10 terrifying haunted places across the globe you shouldn’t visit alone
Dare to discover the world’s most haunted destinations. From cursed forests to abandoned hospitals, explore 10 terrifying travel spots known for ghost sightings and chilling legends—places you should never visit alone.
For the traveller who finds allure in the unsettling and beauty in the bleak, the world offers more than postcard-perfect towns and sunny beaches. Scattered across continents lie places so steeped in sorrow, history, and whispered legend that stepping foot in them can feel like trespassing on another realm entirely. These are not the destinations you'll find in glossy brochures or influencer feeds. These are places where silence carries stories, and shadows seem to watch. Whether truth or tall tale, here are ten of the world’s most spine-chilling destinations—each carrying a reputation no travel insurance policy could soothe. (Image: Canva)
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1. Poveglia Island, Italy Tucked between Venice and Lido lies Poveglia, a desolate island with a past stitched in plague, madness, and death. Once a quarantine zone and later a psychiatric facility, it is now abandoned—and thoroughly avoided by locals. Tales of anguished spirits and anguished cries drifting across the lagoon still keep its shoreline eerily quiet. (Image: Canva)
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2. Eastern State Penitentiary, USA In Philadelphia’s heart, this crumbling Gothic prison once pioneered solitary confinement—and paid dearly for it. Former guards whisper of shadowy forms darting across cellblock walls. Guests speak of unseen touches and murmurs in long-abandoned corridors. Restoration has not dulled its sinister edge. (Image: Canva)
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3. Aokigahara Forest, Japan Beneath the northern flank of Mount Fuji lies a forest dense enough to lose light—and direction. Aokigahara, grimly nicknamed the “Suicide Forest,” is a place where time and sound seem suspended. Visitors report disoriented senses and unshakeable unease, as if the woods themselves were watching. (Image: Canva)
4. Bhangarh Fort, India Amid the dry hills of Rajasthan stands Bhangarh, a ruined town where no one dares sleep. Legends tell of black magic, royal betrayal, and a curse so potent, the Archaeological Survey of India warns visitors to leave before sundown. Those who linger claim to hear voices that do not belong. (Image: Canva)
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5. The Stanley Hotel, USA Perched in the Colorado Rockies, The Stanley's elegance hides a restless soul. Stephen King found inspiration for The Shining here, but guests still encounter its ghosts firsthand—phantom piano melodies, flickering chandeliers, and disembodied laughter echo through its 142 rooms with alarming frequency. (Image: Canva)
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6. Hoia Baciu Forest, Romania This Transylvanian forest does not require myths; its twisted trees and geometric clearings offer an unease all their own. Known for electromagnetic anomalies and sudden device failures, Hoia Baciu is where logic gives way to lore. Locals keep their distance. Visitors often return with more questions than photographs. (Image: Canva)
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7. Château de Brissac, France In the Loire Valley’s pastoral calm, this grand castle hides a tale of betrayal and murder. The "Green Lady," a noblewoman slain centuries ago, is said to roam the halls—her moans audible, her presence impossible to ignore. Even in daylight, her sorrow lingers in the stone. (Image: Wikipedia)
8. The Tower of London, England This fortress has witnessed royal executions, betrayal, and whispered conspiracies for nearly a millennium. The spectral figures of Anne Boleyn and the Princes in the Tower are said to haunt its battlements. Few places in Europe carry so much death in such regal dress. (Image: Canva)
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9. Old Changi Hospital, Singapore Once a wartime military base, later a public hospital, Changi now stands hollowed by time. Stories swirl of tortured POWs, lost patients, and spirits who never checked out. Locals say screams pierce the night air, and elevators move without power. No one stays long. (Image: Canva)
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10. La Recoleta Cemetery, Argentina Buenos Aires’ most elegant graveyard is also its most unnerving. Amongst marbled tombs and mossy angels, ghost sightings and odd temperature drops are routine. The most famous specter? A young woman said to have been buried alive—who still taps on her family’s mausoleum from within. (Image: Canva)
Priyanka Roshan With over eight years in multimedia journalism, is passionate about storytelling—both visual and textual—across travel, jobs, business, markets, politics, and daily news. From crafting engaging articles to producing compelling videos, she blends creativity with strategy to bring stories to life. With a strong foundation in SEO, and video production she ensures content not only informs but also resonates with audiences.
![7. Château de Brissac, France In the Loire Valley’s pastoral calm, this grand castle hides a tale of betrayal and murder. The "Green Lady," a noblewoman slain centuries ago, is said to roam the halls—her moans audible, her presence impossible to ignore. Even in daylight, her sorrow lingers in the stone. (Image: Wikipedia)](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2025/07/20250709130122_7-haunted-places-in-the-world.jpg "7. Château de Brissac, France In the Loire Valley’s pastoral calm, this grand castle hides a tale of betrayal and murder. The "Green Lady," a noblewoman slain centuries ago, is said to roam the halls—her moans audible, her presence impossible to ignore. Even in daylight, her sorrow lingers in the stone. (Image: Wikipedia)")
