17 Eerie Abandoned Places You Can Actually Visit

Abandoned places have always intrigued us with their haunting beauty and mysterious histories. While some remain off-limits, there are many eerie locations you can actually visit. These forgotten sites offer a glimpse into the past, from crumbling factories to deserted towns. Walking through these places feels like stepping into another world, frozen in time. Whether it’s the remnants of a once-thriving community or the eerie silence of a forgotten hospital, each place tells a unique story.

This post may contain affiliate links, which helps keep this content free. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Pripyat, Ukraine

Pripyat was once a thriving town home to workers of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. After the 1986 disaster, the town was evacuated, leaving behind a haunting scene of abandoned homes and public buildings. Visitors today can take guided tours through this ghost town, walking past empty playgrounds, overgrown streets, and abandoned vehicles, all while learning about the history of the nuclear disaster.

While the radioactive contamination has decreased over the years, some areas of Pripyat still pose risks. However, tourists are allowed to visit specific, safer zones, where they can witness the eerie remains of this once-bustling community. The stark contrast between the vibrant past and the desolate present creates an unforgettable atmosphere.

Hashima Island, Japan

Hashima Island, also known as “Battleship Island,” is an abandoned island located off the coast of Nagasaki. The island was once a coal mining hub, with over 5,000 people living on the tiny island at its peak. However, the mines were closed in the 1970s, and the island was deserted, leaving behind towering concrete buildings and rusting infrastructure.

Today, Hashima Island is a popular tourist destination. Guided tours are available, where visitors can explore the decaying buildings and walk along the crumbling walkways that were once bustling with workers. The ghostly remnants of this industrial hub are a reminder of the rise and fall of Japan’s coal industry.

Bodie, California, USA

Bodie is a well-preserved ghost town in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Once a thriving mining town in the late 1800s, Bodie reached its peak during the gold rush but was eventually abandoned as the mines closed. Today, Bodie is a state historic park, offering visitors a glimpse into the past with its empty streets and preserved buildings, including a saloon, church, and homes.

What makes Bodie particularly eerie is the fact that many of the buildings are still furnished as they were left behind, frozen in time. Walking through the dusty streets, visitors can feel as though they’ve stepped into a past that has been left behind but never forgotten.

Kolmanskop, Namibia

Kolmanskop is a former diamond mining town located in the Namib Desert. Founded in the early 1900s, the town was home to wealthy diamond miners, but by the 1950s, the diamond mines were depleted, and the town was abandoned. The unique location of Kolmanskop, with its picturesque sand-filled interiors, gives it an almost surreal quality.

Visitors can explore the beautifully preserved homes and buildings, complete with antique furniture and dusty chandeliers. Guided tours tell the story of the diamond boom and the sudden collapse of this once-thriving community, adding to the eerie feel of this remote town.

Centralia, Pennsylvania, USA

Centralia is a town that has been nearly entirely abandoned due to an underground coal fire that has been burning since 1962. The fire is still ongoing, making it unsafe for habitation, and most of the town was evacuated over the years. Today, the area has a haunting atmosphere, with cracked roads, empty homes, and an occasional plume of smoke rising from the ground.

While the town is largely off-limits due to the fire, visitors can still access parts of the area. The desolate landscape, combined with the constant threat of fire beneath the surface, makes it one of the eeriest abandoned places in the United States.

Famagusta, Cyprus

The abandoned district of Famagusta in Cyprus, known as Varosha, was once a popular tourist destination in the 1970s. However, following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the area was cordoned off and has remained a ghost town ever since. The area is filled with decaying high-rise hotels, shops, and apartments, many of which have been left untouched for decades.

While the area remains under military control, visitors can still view it from the surrounding areas. The sight of the crumbling buildings and abandoned beachfront resorts against the backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea adds to the surreal feeling of this deserted town.

Château de Noisy, Belgium

Château de Noisy, also known as the “Haunted Castle,” was built in the 19th century and once served as a private residence. In the 20th century, it was converted into an orphanage, which was eventually abandoned in the 1980s. Over the years, the castle became famous for its eerie appearance, with its crumbling turrets, broken windows, and overgrown grounds.

Despite being abandoned, the castle still stands as a haunting reminder of its past. Visitors can explore the castle’s decaying interior, which includes old furniture, artwork, and even remnants of the orphanage’s history. The eerie atmosphere of the place, combined with its fairy-tale-like architecture, makes it a popular spot for urban explorers.

Teufelsberg, Germany

Teufelsberg, located in Berlin, is a man-made hill built from the rubble of World War II. At the top of the hill sits a former U.S. listening station, which was used during the Cold War. The station was abandoned after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the area has since become a hotspot for urban explorers.

The eerie sight of the decaying listening station, with its giant radar domes, towers, and graffiti-covered walls, creates an almost apocalyptic atmosphere. Visitors can hike to the top of Teufelsberg for stunning views of Berlin and explore the abandoned buildings, which still hold remnants of the Cold War era.

The Island of the Dolls, Mexico

Located just outside of Mexico City, the Island of the Dolls is a small island known for its unsettling collection of dolls hanging from trees. The island’s caretaker, Don Julian Santana, began collecting dolls in the 1950s, believing they would appease the spirit of a young girl who drowned there. After Santana’s death, the island remained abandoned but continued to attract visitors.

The sight of the decaying dolls, many of which are missing limbs or heads, creates an eerie atmosphere. Today, the island is a popular yet unsettling tourist destination for those seeking a spine-chilling experience. The dolls are said to move at night, adding to the mystique of this creepy location.

Beelitz-Heilstätten, Germany

Beelitz-Heilstätten is a former sanatorium located outside Berlin. Built in the late 19th century, the sanatorium was once a tuberculosis treatment center. It was later used by the military during both World Wars and eventually abandoned after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Visitors can explore the expansive grounds, which include grand brick buildings, overgrown gardens, and long, empty hallways. The imposing architecture and the eerie silence make Beelitz-Heilstätten a popular spot for urban explorers, offering a glimpse into Germany’s medical and military history.

The Abandoned South Fremantle Power Station, Australia

The South Fremantle Power Station in Western Australia is a decommissioned power plant that has been abandoned since the 1980s. The industrial structure, with its towering chimneys and vast concrete platforms, creates a striking contrast against the surrounding urban environment. Over the years, the power station has become a symbol of industrial decay.

Visitors can explore the site, taking in the eerie beauty of the crumbling factory walls, rusting machinery, and empty rooms. The site has been left largely untouched, and the overwhelming size of the power station, combined with its ghostly emptiness, adds to its haunting appeal.

Cueva de las Manos, Argentina

The Cueva de las Manos, or “Cave of Hands,” is a prehistoric site in Argentina, famous for its ancient cave paintings. These paintings, which are believed to be over 9,000 years old, depict the hands of early humans as well as animals. The caves are located in a remote region, adding to their eerie appeal.

Today, visitors can explore the caves and see the unique artwork that has been preserved for centuries. The sense of history and the isolation of the site make it a truly haunting experience, as it offers a glimpse into the lives of people who lived so long ago.

The Ruins of Angkor, Cambodia

Angkor, once the center of the Khmer Empire, is now a sprawling complex of temples and ruins. The ancient city was abandoned in the 15th century and has since been reclaimed by the jungle. Today, visitors can explore the temples, including the famous Angkor Wat, and witness the dramatic effects of time and nature on the stone structures.

The eerie atmosphere of Angkor is enhanced by the overgrown trees and vines that have swallowed the temples, giving them a mystical, otherworldly appearance. The massive ruins stand as a reminder of the grandeur of the Khmer Empire, making it one of the most haunting abandoned places in the world.

Poveglia Island, Italy

Poveglia Island, located in the Venetian Lagoon, has a dark history. Once used as a quarantine station for plague victims, the island later became a mental asylum. The island was abandoned in the 1960s, and its unsettling history has earned it a reputation as one of the most haunted places in Italy.

While the island is off-limits to the public, adventurous tourists can still visit by private boat. The decaying buildings and overgrown landscape, combined with the island’s eerie history, create a chilling atmosphere that makes it one of the most notorious abandoned places in the world.

The Salton Sea, California, USA

The Salton Sea in California was once a popular resort destination in the 1950s. However, the sea’s water levels have fluctuated over the years, causing environmental disasters that led to the abandonment of nearby towns. The area is now home to dead fish, abandoned buildings, and decaying infrastructure, giving it a haunting, desolate vibe.

Visitors can explore the remains of the resorts and towns that once thrived near the lake. The eerie quiet and the stark contrast between nature’s beauty and the damage caused by the environmental collapse make it a fascinating but unsettling place to visit.

Oradour-sur-Glane, France

Oradour-sur-Glane is a village in France that was destroyed during World War II. In 1944, the village was attacked by Nazi soldiers, and its inhabitants were massacred. The ruins of the village have been preserved as a memorial, with its buildings, cars, and other structures left in their wartime state.

Today, visitors can walk through the abandoned village, which still bears the scars of the attack. The haunting atmosphere is reinforced by the empty streets and preserved remnants of daily life, serving as a powerful reminder of the atrocities of war.

Nara Dreamland, Japan

Nara Dreamland was a theme park in Japan that opened in the 1960s but closed in 2006 due to declining popularity. Modeled after Disneyland, the park’s abandoned attractions and decaying buildings now attract urban explorers. Despite its eerie atmosphere, Nara Dreamland has become a popular destination for those seeking an offbeat experience.

Visitors can walk through the decaying theme park, seeing abandoned rides, empty ticket booths, and faded signage. The park’s once-vibrant colors and joyful atmosphere are now replaced with the quiet decay of forgotten dreams.

This article originally appeared on Avocadu.