Every destination in the world has its ghost stories, but some places have a chill in the air that’s hard to ignore. From ancient castles and abandoned prisons to fog-shrouded forests and underground labyrinths, these are the scariest places on Earth, and they’re waiting for bold travellers to explore. Whether you believe in ghosts or just love a good thrill, these legendary locations are best experienced in good company and preferably not alone...
Bran Castle, Transylvania
Vampire legend meets real medieval history in Romania at Bran Castle, better known as Dracula’s Castle because of its loose association with Vlad the Impaler, a ruthless 15th-century leader who would literally impale his enemies. Perched high atop a dramatic rocky outcrop, this atmospheric fortress has seen centuries of battles and myths swirl around it.
Exploring its narrow corridors and creaking staircases feels like stepping straight into Gothic folklore, and that’s before you hear about the ghosts that are rumoured to wander the halls. Lady in a white flowing gown? Tick. The whispering of a mysterious monk? Tick. Creepy children’s laughter? Tick. Our G Adventures tours to Transylvania let you experience this eerie masterpiece in good company — because wandering its halls solo might be a little too chilling.
Experience it for yourself on: Highlights of Romania & the Danube Delta
Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh
The old graveyard in Edinburgh, Scotland is certainly beautiful by day, but by night? That's a different story. Greyfriars is said to be home to one of the world’s most active poltergeists, the ruthless Mackenzie Poltergeist, AKA George Mackenzie, whose presence is infamous among ghost hunters. Rumour has it that his spirit was disturbed when a man used his tomb for shelter in the 1990s and subsequently fell into a pit of decaying corpses.
Since then, there have been more than 500 reports of physical attacks within the mausoleum and in the surrounding graveyard, including visitors being scratched, bitten, pushed, and even punched. Bloody Mackenzie, as he was otherwise known, was responsible for ordering the deaths and torture of hundreds of Covenanters in the 17th century, and he's also the inspiration for Peeves in Harry Potter, so it’s no surprise that this is one of the most famous ghost stories on Earth.
This writer even saw plenty of orbs in the mausoleum himself! Enjoy a group tour to Edinburgh and opt to walk through the misty Greyfriars Kirkyard with its ancient tombstones and mausoleums — if you dare.
Experience it for yourself on: Highlights of Scotland
Leap Castle, County Offaly
Leap Castle isn’t just the most haunted castle in Ireland — it might just be the most haunted castle in the world. Constructed in the 13th century and nestled deep in the mist-covered hills of County Offaly, this brooding fortress has a violent past soaked in blood and betrayal. One of its most infamous features lies in the Bloody Chapel, where a power-hungry man stabbed his own brother, a priest, to death mid-Mass. Visitors have reported hearing ghostly chanting, footsteps echoing through empty corridors, and doors slamming shut of their own accord — all the hallmarks of a good Conjuring movie.
But the darkest legend of all? That belongs to the Elemental, a sinister, shadowy presence with a foul smell that's said to bring doom to anyone who challenges it. The castle even has a hidden oubliette (a kind of medieval dungeon) beneath a trapdoor in the chapel floor. When it was discovered, it was filled with thousands of human bones impaled on long, wooden spikes. There are said to be about 19 entities found here. No wonder it’s been the subject of countless paranormal investigations.
Discover Ireland on: Highlights of Ireland
Catacombs of Paris
Beneath the elegant boulevards and chic cafés of the capital of France lies a chilling underworld: a vast network of ossuaries known as the Catacombs. Created in the 18th century to solve overcrowding in the city’s cemeteries, these tunnels hold the carefully arranged bones of more than six million Parisians: stacked skulls, femurs, and ribcages stretching out in haunting symmetry.
But it’s not just the sheer volume of human remains found here that makes the Catacombs one of the scariest places on Earth — it’s the oppressive silence, the sudden temperature drop, and the feeling that someone (or something) might be watching you. Visitors have claimed to hear whispers in the dark or catch glimpses of shadows flitting through the narrow corridors. Perhaps even more scarily, others have reported getting lost, even when following clear signage… spooky stuff!
Experience it for yourself on: Best of France & Spain
Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town
Built in the 17th century, this fortress in South Africa might look like a historic photo op by day, but by night, it completely transforms, and the walls whisper with a darker past. Cape Town’s Castle of Good Hope is South Africa’s oldest surviving colonial building — and one of its most haunted. Within its pentagonal stone bastions, you’ll find the infamous Donker Gat (Dark Hole), a dungeon where prisoners were once tortured and are now said to linger in shadowy form.
Guests and guards alike have reported phantom footsteps on empty battlements, a tall figure leaping from the ramparts before vanishing into thin air, and a spectral black dog snarling at unseen visitors. The bell in the sealed‑off tower is also said to sometimes ring on its own, even though no one’s up there. Rumour has it that it’s because of a soldier who hanged himself with the bell rope. Just keep telling yourself it's just the wind...
Experience it for yourself on: South Africa: Cape Town & The Garden Route
Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff
Nestled deep in the heart of the snow-capped Canadian Rockies, the Fairmont Banff Springs looks like something out of a fairy tale, but don’t let the turrets and luxury setting fool you. This grand, castle-like hotel is considered one of Canada’s most haunted. Built in 1888, it’s rumoured to house several long-term ghostly guests. There’s the spectral bride, said to have fallen down the staircase to her death on her wedding day, now seen dancing alone in the ballroom. A friendly former bellhop named Sam reportedly helps guests before vanishing into thin air.
With panoramic mountain views, winding hallways, and dramatic alpine weather, the atmosphere here is perfect for a haunting — or a hike. Whether you visit in summer for the trails and wildlife watching or winter for the ski slopes, Banff’s natural beauty is undeniable. Just don’t be surprised if you feel a chill that’s not from the ice and snow.
Explore the beauty of Banff on: Canadian Rockies Express
Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan
Widely considered the most haunted place in India, Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan is wrapped in eerie legends and an official warning from none other than the Archaeological Survey of India — no visitors are allowed after sunset. According to local lore, a sorcerer cursed the fort after a love spell went horribly wrong, dooming it to ruin. Since then, tales of strange noises, vanishing shadows, and sudden drops in temperature have surrounded the site.
The crumbling temples, deserted market stalls, and looming fort walls give the whole place an unsettling, frozen-in-time feel. Phones mysteriously lose power, footsteps echo when no one’s there, and locals refuse to enter after dark for fear of a sorcerer’s curse. Yikes! You can visit Bhangarh easily from both Alwar and Jaipur. Just don’t wander off alone.
Explore Jaipur and Rajasthan on: Rajasthan Adventure
Aokigahara Forest, Yamanashi Prefecture
Aokigahara Forest, also known as the Sea of Trees, is one of Japan’s most mysterious and misunderstood places. Stretching out across the foot of the imposing Mt Fuji, this dense and vast moss-covered forest is known for its unusual silence, thanks to lava rock that absorbs sound and creates an eerie hush. Legends speak of restless spirits called yūrei, lost souls, and supernatural sightings among the twisted roots and gnarled, fog-covered trees, and it’s long been associated with ghost stories and unexplained disappearances.
It’s easy to see how folklore flourishes here. Compasses often malfunction, footsteps vanish into the undergrowth, and a deep stillness follows you wherever you go. A short walk away, the icy blue tunnels of Fugaku Fuketsu Ice Cave offer a literal chill, with frozen walls and natural ice pillars that last year-round.
Visit the Mt Fuji region on: Discover Japan
Wan Chai, Hong Kong
You might not think somewhere like Hong Kong — with its towering skyscrapers, neon-lit skyline, and jungle-clad islands — would be haunted, but scratch beneath the surface and the past comes alive in eerie ways. Wan Chai, once a quiet fishing village, is now one of the city's most vibrant and lively districts, but it holds on to ghost stories from its wartime past and colonial roots in its shadowy alleyways.
Among its most infamous haunted sites is the mysterious Nam Koo Terrace, an abandoned red-brick mansion said to be haunted by the spirits of women who were imprisoned and mistreated during the Japanese occupation. Locals claim to hear screams at night and even avoid walking past it after dark. Discover it on the Wan Chai Heritage Trail, which winds through the area’s most historic — and haunted — landmarks.
Experience it for yourself on: Journeys: Pandas & the Peaks of Zhangjiajie
Alcatraz Island, San Francisco
Lying just off the coast of San Francisco sits Alcatraz, a prison so notorious that it’s no wonder the ghosts never left. Known as The Rock, this former maximum-security fortress once held the most dangerous criminals in the United States, including gangster Al Capone and convicted murderer Robert Stroud, known as the Birdman of Alcatraz. But it’s what’s said to have stayed behind that really sends a shiver down your spine.
Visitors and former guards alike have reported disembodied voices, phantom footsteps, and cell doors slamming shut on their own. Some even speak of strange cold spots and distant screams echoing through the abandoned blocks. Whether you’re into history, true crime, or just a good old ghost story this Halloween, exploring Alcatraz is an unforgettable experience, especially when you’re standing alone in solitary confinement. Join a group trip through California and add this eerie, iconic island to your list.
Visit the infamous Alcatraz on: Zion to San Francisco Adventure
Tower of London
Few places wear their haunted history quite like the Tower of London, set in the heart of the capital of the United Kingdom. With more than 900 years of royal drama, grisly executions, and political betrayal behind its stone walls, it’s no surprise that ghost sightings are practically routine here. Visitors have reported eerie encounters with the spirit of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s ill-fated queen, who’s said to roam the halls holding her head under one arm. Then there’s the tragic tale of the Princes in the Tower — young Edward V and his brother Richard — allegedly murdered by their uncle, Richard III, in a ruthless bid for the crown. Their ghostly figures have been spotted wandering the battlements, still seeking justice.
If that’s not chilling enough, keep an eye out for the screams of Margaret Pole (Lady Salisbury), whose botched execution took 11 gruesome blows. There’s even a rumour of a ghost polar bear here!
Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire
Tucked away in the sleepy chocolate box village of Wotton-under-Edge in England's rolling Cotswolds, the Ancient Ram Inn looks quaint from the outside, but step inside and the energy completely shifts. With more than 800 years of haunted history, this crooked, timber-framed inn has been linked to everything from witchcraft and pagan rituals to ghost sightings and even demonic forces.
Built atop an ancient pagan burial ground and intersecting ley lines, the Grade II*-listed inn is said to be home to restless spirits, including a murdered young girl, a dark demonic entity, an incubus, a succubus, a woman who was accused of being a witch, and even the ghost of a small Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Cold spots, invisible hands grabbing ankles, and blood-curdling screams in the night? All standard fare here.
Brave travellers who venture to the Ancient Ram Inn often leave with more questions than answers — and maybe a story or two they wish they couldn’t tell. While it used to be a pub, you can now visit the Ancient Ram Inn only on a specially designated paranormal experience with a group. As England’s "most haunted house," that's particularly good for moral support, of course. What’s the rule of every horror movie? Don’t. Split. Up.
