Best Abandoned Places You Can Legally Explore

Best Abandoned Places You Can Legally Explore

Abandoned sites have a special charm, revealing glimpses of lost history, haunting beauty, and the effects of time. For urban adventurers, photographers, and thrill-seekers, these sites offer an exciting respite from the mundane. The good news? Most of these sites are legal to visit—if you keep the rules in mind and are careful.

In this guide, we will show you some of the world's most interesting abandoned places that you can visit legally. Whether you're a history enthusiast, an adventure-seeker, or simply want an unusual travel experience, these places won't let you down. And if you're going to Scotland, book a Glasgow taxi to easily access some of these gems.

1. Pripyat, Ukraine – The Ghost Town of Chernobyl

Frozen in time since the 1986 nuclear accident, Pripyat is one of the world's most renowned abandoned sites. A once-thriving Soviet city, it is now a chilling reminder of disaster. Tourists can legally visit the site with authorized guides, walking through crumbling schools, amusement parks, and apartment complexes. The rusting Ferris wheel and overgrown roads provide an experience to remember.

How to Go: Arrange an official Chernobyl tour from Kyiv that includes radiation scans and safety orientation.

2. Bodie, California – A Well-Preserved Gold Rush Ghost Town

Bodie is an intact 19th-century gold rush-era ghost town, fully preserved. As a State Historic Park, buildings stand in original condition with interiors still stocked with artifacts such as vintage newspapers, furniture, and even whiskey jugs. Visiting Bodie is like being on the set of a Wild West movie.

How to Get There: On the border of Nevada, Bodie is accessible on a rough dirt road. Entry involves a small charge but photographing and touring are welcome.

3. Hashima Island (Battleship Island), Japan

Formerly a thriving coal mining town, Hashima Island was left abandoned in 1974 and allowed to crumble. Its monstrous concrete apartment buildings and factory remains brought it the nickname "Battleship Island." Now, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with guided tours giving visitors access to its eerie hallways.

How to get there: Tours leave Nagasaki and need to be reserved in advance. If you're flying into Scotland for other activities, use Edinburgh Airport transfers to ensure easy transportation to city exploration locations.

4. Kolmanskop, Namibia – A Desert-Buried Diamond Town

Kolmanskop was a successful diamond mining town in the early 1900s but was left when resources ran out. Today, the desert sands creep over its buildings, creating dreamlike, half-buried rooms filled with whirling dunes. Photographers adore the dramatic interplay of light and decay.

How to Visit: The site is situated close to Lüderitz, Namibia, and it is accessible for visiting, with permits readily available.

5. Michigan Central Station, USA – Detroit’s Iconic Ruin

Once a grand railway hub, Michigan Central Station had been vacant for decades before restoration work started in recent years. Although part of the station is now being refurbished, some sections are still open to the public for tours, revealing its elegant Beaux-Arts design and haunting neglect.

How to Visit: Look for guided tour availability by Detroit's preservation societies.

6. Craco, Italy – A Medieval Hilltop Ghost Town

Seated atop a cliff in the southern Italian countryside, Craco was evacuated because of landslides and earthquakes. Its decaying stone structures and panoramic views have made it popular with filmmakers (such as James Bond's Quantum of Solace).

How to Get There: Guided tours can be taken, and the town is readily accessible from Matera or Naples.

7. Oradour-sur-Glane, France – A Memorial Village Frozen in Time

Taken over by Nazi troops in 1944 and destroyed, Oradour-sur-Glane remains today as a testament to its victims. Automobiles, sewing machines, and individual possessions still lay where they were abandoned, producing a poignant experience.

How to Visit: The site is open to the public, and an accompanying museum offers historical background.

Also read: Best Wild Swimming Spots in the Lake District

8. Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works, Chile

These ghost nitrate mining towns in Chile's Atacama Desert provide a glimpse of early 20th-century industrial life. Named a UNESCO site, their corroded equipment and desolate structures contrast with the harsh desert landscape.

How to Visit: Situated close to Iquique, the places are open for visiting by oneself.

9. Gunkanjima (Hashima Island), Japan

Yes, Japan appears on the list twice! Gunkanjima's tightly packed ruins and sea walls render it one of the most visually stunning abandoned locations in the world.

How to visit: Similar to Hashima, a tour from Nagasaki is necessary.

10. Maunsell Sea Forts, UK – Abandoned WWII Naval Towers

Emerging from the sea off England's coast, these ghostly forts were constructed during WWII and abandoned afterward. Some have been reused (one even became a micronation!), while others remain crumbling reminders.

How to Visit: Boat trips from Whitstable or Southend-on-Sea provide close-up sightings.

Final Thoughts

Visiting deserted sites is an exciting means of linking to the past—but always ensure safety and legality. Limit visits to authorized sites, don't trespass, and preserve these delicate time capsules.

No matter if you are strolling around Pripyat's ruins or gazing upon Namibia's hidden ghost town, every destination has a tale to share. And if you are traveling in Scotland, be sure to arrange for easy transport to get the most out of your escapades.

Happy exploring!