Croatia is considered one of Europe’s hottest holiday destinations, with millions drawn to its sun-soaked beaches, historic towns, and affordable nightlife each year.
More than seven million tourists visited Croatia in the first half of 2025 alone, racking up 29.3 million overnight stays – 27 million of which were along the Adriatic coast, according to data from the country’s eVisitor system.
But just 12 kilometres from the bustling city of Dubrovnik lies a remote village with crumbling hotels that offer a glimpse into Croatia’s turbulent past.
Kupari, once a glamorous military resort, is now a haunting ‘Bay of Abandoned Hotels’ after becoming severely damaged during the Croatian War of Independence.
The area’s transformation began in 1911, when Czech businessmen Jaroslav Fencl and Jana Masa purchased the land and nearby Srebreno beach to build a resort.
The first hotel, The Strand, which later became the Grand Hotel, opened in 1921, followed by a series of upscale hotels built some decades later under Yugoslav leader Josip ‘Tito’ Broz for military personnel and their families.
At its peak, the complex featured six hotels – Pelegrin, Kupari, Goričina, Goričine II, Mladost and Galeb – along with a large campsite that once accommodated up to 4,000 lower-ranking soldiers.
Tito himself enjoyed holidaying there, according to the Metro, and hosted Hollywood stars such as Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, who stayed there in 1971.
Just 12 kilometres from the bustling city of Dubrovnik lies a remote village with crumbling hotels that offer a glimpse into Croatia’s turbulent past
Kupari, once a glamorous military resort, is now a haunting ‘Bay of Abandoned Hotels’ after becoming severely damaged during the Croatian War of Independence
The area’s transformation began in 1911, when Czech businessmen Jaroslav Fencl and Jana Masa purchased the land and nearby Srebreno beach to build a resort
However, the resort’s success came to an abrupt end in the 1990s as Yugoslavia broke out in civil war.
During the Croatian War of Independence, the Yugoslav People’s Army attacked their own home in Kupari in an effort to drive out Croatian troops – but, by the time the fighting came to an end, the area was in ruins.
Though Kupari briefly served as a Croatian army base 1998 and 2000, the hotels were left to perish, with remaining materials salvaged by locals.
Despite decades of decay, the resort is considered a cinematic vision, drawing in plenty of curious travellers who wander along its neighbouring beach, explore its empty buildings and marvel at the bullet holes and shrapnel fragments left behind.
The BBC named it among the world’s most fascinating abandoned sites in 2024, while YouTube creator MrBeast amassed over 300 million views on a video showcasing his time at the site, named ‘I Survived 7 Days in an Abandoned City’.
Now, Kupari could be entering a new chapter, with the Guardian reporting earlier this year that a €150 million (£130m) redevelopment plan is in the works.
The project, led by Singapore-based consortium in partnership with the Four Seasons hotel group, aims to transform the bay into a luxury resort.
Speaking to the Guardian in March, Marko Dabrović, the architect overseeing the plans, said: ‘It has been an eyesore for 30 years, so everyone is pleased it will be developed and it will offer local employment.
At its peak, the complex featured six hotels – Pelegrin, Kupari, Goričina, Goričine II (pictured), Mladost and Galeb – along with a large campsite that once accommodated up to 4,000 lower-ranking soldiers
Pictured: A bullet riddled kiosk in the Kupari bay holiday complex
During the Croatian War of Independence, the Yugoslav People’s Army attacked their own home in Kupari in an effort to drive out Croatian troops – but, by the time the fighting came to an end, the area was in ruins
Despite decades of decay, the resort is considered a cinematic vision, drawing in plenty of curious travellers
Tourists flock to explore its empty buildings and marvel at the bullet holes and shrapnel fragments left behind.
Pictured: Hotel burned and destroyed during the Croatian War of Independence
The BBC named it among the world’s most fascinating abandoned sites in 2024
Now, Kupari could be entering a new chapter, with the Guardian reporting earlier this year that a €150 million (£130m) redevelopment plan is in the works
‘But after 10 years of on, off, stop, start, will it, won’t it happen, they are waiting to see if it really does.’
Meanwhile, an explorer who visited Japan’s largest abandoned resort has shared fascinating footage of the decaying complex – including the remnants of what would have been a five-star, 1000-room hotel.
Josh, a YouTube content creator from the United States, regularly delves into some of the world’s spookiest abandoned sites, including The Paris Catacombs and Pripyat, a ‘ghost’ town located in Chernobyl.
In a recent video uploaded to his channel, @ExploringWithJosh, in July, the adventurer travelled to Ishikawa, Japan, to take a closer look at Utopia Kaga.
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