There’s something inherently eerie about abandoned places. Once full of life and activity, they now stand empty, forgotten, and often overtaken by nature or decay. Some of these locations around the world have gained reputations for being more than just deserted—they’re believed to be haunted. From crumbling asylums to decaying castles, these places are steeped in mystery, and their chilling atmospheres make them perfect settings for ghost stories. Let’s take a look at some of the scariest abandoned places on Earth that just might be haunted.
One of the most infamous abandoned locations is **Pripyat**, Ukraine, the ghost city left in the wake of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Once a thriving town of nearly 50,000 people, Pripyat was evacuated in 1986, leaving behind eerily untouched homes, schools, and playgrounds. The rusting remnants of everyday life—dolls on classroom floors, faded photos, and overturned furniture—add to the unsettling atmosphere. Many visitors report feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness, as if the spirits of those forced to flee still linger. Some even claim to have seen shadowy figures moving through the deserted buildings, making Pripyat one of the most chilling abandoned places in the world.
Another spine-tingling site is the **Island of the Dolls** in Xochimilco, Mexico. This abandoned island is littered with hundreds of decaying dolls hanging from trees, their blank eyes and dismembered limbs giving off a deeply disturbing vibe. The legend behind the island tells of a man who found a drowned girl and began hanging dolls around the island in an attempt to appease her spirit. Over the years, the dolls have become weathered, adding to the island’s terrifying appearance. Locals and visitors alike believe that the dolls are possessed by spirits, their eyes following anyone who dares to wander through.
In the United States, **Eastern State Penitentiary** in Philadelphia is one of the most haunted abandoned sites. Built in 1829, it was one of the most notorious prisons in America and housed some of the country’s most dangerous criminals, including the infamous Al Capone. The prison was abandoned in 1971, but its dark history has left an indelible mark. Visitors have reported hearing disembodied voices, footsteps, and wails echoing through the decaying cell blocks. Ghostly apparitions of former inmates are said to roam the crumbling corridors, adding to the building’s terrifying reputation.
Scotland’s **Bodie Castle**, nestled in a remote area of the Scottish Highlands, is another abandoned location that may be haunted. Once home to the aristocratic Mackenzie family, the castle now stands in ruins, overtaken by the elements. The castle’s eerie atmosphere is compounded by local legends of ghostly sightings, including the infamous “Lady of Bodie,” a ghost said to roam the grounds. Those who visit the ruins report feeling a chilling presence, as if they are being watched, and some claim to hear the distant sound of footsteps crunching through the grass when no one is around.
Japan’s **Hashima Island**, also known as “Battleship Island,” is another abandoned site with a haunted reputation. Once a bustling coal mining facility, the island was abandoned in 1974, leaving behind a city of crumbling concrete buildings, rusting machinery, and an oppressive silence. The island’s haunting appearance, coupled with its tragic history, has led to numerous reports of paranormal activity. Visitors claim to hear the sounds of long-gone workers and see fleeting apparitions wandering the dilapidated streets, making Hashima one of the most unnerving places in Japan.
**Poveglia Island**, located off the coast of Venice, Italy, is widely regarded as one of the most haunted places in the world. With a gruesome history that includes being used as a quarantine station for plague victims and later as a mental asylum, the island is steeped in suffering and death. Today, it’s completely abandoned, and locals refuse to set foot on its shores. Those who have braved its haunting grounds report hearing tortured cries, footsteps in empty rooms, and a sense of being followed by unseen entities. Some even claim to have encountered the ghost of a doctor who performed cruel experiments on patients when the island housed an asylum.
These abandoned places, with their crumbling walls and decaying interiors, hold stories of tragedy, loss, and perhaps, lingering spirits. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the eerie atmospheres and dark histories of these locations make them some of the scariest spots on Earth. Whether truly haunted or simply haunted by their pasts, they stand as eerie reminders of the passage of time and the secrets left behind in places long forgotten.
Scary Abandoned Places from Around the World
1. Pripyat, Ukraine
The city of Pripyat used to be the home of nearly 50,000 people however now it’s abandoned after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster which happened in 1986. Due to radiation, the city will be left untouched for thousands of years until it is safe to return.
2. Mir mine Diamond Mine, Eastern Siberia, Russia
This is the world’s second largest man-made hole and was constructed by Stalin to fulfil the Soviet Union’s demand for industrial diamond. The mine has since been abandoned after continuing to dig deeper and deeper became too difficult.
3. Farmhouse, Seneca Lake, New York
An abandoned old farmhouse is New York state also acts as a graveyard for many vintage cars.
4. Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang, North Korea
This impressive looking hotel is a display of just how crazy North Korea can be. Standing at 105 stories tall the hotel has been abandoned for 16 years. Work started again in 2008 and from the outside it now looks finished, however it is reported that much of the interior is still incomplete.
5. Willard Asylum, Willard, New York
More than half of the 50,000 patients that came to the Willard Asylum died within its walls. That’s why this place is one of the creepiest on this list.
6. Sanzhi UFO Houses, San Zhi, Taiwan
These were created to be sold to U.S military officers in 1978, however now lie abandoned after a loss of investment.
7. Six Flags Jazz land, New Orleans, Louisiana
Six Flags Jazz land has been abandoned since it was badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina. There are plans to develop the park but for now it remains creepy.
8. Gulliver’s Travels Park, Kawaguchi, Japan
This theme park opened in 1997 but despite a financial boost from the Japanese government it still only lasted 10 years.
9. Bannerman Castle, Pollepel Island, New York
This castle was built by owner Francis Bannerman VI who intended to use the space as storage after buying American military surplus after the war with the Spanish. 200 lbs of ammunition went off in 1920, destroying much of the castle.
10. Disney’s Discovery Island, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
A former wildlife attraction in Disney World, it is rumoured it was left abandoned after bacteria capable of killing humans was found in the water.
11. Aniva Rock Lighthouse, Sakhalin Oblast, Russia
This land originally sought after by both the Japanese and Russians is now controlled by Russia and has always been uninhabited.
12. Canfranc Rail Station, Spain
Once a busy international link between Spain and France an accident in 1970 destroyed a nearby bridge ending the link between the two countries from this railway.
13. Chateau Miranda, Celles, Belgium
During and after World War II, Miranda Castle was used as an orphanage however was abandoned in 1980 and remains in a state of decay, popular for ghost hunters because of its past.
14. Abandoned Coal Plant, France
15. Eilean Donan, Loch Duich, Scotland
16. Hashima Island, Japan
In the past Hashima Island was a very effective place to mine coal, with over 5000 miners once living on the small island. After petrol began to replace coal as Japans main source of fuel the island was abandoned.
17. Abandoned Mill, Ontario, Canada
18. City Hall Station, New York City, New York
Opened in 1904 and closed in 1945 as just 600 people used it daily.
19. Orpheum Auditorium, New Bedford, Massachusetts
This amazing building was opened the day the Titanic sunk in 1912.
20. Holy Land USA, Waterbury, Connecticut
Holy Land USA was a theme park based on the Bible and once attracted 40,000 visitors annually.
21. Abandoned Power Plant, Belgium
22. Wreck of the SS America, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands
This former United States ocean liner was wrecked in 1994 after serving for 54 years.
23. Underwater City, Shicheng, China
The ruins of Shicheng have been submerged for 53 years after the Xin’an River Hydro Plant flooded the area. The city was originally founded 1,300 years ago.
24. Abandoned Domino Sugar Factory, Brooklyn, New York
25. Red Sands Sea Forts, Sea land, United Kingdom
Built during the Second World War to protect the River Thames these buildings now remain lifeless.
26. An overgrown section of the Great Wall of China
Because the Great Wall of China is 13,170 miles long, some parts fall into a state of disrepair due to the cost of managing such a huge structure.
27. Michigan Central Station, Detroit, Michigan
Built in 1912 to 1913, the Central station served as the passenger rail depot for Detroit and was once the tallest train station in the world.
28. Dadipark, Dadizel, Belgium
This playground opened in the 1950s and closed in 2002.
29. Military Hospital, Beelitz, Germany
30. Empty Organ Room
31. Abandoned church with the chairs still standing
Looking like something from a horror film, this church was left to decay with the seats still standing and a baby coffin still visible.
32. Wonderland Amusement Park, Beijing, China
Wonderland was once set to be the biggest amusement park in Asia however it was never completed due to financial issues. The land has since be put to good use by local farmers who have used it for cultivating.
33. Częstochowa Train Depot, Poland
34. An Abandoned Rocket Factory in Russia.
35. El Hotel del Salto, Colombia
Hotel del Salto was built in 1928 for wealthy tourists that wanted to visit the nearby Tequendama Falls. The waterfall became contaminated and tourists lost interest, leaving this amazing look hotel redundant.
36. Christ of the Abyss, San Fruttuoso, Italy
Built by Guido Galletti, this statue of Christ was submerged into water 55 feet deep in 1954.
37. Railroad in the Fall, Lebanon, Missouri
38. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Operated from 1829 until 1971 the Eastern State is now a national landmark and can still be visited by tourists. Its design was revolutionary and is adopted by many modern prisons still.
