Haunting, beautiful, and often surreal — abandoned places offer travelers a rare window into forgotten history and crumbling beauty. From decaying castles to overgrown theme parks, these 45 destinations provide a striking contrast to the polished tourist traps most people visit. Inspired by Condé Nast Traveler’s collection, here’s your list of stunning abandoned spots you can actually travel to.
1. Pripyat, Ukraine
Left abandoned after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, this ghost town is a chilling time capsule. Schools, amusement parks, and homes remain as they were on the day of evacuation. Today, it’s accessible via guided tours, offering a stark reminder of nuclear catastrophe. Its most iconic landmark, the rusted Ferris wheel, has become a global symbol of the disaster’s impact and the power of abandonment.
2. Hashima Island, Japan
Once a bustling coal mining facility, this island is now uninhabited, featuring collapsed buildings and concrete ruins. Tours depart from Nagasaki, allowing visitors to explore the eerie remains of industrial life. Known as “Battleship Island” due to its unique shape, it was one of the most densely populated places in the world before being abandoned in the 1970s.
3. Kolmanskop, Namibia
This German colonial town was abandoned in the 1950s when diamond mines dried up. Now, sand fills its elegant homes, making it a surreal photographer’s paradise in the Namib Desert. Once home to one of the richest diamond mining operations in Africa, the town boasted luxuries like a hospital, ballroom, and even the first X-ray station in the southern hemisphere.
4. Bodie, California, USA
A preserved Wild West town with over 100 buildings still standing. Frozen in the Gold Rush era, it’s a popular state park where visitors can walk through saloons, homes, and a historic general store. Bodie was once a booming gold mining town in the late 1800s, and now stands as one of the most authentic ghost towns in America, drawing history lovers and photographers year-round.
5. Oradour-sur-Glane, France
This village was destroyed by Nazi forces in 1944, killing over 600 residents in one of the most horrific massacres of World War II. The ruins remain untouched, preserving burned-out cars, houses, and a church, offering a somber, powerful memorial. Visitors can walk through the silent remains and reflect on the atrocities committed, as the village stands as a permanent testimony to the horrors of war.
6. Craco, Italy
Built on a cliffside, Craco was abandoned due to landslides and earthquakes in the 20th century. Its stone houses and towers still rise dramatically over the valley, attracting film crews and curious travelers. The town’s unique silhouette has made it a filming location for movies like The Passion of the Christ, and its haunting silence gives visitors a powerful sense of timelessness.
7. Kayaköy, Turkey
Abandoned after the Greco-Turkish population exchange in the 1920s, Kayaköy consists of hundreds of stone houses slowly crumbling into the hillside. It offers a peaceful yet eerie hike through history. Once a thriving Greek community, the village features chapels, fountains, and schools, giving visitors insight into life before the exchange and the cultural ties severed by political events.
8. Varosha, Cyprus
Once a bustling beach resort in Famagusta, Varosha was abandoned after the Turkish invasion in 1974. High-rise hotels and stores remain frozen in time, with some areas now open for limited visits. Once the preferred vacation destination of celebrities, the resort has become a stark monument to unresolved conflict, with rusting beach umbrellas and empty swimming pools silently narrating its lost glamour.
9. Mirny Diamond Mine, Russia
This enormous open-pit diamond mine was once one of the largest in the world, reaching a depth of over 1,700 feet and a width of nearly half a mile. Now abandoned, it’s a gaping hole surrounded by derelict machinery, viewable from above in the town of Mirny. The site served as a major contributor to the Soviet Union’s diamond production until it closed in the early 2000s due to flooding and safety concerns.
10. San Juan Parangaricutiro, Mexico
This town was buried by lava from the Parícutin volcano eruption in the 1940s, which lasted for nine years and emerged suddenly from a farmer’s cornfield. Only the church steeple and altar remain visible, making it a fascinating site to hike to in the volcanic region. The preserved church ruins emerging from black volcanic rock offer a dramatic testament to the power of nature and the resilience of faith.
11. Beelitz-Heilstätten Hospital, Germany
This sprawling abandoned hospital complex near Berlin once treated WWI soldiers and even Adolf Hitler. Today, its haunting corridors and moss-covered buildings attract urban explorers and history buffs alike. Some areas are open for guided tours and photography. The site includes over 60 buildings, and parts have also been featured in movies like The Pianist and Valkyrie, enhancing its cultural significance.
12. Eastern State Penitentiary, Pennsylvania, USA
Once the most expensive prison in the world, this massive Gothic-style penitentiary now stands as a preserved ruin. Known for its radial design and infamous inmates like Al Capone, it’s open for self-guided and seasonal haunted tours. Visitors can explore cellblocks, isolation chambers, and guard towers while learning about the prison’s role in early penal reform and American history.
13. Ross Island, India
Located in the Andaman Islands, this former British administrative settlement is now overtaken by roots and vines. Abandoned since the 1940s, the decaying structures give it a mystical charm, and it’s easily accessible by ferry. Remnants of colonial architecture, including the church and governor’s house, remain eerily intact, offering a glimpse into India’s layered colonial past set against tropical beauty.
14. Villa Epecuén, Argentina
This spa town was submerged in 1985 when a nearby lake overflowed, forcing its residents to evacuate. Decades later, receding waters revealed its ruins — streets, vehicles, and twisted metal tell a powerful story of nature reclaiming the land. Cracked sidewalks, rusted playgrounds, and salt-crusted walls now stand as a ghostly monument to the fragility of human settlement.
15. Houtouwan Village, China
A remote fishing village on Shengshan Island, abandoned in the 1990s, now cloaked in lush green vines. Its overgrown houses and silent pathways make it a picturesque destination for photographers. Once home to over 2,000 residents, it was deserted due to its isolated location. Today, the village stands as a mesmerizing blend of human architecture and nature’s reclaiming force.
16. Humberstone and Santa Laura, Chile
These UNESCO-listed saltpeter mining towns in the Atacama Desert are remarkably well-preserved. The industrial buildings, theaters, and homes tell the story of a once-booming nitrate industry that played a critical role in Chile’s economic history. Visitors can walk through dusty streets, peer into machinery halls, and experience what life was like in a remote desert town driven by resource extraction.
17. Fordlândia, Brazil
Founded by Henry Ford in the 1920s, this failed rubber plantation town in the Amazon was meant to be a utopia for industrial workers. Today, its crumbling homes, factories, and relics stand as symbols of industrial ambition gone wrong. The remnants of American-style homes and infrastructure now sit eerily in the jungle, overtaken by vegetation and time, offering a glimpse into a surreal chapter of global industrial history.
18. Poveglia Island, Italy
Often referred to as one of the most haunted places in the world, this Venetian island once served as a plague quarantine station and later as a psychiatric asylum. Visitors are restricted, but boat tours pass nearby, offering eerie views. The island’s history of mass graves and ghost stories has cemented its place as a chilling curiosity for those interested in dark tourism.
19. Teufelsberg, Berlin, Germany
Built on a man-made hill of WWII rubble, this former NSA listening station offers panoramic views of Berlin. Its graffiti-covered radar domes are popular with urban explorers and street artists. Constructed over an unfinished Nazi military college, the site holds deep layers of 20th-century history and Cold War intrigue, making it both visually and historically captivating.
20. Ta Prohm, Cambodia
Part of the Angkor Wat complex, this Buddhist temple is famed for its tree roots engulfing stone ruins. Unlike other restored temples, Ta Prohm remains in a semi-collapsed state, blending nature and architecture. Featured in films like Tomb Raider, it offers an unforgettable journey through jungle-wrapped history and mystical serenity.
21. Dome Homes, Florida, USA
Once a futuristic beach house, this series of concrete dome structures now sits partially submerged off the coast of Cape Romano. Damaged by hurricanes and coastal erosion, they offer a surreal sight from boat or kayak. Originally built in the 1980s as a self-sustaining eco-home, their alien-like appearance continues to fascinate visitors and drone photographers alike.
22. St. Nicholas Church, Macedonia
Partially submerged in Lake Mavrovo, this church’s haunting bell tower and stone walls poke out of the water. It creates a beautiful yet eerie atmosphere, especially during dry seasons when more of it is visible. Originally built in the 1850s, the church has become a striking symbol of resilience and one of Macedonia’s most photogenic abandoned landmarks.
23. North Brother Island, New York, USA
Located in the East River, this former quarantine hospital is now off-limits to the public but visible by boat. It’s known for its dense overgrowth and historical ties to “Typhoid Mary”, one of the first known asymptomatic carriers of typhoid fever in the U.S. The decaying buildings and silent pathways make it one of New York’s most haunting hidden landmarks.
24. The Maunsell Sea Forts, England
These rusting WWII towers were built in the Thames Estuary to defend against German air raids during the Second World War. Though long abandoned, their dystopian silhouette makes them a favorite for drone photographers and thrill-seekers. Some are only accessible by boat, adding to their allure as modern relics of wartime engineering and ingenuity.
25. The Salton Sea, California, USA
Once a glamorous 1950s resort destination, it’s now a post-apocalyptic wasteland of abandoned trailers and fish skeletons. The town of Bombay Beach still has quirky art and a loyal subculture. Its desolate beauty has inspired artists, filmmakers, and musicians who continue to use the eerie surroundings as a creative canvas. The area also serves as a stark reminder of environmental mismanagement and the fragile balance of man-made ecosystems.
26. Hotel del Salto, Colombia
Overlooking Tequendama Falls, this elegant cliffside hotel was abandoned in the 1990s and became the subject of ghost stories and local legends. It’s since been restored as a museum, but still holds its haunting charm. The contrast between its grand architecture and misty surroundings adds to its eerie allure, making it a favorite stop for photographers and thrill-seekers alike.
27. Train Graveyard, Uyuni, Bolivia
Near the world’s largest salt flat, this collection of rusting steam engines tells the story of Bolivia’s mining boom. It’s a favorite stop on Uyuni Salt Flat tours. Many of the locomotives date back to the early 20th century, creating an open-air museum of railway history in the middle of the desert. The surreal contrast of iron relics against endless salt makes it a photographer’s dream.
28. Pyramiden, Svalbard, Norway
An abandoned Soviet mining town located in the Arctic Circle, Pyramiden is frozen in time. Visitors can explore Soviet-era buildings, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, and a statue of Lenin, all incredibly preserved by the extreme cold. Accessible by boat or snowmobile from Longyearbyen, this polar ghost town offers a surreal glimpse into frozen history.
29. Six Flags New Orleans, USA
Abandoned after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, this theme park still has roller coasters, signage, and mascots decaying in place. Entry is restricted, but urban explorers have documented its eerie beauty. Once a lively entertainment hub, it now stands as a haunting monument to disaster, decay, and the passage of time in post-Katrina New Orleans.
30. Spreepark, Berlin, Germany
A former East German amusement park, left to decay after closing in 2002. Overgrown tracks, rusted Ferris wheels, and swan boats remain trapped in the foliage. Once filled with joyful families, today it’s a silent jungle of nostalgia and forgotten rides. Though largely closed to the public, occasional tours and art installations breathe new life into its eerie landscape.
31. SS Ayrfield, Australia
A rusted shipwreck in Homebush Bay, overgrown with mangrove trees. Once used in WWII, it’s now a floating forest and one of Sydney’s most photographed relics. The ship was originally built in 1911 and decommissioned in the 1970s. Its transformation by nature makes it a powerful symbol of decay, regeneration, and environmental beauty.
32. Ghost Town of Doel, Belgium
This nearly abandoned town is covered in vibrant street art, making it a surreal mix of decay and creativity. It was evacuated for port expansion that never fully happened. Doel’s quirky graffiti-covered buildings and empty streets have transformed it into a canvas for artists and a hotspot for urban explorers. Despite its uncertain future, it continues to draw visitors curious about its unique, ever-evolving appearance.
33. Czestochowa Train Depot, Poland
An abandoned railway depot housing rusting steam engines and crumbling infrastructure. A dream for photographers and rail enthusiasts. The site is a haunting reminder of Poland’s rich rail history and industrial past, where locomotives sit motionless in quiet decay beneath layers of rust and moss.
34. Château Miranda, Belgium
Once a grand neo-Gothic castle, this architectural marvel was built in the mid-19th century by French aristocrats fleeing the revolution. It was abandoned in 1991 due to high maintenance costs and drew urban explorers from all over before being partially demolished in 2017. Despite its ruin, the castle’s remaining arches and towers still whisper tales of elegance, decay, and forgotten grandeur.
35. Dhanushkodi, India
A ghost town at the tip of India, destroyed by a cyclone in 1964. Today, visitors can walk the deserted streets and see remnants of the railway station and church. Once a thriving port town with train services, its ruins now sit between the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, offering stunning sea views and a haunting reminder of nature’s force.
36. Ryugyong Hotel, North Korea
An unfinished 105-story pyramid-shaped skyscraper in Pyongyang, construction began in 1987 and has been plagued by delays and design issues. Dubbed the “Hotel of Doom,” it stood abandoned for years, though some floors are reportedly being fitted today. Towering at 1,082 feet, it remains one of the tallest unoccupied buildings in the world, casting a ghostly shadow over the North Korean capital.
37. Ghost City of Fengdu, China
A large temple complex built as a representation of the underworld, this eerie city is full of ghost statues and mythology. It draws curious spiritual tourists. Perched on the banks of the Yangtze River, Fengdu combines Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian elements, showcasing depictions of the afterlife and judgment. It is often visited during Yangtze River cruises, making it both accessible and otherworldly.
38. Rummu Quarry Prison, Estonia
A former limestone quarry and Soviet prison that’s now partially underwater. It’s a popular site for diving and swimming, with submerged ruins beneath crystal-clear water. Built during the Soviet era, prisoners were forced to extract limestone from the site. After it was abandoned, groundwater flooded the area, turning it into an unexpected aquatic attraction surrounded by white rock and pine forest.
39. Maunsell Underground Bunkers, Kent, England
Hidden beneath the fields of Kent lie a network of abandoned WWII-era bunkers once used as command posts and air raid shelters. Overgrown with weeds and rusting metal doors, these bunkers are largely untouched since the war. Some entrances are visible and accessible with care, making them a favorite for urban explorers and military history enthusiasts.
40. Bannerman Castle, New York, USA
Built on Pollepel Island, this military storage facility now stands in ruins along the Hudson River. Guided boat and kayak tours are available.
41. Gara de Nord, Romania
A partially abandoned rail yard in Bucharest. Rows of forgotten train cars and overgrown tracks create a haunting atmosphere. Once a hub for Eastern European travel, the site now sits in partial disuse, with rusting carriages slowly succumbing to time. Its eerie silence and decaying infrastructure make it an ideal destination for rail history lovers and urban explorers.
42. Island of the Dolls, Mexico
This chinampa in Xochimilco is covered in hundreds of creepy dolls, hung in tribute to a drowned girl. It’s now one of Mexico’s strangest tourist spots. The dolls, many of them decapitated or weather-worn, were placed by the island’s caretaker to appease the girl’s spirit. Despite—or because of—its unsettling ambiance, it draws thousands of curious visitors annually.
43. Staten Island Farm Colony, New York, USA
Originally a poorhouse, this 19th-century site later became a tuberculosis hospital. Abandoned buildings remain shrouded in forest, with vines and trees reclaiming the once-bustling grounds. The colony was self-sufficient in its prime, with a working farm and dormitories. Today, it stands as a chilling reflection of how society treated the elderly and infirm — forgotten by time and overtaken by nature.
44. Balaklava Submarine Base, Ukraine
A Cold War-era nuclear submarine facility, hidden inside a mountain and once top secret. Now a museum open to visitors interested in military history, it was capable of withstanding a direct nuclear strike. The base housed submarines, weapons storage, and command infrastructure, all concealed beneath layers of reinforced concrete. Today, its eerie tunnels and exhibits offer a rare glimpse into the Soviet Union’s covert naval operations.
45. Chernobyl Amusement Park, Ukraine
Part of Pripyat, this rusting Ferris wheel has become a symbol of nuclear disaster. Though never officially opened, it remains frozen in place, echoing tragedy. Intended to open for May Day celebrations in 1986, it was abandoned just days before the Chernobyl disaster. Today, it stands as one of the most iconic images of the event, visited by thousands on guided exclusion zone tours.
Conclusion
From eerie towns buried in ash to castles collapsing in forests, these sites are a reminder of how quickly humanity can vanish — and how nature always reclaims what’s left behind. Many of these places offer safe, guided tours, while others are best visited from a respectful distance.
Which of these abandoned places would you dare to explore?
