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The 7 Spookiest Buildings Around the World, Nominated by Lonely Planet Travelers

Has a building ever sent shivers down your spine? From elegant churches to unassuming cottages, some structures simply radiate an eerie aura that's hard to pinpoint—but undeniably spooky.

Inspired by North Korea's towering, unfinished Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang—a pyramid-like behemoth evoking Mordor's grandest resort—we turned to the Lonely Planet community on Twitter and Facebook. Their nominations reveal seven of the world's creepiest buildings, backed by traveler experiences and historical intrigue.

Explore these spine-tingling selections:

1. Wat Rong Khun, Chiang Rai, Thailand. This iconic modern temple, still under construction, fuses traditional Buddhist motifs with ornate, avant-garde artistry and sharp, unsettling spires. [Photo by guerinjeanmarc]


The 7 Spookiest Buildings Around the World, Nominated by Lonely Planet Travelers

2. Corvin Castle, Hunedoara, Romania. Transylvania's ultimate Dracula lair, featured in Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days. Gothic arches, weapon displays, and a shadowy past amplify its haunting vibe—no real vampires required. [Photo by andreea]


The 7 Spookiest Buildings Around the World, Nominated by Lonely Planet Travelers

3. Metropolitan Correctional Center, Chicago, Illinois. This triangular monolith looms with narrow, arrow-slit windows, earning it the moniker 'The Pylon of Doom' among locals. Far from Chicago's architectural gems. [Photo by get directly down]


The 7 Spookiest Buildings Around the World, Nominated by Lonely Planet Travelers

4. Chernobyl Reactor #4, Ukraine. Site of the world's worst nuclear disaster, this relic in the uninhabited Zone of Alienation draws daring tours—Geiger counters ticking ominously. [Photo by Pedro Pinheiro]


The 7 Spookiest Buildings Around the World, Nominated by Lonely Planet Travelers

5. Lemp Mansion, St. Louis, Missouri. One of America's most haunted homes, where brewery heir Charles Lemp's 1949 suicide sparked reports of slamming doors, shattering glass, and paranormal TV fame. [Photo by binkle28]


The 7 Spookiest Buildings Around the World, Nominated by Lonely Planet Travelers

6. Scott Monument, Edinburgh, Scotland. This 200-foot (61m) tribute to Sir Walter Scott hides terror in its claustrophobic spiral stairs—narrowing so tightly that passing is impossible, turning the summit into a caver's nightmare. [Photo by Graeme Pow]


The 7 Spookiest Buildings Around the World, Nominated by Lonely Planet Travelers

7. Ottawa Jail Hostel, Ottawa, Canada. Sleep in a haunted former prison turned hostel? Cozier than most cells, but bars and ghostly tales unsettle even seasoned travelers. [Photo by thoth188]


The 7 Spookiest Buildings Around the World, Nominated by Lonely Planet Travelers

What's your pick for the world's spookiest building?


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