Throughout the world, bustling towns and vibrant metropolises have been left eerily deserted, some seemingly abandoned overnight. These historic sites, once vibrant communities, now offer a glimpse into the past – a photographer's paradise and a potential tourist's haunting experience. Whether nestled in lush forests or barren deserts, these abandoned towns and cities bear the scars of time, showcasing human ingenuity while reminding us of the inevitability of decay. Yet, in their state of disrepair, these places have the power to captivate and unsettle us in equal measure. Below, we explore 14 of the most breathtaking abandoned cities and towns worldwide, each telling its own hauntingly beautiful story.
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Hashima Island, Japan
Made world-famous by the 2012 James Bond film, Skyfall, where it set the scene for the villain's lair, Hashima Island, an abandoned island near Nagasaki, Japan, once operated as an underwater coal mining facility between 1887 and 1974. During World War II, undocumented prisoners of war were brought to the island to to work under harsh conditions, with death toll figures still heavily debated. Today, Hashima Island is a tourist destination and a NESCO World Heritage site.
It should be noted that due to to safety concerns, a majority of the James Bond footage was shot on a soundstage at Pinewood Studios in the UK, where the structure was recreated. Cgi combined limited on-island footage with exterior shots of the mining facility to create Raoul Silva's final hideout.
Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, USA
Some 800 years ago, around the late 1190s, the Ancestral Pueblo people who lived in what’s now southwest Colorado, began moving from the tops of mesas into dwellings they built into the sides of natural cliffs. Set in alcoves, these structures included single-room storage units for food, all the way up to 150-room villages, such as Cliff Palace, which once housed about 100 people.
In the mid-1200s, the group began migrating to present-day New Mexico and Arizona, eventually abandoning the cliffside dwellings altogether. Today, you can visit these marvels of ancient architecture, preserved within Mesa Verde National Park. Stepping inside the structures requires joining a ranger-led tour, but you can also see the cliff dwellings from afar by driving or hiking either the Mesa Top Loop Road or Cliff Palace Loop Road.
Kolmanskop, Namibia
Kolmanskop in southern Namibia is a former diamond mining town, now a ghost town. Located in the Namib Desert, eerie photos of the settlement show early 20th-century homes, some with brightly colored wallpaper still visible, flooded with sand. It’s as though the desert is swallowing up an entire city.
The town’s boom began after a railroad worker discovered diamonds in 1908. By 1912, Kolmanskop was responsible for 11.7% of the world’s total diamond production, and a full-fledged town had sprung up. However, intensive mining depleted the area by the 1950s, and people left in droves. By 1956, the settlement was abandoned. In the decades since, the surrounding sand dunes have pushed through the buildings, as if the desert is reclaiming the space.
Pyramiden, Svalbard
Cups remain on tables, newspaper clippings are still pinned to the walls, and skiing equipment is left in the hallways of the buildings at Pyramiden, a Russian coal mining settlement in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. All that’s missing? The people. In the 1980s, the town had a population of over 1,000; however, dwindling coal prices, difficulties in coal extraction, and a horrific plane crash all contributed to mining operations stopping in April 1998. These days the town’s abandoned buildings, industrial complexes, and streets are still intact, but the only creatures stirring in the area are Arctic foxes, seabirds, and, occasionally, a polar bear or two.
Old Town Al-'Ula, Medina, Saudi Arabia
Nestled in the sun-drenched deserts of northwest Saudi Arabia, the enigmatic Old Town Al-'Ula is characterised by its winding alleys and ancient mudbrick houses. This once-bustling town, a vital stop on the Incense Route over 2,000 years ago, thrived as a haven for traders and pilgrims until the 1980s when modernisation lured the town’s residents away. Drawn to new homes with better amenities, they left behind a town frozen in time, its empty houses and narrow streets a reminder of a once bustling community. Today, efforts are underway to turn this historical gem into a tourism destination, including the transformation of 30 mudbrick houses into the new Dar Tantora The House Hotel.
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Bodie, California, USA
Now part of Bodie State Historic Park, the ghost town of Bodie, California, was once a gold-mining destination with around 2,000 structures and a population of about 8,000 people. The town gets its name from W.S. Body, who discovered small amounts of gold in the hills of nearby Mono Lake in 1859. The discovery of a rich vein of ore in the 1870s created a gold rush and the population shot up from a few dozen to over 10,000 over the course of a decade. The bust, however, began as soon as the early 1880s and droves of residents began to leave. By 1942, mining officially ceased in Bodie.
Today, only a small percentage of the original structures still remain, due mostly to two large fires that ripped through the town in 1892 and 1932. But visitors can still stroll the main street and see the remaining buildings, preserved as they were when the last residents left about 50 years ago.
Al Jazira Al Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
Just 90 minutes north of Dubai in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is the ghost town of Al Jazira Al Hamra, its roots stretching back to the early 14th century. Once a thriving pearl fishing and trading village, it's now defined by crumbling coral and mudbrick houses, silent mosques, and abandoned marketplaces. It paints a vivid picture of life before the oil boom, which consequently saw villagers abandon the town in the 1960s, leaving behind a perfectly preserved snapshot of traditional Emirati life.
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Villa Epecuén, Imereti, Argentina
In 1985, Villa Epecuén vanished beneath the waters of a swelling lake in Argentina's Imereti region, submerging the once-thriving lakeside resort town under 33 feet of water. For more than two decades, its streets and structures were preserved in underwater silence, only emerging from obscurity in the early 2000s, when the waters surrounding it began to recede. Today, it stands as a haunting testament to the interplay of human ambition and nature's relentless force, characterised by salt-encrusted ruins and the fragile remnants of a town lost and found again.
Tskaltubo, Georgia
Celebrated for its healing mineral springs and luxurious Soviet-era sanatoriums, Tskaltubo now lies silently amidst Georgia's verdant landscapes. This town once attracted visitors seeking both health and indulgence, its opulent halls a testament to the town's status as a premier health resort destination. However, the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s brought an abrupt end to Tskaltubo's golden age. With economic upheaval came neglect, and the once-glamorous sanatoriums and baths fell into disrepair. Today, Tskaltubo's grand architecture stands as a testament to its faded glory – the sweeping arcs, decorative motifs, and faded murals all reminiscent of its once poignant beauty.
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Al-Madam, Sharjah, UAE
In Sharjah's desert landscape lies Al-Madam, a haunting reminder of a once-thriving desert community rendered economically isolated due to the construction of modern highways. Established in the 1970s, it was conceived as a governmental modernisation effort aimed at reshaping the landscape during the unification of the seven emirates. Featuring 12 modest homes and a mosque at its core, the village was once a hub of Bedouin life and commerce. It was eventually swallowed by sand after being abandoned in the 1990s, leaving behind a collection of half-buried homes, shops, and mosques, crafted from mud and bricks – a testament to traditional Emirati architecture.
Tianducheng, Shanghai, China
Tianducheng might mimic Paris, but its ghostly streets tell a different story. Nestled on the outskirts of Shanghai, is a surreal imitation of the city built in the early 2000s. With ambitious plans to replicate Parisian elegance and charm, this replica city now stands frozen in time and empty, its wide boulevards and pastel-coloured buildings, seemingly abandoned as attention and resources were diverted away from Tianducheng. What was intended to be a bustling hub of residential and commercial life has now been gently reclaimed by nature, including its scaled-down replica of the Eiffel Tower.
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Kennecott, Alaska, US
The quiet silhouette of Kennecott is all that remains, with rusted machinery and derelict buildings, their faded crimson-red facades weathered by harsh Alaskan winters. Kennecott was once a thriving mining town that buzzed with activity in the early 20th century, providing comfort and community to hundreds of residents. Today, abandoned and reclaimed by nature, it is preserved as a ghost town that once helped electrify the US. Its rich copper mines drew people from far and wide, fuelling dreams of prosperity. However, as the mines depleted and resources shifted, the town was gradually abandoned, leaving behind an eerie stillness.
Crystal Palace Subway, London
Hidden beneath the streets of London, the Crystal Palace Subway is a subterranean Victorian foot tunnel and a relic of a bygone era. Opened in 1865 alongside the 'High Level' railway station, its features include ornate design elements, including a grand Italianate façade, reflecting the Crystal Palace's grandeur. Intended to impress visitors, its importance waned after the Crystal Palace burned down in 1936, leading to its closure in 1954. Restoration work is now underway, led by conservation architect Thomas Ford & Partners, aiming to revive this hidden gem.
Craco, Matera, Italy
Craco’s origins are rooted in the Norman period with architecture defined by its distinctive shapes and sturdy materials, reflecting a blend of mediaeval Italian style and Norman influences. From its fortified walls to the intricately carved details on doorways and windows, Craco's architectural legacy tells a story of resilience, craftsmanship and, ultimately, abandonment. Like many abandoned towns and cities, Craco faced its demise due to a series of natural disasters including landslides in 1963, a flood in 1972, and an earthquake in 1980, which made the area unsafe for inhabitants, leading to the complete evacuation of the town.
Mandu, Madhya Pradesh, India
Nestled in the heart of Madhya Pradesh, India, Mandu is a treasure trove of cultural richness and architectural splendour waiting to be rediscovered. This ancient city traces its roots back centuries to its origins as a formidable fortress retreat. Once a thriving centre of Afghan architecture and royal grandeur, Mandu's palaces and mosques now stand frozen in time, their intricate designs and artistic embellishments weathered by centuries of abandonment. The overgrown gardens and crumbling facades set the stage for a history of shifting powers and political upheaval that led to Mandu’s eventual decline.
