Yacht valued at 90 million euros, a villa hidden in the heart of a forest, or a private lodge in a national park… dictators have sometimes had extraordinary vacation spots. Kim Jong-un, Joseph Stalin, Idi Amin, to name a few, thus enjoyed residences laid out for their leisure, far from prying eyes. Some favored beaches and pools, while others preferred mountains or safaris. Several of these properties still exist, transformed into hotels or abandoned after their owners fell from power.
Secret Residences to Escape Scrutiny
Secrecy was at the heart of Stalin’s vacation homes. The Soviet leader owned five holiday residences, notably along the shores of the Black Sea. His dacha at Lake Ritsa, in Abkhazia, was built in 1947 to welcome the leader and his family during the summer months. Nestled in a dense forest, it was painted green to blend into the landscape and become difficult to spot from the air. According to the account detailing these properties, Stalin did not inform Soviet officials in advance which residence he intended to join. The five dwellings were thus kept ready to receive him.
In Romania, Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife Elena also had several refuges. The couple, who ruled from 1965 to 1989, frequented notably a private residence in Neptun, on the Black Sea coast, where he spent a month each year. The leader also organized chamois-hunting parties in the Carpathians at Villa Paltinu. But it was at Snagov Palace, by a lake, that he stayed for much of the year. The couple took refuge there in 1989, shortly before his capture and execution following the Romanian Revolution.
In Uganda, Idi Amin had Pakuba Lodge, in the heart of Murchison Falls National Park, as one of his favorite residences. Built in the early 1970s, this establishment overlooked the Albert Nile and could accommodate up to 160 people in a two-story building, with the rooms each featuring a balcony. The Ugandan ruler, who was in power from 1971 to 1979, had made it a state residence where he hosted close aides and foreign guests. According to the Ugandan daily Daily Monitor, he stayed there more often than at his official Kampala residence. After his fall, the lodge was left abandoned. Its buildings gradually deteriorated, eventually becoming a sanctuary for wild animals, including leopards.
In Russia, Vladimir Putin’s private getaways are difficult to document, but a residence located in the Altai Republic, in Siberia, has been the subject of journalistic investigations. Named the “Altai Courtyard,” this isolated complex would include, among other features, facilities for baths using deer blood, a practice presented by its promoters as beneficial for health, though no scientific evidence has been established. According to investigations reported by several media outlets, the site would host a herd of maral deer, whose antlers are used for these preparations. In May 2024, a fire destroyed a large part of a building at this supposed Russian president’s residence. The identification of the site rests notably on comparing photographs and images of the place; details of its personal use by Vladimir Putin thus remain to be presented with caution.
Yachts, Beaches and Residences to Entertain
But not all of these leaders were necessarily seeking absolute isolation. In Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito particularly enjoyed Lake Bled in Slovenia. His summer residence, Vila Bled, is now a luxury hotel. The head of state hosted foreign dignitaries there, among them Nikita Khrushchev, King Hussein of Jordan, and Gamal Abdel Nasser, the Egyptian president. The surrounding national parks also allowed hunting parties with his guests.
In North Korea, satellite images have recently shed light on leisure facilities associated with Kim Jong-un, while the country’s population continues to face severe economic hardships. According to the Telegraph, four large ships were spotted this year in the coastal city of Wonsan, a destination favored by North Korea’s elites. One of them is said to be 80 meters long and would feature a 50-meter pool as well as several water slides. The BBC estimates its value at around 86 million euros. Another yacht of the leader, 29 meters long, would be worth about 6.2 million euros.
Benito Mussolini, for his part, favored Italian destinations. On the Adriatic coast, the seaside town of Riccione and Villa Mussolini were among his vacation spots. In winter, he would head to Monte Terminillo to practice snow sports. It was there that his famous photograph of him skiing shirtless was taken. The Grand Hotel Feltrinelli, on Lake Garda, and the Campo Imperatore hotel in the Apennines were also among his favorite destinations.
The escapades of Saddam Hussein sometimes led him to France. The Iraqi leader owned a stone villa above Grasse, near Cannes, named Mas de Sainte-Croix. The property is now abandoned and deteriorating. Another spot on the Côte d’Azur, a residence belonging to his half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti on the heights of Cannes, is said to have been frequented by men from his entourage, though a personal visit by Saddam Hussein has not been confirmed.
