The 12 Most Remote Small Cities Around The World
Remote cities have something interesting about them: the rest of the world feels like a distant memory in these towns. They’re places ruled by nature, areas where a sense of community guides the residents, and getting there is quite a challenge.
If you have ever asked yourself what it is like to be away from the hustle and bustle of large metropolitan areas, these places will give you an idea of a world moving at its own pace. Some can be reached only by plane, while others demand long, perilous drives or crossings by sea. Let’s explore a world untouched by modern luxury.
Iquitos, Peru
Iquitos is a city tucked away in the heart of the Amazon rainforest and is the largest city in the Peruvian Amazon. It cannot be reached by road, but despite its remoteness, it is still quite alive with bustling markets, homes on stilts, and a robust indigenous culture. The main highway in the city is the Amazon River, which is an endless traffic of boats coming and going, bringing supplies and people from the outside world.
Longyearbyen, Norway
Longyearbyen is as remote as a place can be. In a place where there are polar bears on the tundra, months of complete darkness in winter, and a law that demands its citizens walk around armed outside the town limits, Longyearbyen is like no other. Despite the harsh conditions, it has a surprisingly diverse international community because it is a center for Arctic research and tourism.
Coober Pedy, Australia
Deep in the Australian Outback, Coober Pedy is a city unlike any other. Known as the “opal capital of the world,” it’s famous for its underground homes, built to escape the scorching desert heat. Life here revolves around opal mining, and many residents live in cave-like dwellings carved into the earth.
Alert, Canada
Alert isn’t just remote. This small military and research outpost is located in the Arctic Circle on Ellesmere Island and has just a handful of people living there. In winter, the sun does not rise for months, and temperatures drop to -40°F (-40°C). No roads lead to Alert; everything has to be flown in.
Tristan da Cunha, British Overseas Territory
Imagine living in a place where the closest human settlement is about 1,500 miles away. That’s the situation for those who live on Tristan da Cunha, a small volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean. The only way to get there is by boat, which takes about a week from South Africa. The island has no airport, no chain stores, very little modern infrastructure, and a population of fewer than 300 people.
Barrow (Utqiaġvik), Alaska, USA
The northernmost city in the United States, Barrow, now officially known as Utqiaġvik, is a place of extremes. The sun never rises for 65 days in winter, and it never sets in summer. Located on the Arctic Ocean, the city is inaccessible by road, meaning supplies must be flown or shipped in when the ice allows.
La Rinconada, Peru
La Rinconada is the highest permanent settlement in the world, at 16,700 feet (5,100 meters) above sea level. It is an extreme place to live, first because of the altitude and the lack of infrastructure like running water and sanitation. The air is so thin that visitors struggle to breathe, but those living in the mountains are unaffected by it.
Yakutsk, Russia
Yakutsk is the coldest city on earth, with winter temperatures regularly dropping to -40°F (-40°C) and reaching as low as -80°F (-62°C). Surprisingly, the city has plenty of culture, with museums, theaters, and a vibrant local community to prove that people can adjust to almost anything.
St. Helena, British Overseas Territory
Famous as the island where Napoleon was exiled, St. Helena is located in the middle of the South Atlantic and was accessible only by boat until an airport was finally built in 2017. Flights are still infrequent, and life on the island is slow. With rugged cliffs, lush valleys, and a small, tight-knit community, it’s an isolated place alive with history.
Ushuaia, Argentina
Ushuaia is at the tip of Argentina in Tierra del Fuego. It’s often called “the southernmost city in the world.” It is the last stop before Antarctica. The weather is brutal, with howling winds and freezing temperatures. The snow-capped mountains, stunning landscape, and deep blue waters make it one of the most breathtaking remote cities in the world.
Oymyakon, Russia
Oymyakon is officially the coldest inhabited place on earth. Once, this Siberian village recorded a temperature of -96°F (-71°C), and even in summer, the ground is still frozen. The cars have to be kept running so they don’t freeze, and home plumbing is almost non-existent because pipes would turn to ice.
Hanga Roa, Easter Island
The only town on Easter Island, Hanga Roa, is located on the Pacific Ocean, thousands of miles from civilization. Cargo ships or limited flights from Chile bring in supplies to the island. This Island has a rich Polynesian culture with stunning landscapes, ancient history, and a close-knit community.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Disclosure: For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.
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