Where to spend Halloween 2025 in Europe: 10 most exciting haunted places

Europe on Halloween 2025 is all about haunted castles, mystical catacombs, and ancient legends that come to life on the darkest night of the year. Discover the continent's 10 most fascinating places, from Edinburgh Castle to the Catacombs of Paris, where history meets mysticism

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Europe is overflowing with legends, ancient castles, and mystical locations where the past still lives on in the shadows of ghosts. During the Halloween season of 2025, these places become real magnets for thrill seekers and atmospheric travelers. From Scottish fortresses with fascinating histories to the medieval streets of Prague, every corner of the continent has its ghosts and countless secrets.

Where to spend Halloween in Europe in 2025 is described in this article with reference to Visit World.

Why Europe is the best place to meet ghosts

Europe is not just a continent with a rich history, but a real open-air museum, where each era has left its mark in stone, myths, and secrets. It is here that legends of vampires, ghost brides, black monks, and headless knights were born.

The ancient cities of the continent preserve the spirit of the Middle Ages, and castles standing on cliffs and river banks are transformed into locations for night tours, theatrical shows, and themed festivals. Europe is the best place to celebrate Halloween 2025, where history, legends, and a mysterious atmosphere create a unique travel experience.

By the way, when planning a trip to European cities for Halloween, don't forget to take out travel insurance at Visit Ukraine — it's a guarantee of your peace of mind and safety while traveling.

Top places to go for Halloween

London Bridge, Great Britain

The River Thames has witnessed numerous tragedies over the centuries, and London Bridge has been at the epicenter of them. Even during the Roman Empire, trade routes crossed here, and later this place became a symbol of royal justice – often cruel and relentless.

The most horrific tradition was the display of severed heads on stakes – a kind of public warning sign for anyone who dared to challenge the crown. Archaeological finds in 2007 added reality to ancient legends: builders discovered mass graves of victims of the Great Plague with particularly gruesome details.

Today, the London Bridge Experience offers interactive tours where professional actors recreate the atmosphere of medieval London. Visitors often complain of unexplained cold touches and shadows appearing in their peripheral vision, especially during evening tours in October.

Practical information: the nearest metro station is London Bridge Station. We recommend booking evening tours in advance, as places sell out quickly.

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

Edinburgh is not without reason known as the most haunted city in Europe. Its heart, a majestic castle on a volcanic rock, remembers much more than its visitors would like to know. A former royal residence, military fortress, and prison in one building, this place is literally steeped in human suffering.

The castle's underground vaults are of particular interest to researchers of paranormal phenomena. It is here that most anomalies are recorded: sudden temperature changes, the sound of heavy footsteps in empty corridors, the feeling of someone's presence. Local guides tell of the “Gray Man” – the castle's most famous ghost, who has been seen since the 18th century.

The old town beneath the castle is a labyrinth of underground streets where people once hid from the plague and where crime later flourished. Night Ghost Tours take visitors through these claustrophobic passages, where even skeptics begin to feel uncomfortable.

Practical information: the castle is in the city center and is easily accessible on foot. Be sure to bring warm clothes — even in summer, it is cold in the dungeons, and in October, it is really frosty there.

Bran Castle, Romania

If there is a place that embodies the collective imagination of Gothic horror, it is Bran Castle. Located on the border of two Romanian regions, it seems to have been created specifically for scary stories: perched on a cliff, surrounded by dense forests, with narrow loophole windows and dark inner courtyards.

The legend of Vlad the Impaler (the historical prototype of Dracula) can be felt in every corner here, although historians still argue about whether the prince ever actually lived here. However, Romanian folklore about vampires, witches, and other otherworldly creatures is not a Hollywood invention, but a living tradition passed down through generations.

In October, the castle becomes the epicenter of celebrations: costume balls in authentic medieval halls, quest rooms with horror elements, and night tours by candlelight. The legendary Dracula's Halloween Party attracts guests from all over Europe—it is a real theatrical performance with professional actors, music, and special effects.

Practical information: half an hour's drive from Brasov. Tickets for the Halloween Party sell out months in advance, so plan ahead.

Dublin, Ireland

The Irish have a unique ability to talk about the scariest things in such a way that you will simultaneously tremble with horror and laugh at their jokes. Dublin Ghost Tours are a vivid example of this approach: professional actor-guides skillfully balance atmospheric horror and Irish humor.

The Irish capital has a particularly rich “ghostly” history: from the Viking era to the English occupation, from the Great Famine to the revolutionary battles, each era has left its ghostly witnesses. The Ghost Bus Tour passes by ancient cemeteries, insane asylums, places of public executions, and houses with particularly eerie reputations.

A special feature of Dublin tours is their interactivity. It's not just a story, but a real performance where the audience can become participants in the events. Actors appear in the most unexpected places, creating the effect of presence.

Practical information: most tours start from the city center. Suitable for families, although some moments may seem too scary for children under 10 years old.

Frankenstein Castle, Darmstadt, Germany

The ruins of the castle above Darmstadt are shrouded in legends about the mad alchemist Johann Konrad Dippel. This real 18th-century character conducted experiments that were considered too extreme even for his time: he tried to create an elixir of immortality by working with corpses and animal organs.

Many researchers believe that it was Dippel's story that inspired Mary Shelley to write Frankenstein. The atmosphere of the place is truly depressing: half-ruined towers, ivy-covered walls, dark basements where the alchemical laboratory once stood.

The annual Frankenstein Halloween Festival is one of the most famous Halloween events in Europe. Professional artists create Hollywood-level decorations, and actors work using the immersive theater method, where the line between performance and reality is blurred. The organizers change the script every year, so even regular visitors get new impressions.

Practical information: easy to reach from Frankfurt (30 km). Flat shoes are a must — the terrain is hilly and the paths are uneven. Tickets are sold online, and it is often sold out in October.

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Muscham Castle, Unterberg, Austria

Muscham Castle has one of the darkest track records in Europe. During the witch hunts (17th-18th centuries), interrogations, torture, and executions took place here, mainly of women accused of having ties to the devil. Historians have calculated that more than a hundred people passed through the castle's cells, most of whom died.

But the gruesome story does not end there. In the 19th century, the region was gripped by panic over a series of attacks on livestock — locals were convinced that werewolves were responsible.

Today, a limited number of tours are conducted here in an effort to preserve authenticity rather than turn the tragedy into entertainment. In October, special night tours and historical reenactments of the trials are organized, with historical accuracy.

Practical information: about an hour's drive from Salzburg. Visits by appointment only. Not recommended for people with claustrophobia – some rooms are very cramped and dark.

Prague, Czech Republic

The Czech capital is an open textbook on the history of European mysticism. Alchemists at the court of Rudolf II, the legendary Golem of Rabbi Loew, the mysterious Rosicrucians – Prague remembers everything. Its architecture has preserved its medieval appearance better than most European cities, so a walk through the night streets is a real journey through time.

The Hradčany, Malá Strana, and Old Town districts are particularly rich in mystical stories. Here, every house has its own legend: somewhere a headless monk was seen, somewhere a woman in white comes out onto the balcony under the full moon, somewhere footsteps can be heard in empty rooms.

Professional guides collect these stories, separating real documented events from later fabrications. Prague Ghost Tours is not just a tour, but an atmospheric walk where history smoothly transitions into legend.

The routes pass through the darkest streets, old cemeteries, and under arches where the sun has not shone for centuries. Particularly impressive are the stories about the alchemists of Golden Lane, where every house hides its secrets.

Practical information: the historic center is compact, and everything can be explored on foot. But in October, be prepared for cobblestones that become slippery from moisture—comfortable shoes are essential. Tours start every evening from different points in the Old Town.

Hill of Crosses, Lithuania

This place is radically different from the others on this list. There are no Gothic castles or theatrical shows here — instead, you will find a powerful spiritual experience. A small hill near Šiauliai is covered with thousands of crosses: from tiny necklaces to multi-meter wooden sculptures.

The tradition of leaving crosses has deep roots – it is a religious pilgrimage, a protest against the occupiers, and a memorial to the dead. The place is officially recognized as a cultural heritage site, but its mystical aura can be felt physically: the wind creates strange sounds as it swings the metal crosses, the light plays with whimsical shadows, and it seems as if you can hear the whispers of thousands of voices.

Legends about monks who appear here at night are passed down by local residents. Although the area is officially open 24 hours a day, it is not recommended to come here alone after dark – not because of the danger of crime, but because of the powerful emotional atmosphere, which can be depressing.

Practical information: 12 km from Šiauliai, best reached by car. The place is remote, with minimal infrastructure. If you are traveling in the evening, bring a powerful flashlight, as there is no lighting there.

Paris, France

Beneath the City of Light lies the City of Shadows – the largest ossuary in the world, where the remains of about six million Parisians rest. When the city's cemeteries became overcrowded in the 18th century and began to pose a threat to the health of the living, the authorities made a radical decision – to move the bones to abandoned quarries.

The result is both impressive and frightening: kilometers of underground galleries where human skulls and bones are arranged in bizarre compositions. Some sections resemble macabre art, while others are simply chaotic piles of bones. Inscriptions on the walls remind us of the transience of life with Latin aphorisms.

The official route is open for daytime tours, but there is a whole world of illegal cataphiles — explorers who know the secret entrances to closed sections. In October, Parisian travel agencies offer special themed walks above ground — through the areas under which the catacombs are located, telling stories about the ghosts of old Paris.

Practical information: entrance at the Denfert-Rochereau metro station. Tickets sell out quickly, especially in October – book online. The temperature inside is around +14°C all year round, so bring warm clothes.

Akershus Fortress, Oslo, Norway

On the shore of the Oslo Fjord stands a fortress that has survived 700 years of Scandinavian history. Akershus has seen it all: Viking sieges, coronations of monarchs, executions of rebels, and German occupation during World War II. Each era has left its energetic mark here.

The most “active” area is considered to be the former prison, where political criminals and prisoners of war were held. Visitors describe strange sensations: sudden anxiety for no reason, the sound of chains, cold touches. Some guards refuse to stand duty there alone after sunset.

Special night tours, “Akershus by Night,” are conducted in complete darkness, with only lanterns lighting the way, just as it was a century ago. Norwegian guides skillfully tell stories, mixing documented facts with folk legends about draugr (Scandinavian zombies) and other creatures of Norse mythology.

Practical information: the fortress is located in the center of Oslo, within walking distance from the pier. Part of the territory is open around the clock, but organized night tours must be booked in advance. Warm clothing is a must — the wind from the fjord is piercing.

Your mystical itinerary: practical tips

Planning a Halloween trip to Europe requires attention to detail. First, book everything in advance: the most popular events sell out in September. Second, consider the weather — October in Northern Europe can be cold and rainy, so layered warm clothing is essential.

Don't forget about safety: even if you don't believe in ghosts, dark medieval dungeons with uneven floors are a real danger. Comfortable shoes and a flashlight are a minimum. And for complete peace of mind during your trip, take out travel insurance at Visit Ukraine — medical care in Europe is expensive, so it's better to be protected.

Enjoy the atmosphere, immerse yourself in history, but remember — it's still entertainment. The scariest thing about these places is their real historical past, not fictional ghosts. Halloween 2025 in Europe is a chance to touch living history, see the continent from a different angle, and get incredible impressions that you will talk about for a long time to come.

We remind you! Autumn in Ukraine is a time of fog, legends, and travel, where history intertwines with mysticism. October is the best time to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of ancient dungeons, castles, and mysterious holidays. Read more about the most mystical Halloween tours that will give you unforgettable emotions and a sense of real magic.

Photo in the article: Freepik

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