Eiffel Tower Post Office, Paris, France

This small post office is on the ground floor of La Tour Eiffel, so even if you're afraid of heights, it is worth a visit. You will be sure to impress with the special Eiffel Tower postmark on all your postcards.

# Port Lockroy, Antarctica

No need to worry about long lines here. Despite its off-the-beaten path location, around 70,000 cards a year from over 100 countries are posted here. Mail usually takes 2-6 weeks to arrive and there is no overnight shipping available so tell your friends not to wait by the mailbox.

# Vanuatu Post's Underwater Post Office, Republic of Vanuatu

Located three meters (yards) beneath the ocean's surface and only fifty meters from shore, this office is accessible without the need of a scuba license. Just don't forget your snorkel and mask.

# Post Office Bay, Floreana Island, Galapagos, Ecuador

In 1793 British Captain James Colnett placed an empty wooden post barrel on the island so passing ships could aid each other in getting mail to the mainland and even today the tradition continues. Visitors can leave mail in the barrel and pass on what they find addressed to someone in their hometown.

# Washington Park and Oregon Zoo, Portland, Oregon

A throwback to when mail was mostly delivered by train, according to the zoo's website the zoo railway "...is the last operating United States railroad with its own authorized railway postal cancellation to continuously offer mail service."

# Post Office of Mardin, Mardin, Turkey

Even if you have nothing to mail, this post office is worth a visit purely for its architectural beauty. This stunning 17th-century palace looks more movie set than post office so make sure not to leave your camera at home.