For thrill-seeking globetrotters chasing chills and spooky spirits this Halloween, the world’s most haunted destinations have been unveiled.
From cursed castles to ghost-inhabited prisons, these eerie locations draw millions of brave visitors each year – all in search of a supernatural scare.
According to Ghost Tours, a whopping 41 per cent of adults believe in ghosts, and one in five have reportedly witnessed something ‘paranormal’ on at least one occasion.
In light of this, a new survey by SpinBlitz has ranked the top ten most haunted hotspots in the world.
The study, which analysed data from multiple travel sources, such as Lonely Planet, Trip.com, and Condé Nast Traveller, ranked global destinations based on traveller reviews, folklore and documented ghost sightings.
From the United States to Eastern Europe to England, read on to discover the spookiest sites you can visit – or steer clear of – this Halloween.
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts, has been named the world’s most haunted destination, scoring 4.9 out of 5 on the ‘haunted appeal’ scale.
Salem, Massachusetts, has been named the world’s most haunted destination, scoring 4.9 out of 5 on the ‘haunted appeal’ scale
Infamous for its 1642 Witch Trials, the city attracts more than one million visitors each October (Pictured: The Salem Witch House)
In 2024, Salem saw a record 87,500 people pour into its streets on Halloween – a 37 per cent increase compared to the previous year
Infamous for its 1642 Witch Trials, the city attracts more than one million visitors each October.
In 2024, Salem saw a record 87,500 people pour into its streets on Halloween – a 37 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
As reported by the New York Post, SpinBlitz wrote: ‘Sites like the Witch House and the Salem Witch Trials Memorial buzz with eerie energy, while flickering lanterns and fog rolling off the harbor create a movie-perfect backdrop.’
Corvin Castle, Romania
Following closely behind Salem is Corvin Castle, located in Hunedoara, Romania, with a score of 4.9 out of 5.
The Gothic fortress, where Vlad the Impaler was once imprisoned, attracts roughly 275,000 visitors each year, with October marking its busiest month.
Both visitors and paranormal investigators have reported sudden temperature drops and unexplained whispers inside the castle’s walls.
According to SpinBlitz, the site see a ‘noticeable spike every October as Dracula fans and paranormal seekers descend on its dungeons’.
Following closely behind Salem is Corvin Castle, located in Hunedoara, Romania, with a score of 4.9 out of 5
The Gothic fortress, where Vlad the Impaler was once imprisoned, attracts roughly 275,000 visitors each year, with October marking its busiest month
Both visitors and paranormal investigators have reported sudden temperature drops and unexplained whispers inside the castle’s walls
The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts, comes in third place with a score of 4.8.
The site of the infamous 1892 double murder attracts thousands of overnight guests annually.
On 4 August, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were found dead in their home after reportedly being hacked to death with an axe.
Their daughter Lizzie was acquitted of the murders, and the real culprit has never been found.
According to SpinBlitz, over 70 per cent of paranormal investigations recorded unexplained noises – particularly in the room where the murders occurred.
Hill of Crosses, Lithuania
In fourth place is Lithuania’s Hill of Crosses with a score of 4.7.
The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts, comes in third place with a score of 4.8
In fourth place is Lithuania’s Hill of Crosses with a score of 4.7
At the pilgrimage site, which is adorned with over 200,000 crosses, locals have reported mysterious lights and ghostly figures among the memorials at night.
Though folklore suggests the site is haunted by the souls of monks from a church buried by a storm, or by ghosts of pagan warriors killed in a 1348 battle, some visitors have described the general energy as mystic and spiritual rather than frightening.
The Tower of London rounds out the top five, with three million visitors a year and more than 200 documented ghost sightings.
The Tower of London, famous for its dark past of executions and imprisonments, ranks on the list as the world’s tenth most haunted location.
Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, was taken as a prisoner through the infamous Traitor’s Gate after being accused of adultery in 1536, shortly before she was beheaded on Tower Green
Officially built in 1078, the landmark is world-famous due to centuries-long speculation that it’s haunted by thirteen ghosts who met grisly ends in the Tower while alive.
Guy Fawkes was subjected to intense torture – presumably in the White Tower dungeons – following his involvement in the foiled Gunpowder Plot to assassinate James I at Parliament in 1605.
Additionally, Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, was taken as a prisoner through the infamous Traitor’s Gate after being accused of adultery in 1536, shortly before she was beheaded on Tower Green.
Some 340 years later, a soldier is said to have spotted a ‘burning light’ in the closed chapel where Anne was laid to rest, which revealed a procession of knights and ladies, led by a headless Anne Boleyn.
