One-street cities around world: Where they are and what fascinates tourists

Cities with a single street are not just an architectural curiosity but also a cultural phenomenon. They attract tourists with their compactness, stories, and unique atmosphere.

Hallstatt, Austria

A famous Alpine village that is essentially located along one main street between the lake and the mountains. Its narrow layout creates the feeling that all life revolves around one promenade.

Monowi, USA

The only town in the state of Nebraska with a population of… one person. In fact, it consists of a single street with a library and a bar, both maintained by its sole resident.

Hallstatt (photo: Wikipedia)

Hum, Croatia

It is officially considered the smallest town in the world, a fact even recorded in the Guinness World Records. Its area is only a few hundred meters, and all the buildings are concentrated along a single street lined with stone houses. The town has a population of about 30 people.

Hum (photo: Wikipedia)

Gásadalur, Faroe Islands

A small settlement that remained isolated for a long time. All the houses are located along a single road leading toward the ocean.

Gásadalur is surrounded by the mountains of Vágar, and special stairs were built there for descending to the sea, while the path to the next settlement used to go over mountains 400 meters high.

Only in 2004 was a tunnel carved through the mountains, connecting Gásadalur by road with other villages. Today, it is a popular spot for tourists, but it has only about 15 permanent residents.

Gásadalur (photo: Wikipedia)

Fuggerei, Germany

Fuggerei is the oldest social housing complex in the world that is still inhabited. Essentially, it is a walled enclave built in 1516 by the Fugger brothers.

Fuggerei (photo: Wikipedia)

It was built as a town for needy citizens of Augsburg. Today, the settlement consists of a single street with 16th-century houses. There are now more than 50 houses, and residents must follow certain rules:

• The rent is the same as it was 500 years ago — 1 Rhenish guilder per year (about €0.88)

• An obligation to say three daily prayers for the founders of Fuggerei — the Our Father, Ave Maria, and the Nicene Creed

• All residents must work part-time for the community

• Each resident must have lived in Augsburg for at least two years and be of the Catholic faith

• Fuggerei accepts those who have become poor but have no debts

• The town’s five gates are locked every day at 10:00 p.m.

Why visit

• Uniqueness: Compact towns create a fairy-tale atmosphere.

• History: Each has its own legends and cultural features.

• Photogenic appeal: Narrow streets and historic houses make perfect photo opportunities.

• Tourist value: These places are often included in must-see lists.

Sources: Wikipedia, SoftLoft, Lonely Planet, World Travel Curiosities.