Eerie histories make these landmarks too spooky for most.

Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan

A European vacation can be filled with any number of great attractions, from high-end dining to fairy-tale castles and bespoke cultural tours — but there’s also a dark side. After all, this is the place where so many of the legendary monsters that keep us up at night, like vampires and werewolves, originated. In Europe’s most haunted places, spirits lurk around spooky castles, dark caves, and abandoned islands.

Regardless of whether you believe in ghosts, there will be no denying the eerie sensation you’ll get when you step into France’s Château de Brissac, the eternal home of a woman murdered there centuries ago, or on the trails of Hoia-Baciu Forest, the Romanian destination that’s way creepier than Dracula’s Castle. Moreover, while you’re not likely to catch the plague today (we hope), a visit to Poveglia Island will take you back to the days of the Black Death, when plague victims were shipped there from nearby Venice.

These are 10 of the most haunted places in Europe — if you dare to check them out.

Kilkenny, Ireland

This Irish city has a storied past filled with tragic events that allegedly left behind spirits visitors still witness today. Kilkenny, located about 80 miles from Dublin, was the site of Ireland’s first witch trial. Dame Alice Kyteler, accused in 1324, ultimately escaped, leading her maid, Petronilla de Midia, to be charged as a witch in her place. Additionally, another tragedy struck in 1763 when 16 people drowned in the river after a bridge collapsed during a flood. Consequently, people report seeing creepy figures in the River Nore that rise above the mist in the early morning.

Poveglia Island, Italy

Just off the coast of glittering Venice sits the small island of Poveglia, which is nothing like its touristy neighbor. This haunted island was once a home for people dying from the bubonic plague, and it later housed a mental institution in the early 1900s. In the 1930s, rumors persisted that a doctor performed experiments on patients there. Now, the island is abandoned, but some local tour companies — Classic Boats Venice and Venice Tour By Boat — offer excursions.

Château de Brissac, France

Despite its gold-leaf ceilings and opulent furniture, this hauntingly beautiful Loire Valley castle hides a dark secret. Legend has it the Château de Brissac saw a double murder during the 15th century — an unfaithful wife by the name of Charlotte de Breze and her romantic partner killed by her husband. The woman still wanders the castle today, forever stuck there after her untimely death. She is known as la Dame Verte, the Green Lady, because she wears a green gown, and is often spotted in the tower room of the chapel.

The Tower of London, England

This iconic tower’s bloody history is no stranger to ghost stories. First built in the 11th century to defend royal power, the Tower of London has been used as a prison and execution site. Henry VI was allegedly killed at the tower during the Wars of the Roses, as were three queens: Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Jane Grey. Today, Anne Boleyn’s ghost is said to walk Tower Green, the site of her execution, and Arbella Stuart — Queen Elizabeth I’s cousin who was arrested for marrying without royal permission — is rumored to haunt the Queen’s House.

Akershus Fortress, Norway

This medieval fortress was completed around 1300, and it has been the site of a prison which closed in 1950. Prison sentences at the Akershus Fortress often involved hard physical labor, and it was known for using irons and chains as a way to discipline prisoners. Rumors persist of whispers and scratching heard along the hallways, and guards have reported weird sensations while on duty, like being pushed by someone who wasn’t there. Entry is free and in the summer, daily tours are offered in English.

Dragsholm Castle, Denmark

You could spend the night in this historic Danish castle that is now a luxury hotel, but you might want to know about its haunted history first. Located near Nekselø Bay, the much-rebuilt medieval castle is believed to be haunted by the many figures who were imprisoned there, including James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell — the third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots — and the last Bishop of Roskilde, who had owned the castle before being ousted of his title during the Protestant Reformation. Phantom encounters often occur with two women: the White Lady and the Gray Lady. The former is believed to be the ghost of a young girl who was imprisoned in the castle after her father found out she was pregnant and the latter is said to be that of a servant who died shortly after complaining of a mysterious toothache.

Wolfsegg Castle, Germany

Not far from Munich, Wolfsegg Castle is a 14th-century landmark famously haunted by the White Lady. The story goes that the Lady of Wolfsegg was murdered by her husband when he suspected her of having an affair in his absence. Adding to the creepiness, there is also a cave hidden beneath the floorboards that not only serves as a secret passage for collecting natural spring water but is also home to several different bat species and other creepy-crawly creatures. The castle is open for visitors between May and October.

Hoia-Baciu Forest, Romania

Located deep in Romania, in the classically ominous region of Transylvania, Hoia-Baciu is one of the world’s most haunted forests. Many stories circulate about these woods, touching on ghosts, witches, and UFOs, but the most unsettling aspect is a mysterious clearing of trees. Nothing grows here, and despite tests by scientists to discover an explanation in the soil composition, none was found. If you’re feeling daring, night tours are available from the closest town of Cluj-Napoca.

Zugarramurdi, Spain

In the northern region of Navarre, the Cave of Zugarramurdi tells the story of Spain’s 17th-century witch trials. According to legend, it was in these caves that dozens of accused witches, 11 of whom were later burned at the stake, conducted their nightly devil-worshipping rituals and cast their spells. A plaque at the site commemorates the accused women and a small Museum of Witches dives deeper into the topic, expanding on traditional pagan rituals and women’s healing practices.

Frangokastello, Greece

You may think of the Greek island of Crete as a typically sunny holiday destination, but it turns out the ghosts at this beachside castle also get vacation days. May 17 marks the anniversary of the deadly battle that broke out here during the Greek War of Independence in the 19th century, and to this day, locals claim you can witness the soldiers’ ghosts make their return each year. Known as Drosoulites, they take the form of shadows cast upon the walls of the castle, but the phenomenon occurs exclusively in the morning when the sea is calm.