Just 12 kilometres from Dubrovnik's sun-drenched beaches lies a haunting stretch of crumbling hotels that offers a stark glimpse into Croatia's war-torn past. Kupari, once a glamorous military holiday resort, now stands in ruins after suffering severe damage during the Croatian War of Independence. The coastal complex, dubbed the 'Bay of Abandoned Hotels', was originally developed in 1911 when Czech businessmen Jaroslav Fencl and Jana Masa purchased the land to build a resort.
The first hotel, The Strand, later renamed the Grand Hotel, opened in 1921, followed by a series of luxury hotels built 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 capable of hosting up to 4,000 soldiers. Tito himself was said to have spent holidays there, and reportedly hosted Hollywood icons Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor during their 1971 visit.
The resort's prosperity came to an abrupt end in the 1990s when the Yugoslav People's Army attacked Kupari during the war, leaving the area devastated. Although it briefly served as a Croatian army base between 1998 and 2000, the hotels were soon abandoned and stripped for materials by locals. Despite decades of decay, the site remains a magnet for urban explorers, who are drawn to its bullet-scarred walls and eerie silence.
The BBC named Kupari among the world's most fascinating abandoned sites in 2024, while a YouTube video by MrBeast, titled 'Survived 7 Days in an Abandoned City', has amassed over 300 million views. Now, redevelopment plans worth €150 million (£130 million) could transform the area. The Guardian reported that Singapore-based investors, in partnership with the Four Seasons group, aim to turn Kupari into a luxury resort.
Speaking to the Guardian in March, architect Marko Dabrović said: 'It has been an eyesore for 30 years, so everyone is pleased it will be developed and it will offer local employment. But after 10 years of on, off, stop, start, will it, won't it happen, they are waiting to see if it really does.'
