35 Stunning Abandoned Places Around the World You Can Still Visit

22. Balaklava Submarine Base, Ukraine: A Secret Soviet Relic

Tucked beneath the cliffs of Crimea’s coastline, the Balaklava Submarine Base was once one of the most secretive military installations in the world. Built during the height of the Cold War, the base was designed to withstand a direct nuclear strike, with massive steel blast doors, underground dry docks, and miles of reinforced tunnels carved directly into a mountain. Capable of sheltering and repairing nuclear submarines in total secrecy, it was invisible from the sea and protected by a veil of misinformation. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the base was decommissioned and later converted into a Cold War museum. Today, visitors can descend into its echoing passageways, where the air still carries the chill of its clandestine past. Rusting equipment, decontamination showers, and murals of Soviet propaganda transport guests into an era of paranoia and power. The complex’s James Bond-worthy atmosphere, combined with its historical depth, makes Balaklava a unique destination for those fascinated by military history, espionage, and the global tensions that shaped the modern world.