Stunning European seaside resort 'left to rot' now attracts dark tourism

Stunning European seaside resort 'left to rot' now attracts dark tourismThe once-bustling holiday resort - popular with the likes of Elizabeth Taylor - was abandoned in the 1970s but has since become a haven for one niche but growing tourist marketCommentsTravelNiamh Kirk Lifestyle Writer14:05, 04 Apr 2026Updated 14:06, 04 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesThe town is now ghostly and empty - but that's why it's becoming a tourist hotspot once again(Image: Getty Images)Once a playground for Hollywood's elite, this coastal resort has transformed into an unsettling ghost town. Yet this Cypriot location has found new purpose amongst travellers, emerging as a destination for 'dark tourism'.‌A short distance from well-known Cyprus holiday spots such as Paphos and Limassol lies Varosha. Varosha was formerly a glamorous getaway destination in its own right, attracting Elizabeth Taylor and other luminaries of the 1960s.‌However, when Turkish forces invaded Cyprus's northern territory on July 20, 1974, the seaside resort was altered forever. Five days earlier, there had been a coup attempt backed by the Greek junta. The 15,000 inhabitants of Varosha were compelled to evacuate en masse following the military incursion, leaving behind their homes, businesses and pristine beaches.‌READ MORE: Jet2 update for passengers booking holidays to Greece this springView 3 ImagesThe newly reopened beach and abandoned beach front hotels in the old resort of Varosha, FamagustaConsequently, the district became a ghost town with structures left predominantly vacant. Even now, the neighbourhood remains frozen in time under Northern Cyprus's jurisdiction. Unsurprisingly, the area lost all attraction for holidaymakers, as vegetation began reclaiming the pavements and sea turtles made nests on Varosha's formerly sunbather-packed beaches.Yet in October 2020, a decision was taken by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the then prime minister of Northern Cy...