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With Halloween just around the corner, there’s no better time to explore all the spooky places Europe has to offer. Europe is steeped in history. Many of its landmarks have eerie backstories filled with ghost sightings, creepy legends and chilling encounters. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker or just looking for a unique travel experience, these spooky places should be on your list.
Did you have a childhood phase obsessed with vampires and witches? Quite a while before Twilight, when I was a little kid in the early 90s (as in…maybe too small to obsess over vampires?!) I had a real fascination with vampires. Growing up in Brazil, we had the most random TV shows imported from different countries. One of my favourites was the Canadian-American TV show Dracula: the Series(filmed in beautiful Luxembourg!). Please can one of you tell me you’ve watched it? I’ve never met anyone who has! Meanwhile in Brazil, we had a soap opera, Vamp. Also centred around vampires, the main character obviously being the head of vampires, Count Vlad. Mind you, I was 6. Over the years my 9-year-old obsession with witches took over and it’s been around ever since. But that’s a subject for a different post.
All that to say that I couldn’t obviously begin this post with anything other than the (in)famous Transylvania Dracula castle:
Backstory: Famously tied to the legend of Dracula. Bran Castle has long been rumoured to be haunted by Vlad the Impaler – the inspiration behind the vampire myth – and other spirits. Visitors often report strange occurrences and feelings of being watched in the gloomy corridors.
What to Expect: Tour the castle’s eerie rooms, learn about Vlad the Impaler’s violent history and take in the dramatic views of the surrounding Carpathian Mountains.
Top Tip: Visit the castle in the late afternoon for a more atmospheric, spooky experience.
Bonus tip: if you’re flying into Bucharest you can hire a car and drive up and around. Alternatively, you can book a day tour such as GetYourGuide’s full day of castle hopping. It takes you not only to Bran Castle but also Peles Castle and Brasov Old Town.
2. Leap Castle, Ireland
Location: County Offaly, Ireland
Backstory: Leap Castle is known for its dark history of family betrayal and it’s said to be haunted by the “Elemental,” a malevolent spirit. The castle’s “Bloody Chapel” is where many executions took place and visitors have reported feeling an overwhelming sense of dread there. It was used by the O’Carrolls, a “fierce and brutal people, bent on domination.”
What to Expect: A tour of the castle will reveal its violent past, but watch out for the shadowy figures that are often seen lurking in the chapel.
Top Tip: Visit during the winter months for an even more eerie atmosphere.
3. The Catacombs, Paris, France
Location: Paris, France
Backstory: Beneath the bustling streets of Paris lies a labyrinth of tunnels filled with the bones of more than 6 million people. Originally created as an ossuary in the 18th century, the Paris Catacombs are said to be haunted by the souls of those whose remains were moved here.
What to Expect: Visitors can tour a small portion of the Catacombs, but be warned: people have reported hearing whispers, seeing shadowy figures and even feeling cold hands brush against them.
Top Tip: Book a guided night tour for an even more spine-chilling experience.
4. Château de Brissac, France
Location: Loire Valley, France
Backstory: The Château de Brissac is home to the “Green Lady,” a ghost believed to be the spirit of Charlotte de Brézé – the illegitimate daughter of King Charles VII and his mistress Agnes Sorel – who was murdered by her husband in the 15th century. She is often seen roaming the halls with hollow eyes and guests have reported hearing moans in the middle of the night.
What to Expect: The château is open for tours and brave visitors can even stay overnight in its haunted rooms. And if nothing happens, at least you’re staying in a French château!
Top Tip: Book a night tour to hear about the castle’s haunted history from local guides.
5. Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Backstory: Edinburgh Castle has been a site of battles, sieges and executions for centuries, leading many to believe that it’s haunted by the spirits of prisoners and soldiers who died there. There have been numerous reports of ghostly apparitions, including a headless drummer.
What to Expect: Explore the castle’s dungeons, where prisoners of war were once held and see if you can spot any ghostly figures in the shadows.
Top Tip: Don’t miss the underground vaults, which are considered one of the most haunted parts of the castle.
Bonus tip: Not far at all from the castle, at the bottom of the Vennel steps, you’ll find one of THE best ice creams ever! Certainly the best ice cream in Edinburgh. Mary’s Milk Bar churns their ice cream in-store and every day they have different flavours. I still dream about the ricotta & orange blossom scoop I had…
Bonus tip 2: still on Vennel steps, if you go UP them, you’ll find a very popular spot amongst photographers, amateurs or otherwise. It provides a beautifully-framed view of the castle like this one:
Honestly, Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities ever! Expect a post or 10 about it on this blog soon (don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss it!).
6. Poveglia Island, Italy
Location: Venice, Italy
Backstory: In my humble opinion, probably the eeriest place in this list is Poveglia Island. Known as one of the most haunted places in the world, it holds a gruesome past as a quarantine island for plague victims and a mental asylum. The island is now abandoned, but the spirits of those who suffered there are said to remain. According to Wikipedia, “a doctor allegedly experimented on patients with crude lobotomies”. I couldn’t find a copyright-free photo of it to share here but, if you’re interested in losing your sleep tonight, type in “Poveglia island” on Google and have a look at those spine-tingling shots!
What to Expect: While Poveglia is actually closed to the public, but boat tours around the island are available and visitors often report feeling a strong sense of dread as they approach.
Top Tip: Combine your trip to Poveglia with a ghost tour of Venice for a full spooky experience. And maybe watch A Haunting in Venice pre-trip to get you in the mood.
7. Hoia Baciu Forest, Romania
Location: Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Backstory: Again, in my frightened opinion, this is pretty on par with Poveglia above in the chilling department… Known as the “Bermuda Triangle of Romania,” the Hoia Baciu Forest is infamous for its paranormal activity, including UFO sightings, strange lights and ghostly apparitions. Locals believe that those who enter the forest may never come back. I mean…count me out, maybe?!
What to Expect: Guided tours take visitors deep into the forest where you can learn about the strange occurrences and even experience some for yourself. And hopefully come back from it.
Top Tip: Bring a camera—many visitors have captured unexplained phenomena on film.
Backstory: The Tower of London has a dark history of imprisonment, torture and execution, making it one of the most haunted places in the UK. The ghost of Anne Boleyn, who was beheaded at the Tower, is often seen wandering the grounds carrying her severed head.
What to Expect: Take a guided ghost tour of the Tower, where you’ll hear chilling tales of its haunted past.
Top Tip: Visit the Tower at night for a truly terrifying experience. You can also get a double ticket and a visit to the Crown Jewels while you’re at it!
Tower of London at night
9. Chillingham Castle, England
Location: Northumberland, England
Backstory: Chillingham Castle has a long and bloody history and it’s said to be haunted by the spirits of those who were tortured there. Visitors have reported seeing the “Blue Boy,” a ghost who appears at midnight, and hearing the cries of men being tortured in the castle’s dungeons.
What to Expect: A tour of the castle includes a visit to the torture chamber and dungeons, where you can learn about the gruesome methods used to punish prisoners.
Top Tip: You can actually book an overnight stay in the castle for a chance to experience its hauntings firsthand. Let me know if you see the Blue Boy!!
10. Burg Eltz, Germany
Location: Wierschem, Germany
Backstory: This medieval castle has been home to the same family for over 800 years. It’s said to be haunted by the spirits of those who died in the many battles fought over the castle’s ownership. Visitors have reported seeing ghostly figures wandering the halls and hearing strange noises at night. (I went there last autumn and didn’t see any but the guided tour was interesting and the scenery was really beautiful!)
What to Expect: Take a guided tour of the castle where you’ll hear stories of its haunted past and see its beautifully preserved medieval architecture.
Top Tip: Visit in the autumn for a more atmospheric experience. The mist rolling in over the hills adds to the castle’s eerie vibe! We didn’t have much time to explore the area as we were driving to the village where I used to live as an au pair. If you can, nearby there are loads of cute villages along the river Moselle with restaurants, cafes, places to stay and hikes.
Bonus tip: for a not-at-all-scary time, the cakes from the castle’s cafes are outstanding! As German cakes usually are…
