If we can find the right words to conjure up a three-dimensional scene, readers are likely to book return flights with their favorite authors. Use this list of words to describe places as a springboard for new territory. Truth is, the more we read, the more words will stick to our memory bank. Until then, let's start traveling.

Words that Embrace a Place

The words we choose will allow the reader to understand the writer's perspective. To call something bustling and vibrant is quite different from desolate and deserted. Will any of these descriptive words for places stoke the flames of your next scene?

Alive - Full of life
Attractive - Pleasing; charming
Beautiful - Having qualities that are pleasing or appealing
Bustling - Full of life, energy
Calm - Peaceful; free from stress
Charming - Fascinating; likeable
Cosmopolitan - Appealing to people from all across the globe
Enchanting - Delightful; fascinating
Fascinating - Alluring; captivating
Fresh - Something newly made and full of vigor
Homey - Cozy; inviting
Inspiring - Enlivening; motivating
Lively - Full of life and spirit
Peaceful - Calm; friendly
Picturesque - Scenic; beautiful
Unspoiled - Untouched by man; pure
Vibrant - Full of life; energy

Words to Express Dislike for a Place

If the show doesn't fit, don't force it. Go ahead and call it polluted, rundown, or even horrifying. Try to evoke scents as well as sights with your prose. Some of these words may be subject to opinion, such as crowded or touristy, but readers will quickly catch your connotation.

Bleak - Gloomy; somber
Boring - Dull; uninteresting
Creepy - Causing feelings of fear or disgust
Crowded - Filled to capacity
Deserted - Abandoned; uninhabited
Desolate - Empty; bleak
Dull - Boring; lacking zest
Expensive - Costly; having a very high price
Horrifying - Frightening; disgusting
Nightmarish - Resembling a bad dream
Polluted - Dirty; contaminated
Rundown - In poor condition
Stormy - Turbulent; tempestuous
Touristy - Of or for tourists, suggesting tastelessness
Ugly - Visually unpleasing

More Words to Describe a Place

Sometimes, it all boils down to the facts of the matter. Perhaps you're visiting ancient ruins or staying at a contemporary resort. Here are some unbiased descriptors to help you label a place:

Ancient - Belonging to an earlier period of time
Contemporary - Existing in the present time
Magical - Captivating; enchanting
Majestic - Grand; impressive; stately
Modern - Of or relating to the current time
Mystical - Magical; enigmatic
Quiet - Not noisy
Traditional - In keeping with conventional customs

Transport Your Readers

It's kind of like a superpower. Writers can use black words on a white page to transport readers out of their sofa and into foreign lands. The words writers choose to describe places are important; they're the vehicle that moves people from place to place.

Are you looking to kickstart your writing adventures with a short story? Then, come on over. Let's get creative. Here's how to write a short story.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"List of Words to Describe Places." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 25 April 2019. <https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/grammar/word-lists/list-of-words-to-describe-places.html>.

APA Style

List of Words to Describe Places. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25th, 2019, from https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/grammar/word-lists/list-of-words-to-describe-places.html

List of Words to Describe Places

By YourDictionary

The job of fiction writers is to transport their readers to fascinating places and times. A great novel can take us back to medieval times, over to deserted islands, or even into a fantasy world. With a task like that, tired and overused words like “pretty” and “fun” just won’t cut it. How about unspoiled terrain or stormy waters?If we can find the right words to conjure up a three-dimensional scene, readers are likely to book return flights with their favorite authors. Use this list of words to describe places as a springboard for new territory. Truth is, the more we read, the more words will stick to our memory bank. Until then, let’s start traveling.