16 abandoned places that have become ‘must-see’ tourist attractions

Located in the Thames Estuary, these metal towers were installed in 1942 to help protect London from sea raids and air raids during World War II. They were decommissioned in the 1950s and were used as radio operators for years. Initially, the forts consisted of seven towers connected by steel walkways; now there are fewer of them, and the walkways are no longer safe. The only way to visit the forts, although you can’t go inside, is via a boat ride off the coast of the UK.

Poveglia is a small island located between Venice and Lido, Italy. For over 100 years, the island was used as a quarantine station for those suffering from the plague and other diseases. It was eventually turned into a mental hospital, which closed in 1968. The island has been vacant ever since and is known for its paranormal activity.

The Beelitz-Heilstätten Hospital complex was an over 100-year-old hospital that served the military during both World War I and World War II. It was once the largest treatment center in the world for lung diseases, but has been abandoned for 25 years since the former Soviet Union military left the site in 1995.

Outside the small town of Rummu are the ruins of an abandoned prison camp that now serve as a beach attraction. The former Soviet Union originally built the prison near a limestone quarry where inmates were forced to work. When Estonia regained its independence in 1991, the prison and the quarry were abandoned. The natural groundwater eventually seeped into the former quarry, creating a new lake that swallowed some of the buildings. Part of the former prison can still be seen from the land. It is known as a hot spot for divers looking for the sunken ruins underwater.

Formerly a listening station during the Cold War, the TV tower was used for espionage and intercepting communications starting in the 1950s. It was used by American forces until the end of the Cold War. It was then used for air traffic control until the government sold it in 1999. Today, visitors can tour the remaining large radar domes.

Also known as Gunkanjima, Hashima Island is an abandoned island off Nagasaki. It is the most famous of the 505 uninhabited islands off the coast of Nagasaki. It is a former coal mine that once had a hospital, schools, shops, a temple, and a shrine. In 2015, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Also known as The Train Cemetery or “Cementerio de Trenes” in Spanish, it’s an area on the outskirts of Uyuni. The area was renowned as a vital transportation hub in South America. In the early 19th century, plans were made to expand the railway network, but the project was ultimately abandoned. The trains were left to rust and now visitors can approach them with no restrictions. There are over 100 train cars.