8 Scariest Ghost Towns in the World
Find out the surprising, and sometimes creepy history, of some of the scariest ghost towns in the world.
I always found abandoned places fascinating. When I spent summers on the island of Syros, I would wander around the deserted neoclassical houses, walking among the old furniture and occasional heirlooms, thinking about what the life of the one-time residents was like.
When I got older and moved to the West Coast, I spent weekends exploring the many ghost towns in the American West and Southwest. From Death Valley to the old railroad towns of Route 66 to the ghost towns of the Salton Sea, there were so many abandoned places and fascinating histories to dive into.
The abandoned towns of the U.S. are more or less well-known. So I started thinking…what are some of the most intriguing international ghost towns out there? And that’s their story?
I organized this collaboration with a bunch of other cool bloggers to find out. They sent me their craziest ghost town experiences around the world.
But first, one of my favorites – California’s most famous ghost town.
Bodie, California
For someone who grew up obsessed with cowboy culture and the Old West, visiting Bodie was a dream come true. At 8,735 feet above sea level, this former gold mining town, full of cowboys, families, and gunslingers, has remained hauntingly preserved.
In 1879, Bodie had 10,000 residents and over 2,000 structures within the town. However, most of the population boom was due to the gold mines nearby.
Harsh conditions, including frigid winters, baking hot summers, no nearby water or wood on the land, and a pretty astonishing level of violence, made Bodie a hard place to live otherwise. In the late 19th century, when the gold mines died down, the miners saw no reason to stay. Understandably.
So the population eventually filed out of this harsh mountain village. In the 1890s, a large fire destroyed a large part of Bodie. While it rebounded for a while, another fire in 1932 wiped out 10% of the city again, leading residents to abandon it for good by the 1940s.
Visit Bodie Today
One of the most amazing things about Bodie is how well the former mining town is preserved.
You can take a peek into the old school building and still see desks and books inside. There are goods and wares in the town’s old grocery store, the church is still filled with pews, and saloons and other shops linger around the main street.
The village also has a dangerously sideways-leaning hotel, and another with plenty of furniture left inside.
Unlike other California ghost towns, Bodie has become a ward of the state. That means California State Parks, under the National Park Service, has placed it on the National Register of Historic Places. Unlike other towns, that have been turned into gimmicky tourist attractions.
If you want a really scary experience in one of the U.S.’s most famous abandoned mining towns, you can arrange a nighttime tour of Bodie. Dare to roam the deserted streets, dabble in night photography, and freak yourself out. Enjoy!
Varosha (Famagusta) in North Cyprus
Contributed by Tom Henty’s Travel
Wandering around Varosha is an intense introduction into Northern Cyprus. The derelict streets of the abandoned ghost city are frozen in time, exactly as they were over 50 years ago.
Before Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus in 1974, Varosha was an upmarket island holiday resort for the rich and famous. However, during the invasion, nearly 40,000 residents fled the coastal city without warning. Since Turkey has occupied this part of the island, they have never returned.
For the last three years, tourists are now welcome to explore the spooky city for free via foot, scooter, or bicycle. Golf carts are available to rent for a small fee.
The infrastructure of the abandoned city has not been maintained for decades. Therefore, visitors must stay within the controlled public zones when exploring, due to the risk of collapsing buildings.
The most iconic spot in Varosha is ‘Maraş Beach’, once the epicenter of sunny island vacations. Although tourists can use the beach today, it has an eerie feel about it now – especially during a winter visit.
If you want to learn detailed information about the city’s history during your exploration, then a tour option is available. Evening visits are not permitted.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Contributed by Navigating Niagara
Niagara-on-the-Lake is considered to be one of the most haunted places in the Niagara Region – and all of Canada for that matter.
With its rich history dating back to the War of 1812, it’s no surprise that this charming town is said to be haunted by restless spirits.
The historic Fort George is one of the most infamous haunted locations. Ghostly soldiers are rumoured to still patrol the grounds. Visitors on ghost tours often report eerie encounters and inexplicable sounds.
The Olde Angel Inn, one of the oldest operating inns in Ontario, is said to be haunted by Captain Colin Swayze, a British officer killed during the War of 1812. His ghost allegedly lingers in the cellar, and some guests have reported feeling cold spots and seeing strange apparitions.
You can even book a night at the Prince of Wales Hotel, in the room where a woman was killed while waiting for her husband during the War of 1812. She hasn’t quite checked out of room 207. There are numerous counts of paranormal activity, like lights turning on and off by themselves and her footsteps being heard in the hallway.
For those wanting a truly spooky experience, the town offers Haunted Walks during the Halloween season. Guides lead you through the darkened town, recounting spine-chilling tales of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s haunted past. From eerie hotels to shadowy corners of the town, the ghostly energy lingers, making it one of the scariest places to visit this Halloween!
Hashima Island, Japan
Also known as Battleship Island, this is one of the few abandoned places that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This formerly abandoned island off the coast of Nagasaki became an industrial center after Mitsubishi bought it in 1890. There was a major coal mining operation that lured workers to the island, which led to the development of apartment buildings and a small community. By 1950, the island population was around 5,000 people.
However, there were problems swept under the rug, even during the town’s heyday. Rumors of forced labor on Hashima Island abounded.
Eventually, coal power fell out of favor, and the mining operation was shut down by 1975. Workers and miners left the island immediately . Since Hashima Island was left abandoned, nature started to reclaim the former town.
In 2009, Japan decided to do something about these abandoned places standing out like an industrial eyesore. They started hosting tours for curious visitors, which have now become quite popular.
Getting to Hashima Island
Be warned…the ferry ride to Battleship Island is often rough thanks to choppy waters. You also have to sign safety waivers, and stick very close to your guide. Buildings are falling apart, and if you venture out on your own, no one can guarantee your safety.
However, a lot of natural disasters that have hit Japan have somehow spared this island, so perhaps it’s sturdier than we thought.
Bramber Castle
Contributed by Secret Sussex
The ruins of Bramber Castle stand perched high up, lurking over the River Adur. The legend of Bramber Castle holds many haunted tales, from the starving ghosts of children to a wailing woman and a riderless white horse.
The one surviving tower of Bramber Castle stands 14 meters high and is both striking and eerie to witness first-hand.
History of Bramber Castle
Bramber Castle was originally built in 1073, founded by Norman William de Braose, however, there are also prehistoric indications of this site.
There are multiple layers to these haunted ruins. Firstly, brutal ruler King John “The Bad” seized the castle in the 14th century, with the de Braose family captured. William’s children and wife were imprisoned in Windsor Castle and were starved to death.
Castle Hauntings
Many believe the children returned home to Bramber Castle, where they can be seen dressed in rags and begging for food around the grounds of the castle ruins. Some believe they have returned in search of their father.
The Tale of Bramber Castle often appears in local folklore and newspapers. In 1953, neighbouring town Steyning made numerous reports to police of a harrowing, ghostly, high-pitched wail shortly before midnight.
This is thought to be “Lady Maud”, who was married to ill-tempered Lord Hubert de Hurst in the 15th Century and who occupied the castle. Lady Maud is thought to have had an affair with a younger man called de Lindfield. De Linfield was believed to be subsequently walled in at this castle as punishment. There have been multiple sightings of a galloping white horse around the moat, thought to be de Linfield’s horse.
People also report unexplained misty blurs occurring in their photographs of Bramber Castle, which add to the theories of it being haunted!
The views from abandoned Bramber Castle are stunning. The nearby town of Steyning has lots of cool independent shops and cafes that are worth a visit also!
Grafton, Utah
Contributed by Camping Kiddos
Imagine a town nearly forgotten by the world, hidden away in a valley surrounded by towering red rock cliffs. Might this be the perfect place for a ghost or two to linger?
In fact, such a town does exist! You can find the ghost town of Grafton, Utah, down several miles of dirt road in the southwest corner of the Beehive State. It was once a small but thriving Mormon community with a school, barns, houses, and a cemetery.
However, by World War II, the families had all moved away to seek better economic opportunities and left behind the small town forever, abandoned.
Today, you can take a self-guided tour through 4 of the remaining homes, peek into a few barns, look through the gravestones in the cemetery and imagine what it must have been like to live in this isolated town decades ago.
Many visitors report hearing a baby cry, footsteps approaching the buildings, and people moving around in the long abandoned homes. Whether you are looking for signs of the supernatural, or you’re eager to learn more about this unique piece of Utah history, the town of Grafton is a must do for your family if you’re visiting nearby Zion National Park with kids.
Belchite, Spain
Contributed by At Lifestyle Crossroads
The ghost town of Belchite is considered one of the most mysterious and haunted places in Spain.
During the Spanish Civil War in 1937, it was caught in a brutal battle between Nationalist and Republican forces, leaving the town in ruins. However, instead of rebuilding Belchite, General Francisco Franco left it as a monument to his victory, as a warning to those who might oppose him.
To this day, Belchite feels frozen in time, with crumbling buildings, abandoned streets, and the remains of churches, homes, and plazas. Since the town can only be visited via a guided tour, the ruins have remained untouched for decades, standing as silent witnesses to the bloodshed.
Belchite has become a prime destination for paranormal enthusiasts, with many claiming to have heard unexplained voices, footsteps, and even the sounds of battle echoing through the ruins. In recent years, local authorities have begun organizing night tours to enhance the eerie atmosphere.
The best way to visit Belchite is on a day trip from Zaragoza, as it is located just 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the city. Tickets can be purchased online through the Belchite Tourist Info website.
Chernobyl, Ukraine
One of the saddest stories in history – the Chernobyl disaster – created one of the scariest ghost towns in the world. On April 26, 1986, a nuclear reactor exploded, releasing dangerous amounts of radiation into the atmosphere.
Most people have gotten glimpses of what the town of Pripyat looked like either through the critically-acclaimed TV series, also named “Chernobyl”, or via playing Call of Duty 4. However, you may not know that tourists can actually visit this creepy town.
How to Visit Pripyat, the Town of Chernobyl
Chernobyl has an inner Exclusion Zone – within a 10 km/6.2-mile radius from the center of the blast – and an outer Exclusion Zone, within a 30 km/18.6-mile radius. You can stay in the outer zone overnight, and spend a limited time in the inner zone.
Tour operators and experts today say that radiation levels have decreased dramatically over time. Roaming about the abandoned buildings of the inner zone – for a limited time – gives you the same exposure as an X-ray scan.
See the abandoned factories, buildings, and the iconic ferris wheel of the town. Chernobyl even has residents now! According to the last census, a population of 200 people lives in the outer exclusion zone.
However, you can’t go on your own; you must enter with a tour guide. You will also be scanned for radiation on the way in and out.
There are few ghost towns in the world that were this densely populated and now lay completely abandoned. Perhaps that’s why the city of Pripyat, and the Chernobyl area at large, continues to fascinate the world.
Explore the Scariest Ghost Towns in the World On Your Own
If you want some tips on exploring abandoned places, check out my interview with the Unknown Cameraman. Otherwise, arrange a haunted tour to make sure you don’t get in any trouble!
Have you visited any of these abandoned towns or buildings? Which ghost town would you visit first – comment below!
