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Our Top 10 Spooky Destinations for Halloween

Traveller sat at Park Guell, Barcelona

By Sarah Hemsley

Last updated: 4th October 2024

Get ready to dust the cobwebs from the coffin to a spooktacular secret: our top 10 spooky destinations for Halloween! 🎃 Whether you're drawn to haunted cities, eerie vampire castles, or abandoned prisons, these spine-tingling spots are waiting for brave ghost hunters, vampire slayers, and thrill-seeking backpackers.

Keep on reading to discover the fright adventure for you…

⚠️ Warning: This guidebook may contain Halloween puns ⚠️

1) Dracula’s Castle, Transylvania, Romania 🏰

Bran Castle in Transylvania, Romania

If you dare, visit the real-life Dracula Castle, perched high above the valley of Transylvania. Known as Bran Castle, this fortress is believed to have inspired the iconic Dracula book. Its shadowy corridors are said to be haunted by the vampire legend Count Dracula, making it the ultimate spooky destination for your Halloween travels. While there are many castles in Transylvania, from Peles Castle to Corvin Castle, none compare to the fangtastic Bran Castle. Are you brave enough to uncover it on The Great European Journey?

2) New York City, USA 🧟

Times Square in New York City, USA

New York goes BIG for Halloween, throwing the largest themed parade in all of the USA. Imagine thousands of New Yorkers dressed as zombies, vampires, witches, you name it, creeping down 6th Avenue to Thriller by Michael Jackson. Grab your cat ears because this year's theme is “meow”. The event is held on October 31st and is free to watch and purr-ticipate.

3) Waitomo Caves, New Zealand 🌌

Travellers on boat looking up at glow-worms in Waitomo Caves

Is it really Halloween if we don’t mention something green and glow-in-the-dark? We’re talking about glow-worms! These tiny creatures can be found crawling inside the limestone caves of Waitomo in New Zealand. During darkness, they glow a blue-green to attract their prey. On day 3 of our New Zealand Adventure, you can take a boat tour inside the dark caves and watch them glow above you like a galaxy of stars. The darker the caves, the brighter they glow!

4) Buda Labyrinth, Budapest, Hungary 🧛

View of Budapest Parliament building

The gothic capital of Hungary, Budapest, is as haunted as it is beautiful! Buried beneath Buda Castle is the creepy Buda Labyrinth. A maze of ancient tunnels and caves where Dracula was said to be imprisoned and tortured. Not only that but the tunnels are rumoured to be haunted by the paranormal. If that’s not sinister enough, you can take a historical walking tour around Buda to learn the history of Vlad the Impaler who inspired the blood-sucking character of Vlad Dracula… Mwhahaha!

5) Alcatraz, San Francisco, USA 👀

Alcatraz prison in San Francisco

The most haunted destination in San Francisco! Alcatraz prison is believed to be inhabited by evil spirits, with rumours of visitors hearing the voices of the notorious criminals who were once kept imprisoned there. On a USA group tour, you can visit the secluded island, wander around abandoned jail blocks, and see the creepy cells which the famous prison breakers, Frank Morris and the two Anglin brothers, escaped from. Even with their crafty criminal minds, how they escaped from America’s most secure prison is still unknown and to this day, their fate is still a mystery.

6) The Lost City of Petra, Jordan 👻

Lost city of Petra in Jordan

When dusk falls in Jordan, the Lost City of Petra reveals its spooky secret. With a history that dates back to the 1st Century Nabataean Kingdom, it comes as no shock that it’s one of the most haunted places in the world. The Nabataeans are ancient Arab people who used Petra as their settlement. They say a phantom of an ancient Nabatean maiden roams the city at night searching for her lost love. Travellers have heard her whispers echo through the stone-carved ruins. Pretty ghoul, right?

7) Oaxaca, Mexico 💀

Person dressed up with skull mask for Day of the Dead

This one’s not so spooky… but a celebration of life! Mexico’s Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is traditionally held just after Halloween, on the 1st and 2nd of November. Families across Mexico honour their loved ones who have passed by gifting colourfully painted sugar skulls to one another. They fill the streets with traditional folk music, dance and street parties that bring this day to life. Oaxaca is one of the best places to attend this unforgettable event. Take a look at our Mexico group tours and experience the event for yourself.

8) The London Underground, UK 😱

Baker street underground station

Don’t believe in ghosts? Just take a trip on the London Underground and you’ll soon be proven wrong! Built in 1863, it’s the oldest and spookiest underground network in the world. With abandoned platforms, eerie tunnels and haunted stations, there’s no end of paranormal activity (well, so they say). There’s even a staff logbook for sightings of ghosts!

9) Hong Kong, China 🎉

View of Hong Kong at night time

Put your spooky costume on and head to Hong Kong. It’s named the Halloween capital of Asia for a good reason - they know how to throw a wicked party! On our China Adventure, explore Hong Kong’s bustling streets, from SoHo to Lan Kwai Fong, and embrace this mystical Halloween destination. You’ll be eating dim sum by day and partying hard by night. Trust us, it’ll be terrifyingly good!

10) Prague, Czech Republic 🍻

Astronomical clock in Prague

Enticing myths. Gothic architecture. Spooky ghosts. What’s not to love about a Halloween trip to Prague? Keep your eyes peeled for the lurking spirits as you cross medieval bridges, crawl down ancient cobblestoned streets, and drink cheap boos in the Old Town’s underground bars - no wonder the ghosts love it here!
 

Witch destination will you choose for next Halloween? Take a sneak peek of our group tours for more travel inspiration. Boo-k today 👻🦇

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