Amusingly Funny Signs Around the World

The world is an amazing collection of places just waiting to be explored. Last week’s tour of Sunsets Around the World was so popular that we’ve decided to bring you another tour this week. This time we’ll take a look at amusingly funny signs around the world!

We’ll cover a whole range of signs from street signs and shop signs, to informational signs and handwritten or painted signs. Basically anything made with the purpose of showing you something. The word ‘funny’ is a funny word that can be a bit ambiguous, right? In this case, we will cover several meanings of the word, from laugh-out-loud funny to weird funny and wtf funny. We really just want to make you smile. Let’s get into it with one of the most beautiful regions on Earth. Oceania!

Amusingly Funny Signs Around the World – Oceania

There must be something in the miles upon miles of crystal blue waters in Oceania. Something that gives it’s inhabitants an awesome sense of humour. Take Australians, for instance. They love a bit of a lark and witty one-liners like these:

Australians also like to ‘yank your chain’ or trick you into thinking something that’s not entirely true. Like putting a higher price on a reduction sticker.

The cheeky sense of humour continues over in the Polynesian island chain of the Cook Islands. Where the only stop sign on the whole chain is a ‘shop’ sign. And they caution you about ‘busy roads’ that are lucky to see 2 cars an hour.

Still in Polynesia, the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Tonga aren’t shy about anything.

We’ll head to Melanesia now. On the island chain of Fiji, they like to play on words. Whereas on the Vanuatu islands, they just like to show you want they’ve got to offer.

Finally, we bring you the last sign for Oceania. This sign on the Micronesian island chain of Palau is probably the best summary of the island ethos ever.

Asia – The Region of Accidental Humour

Since English has become the world’s language, most countries use it on informational signs. Some might not get it quite right. Like China, for instance. I could honestly write a couple of posts on funny signs I’ve seen in China. But for now, you just get two!

They almost got it right over in Kazakhstan while also getting it so wrong.

You may have seen those ‘I Love …’ signs in various cities. They love them in Central Asia, but some cities in Uzbekistan had a different take on them. Awwwww!

And someone gave a Star Wars fan a bit too much coffee in Tashkent.

Remember the ‘take a nap’ sign found in Palau? You’ll never guess where I found the exact same sign. In Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan!

Amusingly Funny Signs Around the World – Western Asia

Moving on to Western Asia, where the writing’s on the wall in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku and the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai.

As you would expect, most signs in Palestine are overtly political and pertaining to the occupation.

Then in Israel, well, I just don’t know what’s going on there. Firstly, people deface the walls of historical buildings right under the sign telling them not to. Then there’s an ant dancing on a hump in a top hat? Or a dog with a crown of thorns flying over a hump? All I’m really sure about is the hump.

South Asia

On to the beautiful island country of Sri Lanka in South Asia now. I guess some times, if you don’t receive the funding that you need, you have to improvise a sign showing visitors where the view point is.

Other times, you just need to be reminded of what is important.

Perhaps you’d like to stay at the end of the Universe in Nepal? Or maybe you’d just like to feast your eyes on some signs while waiting for your meal in Kathmandu?

Then in Dhaka, Bangladesh, they want you to reflect on what you’ve done.

Amusingly Funny Signs Around the World – South East Asia

The laid back way of life in South East Asia often shines through in the humour of the region. Take this ‘Genuine Fake’ sign in Bali, Indonesia.

They also seem to be mindful of diet. For themsleves and, well, other things.

Welcome to Vang Vieng in Laos where they’ll look after your stuff. To a point.

Lastly, back to East Asia. In Hong Kong there are signs to encourage you and signs to place you deep in thought.

Amusingly Funny Signs Around the World – Africa

Our first sign in Africa probably wouldn’t be that cool if it weren’t for it’s positioning, as if it was trying to give you a demonstration of its sentiment.

Next we go to Ghana where they are very environmentally conscious.

These next two African signs land themselves firmly in the wtf category. Why are a woman and a boy on this sign under some stairs in Benin? Are they arguing? Are they shopping? Meanwhile, this sign at the Liberian border started off as a friendly warning, then things escalated very quickly!

Over in Sierra Leone, they’re not afraid to use signs to motivate.

And in Egypt the building have floors, but some of them have alternative names.

Our last stop in Africa, Kenya is known for its animals. It makes sense then that the Nairobi National Park would want you to give way to warthogs. Especially ones named Pumbaa.

Europe

Let’s head north a bit to a European city in a mostly Asian country; Instanbul. First we have a play on words in the old town of Galata, then a sign rarely seen elsewhere, on the island of Buyukada.

Over to another European island, Cyprus. If you don’t know, Turkey invaded the north of Cyprus and have occupied it ever since. This means there are essentially two countries in one. The locals clearly want it united as one country and tend to put signs indicating such on historical statues, among other things.

We’ll continue heading north to Austria where they have some weird town names and women’s parking. I don’t know why.

And Poland where the aliens are here to help!

I wonder if those aliens had anything to do with this ominous sign in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius?

And let’s just say that they’ve got their own thing going on over in Tallinn, Estonia.

On to Finland where their metaphors reach for the sky.

And Sweden where they like to shock.

You may be wondering, why do they have a sign to Hell in Norway? Because Hell is in Norway! Sometimes it even freezes over!

Finally, let’s hop over the pond to the UK. First up, Ireland where they’re always nice, even when they’re insulting you.

Then London, where they inexplicably hate traffic controls.

Amusingly Funny Signs Around the World – North America

Over to North America now, where we’ll start off in the awesome Latin American country of Nicaragua. It seems they know they can do better. But the hilarious story on the right indicates they’re doing pretty well in the ‘make you laugh’ game.

This bizzare sign was found in San Jose in Costa Rica.

Then in the USA they want you to practice safe lunch.

I’m just going to come right out and say that Canada has the monopoly on humourous signs in North America. First of all, they’re not afraid to poke fun at perceived stereotypes of themselves. But they don’t let the fact that their ‘national dish’ is unhealthy get in the way of their diet.

When people pay to memorialise their loved ones on a chair in a park, they do it in the most hilarious way.

Then there’s this gem.

Oh Canada! Keep doing what you’re doing!

South America

We’re going to end the tour in one of my favourite regions on Earth, South America. If you haven’t already fallen in love with Latin America’s amazing landscapes, then these signs will surely make you fall in love with the people.

I’m not sure if this sign in Colombia qualifies as humourous but it definitely gives you all the feels!

Now we’ll move to Ecuador where they seem to have all kinds of funny signs, from humourous and strange to wtf! I’ll let you decide which ones fit in which category though.

These ones do make some valid points though..

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