When you’re travelling, it’s important to have awareness of the people and places around you. No matter where you go, there are many universal rules for travel, most of which are just common sense. (Or not? Maybe I’ll make a post about them too!)

When you’re a morbid tourist, all of the usual travel rules apply, of course. However, I think there’s a couple more to add, specifically for the more ghoulish explorers.

In this post, I want to outline the rules of morbid/dark tourism. Following these means that you can respect people and places fully, travel smartly without getting into trouble, and feel more encouraged to do prior research into the places and cultures you explore.

I promise I’m not particularly a stickler for rules and the last thing I want is to be a drag, but it’s super important to have your ground rules for morbid tourism!

I. Don’t Leave Anything

This is my number-one rule, at all times. Never, ever leave your crap lying around at a site. I’m sure most of you reading this are thinking “well, duh” but the amount of people I see littering or just leaving random stuff in places suggests otherwise. Leaving stuff somewhere – especially litter!!!! – ruins the beauty of a place, as well as potentially harming the environment and wildlife. It’s just a selfish, dick move.

The only exception to this rule is if you’re permitted to leave offerings or tokens. For example, there’s a room in the Real Mary Kings Close that a little ghost girl supposedly inhabits. Like any kid, she loves toys, so tourists are encourages to leave dolls and other toys in that particular room.

Places like shrines quite often allow you to leave offerings, but always check with the specific place before doing so. My favourite example is buying a lucky cat statue at Gotokuji temple in Tokyo, and placing it with the whole hoard of them already left by people to bless their family and friends with luck.

II. Don’t Take Anything Away

Just as important as the first rule, don’t remove anything from a place unless you’ve bought it as a souvenir.

Did you ever read the story about rocks that people kept nicking from Australia’s Uluru as souvenirs? A huge influx of people returned the rocks, along with stories of bad luck or simply one-word apologies.

Whether they were truly cursed or not from disturbing a sacred place, we’ll never know, but it’s a good enough reason to remember not to take anything away. Besides the potential for being cursed, it’s just rude and tacky to steal things.

This is also a really important rule in urbex/exploring abandoned places. Sometimes you’ll find really cool places frozen in time, with personal artefacts still right where their owners left them. It’s really crappy to take any of these items. First of all, they don’t belong to you. Secondly, you’re ruining the place for those who come after you.

III. Treat the Physical Place with Respect

I’ve read so many enraging stories about so-called ‘influencers’ or tourists in general causing havoc when they arrive at places. Some examples off the top of my head include: people trampling the tulip fields in the Netherlands to get a photo for Instagram and graffiti appearing on Rome’s Colosseum.

This isn’t a new phenomenon, though. Tourists have been defacing destinations for thousands of years. There is literally Roman graffiti on top of the pyramids of Giza. But we should know better by now!

It’s really selfish and ignorant to blatantly disrespect the environment (physical OR manmade), especially when it’s something ancient, sacred, or delicate. I simply can’t understand looking at something of tremendous beauty or historical significance and thinking: ‘You know what would make this perfect? Me scrawling my name on it’. Gross.

Somewhat related to this: one of my biggest pet peeves when exploring abandoned places (or looking at other people’s photos of them) is seeing crap graffiti all over the place. Obviously, these are usually caused by random louts breaking in and tagging stuff, and unfortunately they can’t be shamed into stopping.

However, some ‘urban explorers’ also do this, and it’s annoying. You get a perfectly eerie corridor in an abandoned mental hospital and some bozo has sprayed ‘hail Satan’ or something equally boring all over the walls, which just makes it look like a stupid, edgy, fake set. Just don’t do it, man.

IV. Be Safe

This one is more of a rule for urbex, nature, or places off the beaten path, rather than established attractions. Morbid tourism often intersects with these categories, though, so it’s still an important rule.

Always know the situation before you go barging in somewhere. The structures could be unsteady or rotting, with broken floors and shattered glass. There might be horrible stuff like asbestos and anthrax lurking around. There may even be people who are using the place as a hideout who might not take too nicely to someone just coming in and disturbing things or drawing attention to them. Not to mention any wildlife that may have settled in an abandoned structure.

As for non-urbex things, the most important thing is knowing if your morbid tourism destination is in a rough part of town. Everywhere has areas that are less safe, and it’s your responsibility to know where these are before you travel. Don’t assume you’ll be welcome or safe everywhere.

In natural places, particularly if they’re very rural or isolated, other considerations apply. Be aware of the weather – what the forecast says, and how it’s looking as you go. Make sure you know what kind of terrain you’ll be dealing with and dress suitably. Bring any equipment you may need, including emergency supplies in case you get stuck. Many explorers have gone up against Mother Nature and lost; don’t get cocky when you’re out in the elements!

V. Do Your Research

I know I’m a Morbid Tourist, and love anything weird and wonderful. This definitely includes supposedly haunted locations. BUT I think if you’re only going somewhere because ‘it might be haunted’, it can definitely come across as a bit tacky.

No matter where I go, I love to research beforehand and learn about the history of the place and the surrounding area. I want to know why they think it’s haunted, and any local stories or folklore that accompany it. I’d be embarrassed to get busted about not knowing anything about a place except for ‘it’s spooky’.

VI. Respect the Spirit of a Place

This isn’t just a religious or spiritual thing. Of course you should never rile up the ghosts or summon things that shouldn’t be summoned, but this rule also applies to the emotion of a place – sombreness, for want of a better word.

When I visited the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin, I was pretty appalled to see a group of young adults (who really should know better) leaping around on the lower blocks and horsing about like it was a parkour course.

It was similar in the Topographie des Terrors – a fantastic memorial museum on the former site of Gestapo headquarters – with kids laughing and joking around in front of images of starving and murdered people.

It’s like people who take smiling selfies at Auschwitz – something about it is really sick, and it makes my skin crawl. There is a proper way to behave at these morbid destinations – it shouldn’t be just another thing on your itinerary. I know for the most part, people do behave and understand this. But I also know that silly people exist because I’ve seen it with my own eyes.

I always go to these places and quietly reflect on why they exist, what happened there, and to think about the people who were affected and lost their lives.

VII. Keep an Open Mind

This is a really important one. Whatever you believe, it’s essential for a Morbid Tourist to keep an open mind. I don’t mean be completely gullible and believe everything, or get conned out of your money (there are always chancers) – as I like to say: ‘not so open-minded that your brain falls out’.

What I mean is that you should always be willing to learn about cultures and viewpoints different from your own. You won’t always agree, but you can learn a lot from other people. It’s also just super interesting too. Respect others’ beliefs – as long as they’re not harming anyone, it’s none of your business what they think.

Obviously being spiritual and believing in ghosts (or things beyond our scope of explanation) is a big plus, but a Morbid Tourist can also be a sceptic – some of the best ones are, in fact! The point is that you’re willing to open your mind to things and investigate/explore them for yourself.

VIII. Behave Appropriately

Just don’t be obnoxious. People in general will already think you’re a ghoul for wanting to see these kinds of places, so the least you can do is keep a straight face and behave yourself while you’re there.

I’m by no means saying you can’t have fun and enjoy yourself! Just remember to be spatially aware, mind your volume, and don’t put on your plague doctor mask until there’s no one around to witness it!

IX. Respect Secrets

If you’ve been given a location confidentially (e.g. a lot of people in the bando/urbex hobby keep locations quiet), don’t go blabbing it everywhere. There are reasons people keep these places on the DL including preservation and legal ambiguity. Ingratiate yourself with a group to get the inside scoop on where to explore.

Having said that, if you’re already in the know, don’t be a gatekeeping meanie to newbies. By all means, talk to people and get a good read on them before bestowing secrets, but don’t be so insular that no one else gets to join in.

This rule also applies for local knowledge – talking to people who live nearby often gets you to places you wouldn’t have found on your own. Stick to word of mouth recommendations if it’s considered a locals’ haven.

I think that just about covers the Big Rules for a Morbid Tourist to follow. Is there anything you think should be added here? Do you have your own special rules for travelling to places, especially the unusual ones? Let me know in the comments!

Go gently, tread lightly, respect the area (and any ghosts that might be left there).