World's Spookiest Cities: Haunted Hotels, Dark Histories, and Chilling Attractions
Modern cities pulse with life—from bustling bars and restaurants to skyscrapers filled with professionals. Yet beneath this vibrancy lies a shadowy underbelly: grim histories, eerie architecture, and restless spirits.
Discover spine-chilling experiences in the world's spookiest cities, curated by Lonely Planet's local experts for authentic, unforgettable thrills.
Paris, France
The City of Light conceals macabre secrets. Venture into the Paris Catacombs' bone-lined tunnels. At Place de la Concorde, site of Louis XVI's 1793 guillotining during the French Revolution, explore La Conciergerie— a 14th-century Gothic palace turned prison where Marie Antoinette and thousands awaited execution.
Stay spooked: Oscar Wilde rests at atmospheric Père Lachaise Cemetery. Book room 16 at L’Hôtel, where he died after quipping, “My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go.”
Havana, Cuba
Colón Necropolis, known as the “city of the dead,” houses Cuba’s luminaries. Don’t miss Amelia Goyri de la Hoz’s flower-adorned tomb. Dubbed La Milagrosa (the miraculous one), she died in 1901 post-childbirth; exhumed later, her baby had reportedly shifted from her feet to her arms.
Stay spooked: Near room 511 at Hotel Ambos Mundos, guests report hearing Ernest Hemingway’s ghostly footsteps at night—unless the antique OTIS elevator stirs you first.
Venice, Italy
Venice’s narrow alleys, dim passages, and winter fog create an otherworldly atmosphere. Calle degli Assassini, haunted Ca’ Dario on the Grand Canal, and the alley by San Zaccharia Church—site of a doge’s slaying—evoke dread over romance.
Stay spooked: San Clemente Palace Kempinski, once an asylum, echoes The Shining as you roam its corridors amid vanishing fog-shrouded Venice.
Shanghai, China
Beyond Shanghai’s glamour lie paranormal hotspots: the Dragon Pillar with nine golden dragons marking a dragon’s lair; the pre-dawn Ghost Market; and Plaza 66, built over an ancient goddess site. Join Newman Tours for expert-led explorations of poltergeists, phantom lizards, and Oriental ghost lore.
Stay spooked: Astor House Hotel (built 1846) brims with antiques, old photos, and creaky floors for a vintage haunt.
Dublin, Ireland
Halloween’s Irish origins infuse Dublin with ghostly lore. Trace the Hellfire Club from its Eagle Tavern origins (now City Hall) to its Dublin Mountains lodge, site of alleged sacrifices and Devilish games before burning in the 18th century. The Bram Stoker Festival in late October offers monster movies, gothic shows, and parades.
Stay spooked: Ireland’s first female serial killer, Darkey Kelly—burned at the stake in 1761 after bodies were found in her brothel—haunts near Harding Hotel.
Los Angeles, California
LA’s theme parks excel at Halloween. Knott’s Berry Farm becomes Knott’s Scary Farm with monster shows, mazes, and thrill rides. Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights features American Horror Story, The Shining, The Walking Dead, and Chucky-led tram tours, plus scare zones.
Stay spooked: Marilyn Monroe haunts Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel’s suite 1200 and mirrors, where she resided for two years.
Fremantle, Australia
Australia’s most haunted sites cluster in Fremantle. The 1850s convict-built prison (World Heritage-listed) hosts ghosts of the executed on torchlight tours. Ghostly Tours visit the cemetery and former lunatic asylum Fremantle Arts Centre, where visitors report eerie energies, noises, and chills.
Stay spooked: Fremantle Prison YHA offers cells in the original block—sign the “register of prisoners” to bunk with spirits.
New York City, USA
New York’s history brims with dark deeds. Merchant’s House Museum— Manhattan’s most haunted—offers October candlelit tours. Explore Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery by night or immerse in Sleep No More’s five-floor Macbeth at the McKittrick Hotel.
Stay spooked: Poltergeists rattle elevators at Bowery Hotel; literary ghosts like Dorothy Parker linger at Algonquin; Martha Mesereau glides at Old Bermuda Inn.
Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town’s swashbuckling past yields ghostly tales. The Castle of Good Hope (oldest building) features wailing spirits and a haunted bell tower. Spot the Flying Dutchman—sunk 1641—off Cape of Good Hope. At Rust en Vreugd, expect phantom shoulder taps amid the art.
Stay spooked: Glencairn Hotel near Simon’s Town hosts spirits of a mother and son who perished there.
Portland, Oregon
Portland’s hauntings abound. At Old Town Pizza (ex-Merchant Hotel, 1880), feel “presence” or see black-clad Nina—prostitute murdered after betraying info. Her death shaft is now a booth. Tour the Shanghai Tunnels’ ghostly underground.
Stay spooked: White Eagle’s 11 rooms above the pub host spectral bands—ask staff for details.
