Top 5: Ghost Towns to Visit Around the World

There’s something just a little spooky and eerie about a ghost town, even if there aren’t any ghosts. Here are five around the world you can pay a visit to for yourself.

Bodie, Calif.

A relatively accessible ghost town is Bodie, Calif. In the 1800s, this Gold Rush destination had 65 saloons and a bustling nightlife. However, it slowly dwindled down to nothing after the Gold Rush ended, and the post office closed in 1942. It’s technically a historic park now, overseen by the state of California, but it still holds all of its ghost town appeal. Plus, it’s nearby Yosemite National Park, making it a convenient side trip.

Craco, Italy

A little further away, but still accessible, the ghost town of Craco was abandoned due to a series of natural disasters that occurred in the area, including multiple landslides, a flood and an earthquake. Left as-is since the 1980s, it’s now mostly visited by curious tourists and film crews. In fact, you may recognize it from Quantum of Solace or The Passion of the Christ.

Oradour-Sur-Glane, France

This village in central France fell to the Nazis in World War II, when troops rounded up hundreds of villagers, brutally murdering them out of fears the residents supported the French Resistance. While the remaining residents were relocated to a newly built town after the war, the remains of the old village still sit as they were, left purposefully intact as a reminder of what occurred there.

Kolmanskop, Namibia

While not the easiest to get to, this stop in Namibia is popular with both tourists and photographers alike. Similar to Gold Rush ghost towns of the United States, this town was built in the early 1900s, after diamonds were discovered in the area. German miners took over and built an expansive settlement, with everything from a hospital to a ballroom to a casino. However, it was all left to sink into the sand after the diamonds were no more.

Residencial Francisco Hernando Development, Spain

An oddly modern ghost town, the Residencial Francisco Hernando Development sits in the province of Toledo, Spain. The extensive development, which contains more than 13,000 homes, was built in the early 2000s. However, the builders forgot one important thing — utilities. The homes had no access to water or gas, rendering them useless. They now sit, empty and uncomfortably similar to the homes many of us live in today.