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Severia Bel September 20, 2024

Many of us have childhood memories of abandoned buildings that stood, forgotten, on the outskirts of town. For some reason, kids just love the haunting beauty of an abandoned spot, often feeling an irresistible pull to explore these eerie places.

Even as adults, plenty of us still love the chance to run our fingertips along crumbling walls, speak in hushed tones, and maybe even jump out unexpectedly to scare a friend, just like we did when we were kids. (Only now that friend is your partner and they “didn’t find that funny at all, actually.” Oops!)

So if you fancy adding a touch of intrigue and foreboding to your next holiday, check out these hauntingly beautiful ghost towns and abandoned cities around the world.

1. Houtouwan, China

Houtouwan, China

Houtouwan is an abandoned fishing village on an island off the coast of Shanghai. Built in the 1950s during a time of upheaval in China, the island’s poor connections to the mainland were what ultimately brought about its end in the 90s.

Now, the deserted village is a striking sight. Greenery has engulfed the charming houses, which rise up above the sea, nestled into the side of a mountain. The old fishermen’s homes are also covered in carpets of ivy, giving the feeling of something out of a real-life fairy tale. Or perhaps a nightmare…

For those wanting to visit, a three-hour ferry from Shanghai to Shengsi Island would start the trip, followed by a local ferry to Houtouwan. While it’s not the most straightforward of journeys, Shengsi Island has beautiful beaches and hiking routes – and is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of Shanghai.

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2. Great Train Graveyard, Bolivia

Great Train Graveyard, Bolivia

Just a short drive from Bolivia’s iconic salt flats, the Great Train Graveyard consists of hundreds of neglected trains. Brought from the UK, these vehicles transported important minerals from Bolivia’s once-booming mines.

After the Second World War, the country’s mining industry collapsed and these trains were left to rust in the desert-like landscape.

The brown of the decaying trains is especially beautiful to see at sunrise and sunset. As the area is so flat, astonishing colours light up the sky as far as the eye can see, painting these ghost trains in a spooky ethereal haze. You’ll find fewer crowds here at dusk and dawn too.

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3. Craco, Italy

Craco, Italy

Craco is a mediaeval town in Southern Italy, perched precariously atop a steep cliff. It was this hilltop location that led to the town being fully evacuated in 1980, following a series of landslides caused by an earthquake and poor drainage.

The people may have gone but the beauty of the mediaeval architecture remains. A 12th-century watchtower and a Romanesque-style church still stand, crumbling, in the town. The worn structures almost melt into the rugged rock of the cliff, and trees sprout from the pale stone altar of the church, giving a darkly enchanting feel.

Visitors can explore Craco as part of a guided tour, with hard hats provided for safety.

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4. Michigan Theatre, Detroit

Michigan Theatre, Detroit

The once-luxurious Michigan Theatre, used today as a car park, stands as something of a monument to Detroit’s industrial decline.

Built in the Roaring Twenties, the entertainment venue would’ve been a hub for local artists and elites. Made to evoke a sense of awe and grandeur, the three-storey-high lobby was decorated with marble arches, chandeliers, and ornate plasterwork. The buzz was likely electric as well-dressed guests poured in to see an orchestra performance or the latest Hollywood picture.

If you’re intrigued to visit, you could still marvel at the theatre’s decaying architectural features – an unnerving shadow of its past self. The site’s melancholic beauty has inspired many artists and photographers including Julia Solis and Wangechi Mutu.

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5. Kennecott, Alaska

Kennecott, Alaska

It seems that many sites across the globe are abandoned due to the world changing around them. Often the depletion of resources or a move away from traditional industries, is the reason for their demise.

That’s exactly the case when it comes to Kennecott, Alaska. Built on the side of a glacier and surrounded by mountains, Kennecott was the home of copper miners. When the local mining corporation shut its doors, the cheerful red houses were swiftly left behind, and now stand eerily forgotten.

The natural beauty of Alaska’s untouched landscape is renowned worldwide. And if you choose to visit Kennecott, you’ll likely come to appreciate just how remote this part of the world is. The town is almost a nine-hour drive from the nearest city, with lengthy distances only covered by a dirt road.

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6. Tskaltubo, Georgia

Tskaltubo, Georgia

Georgia is famous for its thermal springs and rich mineral waters, which made it a popular holiday destination while it was part of the Soviet Union.

Of all the celebrated spa resorts across the Soviet Union, the Tskaltubo Spa was perhaps the grandest and most famous of all, beloved by important officials. It combines the grandness of Soviet architecture and more traditional Georgian building styles.

Now, its many sanitariums and bathhouses lay ruined. Grand circular lobbies, surrounded by archways, are left an echo of their former glory. And the luscious surrounding forest only adds to the chilling beauty of the site.

Tskaltubo is only a short drive from the nearest city – Kutaisi – which has an international airport. Travellers looking for the unusual could also take a four-hour train from Georgia’s capital.

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7. Hashima Island, Japan

Hashima Island, Japan

Hashima is an abandoned island off the coast of Nagasaki, Japan, known for its battleship-like shape. In its heyday, the town was one of the most densely populated places on earth, home to thousands of coal miners and their families.

As is often the case, once the island’s mines closed down in the 1970s, a mass exodus began. And it seems like some of the inhabitants couldn’t wait to leave – many left their belongings behind. Children’s toys lay abandoned in rubble, acting as time capsules to past lives.

This all gives Hashima an unsettling atmosphere. But there’s ample beauty to be found on a guided tour here too: nature’s reclamation of the buildings is striking. Towering concrete structures slowly crumble into the sea against a backdrop of the vast blue ocean.

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8. Kayakoy, Turkey

Kayakoy, Turkey

The ghost town of Kayakoy can be found in a peaceful valley in southwest Turkey. But you won’t find typical Turkish architecture here, as the village was built by a community of Orthodox Greeks.

It was abandoned in the early 20th century, as political upheaval saw a large population exchange between Greece and Turkey. Now the village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, left to stand as a symbol of world friendship and peace.

The worn stone buildings are surrounded by rolling hills, and fig and olive trees dot the town, speeding up its decay. The heaviness of Kayakoy’s past can be felt in the air but is made lighter by the soft breeze that floats over from the inky Mediterranean Sea.

A small entrance fee is required to visit the site, helping to manage tourist numbers and keep this symbol of peace standing.

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9. Kolmanskop, Namibia

Kolmanskop, Namibia

If you thought it unusual to find a German-style town in the middle of the Namib desert, you wouldn’t be the only one. This colonial settlement was built for Europeans who were flocking to take advantage of the area’s diamond reserves.

Now it’s well and truly deserted. The strong winds of the Namib desert have brought piles of deep-yellow sand into the buildings, which complements its colourful interior walls.

The endless sand is what makes Kolmanskop both beautiful and otherworldly. Gazing over the radiant landscape of boundless dunes, it’s very apparent that nature has the power to engulf our towns and cities.

As the town sits in a restricted area, visitors need to book a guided tour or apply for a permit pass.

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10. Ross Island, India

Ross Island, India

Located in the Bay of Bengal, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a popular destination for tourists looking for pristine beaches, snorkelling, and hiking. But no visit to this Indian archipelago is complete without exploring the abandoned colonial settlement of Ross Island.

Established by the British in the 1850s, Ross Island served as the administrative headquarters of vast island prisons housing Indian freedom fighters. This command hub boasted swimming pools, tennis courts, and lavish bungalows, enjoyed by British officials.

After India’s independence, the town was gradually abandoned and has since been reclaimed by the tropical jungle. Now, a mesmerising tangle of roots covers beautiful colonial structures, hiding the walls that witnessed this island’s troubled past.

Today, visitors can walk among these overgrown ruins, imagining the lives once lived here.

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11. Villa Epecuén, Argentina

Villa Epecuén, Argentina

Once a thriving resort town, Villa Epecuén sat on the shores of a vast lake southwest of Buenos Aires. The waters of Epecuén Lake are 10 times saltier than seawater, spurring tales of healing power, and drawing flocks of tourists during the town’s heyday.

In 1985, tragedy struck when a nearby dam broke, gradually submerging the town under floodwaters.

The waters eventually receded, revealing the now bleached and decrepit town, a ghost of its former self. Rusting metal poles rise above whitewashed rubble, giving the impression of ancient Greek statues, both beautiful and unsettling in their decay.

The abandoned site is free to walk around without the need for booking a tour.

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Final thoughts…

The pull we feel to explore ghost-towns may reflect our desire to better understand our fleeting lives and humanity’s relationship to nature. Visiting abandoned places can remind us of the passage of time, and the changes that come with shifting industries, economies, and political systems.

The beauty and grandeur of previously lavish spectacles standing in ruin reminds us how short, yet enduring human lives are.

These spots can be remote and difficult to access, so it’s a good idea to carefully check travel options ahead of time, as many attractions on this list can only be accessed via organised tours.

Do you feel a pull to visit abandoned places? Will you be adding a ghost-town stop-off to your next trip? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Severia Bel

Severia Bel is a freelance journalist and communications consultant. She writes on social issues like gender, as well as travel, photography, and relationships. Severia holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from Goldsmiths, University of London, and has previously worked in charities. She spent the last year travelling Southeast Asia, sampling as many curries and noodle soups as possible (laksa lovers rise up!). When she’s not working or travelling, Severia enjoys spending time with animals, watching nerdy documentaries, and going out dancing.

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