From Tragic to Terrifying: Would You Visit These 9 Dark Tourism Destinations?
Murambi Genocide Museum, Rwanda
This may possibly be one of the darkest and most shocking destinations to visit. If you’re interested in dark tourism, the Murambi Genocide Museum is a must-see. But be warned — it’s not something everyone can stomach.
The gut-wrenching memorial starts with short films and information panels before leading you outside to view some of the mass graves. The tour then takes you into rooms — initially intended to be classrooms in the technical college — where hundreds of preserved corpses line the wooden racks. The partially decomposed bodies have been exhumed and mummified with powdered lime.
The victims of the massacre are still in the positions in which they died; toddlers and children with arms outstretched or covering their eyes. It’s a heart-wrenching and powerful reminder of the devastating event.
Karosta Prison, Latvia
Karosta Prison is the only military prison in Europe that is open to tourists and they have several excursions to choose from, many of which have a minimum age limit. Dark tourists will likely be fond of the “Behind Bars” option as this will give you the opportunity to experience the prison as one of the inmates.
All participants must sign a release form agreeing to the conditions of prison life – including verbal abuse, death threats, hard labor and warning gunfire – before applying for their experience behind bars.
Karosta Prison was built around 1900 and was primarily used as a Nazi and Soviet military prison; one from which nobody ever escaped. Many prisoners were sentenced to death within the prison which may be why it is said to be haunted. The prison closed its doors as a penitentiary in 1997. In addition to the tours and excursions, the Karosta Prison has been transformed into a ‘hotel’ of sorts where guests can spend the night.
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Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, Poland
While I’m sure this historical site doesn’t need an explanation, it’s one of the busiest tourist spots on our list of dark tourism destinations. Auschwitz was that largest concentration camp and extermination centers run by German Nazis. Over 1 million men, women and children were imprisoned and sent to their deaths here between 1940 and 1945.
Tours range from two-and-a-half to six hours and should be reserved online at least one month in advance. Most guided tours of the Auschwitz memorial and museum include the original camp buildings, the unloading platform, and the ruins of gas chambers and crematoria.
