There’s something thrilling about exploring the darker side of destinations you thought you knew. While most travelers stick to the usual sightseeing spots, a growing number are seeking out spine-tingling experiences that reveal the haunted histories lurking beneath beautiful facades.
From ancient castles with bloody pasts to modern cities built on forgotten graveyards, these eerie adventures offer a completely different perspective on travel. Ghost tours have evolved far beyond simple storytelling walks.
Today’s spooky experiences range from family-friendly historical strolls to intense overnight investigations in genuinely haunted locations. Here is a list of 15 spine-chilling tours around the world that will give you goosebumps and memories to last a lifetime.
New Orleans French Quarter ghost tour
New Orleans practically invented the modern ghost tour, and for good reason. The French Quarter feels like it’s dripping with supernatural energy, especially after dark when the crowds thin out and the shadows grow longer. Often described as the most haunted city in the US, spook-seekers need look no further than New Orleans to get their fix of vampire mythology, ghostly sightings, and voodoo culture.
These walking tours typically last around 90 minutes and take you past iconic locations like the LaLaurie Mansion, where unspeakable horrors once occurred. The combination of voodoo culture, tragic history, and genuine paranormal activity makes this one of America’s most authentic ghost experiences.
Edinburgh underground vaults
Scotland’s capital city offers something truly unique — ghost tours that take you deep underground into 18th-century vaults beneath the city streets. Edinburgh’s underground vaults draw ghost hunters from across the globe, thanks to their haunting history and well-preserved state. These stone chambers once housed everything from taverns to workshops, but poverty and desperation eventually turned them into slums for Edinburgh’s poorest residents.
The temperature drops noticeably as you descend, and many visitors report feeling an oppressive atmosphere that’s hard to shake. Tour guides share stories of bodysnatchers, illegal distilleries, and the countless souls who lived and died in these forgotten spaces.
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Prague’s underground dungeons
Prague consistently ranks as one of Europe’s most haunted cities, and its underground ghost tours live up to that reputation. In Prague, you can hop on the Underground Ghost Tours of Prague and experience the rare chance to head beneath the Astronomical Clock — a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The tour mixes in the paranormal with Prague’s history. You’ll explore the underground beneath the Old Town Hall to see former dungeons and torture chambers. What makes these tours particularly chilling is their historical accuracy — you’re literally standing in spaces where real torture and imprisonment occurred centuries ago.
The medieval atmosphere remains perfectly preserved, and guides often mention Prague’s resident ghost, a headless Templar Knight who supposedly roams the evening streets.
Tokyo Asakusa district night walk
Japan takes ghost tours to another level entirely, blending ancient folklore with modern urban legends. This 3-hour tour takes you deep into Tokyo’s historic Asakusa district after nightfall.
As you walk past dimly lit temples, creaky wooden houses, and narrow alleyways, your guide shares stories of the yūrei, Japanese ghosts who linger from tragic deaths. The setting feels like stepping into a horror film, especially when you learn about the concept of vengeful spirits and the cultural importance of honoring the dead.
These tours often include visits to areas where office workers still refuse to turn their backs on certain shrines, showing how deeply supernatural beliefs are woven into modern Japanese life.
London Jack the Ripper tour
Few serial killers have captured imaginations quite like Jack the Ripper, and London’s Whitechapel district offers multiple tour companies that retrace his bloody footsteps. East London hosts several tours a night from various companies deemed Jack the Ripper Tours.
Detailing the Victorian serial killer that roamed the streets of London in 1888, these frightening tours of Whitechapel showcase the world’s peculiar preoccupation with the still unsolved case. What sets these tours apart is their focus on historical accuracy rather than sensationalism.
You’ll walk the actual streets where the murders occurred while learning about Victorian society, police investigative methods, and the social conditions that made such crimes possible. The unsolved nature of the case adds an extra layer of intrigue that keeps people coming back.
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Seoul’s Dark Side ghost walk
South Korea’s ghost tours offer a fascinating blend of historical tragedy and modern urban legends. Take a walking tour down the dark alleys of the forgotten 600-year history of bloody massacres, seedy hideaways, and mourning ghosts.
What makes Seoul’s tours particularly engaging is how they connect ancient Korean folklore with contemporary culture, showing how traditional beliefs about spirits and shamanism still influence modern life. Guides share stories about everything from royal palace murders to modern-day haunted hospitals, creating a comprehensive picture of how supernatural beliefs have evolved alongside the city itself.
The tours often include stops at former execution sites and burial grounds that are now hidden beneath bustling modern neighborhoods.
Savannah historic district evening tour
Georgia’s oldest city has earned its reputation as one of America’s most haunted destinations through centuries of well-documented paranormal activity. While scary movies and spooky decorations are great ways to celebrate Halloween at home, there’s something thrilling about getting close to the paranormal.
The best ghost tours in the United States—and there are a lot of them—take you to the sites of actual historical events. Savannah’s Spanish moss-draped squares and antebellum mansions provide the perfect backdrop for tales of Civil War soldiers, yellow fever victims, and tragic love stories that ended in death.
Many tours incorporate lanterns for atmosphere, and the combination of authentic historical locations with genuine paranormal reports creates an experience that feels both educational and genuinely spooky.
Paris catacombs midnight experience
While the regular daytime catacombs tours are impressive enough, the after-hours experiences take things to an entirely different level. Catacombs aren’t hard to come by in Europe, but Paris certainly has one of the freakiest.
Detailing more than 2,000 years of history, this Paris tour is not for the faint of heart. Walking through tunnels lined with the bones of six million people creates an atmosphere unlike anywhere else on earth. The limited lighting and echoing footsteps amplify every sound, and many visitors report feeling overwhelmed by the sheer scale of mortality surrounding them.
These special tours often include areas not accessible during regular hours, making the experience feel even more exclusive and intense.
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Charleston carriage ghost tour
Charleston’s ghost tours offer a unique perspective by combining historical sightseeing with supernatural storytelling from the comfort of a horse-drawn carriage. Each night is different during this 90-minute walking tour that traverses downtown Charleston and the Unitarian Church Graveyard.
Pulling from the book The Ghosts of Charleston, the tour guides switch up stories so that even repeat guests will be spooked. The carriage format allows you to cover more ground while learning about everything from pirate legends to Civil War hauntings.
Charleston’s well-preserved architecture and atmospheric lighting create the perfect setting for tales of duels, forbidden love, and restless spirits who refuse to leave their earthly homes.
Q Station Sydney ghostly sleepover
Australia takes ghost tours to the extreme with overnight experiences that let you sleep in genuinely haunted locations. This popular heritage hotel inside Sydney Harbour National Park is a former quarantine station from the 1800s.
Immigrants from 1830 to 1884 who were suspected of carrying contagious diseases were quarantined here for an average 40 days. Plenty of deaths occurred in this station — almost 600! — and some individuals never seemed to leave.
The sleepover experience includes guided tours of the most active areas, followed by the opportunity to spend the night in former medical facilities where paranormal activity is regularly reported. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart, but it offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience potentially genuine supernatural encounters.
Los Angeles Hollywood ghost tour
Hollywood’s ghost tours tap into the dark side of the entertainment industry, revealing tragic stories behind the glamorous facade. Find out why Los Angeles is full of dead dreams that turned into nightmares from the lost souls who didn’t quite make the final cut.
These tours typically include stops at the Roosevelt Hotel, where Marilyn Monroe and other celebrities allegedly still make appearances, and the Magic Castle, known for its resident spirits. The contrast between Hollywood’s shiny exterior and its haunted history creates a uniquely compelling experience.
You’ll learn about everything from the Hollywood sign’s tragic history to the restless spirits of actors who died before achieving their dreams.
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Austin Driskill Hotel investigation
Texas offers some of America’s most intense paranormal experiences, and Austin’s Driskill Hotel stands at the center of it all. The Driskill Hotel, known for its resident ghosts and cursed suite, is Austin’s most popular paranormal attraction, though there are many more frights to be found around the city.
The hotel’s ghost tours often include access to areas typically off-limits to guests, including the basement and service areas where much of the paranormal activity occurs. Staff members regularly report elevators operating on their own, mysterious sounds from empty rooms, and sightings of former guests who apparently never checked out.
The combination of luxury accommodations with genuine supernatural activity makes this a uniquely upscale spooky experience.
Bran Castle Halloween celebration
Romania’s most famous castle offers year-round tours, but the Halloween celebration transforms the experience into something truly spectacular. Bran Castle stands as the cornerstone of vampire tourism in Europe. Its annual Halloween celebration showcases atmospheric experiences at their finest.
Priority access to these events, including midnight tours, can command premium pricing in travel packages. The castle’s connection to both the historical Vlad the Impaler and fictional Dracula creates a perfect storm of gothic atmosphere.
Special Halloween tours include theatrical elements, medieval banquets, and exclusive access to areas normally closed to visitors. The combination of authentic medieval architecture with vampire legends creates an experience that feels like stepping into a classic horror novel.
Hong Kong haunted districts tour
Hong Kong’s ghost tours offer a unique blend of Eastern and Western supernatural traditions, shaped by the city’s complex cultural history. This private tour winds through Central, Wan Chai, and Sai Ying Pun, neighbourhoods with a haunted reputation.
Your guide shares local ghost stories passed down for generations, from haunted flats and mirrored lifts to phantom soldiers seen after midnight. What makes these tours particularly fascinating is how they incorporate feng shui principles and traditional Chinese beliefs about spirits alongside more modern urban legends.
You’ll learn why some Hong Kong buildings skip the fourth floor entirely and how ancient practices are still used to ward off evil spirits in this ultra-modern city.
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Florence dark mysteries tour
Italy’s Renaissance jewel hides some surprisingly dark secrets beneath its artistic beauty. Florence has the Dark Side, Mysteries and Legends Free Tour, with kidnappings, a red light district and yes, even a vampire.
These tours reveal stories of medieval intrigue, Renaissance-era murders, and mysterious disappearances that contrast sharply with Florence’s reputation as a center of art and culture. The narrow medieval streets and imposing palaces provide an atmospheric backdrop for tales of political assassinations, secret societies, and supernatural encounters that have been passed down through generations.
It’s a side of Florence that most tourists never see, but one that adds depth and complexity to the city’s character.
The spirits still walk among us
What started as simple evening entertainment has evolved into a global phenomenon that reveals the universal human fascination with the unknown. These tours succeed because they tap into something deeper than mere scares — they connect us with the real human stories behind historical events and cultural beliefs.
Whether you’re walking through Edinburgh’s underground chambers or spending the night in Sydney’s quarantine station, you’re participating in an ancient tradition of storytelling that helps us process death, tragedy, and the mysteries that remain unsolved.
The best spooky tours don’t just frighten you — they leave you with a richer understanding of the places you visit and the people who came before us.
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