Top International Destinations for Halloween Adventures

It’s our favorite time of the year when the leaves change, the temperatures cool, and pumpkins and Jack-o-lanterns make their returns to front porches. It’s Halloween weekend! While we can’t yet travel the way we used to, we can still plan for the best Halloween scare next year.

Many countries have started to embrace the North American tradition of dressing up in costumes for Halloween, but it has a long history of honoring the dead. In fact, Halloween originated in Ireland more than 2000 years ago when ancient pagans held the Samhain festival on the day the dead would return to walk the Earth.

Places to Go for Halloween

As we look forward to the Halloween season, we thought we’d help with your next theme – The Best Places to Go for Halloween. So, turn off the lights, grab yourself a cozy blanket, and get ready to take a tour around the world with these ideas for the scariest and creepiest destinations to celebrate Halloween.

1. Dublin and Derry – Ireland

As mentioned, Ireland is where Halloween originated. Halloween was not a celebration then; it was a day when the ancient Celts dressed up in animal skins to ward off evil spirits and avoid being taken away. While not quite the same as dressing up as Spiderman or The Squid Game Red Jumpsuit, this early practice sparked the tradition of dressing up. With winter approaching, it was often linked with death, and it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth on this night, which began on October 31 and continued into the following day.

Today, travelers visiting Ireland in late October can experience the country’s largest all hallow’s eve festival in Derry. The Londonderry Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival offers a spooktacular four-day celebration during the last week of October every year, featuring parades, bonfires, and, of course, people of all ages dressed as their favorite ghosts, ghouls, and monsters. Dublin still celebrates Samhain.

With haunted castles and ancient tombs, Ireland is one of the top picks for the best places to go for Halloween around the world.

2. Edinburgh – Scotland

Scotland closely follows in Halloween celebrations. After all, Halloween has its roots in ancient Celtic times, giving both Scotland and Ireland the original bragging rights.

Similar traditions abound in Halloween celebrations, haunted castles, tombs, and the celebration of the Celtic festival known as Samhain (Samhuinn), which was observed from October 31 to November 1 to mark the end of the harvest and the conclusion of summer. Today, it celebrates the night of October 31, with the Samhuinn Fire Festival merging Celtic traditions with modern entertainment. It features a symbolic battle between the winter and summer kings to mark the beginning of the long dark nights ahead.

In particular, Edinburgh is known as a haunted spot in Scotland (and all of Europe) with numerous ghost tours available in this historic city. Plenty of haunted tours will take you to graveyards and underground tombs during your visit.

3. Transylvania – Romania

When thinking of Halloween, the image of Dracula immediately comes to mind. There’s no better place to visit than Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania. Bran Castle, near Brasov, is Romania’s national monument. It may be one of many castles associated with Dracula, but it is undoubtedly the most famous. How did the legend of Dracula begin?

The ruler Vlad Tepes was known for his brutality, impaling, skinning, and boiling those against him, earning him the title Vlad the Impaler. Such gruesome actions have led to a harrowing legend.

Today, visitors can attend a party at Dracula’s castle, which includes a night tour and dinner. This year it is scheduled for October. For more details, check out the official website. In nearby Brasov, there is also a Dracula film festival and a Zombie walk. With fairytale castles, rolling black hills, and ancient cathedrals, Transylvania is among the best places globally to celebrate Halloween.

4. New Orleans – USA

New Orleans is considered the most haunted city in the United States, making it perfect for a good scare. This city was practically designed for hauntings. With the ideal blend of water, weather, and wind, New Orleans is inundated with haunted history. Haunted spots are often found near water, and New Orleans is engulfed by waterways from Lake Pontchartrain to the Mississippi River.

Take a Haunted New Orleans ghost tour to learn about the haunted hotels, voodoo history, and beautifully eerie cemeteries. A visit to St. Louis Cemetery to the tomb of the Voodoo Queen Laveau is a must. Touching her grave while making a wish is said to make it come true—my experience proves it! The cemetery is open only until 3:00 PM, but during Halloween, daytime visits are allowed, and you can attend the Endless Night Vampires Ball, voted as the number one ball in the world!

5. Ottawa – Canada

Ottawa possesses many haunted spots, though currently, many haunted tours are closed due to stricter safety protocols. However, this has helped keep numbers down, so it’s worth waiting! When things return to normal in 2022, don’t miss visiting Ottawa for Halloween.

Laurier House

The scariest haunted tour we’ve ever taken was at Laurier House. Our entire group left the grounds screaming after experiencing the haunting at Laurier House. This historic home belonged to Canadian Prime Minister, Sir Wilfred Laurier, who had a particular intrigue in the spirit world and frequently held séances. Once you enter the mansion, cameras or videos are not permitted, adding an extra layer of suspense to the experience!

Escape Manor

Laurier House isn’t the only creepy attraction in Ottawa during Halloween; Escape Manor offers a fun and frightening escape room experience where you delve into themed rooms like the Asylum Escape Room. There’s an emergency button if you get too scared. There are four different escape rooms at Escape Manor to test your escape artist skills.

If you’re truly seeking a fright, consider staying overnight in a jail cell! The Ottawa Jail, which closed in 1972 due to inhumane conditions, was transformed into a hostel by Hostelling International, allowing brave souls to “spend a night in jail.” Excavations uncovered many unmarked graves, and this locale witnessed one of the last public hangings in Canada. Though closed for now, when it reopens, be sure to take this terrifying tour in search of the ghost of Patrick J Whelan, who is said to haunt the hostel grounds.

6. Day of the Dead – Mexico

In Central America, Halloween is a significant cultural component, albeit different from the celebrations in Canada and the United States. Mexico honors the end of October similarly to Ireland and Scotland with the Day of the Dead – Día de los Muertos. Family and friends gather to remember loved ones who have passed.

Though seen as somber, it is ultimately a celebration where it’s believed that the deceased participate in the festivities. Día de los Muertos is celebrated throughout Mexico, although regions like Oaxaca and Chiapas observe it with more color and flair than the subdued rural areas. It connects with the Catholic holidays of All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2).

7. Catacombs of Paris – France

Nothing spells death like a sight of bones piled atop one another. The Catacombs of Paris contain the remains of six million individuals from the 1700s, instilling an eerie atmosphere. Graveyards were overrun in 18th century Paris, necessitating the transfer of bodies to ancient quarries to protect the city’s inhabitants from plague. Visit these catacombs if you can handle the macabre—amazing artistry exists amongst the bones.

8. Paris Cemeteries

After exploring the Catacombs, head to one of Paris’s famous cemeteries. The Montparnasse Cemetery houses the graves of renowned writers and thinkers such as Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, Charles Baudelaire, and Julio Cortázar. The most famous cemetery for those seeking the supernatural is Cimetiere Pere La Chaise, which contains the remains of iconic figures like Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Chopin, Molière, and Edith Piaf.

With such themes of death and decay, it’s no wonder that Parisians often opt for scary costumes during Halloween. They embrace the traditions of vampires, ghosts, and ghouls, departing from the more satirical garb typical in North America.

9. Tower of London – England

Beheadings, executions, prisoners, and royal intrigue mark the Tower of London as a site rich in grisly history. Queen Elizabeth was imprisoned here, but she had a better fate than martyr Anne Askew, who met her end by being burned at the stake. Poet Sir Walter Raleigh also lost his head there, while Sir Everard Digby was hung, drawn, and quartered—an incredibly gruesome end!

Join a thrilling interactive tour at The Dungeon, and ensure to take a haunted London walk, where chilling tales of executions abound. London features many events and attractions to celebrate Halloween, including The London Dungeon, The London Tombs, and the London Bridge experience, named the Top Horror Attraction worldwide by The Worldwide Attractions Awards.

10. Chateau d’If – Marseille

Chateau D’If offered little hope for prisoners sent into exile off southern France’s coast. Imprisoned there, they could only long for a glimpse of the beautiful port city of Marseille. Torture and suffering ensued year after year. Made famous by Alexandre Dumas in The Count of Monte Cristo, visitors to Chateau D’If can expect showings related to the famed novel. After touring the castle, enjoy the sights of Marseille.

11. Niagara Falls – Canada

Clifton Hill, the famed street in Niagara Falls, Canada, features wax museums, haunted houses, and restaurants brimming with kitsch and fun. Nightmares is a must-visit for anyone who loves a solid scare. Rumor has it, the haunted site was built on the grounds of an old coffin factory.

Legend has it that the proprietor died in a prank gone wrong and has haunted the premises ever since. If the scares become overwhelming while navigating the maze of nightmares, don’t hesitate to back out. You won’t be alone; over 167,442 people have opted out over the years.

12. Salem Massachusetts – USA

Revisit the terrifying experience of the Salem Witch Trials. The trials brought panic to the community, leading to the execution of innocent women. Benjamin Abbot, the owner of a house in Salem, was involved in accusing Martha Carrier, leading to her hanging. From September to Halloween, Haunted Happenings recounts these events through theater and tours.

Ways to celebrate Halloween in Salem include visiting the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, attending the Salem Psychic Fair and Witches Market, and exploring the Salem Witch Museum. The Hawthorne Hotel hosts the annual Witches Ball.

13. Cuchi Tunnels – Vietnam

Surviving in this extensive 200 km tunnel system during the Vietnam War must have been terrifying. The original entrance is tiny, making the crawl feel even smaller. If that doesn’t depict a horror movie scenario, what does? The Cuchi Tunnels in Vietnam gave me a fright as I crawled through its original caverns, leading me to panic that I might be lost in the dark forever. To read more, explore the Places to Visit in Southern Vietnam.

Additionally, consider visiting Pumkinferno at Upper Canada Village, located between Kingston and Ottawa, which is a fabulous spot to celebrate Halloween for the entire family.

Where have you celebrated Halloween? Do you dress up for Halloween or do you skip the festivities? Regardless, October 31 is an excellent occasion to turn off the lights, watch a scary movie, and enjoy the spooky atmosphere!