For those of you who appreciate spooky attractions, there are plenty of haunted destinations around the world to enjoy during the Halloween season. Here are six international destinations that are sure to have your heart skip a beat, and make you scream with delight.
Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland
Scotland is already a perfect fall destination, so it won’t take much convincing for you to book a spooky season trip to Scotland’s old cities that are full of mystery and history. In Glasgow, a swirling cemetery, the “City of the Dead,” or the Southern Necropolis on the south side of the River Clyde hovers dark over the city. Here around a quarter of a million people are buried. And in the capital, the Edinburgh Castle, one of Europe’s oldest fortified castles according to T&L has seen a handful of reported spooky occurrences through the years.
Paris, France
Though Paris is known as a romantic European cityscape, buried underneath the beautiful cafe-lined streets are the famed Parisian Catacombs. Here lie remains of more than six million people. Tourists can visit the catacombs during the day, an experience which is already eerie, but Parisian legend says a visitor who ventures into the caves and tunnels in the late hours of night will hear voices luring them deeper into the maze.
Salem, Massachusetts
This next destination is no secret, off-the-beaten path spot for travelers seeking a bit of creepy history. But for those looking for an undeniable classic, a visit to the city where the Salem Witch Trials took place in the 17th century won’t disappoint. Here 200 people were accused of witchcraft and 20 were executed. Today, the town’s history lures tourists to the area every fall to step back into the past. There are many tourist experiences here tailored to the creepy and treacherous, so enjoy the Salem Witch Walk through the town, a ghost tour, history stroll, and more.
Sighisoara, Romania
We couldn’t talk about famous haunted cities without mentioning the famous Transylvanian city which inspired the famous novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. This city is the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, the very man who inspired the story. On a visit here, you can visit his childhood home which according to Conde Nast Traveler features a tiny torture museum. Of course, there are Dracula-themed tours throughout the country and even Halloween tours as well.
Madrid, Spain
According to National Geographic, ghosts populate almost every corner of this city. Roaming around museums like Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, which used to house a hospital. Plus, Linares Palace is known as Madrid’s most haunted building. It is said that the ghost of a young girl wanders through the halls here. Click here for a list of popular ghost and haunted tours in Madrid, including history, legends, evening, and self-guided tours (if you dare!).
