Poveglia Island is situated just south of Venice. It has a gruesome history and is strictly off-limits to both locals and tourists; factors that are like a red flag to a bull in the eyes of the adventurous (if a … Read More
If you lived in Iceland in the 17th century, times were hard. So much so, in order to have a better chance of prosperity, you may have asked your best friend if you could flay their legs after they die … Read More
On a remote island off the coast of Cuba stands what was supposed to be a Presidio Modelo or “Model Prison”. The complex of circular cell blocks once housed a range of prisoners, from murderers to political dissidents and counterrevolutionaries. … Read More
Čachtice Castle is a dark tourist destination that requires a bit of imagination. The place is a complete ruin, and as yet, the Slovakian tourist board has done little to highlight the sinister history connected to the site. This is … Read More
A must-see dark tourist site in Jodhpur has to be the grid of 31 sculpted hands at the entrance to Mehrangarh Fort. Coated in ochre paint, many of the handprints are child size and they are all female. Each belonged … Read More
The Castle of Wewelsburg has an extremely dark past. The forbidding fortress was once SS Chief Himmler’s Nazi Camelot, where some of the darkest deeds of WW2 were plotted. Labeled as ‘Naziland’ by critics, Heinrich Himmler forged plans for Nazi … Read More
Truk (Chuuk) Lagoon, tucked away among the islands of Micronesia approximately 1,100 miles northwest of New Guinea is a diver’s paradise. It is also a top spot for dark tourists that like to get in the water. First discovered by … Read More
Visiting the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM cave) in Belize is quite the experience. The name translates as “Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre,” and once you make it inside (the journey is a small adventure in itself) the Mayan artifacts are … Read More
One for the bucket list for intrepid dark tourists has to be Roopkund Lake, otherwise known as Skeleton Lake in India. Situated in the Uttarakhand Himalayas, getting there is no easy task. Not only do you need to be physically … Read More
Popular with tourists, photographers, and the occasional filmmaker, Nelson Ghost Town in Nevada is a very interesting site to visit. It also has a rather nefarious past. The Spaniards originally called the place Eldorado. They first discovered gold there in … Read More
If you are in Jerusalem and are looking for an insight into how the British treated Arab and Jewish prisoners during the occupation of Palestine in the first half of the 20th Century, the Museum of Underground Prisoners is definitely … Read More
Visiting the site of the world’s largest nuclear bomb detonation is clearly a destination for a dark tourist. However, only the really committed need apply. The little known Arctic archipelago of Novaya Zemlya isn’t the easiest place to get to. … Read More
The abandoned beach resort Varosha is a very strange place. Where else can tourists sip cocktails beside the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, while gazing towards a fenced-off, forbidden ghost town, where entry is illegal and could result in being … Read More
As far as towns go, it doesn’t get much more charming than Hallstatt in Austria. Tucked away at the edge of a forested mountain in the Austrian Alps, complete with the crystal blue waters of Hallstatt lake, it’s a destination … Read More
A dark tourist in Paris will usually check out the Catacombs. They are undoubtedly a popular site on the itinerary. However, if you ask me, the Musee Fragonard d’Alfort is a must-see trip for those that like their macabre to … Read More
For any dark tourist making a trip to Edinburgh, Mary King’s Close is definitely worth a visit. The story alone is enough to make your hairs prickle, (or maybe that’s just me whenever I see the infamous image of the … Read More
Unraveling the truth from the myth of Houska Castle isn’t easy. What we do know is that the castle was built in the second half of the 13th century. However, the reason is unclear and in some ways depends on … Read More
If you’re in the Houston area and you fancy an alternative dark tourist experience, you should definitely head to the National Museum of Funeral History. Enter with the right state of mind, and you will leave feeling optimistic about life: … Read More
The largest underground complex of tunnels in the UK is actually open to the public. Beneath Kingsford Country Park, the Drakelow Tunnels are a former “Top Secret”, underground military center, spanning over 3.5 miles. If you happen to be anywhere … Read More
Romania has its fair share of beautiful gothic castles and amidst the striking landscape of Transylvania, Corvin Castle is one of the most enchanting. It is also one of the largest castles in Europe and Romanians are justly proud of … Read More