What are liminal spaces?
Liminal spaces are places that feel transitional or “in-between.” They often appear empty, quiet, or slightly detached from everyday life. Common examples include empty corridors, abandoned buildings, quiet hotel hallways, underpasses, and certain institutional or religious structures. The feeling comes from a mix of familiarity and subtle wrongness, a space that seems paused between one state and another.
What are real liminal spaces?
Real liminal spaces are actual physical locations that create this atmosphere. Unlike digital art or fictional “Backrooms” levels, these are places you can visit in the real world. This site focuses only on documented, real locations.
How do I find liminal spaces near me?
You can browse our directory by category or location. Many liminal places are found in everyday environments once you start looking: empty shopping centres after hours, older hotels, quiet transport hubs, or overlooked corners of cities and towns. The map and category pages on this site are the best starting point.
Are the places on this site safe to visit?
Safety varies by location. Some places are publicly accessible and low-risk, while others may be abandoned, remote, or restricted. Always read the Access Notes and Safety Notes on each listing carefully. Never trespass, and use your own judgement. You visit any location entirely at your own risk.
Can I submit a liminal location?
Yes. We welcome submissions of real locations that have a strong liminal atmosphere. Use the “Add Location” form and include as much accurate information as possible, along with photographs if you have them. Or, contact directly with as much information as you have. All submissions are reviewed before being published.
Do I need permission to photograph these places?
It depends on the location. Public areas are generally fine, but private property, abandoned buildings, or restricted sites may have legal restrictions. Always respect local laws and private property. When in doubt, do not enter.
Why do some places feel liminal?
Liminal feelings often come from a combination of emptiness, repetitive architecture, artificial lighting, lack of people, and a sense that the space is no longer serving its original purpose. Alternatively, liminal feelings can sometimes come from a place being out of context with it’s surroundings – like a monument that’s too modern or too big, or a building that looks like it belongs in a dream or video game. The result is a quiet, slightly unreal atmosphere that many people find both unsettling and strangely calming.
Is this site connected to the Backrooms?
No. The Backrooms is a fictional internet concept that began with a single photograph of a real empty room. While that image helped popularise the modern interest in liminal spaces, this site focuses on real-world locations rather than fictional levels or horror lore. We are also not in any way connected to the Backrooms movie.
How often is the directory updated?
New places are added regularly as they are verified. You can also help by submitting locations you have found.
Can I use photos or information from this site?
You may share links to listings. For any other use of text or images, please contact us and/or the respective owners of the photographs, first.