The spooky season of Halloween is approaching and what better way to commemorate it than by embarking on journeys to eerie locations. Undoubtedly, haunted tours are not suitable for those who easily become scared, however, these excursions can also provide an exhilarating adventure and a unique encounter. Expand your knowledge on sinister past events and immerse yourself in the tales of supernatural tales and myths surrounding the most ghostly destinations across the globe.
Here’s your guide to the Top 10 Haunted Cities In The World.
Baguio City, Philippines
Baguio is known as the City of Pines and the summer capital of the Philippines because of the cold temperatures and towering pine trees all over the city. While this city is popular among families and couples, this city is also popular among people who like all things spooky.
The city gained its popularity during the Americanization of the Philippines when American military officers wanted an escape from the blazing heat of the capital. Military bases, hospitals, and hotels were constructed in the city until the destruction that came along during and after the Japanese invasion.
Probably the most popular ghost stories in Baguio are sightings of headless priests and nuns in old structures and stories about white ladies. Tourists can go ghost hunting or hire a private ghost tour guide. The most popular haunted spots in the city include the Diplomat Hotel, the Laperal House, Murder Woods, and the abandoned Japanese Mines.
You can contact Pine City Fright Tours to take you for a spooky ride around the city. Tour prices start at PHP700 ($14USD) per person.
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is widely known as the most haunted city in the United States. Ghost stories can be traced back to the Siege of Savannah in 1779, the American Civil War, and the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1820. These historical events claimed the lives of thousands of people in Savannah, leaving horrific tales of deaths and suffering.
Various companies offer ghost tours around Savannah. The most popular ones include the tour of the Hamilton-Turner Inn where paranormal activities are believed to be common, the Marshall House, which served as a hospital during the Yellow Fever epidemic, and Savannah’s haunted cemeteries.
You can arrange your ghost tour via Ghosts & Gravestones of Savannah or Ghost City Tours.
Fujikawaguchiko, Japan
Fujikawaguchiko is a town located in Yamanashi Prefecture. This town is home to Aokigahara also known as the Suicide Forest. Japan is known to have an alarming rate of suicide incidents and Aokigahara is probably the most common site for suicide, making the place one of the most haunted places in Japan.
Death by hanging is the most common method of suicide in Aokigahara. The forest is so dense that some bodies go unnoticed for years. Positive signs can be read throughout the forest encouraging potential victims to continue their lives.
The forest is so vast that you would most likely be on your own once you enter the forest. This site is popular among hikers who wish to see the beauty of Mt. Fuji but bus drivers including the locals are known to discourage people from going there.
If you are someone who is going through something or simply wants to talk without judgment, please call 1-800-273-8255.
Poveglia, Italy
Scare-seekers love Poveglia for a reason. This island in Italy was once the dumping site of people affected by the bubonic plague in the 14th-16th century. Tens of thousands of sick people were shipped to this island to die. Recovery from the black disease was very rare and so dead bodies started to pile up. Officials decided to burn the corpses to the ground to prevent the disease from spreading.
In the early 20th century, long after the hospital on the island was shut down, the government decided to use the island to construct a health facility for the mentally ill. There are stories about heinous experiments and torture done by a mad doctor running the facility. This mad doctor is believed to have committed suicide by jumping off the tower. The island was eventually abandoned in 1968.
There are no regulated tours of this island and visits require a lengthy application process through the tourism board of Italy as the island is generally closed to the public. Ghost stories on the island are provided by thrill-seekers who take a boat to the island without the government’s approval. Stories include screams, the feeling of being watched, and an invisible force pushing visitors.
York, UK
York is widely known as the most haunted city in England. In fact, many people refer to this city as the City of 1,000 Ghosts. This walled city is home to over 500 recorded hauntings with most of the ghost sightings recorded happened in pubs and old structures in the city.
Ghost stories include sightings of Roman soldiers at the spooky Treasurer’s House and ghosts at the York Dungeon. Famous ghost tour sites are the Golden Fleece Inn, the Treasurer’s House, and the Black Swan Hotel.
You can book your guided ghost tour via Ghost Trail, Ghost Hunt, or The Original Ghost Walk of York.
Pripyat, Ukraine
On April 26, 1986, Ukraine and the rest of the world witnessed one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters when the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded. The Chernobyl nuclear disaster killed workers and emergency respondents due to radiation exposure. Hundreds of thousands more were exposed during the clean-up and it is unclear as to how many died because of this tragic event. Many people who survived are reported to experience the effects of radiation with others developing cancer over the years.
Pripyat is about 2 kilometers away from Chernobyl. Pripyat has become part of the exclusion zone; people from Pripyat evacuated and have long continued their lives elsewhere. This ghost town is known for various haunted stories of voices screaming for help and crying babies.
In 2011, the Ukranian government opened the city of Pripyat to the public for touring. The minimum age for tours is 18 through a guided tour. Tourists must wear closed shoes, long-sleeved tops, and pants. If you are a fan of places frozen in history, then Pripyat is worth a visit. The closest city you can stay in to get tours from is Kiev.
Toowoomba, Australia
Paranormal and eerie experiences have long terrorized the residents of the city of Toowoomba. This city is widely known as the paranormal capital of the country. Hundreds of sightings and apparitions have been recorded in the city.
Ghost stories include sightings of a woman who died in 1930 at the railway station, the lady at the St. Vincent’s Hospital, and the girl at the Toowoomba Repertory Theatre. Spooky sites in the city include the historical Oakdene house, the Gowrie House, and the Royal Bull’s Head Inn.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Many people who have been to New Orleans claim that this city has an eerie touch to it. New Orlean’s history of voodoo practices can be traced back to the 1700s and the haunting cemeteries continue to fascinate thrill-seekers.
The eerie alleyways and streets of the French Quarter is a favorite ghost site. Other sites include the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the spooky Lalaurie Mansion which is known to be home to tortured slaves in the 1800s, and the historic Garden District.
Most ghost sightings and stories in New Orleans revolve around the old houses, hotels, bars, and restaurants. If you want to visit New Orleans and gain a new perspective about its history and all things spooky, you can book a ghost tour via Ghost City Tours or Haunted History Tours.
Alton, Illinois
This small town in Illinois is considered to be one of the most haunted small towns in America. This sleepy town is home to America’s first penitentiary during the Civil War, a mass grave where some 2000 men from the penitentiary were laid to rest, and the haunted McPike Mansion.
Paranormal investigators claim that unexplained noises and ghost sightings are most common in the McPike Mansion. This mansion was built in 1869, named after the owner and former mayor of Alton, Henry McPike. The Milton School House is also a popular ghost site. According to an urban legend, a girl named Mary was brutally murdered inside the school. People report of objects moving on their own and footsteps can be heard running up and down the hallways and corridors.
You can book a guided ghost tour via Alton Haunted Odyssey or Alton Hauntings. You can choose to take the bus tour or the walking tour.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Who would have thought this charming city has a spooky side to it? The gruesome past of the Scottish capital gives the place its haunted reputation. One of the most common sites for ghost hunting is the Edinburgh Vaults. Paranormal activities recorded in this area include sightings of robed figures, mysterious voices, and footsteps.
Other popular haunted sites are the Edinburgh Playhouse theatre and the Greyfriars Kirkyard where hundreds of incidents of poltergeist attacking visitors have been recorded. Book your ghost tour via Free Ghost Tour or Ghost Bus tours.
