From ancient castles cloaked in centuries-old mysteries to abandoned asylums that still echo with the whispers of the past, these eerie locales are not for the faint of heart. Whether you’re a fearless adventurer seeking a brush with the paranormal or just curious about the darker side of history, our list of 12 Haunted Destinations promises to both chill and intrigue. So, gather your courage, and join us as we explore these spine-tingling, creepy places that will leave you with tales to tell and memories to haunt your dreams.
1. Ponte Sisto, Rome
Rome is an ancient city; indeed, every brick has a story to tell. But we will only dig Halloween specials. Some stories are as creepy as they can get. There’s a tale that specifically surrounds Ponte Sisto, a romantic bridge.
A local legend entails that if you visit the bridge at dawn (sunrise), you’ll witness a charging carriage helmed by Pope Innocent X’s advisor, Olimpia Maidalchini.
It’s said to be Olimpia’s attempt to flee the city with the church’s gold, just like she did after Pope Innocent X died in 1665. Sadly, Ponte Sisto is closed to pedestrians. However, you can give the bridge a visit because in each and every corner of Rome roams a ghost with a story of its own.
2. Himeji Castle, Japan
One of the most outstanding remaining examples of the ever-beautiful Japanese Architecture is the Himeji Castle. This castle dates to 1333 and is considered a masterpiece and a folklore house.
Himeji Castle has been deeply associated with some eerie folklore. Especially the famous story of Okiku. She was a one-time palace servant. Okiku was falsely accused of committing theft. She was blamed for having stolen valuable dishes.
Due to the accusation, she was killed, and her body was thrown into the well in the castle. Her horrifying ghost now haunts the castle. She is found counting dishes in a mournful voice. Once she reaches nine, she shrieks and returns to the well. Fun Fact: This was also featured in one of the anime episodes, “Doraemon.”
3. Xunantunich, Belize
Less than a mile from the Guatemala border, enshrouded in the Belize Jungle, stands Xunantunich, an ancient Mayan Ruins abandoned for millennia. An earthquake destroyed the ancient civilization, but the explorers found it in the 1890s.
Xunantunich has become a very liked archaeological site for tourists—but not just for exploring the ancient realm; it’s also a ghost-filled site. This ancient city is believed to have been haunted by a lady dressed in black with red, glowing eyes.
She was first encountered by researchers in 1893. After that, she was sighted near the area’s tallest building, El Castillo. No one knows the identity of the “Stone Lady,” but many speculate that it’s the ghost of a girl whose sacrificing ritual was held at the top of Ek Castillo.
4. Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Canada
A chateau-style hotel close to the mountains in Banff National Park came into being in 1888. It was built to encourage tourism and sell train tickets, and yet who knew one day it could be a haunted place?
It gets super gothic once you step in, and it’s not even about the architecture. There have been many ghosts reported residing in the hotel. One of them is a bride who fell down the stone staircase during her wedding.
But there’s a less tragic and supposedly helpful spirit, Sam the Bellman. Sam worked at the hotel until 1975 and left, saying he would return to haunt the place. His spirit has been reported to work shifts to help people carry their bags and stuff before fading away.
5. La Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires
The cemetery where the soul of Argentina’s most iconic figure—Eva Perón—rests, with fairytale icons, complex tombstones, and thousands of statues.
The stone walkways are a sight to behold, an even more pleasurable place to walk, but La Recoleta hides darkness of its own. It’s alarming to say that a beautiful place can be a lair of ghosts and spirits—and it certainly is.
The most famous story is of David Alleno, who was a grave digger working at the cemetery for 30 years until one day when he mysteriously took his own life. People still hear his ghost’s keys jingling as if he were taking a morning stroll in the cemetery at dawn.
6. Castle of Good Hope, South Africa
Near the shoreline of Table Bay rests the Castle of Good Hope in South Africa. Its origins go way back to 1666, the oldest colonial building in South Africa. It once was a replenishment station, then became a military fortress and a prison during the Second Boer War (1899-1902).
In 2023, you can roam the fortress at your ease as a tourist. And you can even visit the gruesome torture chamber (but keep prepared for a ghost sighting if you may).
In the 1700s, Governor Pieter van Noodt ordered a few men to be hanged to death, and one of them cursed Noodt from the gallows. The Governor died of a heart attack that day. And it is said that his ghost still haunts the battlements ever since that day.
7. Leap Castle, Ireland
Built somewhere between the 13th and 15th centuries, Leap Castle in Ireland has witnessed countless deaths. Legend has it that amidst a power struggle within the O’Carroll clan, a member thrust a sword into his brother’s chest (a priest) while holding mass in the church’s chapel. This room was thus named “The Bloody Chapel.”
The rumors suggest that the priest now haunts the chapel at night. But the horrors of Leap Castle have just begun. While renovating the castle in the 1900s, they found a secret dungeon through The Bloody Chapel, which was filled with human skeletons. They had to fill three cartloads to haul them away.
Apparently, the dungeon had a deadly design. It was designed so the prisoners would fall through a trapdoor, pummeling into the wooden spikes that punctured their lungs, and they faced a slow, gruesome death.
8. The Forbidden City, Beijing, China
A trip to China isn’t complete if you haven’t visited The Forbidden City in Beijing. It is China’s former imperial palace, now converted into a museum. What’s more, is that this palace has a charming reputation among supernatural enthusiasts.
Over the course of 600 years, many murders took place at the palace, either in the form of poisoning or executions at the orders of the Emperor. Given such a history, it’s unsurprising that spirits would roam around the palace.
After its public ovation in the 1940s, there have been specific stories about the palace. Most famous of them is the sighting of a Woman dressed in white, strolling the grounds and crying.
9. Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah
Savannah, the entire city, is a giant ghost story from parks to breweries. There’s truly no end. But for ghost lovers, Bonaventure Cemetery is the recommended spot, which overflows with Spanish mosses and Victorian monuments.
Many famous figures are buried in this cemetery, like the singer Johnny Mercer and the poet Conrad Aiken, but Gracie Watson’s grave is the one to watch out for. She was a little girl who died at just six years of age, and her grave is stomped on by a life-sized marble statue with her hand sitting on a tree stump (giving the impression of a short life).
Some say that they have seen Gracie’s ghost at the site. Others have experienced even more spooky things like the crying sound of babies, barking dogs, and the worst of ’em? Statues suddenly smile as people come close to them.
10. Isla de las Muñecas, Mexico
The neighborhood of Xochimilco attained quite a social status when it became popular over the internet as “The Island of Dolls.”
This hidden region boasts its frightening aura and magnitude as a massive hoarder of many dolls (and doll parts) scattered around the area. You may see them hanging around the trees and even scarred over the grass. There’s quite an interesting story behind this island, though.
Julian Santa Barrera (deceased) used to live on the artificial island. Once, he found a dead girl’s body around the canal. Hoping to ward off evil spirits, he then collected and displayed toys in that region, giving it the doll island appearance. Brave souls can hire a boat to view the island from the safe waters.
11. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia
Built in 1829, the Eastern State Penitentiary took solitary confinement to a new level. Its castle-like appearance gives you the chills, but that’s not all. The prisoners there lived alone, exercised alone, and even ate alone. Whenever an inmate left his cell, the guards covered his face with a hood so he couldn’t see anything, nor could anyone see him.
This concept of solitary confinement was banished in 1913 due to overcrowding. However, the punishments for the prisoners didn’t become any less severe than before. After that, it closed for good in 1970. The spooky site has become a tourist attraction now.
This prison now welcomes countless visitors every year, especially during the days of Halloween. People have also reported paranormal experiences there—for instance, shadowy figures, pacing steps, and laughter noises.
12. St. George’s Church, Czech Republic
About 125 miles East of Prague, the land of St. George’s Church in the Czech Republic exists. Built in 1352, it boasts an epic history. Over the centuries, the building had to face many attacks. Fires almost destroyed it, and in 1968, its roof partially collapsed amidst a funeral service.
This event alarmed the congregation, and they were confident that the church was haunted and refused to enter it. Due to this, the building fell into the hands of robbers and everyday vandalism. But this changed in 2012.
An art student at the University of West Bohemia stumbled upon a unique idea to lure visitors to the church. “Sitting in the pews with their heads bowed, a collection of 30 such ghost sculptures.” Now, tourists love to visit “Ghost Church” every Saturday (standard timing when the church is open for public visits) and click some pictures with these static specters.
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Read more: The Most Haunted Places in Each of the 50 U.S. States
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