From Pluto’s Demotion Day to National Hug Day
Spooked, but still curious? Check out this gallery for the most haunted places in the world.
Höfði House is most famous for hosting a meeting between Ronald Regan and Mikhail Gorbachev in 1986. It has hosted many other political figures, and one time a British ambassador reported seeing "The White Lady," a ghost who many believe to be a victim of suicide.
This British country home doesn't only get living visitors! The mysterious "Brown Lady," rumored to be Lady Dorothy Walpole, was reported to be one of the ghosts captured on film in the December 1936 edition of the magazine Country Life.
After having spent 30 years at sea, this beautiful ocean liner is now permanently docked in Long Beach. During her tenure, over 50 deaths were recorded!
This medieval castle served as a defensive stronghold for the city of Oslo, and it's rumored to be the most haunted place in the country. The most popular sightings include a demon dog named Malcanisen, and the ghost of a woman with no facial features named Mantelgeisten.
A short trip from Venice, the beautiful island of Poveglia was once used as an insane asylum in the early 20th century. Ghost hunters claim this place is a hotspot for paranormal activity.
The famous cemetery contains the graves of Argentina's most iconic figures, including Eva Perón. It also has a couple of haunted legends, the most famous one being of David Alleno, a former grave-digger who worked at the cemetery for 30 years before killing himself. Today, people report hearing his keys jangling as his ghost walks the pathways.
Local legend has it that if you visit the bridge at sunrise, you'll see a charging carriage with the ghost of Olimpia Maidalchini, Pope Innocent X's advisor. This is because she fled the city with the Church's gold, just after Pope Innocent X's death in 1655.
Some 200 miles (325 km) from Delhi, this abandoned fortress sticks out in the middle of nowhere. Legend has it that a sorcerer cast a curse on the area after being rejected by a local princess.
This 12th-century fortress has had many experiences reported, including unexplained music echoing through the halls. Some believe the music is from the ghost of a piper who died in the castle.
Built in 1829, the prison took solitary confinement to new levels, keeping prisoners alone at all times. The prison abandoned its solitary system due to overcrowding in 1913, and closed for good in 1970. Reported paranormal activities have included disembodied laughter, shadowy figures, and pacing footsteps.
The former railway building, and World War II prison, is believed to be the most haunted place in Indonesia. Some reported ghosts include a Dutch woman and several headless spirits.
There are many ghost tours around Port Arthur to satisfy ghost hunters. Formerly an 18th-century convict settlement, the Tasmanian town is now packed with paranormal activities.
This haunted bed-and-breakfast was the sight of a gruesome and highly publicized murder from 1892. Although she was acquitted, Lizzie Borden was suspected of killing her father and stepmother with a hatchet in the home. Since then, guests have reported all kinds of strange activities in the house.
China's former imperial palace has had many reports of strange activities since it opened its doors to the public in the 1940s. The first reported apparition was of a woman in white who was heard sobbing in the palace halls.
Located in northern Lithuania, people have been placing crosses at this spot since the 14th century in order to express their desire for the country's independence. The hill and the crosses were bulldozed by Soviets three times, but locals kept rebuilding it. There are now more than 100,000 crosses crowded together, creating a mysterious atmosphere filled with history.
Built in 1892 by William and Anne Kehoe, tragedy struck the family when two of their 10 children died in the house. Now turned into a bed-and-breakfast, guests have noted mysterious sounds of children playing.
With the remains of more than six million people located in the underground tunnels, the Paris Catacombs are truly spooky. Beware when visiting the tunnels, as they're not for the faint of heart!
Completed in 1914, this Gothic Revival-style mansion is filled with corridors and secret passageways. Stories of ghosts have been whispered around the property for decades.
The castle was built between 1871 and 1887 to serve as the residence of William Larnach, a prominent local politician. He had a 3,000-square-foot ballroom built as a 21st birthday present for his favorite daughter, Kate. She later died of typhoid at age 26, and is said to still haunt the ballroom.
Crumlin Road Gaol, a Victorian-era prison, is said to be one of the most haunted sites in Northern Ireland. Often referred to as Europe's Alcatraz, the jail contained some 25,000 inmates during its 150 years of operation, many whom were hung and buried there. It officially shut its doors in 1996, but the ghosts of deceased inmates are said to still roam the iron walkways.
The fortress originally served as a replenishment station for ships in the Dutch East India Company. Some of the most famous ghosts include a tall man seen walking the ramparts and a "Gray Lady" seen crying in the halls.
Château de Brissac is famously known as the place where Charlotte de Brézé was murdered. The legend says that Charlotte, the illegitimate daughter of King Charles VII, was killed by her husband after discovering she was having an affair. Visitors claim to have seen a "Green Lady" roaming around the halls.
For anyone into the original vampire myth, have a look at Vlad the Impaler. The bloodthirsty ruler was kept prisoner in Corvin Castle, where many strange sightings have been reported.
Located at the foot of Mount Fuji, this seemingly serene forest has a tormented past. Also known as the "Suicide Forest," Aokigahara has been the site of 500 reported suicides since the 1950s.
Ever since it was completed in 1888, this hotel has been associated with paranormal activity. The most famous legend is that of the "Ghost Bride," a woman who reportedly awaits people in the hotel ballroom.
The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the bloodiest of the Civil War, so it's no surprise that many visitors have reported seeing apparitions of Civil War soldiers wandering the fields.
The resting place for many historic figures, the infamous fortress has been steeped in tragedy for over 900 years. It's also home to many ghostly sightings, including Anne Boleyn and Mary, Queen of Scots.
A Romanesque-style building completed in 1886, the Austin hotel has many tales of ghosts haunting the hallways. Some of the most famous include two honeymooning women who took their own lives in the same room 20 years apart.
After the death of her husband, rifle magnate William Wirt Winchester, Sarah Winchester commissioned a labyrinth in the house in order to keep safe from vengeful spirits killed by her husband's guns. The house has four stories, 160 rooms, and 47 stairways!
This lighthouse became famous during the Civil War, when the light was removed to disrupt Union shipping. Visitors have reported seeing the friendly ghost of a lighthouse keeper there.
Sources: (Travel + Leisure) (Condé Nast Traveler)
See also: Cruising America's most haunted roads
The most haunted places in the world
These eerie locations are sure to give you a fright!
LIFESTYLE Spooky
No matter where you are in the world, you'll find some sort of haunted site with plenty of ghost sightings and creepy experiences. Some of these places are packed with mysteries that go back centuries, while others have a more recent history. Whether these spots are from the 12th or 20th centuries, they'll undoubtedly send shivers down your spine!
Spooked, but still curious? Check out this gallery for the most haunted places in the world.