What Is the Most Haunted Place in Europe? 15 Spooky Spots To Know

Most Haunted Places in Europe

• Fontanelle Cemetery, Naples.
• Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh.
• Highgate Cemetery, London.
• The Catacombs of Paris and Rome.
• Golden Fleece Pub, York.
• Grand Bazaar, Istanbul.
• Jack the Ripper Museum, London.
• London Dungeon, London.
• The Ten Bells Pub, London.
• Bran Castle, Transylvania.
• Houska Castle, Czech Republic.
• Leap Castle, Limerick.
• Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin.
• Bram Stoker Festival, Dublin.
• Hoia Baciu Forest, Romania.

Cemeteries and Catacombs

Fontanelle Cemetery, Naples

Naples, Italy offers a unique stop: the Fontanelle Cemetery, an ossuary in the Materdei neighborhood. Heavy rains sometimes washed bones into the streets, and locals are said to have carried them back to the grotto. That kindness may have spared them from being haunted themselves.

Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh

Greyfriars Kirkyard, a graveyard on the southern edge of Edinburgh’s Old Town in Scotland, has earned a particularly spooky reputation. Its weathered headstones, moss-covered mausoleums and centuries of history make it a favorite stop for ghost enthusiasts. It's far from the only place in the Scottish capital where you might feel a chill.

Edinburgh Castle, which crowns a volcanic rock above the city, is known for tales of restless spirits and unexplained sounds echoing through its halls.

Beneath the Royal Mile, The Real Mary King's Close preserves hidden streets that were sealed off and built over long ago. Guides share tales from the plague and stories of mischievous poltergeists said to linger in the rooms and passageways.

Highgate Cemetery, London

Highgate Cemetery is the most famous of the "Magnificent Cemeteries" in and around London. Opened in 1839, it’s the resting place of more than 170,000 people across 53,000 graves. Ghost hunters and vampire enthusiasts flock here. The size and scope alone like a city for the departed, may leave you spellbound.

The Catacombs, Paris and Rome

Some of my favorite places in Europe for ghost tours are old catacombs. The darkness and musty air of the bone-lined tunnels are unforgettable.

Over the years, many people who've explored beneath the Paris Catacombs — which hold the remains of more than 6 million people, interred there after the caves opened in 1786 — have reported that the walls spoke to them.

Rome's catacombs are even older, with the earliest sections dating to the 2nd century AD. Many early Christians, including some martyrs, were laid to rest in these underground passageways.

City Streets, Pubs and Museums

Golden Fleece Pub, England

York, England, is famous for Roman soldier apparitions, said to appear in the city's old streets and cellars. It's also home to the Golden Fleece Pub, where ghostly tales have become part of the charm. York's historic streets and preserved architecture also make it a natural setting for guided ghost tours.

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

Ghost hunters also occasionally turn up in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, which might not immediately seem like a place to find wayward spirits. However, rumors have persisted over the years that the serpentine alleys of the market — one of the largest and oldest shopping venues in the world — hide portals to other dimensions.

Jack the Ripper Museum, London

The Jack the Ripper Museum tells the mysterious story of these unsolved murders through recreated crime scenes. The man was never identified, which has led some to wonder whether he was flesh and blood at all. You can also book a Jack the Ripper walking tour and visit key spots around the city while a guide shares the infamous tales.

London Dungeon, London

If you're looking for a fright on your London vacation, the London Dungeon on the South Bank is a good stop, as it may be one of the spookiest places in Europe. It probably isn't haunted by ghosts of yore as it only opened in 1974, but it's designed to give you a thrill. Interactive, theatrical exhibits bring London's history to life, from the Norman Conquest to Sweeney Todd — and, yes, Jack the Ripper. If you enjoy a little dark humor, it's a must-visit.

The Ten Bells Pub, London

A trip to The Ten Bells, a historic pub near Shoreditch in East London, is another stop for Ripper fans. Mary Kelly, believed to be Jack the Ripper's final victim, was last seen here in 1888, and many visitors report ghost sightings. The apparition is said to wear Victorian attire, like a top hat and waistcoat. The pub was briefly renamed for Jack the Ripper from 1976 to 1988.

Castles and Hotels

Bran Castle, Transylvania

Bran Castle is famously tied to the legend of Dracula and sits about a 30-minute drive from Brașov, Romania. When I visited, most Romanians I spoke with found the castle’s popularity amusing. "I'm just here to sell garlic garlands," one told me, "and cheap plastic vampire fangs." Others were more reverent. Dracula may not have existed, but the historical figure who inspired the story definitely did.

Posthumously known as Vlad the Impaler — and sometimes Vlad Dracula, meaning "Son of the Dragon" — this 15th-century ruler left a powerful mark on Romanian history. If you visit, take time to reflect on the stories that surround his legacy. It's easy to see why it’s perhaps one of the creepiest castles in Europe.

Houska Castle, Czech Republic

Houska Castle is a popular day trip from Prague. It's not as obviously creepy as some other castles, but it may hold a secret. Some people believe it was built over a gateway to the underworld, to keep dark forces from escaping. The owners have occasionally offered overnight stays, which sounds either fun or spine-tingling.

Leap Castle, Limerick

Leap Castle, located near the city of Limerick in west-central Ireland, is reputed to have several resident ghosts. Its clan history has inspired plenty of stories, and it's infamous for a foul-smelling entity called "The Elemental," said to live in the Bloody Chapel. The castle is also reputed to have several resident ghosts, including two young girls and the "Red Lady," who many say roams the halls.

Various cemeteries along the River Shannon, which flows south from Lough (Lake) Allen to Limerick, are also said to be haunted.

Ireland has also been a hub of faerie folklore for centuries. Some people believe the culprits behind these eerie tales are more magical than ghostly. Many don't see faeries as ghosts at all, but as small, human-like beings who slipped into the shadows long ago.

Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin

The Shelbourne Hotel, near St. Stephen's Green Park, is a fitting choice for a haunted stay. Guests have reported feeling a supernatural presence. Some ghost hunters believe that the mysterious presence is Mary Masters, an 18th-century cholera victim. Buildings around Trinity College, whose library is a popular photo spot, have also been the site of reported sightings.

Forests and Folklore Festivals

Bram Stoker Festival, Dublin

Here’s a fact that often surprises travelers: Bram Stoker, who wrote "Dracula" in 1897, wasn't from Romania. He never even set foot in the country. Instead of drawing on first-hand experience, he based the story on what he imagined the country was like from reading history books. Although it’s not a haunted spot, the Bram Stoker Festival — which takes over Dublin, Ireland, every October — is a spooky spectacle, with hundreds of “vampires” mingling with locals.

Hoia Baciu Forest, Romania

Hoia Baciu Forest, near Cluj-Napoca, Romania, is known as a haunted forest. Visitors describe inexplicable shadow shapes, UFO legends and missing time. The trees here grow in strange, twisting shapes, adding to the mystery. It's a favorite for adventurous travelers who love unexplained tales.

No matter where you travel in the "Old World", the sense of centuries and sometimes millennia — past hangs in the air. We may never prove that the souls resting beneath Europe's cities and countryside still wander in spirit form. But if there's one place in the world that could be haunted, Europe is a top contender.

Want to see these spots for yourself? Explore European cruises and get ready for a spooky adventure!