Forgotten Places You Can Still Visit Today

There’s something magnetic about places the world has moved on from: empty main streets, wind rattling broken windows, whole communities frozen at the exact moment everyone left.

A lot of the famous “forgotten places” are off‑limits now (for example, the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has been closed to tourists since the Russian invasion in 2022 and will stay that way until the war and demining are over). (interfax.com)

But plenty of other eerie, overlooked sites are still visitable—safely and legally—if you know where to look. Below are 10 haunting “forgotten” places across the world you can still step into today, plus tips for visiting them respectfully.

1. Kolmanskop, Namibia – The Ghost Town Swallowed by Sand

What it is:
Kolmanskop is an abandoned diamond mining town in Namibia’s coastal Namib Desert, about 10 km inland from the port of Lüderitz. (en.wikipedia.org) In the early 1900s it was fabulously wealthy; by the 1950s, richer diamond fields elsewhere left it to the dunes.

Today, entire houses are half‑filled with sand, staircases disappear into dunes, and pastel walls peel in the dry desert air—a surreal dream for photographers. (nationalgeographic.com)

How to visit:
Kolmanskop sits inside Namibia’s restricted Sperrgebiet (forbidden zone), but it’s open on permits and tours: Ghost Town Tours and others run daily visits, and the standard entrance permit includes a guided tour. (kolmanskuppe.com)

Tips:

• Go early morning for softer light and cooler temperatures; serious photographers can buy a “photographer’s permit” for extended access. (thetravellingchilli.com)
• Bring water, sunscreen, and protection for your camera—the fine sand gets everywhere.

2. Bodie, California, USA – A Gold Rush Town in “Arrested Decay”

What it is:
Bodie was a booming gold‑rush town in the late 1800s, with thousands of residents and a reputation for lawlessness. Today it’s a remarkably intact ghost town preserved as Bodie State Historic Park in California’s high desert. (bodie.com)

California chose to preserve Bodie in a state of “arrested decay”—buildings are stabilized but not restored. Walking the dusty streets, you’ll see schoolrooms with books still on desks, stores with goods on shelves, and houses furnished as if people just stepped out. (bodie.com)

How to visit:
The park is open year‑round, typically 9:00–18:00 in summer and 9:00–16:00 in winter, with reduced services in the off‑season. (parks.ca.gov) There are no commercial facilities (no gas, food, or lodging) in Bodie itself, which keeps the ghost‑town feel very real. (parks.ca.gov)

Tips:

• The road in is partly unpaved; check conditions, especially in winter. (allstateparks.com)
• Don’t remove anything—locals talk about the “Bodie curse” on people who steal relics, and park staff strongly discourage souvenir‑hunting. (elpais.com)

3. Varosha, Famagusta, Cyprus – The Frozen 1970s Beach Resort

What it is:
Once a glitzy Mediterranean resort lined with high‑rise hotels, Varosha was abruptly abandoned in 1974 during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and then fenced off by the Turkish military for decades. (cyprus-mail.com)

In 2020, authorities in the Turkish‑controlled north began a partial reopening—about 3–3.5% of the area—allowing visitors to walk some streets and the seafront, though most buildings remain off‑limits ruins. (reddit.com) Since reopening, the area has seen over 2 million visitors, making it a strange mix of beach stroll and political flashpoint. (cyprus-mail.com)

How to visit:

• Varosha is accessed from the north side of the island (the self‑declared “TRNC”), usually via Famagusta; you’ll cross a checkpoint from the Republic of Cyprus‑controlled south. (reddit.com)
• Entry is generally on foot or by bicycle; photography of military posts and certain buildings is restricted, and access remains politically sensitive. (knews.kathimerini.com.cy)

Tips:

• Treat it like a war memorial, not an “urban exploration playground”—thousands of people lost homes and livelihoods here.
• Always follow the on‑site signage and local guidance; rules can change with the political situation.

4. Bombay Beach, Salton Sea, California, USA – Ruins Turned Art Playground

What it is:
Bombay Beach, on California’s Salton Sea, was a mid‑century lakeside resort that collapsed as the water grew increasingly salty and polluted. (en.wikipedia.org) Flooding, receding shorelines, and economic decline left behind rusting trailers, abandoned houses, and salt‑encrusted piers. (en.wikipedia.org)

In the last decade, artists have moved in, turning it into a bizarre open‑air gallery with large‑scale installations and the annual Bombay Beach Biennale, a semi‑underground arts festival. (thehotflashpacker.com)

How to visit:

• Bombay Beach lies off Highway 111 on the eastern shore of the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California. (thehotflashpacker.com)
• There are a few bars and community hangouts, but services are minimal—think more “weird desert outpost” than resort town. (thehotflashpacker.com)

Tips:

• Sunrise and sunset give the best light and the least brutal heat. (thehotflashpacker.com)
• Many structures that look abandoned are still occupied—be very careful not to trespass and be respectful of residents. (thehotflashpacker.com)

5. Oradour‑sur‑Glane, France – A Ghost Village Left as Evidence

What it is:
On 10 June 1944, the Waffen‑SS massacred 642 inhabitants of Oradour‑sur‑Glane in central France and burned the village. (cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr) After the war, Charles de Gaulle ordered the ruins kept as they were, as a permanent memorial. (reddit.com)

Today, you can walk through charred houses, a rusting tram, and the destroyed church. A modern Centre de la Mémoire museum explains the events and now serves as the controlled entry to the ruined “martyr village.” (cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr)

How to visit:

• The memorial center is open from February 1 to December 15, with hours varying seasonally (roughly 9:00–17:00 in winter up to 19:00 in midsummer). (cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr)
• You access the ruined village through the center; entry to the ruins themselves is free, though the museum charges a modest fee. (cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr)

Tips:

• Expect this to be emotionally heavy; many visitors describe an uncanny stillness—no birdsong, hushed voices. (reddit.com)
• Treat it like a cemetery: avoid loud conversations, drones, or “funny” photos.

6. Craco, Basilicata, Italy – A Medieval Hill Town Suspended Above the Valley

What it is:
Craco is a dramatic medieval hilltop town in southern Basilicata that was progressively abandoned in the late 20th century due to landslides, poor foundations, and, later, the 1980 Irpinia earthquake. (en.wikipedia.org) Stone houses cling to a steep ridge, crowned by a Norman tower and church—like a fantasy set that real people once called home.

The ghostly streets have featured in films and series, and the town is sometimes called one of Italy’s most impressive ghost villages. (abandonedspaces.com)

How to visit:

• Craco is reachable by road from Matera in about an hour; visitors usually park below and join guided tours run by the municipality or local associations. (roadsideitaly.com)
• Due to rockfall risk, you typically must join an organized tour and wear a provided hard hat; access is along designated paths only. (reddit.com)

Tips:

• Combine Craco with Matera’s cave dwellings (Sassi di Matera) for an intense “old stone Italy” trip. (reddit.com)
• Wear sturdy shoes—many surfaces are steep, broken, and dusty.

7. Humberstone & Santa Laura, Chile – Nitrate Boomtowns in the Atacama

What they are:
Humberstone and Santa Laura are two abandoned saltpeter (nitrate) works in Chile’s Atacama Desert, once home to thousands of workers fueling the global fertilizer and explosives trade. (whc.unesco.org) When synthetic fertilizers killed the natural nitrate market, the towns were deserted and later declared national monuments. (en.wikipedia.org)

Their atmospheric rusting machinery, workers’ housing, and empty plazas are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, about 45 km from the coastal city of Iquique. (whc.unesco.org)

How to visit:

• The site is easily visited as a day trip from Iquique by bus, rental car, or on guided tours. (patrimoniocultural.gob.cl)
• Simple visitor infrastructure (tickets, basic services, interpretive signs) has been put in place as part of the heritage designation and conservation efforts. (whc.unesco.org)

Tips:

• The Atacama is very dry and often hot—pack sun protection, water, and a hat.
• The vast industrial ruins are fantastic for wide‑angle photography; a polarizing filter helps with harsh midday light.

8. Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan, India – “Most Haunted Fort” You Can Visit by Day

What it is:
Bhangarh Fort is a 17th‑century fort complex on the edge of Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, surrounded by the remains of a once‑bustling town. (travelmax.in) Local legends and ASI notices have made it famous as one of India’s “most haunted” places—so much so that entry is officially prohibited after sunset. (ixigo.com)

During the day, though, it’s a peaceful ruin of temples, bazaars, and crumbling havelis with views over the Aravalli hills. (travelmax.in)

How to visit:

• The fort is open roughly 10:00–17:00, with an entry fee (higher for foreign visitors). (travelmax.in)
• It’s about 80–90 km from Jaipur, commonly visited as a day trip by taxi or tour. (hotelnatrajjaipur.com)

Tips:

• Do not attempt to stay after dark—besides the ghost stories, there are real legal and safety issues. (reddit.com)
• Combine with Sariska or nearby forts for a full‑day history circuit.

9. Kennecott Mines, Alaska, USA – A Copper Company Town in the Wilderness

What it is:
Deep inside Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the former Kennecott copper mine is now a spectacularly remote National Historic Landmark of wooden mill buildings, tramways, and company housing clinging to a mountainside. (en.wikipedia.org)

The mine and its associated mill town were abandoned in the 1930s; for decades, equipment and buildings sat almost untouched. Today, the National Park Service runs the Kennecott Visitor Center in the historic schoolhouse and offers ranger‑led walks through the site. (nps.gov)

How to visit:

• Most visitors drive the rough McCarthy Road, then cross a footbridge and either hike or shuttle to Kennecott, about 5 miles away. (en.wikipedia.org)
• From there, you can explore the townsite, join guided mill building tours, and access hiking trails to nearby glaciers. (nps.gov)

Tips:

• This is true wilderness: services are limited, weather changes fast, and bears are a thing—plan like you’re going backcountry, not to a roadside attraction. (govinfo.gov)

10. Pyramiden, Svalbard – A Soviet Ghost Town at the Edge of the Arctic

What it is:
Pyramiden is an abandoned Soviet coal mining town on the Svalbard archipelago, about 50 km from Longyearbyen. (en.wikipedia.org) Once home to over a thousand residents, it was closed in 1998; many buildings, furnishings, and even Soviet propaganda posters were simply left in place. (en.wikipedia.org)

A small Russian crew now maintains the settlement, runs a hotel, and guides tourists through sites like the sports hall, cultural center, and the tiny Pyramiden Museum. (en.wikipedia.org)

How to visit:

• Pyramiden is typically reached by boat in summer or snowmobile in winter from Longyearbyen, often on full‑day guided excursions that include town tours and sometimes a visit inside former mine facilities. (urbextour.com)
• Tours emphasize both Soviet social history and the stark Arctic environment, with strict rules about polar bear safety and staying with your guide. (urbextour.com)

Tips:

• Dress in serious cold‑weather layers—even in summer the Arctic wind cuts through clothing. (scenictravel.com.sg)
• Respect that a handful of people actually live here caring for the town; always ask before entering buildings and follow guide instructions closely.

Visiting Forgotten Places Responsibly

A few final principles, whether you’re walking sand‑filled houses in Namibia or a martyr village in France:

• Research access rules – Many of these sites require permits, guided tours, or have restricted areas for safety and preservation.
• Take nothing, leave nothing – Don’t remove artifacts or “souvenirs,” and pack out all trash; some sites (like Bodie) literally survive on the fact that people left everything behind. (parks.ca.gov)
• Be emotionally prepared – Places like Oradour‑sur‑Glane and Varosha are not just “cool ruins”; they’re sites of trauma and displacement. Treat them with the gravity you’d give a cemetery. (cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr)

If you do that, you’re not just a tourist in a ghost town—you’re a respectful witness to stories that might otherwise be forgotten.