Fifteen famous tourist sights have been destroyed, closed, moved or changed beyond recognition, from the Azure Window in Malta to the Buddhas of Bamiyan. Some are gone for good, some survive only as replicas, and a few, like Maya Bay in Thailand, have come back. This list sorts all 15 by what really happened, as of October 2026.
15 tourist destinations that no longer exist, at a glance
| # | Destination | Status in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tsukiji tuna auction, Tokyo | Moved to Toyosu in 2018 |
| 2 | Maya Bay, Thailand | Reopened in 2022 with limits |
| 3 | Original Penn Station, New York | Demolished in 1963 |
| 4 | Love locks, Pont des Arts | Removed in 2015 |
| 5 | Azure Window, Malta | Collapsed in March 2017 |
| 6 | Jonah’s Tomb, Mosul | Destroyed in 2014 |
| 7 | Berlin Wall | Mostly gone since 1989 |
| 8 | Great Barrier Reef | Damaged, not gone |
| 9 | Caves of Altamira, Spain | Closed, replica open |
| 10 | Amber Room, Russia | Lost in WWII, rebuilt in 2003 |
| 11 | Pioneer Cabin Tree, California | Fell in January 2017 |
| 12 | Tuileries Palace, Paris | Burned in 1871, gardens remain |
| 13 | Chacaltaya Glacier, Bolivia | Gone since 2009 |
| 14 | Pink and White Terraces, New Zealand | Destroyed in 1886 |
| 15 | Buddhas of Bamiyan, Afghanistan | Destroyed in 2001 |
Gone, moved or changed: the 15 destinations
1. Tokyo’s Tsukiji tuna auction: moved, not gone
The famous tuna auction left Tsukiji, where it had run for decades, when the market moved to Toyosu in 2018. Visitors can still watch the auction from a second-floor viewing deck at Toyosu.
Prices keep climbing: on 4 January 2026 a 243 kg bluefin tuna sold for a record 510 million yen, about 3.2 million dollars. For where to eat in the city, see our guide to the best restaurants in Tokyo.
2. Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh, Thailand: closed, then reopened
Maya Bay, the beach made famous by the film The Beach, was closed in 2018 after receiving about 5,000 visitors and 200 boats a day, which damaged about 80 percent of the surrounding coral. It reopened in early 2022 with visitor limits.
Our guide to things you didn’t know about Thailand has more on the country.
3. The original Pennsylvania Station, New York: demolished
The original Penn Station, a Beaux-Arts masterpiece by McKim, Mead and White, opened in 1910 and was demolished from 1963. Today’s station sits underground, and the Moynihan Train Hall opened in the 2020s as a grander entrance for part of it.
You cannot see the original building, only photographs.
4. Love locks on the Pont des Arts, Paris: removed
Couples used to padlock their initials to the bridge until the weight of the locks made it a safety problem. They were cut off and removed in 2015.
It is a plain bridge with a good view of the Seine.
5. The Azure Window, Malta: collapsed
The 28-metre limestone arch on Gozo collapsed in a storm on 8 March 2017, after a century of erosion. It appeared in films and series including Game of Thrones.
Dwejra Bay remains worth a visit. If Malta is on your list, see our luxury villa in Malta.
6. Jonah’s Tomb, Mosul, Iraq: destroyed in 2014
The Al-Nabi Yunus mosque and its tomb, believed to be the burial place of the prophet Jonah, was partially destroyed in 2014 in the fighting in Mosul. It was a site of religious importance to Christians and Muslims.
Reconstruction in Mosul continues, but we have no verified date for this site.
7. The Berlin Wall, Germany: mostly gone
The wall divided Berlin from 1961 until 1989 and ran about 155 km around West Berlin. Only short sections remain, such as the East Side Gallery, and pieces are sold as souvenirs.
It is still one of the top sights in Berlin.
8. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia: damaged, not gone
We said in an earlier version that the reef was dead, and that was wrong. It is alive but under pressure, with mass bleaching events recorded in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2022, and climate change is its biggest threat.
The authority that manages the reef has warned that bleaching may become annual. It is still the largest coral reef system on earth, and recovery depends on slowing warming.
9. The Caves of Altamira, Spain: closed to most, replica open
The prehistoric paintings, found in 1868, were damaged by the carbon dioxide from visitors, so the original cave is closed to the general public. A full replica next to it lets visitors see the art.
Spain’s capital is nearby; our video below covers Madrid.
10. The Amber Room, Russia: lost, then rebuilt
The room of amber panels backed with gold leaf was given to Peter the Great in 1716 and moved to the Catherine Palace. It disappeared during World War II. A reconstruction, started in 1979, was installed in the palace in 2003.
The original has never been found.
11. Pioneer Cabin Tree, California: fell
The giant sequoia with a tunnel cut through it fell in a storm on 8 January 2017, after years of weakening. The tunnel is gone, but the fallen tree remains in Calaveras Big Trees State Park.
Visitors can still see the fallen trunk.
12. Tuileries Palace, Paris: burned in 1871
The palace stood next to the Louvre as a royal residence and burned in 1871. Today the Tuileries Garden occupies the site, and the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel is what remains of the setting.
Rebuilding proposals exist but have not gone ahead.
13. Chacaltaya Glacier, Bolivia: melted
Chacaltaya was once among the highest ski areas in the world, at about 5,400 metres. Its glacier, which was thousands of years old, had melted away by 2009, and skiing stopped.
The old lodge and rope tow are still there.
14. The Pink and White Terraces, New Zealand: destroyed in 1886
These silica terraces were a major attraction until Mount Tarawera erupted in 1886. Visitors who want something similar can go to Pamukkale in Turkey.
15. The Buddhas of Bamiyan, Afghanistan: destroyed in 2001
The two giant Buddhas, 55 and 38 metres tall and carved around 600 CE, were destroyed in March 2001. The site is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2003, and the niches can still be visited.
Rebuilding efforts have been discussed, but the original stone is lost.
Keep reading
- The most dangerous road in the world: another destination at risk of disappearing
- Best restaurants in Tokyo: where to eat near the tuna auction
- Things you didn’t know about Thailand: more on Maya Bay’s country
FAQ
Which tourist destinations no longer exist?
Examples include the Azure Window in Malta, the Pink and White Terraces in New Zealand, the Chacaltaya Glacier in Bolivia and the Buddhas of Bamiyan.
Is the Great Barrier Reef dead?
No. It is damaged by repeated bleaching but still alive, and it remains the largest coral reef system on earth.
Is Maya Bay open again?
Yes. It closed in 2018 and reopened in early 2022 with limits on visitors.
Can you still see the tuna auction in Tokyo?
Yes, from a viewing deck at the Toyosu Market, which replaced Tsukiji in 2018.
When did the Azure Window collapse?
On 8 March 2017, during a storm.
Can you visit the real Amber Room?
No. The original is lost, but a reconstruction opened in the Catherine Palace in 2003.
How we put this list together
We checked each destination’s status, date and details against encyclopedic and news pages. We sorted entries by what happened, from destroyed to moved to rebuilt.
Last updated: October 2026.
