After the biggest nuclear catastrophe the world has ever seen, the small city of Pripyat got a nickname ‘the ghost city’. Built in 1970 to serve as a home for Chernobyl nuclear plant workers, this city lived only for 16 years. In 1986, the evacuation order was given and over 40,000 people left their homes, not knowing that they’ll never return.

The life of Pripyat ended abruptly, leaving reminders of vibrancy all over the city. Today, almost 30 years later, at first glance the city looks like an ordinary one. Schools, taxi stations, hospitals, even buildings with laundry drying on their balconies, don’t give away the creepiness of this place. But then, you start noticing silence. Spooky silence overwhelms you, so it’s no surprise why the first tourists that came here left after only 15 minutes.

Pripyat is still an abandoned area and will be for a long, long time (scientist estimate that the city will be safe for humans in about 400 years!). However, tourists do come here. Solo East Travel offers Chernobyl and Pripyat tours on daily basis.