From creepy castles to haunted pubs, these spine-tingling spots will get you into the Halloween spirit. No matter your beliefs or lack thereof, these haunted places will give you chills!
Norway’s Akershus Castle stands out as one of the most terrifying haunted places on Earth, housing both an evil dog and a ghostly sobbing woman in white clothing who are believed to haunt it.
1. The Island of the Dolls
Isla de las Munecas (literally the Island of Dolls) is an unsettling tourist spot located within Xochimilco’s canals that features macabre dolls containing severed limbs and blank eyes staring back out at you. Visitors can tour it during daylight hours on local boatmen-propelled trajineras; after dark however, macabre sights and superstitions become even more apparent.
Legend holds that Don Julian Santana Barrera discovered the body of a girl who drowned near canals and began hanging dolls to appease her spirit and dispel ghosts from nearby islands. Many people have reported strange experiences on this island such as hearing whispers or footsteps near them and seeing dolls with eyes that move and blink.
2. Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is famously home to numerous mausoleums and gravesites. But its dark history includes reports that vampires roam its grounds at night – leading to widespread press coverage in the 1970s.
Many reported seeing a tall dark figure roaming the cemetery at night; many believed this figure to be the Highgate Vampire.
Multiple people reported being attacked by this creature and several saw black-clad men conducting dark rituals nearby; it has also been said that this activity led to animal carcasses becoming empty of any blood at nearby locations.
3. Castle of Good Hope
The Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town, South Africa is said to be haunted by a full-bodied ghost approximately two meters tall who was first spotted walking between Leerdam and Oranje bastions around 1915. This ghost has since been seen regularly around these two bastions over a two week period.
There have also been reports of footsteps, cold spots and disembodied voices coming from empty rooms at the castle. Paranormal activity at this historic structure is no stranger, having featured on shows such as Ghost Adventures and TAPS.
4. The Tower of London
The Tower of London is one of England’s most renowned castles and boasts a long and storied history of skullduggery, torture, and death, making it one of Europe’s most haunted locations.
Beheadings, scandals and royal infighting litter the past of this castle; yet visitors still find it captivating and full of beauty and wonder.
Anne Boleyn is perhaps the most famous ghost at the Tower, having been executed after failing to produce an heir for Henry VIII. Her ghost can often be seen roaming around its grounds with head in hand.
5. Christchurch Priory
Christchurch Priory is known for its haunting atmosphere and is often visited by ghost hunters. According to legend, a carpenter working on its construction was cut short during construction; later that day they found that its beam was now fitting perfectly – an apparent miracle performed by Jesus himself!
The church is open throughout the year with guides available to discuss its 900 year history and provide ghost tours of the town.
6. Chateau de Brissac
Chateau de Brissac is one of France’s most mysterious castles, famed for its striking architecture and rich history. But this castle also possesses an unsettling past which has inspired terrifying tales about ghostly visits!
The castle is haunted by the ghost of a woman murdered by its former owner out of jealous rage; her apparition can often be seen roaming its halls while wearing green clothing; she has since come to be known as “The Green Lady”.
Her ghost can often be found appearing in the chapel tower room at Castle Deiberton, scaring many visitors over time and frightening her current residents.
7. The RMS Queen Mary
The Queen Mary is an iconic ocean liner that once traversed the North Atlantic. Now serving as a hotel in Long Beach, California and known for being haunted, guests have reported temperature changes, noises, flickering lights and doors slamming as well as sightings of ghostly figures ranging from an infant drowned in first class pool to an engineer dressed all in coveralls as well as hissing noises from within the ship. There have even been reports of screaming coming from one part of ship!
Stateroom B340 was so haunted that it was closed off for decades before opening as a haunted attraction in 2018. Visitors have reported feeling their bed covers being torn off while hearing voices they cannot explain.
