{"id":2232,"date":"2023-10-04T13:01:42","date_gmt":"2023-10-04T02:01:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/the-worlds-spookiest-destinations\/"},"modified":"2024-06-18T05:31:22","modified_gmt":"2024-06-17T19:31:22","slug":"the-worlds-spookiest-destinations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/the-worlds-spookiest-destinations\/","title":{"rendered":"Chills & Thrills: 7 of the World\u2019s Spookiest Destinations\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Haunted castles, execution sites and eerie underground labyrinths \u2013 whether you\u2019re<\/em> inclined towards the paranormal or are a head-shaking sceptic, these destinations will send a chill down your spine.<\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Halloween is not all pumpkin jack-o-lanterns and trick-or-treating: it\u2019s an age-old ode to witches, ghouls and ghosts. Where better to indulge in all things sinister than at the most chilling sites in the world?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re simply curious or someone who delights in the macabre, discover the top spookiest destinations across the globe, from Dracula\u2019s castle to a 19th-century mental asylum in Australia. So, grab your string of garlic cloves, holy water or crucifix: these creepy destinations are where things go bump in the night and paranormal encounters will test your courage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bran Castle, Romania <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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We\u2019ve all heard of Count Dracula, Bram Stoker\u2019s infamous blood-sucking vampire who lived in an imposing castle hidden in Transylvania. Dracula\u2019s fictional fortress was said to be inspired by the real-life landmark, Bran Castle, Romania\u2019s most visited site. Go inside the gloomy walls and get lost in secret passageways, see the chilling medieval torture instruments and take a tour of the castle\u2019s hidden tunnel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tower of London, England <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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With over 1,000 years of colourful history, there is plenty of opportunity for gruesome and ghastly occurrences in the Tower of London. This infamous fortress is best known as the site where King Henry VIII ordered the execution of two of his wives, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Visitors have claimed to have sighted the ghost of Anne Boleyn wandering the grounds after dark, holding her severed head. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shake off the chill with this five-star London escape<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aradale Lunatic Asylum, Aradale, Victoria, Australia <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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One of the most bone-chilling destinations on our list is located in a small town in Victoria. The hospital has over 130 years of gruesome history and is said to be the location of over 13,000 patient deaths. There is no question whether this location is haunted \u2013 visitors commonly report feelings of nausea, unexpected fainting or hearing banging sounds when entering certain rooms. An Aradale Ghost Tour<\/a> is one of the creepiest tours you can take in Australia: explore the morgue, surgery theatres and infirmary and learn about the hospital\u2019s haunted past. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay nearby at this boutique Ballarat escape<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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If you find yourself wandering the cobbled streets of Edinburgh\u2019s Old Town at night, that shadowy figure you spot out of the corner of your eye might not be just a figment of your imagination. The city\u2019s ghostly reputation is not without cause. The 11th<\/sup>-century castle is well worth a visit: if you listen carefully, you might catch snatches of unexplained music echoing through the halls from the ghost of a late piper. For the ultimate spooky experience, join an adults-only ghost tour<\/a> that descends into the city\u2019s underground vaults and ends in the Canongate graveyard, Edinburgh\u2019s most haunted cemetery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay just five minutes away from the castle in five-star luxury<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paris Catacombs, France <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Paris\u2019 most eerie attraction is not for the fearful traveller. The subterranean labyrinth of the\u202fParis Catacombs<\/a> consists of gloomy tunnels lined with the bones of six million late Parisians dating back to the 18th<\/sup>\u202fcentury, following the collapse of the overcrowded Les Innocents cemetery in 1780. We recommend seeing the catacombs with a guide who knows their way through the dusky maze \u2013 this isn\u2019t the place you\u2019d want to get lost in.\u202f\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay close by in this luxurious five-star hotel<\/a> beside the River Seine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more Paris inspiration, read Say Oui: Your Ultimate Guide to Things to do in Paris<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fairmont Banff Springs, Canada <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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On one hand, this is a postcard-perfect hotel stay<\/a> in the heart of Canada\u2019s breathtaking Banff National Park. On the other, it\u2019s reportedly home to a number of guests who checked in but never left\u2026 You might catch a glimpse of a forlorn-looking ghost bride who fell down the stone staircase on the day of her wedding. Or, if you\u2019re lucky (depending on your viewpoint), you might see the ghost of the friendly bellman who worked at the hotel until 1975 and is reported to help guests with their luggage, disappearing before guests can turn and thank him.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quarantine Station, Manly, NSW, Australia <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Explore one of Sydney\u2019s most haunted destinations at Quarantine Station on Manly\u2019s North Head. A former quarantine stop for guests travelling to Sydney via cruise ship, this destination has reported countless apparitions and haunting encounters. One of the most disturbing dwellings here is the Gravedigger\u2019s Cottage, thought to be the site of a ghastly bathtub murder. Here, many visitors have claimed they\u2019ve experienced a sensation of hands around their throat, a pressure on their chest and prickling heat all over their body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking for more wanderlust?<\/strong> Read Sleep Like Royalty at These Extraordinary Heritage Hotels<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Haunted castles, execution sites and eerie underground labyrinths \u2013 whether you\u2019re inclined towards the paranormal or are a head-shaking sceptic, these destinations will send a chill down your spine.  Halloween is not all pumpkin jack-o-lanterns and trick-or-treating: it\u2019s an age-old ode to witches, ghouls and ghosts. Where better to indulge in all things sinister than […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":604,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[55,65,61,197,49,196],"tags":[22],"location":[],"customertype":[],"class_list":["post-2232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europe","category-canada","category-france","category-new-south-wales","category-uk","category-victoria","tag-experiences"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_762811789-e1666667308837.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"lux_id":2232,"lux_link":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/the-worlds-spookiest-destinations\/","lux_title":"Chills & Thrills: 7 of the World\u2019s Spookiest Destinations\u00a0","lux_excerpt":"Haunted castles, execution sites and eerie underground labyrinths \u2013 whether you\u2019re inclined towards the paranormal or are a head-shaking sceptic, these destinations will send a chill down your spine.\u00a0 Halloween is not all pumpkin jack-o-lanterns and trick-or-treating: it\u2019s an age-old ode to witches, ghouls and ghosts. Where better to indulge in all things sinister than [\u2026]","lux_excerpt_trimmed":"Haunted castles, execution sites and eerie underground labyrinths \u2013 whether you\u2019re inclined towards the paranormal or are a head-shaking sceptic, these destinations will send a chill down your spine.\u00a0 Halloween","lux_image_url":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_762811789-e1666667308837.jpg","lux_image_url_medium":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_762811789-e1666667308837-350x233.jpg","lux_image_url_large":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_762811789-e1666667308837-1024x683.jpg","lux_image_url_square":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_762811789-e1666667308837-500x500.jpg","lux_categories":[{"label":"Europe","link":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/destinations\/europe\/"},{"label":"Canada","link":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/destinations\/canada\/"},{"label":"France","link":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/destinations\/europe\/france\/"},{"label":"New South Wales","link":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/destinations\/australia\/new-south-wales\/"},{"label":"United Kingdom","link":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/destinations\/uk\/"},{"label":"Victoria","link":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/destinations\/australia\/victoria\/"}],"lux_tags":[{"label":"Experiences","link":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/tag\/experiences\/"}],"lux_locations":[],"lux_customer_types":[],"lux_read_time":"5 min read","lux_read_time_minutes":5,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2232"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2232\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2232"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=2232"},{"taxonomy":"customertype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/customertype?post=2232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}