15 Haunted Places Around the World You Can Actually Visit
ADVENTURE TRAVEL
For thrill-seekers, ghost hunters, and lovers of the macabre, travel gets a little more exciting when the destination comes with a side of paranormal activity. These 15 haunted places aren’t just eerie—they’re open to visitors. Whether you want a guided ghost tour or an overnight stay with something that goes bump in the night, these are the spine-tingling spots to explore… if you dare.
1. Eastern State Penitentiary – Philadelphia, USA
Once home to notorious criminals, this crumbling prison is now a popular tourist attraction. Visitors report whispers, shadowy figures, and sudden cold spots. Its solitary confinement system was so intense, it's believed to have left behind residual trauma—and maybe something else.
2. Château de Brissac – Loire Valley, France
This towering French castle is as elegant as it is eerie. The ghost of the “Green Lady,” allegedly murdered in a crime of passion, is said to wander its halls in a green dress. Guests have reported her moaning through the night.
3. Aokigahara Forest – Japan
Also known as the “Suicide Forest,” this dense woodland at the base of Mount Fuji has a dark reputation. It’s known for being unnaturally silent—and many visitors claim to feel disoriented, watched, or even led astray by unseen forces.
4. The Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, USA
This grand Colorado hotel inspired The Shining, and it lives up to the hype. Guests report flickering lights, phantom piano music, and apparitions roaming the halls. You can even book Room 217, the one Stephen King stayed in.
5. Poveglia Island – Venice, Italy
Once a quarantine zone and later an asylum, this abandoned island is considered one of the most haunted in the world. Though difficult to access, some private tours and boat operators offer trips around the island—if you ask the right locals.
6. Monte Cristo Homestead – New South Wales, Australia
Dubbed Australia's most haunted house, this 19th-century mansion has a violent history of tragic deaths. Visitors claim to hear voices, footsteps, and feel sudden drops in temperature. Night tours are available for the brave.
7. Leap Castle – County Offaly, Ireland
Said to be the most haunted castle in Ireland, Leap Castle is known for its “Elemental” spirit, a dark entity that’s been seen by multiple guests. The Bloody Chapel and secret dungeon only add to the chills.
8. The Queen Mary – Long Beach, USA
Once a luxury ocean liner, now a permanently docked hotel, the Queen Mary is full of paranormal reports—especially in Room B340, where poltergeist activity has been so intense, it was closed for decades.
9. Houska Castle – Czech Republic
Built to seal a supposed “gateway to hell,” Houska Castle wasn’t designed for defense—it was designed to keep something in. The stories here involve demons, strange creatures, and decades of reported hauntings. You can book a guided tour.
10. The Tower of London – England
One of Britain’s most iconic landmarks is also one of its most haunted. Ghosts of beheaded royals, tortured prisoners, and even a bear have reportedly been seen roaming its ancient corridors.
11. Bhangarh Fort – Rajasthan, India
Official signs warn tourists not to enter after dark—because the locals believe spirits roam once the sun goes down. This 17th-century fort is considered India’s most haunted site, and its legends are chilling enough to keep most visitors away at night.
12. Lizzie Borden House – Fall River, USA
The site of the infamous axe murders is now a bed-and-breakfast. You can stay overnight in the very room where the gruesome crimes happened. Visitors report strange sounds, moving objects, and ghostly shadows.
13. Dragsholm Castle – Denmark
Now a luxury hotel, this castle has a history of imprisonments, deaths, and ghost sightings—including the “White Lady,” a noblewoman allegedly bricked into the walls by her father. Guests can dine in style… with spirits.
14. Myrtles Plantation – Louisiana, USA
Often called one of America’s most haunted homes, the Myrtles Plantation is rumored to house up to 12 ghosts. Stories of a slave girl named Chloe, phantom children, and a haunted mirror make this Southern estate a ghost hunter’s dream.
15. Banff Springs Hotel – Alberta, Canada
This castle-like hotel in the Canadian Rockies may be beautiful—but its ghost stories run deep. From a bride who fell to her death on the staircase to a phantom bellman who helps guests, the spirits here seem active—and oddly polite.