For those who crave the thrill of the supernatural, travel can be more than just sightseeing, as it can be a spine-chilling adventure into the world of ghosts, legends, and eerie encounters. Would you like to know about some haunted castles or abandoned asylums? These destinations are known for their paranormal activity, ghostly sightings, and eerie histories. Dare to visit?
1. The Tower of London, England
One of the most infamous haunted sites in the world, the Tower of London, has a bloody history dating back nearly 1,000 years. It was once a prison and execution site, with the ghosts of beheaded royals like Anne Boleyn said to roam the halls. Visitors report eerie whispers, cold spots, and even sightings of headless spirits.
Most Haunted Spot: The Bloody Tower, where the ghostly Princes in the Tower are said to appear.
2. The Stanley Hotel, Colorado, USA
The Stanley Hotel has been very widely known for its paranormal activity and has been frequently considered as one of the most haunted hotels in the United States. It is famous for inspiring Stephen King’s The Shining. The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park is a hotspot for ghostly activity. Guests often hear phantom piano music, children laughing in empty hallways, and objects moving on their own. Some even report seeing the ghost of F.O. Stanley, the hotel’s founder, still checking on guests.
Most Haunted Room: Room 217, where Stephen King had his terrifying experience.
3. Aokigahara Forest, Japan
Ever heard about this place? Aokigahara Forest in Japan is also known globally as the Suicide Forest. Aokigahara is one of the most haunted places in Japan. It is at the base of Mount Fuji. This dense, eerie forest is known for its tragic past. Hundreds of people have taken their own lives here. Many claim to hear whispers, footsteps, and shadowy figures lurking between the trees.
Warning: Visitors are advised not to stray from marked paths, as it’s easy to get lost and sometimes forever.
4. Château de Brissac, France
Château de Brissac, that of the la Dame Verte, or “Green Lady. It is known as the “Haunted Castle of France”. Château de Brissac is home to the ghost of La Dame Verte (The Green Lady). A noblewoman murdered by her husband in the 15th century. Her spirit, wearing a green dress and with hollow eyes, has been seen wandering the castle halls. Guests also report hearing her moaning at night.
Creepy Fact: Despite its haunted reputation, the castle still operates as a winery and guesthouse.
5. The Catacombs of Paris, France
Beneath the streets of Paris lies a labyrinth of bones, where six million people were buried in the 18th century. Visitors often experience sudden temperature drops, whispers in the dark, and even ghostly apparitions. Some have even gotten lost and never been found.
Most Haunted Section: The Port Mahon Gallery, where a ghostly “man in a cloak” is frequently seen.
6. Poveglia Island, Italy
It is one of the darkest and most dramatic chapters of Poveglia’s history. Dating back to the period of the great plague that scourged Europe in the 14th century. It is often called “the most haunted island in the world. “Poveglia was a plague quarantine zone and later an insane asylum. Legend says that doctors performed cruel experiments on patients before one was thrown from the hospital tower. Locals refuse to go near the island, and visitors report disembodied screams and ghostly figures.
Travel Warning: The island is officially off-limits, but daring explorers sometimes find a way in.
7. Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
It is one of Scotland’s most haunted places. Edinburgh Castle is also considered as one of the oldest fortified places in Europe. Edinburgh Castle has been the site of torture, murder, and war for over a thousand years. Visitors report seeing a headless drummer, ghostly prisoners, and even phantom dogs wandering the castle.
Paranormal Hotspot: The dungeons, where captives were once thrown into total darkness and left to die.
8. The Queen Mary, California, USA
Queen Mary had been setting a new benchmark in transatlantic travel. It is the rich and famous and considered as the only civilized way to travel. During its service, the Queen Mary was the site of violent deaths, accidents, and wartime tragedies. Guests report hearing ghostly children playing, mysterious knocking sounds, and sudden temperature drops.
Most Haunted Area: The First-Class Swimming Pool, where ghostly wet footprints appear despite the pool being empty for decades.
9. Dracula’s Castle (Bran Castle), Romania
Bran Castle is often associated with the fictional vampire Count Dracula. While history suggests he never lived here, the eerie Gothic fortress still attracts ghost hunters. The Romanian castle resembles Castle Dracula, as described in Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula (1897), in that both stand on rocky precipices and command spectacular views. But Stoker, an Irish writer, is not known to have ever visited Transylvania, perched in the Carpathian Mountains. Bran Castle is often linked to Vlad the Impaler, the real-life inspiration for Dracula. Many claim to feel an uneasy presence, hear whispers, and see shadowy figures at night.
Spooky Experience: Some tours offer vampire-themed overnight stays, if you dare.
10. Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Kentucky, USA
Waverly Hills Sanatorium is one of the hospitals in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. It was used in the 20th century for people with tuberculosis. Visitors report shadow figures, slamming doors, and ghostly whispers. In 1928, a nurse whose name was Mary Hillenburg entered Room 502 and hung herself from the ceiling light. The belief is that she took her own life due to her pregnancy from one of the male doctors at Waverly Hills.
Most Haunted Spot: Room 502, where a nurse allegedly took her own life and still lingers.