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- Posted on July 26, 2023
Dark Tourism In Berlin: 12 Macabre, Strange & Interesting Destinations
Last updated on July 26, 2023 by Wandering our World
B erlin is the bustling capital of Germany, steeped in a rich cultural heritage that spans hundreds of years! As a result, it’s developed a vibrant culture and is home to some of Germany’s most captivating attractions.
However, beneath its surface lies a captivating and unusual world of dark tourism, beckoning those curious about the macabre, the strange, and the intriguing.
With its profound role in World War II and its aftermath, Berlin is an ideal place to immerse oneself in the dark tourism experience and learn from the horrors of the past.
The scars of the war are still visible in the remnants of bunkers, memorials, and historical sites that witness the city’s haunting past. These sites provide a somber reflection on the horrors of war, the resilience of humanity, and the enduring lessons of the past.
Embarking on a dark tourism journey in Berlin unravels a tapestry of stories, inviting contemplation and reflection on the complexities of our shared human experience.
Whether you seek to pay homage to the victims of history or simply yearn for a thought-provoking adventure, Berlin’s dark tourism destinations are sure to captivate and leave an impression.
Dark Tourism: The Macabre, Strange & Interesting Dark Tourism Destinations of Berlin
1. the berlin wall.
The Berlin Wall was a definitive symbol of division and conflict that held a significant place in Berlin’s history.
Born out of the atrocities of World War II and the tension of the Cold War, the concrete wall spanned a whopping 155 kilometers. It was built in 1961 and eventually dismantled in 1989. this imposing barrier both physically and metaphorically separated Berlin and became a world-known representation of the philosophical conflicts of the Cold War
At the time, each side of Berlin saw tales of tragedy and triumph. All immigration had been ground to a halt, and families, friends and partners found themselves separated by a seemingly impenetrable wall. During this time, tens of thousands of people bravely attempted to escape to freedom, many losing their lives.
Nowadays you wouldn’t think that Berlin was once a segregated city. But that’s what makes the Berlin Wall such an important monument today. Berlin, as we know it today, rose from the ashes of a tragic past, and it’s important to remind ourselves of its significance and history.
Besides, who doesn’t like to cringe at the old eccentric political ideologies that shaped our world? We think our governments are bad now! But maybe it’s nothing compared to the 20th century…..
Location: Various Locations.
Tags: Dark History, War Tourism
2. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
Germany’s history is brutal, and infamous on a global scale, especially the heinous war crimes perpetrated by the German Nazi party in the early 20th century. Millions lost their lives during the Holocaust, and it’s a story that still shakes the world to its core today.
Of course, Berlin had a significant role to play in one of the darkest chapters of mankind, and remnants of it’s turbulent history can still be found today. The city witnessed the implementation of the Final Solution, the systematic genocide of millions of innocent lives. Berlin became a center for the administration, planning, and implementation of the Holocaust, leaving an indelible mark on its historical landscape.
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe stands as a tribute not only to the lives carelessly lost in war and senselessly taken by genocide, but to the heroes that helped put an end to the atrocities of World War II as well.
Admission is free of charge, and you’ll walk amongst giant stone slabs engraved with the names of those who lost their lives during the Holocaust. It’s an experience you’ll never be able to put into words, but one thing is for certain, you don’t understand the sheer capacity at which World War II destroyed humanity, until you see this monument.
Location: Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Tags: Dark History; War Tourism
3. Topography of Terror Museum
The Topography of Terror Museum is a profound journey through the depths of humanity’s darkest chapters.
The museum is situated on the very site that once housed the feared institutions of the Nazi regime—the Gestapo and the SS. Its exhibits, photographs, and historical documents chronicle the horrors and depict the stories of the victims and survivors.
Be warned, we’d highly recommend keeping tissues on hand! The Topography of Terror Museum leaves nothing to the imagination, it’ll surprise but also drag you through depths of emotion as you get a glimpse into the experiences of World War II. Hollywood might portray war as guts and glory, but these exhibits show the dark truth and it’s enough to make your stomach twist.
It sheds light on the depth of human suffering, the magnitude of evil, and the resilience of those affected.
The museum serves as a vital platform for remembrance and education, ensuring that the lessons of the past are never forgotten. You’ll get a deeper understanding of Berlin’s history, and experience the sobering atmosphere of Berlin’s most haunting dark tourism attraction.
Location: Niederkirchnerstraße 8, 10963 Berlin, Germany
Tags: Dark History; Disaster Tourism; War Tourism
4. Spreepark
Taking a moment away from Berlin’s tragic history, Spreepark is an adventure for those who enjoy haunting landscapes that are perfectly built for Stephen King novels!
Once a lively and colorful amusement park, Spreepark was abandoned in 2002 thanks to the shady behaviors of its owner.
Surprisingly visitor numbers have peaked since its closure, but not for thrill-seekers itching to climb to monstrous heights on a rollercoaster.
It’s become a hub for urban explorers who don’t shy away from the dark and mysterious depths of mirror houses and gaping clown mouths. In fact, the derelict state of the park is more of an attraction than its hey days! Of course, we don’t blame them, everyone’s got a fascination for the creepy and mysterious, otherwise we wouldn’t subject ourselves to the umpteenth rendition of Halloween!
And while there may not be ghosts or ghouls hanging around this abandoned amusement park, and we don’t recommend pushing you way through the gates, we can’t help but let our imagination run wild!
Location: Kiehnwerderallee 1-3, 12437 Berlin, Germany
Tags: Paranormal; Supernatural; Dark History; Urban Exploration
5. Berlin Underworlds
And speaking of Berlin’s dark sides, let’s not forget the fact that the Berlin Underworlds exist and it’s just as terrifying as they sound!
Like all cities, there’s an intricate underground network of service tunnels and secrets, but thanks to Berlin’s rather intricate role in wars, theirs is slightly more elaborate.
Berlin’s role as one of the key Nazi strongholds during World War II painted a nice red target on the city for the Allied Forces, and as a result, the Third Reich funneled a good chunk of energy into creating bomb shelters throughout the city. A good handful of these shelters still exist to this day, and their years of disuse have given them quite the haunting reputation.
Of course, we don’t blame urban explorers for hyping up these dark, damp and dreary rooms whenever they get the chance to explore them. They’re eerie and creepy, and can make anyone’s imagination run wild! What’s that? A ghost? A Shadow? A giant rat!
The only way to find out is to find a brave enough tour guide to lead you through the remnants of a time where the crash of bombs was as common as your morning alarm.
Location: Various Locations
Tags: Paranormal; Dark History; War Tourism
6. “Story of Berlin” Experience
As you step into the interactive exhibits of the “Story of Berlin” experience, a world of stories unfolds. From the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall to the scars of Germany’s past, the experience paints a vivid picture of the city’s harrowing journey through history.
With its captivating narratives, artefacts, and multimedia displays, the layers of Berlin’s dark history are peeled back, revealing both the shadows and the resilience of its people.
The “Story of Berlin” experience sets the scene for some alternative tourism by inviting visitors to confront the complex emotional turmoil of the city’s past. It will certainly help ignite a feeling of admiration for the city as it stands today. Through the woes and troubles its people faced, Berlin has grown into a pillar of vibrance and culture, in a transformation that’s worth some praise.
It’s a profound and thought-provoking encounter with dark tourism in Berlin, the “Story of Berlin ” experience offers tourists the opportunity to live and breathe the soul-stirring story of Berlin. Oh! And did we forget to mention, this experience takes place in a World War II Nuclear Bunker!
Location: Kurfürstendamm 207-208, 10719 Berlin, Germany
7. Sachsenhausen
The Final Solution was a major point of discussion in the beginning of World War II. It was in 1941 however that the start of the most horrific genocide in human history began.
Concentration camps were created, and people seen as “impure” in the eyes of the evil Nazi Party were transported there in their thousands.
Auschwitz is perhaps the most infamous of these Nazi Concentration camps. But it is one out of a list of many that were scattered across Germany at the time. Sachsenhausen was a concentration camp located in the depths of Berlin at the time, and was no stranger to the inhumane acts of the Nazi Party.
Once the war was ended, and the prisoners freed, the camp became a reminder to the people. You’ll be able to experience, first hand, the abysmal conditions Jewish prisoners faced during World War Il.
Take a tour of the preserved barracks, memorials, and engaging exhibits, and remind yourself how far the world has come.
Location: Tucholskystraße 12, 10117 Berlin, Germany
8. The Museum of Unheard of Things
As modern day adventurers, we love ourselves a good story. It’s not very often we look at ordinary things and let our imagination go wild with the possibilities. However, a visit to the Museum of Unheard of Things does just that.
Each object is displayed artfully by weight, and is associated with a caption that spins an almost unbelievable tale.
Something as simple as a garden fork takes on a whole new meaning in this odd museum of curiosities. It’s a good place to exercise some creativity if you’re that way inclined, and picture the wild and fantastical fables that get assigned to each seemingly boring object. Even research and a letter from Sigmund Freud take on a whole new meaning here.
The concept behind the museum is not to just slap a bunch of arbitrary things on display, but instead hopes to invoke an audience that enjoys taking a break from everyday thought patterns. As their website puts it; “enjoy the possibility that everything could be a little different after all.”. Beautiful, isn’t it?
Location: Crellestraße 5, 10827 Berlin
Tags: Alternative Tourism
9. Cafe Strauss
Berlin, among its many other hidden treasures, is quite well known for its incredible food scene. We happily blame the versatile culture for that. But what about those with a taste for something entirely unusual?
Well, friend, for you, we’d recommend Cafe Strauss. With food so good it’s to die for, so it’s super convenient that this cafe is located inside a cemetery….
That’s right.
You’ll be dining with a rather lifeless bunch, enjoying the views of sunlight hitting tombstones as you sip your fresh ground coffee.
It was a concept brought about in 2013 by architect Martin Strauss, who thought the setting beneath the arches of the Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof Chapel was a more than fitting place for coffee and cake.
Unsurprisingly, this unusual location is extremely peaceful. After all, we wouldn’t want to wake the dead! But to the locals in the area, a visit to Cafe Strauss is almost like second nature, and by all accounts it’s certainly a hidden treasure worth visiting.
Location: Bergmannstrasse 42, Berlin, Germany
Tags: Macabre, Dark Tourism
10. David Hasselhoff Museum
We hope you’re a fan of Baywatch, because someone in Berlin truly was! What started out as a personal shrine to America’s hunk, the Hoff, has turned into a full blown museum.
Yes, you read that right! Someone decided to take their groupie status to a whole new level and built a public shrine to David Hasselhoff that celebrates everything about the sumptuously tanned Hollywood heartthrob.
It’s the only museum of its kind, other than the one in your aunt’s closet, found in the Circus Hostel and pays homage to one of Berlin’s favorite celebrities.
We can’t blame Berliners for being such devout fans though. After all, David Hasslehoff’s 1989 New Years Eve performance of “Looking for Freedom” at the Berlin Wall has quickly been associated with Germany’s reunification. And that’s more than enough reason to dedicate a museum to the man, hairy-chested wall mural included!
Location: 1A Weinbergsweg, Berlin, Germany
11. The Samurai Museum
The last thing we’d expect to be writing about when speaking of Berlin is a museum entirely dedicated to Japanese heritage. Namely, we’re speaking of the Samurai Museum. This modern interactive museum explores some of Japan’s most famed warriors in a way you can’t help but love.
Their integrative experience has done away with the traditional tour guide, instead offering you a helping paw in the form of a virtual Kitsune. This shapeshifting fox will lead you through the exhibits, and educate you on the myths, legends and truths surrounding Samurai culture in the past.
From virtual maps, to a grueling demonstration on ancient swordsmithing, you’ll be able to eat your little weeb heart out! This museum is even home to an authentic Japanese theater, and plenty of shows to keep you and your friends occupied, each telling tales from Japanese history and folklore.
In the very least, it’s a two for one special! You came to Berlin hoping to grab a taste of German culture, but found yourself learning all about Japan in the process. That, my friends, is how you seriously budget travel.
Location: Auguststr. 68, 10117 Berlin
Tags: Alternative History
12. Wunderkammer Olbricht
Located at the me Collectors room, this wunderkammer is an obscure collection that certainly helps one remember their mortality.
With a special affiliation for pieces from between the 14th and 18th centuries, we can truly understand why the past generations called it the Dark Ages. The artworks are morbid to say the least!
Of course, this is a joke, and the only reason the walls and exhibits are plastered with skulls and tales of human suffering is because the collector is quite fond of “Memento Mori” paraphernalia.
But that’s not all this collection entails, in fact, its items are split into five categories! From rare natural phenomena to items that defy logic, this small and hidden curiosity is definitely not one to be missed.
We guarantee it will keep you enthralled for hours, and will take you through a more versatile spectrum of emotions than your family gathering on Thanksgiving.
Location: 68 Auguststraße Berlin, 10117 Germany
Tags: Paranormal; Supernatural; Dark History; Disaster Tourism; War Tourism
The Best Dark Tourism Destinations In Berlin: Our Final Thoughts
As you can see, Berlin is an exciting city filled with tragedies and triumphs that have ultimately built a vibrant tourism hub. Whether you prefer the usual sightseeing route, or going off the beaten path, Berlin certainly doesn’t disappoint.
Its turbulent history has made it a site of wonder for history buffs and dark tourism enthusiasts looking to dive into the woes of World War II and the Cold War. And its versatile culture has opened up the door for a whole host of hidden alternative tourism spots.
By embracing dark tourism in Berlin, you can rest assured you’ll leave the city mesmerized and humbled. So what are you waiting for? Berlin’s dark tourism scene awaits! Embrace it, and let this city captivate you beyond the normal means!
Hi and welcome to Wandering our World! This article was written by one of the Wandering our World team - a team of travel enthusiasts who live around the globe.
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Author: Wandering our World
Hi and welcome to Wandering our World! This article was written by one of the Wandering our World team - a team of travel enthusiasts who live around the globe. View all posts by Wandering our World
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The Stasi Museum – Dark Tourism in Berlin
The East German Stasi (Ministry of State Security) needs no introduction to the average dark tourism enthusiast. The infamous secret police force of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was one of the most feared in the world.
It considered itself the “Shield and sword” of the Socialist Union Party and was integral in enabling the East German government to keep its people in check.
Running a covert war against “enemies of the state” it took the notion of neighborhood watch to all-new levels.
It’s estimated that one out of every 10 East Germans worked as an informant for the Stasi. In short, citizens of the GDR never knew who might be watching or whom they could trust.
As the East German dissident singer-songwriter Wolf Biermann once said; (after being expelled to the West in 1976) there was no need for diary-keeping in the DDR, as the secret police were doing a much better job than he ever could.
To fall under the scrutiny of the Stasi and ultimately on the wrong side of them, could end your career, destroy relationships and in many cases result in imprisonment.
Stasi Museum – Berlin
In January 1990, the Stasi headquarters in Berlin was stormed by protesters; all part of the social catharsis that took place during the months after the fall of the Berlin wall.
Not long after, the museum was established to help make sense of the torment inflicted on former GDR citizens during decades of totalitarianism rule.
The result is an essential dark tourist destination for anyone traveling to Berlin.
- Related Content: KGB Museum Riga [Dark Tourism in Latvia]
Where is the Stasi Museum in Berlin?
- Address: Ruschestrasse 103, House 1 10365 Berlin, Germany
- Phone: +49 (0)30 – 553 68 54
Ways to Experience the Stasi Museum
Berlin welcome card.
It gives you discount entrance to loads of Berlin sites, attractions and tours, as well as money off at certain bars and restaurants.
Recommended Tours
Best budget: half-day bike tour of berlin’s lesser known and historical sites.
Highlights include the former border-crossing Bornholmerstr, abandoned slaughterhouses, Bethanien Church ruins and of course the Stasi museum.
MOST DETAILED: Berlin Small-Group Historical Half-Day Tour of East Berlin
The starting point is the Brandenburg Gate (where East met West). Learn how families were separated at Friedrichstrasse train station, see a memorial to murdered East Berliners at the ‘death strip’, and visit the Stasi headquarters among other sites.
What to expect at the Stasi Museum?
Essentially the museum showcases some of the many ways that the secret police used to spy on its citizens.
I first visited the Stasi museum back in 2016, on a dark tourist trip to Berlin with my then-girlfriend (now wife). The range of artifacts is impressive. The ingenuity of the methods described somewhat chilling in their effectiveness.
There is a section on the 3 rd floor that was especially memorable.
Dedicated to the Stasi technique of “Zersetzung” (corrosion), the exhibits demonstrate how the secret police would deal with problematic political dissidents.
Acting like obscene, covert, practical jokers the Stasi would aim to “break” their victims, by damaging relationships or making subjects thing they were losing their minds.
In some cases, pornographic material would be delivered to their homes; underwear might be planted so that partners would begin to suspect an affair.
Tires on bicycles would be routinely deflated, and small yet important items would be go missing. The lives of the subjects would be subtly toyed with in order to drive them into a state of despair.
- Related Content: House of Terror Museum – Nazi & Communist Crimes in Budapest
Stasi Spying Methods
Much of the museum is taken up demonstrating how the Stasi and its informants went about spying on its people.
There are examples of microphones hidden inside church hymn books and tea-cozies, wristwatches with wiretaps and cameras planed in Jerry cans, (see image above). There’s also whole rooms taken up with the files that were kept on people under scrutiny.
Sniffer dogs were used effectively too. Cotton squares would be hidden under seat cushions. These would pick up the scent of the person and would be retrieved and kept in airtight “smell jars”.
Dogs could then be presented with the jar and used to track the person’s movements.
The Stasi and Children in the GDR
In order to maintain an orderly, obedient communist society it was important for the government to instill the “Party Way” into its citizens as young as possible.
This meant that even from pre-school age, children were introduced to the norms of a totalitarian state.
As if taken from straight from the pages of 1984, the Orwellian brainwashing included dolls accessorized with gas masks and AK-47s.
Flashcards would be used to teach the A, B, C’s, however, the pictures would be of lock picking, camera surveillance and tracking methods.
The Preserved Office of Erich Mielke
Another chilling part of the museum is the preserved office of Stasi chief Erich Mielke.
Seeing his desk and the decor and knowing that this was the room where so many decisions that effected countless lives for the worse, were made; it is a type of dark tourism location that hits home.
It certainly made me think about what ordinary citizens of the GDR had to endure. It might also make you think long and hard about our own society.
For all its problems we’re not doing too bad.
Good to know:
The museum offers free public guided tours in English every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 3 pm.
No extra charge, no booking required.
If you’ve visited a strange or unusual destination that you think our readers will want to know about, we would love to hear from you.
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What is dark tourism and why is it so popular?
Disclaimer: Some posts on Tourism Teacher may contain affiliate links. If you appreciate this content, you can show your support by making a purchase through these links or by buying me a coffee . Thank you for your support!
Dark tourism is a type of tourism that has received increasing attention in recent years. TV shows, such as Chernobyl and The Dark Tourist, have introduced the concept of dark tourism to the minds of motives of many tourists around the world. But what is dark tourism? Is dark tourism ethical? How can you be a ‘good’ dark tourist?
In this post I will define the concept of dark tourism, explain why dark tourism is so popular and provide a few examples of dark tourism sites. I will also discuss the ethics of dark tourism, which are somewhat controversial.
What is dark tourism?
Dark tourism definitions
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Dark tourism, also known as black tourism, thanatourism or grief tourism, is tourism that is associated with death or tragedy.
The act of dark tourism is somewhat controversial, with some viewing it as an act of respect and others as unethical practice.
Popular dark tourism attractions include Auschwitz, Chernobyl and Ground Zero. Lesser known dark tourism attractions might include cemeteries, zombie-themed events or historical museums.
Dark Tourism started to gain academic attention in the early 90s, but it is only recently that it has sparked the interest of the media and the general public.
An early definition defined by John Lennon and Malcolm Foley , define dark tourism as “the representation of inhuman acts, and how these are interpreted for visitors”.
In a more recent publication, Kevin Fox Gotham defines dark tourism as “the circulation of people to places characterized by distress, atrocity, or sadness and pain. As a more specific component of dark tourism, “disaster tourism” denotes situations where the tourism product is generated within, and from, the aftermath of a major disaster or traumatic event”.
Dark tourism has become the subject of academic debate more and more in recent years, most notably for its critiques and assessment of associated impacts.
Dark tourism encompasses many different ‘dark’ activities. These can range from visiting an attraction such as the London Dungeons, where people are seen laughing and joking (did you know it finishes with a height-restricted ride that imitates people being hung!?), to tourists racing to the scenes of a disaster to provide help and relief. Naturally these are two very different ends of the dark tourism spectrum.
To help us understand the dark tourism sector better, we can organise activities according to the dark tourism spectrum.
On one end of the spectrum (the darkest end) we have extreme or serious dark tourism activities. These are activities which often involve an educational element, such as learning about a Nuclear disaster or a ship wreck. Activities on this end of the scale are associated with an authentic experience, whereby the tourist visits an actual historical site or speaks with people who were involved. Examples might include visiting the Berlin Wall or Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields in Cambodia.
On the other end of the spectrum, activities tend to be of a more commercial nature. A Jack the Ripper themed funfair ride or a comical play based around the Black Plague are effectively romanticised versions of dark events or times in history. The intention is for the tourist to have fun and enjoy themselves, rather than to be educated about said historical reference.
The question is, why is dark tourism so popular? Why do we choose to visit places of death and tragedy? What is it that attracts us to such sorrow?
For many, it is purely the possibility of being able to emotionally absorb oneself in a place of tragedy. It is important for people to engage and immerse themselves in past history and culture . By visiting dark tourism sites, we are able to give ourselves time to reflect on history.
Dark tourism has close ties with educational tourism. Particularly in cases of darkest/darker tourism. For many people, this is a dominant, if not their main, motivation for being a dark tourist. Whilst dark tourism may not be a happy leisure experience, many people enjoy the educational aspect that comes with it. I know that I have certainly enjoyed visiting famous cemeteries and learning more about WW2 during my travels to Berlin and Poland .
Visitors of dark tourism sites are from a wide socio-demographic group. Motivations stem from educational purposes, the desire to understand past affairs, etc. Whilst other motivations stem from the desire to experience something different or new.
I recently watched a series on Netflix called The Dark Tourist. In this show, journalist David Farrier focuses on dark tourism and tourist behaviour towards popular dark tourism sites that are historically associated with death and/or tragedy.
In each episode, David travels to a different dark tourism destination. Some of these sites I have visited before and others I have now added to my bucket list. If you’re interested in learning more about dark tourism attractions around the world then this is a great show to watch!
If reading is more your thing, there are also a couple of really great books on dark tourism. Two of my favourites are Don’t Go There: From Chernobyl to North Korea—one man’s quest to lose himself and find everyone else in the world’s strangest places and The Dark Tourist: Sightseeing in the world’s most unlikely holiday destinations. Both books are comical repertoires of the authors’ adventures and mishaps when visiting dark tourism attractions around the world. This makes for some great like, leisurely reading over a glass of wine or a cup of tea!
Types of dark tourism
According to Stone (2006), there are seven main types of dark tourism sites.
Fun factories are essentially play centres. Whilst these are usually associated with children, they can also be aimed at adults. There are, for example, escape rooms which evolve around a dark theme, zombie chases or theatrical activities that all take place in dark fun factories.
There are many different dark exhibitions throughout the world. I visited several during my travels to Berlin that were focussed on the Holocaust. I visited exhibitions on the Khmer Rouge Regime in Cambodia. I have been to exhibitions about the Vietnam War and many more.
Dark exhibitions are a good opportunity for tourists to learn about the dark histories or events of a destination in a respectful way.
Many destinations open their historical dungeons for public viewing. These may be in their original state or they may have been altered for tours. The London Dungeons, for example, have become rather ‘Disneyfied’, in the way that they encompass live actors, sensory activities and rides.
There are some really interesting cemeteries that I have visited throughout the world. Whilst visiting a graveyard might not be at the top of every tourists list, you might be surprised at just how busy these places can be! Some famous cemeteries that I have visited include the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, the Recoleta Cemetery in Argentina and Lenin’s Mausoleum in Moscow. Did you know the Taj Mahal is also a dark resting place? Yep, I’ve been there too.
There are many shrines throughout the world which are popular tourist attractions, perhaps the most famous being the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. Shrines are especially popular in Asian countries.
Sites of conflict often become dark tourism sites once peace has been restored and a reasonable period of time has passed. One of the most interesting conflict sites that I have visited was Vietnam, where I learned all about the Vietnam War. The D-Day Beaches in France were also very interesting.
There are several areas of genocide which are popular with tourists. Whilst this is obviously a sad history, many people choose to visit sites such as Auschwitz or Karaganda, Kazakhstan to learn more about the history.
I think that Stone has missed out a key type of dark tourism in his list- disaster sites- so I will add this in below.
Disaster sites, whether in the immediate aftermath or after some time has passed, are popular with dark tourists. A subset of dark tourism, disaster tourism has increased in popularity in recent years. The recent documentary on Chernobyl, which was ranked the most highly user rated TV series ever, has helped raise awareness of disaster tourism amongst the public and tourism to this area has since increased significantly. I have written a detailed post on this topic, you can click here to read it: Disaster tourism: What, why and where .
There are a variety of types of disaster tourism that falls under the pillar of dark tourism, which include:
- Holocaust tourism
- Disaster tourism
- Grave tourism
- Cold war tourism
- Nuclear tourism
- Prison and persecution site tourism
Whilst each of these concepts are a type of tourism in their own right, they do share many similarities and are therefore classified together under the umbrella term of dark tourism.
So, is it really ethical to visit sites of death and tragedy? Or to photograph those who continue to sorrow for all that is lost? Or to take a selfie in a site of sadness? Many people do indeed question the ethics of taking part in dark tourism.
Take the response to the recent influx of Instagram photos taken in Chernobyl, for instance. There has been outrage, as shown in this newspaper article , at so-called ‘influencers’ and their inappropriate photographs taken at the historical nuclear site, where people have dressed up as scientists or posed in their underwear.
Whilst I think that most of us would agree that this is not sustainable tourist behaviour , there are a range of views as to what is appropriate and what is not when taking part in dark tourism.
As a general guide, however, here is a list of some of the behaviours demonstrated by dark tourists, which have been deemed offensive or inappropriate:
- Photographing people in moments of sorrow
- Smiling and laughing around those experiencing hardship
- Treating people as if they are museum exhibits
- Making inappropriate remarks
- Wearing disrespectful clothes
- Using inappropriate language
- Committing to disaster tourism for personal gain (e.g. personal satisfaction, to enhance CV etc)
- Making money from others’ hardships
- Talking loudly about unrelated issues
- Showing general signs of disrespect
Dark tourism destinations
There are a wide range of disaster tourism destinations (more than one would have imagined!), many of which would be overlooked as a dark tourism destination.
Below I have listed a few examples of dark tourism destinations, all of which demonstrate the different types of dark tourism as listed above.
Following the largest and most deadly Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz was turned into a memorial after the end of WWII. Auschwitz has been deemed the very epitome of all dark tourism.
Today, the memorial site is estimated to have welcomed almost 50 million tourists over its time. The tourist numbers have, in fact, become so high in recent years that the government have limited how many tickets to the area can be sold to tourists each day. I was caught out by this on my trip there a couple of years ago so my tip is to book ahead!
Chernobyl has been regarded as one of the worst nuclear disasters in History and I learnt a lot about this when I watched the recent documentary that was shown on TV.
Chernobyl is a very popular destination for dark tourism, however unlike Auschwitz, this destination remains a hazard and is to date a dangerous site to visit due to the radiation levels still pertinent.
It is interesting to read in a recent article published this month that booking numbers have increased by 30% in the last 3 months following the recent tv series on the disaster.
Hiroshima preserves the memory of the worlds first nuclear attack. An atomic bomb at Hiroshima killed more people in one instant than any other killing in history.
Hiroshima continues to promote itself as a symbol of peace rather than that of a devastated city.
In 2016, the number of visitors reached over 12 million. Over 11 million were domestic tourists , 323,000 were students on school trips, and 1,176,000 were international visitors.
Following one of the worlds worst terrorist attacks, the 9/11 memorial site is one of the world’s top dark tourism attractions and is one of the most visited sites of any kind.
Within the first 2 years of the memorial opening, over 10 million visitors arrived and a couple years later the total figure rose to over 23 million.
The Killing Fields are a collection of (more than 300) sites in Cambodia where over a million people were killed and buried by the Khmer Rouge regime.
This is a popular tourism attractions and often considered a ‘right of passage’ when backpacking around South East Asia. It is an educational and sorrowful site, highlighting an important time in Cambodia’s history.
One recent article has expressed the issues faced with the high volume of tourists visiting the Killing Fields. This is due to the number of tourists ‘leaving their mark’ and graffiting on prison walls.
Bikini Atoll is associated mainly with the nuclear testing programme that the United States of America conducted.
Unlike natural disasters, tourists could not flock to Bikini Atoll immediately after, and even to this day, Bikini Atoll remains an extremely hazardous place to visit despite the US granting its safety in 1997.
It is argued that disaster tourists are putting themselves at risk by travelling to Bikini Atoll. There is still a significant level of radiation in the area and the extent of the damage caused below sea level has not been determined.
This particular disaster is categorised as nuclear tourism under the umbrella of dark tourism.
Berlin was the capital of the socialist single party regime of the former GDR. Now it is referred to the as ‘fall of the Berlin Wall’.
Berlin is home to a number of Holocaust and WW2 exhibitions and is popular with educational tourists. I took a student group there a few years ago and I would definitely recommend it for anybody studying tourism or history.
There are other countries that similar experiences too, including dark tourism in Vienna .
Robben Island can be observed as a form of Prison and persecution site tourism. In fact the prison has been recognised and preserved as a UNWTO World Heritage Site.
Prior to its conservation, the Island was a standing prison during the colonial wars, particularly dominante by successive colonial powers (Dutch and British).
Nowadays, the prison is a tourist site welcoming thousands of tourists each year. The tour guides are mostly ex-inmates, providing the tourist with an authentic account of what the prison was like when it was in operation as well as a much needed source of employment for the staff member.
We visited during our trip to South Africa and found it very interesting and educational. I learnt a lot about Nelson Mandela and the history of Apartheid.
Rwanda is a small country in Central Africa and the place where one of the most tragic and largest genocides took place in 1994.
This is now a dark tourism site which is visited by many tourists each year.
One of the most interesting and unusual dark tourism sites that I have visited is Oradur Sur Glane .
In 1944, 642 villagers were massacred in Oradur Sur Glane. Shortly after the war, General Charles de Gaulle declared Oradour should never be rebuilt and instead it should remain a stark memorial to Nazi cruelty. It is fascinating (and eerie) because everything remains untouched to this day.
Have you ever watched the film Pompeii’?, If so then you will know exactly the history behind the city and what happened.
Pompeii has received an enormous amount of visitors and this may be the result of its publicity following its recent film. Before the film was released, Pompeii was attracted on average 2 million visitors annually, a number that remained very steady from 2002 onwards. However, following the release of the film, tourist numbers staggered upwards reaching over 3.5 million.
Another place that I have visited that was particularly memorable was the bone church known as Sedlec Ossuary.
We took a day trip from Prague to visit this unusual attraction, which was eerie and fascinating at the same time!
You can find out a bit more about the bone church in this video.
South of Mexico City, Don Julian Santana begun to hang dolls from treess and buildings as a protection against evil spirits. Today, the Island is known as ‘Island of the Dolls’. Dubbed as the ‘scariest place in Mexico’, it has now become a popular attraction with thrill-seeking dark tourists.
However, it has come to recent attention that the Island has been duplicated to fool tourists into believing they are visiting the original Island.
Now that we know a bit more about the concept of dark tourism, lets summarise the key points:
- Dark tourism involves visiting places associated with death, tragedy, and suffering.
- Dark tourism is a controversial form of tourism that raises ethical concerns.
Dark tourism has been around for centuries, but the term “dark tourism” was only coined in the 1990s.
- Some of the most popular dark tourism destinations include Auschwitz, Ground Zero, and the Killing Fields in Cambodia.
- Dark tourism can be educational and help people understand and appreciate history.
- Dark tourism can also be seen as exploitative and disrespectful to the victims and their families.
- Responsible tourism practices should be followed when engaging in dark tourism.
- The motivations for engaging in dark tourism vary, including curiosity, historical interest, and a desire to pay respects to the victims.
- Dark tourism can have positive economic impacts on local communities.
- Overall, dark tourism is a complex and nuanced form of tourism that requires careful consideration and reflection.
Lastly, lets finish off this article by answering some of the most commonly asked questions on this topic.
Dark tourism refers to travel to places that are associated with death, tragedy, and suffering.
What are some examples of dark tourism destinations?
Examples of dark tourism destinations include Auschwitz, Ground Zero, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, and the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
Is dark tourism ethical?
The ethics of dark tourism are debated. Some people argue that it can be educational and help preserve historical memory, while others believe that it can be exploitative and disrespectful to the victims and their families.
What are some of the motivations for engaging in dark tourism?
Some people are motivated by curiosity, historical interest, a desire to pay respects to the victims, or a desire to challenge their own perceptions and beliefs.
Are there any risks associated with dark tourism?
Some dark tourism destinations may have physical or psychological risks, such as exposure to radiation or disturbing images.
How can I engage in responsible dark tourism?
Responsible dark tourism involves being respectful of the victims and their families, supporting local communities, and being aware of the impact of your visit.
Is dark tourism a new phenomenon?
Can dark tourism be beneficial for local economies?
Yes, dark tourism can bring economic benefits to local communities through increased tourism and job opportunities.
Can dark tourism be educational?
Yes, dark tourism can be educational and help people understand and appreciate history and its impact on society.
Should children be allowed to engage in dark tourism?
Whether children should be allowed to engage in dark tourism depends on the age of the child and the destination being visited. Parents should carefully consider the potential risks and impact on the child’s emotional well-being.
Dark tourism is an interesting concept that has reaped increased attention from both academics and the public in recent years. Whether you are visiting a cemetery, taking part in a zombie race or providing relief after a natural disaster, the opportunities to take part in dark tourism activities are far ranging.
It is fairly clear that there are a number of different types of tourism that all fall under the umbrella of dark tourism. And with the different types of dark tourism, comes a variety of different tourist motivations to visit.
However, despite the different motivations, there are still unresolved ethical concerns that need addressing. From inappropriate selfies to taking photos of people who are grieving, there are differing opinions on whether dark tourism is right or wrong.
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What is Dark Tourism? A Walk on the Dark Side
- January 26, 2024
Nick Harvey
Dark tourism.
Table of Contents
3 Days in Dubrovnik Itinerary
Introduction.
Embarking on a journey through the enigmatic realm of dark tourism, we uncover the allure and controversy surrounding this fascinating aspect of travel. “What is Dark Tourism? A Walk on the Dark Side” isn’t just a mere exploration; it’s a deep dive into understanding how and why certain sites of tragedy, disaster, and historical significance draw travellers from around the globe. This comprehensive article promises an insightful exploration of dark tourism, balancing the sombre with the reflective.
Be sure to take a look at our other guides to Dark Tourism , such as Chernobyl Travel Guide and Haunted Spots in Belgium . Enjoy!
Key Takeaways
Definition and Scope of Dark Tourism : Dark tourism involves visiting locations associated with death, tragedy, or disaster. It’s not merely about curiosity in the macabre but is an exploration of history, understanding human nature, and acknowledging significant events that have shaped societies.
Spectrum and Types of Dark Tourism : The article highlights the spectrum of dark tourism, ranging from sites like historical battlefields (lighter aspect) to places of genocide or catastrophic events (darker aspect). This spectrum includes various forms of dark tourism, such as historical sites, natural disaster sites, and locations of recent tragedies, each offering a different perspective on human history and nature.
Ethical Considerations : Dark tourism raises important ethical questions about respect, commodification, and impact on local communities. The ethical approach to dark tourism requires sensitivity and respect for the sites and their historical significance, ensuring that it doesn’t trivialize the associated events or experiences.
Educational Value and Popularity : The article underscores dark tourism’s educational value, offering insights into historical events and human behavior, and its growing popularity. This form of tourism fulfills a deeper human quest for understanding complex aspects of history and the human psyche.
Impact on Communities and Global Awareness : Dark tourism can have both economic benefits and challenges for local communities. It contributes to global awareness of historical events and their ongoing impacts, playing a role in memorializing and preserving significant sites and stories for future generations.
What is Dark Tourism?
Dark tourism, often perceived as a walk on the darker side of humanity’s history, involves visiting sites associated with death, suffering, or disaster. It’s a journey beyond conventional sightseeing, offering a unique window into the complex tapestry of human experiences. This type of tourism isn’t just about the allure of the macabre; it’s a search for meaning, understanding, and connection with pivotal moments in human history. From the ruins of Pompeii to the sombre grounds of Auschwitz, dark tourism encapsulates a range of destinations that challenge, educate, and evoke deep emotional responses.
Dark Tourism Definitions
Dark tourism is a term enveloping a spectrum of travel experiences centered around sites of historical tragedies, war, disasters, and death. While definitions vary, the core essence remains – it’s a form of travel that confronts the darker aspects of humanity’s past and present. Some scholars differentiate between “darker” and “lighter” shades of dark tourism, suggesting a range of experiences from visiting a battlefield to an in-depth tour of a former concentration camp. This multifaceted term continues to evolve as society’s relationship with history and memory shifts.
The Dark Tourism Spectrum
The spectrum of dark tourism stretches from light to dark, encapsulating a variety of sites and experiences. On the lighter end, it might include visiting historical battlefields or museums dedicated to specific events. The darker end, however, involves sites of genocide, atrocities, or natural disasters. This spectrum helps in understanding the diverse motivations and experiences of dark tourists, ranging from educational purposes and historical interest to a deeper, often personal connection with the events commemorated or remembered at these sites.
Recommended Dark Tourism Tours
Why is dark tourism so popular.
Types of Dark Tourism
Dark tourism manifests in various forms, each with its unique focus and appeal. Historical sites, such as battlefields or concentration camps, draw visitors interested in the historical and educational aspects. Places of natural disasters, like volcano sites, appeal to those intrigued by the power of nature and its impact on human communities. Sites of recent tragedies, such as Ground Zero in New York, attract those seeking to pay respects and understand contemporary historical events. Each type offers a different perspective on the darker aspects of human history and nature.
The Ethics of Dark Tourism
The ethics of dark tourism are a complex and often debated topic. It raises questions about respect, commodification, and the impact on local communities. Is it morally acceptable to visit sites of tragedy for tourism purposes? How do such visits affect those directly connected to these places? Responsible dark tourism should be approached with sensitivity, respect, and an educational intent, ensuring that it does not trivialize the experiences and memories associated with these sites.
Dark Tourism Destinations
Dark Tourism at Auschwitz
Auschwitz , the infamous Nazi concentration and extermination camp, stands as a stark reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust. Visiting Auschwitz is not just a tour; it’s a profound experience of reflection and remembrance. It challenges visitors to confront the depths of human cruelty while paying homage to the victims of this unimaginable tragedy.
Dark Tourism at Chernobyl
Chernobyl , the site of the catastrophic nuclear disaster in 1986, offers a haunting glimpse into a post-apocalyptic world. Tours to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone reveal the scale of the disaster and its lasting impact on the environment and the lives of those affected.
Dark Tourism at Hiroshima
Hiroshima, known for the devastating atomic bombing in 1945, is now a place of peace and reflection. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum educate visitors about the horrors of nuclear warfare and advocate for peace and nuclear disarmament.
Dark Tourism at the 9/11 Memorial
The 9/11 Memorial in New York City pays tribute to the victims of the September 11 attacks. The site, encompassing where the Twin Towers once stood, serves as a poignant reminder of the day that changed the world and a space for reflection and remembrance.
Dark Tourism at the Killing Fields
The Killing Fields of Cambodia, where over a million people were brutally executed during the Khmer Rouge regime, offer a sobering look into one of the 20th century’s most brutal genocides. The site stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable horror.
Dark Tourism at Bikini Atoll
Bikini Atoll, known for its nuclear testing by the United States in the mid-20th century, represents a different aspect of dark tourism. The site offers insights into the Cold War era and the devastating effects of nuclear testing on the environment and local populations.
Dark Tourism in Berlin
Berlin ‘s dark tourism attractions, including the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, and the Holocaust Memorial, reflect the city’s turbulent history, particularly during the Cold War and the Nazi era. These sites offer a comprehensive look into the political and social upheavals that shaped the 20th century.
Other Dark Tourism Destinations
The Catacombs of Paris, France : An underground ossuary in Paris, holding the remains of over six million people in a small part of the ancient Mines of Paris tunnel network.
Rwanda Genocide Memorials, Rwanda : Various sites across Rwanda that commemorate the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre.
Alcatraz Island, USA : The site of the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, known for its notorious inmates and located in San Francisco Bay.
Pompeii, Italy : An ancient Roman city near Naples that was buried under volcanic ash and pumice following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Robben Island, South Africa : Formerly a prison island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated, now a museum and a symbol of the triumph of democracy and freedom over oppression.
The Tower of London, England : A historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, known for its history as a prison and execution site.
Ground Zero, USA : The site in New York City where the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center stood before the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
Oradour-sur-Glane, France : The preserved ruins of a small French village, site of a massacre by German Waffen-SS soldiers during World War II.
Pripyat, Ukraine : The ghost town near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, abandoned following the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.
Aokigahara Forest, Japan : Also known as the Suicide Forest, located at the northwest base of Mount Fuji in Japan, it’s known for being a common site for suicides.
Ford Theater and Petersen House, USA : The theater where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated and the house across the street where he died.
Anne Frank House, Netherlands : The house in Amsterdam where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis during World War II, now a museum.
Salem, Massachusetts, USA : Known for the Salem witch trials, the town now has various museums and historical sites related to this period.
Gettysburg Battlefield, USA : The site of the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War, now a national park with memorials and museums.
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Cambodia : Formerly the S-21 Prison, a notorious prison used by the Khmer Rouge regime during its rule of terror.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Dark tourism distinguishes itself by focusing on sites associated with death, tragedy, and disaster. Unlike traditional tourism, which often highlights beauty, culture, and relaxation, dark tourism provides a deeper, often more somber, perspective on history and humanity.
The ethics of dark tourism are nuanced and subjective. It can be ethical if approached with respect, sensitivity, and an educational purpose. However, it can become unethical if it exploits tragedy or disrespects the affected communities and victims.
Visitors to dark tourism sites should behave with utmost respect and sensitivity. This includes following local guidelines, being mindful of the site’s history and significance, and avoiding inappropriate behaviour such as taking disrespectful photographs.
Absolutely. Dark tourism often serves an educational purpose, providing insights into historical events, human nature, and the consequences of certain actions. It can be a powerful tool for learning and reflection.
Dark tourism can bring economic benefits to local communities and raise awareness about historical events and their ongoing impact. It can also play a role in memorializing and preserving important sites and stories for future generations.
Final Thoughts
“What is Dark Tourism?” is more than a simple query; it’s a doorway into understanding a complex and often misunderstood aspect of travel. Dark tourism, with its ethical considerations, diverse types and destinations, offers a unique lens through which we can view and comprehend our history, tragedies, and the human condition. As we continue to explore these sombre sites, it’s crucial to approach them with respect, sensitivity, and a desire to learn, ensuring that the lessons of the past are not forgotten in the shadows. 💀
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- Letter from Europe
- Dark tourism in Berlin and beyond
Issue no. 2006/21
Many of Berlin's prime attractions evoke the darker side of the city's past. The new monument to the murdered Jews of Europe just south of the Brandenburg Gate is the latest addition to Berlin's dark tourism repertoire. Just a short walk away is the Topography of Terror exhibition. For visitors who venture out of Berlin's city centre, the former Nazi concentration camp at Sachsenhausen is a major destination.
Dear fellow travellers
I t was forty-five years ago today that Berliners awoke on a Sunday morning to find that their city was being divided in two. There followed, as we all know, almost three whole decades in which Berlin evolved as two separate cities. Yet modern visitors to hidden europe's home city will be hard pushed to identify the route of the Berlin Wall. Even we often cannot quite recall if this or that particular road was in the East or the West.
And yet the Wall exerts a tenacious hold on many travellers' imaginations. Thousands of visitors come to the German capital because of their interest in something that is actually no longer here.
The Wall is not alone. Many of Berlin's prime attractions evoke the darker side of the city's past. The new monument to the murdered Jews of Europe just south of the Brandenburg Gate is the latest addition to Berlin's dark tourism repertoire. Just a short walk away is the Topography of Terror exhibition. For visitors who venture out of Berlin's city centre, the former Nazi concentration camp at Sachsenhausen is a major destination. The Wannsee Conference Memorial House features on the same dark itinerary; it was here that in January 1942 a group of Nazi leaders gathered to finalise the details of the genocide of Europe's Jews. Visitors can see the very conference table where Eichmann, Heydrich and a dozen others had cigars and brandy while reviewing the details of gas chambers.
Dark tourism is of course nothing new. It was only a decade ago that two English academics, Michael Foley and John Lennon, coined the term 'dark tourism' - rightly taking care to remind us that travel to encounter the macabre or gruesome is not just a modern preoccupation. We forget too easily that many mediaeval pilgrimages culminated at points where martyrs were allegedly massacred or saints were presumed to be buried. Cemetery and battlefield tourism were well established long before the modern fad for day trips to Ground Zero in New York or Chernobyl in Ukraine.
Many Berlin itineraries are as dark as they come, but Europe has many shades of dark tourism - catacombs, museums of famine and disease, prisons and, at the lighter end of the spectrum, a company that offers spine-chilling experiences in dungeons in five European cities. Probably not too spine-chilling, because the business moguls surely know all too well that most of us are happy to be engaged by the spectacle of history, even shocked a little, but few are the punters who will pay to be truly horrified. Then, in Berlin at least, there is the knotty issue of how to commemorate events that still feature all too strongly in many people's memories. So the city's Senate still wrangles over quite how the Wall should be properly marked. The vacuum is filled by a variety of uncoordinated private sector initiatives that exploit the Wall story for their own purposes - dozens of folk touting little bits of grey concrete that allegedly came from the Wall and some curious ventures such as the scruffy and peculiarly one-sided House at Checkpoint Charlie museum.
Monumental tributes to lost communities, such as the new Holocaust memorial in Berlin, can be hugely impressive. As a monument it is very evocative. Visiting the Berlin memorial, however, is probably no substitute to standing in one of Europe's forgotten synagogues - places that no longer resound to the chanting of the psalms, and where the candles have long since been extinguished. We reports on Europe's silent synagogues in hidden europe 10 (September 2006), when we visit synagogues from the Azores to Belarus, from London to Bulgaria. Together they tell a moving tale of Europe's lost Jewish communities.
An Essex backwater: Discovering Harwich
The old town of Harwich, a port in the county of Essex on England's North Sea coast, is tucked away on the end of a peninsula. Maritime connections have shaped the development of Harwich. It's a place for sea breezes, rock oysters and watching the ferries come and go.
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Anna Walentynowicz died five years ago this spring in the plane crash that also claimed the lives of many in the Polish leadership. We recall the woman who was a welder, crane driver and political activist - a woman who quietly helped shape modern Poland.
- Contrast Contrast
Top 11 Spookiest Spots in Berlin
Here a cold shiver runs down your spine
These dark places are inhabited by ghosts, monsters and creepy creatures and are home to their mischief.There are many spots in Berlin that can send a shiver down your spine, and not just on Halloween. We’ve compiled a list of the 11 spookiest spots in Berlin, but beware, our tips are not for the faint of heart!
Tip 1: Experience Berlin most haunted stories - Berlin Dungeon
Blood-curdling experiences are what you can expect at Berlin Dungeon , where visitors are taken back through 700 years’ of Berlin’s dark history. Things get creepy when actors tell true stories to help make the dark side of Berlin with its sometimes grisly past come alive. For example, if you dare to enter the labyrinth of the lost, or explore the torture chamber, or decide to risk the deadly plague. This and much more awaits visitors to Berlin’s horror spectacle which not only has exciting stories to tell, but can also let your blood run cold. Of course spooky highlights of the year, such as Halloween , are also celebrated at the Dungeon.
Where: Berlin Dungeon, Spandauer Straße 2, Mitte
Tickets for the Dungeon
Tip 2: Berliner Unterwelten
Deep down in Berlin's dark underground , the guided tours of the Berliner Unterwelten e.V. (Berlin Underworlds) take you on a journey of discovery. They will take you to the bunkers under the city and show you the places steeped in history. Other tours take you to the escape tunnels under the Berlin Wall . All these authentic places tell you a lot about Berlin's history - even about its darker sides.
Where: Meeting point depending on the tour
Tickets for Berliner Unterwelten
Tip 3: Museum of Natural History - dinosaurs & haunted creatures
The Museum of Natural History is primarily exciting and informative for young and old But there is a department that can give you the creeps. Head to the research collection to see endless rows of jars filled with millions of mysterious objects such as amphibians or reptiles preserved in alcohol. But there are even creepier sights to behold by signing up for the one of the nightly torchlight (flashlight) tours through the museum. When all is dark, the preserved specimens come back to life as visitors check out behind-the-scenes areas at the museum. Guaranteed to freak out more than just the kids!
Where: Museum für Naturkunde, Invalidenstraße 43, Mitte
More information about the Museum of Natural History
Tip 4: Horror and fun - Monsterkabinett
The Monsterkabinett is home to bizarre and gruesome creatures made of recycled materials and bearing names like Little Three Eye or Orangina. The monster family is one artist Hannes Heiner’s installations and is located at Hackesche Höfe. Before heading down into the monster cave, you will first have to cross the rear courtyard bedecked with street art (which is worth checking out on in its own right). And, as a nice change of pace, these monsters are actually sometimes kid-friendly and only just a little creepy. To be sure about that you can always check out the website of the Monsterkabinett before visiting it with your children.
Where: Monsterkabinett, Rosenthaler Straße 37, Mitte
More information about the Monsterkabinett
Tip 5: Graues Kloster - One of Berlin's haunted places
The old ruins of the Gothic Franciscan monastery on Klosterstraße are supposedly haunted by Friar Roderich. The limping monk loved to pick fights and out of sheer malice walled up his own son in the monastery walls, a crime for which he was cruelly punished. The ancient walls of the former Franciscan monastery are particularly scary when you know that there’s a lost soul there caught by his past sins.
Where: Klosterstraße, Mitte
More information about Berlin's history
Tip 6: Teufelsberg - haunted by the ghosts of history
Goose bumps are guaranteed when you visit the abandoned radar station on the Teufelsberg in Grunewald. The relic from the Cold War era is even more scary on a guided flashlight hike when you explore the listening facility in the deepest darkness, only in the weak light of the flashlight.
Where: Teufelsseechaussee 10, Charlottenburg
More information about the Teufelsberg
Tip 7: Night at the Museum
What robots do at night can only be creepy. Do they click and clack through the corridors? Do they sing in the treasure chamber? Or do they search for stars under the blue glass dome? You can find out on a torch tour of the Museum der Kommunikation (Museum of Communication). Immerse yourself in the mysterious dark museum and let yourself be drawn into a dark world of communication.
Where: Leipziger Straße 16, 10117 Mitte
More information about Museum der Kommunikation
Tip 8: Labyrintoom® - Escape Room in Berlin
Locked in a dark room and no way out! In the Escape Room, logic and combination are required if you are looking for a way out. In the Wizard's Cabinet you are locked into the wizard's eerie room and have to solve puzzles against time to see the light of day again. But the clock is ticking and the room gets smaller and smaller ...
Where: Wartenberg Str. 35/36, Lichtenberg
More information about Labyrintoom® - Escape Room in Berlin
Tip 9: Thrills & chills - Berliner Kriminal Theater
A shot, a scream - but who is the murderer? Crackling excitement and captivating entertainment are guaranteed. The Kriminal Theater at Umspannwerk Ost shows popular crime thrillers live on stage and thus offers captivating entertainment. In addition to classics based on Agatha Christie and entertaining crime thriller song revues, the programme also includes exciting psychological thrillers that will freeze the blood in your veins.
Where: Palisadenstraße 48, Friedrichshain
More information about the Kriminal Theater
Tipp 10: Guid tour: True Crime in Berlin - explore haunted places
On the true crime tour through Berlin you can expect a different kind of city tour, which will take you to many creepy places. You will be taken to the dark side of the city and get to know the dark stories of Berlin. Between tales of the machinations of ring clubs and gangs, of fraud and political scandals, frightening secrets await you. Or do you already know Berlin's criminal past?
Where: Meeting point U Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, Mitte
Tickets for the tour
Tip 11: Deutsches Spionagemuseum - discover the history of espionage
The German Spy Museum takes you back to the times of the Cold War and the history of espionage from antiquity to the present day. Here you can prove yourself as a spy and prove your skill in the laser course. Already in the entrance area you can dive deep into the uncanny world of spies: Countless cameras look down on you and watch every step you take.
Where: Leipziger Platz 9, Mitte
More information about the Deutsches Spionagemuseum
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Exploring the Darkest places
Welcome to the Darkest Travel: Your Gateway to the Dark and Mysterious! Discover the world of Dark Tourism and experience unforgettable journeys to haunting destinations.
Darkest Travel is a media and travel company dedicated to providing content about Dark Tourism and offering vacation stays in eerie locations.
In the shadowy realm of travel, a sinister fascination has crept into the hearts of wanderers—an obsession with the macabre, the mysterious, the haunted. Dark tourism, a chilling specter that has risen from the depths of human curiosity, now prowls the minds of intrepid travelers. Chernobyl and The Dark Tourist, twisted tales woven in the fabric of television, have birthed this unholy concept, an unhinging of reality that beckons the brave.
Darkest Travel : The Essence of Dark Tourism Exploring the Darkest in the World of Travel
Ever asked, " What is dark tourism about? " It's a journey into history's pivotal moments. Through dark tourism examples like haunted castles, silent battlefields, and forgotten towns, you feel the stories they hold. Explore different types of dark tourism with Darkest Travel, and let these tales grip your heart and spark your curiosity. It's not just travel; it's an adventure into the depths of our shared past. Are you in?
Chernobyl is a very popular destination for dark tourism, however unlike Auschwitz, this destination remains a hazard and is to date a dangerous site to visit due to the radiation levels still pertinent.
Following one of the worlds worst terrorist attacks, the 9/11 memorial site is one of the world’s top dark tourism attractions and is one of the most visited sites of any kind., berlin is home to a number of holocaust and ww2 exhibitions and is popular with educational tourists. i took a student group there a few years ago and i would definitely recommend it for anybody studying tourism or history..
Dark tourism shares a deep connection with educational travel, especially in the realms of its darkest facets. For numerous individuals, this serves as their primary, if not sole, incentive for embracing the shadows as dark tourists. Despite its somber nature, dark tourism provides a unique educational experience that captivates many. Personally, I have found immense value in exploring renowned cemeteries and delving into the history of World War II during my journeys through Berlin and Poland.
Unforgettable Tours
Netflix features a compelling series titled "The Dark Tourist," where journalist David Farrier delves into the realm of dark tourism, exploring how tourists interact with sites historically linked to death and tragedy. With each episode, Farrier embarks on a new journey to various dark tourism destinations. Having personally visited some of these sites and intrigued by others now on my bucket list, I highly recommend this show to anyone curious about dark tourism attractions worldwide. It offers a fascinating glimpse into this intriguing and enigmatic travel phenomenon.
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30 Dark Tourism Destinations and How to Visit
By: Author Zachary Friedman
Posted on Last updated: March 1, 2024
Categories Travel Destinations
Home » Travel » Travel Destinations » 30 Dark Tourism Destinations and How to Visit
Many of us have a natural morbid curiosity. Death, disasters, atrocities, and destruction fascinate us. Every year, millions of people travel to some of the darkest and most tragic sites on earth to satisfy that curiosity as well as to gain a deeper understanding of the events that took place there. This is called dark tourism. In this guide, we’ll outline some of the most popular dark tourism destinations and explain how to visit them. We’ll also explain exactly what dark tourism is and talk a bit about the ethics, controversies, and motivations of dark tourism.
Personally, I’m a big fan of dark tourism. Over the years, I’ve visited many of the dark tourism sites on this list. In this guide, I’ll share my experience.
Table of Contents
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, Poland
- Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster Site, Ukraine
- Choeung Ek Killing Fields and S-21, Cambodia
- September 11 Memorial and Museum, New York
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum, Japan
- Kigali Genocide Memorial, Rwanda
- Pompeii, Italy
- Slave Castles, Ghana
- Sedlec Ossuary, Czech Republic
- Alcatraz Island, San Francisco
- Suicide Forest (Aokigahar), Japan
- Fukushima, Japan
- Robben Island, South Africa
- Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
- The Colosseum, Rome
- Mount St. Helens, Washington
- Anne Frank House and Museum, Amsterdam
- Various Nuclear Test Sites
- The Catacombs of Paris
- Warsaw Ghetto, Poland
- Perm-36 Gulag, Russia
- Cremations on the Ganges River in Varanasi, India
- WWII memorials and museums in Berlin, Germany
- Communist Leader Mausoleums
- Somme Battlefield, France
- Verdun Battlefield, France
- D-Day Beaches and Memorials in Normandy
- Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg, Maryland
- Cu Chi Tunnels, Vietnam
What is Dark Tourism?
Dark tourism is a relatively new term for a form of tourism that involves travel to a site where death, tragedy, disaster, violence, atrocity, or suffering took place. This could include sites of genocide, assassination, natural disaster, war, terrorism, man-made disaster, etc. Usually, dark tourism sites have some kind of historical significance. They could also be the site of a recent or ongoing tragic event. Dark tourism is also called black tourism, morbid tourism, and grief tourism.
A few of the most well-known and popular dark tourism sites in the world include the ruins of Pompeii, Auschwitz concentration camp, the site of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, the Paris Catacombs, Gettysburg, Ground Zero, and the 9/11 memorial in New York. In each of these sites, death, suffering, tragedy, or disaster took place.
Most people visit dark tourism sites for educational purposes. These sites usually have interesting histories. Some people visit because these sites pique a morbid curiosity. Others just want to witness large scale destruction and damage. Everyone has their own motivation.
There are different types of dark tourism as well. For example, dark tourism and heritage tourism are sometimes closely related. For example, someone may choose to visit Holocaust sites to learn about the events that their ancestors experienced. Descendants of slaves may choose to visit slavery heritage sites. Some consider this a form of dark tourism as well.
To consider someone a dark tourist, they must visit the site for dark tourism purposes. Some sites have a dark element but aren’t exclusively visited for dark tourism purposes. For example, if you visit Mount St. Helens to go for a hike, you’re not a dark tourist. If you visit to learn about the volcanic eruption and the damage it caused, you are a dark tourist.
Dark Tourism Destinations
1. auschwitz-birkenau memorial and museum, poland.
Located outside of Krakow, Poland, Auschwitz was the largest and most deadly of the Nazi concentration camps. Between 1.1 and 1.6 million men, women, and children were murdered here during the Holocaust. Auschwitz is one of the largest mass murder sites in the world.
Today, the site symbolizes genocide and the evil acts that humans inflict upon one another. It also acts as a valuable education tool to help prevent atrocities such as the Holocaust from happening again.
Auschwitz is actually a series of 40 concentration camps rather than one large camp. Auschwitz I is the older and smaller camp where political prisoners were held. Here, you’ll see a terrifying exhibition of some of the inmates’ possessions including piles of suitcases, shoes, and human hair.
Auschwitz-Birkenau, which is located a couple of miles down the road, is a much larger concentration camp and extermination camp. Here, you’ll find the ruins of the infamous gas chambers, barracks with wooden shelves where prisoners slept, and the train track which was used to haul thousands of people into the camp.
Auschwitz has become a mass tourist site seeing over 2 million visitors per year and over 60 million visitors since the site opened in 1947. This is probably the world’s biggest and most well known dark tourism site. The Auschwitz Memorial is free to enter but you should book in advance. Only a limited number of tickets are available per day because the site is so popular.
2. Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster Site, Ukraine
On April 26, 1986, the world’s worst nuclear meltdown took place at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant near Pripyat, Ukraine. This disaster caused the death of around 4,000 individuals from radiation-related illness as well as the displacement of over 300,000.
The area is still not safe for people to inhabit, even though some have moved back into their villages anyway. In fact, scientists believe it could take 20,000 years before the exclusion zone is completely safe. The radiation has dissipated enough for tourists to make short visits on guided tours.
Several tour companies offer day trips and multi-day trips to Chernobyl from the nearby city of Kyiv. During the tour, you’ll see the radiation-contaminated Red Forrest and eerie abandoned buildings including the famous Pripyat Amusement Park and a Kindergarten. You’ll also learn about the impact the disaster had on the region.
Keep in mind that there is still a risk of radiation poisoning when visiting the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Radiation levels are still hazardous in much of the zone. Your guide will explain the safety precautions you must take and guide you through the areas that are safe enough to visit.
Chernobyl is one of the world’s most famous and popular dark tourism sites. The recent HBO miniseries, Chernobyl, greatly increased the popularity of the area. Following the release of the show, tourism increased by 30%.
Note: Currently, it’s not possible to visit this site. Hopefully, it will be possible to visit again in the near future.
3. Choeung Ek Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21), Cambodia
The Khmer Rouge regime came into power after the Cambodian civil war ended in 1975. The new government was called the Communist Party of Kampuchea. Their leader was prime minister Pol Pot.
Immediately following the end of the war, the Cambodian genocide began. From 1975 to 1979, between 1.7 and 2.5 million people were killed at 300 sites throughout the country. These sites are known as killing fields.
The most famous of these killing fields is Choeung Ek, which is located about 11 miles outside of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. It is estimated that around 17,000 men, women, and children were killed at this site. Many were killed violently with knives, scythes, bats, and bayonets. This is the main memorial for the Cambodian genocide.
At this site, you’ll see a memorial Buddhist stupa made of glass. Inside the stupa, there are 5,000 human skulls. Many of the displayed skulls are catastrophically damaged, showing the brutal manner in which the victims were killed. The site also includes a mass grave that contains the remains of almost 9,000 people that were exhumed from the surrounding area. Human bones still litter the entire site. Occasionally fragments wash up after heavy rain.
Another famous Cambodian Genocide site is the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum or S-21. This museum is located in Phnom Penh. Originally, this site was built as a secondary school but was converted into a prison by the Khmer Rouge. Around 20,000 people were imprisoned here during Pol Pot’s reign. Many were tortured and killed. Here, you’ll see prison cells, photos of victims, as well as an exhibit that documents the events of the Cambodian genocide.
4. National September 11 Memorial and Museum, New York
This New York City memorial and museum was built to commemorate and honor the 2,977 people who died in the September 11, 2001 terror attacks as well as the six people who died in the 1993 World Trade Center bombings. The memorial sits on the site where the twin towers once stood.
The main memorial, called Reflecting Absence, consists of two 1-acre pools that occupy the exact footprints where the Twin Towers stood. Each pool features a large waterfall. Bronze parapets with the name of each victim etched in surround the pools. The September 11 Museum, located underground, contains thousands of images, artifacts, recordings, and videos. The exhibit tells the complete story of the events of 9/11.
This site is fairly controversial. Partly for the high price of entry ($24) but mostly for the fact that the remains of over 1000 victims were placed in a tomb in the bedrock under the museum. Many people find this disrespectful. Even so, the 9/11 Memorial is one of the world’s most popular dark tourism sites. Over 6 million people visit this memorial per year.
5. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum
This memorial and museum commemorate and honor the city of Hiroshima and the 140,000 people who died when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city on August 6, 1945. It also memorializes the world’s first nuclear attack. The aim is to educate people about the danger of nuclear weapons as well as to promote peace.
The atom bomb, codenamed “Little Boy,” detonated 600 meters above the busiest part of downtown Hiroshima. The explosion essentially leveled the area except for a few ruins. This event marked the beginning of the end of WWII. Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945. The park was built on the site of the bombing. Today, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park contains a number of monuments as well as a museum and a lecture hall.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is the main feature of the park. The museum educates visitors about the events leading up to the bombing as well as the catastrophic effect the bomb had on the city. You’ll see photos and artifacts from the bombing. A major section of the museum is dedicated to the stories of the victims and survivors.
The A-Bomb Dome is the second most important site in the park. This is the ruins of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. Today, it’s just a shell of a building. This building is significant because it is one of the only buildings that survived the blast. Most structures in Hiroshima were built from wood and burned up in fires that the bomb started. This building was also just 150 meters from the hypocenter of the blast. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A few more significant points of interest in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park include Children’s Peace Monument, Peace Flame, Peace Bells, Peace Pagoda, Gates of Peace, and Atomic Bomb Memorial Mount. You could easily spend half a day wandering around the park viewing the various monuments and memorials.
3 days after the bombing of Hiroshima on August 9, 1945, The United States bombed the city of Nagasaki in a second nuclear attack. Today, you’ll find a number of memorials and museums including the Atomic Bomb Museum, Peace Park, Oka Masaharu Memorial Peace Museum, and more.
6. Rwanda Genocide Sites (Kigali Genocide Memorial and Murambi Genocide Memorial)
In 1990, a rebel group of Tutsi refugees called the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) invaded Rwanda from Uganda. This started the Rwandan Civil War. President Juvénal Habyarimana signed peace accords in 1993. The following day, the president was assassinated. Genocidal killings of Tutsi people began soon after and the civil war resumed.
The Rwandan genocide lasted from April 7 to July 15, 1994. During that time 500,000-1,000,000 people were killed. This includes about 70% of Rwanda’s Tutsi population. The genocide ended when the RPF captured Kigali and gained control of the country. The government and genocidaires were forced into Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
Today, there are a number of genocide memorials located throughout the country. The largest and most visited is the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. The remains of an astonishing 250,000 people are interred at this site. The attached museum includes three exhibits. The first documents the events of genocide from start to finish. The second exhibit is a memorial to the children who died. It includes photos and details about their lives, things they liked, and the way they died. The third exhibit covers genocide around the world.
The Murambi Genocide Memorial (Murambi Technical School), located in southern Rwanda is one of the darkest dark tourism destinations on the planet. Here, around 50,000 Tutsi men, women, and children were murdered by Hutu Interahamwe militiamen in April of 1994.
The Tutsis were told that they could safely shelter at the school and that the French military would protect them. This turned out to be a trap. After being starved for several days to weaken them, they were attacked and killed. Only 34 people survived the attack and escaped. At Murambi, the remains of 800 people are displayed partially decomposed and preserved by lime.
7. Pompeii, Italy
This ancient Roman city was wiped out when nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Historians estimate that about 2,000 people died in the disaster. The thick layer of ash and pumice that covered the city preserved this little slice of ancient Rome.
At the ruins, you can see beautifully preserved artwork, pottery, casts of people who died, houses, an amphitheater, and more. Pompeii is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of Italy’s most popular tourist destinations with over 2.5 million visitors per year.
Some people question whether or not Pompeii is actually a dark tourism site due to the age of the site. After all, the eruption occurred nearly 2000 years ago. In my opinion, Pompeii is absolutely a dark tourism site due to the large scale death and destruction that happened here. The age of the site is irrelevant.
8. Slave Castles, Ghana (Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle)
During the colonial period of West Africa, the British, Dutch, and Portuguese built around 40 castles or forts along the Gold Coast. The Europeans originally used these castles as trading posts for timber or gold.
During that time, African slaves were in high demand in the Americas. The European traders quickly found that the slave trade was more profitable.
They modified their forts to hold as many slaves as possible. Usually in an underground dungeon. African slavers would capture slaves inland then sell them to the Europeans who lived in the castles on the coast. The slaves stayed in the castles until they were shipped across the Atlantic to the Americas.
Living conditions for the slaves were horrible. Slavers shackled and packed the slaves into the castle’s dungeons. There was very little light or ventilation. There was no water or sanitation so the floors were covered in waste. Many became ill. The slaves lived in these conditions for up to three months before being shipped across the Atlantic.
Today, dark tourists visit these castles to learn about the horrors of the slave trade. Two of the most significant castles to visit include Elmina Castle and Cape Coast Castle. Both are located in Ghana. Guided tours are available.
Elmina Castle was the first European trading post and is the oldest European building in Sub Saharan Africa. The Portuguese built the castle in 1482. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you can see the famous ‘Door of No Return’ where slaves exited the castle before boarding ships to Brazil and other Portuguese colonies. You’ll also see the dungeon where the slaves were held as well as the living quarters for the European slavers, who lived on the upper floors of the castle.
Cape Coast Castle was built by Swedish traders in 1653. Over the years, the castle changed hands multiple times until it came into British possession. Here, you can see the dungeons where slaves were held and cannons that were used to defend the fort. In 2009, President Obama visited Cape Coast Castle during his visit to Ghana.
9. Sedlec Ossuary, Czech Republic
This small Roman Catholic chapel is located in a cemetery in a suburb of the city of Kutná Hora in the Czech Republic. Here, you’ll find the remains of 40,000-70,000 people. Initially, the remains were moved from the cemetery into the basement of the chapel to solve an overcrowding problem that was caused by the plague in the 14th century.
In 1870, a local artist named František Rint rearranged the piles of bones into artwork. The most impressive piece is a massive chandelier in the center of the chapel that is made entirely from human bones. Supposedly it contains at least one of every bone in the human body.
Another interesting piece is a large coat of arms made from bones. In the corners of the chapel, you’ll find large stacks of bones. There are cabinets filled with damaged skulls of those who were killed violently in war. The artist also signed his name in bones.
You can visit Selded Ossuary as a day trip from Prague. It’s easy to visit independently by train. Organized tours are available as well. The chapel is pretty small. It only takes 20 minutes or so to see the whole thing. The place gets pretty crowded as it receives over 200,000 visitors per year.
10. Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, San Francisco
Also known as The Rock, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was a maximum-security prison from 1934-1963. It is located on an island in the San Francisco Bay, 1.25 miles offshore. During the 29 years that the prison operated, some of the hardest criminals of the day served time here including the infamous Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, Henri Young, and ‘the Birdman of Alcatraz’, Robert Stroud.
For punishment, prisoners were sent to solitary confinement, known as ‘the hole’ at Alcatraz. These inmates got one shower and one hour of exercise per week. Almost equally punishing for some, the prison sits close enough to the mainland that prisoners could see people going about their lives on the outside.
Today, Alcatraz is San Francisco’s most popular tourist attraction with up to 1.5 million visitors per year. The National Park Service manages the island. After arriving at the island by boat, you can take a tour of the prison. You’ll see the prison cells, learn about the dark history of the island, and hear stories of former inmates. Much of the prison remains the way it was while the prison was in operation.
11. Suicide Forest (Aokigahar), Japan
This forest, located to the Northwest of Mount Fuji, is famous for being one of the most popular suicide site in Japan. In 2003, a record was made when 105 bodies were found in the forest. In 2010, over 200 people attempted suicide here with 54 of those being successful.
The most common methods of suicide used are hanging and drug overdose. Because the suicide rate is so high here, Japanese officials installed a sign at the entry to the park which urges suicidal people to seek help.
Part of the reason for the popularity of this forest as a suicide site is that the area has long been associated with death in Japanese culture. The forest is said to be haunted by the yūrei, which are spirits that can’t leave our world.
Here, visitors can roam about the many trails that wind throughout the 30 square kilometer forest. This is an excellent place to enjoy the solitude of the dense forest. Tours are available as well.
Some visitors come here to see if they can spot a body. As you can imagine, this is a very controversial form of dark tourism. For example, YouTuber Logan Paul was criticized for filming a video of a man who had recently committed suicide here in 2018.
12. Fukushima, Japan
On March 11, 2011, an earthquake off the east coast of Japan triggered a tsunami that flooded the reactors at Fukushima nuclear power plant and caused an electrical grid failure. The reactors lost their cooling which led to three nuclear meltdowns at the plant. 154,000 people had to be evacuated. Many were never able to return to their homes.
Today, there is a 20 km exclusion zone surrounding the nuclear plant to protect people from radiation exposure. In 2018 tours to visit the exclusion area began. In 2020, The Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum opened. On the tour, you’ll see abandoned structures and witness the effects that the disaster had on the region.
13. Robben Island, South Africa
Robben Island, located in Table Bay, north of Cape Town, was used as a prison from the colonial times of the late 1600s until 1996. The prison gained notoriety during the apartheid era of South Africa. It held political prisoners between 1961 and 1991.
The most famous prisoner was political revolutionary, Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. He served 18 of his 27-year imprisonment on Robben Island before his release in 1990. in 1994, South Africa elected Mandela as the first president. A total of three former inmates went on to become South African presidents including Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma.
Conditions in the prison were incredibly harsh. Prisoners were held isolated from one another in small cells. The prison was segregated by race. Food rations were small and communication with the outside world was limited. Prisoners were also forced to do hard labor in a lime quarry located on the island.
Today, Robben Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a South African National Heritage Site. The only way to visit Robben Island is on a guided tour. The tour leaves from Cape Town and lasts for about 3.5 hours. The guides are all former prisoners. They take you around the prison and share their first-hand stories about their time there. You’ll see the lime quarry where the prisoners were forced to work as well as Nelson Mandela’s prison cell.
14. Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
On December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service surprise attacked the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The goal of the attack was to prevent the United States Navy fleet from interfering with the Japanese military plans to expand throughout Southeast Asia. If Japan crippled the United States fleet was crippled, they could invade and conquer US and British held territories such as the Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, as well as other small islands of the Pacific.
The Japanese launched a massive attack with 353 aircraft which took off from six aircraft carriers. They sank 4 of the 8 battleships stationed at Pearl Harbor. They seriously damaged the other four. 188 aircraft were also destroyed in the attack 159 were damaged. The attack killed 2,403 Americans and injured 1,178. The attack also damaged or destroyed a considerable amount of the base’s infrastructure including a power station, piers, various buildings, and more.
The most significant loss was the battleship USS Arizona. It suffered a direct hit to an ammunition magazine which exploded and caused the ship to sink almost instantly. 1,000 sailors sank with the ship.
The attack on Pearl Harbor dragged the United States into World War II. The day after the attack, Japan declared war on the United States. The next day, the United States declared war on Japan. Three days later, Germany and Italy both declared war on the United States.
Today, there are a number of museums and memorials at Pearl Harbor that commemorate the attack. The main site is the USS Arizona memorial. This memorial straddles the sunken ship and is accessible only by boat. Inside, you’ll see a number of exhibits including one of the ship’s anchors, a shrine with the names of all of those who died as well as some plaques with information about the attack. There is also an opening in the floor where you can view the deck of the ship underwater. Onshore, there is also a museum that outlines the events leading up to the attack and the attack itself.
Nearby, you can also view the USS Missouri Memorial, USS Utah Memorial, USS Oklahoma Memorial, Pacific Aviation Museum, and USS Bowfin Museum.
15. The Colosseum, Rome
Built in Ancient Rome between 72-80 AD, the Colosseum is one of the oldest and most recognizable dark tourism sites. At the time, it was the largest amphitheater ever built with a capacity of 50,000-80,000 spectators. The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, hosted a number of dark and violent events including gladiatorial events, executions, animal hunts, and battle re-enactments.
The most famous of these events were the gladiatorial contests. People and animals brutally battled to the death for the entertainment of thousands of spectators. Most gladiators were slaves, criminals, or prisoners of war but some volunteered to seek fame and fortune.
Exotic wild animals including lions, hippos, rhinos, elephants, bears, tigers, crocodiles, etc. were brought in from Africa and the Middle East. These animals were used for hunts or battles. In some cases, people were fed to lions.
Over the course of the 400 years that these gladiatorial events took place, historians estimate that around 400,000 people died in the Colosseum. Some people consider these events the earliest form of dark tourism.
Today, the Colosseum is one of the top tourist destinations in Rome and the world. Around 7 million people visit this site per year. There are a number of guided tours available. You’ll see the underground level where the gladiators prepared to fight, the arena floor where the gladiatorial fights took place, areas where the animals were kept, and artwork.
16. Mount St. Helens, Washington
The 1980 volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens killed 57 people and caused a great deal of destruction to the mountain and surrounding area including the largest landslide in recorded history. The eruption was so violent that the mountain’s elevation decreased by 1300 feet. The top completely blew off.
Many tourists come to visit the area each year. Today, you can see tree stumps and dead trees that still stand around the blast site. There is a visitor center with an exhibition about the eruption. In the visitor center, they also have a small movie theater that shows a short documentary about the event. The surrounding state park offers plenty of hiking, camping, climbing, and other recreational activities.
17. Montserrat
This volcanic island in the Caribbean is sometimes called a modern-day Pompeii. The Soufriere Hills Volcano became active in the mid-1990s and slowly covered the former capital of Plymouth in ash. The town was evacuated in 1997 just before a major eruption covered much of it.
The volcano is still very active today, periodically spewing ash, smoke, and gasses across 1/3 of the island. Occasionally pyroclastic flows cover more of the island’s land. Travelers can hike to a lookout point to view smoke spewing from the volcano and maybe get a glimpse of Plymouth. It is also possible to view the volcano and town by boat. It is unsafe to visit the town of Plymouth at this time.
16. Anne Frank House and Museum, Amsterdam
In this famous canal house Anne Frank, her family, and four others hid from Nazi persecution for 761 days. They quietly lived in a hidden part of the house called the Secret Annex. Anne Frank is famous for keeping a diary of her daily thoughts and experiences during her days in hiding during World War II.
Sadly, Anne Frank and the others hiding in the Secret Annex were betrayed by an unknown informant and discovered by the Nazis on August 4, 1944. The Nazis split them up and moved them to various concentration camps. Anne Frank died in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in February of 1945 when she was just 15 years old. Anne’s father Otto, who survived the Holocaust, discovered his daughter’s diary after the war and published it in 1947.
The canal house where the two families hid is a now museum that attracts up to 1.2 million visitors per year. Here, you can walk through the Secret Annex where Anne Frank and her family hid. The original diary is on display in the attached museum. The museum also includes a permanent exhibit about the life of Anne Frank and her experience during the war.
19. Nuclear Test Sites
Since nuclear testing began in 1945, 8 countries have detonated around 2056 nuclear bombs at dozens of test sites around the world. A few nuclear test sites that you can visit include:
- Semipalatinsk Test Site (The Polygon)- Semipalatinsk was the Soviet Union’s primary nuclear test site from 1949-1991. It is located on the steppe of northeastern Kazakhstan. More nuclear weapons detonated here than anywhere else on the planet. Beginning in 2014 parts of the area have opened up for tourism. There isn’t all that much to see here outside of some massive craters and some concrete towers and bunkers that housed instruments to measure the blasts.
- Nevada Test Site- This site was the United States’ main nuclear testing site from the time it was established in 1951 until nuclear testing ended in 1992. The site is located about 65 miles to the northeast of Las Vegas. Here, you can see a number of large craters in the desert where nuclear weapons were detonated for testing purposes. Monthly public tours are offered but are often fully booked months in advance. This is a difficult place to visit.
- Bikini Atoll, Martial Islands- This was one of the United States’ main nuclear test sites. Between 1946 and 1958, 23 atomic bomb tests were performed here. The blasts turned out to be more destructive than anticipated and resulted in significant contamination to the surrounding area. Probably the biggest attraction for tourists here is Scuba diving the 10 ships that were sunk during nuclear tests. This is a risky area to visit due to the significant levels of radiation that still exist.
20. Catacombs of Paris, France
This network of underground ossuaries underneath the city of Pairs holds the remains of around 6 million people. The tunnels were originally mine tunnels. The Paris Catacombs were built to solve the problem of the city’s overflowing cemeteries. The dead were crowding the living. Starting in 1786, the city began transporting human remains from the city’s cemeteries into the underground tunnels by covered wagon during the night. The catacombs open to tourism in 1867.
Today, the Catacombs are one of the more popular tourist destinations in Paris. You can book a guided tour and wander through the labyrinth of bone filled tunnels and view the millions of bones stacked neatly throughout. Around 300,000 people visit this site per year. It is only accessible by tour.
21. Warsaw Ghetto, Poland
Ghettos were segregated neighborhoods where Jewish people were forced to live while under Nazi occupation during WWII. The largest of these was the Warsaw Ghetto. The area actually consists of two smaller ghettos with a footbridge between them. At its peak, approximately 460,000 people lived in Warsaw Ghetto.
During the Uprising the ghetto was almost completely destroyed. Today, you can visit the area and view a small number of streets and buildings that survived. The monument called ‘The Footbridge of Memory’ stands at the site of the original footbridge.
22. Perm-36 Gulag, Russia
Following the Bolshevik Revolution, the Soviet Union built a large system of forced labor camps to imprison ‘enemies of the state.’ These included government officials, military members, and regular citizens. Anyone who was anti-communist or anti-Stalin was imprisoned. These camps were known as gulags. Millions of people were held in these camps and forced to perform backbreaking work in extremely brutal conditions.
Perm-36 is the only remaining Soviet gulag. It is located about 60 miles from the Russian city of Perm in the Western Ural Mountains. The camp operated from 1946-1987. Perm-36 is unique because it was not closed after Stalin’s death in 1953. This is one of the only gulags that was not demolished after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.
When Perm-36 opened, it was used as a forced labor camp for regular criminals. In later years, the camp housed political prisoners. The prisoners were forced to do logging work. Some political prisoners lived in 24 hour closed cells. Perm 36 was considered the harshest political camp in the Soviet Union.
Today’s site operates as a museum and memorial called The Museum of the History of Political Repression Perm-36. It opened to the public in 1995. Here, you’ll see the wooden barracks that the prisoners built, various prison buildings, and an exhibit about the gulag system and the prisoners. You’ll also learn about the economic benefit that the gulag system created for the Soviet Union.
23. Cremations on the Ganges River in Varanasi, India
Varanasi is a holy city located on the Ganges river in Uttar Pradesh, India. The city has become a popular dark tourism destination for its famous Hindu cremation ceremonies that take place on the banks of the river. In the Hindu religion, people believe that cremation on the banks of the Ganges river breaks the cycle of reincarnation so they can achieve salvation. Along the river, dozens of cremations take place out in the open every day.
The bodies are placed atop piles of wood and set on fire until they turn to ash. The ashes are then scattered in the Ganges River, which is considered a holy site in the Hindu religion. Poor families who cannot afford a cremation sometimes release the entire body of their loved one in the river to decompose naturally. Some terminally ill people travel to Varanasi so they can die and be cremated in the holy city.
Tourists are welcome to view and experience these cremation ceremonies. When you arrive at the famous ghats on the bank of the river in Varanasi, you’ll clearly see the cremation sites. Just look for the smoke. You’ll see open areas with large fires and piles of wood sitting around. The cremations take place here.
For a few dollars, you can hire a guide to walk you through the cremation site and explain how the process works. There are multiple cremations taking place simultaneously at all hours of the day. You can walk right up and see the cremation and feel the heat from the fire and smell the smoke.
As you can imagine, this is a fairly controversial form of dark tourism. After all, you are essentially attending a cremation for touristic purposes as the family grieves of the loss of their loved one. Some view this as voyeuristic. It’s up to you to decide whether or not this form of dark tourism is ethical.
24. Berlin, Germany
Berlin is one of the darkest cities on earth. It was the capital of Nazi Germany, one of the world’s most evil regimes. Next, it became the most significant city in the cold war. It was also the capital of the socialist single-party regime of the former GDR. As a result, Berlin is packed with dozens of dark tourism sites. A few of the most popular ones include:
- Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (the Holocaust Memorial)- This memorial is to the Jewish people murdered during the Holocaust. It contains 2,711 concrete slabs ranging in height from .2-4.7 meters. The slabs are arranged in a grid pattern over a 19,000 square meter site. Below the memorial is an information center that contains the names of 3 million Holocaust victims as well as photographs and letters. This memorial is quite controversial. Partly because it is so vague. There is no mention of Nazi Germany or the Holocaust on the memorial itself or in the official name of the memorial. People also use the site as a recreational area, sitting or standing on the pillars. Many consider this to be disrespectful. Due to its size and design, the memorial is difficult to defend from vandals.
- Berlin Wall- Between 1961 and 1989, this concrete barrier divided West Berlin from surrounding East Germany. The German Democratic Republic (East Germany) constructed the wall to prevent East Germans from defecting to the west. The four-meter tall wall extended 155km (96 miles) and cut through 55 streets. Today, you can see several small sections of the wall still standing in the city. The largest is is a 1.4 km section that is part of the Berlin Wall Memorial. Here, you can see the graffiti on the west side and learn about the historical significance of the wall.
- Checkpoint Charlie Museum- Checkpoint Charlie is the most well-known crossing between East and West Berlin. The original guardhouse was preserved and today is part of the Checkpoint Charlie museum. Here, you can see exhibits about the Berlin Wall, the Cold War, and some famous escape attempts.
- Jewish Museum- Designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, the Jewish Museum is one of Germany’s best and most popular museums as well as one of Berlin’s most striking landmarks. Here, you’ll find thousands of artifacts, photos, religious objects, and archives that document the struggle of the German Jewish people from the Middle Ages to the present time. The museum also houses a massive library and hosts various events throughout the year.
- Topography of Terror Museum- This museum is located on the site of the Gestapo secret police and SS headquarters. Allied bombings destroyed the original building in 1945. After many years of delay, the museum opened in 2010. The main exhibit focuses on policing under Nazi rule. You’ll see photos, documents, short films, and artifacts that show the crimes that the SS and Gestapo committed throughout Europe. The grounds of the museum also contain some historic artifacts including a large section of the Berlin Wall. You’ll also see an excavated trench that exposes the cellar wall, where political prisoners were kept, tortured, and ofttimes executed.
- DDR Museum- This newer museum outlines life in East Berlin under communist rule with a hands-on approach. Here, you’ll see a recreation of an interrogation room, prison cell, and an apartment. You can try on clothing and watch television from the era. The exhibit covers food, music, daily life, education, architecture, and more. You’ll also learn about the mass surveillance conducted during the time. This is a private museum and is one of Berlin’s most popular.
25. Communist Leader Mausoleums
For whatever reason, communists love to embalm their leaders after they die and put the bodies on public display. A few famous mausoleums you can visit include:
- Lenin Mausoleum- This mausoleum is located in the Red Square in the center of Moscow. Inside, you can view the embalmed corpse of the Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin. The body has been on public display since shortly after his death in 1924. The mausoleum is open to the public and free to enter. Stalin’s body was put on display here from 1953-1961 but was removed and buried near the mausoleum.
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum- This mausoleum is located in Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, Vietnam. Inside, you can view the embalmed body of Vietnamese revolutionary and president Ho Chi Minh, who died in 1969. The body is kept in a dimly lit glass case which is heavily guarded by military honor guards. The mausoleum is open to the public.
- Mausoleum of Mao Zedong- This large mausoleum, also known as Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, is located in the center of Tienanmen Square in central Beijing. Here, you can view the embalmed remains of Mao Zedong, who served as the Chairman of the Communist Party of China from 1945-1976. Interestingly, Chairman Mao wanted to be cremated. The mausoleum is open to the public.
- Kumsusan Palace of the Sun (Kim Il Sung Mausoleum)- This absolutely massive palace is located in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. The building was intended to be the official residence of Kim Il Sung but was converted into a mausoleum when he died in 1994. Inside, you can view the embalmed remains of North Korean founder Kim Il Sung as well as his son and former leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Il. Both bodies lie inside of glass sarcophaguses. The mausoleum is open to the public. Foreigners can only enter the palace when they are on an official government tour.
26. Somme Battlefield, France
The Battle of the Somme was a WWI battle fought between the French Third Republic and British Empire against the German Empire. The battle took place between July 1 and November 18, 1916. Over three million men fought in the Battle of the Somme. One million were killed, injured, or went missing, making this the most bloody battle of WWI and possibly the most deadly battle in world history.
Several factors contributed to the massive amount of death in the battle. First, the battlefield was small. The Germans were also well prepared and trained for trench warfare. An incredible amount of heavy artillery was also used in this battle.
The Battle of the Somme ended when British Commander in Chief Sir Douglas Haig decided to stop the offensive near the Somme River. When the battle ended, the British and French armies had gained just six miles of land. Modern historians are not in agreement as to whether or not the battle was a success.
Today, there are a number of monuments, museums, cemeteries, and battle sites that you can visit in Somme. The Remembered Trail leads visitors through some of the most significant locations. It’s is a great place to start in the region. Guided tours of the area are also available.
27. Verdun Battlefield, France
The battle of Verdun lasted from February 21-December 18, 1916, making it the longest battles in World War One at 302 days. This battle was also one of the most costly with up to 1 million casualties between the French and German armies.
Today, you can view the battlefield complete with shell craters that are still visible over 100 years later. You’ll also find several memorials including an ossuary. The battlefield itself contains the remains of 100,000 soldiers. You can also visit the Verdun Memorial Museum which features artifacts from the battle as well as information about the time.
28. D-Day Beaches and Memorials in Normandy
On June 6, 1944, the Allied Forces invaded Nazi occupied France on the beaches of Normandy. This operation, known as Operation Overlord, was the largest amphibious invasion in world history. This event marked the beginning of the liberation of France and Western Europe and eventually led to the Allied victory over the Third Reich on the Western Front. The D-Day invasion of Normandy resulted in 4,000-9,000 German casualties and around 10,000 Allied casualties including 4,414 deaths.
Today, there are dozens of memorials, museums, and war cemeteries along the beaches of Normandy as well as further inland. A few of the most significant D-Day sites to visit include:
- Beach landing sites- The 50 miles stretch of Normandy beach was divided into 5 sections where the invasion took place. The beach landing sites include Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. Today, you can visit each of the 5 beaches. Probably the most popular beach to visit is Omaha. Here, you’ll see German bunkers and the sculpture Les Braves which commemorates the American soldiers who died on D-Day.
- Utah Beach Museum- This museum outlines the entire D-Day invasion from the planning phase until the end of the battle. Here, you’ll see vehicles, artifacts, and photographs from the massive invasion. The museum overlooks Utah Beach.
- Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial- This cemetery, overlooking Omaha Beach, contains 9,388 graves of American soldiers who died in WWII. Mostly on D-Day.
- Overlord Museum- This museum, located near Omaha Beach and the American cemetery, documents the time period between the Allied landing and the liberation of Paris. Here, you’ll see thousands of artifacts from the invasion including tanks and cannons as well as photos and reconstructed battle scenes.
- Pegasus Bridge- 6000 British paratroopers landed here with supplies and weapons just past midnight on June 6, 1944. Their job was to secure the bridge so German reinforcements couldn’t cross. The current bridge is a reconstruction of the original, which was destroyed.
- Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy- This museum, which is located in Bayeux, outlines the military operation in detail. Here, you’ll see military equipment, artifacts, photos, and a fantastic short film about the D-Day landings.
- Caen Memorial Center- This museum outlines the battle of Normandy from the end of WWI all the way to the beginning of the Cold War. This gives you a great overview of the historical events leading up to the war and their effects on Europe and the world. Here, you’ll see letters and personal belongings from soldiers, airplanes, and a short documentary film with footage of the D-Day invasion.
- Airborne Museum- This museum, located in Sainte-Mère-Église, focuses on the paratroopers who landed in Normandy the night before the attack. Here, you’ll see photos, artifacts, tanks, and airplanes including a WACO glider and C-47 that you can enter.
29. Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg, Maryland
On September 17, 1862, Confederate General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia battled Union General George B. McClellan and his Army of the Potomac in the Battle of Anteteitum near Sharpsburg, Maryland. This was the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War with 22,717 dead, injured, or missing. This massive loss of life took place over the course of just 12 hours.
The battle ended when Lee decided to withdraw back to Virginia. McClellan decided not to follow him. The Union claimed victory. After the battle, President Lincoln announced his Emancipation Proclamation which freed 3.5 million slaves.
Antietam is considered to be one of the most well-preserved American Civil War Battlefields. Probably because it was one of the first battlefields preserved in 1890. Today, visitors can take a self-guided tour of the battlefield or hire a tour guide. You’ll see landmarks of the battle such as the Cornfield, Dunker Church, and Burnside’s Bridge.
30. Cu Chi Tunnels, Vietnam
The Cu Chi Tunnels are a massive network of underground tunnels located outside of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. They were used by Viet Cong soldiers for a number of purposes including hiding spots, supply routes, living quarters, hospitals, and food and weapons caches. They were famously used as a base of operation for the North Vietnamese during the Tết Offensive in 1968.
Life in the Cu Chi Tunnels was difficult. Air quality was poor. The tunnels were cramped and claustrophobic. Food and water were limited. Rodents, ants, snakes, scorpions, and spiders infested the tunnels. Diseases including Malaria and intestinal parasites were common. During heavy bombing campaigns, soldiers had to stay in the tunnels for days at a time.
Today, the Cu Chi Tunnels are a war memorial operated by the Vietnamese government. They are also a popular tourist dark tourist attraction. You can visit the tunnels on a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City. Here, you can crawl through a safe section of the tunnels, watch a short film about the war, and view some different booby traps and trap doors as well as an entrance into the tunnels. There is also a firing range where you can shoot Vietnam War era weapons including an M60 machine gun.
My Experience: Why I Enjoy Dark Tourism
My main motivation to visit dark tourism sites is education. For whatever reason, I wasn’t interested in history when I was in school. I just found it boring. Now, I love history. By visiting dark tourist sites, I have gained a deeper understanding of some of the most significant events in world history. It’s so much more real and engaging when you are standing where an event took place and exploring the landscape and looking at actual artifacts.
It’s also amazing to see how human civilization evolves over the years. For example, 2000 years ago, gladiator games were an acceptable form of entertainment. Most people would not be okay with that today. It is also interesting to see how technology, weapons, clothing, politics, and more have changed throughout the years. The world was a completely different place just 20 years ago. Times change quickly.
I also have a pretty strong morbid curiosity. Dark things simply interest me. I find it fascinating to imagine the horrors that humans have endured and overcome.
Final Thoughts About Dark Tourism
Dark tourism often gets a bad rap in the media. People get the idea that it is disrespectful, voyeuristic, sick, or even unethical. Some country’s tourism departments also try to hide their dark tourism sites because they fear a bad reputation. They may not want people to associate the country with its dark past.
The truth is that most dark tourism is simply educational. People like to visit these sites to learn about their history. They also satisfy our natural morbid fascination. There is nothing wrong with visiting dark tourist places, as long as you do so respectfully.
One important thing to remember is that dark tourism is not a new form of tourism. People have been visiting dark sites for as long as tourism has existed. For example, tourists began visiting Pompeii in the 1800s. The gladiatorial games could be considered one of the earliest forms of dark tourism. Those began when the Colosseum opened in 80 AD. People are naturally interested in these types of destinations and will continue to be.
Dark tourism is also a very broad term. Many of the world’s most visited tourism sites can be considered dark tourism sites. There is also a lot of overlap with mass tourism. Most people don’t travel exclusively to visit dark sites. Instead, they pair dark tourism with regular tourist attractions. For example, if someone is in Hawaii, they may spend a day visiting Pearl Harbor and the various memorials then go to the beach the next day. If someone visits Kyiv, they’ll probably take a day trip to Chornobyl because it’s one of the biggest tourist attractions in the region. It’s common to pair dark tourist sites with other types of sites.
Hopefully, this guide helps you in planning your visit to some of the world’s best dark tourism sites.
If you’re on the fence about dark tourism, check out my guide to the ethics and criticisms of dark tourism.
Are you a dark tourist? Share your favorite dark tourism destination in the comments below!
Pin it for later!
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Zachary Friedman is an accomplished travel writer and professional blogger. Since 2011, he has traveled to 66 countries and 6 continents. He founded ‘Where The Road Forks’ in 2017 to provide readers with information and insights based on his travel and outdoor recreation experience and expertise. Zachary is also an avid cyclist and hiker. Living as a digital nomad, Zachary balances his professional life with his passions for hiking, camping, cycling, and worldwide exploration. For a deeper dive into his journey and background, visit the About page. For inquiries and collaborations, please reach out through the Contact page. You can also follow him on Facebook.
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Dark tourism: when tragedy meets tourism
The likes of Auschwitz, Ground Zero and Chernobyl are seeing increasing numbers of visitors, sparking the term 'dark tourism'. But is it voyeuristic or educational?
Days after 71 people died in a London tower block fire last June, something strange started to happen in the streets around it. Posters, hastily drawn by members of the grieving community of Grenfell Tower, appeared on fences and lamp posts in view of the building's blackened husk.
'Grenfell: A Tragedy Not A Tourist Attraction,' one read, adding — sarcastically — a hashtag and the word 'selfies'. As families still searched for missing inhabitants of the 24-storey block, and the political shock waves were being felt through the capital, people had started to arrive in North Kensington to take photos. Some were posing in selfie mode.
"It's not the Eiffel Tower," one resident told the BBC after the posters attracted the attention of the press. "You don't take a picture." Weeks later, local people were dismayed when a coachload of Chinese tourists pulled up nearby so that its occupants could get out and take photos.
Grenfell Tower, which still dominates the surrounding skyline (it's due to be demolished in late 2018), had become a site for 'dark tourism', a loose label for any sort of tourism that involves visiting places that owe their notoriety to death, disaster, an atrocity or what can also loosely be termed 'difficult heritage'.
It's a phenomenon that's on the rise as established sites such as Auschwitz and the September 11 museum in Manhattan enjoy record visitor numbers. Meanwhile, demand is rising among those more intrepid dark tourists who want to venture to the fallout zones of Chernobyl and Fukushima, as well as North Korea and Rwanda. In Sulawesi, Indonesia, Western tourists wielding GoPros pay to watch elaborate funeral ceremonies in the Toraja region, swapping notes afterwards on TripAdvisor.
Along the increasingly crowded dark-tourist trail, academics, tour operators and the residents of many destinations are asking searching questions about the ethics of modern tourism in an age of the selfie and the Instagram hashtag. When Pompeii, a dark tourist site long before the phrase existed, found itself on the Grand Tour of young European nobility in the 18th century, dozens of visitors scratched their names into its excavated walls. Now we leave our mark in different ways, but where should we draw the boundaries?
Questions like these have become the life's work of Dr Philip Stone , perhaps the world's leading academic expert on dark tourism. He has a background in business and marketing, and once managed a holiday camp in Scotland. But a fascination with societal attitudes to mortality led to a PhD in thanatology, the study of death, and a focus on tourism.
"I'm not even a person who enjoys going to these places," Stone says from the University of Central Lancashire, where he runs the Institute for Dark Tourism Research. "But what I am interested in is the way people face their own mortality by looking at other deaths of significance. Because we've become quite divorced from death yet we have this kind of packaging up of mortality in the visit economy which combines business, sociology, psychology under the banner of dark tourism. It's really fascinating to shine a light on that."
Historical roots
The term 'dark tourism' is far newer than the practice, which long predates Pompeii's emergence as a morbid attraction. Stone considers the Roman Colosseum to be one of the first dark tourist sites, where people travelled long distances to watch death as sport. Later, until the late 18th century, the appeal was starker still in central London, where people paid money to sit in grandstands to watch mass executions. Hawkers would sell pies at the site, which was roughly where Marble Arch stands today.
It was only in 1996 that 'dark tourism' entered the scholarly lexicon when two academics in Glasgow applied it while looking at sites associated with the assassination of JFK. Those who study dark tourism identify plenty of reasons for the growing phenomenon, including raised awareness of it as an identifiable thing. Access to sites has also improved with the advent of cheap air travel. It's hard to imagine that the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial and museum would now welcome more than two million visitors a year (an average of almost 5,500 a day, more than two-thirds of whom travel to the Polish site from other countries in Europe) were it not for its proximity to Krakow's international airport.
Peter Hohenhaus, a widely travelled dark tourist based in Vienna, also points to the broader rise in off-the-beaten track tourism, beyond the territory of popular guidebooks and TripAdvisor rankings. "A lot of people don't want mainstream tourism and that often means engaging with places that have a more recent history than, say, a Roman ruin," he says. "You go to Sarajevo and most people remember the war being in the news so it feels closer to one's own biography."
Hohenhaus is also a fan of 'beauty in decay', the contemporary cultural movement in which urban ruins have become subject matter for expensive coffee-table books and a thousand Instagram accounts. The crossover with death is clear. "I've always been drawn to derelict things," the 54-year-old says. As a child in Hamburg, he would wonder at the destruction of war still visible around the city's harbour.
That childhood interest has developed into an obsession; Hohenhaus has visited 650 dark tourist sites in 90 countries, logging them all and more besides on his website . He has plans to put together the first dark tourism guidebook. His favourite holiday destination today is Chernobyl and its 'photogenic' ghost town. "You get to time travel back into the Soviet era but also into an apocalyptic future," he says. He also enjoys being emotionally challenged by these places. "I went to Treblinka in 2008 and heard the story of a teacher at an orphanage in Warsaw who was offered a chance to escape but refused and went with his children to the gas chambers. Stories like that are not everyday, you mull over them. Would you have done that?"
But while, like any tourism, dark tourism at its best is thought-provoking and educational, the example of Grenfell Tower hints at the unease felt at some sites about what can look like macabre voyeurism. "I remember the Lonely Planet Bluelist book had a chapter about dark tourism a while ago and one of the rules was 'don't go back too early'," Hohenhaus says. "But that's easier said than calculated. You have to be very aware of reactions and be discreet when you're not in a place with an entrance fee and a booklet." Hohenhaus said he had already thought about Grenfell Tower and admits he would be interested to see it up close. "It's big, it's dramatic, it's black and it's a story you've followed in the news," he says. "I can see the attraction. But I would not stand in the street taking a selfie."
A mirror to mortality
An urge to see and feel a place that has been reduced to disaster shorthand by months of media coverage is perhaps understandable, but Stone is most interested in the draw — conscious or otherwise — of destinations that hold up a mirror to our own mortality. "When we touch the memory of people who've gone what we're looking at is ourselves," he says. "That could have been us in that bombing or atrocity. We make relevant our own mortality." That process looks different across cultures — and generations — and Stone says we should take this into account before despairing of selfie takers at Grenfell Tower or Auschwitz.
"I've heard residents at Grenfell welcoming visitors because it keeps the disaster in the public realm, but they didn't like people taking photos because it's a visual reminder that you're a tourist and therefore somehow defunct of morality," he explains. "We're starting to look at selfies now. Are they selfish?" Stone argues that the language of social media means we no longer say "I was here", but "I am here — see me". He adds: "We live in a secular society where morality guidelines are increasingly blurred. It's easy for us to say that's right or wrong, but for many people it's not as simple as that."
"Travel itself is innately voyeuristic," argues Simon Cockerel, the general manager of Koryo Tours , a North Korea specialist based in Beijing. Cockerel, who has lived in China for 17 years and joined Koryo in 2002, says demand has grown dramatically for trips to Pyongyang and beyond, from 200 people a year in the mid 1990s, when the company started, to more than 5,000 more recently. He has visited the country more than 165 times and says some clients join his tours simply to bag another country, and some for bragging rights. But the majority have a genuine interest in discovering a country — and a people — beyond the headlines.
"I've found everyone who goes there to be sensitive and aware of the issues," he says. "The restrictions do create a framework for it to be a bit like a theme park visit but we work hard to blur those boundaries. More than 25 million people live in North Korea, and 24.99 million of them have nothing to do with what we read in the news and deserve to be seen as people not as zoo animals or lazy caricatures."
More challenging recently has been the US ban on its citizens going to North Korea, imposed last summer after the mysterious death of Otto Warmbier. The American student had been arrested in Pyongyang after being accused of trying to steal a propaganda poster. Americans made up about 20% of Koryo's business, but Cockerel argues the greater loss is to mutual perception in the countries. "The North Korean government represent Americans as literal wolves with sharpened nails," he says. "At least a few hundred Americans going there was a kind of bridgehead against that. Now that's gone."
At Grenfell Tower, responsible tourism may yet serve to keep alive the memory of the disaster, just as it does, after a dignified moratorium, at Auschwitz and the former Ground Zero. Hohenhaus says he will resist the urge to go until some sort of memorial is placed at the site of the tower. At around the time of a commemorative service at St Paul's Cathedral six months after the fire, there were calls for the site eventually to be turned into a memorial garden. The extent to which Hohenhaus and other dark tourists are welcomed will be decided by the people still living there.
Five of the world's dark tourism sites
1. North Korea Opened to visitors in the late 1980s, North Korea now attracts thousands of tourists each year for a peek behind the headlines.
2. Auschwitz-Birkenau The former Nazi death camp became a memorial in 1947 and a museum in 1955. It's grown since and in 2016 attracted a record two million visitors.
3. 9/11 Memorial and Museum Built in the crater left by the twin towers of the World Trade Center, the museum, opened in 2014, has won plaudits for its portrayal of a disaster and its impact.
4. Rwanda Visitor numbers to genocide memorials have grown in Cambodia and Bosnia as well as in Rwanda, where there are several sites dedicated to the 1994 massacre of up to a million people. The skulls of victims are displayed.
5. Chernobyl & Pripyat, Ukraine Several tour companies exist to send visitors to the exclusion zone and ghost town left otherwise empty after the nuclear accident in 1986. All are scanned for radiation as they leave.
Published in the March 2018 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK)
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Dark tourism, explained
Why visitors flock to sites of tragedy.
Every year, millions of tourists around the world venture to some of the unhappiest places on Earth: sites of atrocities, accidents, natural disasters or infamous death. From Auschwitz to Chernobyl, Gettysburg, the site of the Kennedy assassination and the 9/11 Memorial in New York, visitors are making the worst parts of history a piece of their vacation, if not the entire point.
Experts call the phenomenon dark tourism, and they say it has a long tradition. Dark tourism refers to visiting places where some of the darkest events of human history have unfolded. That can include genocide, assassination, incarceration, ethnic cleansing, war or disaster — either natural or accidental. Some might associate the idea with ghost stories and scares, but those who study the practice say it’s unrelated to fear or supernatural elements.
“It’s not a new phenomenon,” says J. John Lennon, a professor of tourism at Glasgow Caledonian University, in Scotland, who coined the term with a colleague in 1996. “There’s evidence that dark tourism goes back to the Battle of Waterloo where people watched from their carriages the battle taking place.”
The hit US drama "Chernobyl" brought a new generation of tourists to the nuclear disaster zone. (Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images)
That was in 1815, but he cites an even longer-ago example: crowds gathering to watch public hangings in London in the 16th century. Those are relatively modern compared with the bloody spectacles that unfolded in the Colosseum in Rome.
There aren’t official statistics on how many people participate in dark tourism every year or whether that number is on the rise. An online travel guide run by an enthusiast, Dark-Tourism.com , includes almost 900 places in 112 countries.
But there’s no question the phenomenon is becoming more visible, in part thanks to the Netflix series “Dark Tourist” that was released last year. And popular culture is fueling more visitation to some well-known sites: After the HBO miniseries “Chernobyl,” about the 1986 power plant explosion, came out this spring, travel companies that bring people to the area said they saw a visitor increase of 30 to 40 percent. Ukraine’s government has since declared its intention to make the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone an official tourist spot, despite lingering radiation.
[How to navigate the etiquette of dark tourism]
Philip Stone, executive director of the Institute for Dark Tourism Research at the University of Central Lancashire, in England, says anecdotally that he sees the appetite for such destinations growing.
“I think, for political reasons or cultural reasons, we are turning to the visitor economy to remember aspects of death and dying, disaster,” he says. “There is a kind of memorial mania going on. You could call that growth in dark tourism.”
(Illustrations by Laura Perez for The Washington Post)
Why are tourists so enamored with places that are, as Lennon puts it, “synonymous with the darkest periods of human history?” Academics who study the practice say it’s human nature.
[Ukraine wants Chernobyl to be a tourist trap. But scientists warn: Don’t kick up dust.]
“We’ve just got this cultural fascination with the darker side of history; most history is dark,” Stone says. “I think when we go to these places, we see not strangers, but often we see ourselves and perhaps what we might do in those circumstances.”
“When we go to these places, we see not strangers, but often we see ourselves and perhaps what we might do in those circumstances.”
Philip Stone, executive director, Institute for Dark Tourism Research at the University of Central Lancashire
There is no one type of traveler who engages in dark tourism: It could be a history buff who takes the family on a road trip to Civil War battlefields, a backpacker who treks to the Colosseum in Rome, or a tourist who seeks out the near-abandoned areas near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster, in 2011, in Japan.
Visitors walk between barbed wire fences at the Auschwitz I memorial concentration camp site in Oswiecim, Poland. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Those who are most familiar with the phenomenon do not condemn it. In fact, they argue that the most meaningful dark-tourism sites can help visitors understand the present and be more thoughtful about the future.
“These are important sites that tell us a lot about what it is to be human,” says Lennon, the tourism professor. “I think they’re important places for us to reflect on and try to better understand the evil that we’re capable of.”
There are even efforts underway to research the way children experience dark tourism, a joint project between the Institute for Dark Tourism Research and the University of Pittsburgh.
Mary Margaret Kerr, a professor of education and psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, says the idea came about when the National Park Service asked her to help create a team to design children’s materials for families who visit the memorial to United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked on Sept. 11, 2001, and crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.
Her research team now includes middle-school students who have studied how their peers interact with the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, in Washington, or the site of the Johnstown flood, in Pennsylvania, which killed more than 2,200 in 1889.
(Illustration by Laura Perez for The Washington Post)
“We wouldn’t want families to stop traveling, and adults want to see these places for very good reasons,” Kerr says. “It’s not so much making the decision for parents whether you take the children or not, but what are the appropriate safeguards."
She said the goal is to provide appropriate safeguards and ways to experience a site, even for children too young to grasp the history, “so the family can be there together, but each member of the family can take meaning that works out for them at their age and stage.”
As more sites with dark histories become popular spots — even part of organized tour packages — experts say there is a risk that they could become exploited, used to sell tchotchkes or placed as backdrops for unseemly photos.
“It does kind of invite that passive behavior — let’s call it that touristy behavior — that might be out of place,” Stone says.
Visitors look at the bodies of eruption victims exposed in the ruins of ancient Pompeii. (Mario Laporta/AFP via Getty Images)
Bad conduct by tourists at sensitive sites — smiling selfies at concentration camps, for example — has been widely shunned on social media. The online Dark-Tourism.com travel guide cautions against such behavior, as well as the ethically questionable “voyeurism” of visiting an ongoing or very recent tragedy to gape.
“These are important sites that tell us a lot about what it is to be human. I think they’re important places for us to reflect on and try to better understand the evil that we’re capable of.”
J. John Lennon, tourism professor at Glasgow Caledonian University
“What IS endorsed here is respectful and enlightened touristic engagement with contemporary history, and its dark sites/sides, in a sober, educational and non-sensationalist manner,” the site says .
Lennon says he’s sometimes “dumbfounded” by some of the behavior that gets publicized, but he declines to say what the right or wrong way is for tourists to behave. Overall, he says, he still hopes that by visiting places with dark histories, people are becoming better informed about atrocities like racial and ethnic cleansing.
“I’m heartened by the fact that they choose to try to understand this difficult past,” Lennon says.
Berlin’s Holocaust memorial is ‘not a place for fun selfies’
Will gun violence lead to a growing ‘dark tourism’ industry?
A selfie ban in the Czech Republic is the latest effort to combat bad tourist behavior
Hannah Sampson
Hannah Sampson is a staff writer at The Washington Post for By The Way, where she reports on travel news.
More stories
Airline helpfully tweets advice on where on a plane you are least likely to die in a crash
Fatality rates are usually not what customers want to hear about, but one carrier's regional Twitter account went there anyway.
Can tourism ‘pledges’ help keep visitors on their best behavior?
Destinations across the world are turning to a new tool: a morality-based honor code, largely without concrete punishments.
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Berlin: Sustainability and tour guides in a partial dark tourism destination
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A Very Dark Date
20 January is a very momentous day in dark history – 79 years ago today, on 20 January 1942, when the Wannsee Conference took place at this stately villa on the shores of the Wannsee lake on the south-western edge of Berlin.
The event was called for top-level Nazis to discuss how best to implement the “Final Solution”, the systematic deportation and industrial mass murder of all European Jews within the Nazi-occupied lands. At the conference
Another Nine Eleven
In 1989 it was on this date that the Berlin Wall “fell”. In actual fact it was just that the border crossing points between East and West Berlin were opened, but soon after people began hacking at the Berlin Wall. A bit later the Wall was actually dismantled systematically. And so the most iconic symbol of the Cold War, the most fortified and secured stretch of the Iron Curtain, disappeared. Almost all of it, that
A Former Republic’s Ex-National Day
On this day, 7 October, the former GDR (in the West aka ‘East Germany’) used to celebrate the anniversaries of its founding on that date in 1949. It managed to get to its 40th anniversary in 1989 – but that was at a time when severe cracks in the state’s regime were already more than apparent. A few weeks later the Berlin Wall fell and just days before it would have been the 41st anniversary of the GDR’s founding, the state had ceased to exist on 3 October 1990 (see this recent post).
I used to mark this day, “Tag der Republik” in GDR parlance (literally ‘day of the republic’), on my former
Dark Tourism & Cars
As decided in the latest poll, the theme of this post is ‘dark tourism and cars’. It won by two votes ahead of ‘dark tourism and clothes’, so that will be entered again in the next poll. And since several people said that their second choice (and close contender) was ‘dark tourism and spheres’ I’ll give that another chance next time too. NPPs will have to wait a little longer, but as that is one of my personal favourites it is bound to pop up at some point as well (whether in another poll or independently I can’t say yet).
But now to cars. Searching through my archives I found
30th Anniversary of German Reunification
On this day, thirty years ago, on 3 October 1990, Germany was officially reunified and the GDR (the old communist East German state) ceased to exist, just eleven months after the so-called Fall of the Berlin Wall (or, more precisely, the opening of the border crossing points, which is generally seen as the beginning of the end for the GDR). The physical Wall too was soon after mostly demolished. So it has now actually been gone longer than it had been in existence! How time flies.
30 years is of course a big anniversary and the German media are predictably full of
New Flak Tower Photos – and a New Poll
Flaktürme, or ‘flak towers’, in Vienna’s Augarten park. In case you don’t know, “Flak” is short for “Flugabwehrkanone”, or ‘anti-aircraft gun’, and these towers were constructed to house batteries of big guns of that type during WWII. They were each complemented by another tower for radar/aiming technology. Hence the main towers were called “Gefechstturm” (‘combat tower’), while the smaller secondary tower was called “Leitturm” (‘directing tower’ or ‘lead tower’). Thus these installations always came in pairs. On the lower floors they additionally provided much needed air-raid-shelter space for civilians. But in their main military purpose,
Dark Tourism and Bridges
This beautiful and highly iconic structure is of course the fabled Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, USA. And what’s its dark secret? This very deadly one: it’s one of the world’s top suicide hotspots. Thousands have jumped off this bridge to end their lives, how many exactly is impossible to tell, but some 1600 bodies were recovered. Yet many others will have drifted out into the Pacific with the tide never to be found.
As a place to top oneself and simply vanish, this was an almost ideal spot. The height of the bridge, 70m above the waterline, more or less guarantees death on impact through
Stauffenberg’s Execution after Operation Valkyrie’s Failure
On this day, 76 years ago, in the early hours of 21 July 1944, Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg was summarily executed by firing squad in the courtyard of the Bendlerblock building in Berlin, together with some of his co-conspirators.
Their plot, code-named “Operation Valkyrie”, had been to assassinate Adolf Hitler at his command post of Wolfschanze (‘wolf’s lair’) in what today is in north-eastern Poland (then German East Prussia).
Stauffenberg, thanks to his high rank in the military, had access to Hitler, and so it was decided that he would plant a bomb hidden in a briefcase near Hitler during a meeting at Wolfschanze. Stauffenberg was to leave the briefing early and
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The Top 10 Cities in Europe for Dark Tourism
Dark Tourism Centers of Europe: Where Bad Things Once Happened
By Sian McQuillan
War, tragedy, death, and everything in between; Europe has experienced it all. Today, many tourists are keen to learn more about the continent’s dark past. Curious? Let’s dive right in.
Many tourists may gravitate towards the more glamorous and glittering aspects of the European continent, from the impressive Eiffel Tower in Paris to the famous Grand Canal in Venice. Still, many others may want to learn about the tragedy and turmoil that has ensued throughout the centuries.
From natural disasters to civil wars, continent-wide plagues to gruesome battles, Europe is home to centuries of dark and twisted tales. If you’re curious to learn more about the morbid secrets of the past, then here are the top ten cities in Europe for dark tourism .
10. Pompeii, Italy – One of the most Tragic Natural Disasters in History
First up on our list of cities in Europe for dark tourism is Pompeii, situated just 25 km (15.5 miles) south of Naples. Once a thriving Roman city, Pompeii has been left abandoned since 79 AD, when Mount Vesuvius erupted, destroying everything in its wake.
About 20,000 inhabitants enjoyed a food market, a bar, many restaurants, several theaters, a gymnasium, aqueducts, baths, and even a hotel. Then, in 79 A.D. the sky came crashing down on them. Mount Vesuvius blew her top and buried everything under sixty feet of ash and pumice. The city was abandoned and eventually forgotten. Not until the mid-1700s was the town rediscovered through excavations.
Today, visitors can take a tour of the archaeological site and explore the excavated ruins of the streets and buildings that used to stand
9. Hunedoara, Romania – Home to a Terrifying Castle
You may not have heard of Hunedoara in Romania . However, we bet you’ve seen pictures of or heard of the haunting castle that stands here.
Corvin Castle, located in the region of Transylvania, Hunedoara, is as ominous as it first appears. First built in the 14th century, this castle is home to many dark and twisted tales that you can discover by taking a tour.
8. Paris, France – Discover the Creepy Catacombs
Many will know Paris for its glamour, architecture, and romantic appeal. However, you may be unaware of the darker side of the ‘City of Love’s past. Taking a walk below the city’s streets, you will be shocked by what you find.
Hidden 65 ft (20 m) below street level are the horrifying Catacombs . These underground ossuaries hold the remains of over six million people, and shockingly, you can explore this morbid site for yourself through the extensive tunnel system. Beneath each street in the city is a sewer pipe of the same name. Really, the trip is a wonderful experience: it doesn’t smell, but strapping, healthy rats do scurry around quite shamelessly; and of course, you can’t visit during or immediately after heavy rainstorms.
7. Rome, Italy – centuries of tragedy and suffering
As the site of emperors and battles, gladiators, and colosseums, Rome is one of the most historic cities in Europe. So, it comes as no surprise that the city has its fair share of tragedy and suffering.
Some of the most horrifying aspects of this city that you can discover to this day include the Ardeatine Caves , the Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, the Colosseum , and Mussolini’s bunkers at Villa Torlonia.
6. London, England – Full of Haunting Tales
The capital of the United Kingdom is no stranger to tales of tragedy and suffering. From plagues to city-wide fires, regions hit the hardest by the two world wars to gruesome murders, there is plenty of dark history to be discovered here.
Check out the Tower of London , take a tour to learn about the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper, or check out the Monument to the Great Fire of London for some of the darker aspects of this city.
5. Berlin, Germany – One of the top Cities in Europe for Dark Tourism
It may not come as much of a surprise to see the German capital mentioned on this list.
As one of the cities hit the hardest by both World Wars and the Cold War, Berlin certainly boasts a horrifying past. While the city has seen huge progress and modernization in recent years, you can still discover all about its dark past while visiting. The Pearl on the River Spree still bears scars from the devastation of the Second World War, and from nearly 40 years of division brought about by the Cold War and the construction of the Berlin Wall. These scars still mar both the physical and mental landscapes of the city.
4. Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Herzegovina – a Tumultuous and Tragic History
Sarajevo is a city not to be missed when it comes to dark tourism. It is the city where Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were assassinated in 1914, which is often deemed the catalyst for the start of the First World War. Bosnia was the most severely battered part of the region during the civil wars of the 1990s.
Photographs of the Old City “then and now”, show a degree of wanton destruction that is hard to imagine. What possible military purpose the city’s Old Bridge had is hard to tell, and why it was necessary to bomb the historical center is difficult to fathom.
Aside from that, the city has faced much tragedy and conflict throughout the last 100 years that can be discovered through War Tours and museums.
3. Belfast, Northern Ireland – Forty Years of Conflict
Many people still ask to this day whether or not it’s safe to visit Belfast. The answer is yes, but after years of conflict throughout the 20 th century, many are still wary of visiting.
One of the best things to do in Belfast to get an insight into its turbulent past is taking a Black Taxi Tour . On these tours, local guides will take you through the main sites of conflict, including the Peace Walls, and give you a fascinating insight into the city’s past. 90-minute mural tours take you from east to west, north to south taking in both sides of the community and how they depicted their war efforts through amazingly detailed murals.
All the cab drivers have lived through the bloodshed and give an insight into the history behind it all and their own experiences living through it.
2. Oswiecim, Poland – a Central Site of one of the Biggest Tragedies in Europe
You may not recognize the city, but we can bet you will recognize the name of the site we’re about to mention. Oswiecim in Poland is the home of Auschwitz-Birkenau , one of the largest and most notorious Nazi concentration camps in Europe. Dark Tourism doesn’t get much darker than this!
Over 1.1 million men, women, and children were murdered here between 1940 and 1945 as part of the Nazi’s brutal system of extermination. Today, the camp serves as a stark reminder of the Holocaust and the tragedy of human cruelty and suffering.
More than two million people from all over the world visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum every year, and this year I was one of them. It’s difficult to talk about the experience, except to say that, along with the 50 million people who have visited the site since its liberation in 1945, I am a witness to the depths of human depravity.
It’s not just the incredible number of people who were murdered; it’s also the way that they were robbed of their humanity before they died.
1. Pripyat, Ukraine – the aftermath of a Nuclear Disaster
Topping our list of cities in Europe for dark tourism is Pripyat in Ukraine. Pripyat was the home of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant , which exploded in 1986, causing a wave of radioactive dust to spread throughout the surrounding area. Two workers were killed instantly and 40 hours later the residents of Pripyat were ordered to evacuate – with no one to ever return. Almost 28 years on, you can now visit this ghost town taking one of several Chernobyl Tours that are available here.
Almost 50 years on, the radioactive chemicals are still in the atmosphere here. So, tourists must undertake various safety precautions before visiting.
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Tour 1 – Dark Worlds
- Tour 1 - Dark Worlds
- Tour 2 - From Flak Towers to Mountains of Debris
- Tour 3 - Bunkers, Subways and the Cold War
- Tour F - The Fichtebunker Time Capsule
- Tour M - Under the Berlin Wall
- Important notes (about all tours)
- Permanent Exhibition
- Special Exhibition
- General Information
- Subway line 8
- Special Exhibits
- Restoration
- Expeditions and finds
- Oswald Berliner Brewery
- Information Panels
- Commemorative Plaques
- Myth of Germania 2008/2009
- The Beginings
- From “Germania” to the Downfall
- The Cold War in the Underground
- Reunification and Tunnel Opening
- Online-Shop
- Data Protection
- Contact Form
- Info- and Bookshop
- Filming Requests
- Event Requests
- Login Intranet
- Berliner Unterwelten
- Guided Tours
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- Dark Worlds
Experience WW2 bombing raids through the eyes of civilians
Every day, hundreds of people walk past a green door in the Gesundbrunnen underground railway station, unaware that, behind it, lies a subterranean labyrinth full of history just waiting to be experienced. Berlin was the nerve centre of the Third Reich and therefore one of the main targets for allied bombing during WW II. On this tour, our expert guides will lead you in exploring one of the few remaining bunkers, as it was left after the war. There you will learn more about the life of the average Berlin citizen during the air raids that destroyed up to 80% of the city centre. Travelling through the twisting passages and rooms, you will also see countless artefacts from the war that have been buried for decades. Additionally, by looking into the development of the city's subway and sewerage systems as well its former pneumatic post, we will provide you with an insight into the 160-year-old underground history of Berlin.
Please note that the hygiene and distancing rules must be followed.
Recommended reading
Tour 1 – Dark Worlds | The Berlin Underworlds Museum Brochure | 4th edition | 2013 | 32 pages | € 5,- This publication is available in our Ticket- and Bookshop .
Special Advice, Equipment
Please note that our hygiene and distancing rules must be followed.
Sturdy footwear is obligatory (no sandals or flip flops!).
Please read our important notes about our tours .
Minimum Age, Accessibility
Our tours and exhibitions are not appropriate for children under 7 years of age. We regret that we must therefore refuse entry to children in this age group. The delivery and content of our tours is aimed at adults, and can only be recommended for children aged 14 years or older.
Due to limitations imposed by the structure of the buildings, our tours are not handicapped accessible.
Dates, Duration, Admission
Dates and tickets can be found in our Online-Shop . Duration: 90 min.
Admission: €16 (reduced €13) Our General Terms and Conditions are applicable.
Reservations and Tickets
Tickets for this tour are only available via our Online-Shop . No ticket sales at the meeting point!
Please note that tickets purchased in advance are excluded from exchange, refund and return.
Tickets purchased in advance must be presented at the entrance of the tour.
Venue (with ticket), public transport
Meeting point with ticket: next to the Info- and Bookshop , Brunnenstraße 105, 13355 Berlin GoogleMaps Public transport: S+U / DB Gesundbrunnen, Bus 247
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11 Of The Best Dark Tourism Destinations For First-Timers
Dark tourism is relatively new in the world of travel, and these destinations are perfect for those looking to get a taste of it.
Netflix's hit series Dark Tourist opened viewers' eyes to a niche that's been a part of travel in one way or another for centuries. Humans are naturally drawn to the macabre. It stirs something inside to witness places associated with darkness, a somewhat unexplainable thirst to understand things that seem unbelievable.
Though dark tourism has come under criticism for being exploitative, visiting sites with dark histories is an indispensable way to learn about how things happened, why they did, and how they can be prevented in the future. These destinations around the world are perfect for travelers interested in learning about the world in a way that's often missing from formal education.
*Note: As always, it's essential to be respectful of one's surroundings when traveling. Due to the nature of these places and their sensitive history, it's vital to be especially respectful when visiting.
Updated by Lauren Feather, February 18, 2022: The world overflows with just as much horrific history as that which is glorious. Many of the planet's most devastating events still echo suffering of past where they once happened, and it's possible to visit such places in order to learn all about them. With dark tourism popularity on the rise, much of the world's most discerning travelers with an interest in natural disasters and volatile history choose to enrich their learning by actually visiting the areas where such events took place. As such, some of the most popular places were darkness once occurred have been added to this fascinating yet macabre list of dark tourism destinations. And as always, please tour these places respectfully and with an open mind and heart.
11 Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland
The eruption of Eyjafjallajökull volcano put Iceland on the global map in April 2010. Most people had never even heard of it, until the massive ash cloud it spewed out grounded flights for over two weeks. The ordeal cost the European economy about five billion dollars, however tourism in Iceland has since accelerated, and consequently, helped to compensate the loss.
Before the volcano let rip, most travelers wouldn't even think of visiting the Land of Fire and Ice , but thanks to the fame it achieved (for somber reasons albeit) tourists from all corners of the world have added the cold northerly country to their bucket lists. From glaciers, icy lagoons, and the legendary Northern Lights to the midnight sun and the volcano that caused all the chaos, travelers have so much to do and see in this chilly country of spectacular icy scenery.
Related: 10 Things To Do In Iceland (That Aren't The Blue Lagoon)
10 Pompeii, Italy
Pompeii is perhaps one of the first dark tourism sites to gain popularity, attracting international travelers for over 250 years. The fallen city is one of the best-preserved places to see Ancient Roman architecture, due significantly to the violent eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
Volcanic ash blanketed the city, somewhat ironically protecting the structures from the elements. The residents trapped in Pompeii perished, their bodies transformed into plaster statues. Mount Vesuvius remains active, and scientists say the volcano is overdue for an eruption.
Related: Pompeii Was Destroyed 1,924 Years Ago, But Many People Still Don't Know These Things About The City
9 Catacombs - France
Tourists flock to Paris' Catacombs to witness a massive, real-life underground graveyard that's inspired literature and film over the years. During the 18th-century, Paris' population expanded faster than its cemeteries could, and overcrowding meant burials posed a threat to human health.
Officials decreed to use the city's underground quarries as makeshift cemeteries, at first simply tossing the deceased into the tunnels. Eventually, the remains were stacked in an orderly fashion, with skulls lining the walls like a macabre interior design choice. Upon entrance, visitors are greeted with an exhibition room to learn about the history of the Catacombs, and two kilometers of tunnels are open for observation.
Related: The Paris Catacombs Are The Final Resting Places Of Six Million People, And You Can Visit Them
8 Auschwitz - Poland
The atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust are among the worst in human history. It's unfathomable to consider how human beings were held against their will, forced to labor, starved, abused, experimented on, and exterminated. There is no nice way to put it, and it serves no purpose to surround the tragedy with euphemisms.
Visiting the notorious concentration camps of Auschwitz allows people to feel the weight of the atrocities in a way that learning about them through the pages of a book never could. It's a sobering experience that forces people to confront the harsh realities of impenetrable darkness and learn about the events that led to such a deep stain in the fabric of human history.
7 Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Cambodia is home to the stupefying Angkor Wat, which is one of the world's largest and most impressive religious monuments that's a UNESCO listed temple. Despite its intrigue and beauty, it doesn't overshadow its horrific past and the people who are still recovering from the suffering they endured under the Khmer Rouge regime only a few decades ago - during which an estimated one million people were brutally murdered.
Travelers with a discerning eye can get a feel for the dark times and misery when they visit the Tuol Svay Prey High School and the killing fields of Choeung Ek, which, in spite of the scars that are still present, are ever important grounds in Cambodia's volatile history that played a crucial role in the country becoming what it is in the modern day.
Related: A Travel Guide To Cambodia: Tourists Should Plan Their Trip Around These 10 Things
6 Hiroshima - Japan
Since its invention, nuclear weaponry has gripped humans in fear. Drills during the Cold War sent children beneath their desks in preparation for an attack. In recent years, the possibility of nuclear war regularly echoes from the nightly news. Several countries currently possess bombs powerful enough to wipe out entire nations, a sad fact considering the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.
The A-bomb destroyed the city and took the lives of thousands of innocent people. The residents of Hiroshima are fiercely dedicated to promoting peace on a grand scale. To visit Hiroshima is to witness the strength of humanity to rebuild. UNESCO designated the A-bomb Dome a World Heritage site, the building preserved as a reminder of the horrors of nuclear warfare.
5 Port Arthur - Tasmania
Located on the Tasman Peninsula is one of several convict sites steeped in dark history. Convicts at Port Arthur were subject to brutal floggings, hard labor, and long stints in solitary confinement, a practice that's frequently called into question for its cruelty. Many men lived and died within the walls, their hard work responsible for large chunks of architecture in Tasmania. Guided tours and interactive exhibits educate guests about Port Arthur's history, leaving none of the dark bits out of the stories.
Related: Here’s Everything You Can Do In Tasmania During Your First Time There
4 The 9/11 Memorial & Museum - United States
Two decades have gone by since the attack on the World Trade Center, and people can still vividly remember exactly where they were when it happened. Thousands of people lost their lives on September 11, 2001, and the New York City skyline changed forever. In the aftermath, the country put all its differences aside and united to rebuild.
People slowly cleared the rubble, dust, and debris. Life resumed as it has and will continue to in the wake of tragedy. Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum are among the top-visited dark tourist destinations worldwide. It is difficult to imagine what the city looked like 20 years ago on that fateful day. It's amazing to think about how human beings can come together to tend to the emotional wounds left behind by such events.
3 Berlin Wall - Germany
A majority of the Berlin Wall was dismantled after the Cold War, but fragments throughout Berlin serve as a reminder of the negative impacts division has on society. The large concrete barrier separated East and West Berlin for nearly 30 years. An area known as the "death strip" contained guard towers, beds of nails, barbed wire, and more, the defenses intended to keep people from crossing.
In 1989, the world watched on as the Berlin Wall fell, symbolically reuniting Germany and marking the fall of Communism in Europe. The remnants of The Berlin Wall are scattered throughout the world, but the largest portions can be found in Berlin. Stunning graffiti from past and present add pops of color to the city, a reminder of art's transformative and healing power.
2 Chernobyl, Ukraine
There's not a soul in the world that doesn't know about the devastating event that took place in Chernobyl in 1986, where a nuclear power plant explosion set off an apocalyptic chain of events that saw the place become a dangerous, desolate wasteland. The bravest of travelers can take guided tours of the uninhabitable, decaying city of Pripyat to see a real-life post-apocalypse that still continues today , where empty schools, abandoned residences, rusted structures overgrown with greenery, and derelict buildings stand as a reminder of the horrors that once occurred.
At the time, local communities were told they were only evacuating their homes for three days, however, what they didn't know was that they were never going to return ever again. Countless power plant staff, rescue services, and civilians died as a result of the tragedy - some right in the aftermath, whilst others suffered for many years, eventually passing of terminal diseases like cancer - caused by exposure to the dangerous radiation emitted by the power plant's explosion.
Related: Chernobyl: Over 35 Years On, Is It Actually Safe To Visit?
1 Darvaza Gas Fire Crater, Turkmenistan
A large crater has been burning in Darvaza, Turkmenistan for 50 years now, attracting tourists to witness the site commonly referred to as the "Gates of Hell." The natural gas field in the middle of the desert collapsed in the 1960s. It was set ablaze in 1971, though there are no solidified records of who did it or why. The dark tourist destination in the desert is a popular spot for wild camping, and thousands of travelers head to Turkmenistan to observe a piece of the earth on fire.
Next: Dark Tourism: What It Is And How To Do It Respectfully
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Q&A’s are a staple of indie opening weekends since they tend to sell tickets but Bob and Jeanne Berney’s Picturehouse has raised that bar, offering audiences seven-minute live burlesque revues before selected screenings of documentary Carol Doda Topless At The Condor . The ode to the woman, and to 1960s San Francisco where she broke out topless, opens in limited release in New York, LA, San Francisco and San Rafael. Dancers in what Bob Berney called a “Doda-esqe burlesque” will not be topless,” he said — “but pretty close.”
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“Eventizing” a film is great if you can do it. The box office is much better but still a bit weird since Covid. Berney hopes word of mouth on the pre-shows, and the doc, will get people into seats. “As an indie film, it’s a way we can work with the exhibitor to show we really do want to support the theater.”
Carol Doda expands from four to 25 theaters next week, including a half dozen in the Bay Area, and will roll out through April, hitting 150-200 locations. The distributor, now also burlesque producer, will revue this week at the NuArt in LA and the Roxy in San Francisco, adding the Angelika in NYC next. Pre-shows depend on the availability of dancers in each market, with 10 a go so far, including two in Canada, and more rolling out.
The documentary from San Francisco filmmakers Marlo McKenzie and Jonathan Parker premiered at Telluride in 2023 and the Mill Valley Film Festival. It follows Doda, a daring young woman who fired one of the first shots in the sexual revolution of the 1960s and became an international sex symbol and a San Francisco tourist attraction second only to the Golden Gate Bridge. She died in 2015 at 78.
The film was produced by Metallica co-founder and drummer Lars Ulrich and is based in part on Three Nights at the Condor , a memoir by Benita Mattioli, the wife of Condor co-owner Pete Mattioli.
(Filmmakers will also hold a traditional Q&A.)
The Image Nation Abu Dhabi and Spooky Pictures pic premiered at SXSW — see Deadline review — and has since played Fantasia Festival in Montreal, Sydney Film Festival, BIFAN in Korea, Sitges, London Film Festival, and Toronto After Dark. Cameron and Colin won the Best Screenplay prize for the film at Sitges. See Deadline review.
Mubi presents Radu Jude’s dark comedy Do Not Expect Too Much From The End Of The World in New York (IFC Center) and Los Angeles (Laemmle Royal). Expands to more markets next week and throughout April.
The Romanian director whose Bad Luck Banging Or Looney Porn won the Golden Bear in Berlin in 2021, takes another darkly comic swipe at the indignities of modern day life. Overworked and underpaid production assistant Angela (Ilinca Manolache) is assigned to film a workplace safety video for a multinational corporation in Bucharest. When one of the interviewees makes a statement that ignites a scandal, Angela has to re-invent the story. Featuring appearances from Nina Hoss, Uwe Boll, and Angela’s TikTok alter-ego Bobiță. Deadline’s review says “this willfully uncommercial but bloody-minded film could be genuinely seminal in its anarchic and totally individualistic approach, slipping discordant, Godardian subversion into a darkly comic, Ruben Östlund-style human drama.”
The Avenue opens the directorial debut of Adam Cooper’s Russell Crowe-starring crime thriller Sleeping Dogs on 69 screens release. Crowe is an ex-homicide detective with a fractured memory forced to revisit a case he can’t remember. As a man’s life hangs in the balance on death row, he must piece together the brutal evidence from a decade-old murder investigation, uncovering a sinister web of buried secrets and betrayals. With Karen Gillan Marton Csokas, Tommy Flanagan, Harry Greenwood and Thomas M. Wright. Written by Cooper & Bill Collage, adapted from E.O. Chirovici’s novel, The Book Of Mirrors.
Riddle of Fire from Yellow Veil Pictures and Vinegar Syndrome written and directed by Weston Razooli, opens at 30+ locations nationwide including Alamo Manhattan in NYC, Alamo DTLA in LA and 30+ select theaters across North America, along with a 35mm print run. Premiered at Cannes’ Director’s Fortnight and also screened at TIFF. A neo-fairytale set in Wyoming follows three mischievous children running an errand for their mother that becomes an odyssey. On the hunt to obtain her favorite blueberry pie, the children are kidnapped by poachers, battle a witch, outwit a huntsman, befriend a fairy, and bond together to become best friends forever. Stars Razooli, Lio Tipton, Charles Halfrod.
It’s the first feature from Cartilage, launched by Jasper Basch some years ago as a theatrical booking agent but dormant for a bit. Basch, formerly of IFC Films, moved to Variance Films last year and relaunched it as a smaller label to distribute low-budget American indies that he thinks should be championed. Basch said he was introduced to Brown and his film “and I thought it was great. It spoke so well, with a rare understanding, of its generation in a way that hasn’t been reflected as well on screen in that way before.”
From Utopia, queer revenge thriller Femme opens at the IFC Center in NYC this week, the Grove in LA nex, twith a national expansion April 5. Stars Nathan Stewart-Jarrett ( Candyman ) and George Mackay ( 1917 ). Directored by Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping, it premiered in the Berlinale’s Panorama section. Stewart-Jarrett ( Misfits , Candyman , Mope ) plays successful drag queen Jules, whose life and career are destroyed by a violent homophobic attack. When he encounters lead perpetrator Preston (MacKay) in a gay sauna, the attacker doesn’t recognize him, allowing Jules to infiltrate his life and seek revenge. The screenwriting debut for Freeman ( Industry , This Is Going To Hurt and The Power ) and theatre director Ng. See Deadline’s Berlin review.
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Dark Tourism: The Macabre, Strange & Interesting Dark Tourism Destinations of Berlin. 1. The Berlin Wall. The Berlin Wall was a definitive symbol of division and conflict that held a significant place in Berlin's history. Born out of the atrocities of World War II and the tension of the Cold War, the concrete wall spanned a whopping 155 ...
Berlin. - darkometer rating : 10 - (cf. Top 20 dark tourism destinations) Germany 's capital - and from a dark tourism point of view the capital of the planet! Nowhere else can there be found such a wealth and wide range of sights that are of interest to the "dark tourist". Obviously enough, this has to do with the history of the place ...
No wonder, then, that Germany offers by far the widest range of dark tourism sites anywhere in the world. All in all, Germany covers nearly all of the various categories of dark tourism, and many better than anywhere else. First place has to go to Berlin, the country's capital, and in terms of dark tourism surely the capital of the planet, such ...
Where is the Stasi Museum in Berlin? Address: Ruschestrasse 103, House 1 10365 Berlin, Germany. Phone: +49 (0)30 - 553 68 54. Website.
Dark tourism has been around for centuries, but the term "dark tourism" was only coined in the 1990s. Some of the most popular dark tourism destinations include Auschwitz, Ground Zero, and the Killing Fields in Cambodia. Dark tourism can be educational and help people understand and appreciate history.
Berlin Wall, dark tourism travel destination. To be precise, "the Wall" actually consisted of generally more than one wall - an outer "enemy-facing" wall on the actual borderline with the West, and an inner "friend-facing" wall, which from the point of view of the GDR citizens was the real borderline that they couldn't cross (at least not without risking their lives).
Dark Tourism in Berlin. Berlin's dark tourism attractions, including the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, and the Holocaust Memorial, reflect the city's turbulent history, particularly during the Cold War and the Nazi era. These sites offer a comprehensive look into the political and social upheavals that shaped the 20th century.
Dark tourism in Berlin and beyond. — Issue 2006/21 posted by hidden europe on 13 Aug 2006 —. Many of Berlin's prime attractions evoke the darker side of the city's past. The new monument to the murdered Jews of Europe just south of the Brandenburg Gate is the latest addition to Berlin's dark tourism repertoire.
Deep down in Berlin's dark underground, the guided tours of the Berliner Unterwelten e.V. (Berlin Underworlds) take you on a journey of discovery. They will take you to the bunkers under the city and show you the places steeped in history. ... Berlin's official tourist ticket berlin-welcomecard.de Your travel advisor: [email protected] Phone ...
Discover the world of Dark Tourism with Darkest Travel. From haunted locations to historical sites, immerse yourself in the darkest journeys. ... Berlin is home to a number of Holocaust and WW2 exhibitions and is popular with educational tourists. I took a student group there a few years ago and I would definitely recommend it for anybody ...
As a result, Berlin is packed with dozens of dark tourism sites. A few of the most popular ones include: Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (the Holocaust Memorial)- This memorial is to the Jewish people murdered during the Holocaust. It contains 2,711 concrete slabs ranging in height from .2-4.7 meters. The slabs are arranged in a grid ...
The term 'dark tourism' is far newer than the practice, which long predates Pompeii's emergence as a morbid attraction. Stone considers the Roman Colosseum to be one of the first dark tourist ...
For travel editor, Sarah-Kate Lynch, one of the positives of dark tourism is being able to make a connection to the past, in particular during a visit to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp near Berlin. "Instagram wasn't invented when I went," she explains, "but this memorial is not a place to smile and take selfies.
Experts call the phenomenon dark tourism, and they say it has a long tradition. Dark tourism refers to visiting places where some of the darkest events of human history have unfolded. That can ...
This phenomenon has been described as "dark tourism" or thanatourism. The aim of the article is to discuss the subject of thanatourism in the urban space of Berlin, which is becoming an increasingly popular branch of cultural tourism in Germany and other countries. The article consists of three main parts: a theoretical introduction, a ...
Berlin, as argued above, is a Partial Dark Tourism Destination, thus making it useful for understanding of the tourist tendency to blend pleasure (e.g. going to clubs and shows) with the attraction to morbid (going to tours or museums depicting the darker parts of Berlin's history, i.e. the ruling years of the Nazis and later the DDR).
A few weeks later the Berlin Wall fell and just days before it would have been the 41st anniversary of the GDR's founding, the state had ceased to exist on 3 October 1990 (see this recent post). ... As decided in the latest poll, the theme of this post is 'dark tourism and cars'. It won by two votes ahead of 'dark tourism and clothes ...
5. Berlin, Germany - One of the top Cities in Europe for Dark Tourism. It may not come as much of a surprise to see the German capital mentioned on this list. As one of the cities hit the hardest by both World Wars and the Cold War, Berlin certainly boasts a horrifying past. While the city has seen huge progress and modernization in recent ...
Berlin was the nerve centre of the Third Reich and therefore one of the main targets for allied bombing during WW II. On this tour, our expert guides will lead you in exploring one of the few remaining bunkers, as it was left after the war. ... Tour 1 - Dark Worlds | The Berlin Underworlds Museum Brochure | 4th edition | 2013 | 32 pages | € ...
Dark tourism (also thanatourism, black tourism, morbid tourism, or grief tourism) has been defined as tourism involving travel to places historically associated with death and tragedy. [1] More recently, it was suggested that the concept should also include reasons tourists visit that site, since the site's attributes alone may not make a ...
10 Pompeii, Italy. Pompeii is perhaps one of the first dark tourism sites to gain popularity, attracting international travelers for over 250 years. The fallen city is one of the best-preserved places to see Ancient Roman architecture, due significantly to the violent eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Volcanic ash blanketed the city, somewhat ...
Witches, ghosts and demons have always been drawn to Berlin, a city full of eerie, gruesome places. After meeting your tour guide, you will first ask Saint Francis to protect you from the dangers lurking in the dark. Then, it is time to set off to visit places where the most horrible things have happened, including cruel witch hunts and ...
Chernobyl and Pripyat have been on the dark tourism map since the radioactive Exclusion Zone surrounding them opened up to visitors in 2011, but - prompted in part by the launch of popular HBO ...
The Romanian director whose Bad Luck Banging Or Looney Porn won the Golden Bear in Berlin in 2021, takes another darkly comic swipe at the indignities of modern day life. Overworked and underpaid ...