From ghost towns to abandoned islands, the world is full of some pretty creepy spots. Whether you’re interested in ghosts, an adrenaline junkie, or just plain curious, these eerie places are sure to captivate you, and possibly give you goosebumps. With an exciting mix of the paranormal, mysterious, and historical, this list of 40 spooky destinations from around the world is sure to be an entertaining read. Some of the stories behind them may scare you, and others just might surprise you, but all of them are bound to leave you curious to find out more.
#21 Garnet, Montana, USA
Once a thriving mining town in the late 19th century, Garnet is now a preserved ghost town that welcomes thousands of visitors each year. While the town is best known for its rich mining history, it’s also home to many local legends. One such story is that of the shadowy figures believed to be miners who lived and passed away in the area, haunting the cabins.
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8points
#22 Poveglia Island, Venice, Italy
Once serving as a psychiatric facility and a quarantine zone for people suffering from the plague, it isn’t hard to believe that paranormal investigators would call Poveglia haunted. With thousands of people likely losing their lives there over centuries, many are convinced their spirits still lurk around the island. Despite the locals disputing claims that it’s haunted, Poveglia remains closed to the public; however, curious visitors can still catch a glimpse of the island from boats.
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7points
#23 The Lizzie Borden House, Massachusetts, USA
While this house may look unassuming at first glance, it’s actually home to quite an unsettling horror story. In 1892, businessman Andrew Borden and his wife had their lives taken in it, and believe it or not, their own daughter, Lizzie, was accused of carrying out the terrible deed. Now a B&B, guests have reported bizarre sightings, cold spots, and chilling sounds when on tours and overnight stays.
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7points
#24 Casa Loma, Toronto, Ontario
Every year for many decades, this Gothic-style castle has welcomed a ton of visitors because of the many ghost stories surrounding it. From the ‘Lady in White’, the ghost of a maid who lost her life due to influenza in the 1900s, to the original owners haunting the halls, the mansion is nothing short of mysterious. Today, those brave enough to explore the castle can do so all year round, and even attend its Legends of Horror event each October.
7points
#25 The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado, USA
This popular hotel not only inspired Stephen King’s horror novel “The Shining” but also has its own creepy history. Several spirits, such as that of a housekeeper and the original owners, are said to haunt the building to this day. To experience why it has earned such a famous paranormal reputation, visitors can book a stay or take a tour of the hotel.
7points
#26 The Cuban Club, Tampa, Florida, USA
Open since 1917, this gorgeous building has become a popular destination for weddings and other events. But what most people don’t know is that hundreds of ghosts allegedly haunt the place. Guests have reported seeing strange figures and hearing bizarre sounds, which isn’t surprising now that several people met tragic ends there. For those interested in learning more about the Cuban Club’s haunted history, a ghost tour with Tampa Bay Tours is available.
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7points
#27 The Old Charleston Jail, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Considered one of the city’s most haunted buildings, Old Charleston Jail has a gloomy history. When it still operated as a prison, it was notorious for being so overcrowded and disease-ridden that hundreds of inmates lost their lives due to the harsh conditions. As such, many of their restless spirits are said to roam the dark halls. Today, the Old Charleston Jail is a popular destination for ghost tours, with some visitors even reporting strange sounds and cold spots throughout the building.
7points
#28 Norwich State Hospital, Preston And Norwich, Connecticut, USA
This former psychiatric hospital, which housed thousands of patients from its opening in 1904, officially shut down in 1996, leaving it an unused and abandoned property. Since then, the massive hospital has gained an eerie reputation, with several visitors claiming to have heard screams and cries near the old Salmon building. While it isn’t open to the public, viewing the hospital’s exterior will still make for quite a creepy experience.
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7points
#29 Salem, Massachusetts, United States
In 1692, during the notorious witch trials, several female villagers met an untimely end after being accused of witchcraft. The home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, also known as the Witch House, is the only building still standing in Salem with ties to the events that transpired in 1692. Today, visitors can connect with the city’s past through rituals, memorials, and witch-themed shops, making it quite a creepy place to visit.
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6points
#30 The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Alberta, Canada
Considered one of Canada’s most popular haunted destinations, the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is not only known for its opulence but also for rumors about paranormal activity and ghosts. One such legend is of the ‘ghost bride’, a woman who tragically lost her life during her wedding at the hotel, wandering the halls of the hotel in a white dress. Another eerie story is of the bellman named Sam, whose spirit reportedly continues to assist guests.
6points
#31 The Dock Street Theater, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
What began as a hotel in 1809 turned into a theater over a century later, which still hosts performances today. As expected from a building that’s more than 100 years old, the Dock Street Theater is well-known for its chilling legends about spirits haunting it. The most notable one is said to be a woman in a red dress named Nettie, who reportedly got struck by lightning on one of the balconies.
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6points
#32 Chapel And Lovelace Hall, Marion Military Institute, Alabama, USA
This 19th-century ex-military hospital has certainly earned its reputation as one of Alabama’s most haunted places. Allegedly, the spirits of soldiers who lost their lives there haunt the hallways of the buildings, which are now a college campus for cadets. Along with an unsettling presence watching them, cadets have also reported mysterious footsteps, sounds, and objects moving on their own. If you dare, the campus is open for official tours.
6points
#33 The Middleton Tavern, Annapolis, Maryland, USA
While this 18th-century tavern doesn’t immediately scream “haunted establishment” at first glance, it’s actually one of Maryland’s oldest and most haunted buildings. With stories of a man named George Schmidt haunting the place, to flickering lights, unexplained smells, and randomly moving objects, it’s no surprise that the tavern would make it onto this list.
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6points
#34 The Morris–Jumel Mansion, New York, USA
Known as Manhattan’s oldest surviving mansion, this 1765 house has over two centuries of interesting history. Now operating as a historic museum, it’s said that the ghost of Eliza Jumel, a former resident, haunts the mansion, with visitors and staff reporting creepy voices and cold spots. It’s even alleged that Jumel’s spirit actually revealed itself to a group of schoolchildren touring the house in the 60’s.
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6points
#35 The Driskill Hotel, Austin, Texas, USA
Dubbed one of Texas’s most famous and most haunted historical landmarks, this 19th-century hotel has quite a notorious history. From the tale of two jilted brides taking their lives in Room 525 to the hotel founder’s spirit wandering around the property, these are just a few of the eerie stories that make Driskill the perfect spooky destination. Along with these stories, some guests have even reported seeing other spirits and experiencing other paranormal phenomena, like the unexplained flickering of lights.
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5points
#36 The Princess Theater, Melbourne, Australia
It’s difficult to imagine that the theater pictured here could be haunted, but apparently it is. Just two years after its opening in 1886, a man named Frederick Federici tragically passed away after suffering a heart attack during a performance. Since then, many say his spirit still appears in the theater, and even a seat is kept vacant for him in the dress circle.
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5points
#37 The Don Cesar Hotel, St Pete Beach, Florida, USA
Haunted by the ghost of its original owner and many others from its time as a hospital, this hotel’s haunting actually has quite a sad backstory. It’s said that Thomas Rowe built the palace in remembrance of the love of his life, whom he was forbidden to marry. Interestingly, guests have reported seeing a man in a white suit waiting at the fountain and wandering the halls, with many convinced that the spirit is Rowe searching for his lost love. This story makes the hotel a perfect destination for a ghost tour.
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5points
#38 Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA
When imagining a military fort, you probably picture a place where tons of soldiers tragically lost their lives, but Fort Knox’s history is a little different than the usual. Although it has never seen battle or bloodshed, it’s said that soldiers who once trained there haunt the fort, leading to the strange footsteps and voices visitors have reported while on tours.
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5points
#39 Union Cemetery, Easton, Connecticut, USA
Dating back to the 18th century, this cemetery has been dubbed one of the most haunted burial grounds in the country. Popularized by renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, its reputation is certainly chilling. From creepy mist to the infamous “White Lady” spirit, it’s not surprising that Lorraine told the Daily Voice in 2011, “I can tell you that I know for a fact that this place is haunted, it’s one of the most haunted places around.”
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5points
#40 Henry Levy House, Oxnard, California
Featured on the season finale of the TV series Ghost Adventures in 2022. This beautiful 20th-century mansion was revealed to be home to some strange paranormal phenomena, like doors randomly flying open and creepy voices, all caught on camera. While the house may be a Ventura County Landmark, it’s actually a private residence and not open to the public. Visitors can still catch a glimpse of its exterior by driving by, though.
3points