Top 10 Abandoned Ghost Cities You Must Visit
Abandoned ghost towns of the past are frozen in time — we can only peek at the storied pasts of these places. These are desolate places, shaped by economic collapse, natural disasters, or bankrupt industries, both curious and awe-inspiring. Visiting these sites as an adventurous traveler is like peeking into a time capsule; somewhere between chilling and unforgettable.
If you are one of the ones who have a thirst for the extraordinary then these ten ghost cities will provide you with a journey into the echoes of the past you won’t forget.
Centralia, Pennsylvania
The story of Centralia is as fiery as it comes, literally. This was once a booming town but an underground coal mine fire has been burning since 1962 and turned it into a smoldering wasteland. Most residents have moved out, and walking eerie streets with smoke emanating from cracks in the ground is an otherworldly experience. Graffiti Highway, which is now closed, used to be the best display of the town’s haunting charm.
Hashima Island, Japan
Hashima, known as “Battleship Island” because of its shape, was once a coal mining hub and home to over 5,000 people. By the 1970s, coal was replaced by oil, and the island was deserted. Today, its concrete buildings, eroded by wind and saltwater, are ghostly ruins, off the coast of Nagasaki. Some areas have to stay off-limits for safety reasons, but tours are available.
Kolmanskop, Namibia
Think of a desert ghost town where the sand dunes spill into the buildings through the windows. That’s Kolmanskop, a diamond-mining town in Namibia that was once thriving. In the early 1900s, the town reached its peak with German-styled buildings, a hospital, and even a theater. But as the diamond rush faded, so too did Kolmanskop, and it was taken over by the dunes of the Namib Desert.
Bodie, California
Not only is Bodie a ghost town, it is a time capsule of the American Wild West. This boomtown was established during the California Gold Rush and grew to a population of 10,000 before mining ended. Now, more than 100 preserved buildings — a saloon and a schoolhouse, among them — give a glimpse of 19th-century life. This relic is a favorite of history buffs because the dry climate has preserved it.
Oradour-Sur-Glane, France
This World War II reminder is somber. Nazi troops massacred its residents and destroyed the town in 1944, turning the town into a permanent memorial. Rusting cars, bullet-ridden walls, and abandoned homes lie frozen in time. Visiting Oradour-Sur-Glane is a deeply emotional experience, as you walk where tragedy happened.
Pripyat, Ukraine
According to the National Geographic, Pripyat was once home to almost 50,000 people, but since the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986, the area stands as a stark reminder. Hundreds of thousands were evacuated from the city in hours, abandoning personal belongings, schools, and even a Ferris wheel for the May Day celebrations that never came. Today, it is reclaimed by nature, and plants are growing between the cracks in the concrete. As this haunting place cannot be visited safely, a guided tour is a good way to visit, with Geiger counters in hand to monitor radiation levels.
Craco, Italy
With a stunning yet ghostly panorama, Craco sits dramatically on top of a hill in Southern Italy. In the 20th century landslides, floods and seismic activity forced its residents to relocate. Since then, the town’s empty medieval streets and crumbling stone houses have been used for filming movies such as The Passion of the Christ. Exploring this ancient ghost town with these beautiful views is a bit of an oddly serene experience.
Varosha, Cyprus
Until the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, Varosha was once a glamorous seaside resort. Silently now, the beach-front hotels and luxury villas stand, with windows shattered and their facades weathered. Limited access has been granted by recent agreements, but walking these desolate streets is to enter a time warp. Before it was abruptly evacuated, Varosha was estimated to have housed some 39,000 residents.
Pyramiden, Norway
Pyramiden is an abandoned Soviet mining town in the Arctic Circle. For a ghost town that’s truly chilling. With its crumbling buildings and frozen landscape, it’s accessible only by boat or snowmobile. Pyramiden was once home to over 1,000 people, who left in 1998.
Kayaköy, Turkey
Up until the 1920s, this was one of the many abandoned Greek villages in Turkey, when a population exchange between Greece and Turkey took place according to History Hit. Stone houses, chapels, and cobbled streets are in fact, testifying to displacement. Both Literature and art have been inspired by Kayaköy with some visitors claiming that its quiet beauty is peaceful and melancholic.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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