Most Haunted Places in Europe (Halloween 2026)

By Cornelius Okechukwu · Last updated: October 2026 · 9-minute read

Looking for a spooky trip this autumn? These are the most haunted places in Europe that you can actually visit, from a “gateway to hell” castle near Prague to a Transylvanian forest famous for UFO stories, a chapel decorated with human bones and Dracula's castle. For each one we explain the legend, how to get there and what is on for Halloween 2026. I live in Prague, so two of the most haunted places in Europe on this list are a short trip from my front door.

1. Hoia-Baciu Forest, Romania

Often called the “Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania”, Hoia-Baciu tops most lists of the most haunted places in Europe. Its trees grow in strange, twisted shapes, and in the middle lies an almost circular clearing where trees do not grow, the Poiana Rotundă. In 1968 a local technician photographed what he said was a UFO above it, and the stories have grown ever since. The forest is free to enter, but it is easy to get lost after dark, so join a guided night tour. It is number 4 in our ranking of the most haunted forests in the world.

2. Bran Castle (“Dracula's Castle”), Romania

Perched on a rock above a mountain pass, Bran Castle looks exactly like a vampire's lair, which is why it is marketed as Dracula's Castle. The real link is thin: Bram Stoker never visited Romania, and Vlad the Impaler probably spent little or no time here. That does not stop it from being one of the most haunted places in Europe to visit at Halloween, when the castle hosts a costume party with night-time tours, horror screenings and DJs in the park until the early hours. Tickets sell out, so book early and stay in nearby Brașov.

3. Sedlec Ossuary (the Bone Church), Czechia

Few of the most haunted places in Europe are as striking as this. Inside the small chapel, the bones of tens of thousands of people have been arranged into garlands, pyramids, a coat of arms and a famous chandelier said to contain every bone in the human body. It is not a ghost story but a real place of rest, so visitors are asked to be quiet and respectful. It is easy to combine with Kutná Hora's UNESCO-listed old town and St Barbara's Church on a day trip from Prague. Read our travel guide to Czechia for more ideas.

4. Houska Castle, Czechia

Houska is a castle with a strange design: it is said to have had no water source or kitchen when it was built, and some of its defences seem to face inwards. Legend says it was built to seal a bottomless pit that was a gateway to hell, with the chapel placed directly over the hole. Inside, faded frescoes show half-human, half-animal figures. Of all the most haunted places in Europe, this one has the strangest story. The castle closes for winter after October, so Halloween weekend is your last chance in 2026. You will need a car or a tour from Prague, as public transport is limited.

5. Edinburgh's Old Town and Underground Vaults, Scotland

Edinburgh may be the most haunted city in Britain, and its vaults are among the most haunted places in Europe. Beneath the South Bridge lie dark vaults once used by workshops, taverns and the very poor, now visited only on guided ghost tours. Above ground, the Greyfriars Kirkyard and the Royal Mile's narrow closes are full of stories. On Halloween night, the Samhuinn Fire Festival marks the Celtic new year on Calton Hill with fire, drums and costumed performers. Tickets are sold only through the official box office.

6. The Tower of London, England

Nearly 1,000 years of prisoners, plots and executions make the Tower one of the most haunted places in Europe. The best-known ghost is Queen Anne Boleyn, said to walk near the Chapel Royal where she is buried. Others include the “Princes in the Tower”, who vanished in 1483. The Yeoman Warders tell these stories brilliantly on their tours, which are included with your ticket.

7. Dering Woods (“The Screaming Woods”), England

Pluckley is often called the most haunted village in England, and the nearby Dering Woods earned the nickname “the Screaming Woods” from stories of cries heard at night. By day it is a pretty, peaceful woodland with public footpaths. It is also on our list of the most haunted forests in the world.

8. The Paris Catacombs, France

In the late 1700s, Paris moved the remains of millions of people from its overflowing cemeteries into old limestone quarries beneath the city. Today a walk through the Catacombs takes you past walls of neatly stacked skulls and bones, which earns them a place among the most haunted places in Europe. Time slots sell out in October, so book on the official website. Bring a layer: it is cool underground all year.

9. Derry~Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Halloween has its roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain, so Ireland is a natural place to celebrate. Derry Halloween is billed as one of the biggest Halloween festivals in Europe, with a carnival parade, light shows, fireworks and thousands of people in costume on the city walls. It is less one of the most haunted places in Europe and more a giant, friendly party, which makes it ideal with children.

10. The Black Forest, Germany

The dense, dark firs of the Black Forest feel like the setting of a fairy tale, and many local legends tell of witches, lake spirits and travellers led astray. October brings golden autumn colours, cosy villages and cuckoo-clock towns, which makes it a gentler choice among the most haunted places in Europe. Read more in our guide to the most haunted forests in the world.

Most haunted places in Europe compared

Place	Country	Spook level	Best for
Hoia-Baciu Forest	Romania	👻 5/5	Night tours, UFO stories
Bran Castle	Romania	👻 3/5	Halloween party
Sedlec Ossuary	Czechia	👻 4/5	Day trip from Prague
Houska Castle	Czechia	👻 4/5	Legends, history
Edinburgh vaults	Scotland	👻 4/5	Ghost tours, fire festival
Tower of London	England	👻 3/5	History lovers
Dering Woods	England	👻 3/5	Walks near London
Paris Catacombs	France	👻 4/5	City break
Derry Halloween	Northern Ireland	👻 2/5	Families, festivals
Black Forest	Germany	👻 2/5	Autumn scenery

Tips for visiting the most haunted places in Europe

Sources:

• Visit Derry: Derry Halloween 2026
• Beltane Fire Society: Samhuinn Fire Festival 2026
• Paris Catacombs (official)
• Euronews: Where to celebrate Halloween 2026 in Europe
• Houska Castle (Wikipedia)
• Historic Royal Palaces: Tower of London