The Bellagio fountains are choreographed with music and light. Photo / 123RF
The Bellagio fountains are choreographed with music and light. Photo / 123RF
Pack your coins and get ready to throw them into these iconic fountains around the world.
Bellagio, Las Vegas
The first thing you need to do when you arrive in Sin City is position yourself in front of the fountain show at Bellagio. These fountains are choreographed with music and light and burst into misty song every half hour from 3pm - 8pm then every 15minutes for the throng of passersby until midnight. They are also fun to watch from various locations in surrounding hotels.
Burj Khalifa, Dubai
This fountain makes Bellagio's effort look like a squirt. It was designed by the same company but on a mega scale. The lake itself is 12 hectares and there are five circular fountains with monstrous 275m arcs. The music will lift your rafters as the 6,600 lights create a soaking symphony of colour and sound. Sit on the Burj steps from 6pm-11pm and watch it every half hour.
Probably the tiniest fountain in all the world, but one of the most daring. Manneken Pis literally means little pee man in Flemish and is one of the most popular attractions in Brussels. The bronze boy, who wears different outfits for various celebrations, is 61cm tall and holds his willy while piddling into a small fountain. That's it. Tourists crowd around with cameras like ants to a jam jar.
Trevi, Rome
Ever since the 1954 movie Three Coins in the Fountain tourists stand with their backs to the fountain and toss a coin with their right hand over their left shoulder. It's supposed to bring good luck. I'll find out as this year we'll be spending our fifth wedding anniversary here but the fountain is currently empty and under restoration until October. It's estimated about 3000 Euros are thrown in here daily.
An estimated 3000 Euros are thrown in Rome's Trevi Fountain daily. Photo / File
California Adventure
Not a fountain you might expect to find on this list, but Disney's World of Colour at California Adventure uses 1200 water jets to create a mist screen that they project some of Disney's most iconic movie scenes on to. Music and lighting is punctuated by characters singing and talking and moving in front of you on the water. Pick up a FastPASS ticket to the free show during the day for VIP standing room.
