8 Haunted Places In Europe That Will Freak You Out

Zvíkov Castle in Zvíkovské Podhradí, Czech Republic, is a creepy place at the best of times. Legend has it that until 1597 a supernatural being haunted residents of the castle in the ancient tower. According to some records, strange events still occur in the tower. Visitors report unusual photographs, technical malfunctions, unusual animal behaviour, and even unexplained extinguishing of candles and fires. Another legend says that anyone who sleeps within the main tower will die within a year. Whether you believe these stories or not, it is one of the creepiest haunted places in Europe to visit.

How to get there by train: There are regular trains from Prague to Cimelice that take approximately 2 hours. From there you will need to travel the last few miles by taxi to reach the castle.

This city in southwestern France is famous for its Halloween celebrations. Although hauntings are unconfirmed, the street parade, creepy storytelling events, and various street parties should keep Halloween fans busy. The entire town gets in on the action in the build-up to the day. Shops, bars, and restaurants are all part of the party with decorations. It’s also not uncommon to see ghosts, vampires, and ghouls walking the streets.

How to get there by train: There are regular trains to Limoges from Paris. The journey takes approximately 3 hours on the InterCity train.

This castle holds the reputation as one of the most haunted places in France. Even the most cynical individuals would require some determination to make it through an overnight stay here. The history of haunting dates back to the castle’s early days in the 11th century. The owner allegedly violently murdered his wife and her lover, and it is these ghosts that guests claim to see walking the corridors after dark.

How to get there by train: Take the train from Paris Montparnasse to Angers. The journey takes approximately 90 minutes. From Angers, take a 30-minute bus ride on Line 5 to reach the castle.

Poveglia is a small island not far from Venice that has all the trappings of a haunted destination. It was previously populated by refugees during the Ottoman conflicts and has also been used to shelter sick patients away from the mainland. The tales of hauntings come from its time as location for a mental hospital in 1922. According to the legend, a doctor practiced medical procedures on his patients. Eventually, he killed himself on the island after allegedly becoming unable to tolerate the spirits that lived there.

How to get there by train: Access to Poveglia is usually from Venice, which is easy to reach by train from throughout Italy. There are no official ferries or transfers to the island, but you can charter a private boat to the island.

Lisbon’s Beau-Séjour Palace is said to be one of the most haunted places in Portugal. Ex-resident of the palace, the Baron of Glória, haunts the corridors and gardens of this otherwise idyllic palace. Some employees at the palace claim that objects there move without reason and windows and doors close suddenly. Some visitors to the gardens also claim to hear bells ringing, in spite of them not existing.

How to get there by train: Lisbon is a major rail hub in Portugal and easy to reach from throughout the country. Once there, take the metro from the city centre to Alto dos Moinhos. There is a train every few minutes.

Château Miranda is one of Europe’s creepiest castles. It dates back to the mid-1800s, and supposedly housed mentally ill patients from 1950 onwards. This earned it the nickname “Château de Noisy”. In its prime, it was a beautiful castle, but today it stands derelict. Trespassers have smashed doors and windows and ripped up all the floors. Though a security guard may prevent access to this creepy destination, a visit there is likely to raise the hairs on the back of your neck.

How to get there by train: Take the train from Brussels to Dinant Gare. The journey takes approximately 90 minutes. From Dinant Gare, you will need to take a 20-minute bus ride to complete the journey to the castle.

You may not think the sanitized environment of Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens could produce too many Halloween thrills and, technically, it is not one of the most haunted places in Europe. But in October of each year it turns into a fairly freaky destination. For three weeks leading up to October 31, organizers transform the park into a Halloween wonderland, complete with pumpkin carvings, confusing mazes, and a range of fiendish characters.

How to get there by train: Tivoli Gardens are just a short walk away from Copenhagen Central Station.

Wolfsegg Castle is a beautiful Bavarian Castle. But according to legend, it is also one of Germany’s most haunted castles. Reports of hauntings here date back to the 1500s. The owner allegedly discovered that his wife was having an affair and organized her murder. He died along with his two sons shortly after. Early visitors to the castle reported strange noises emanating from nearby caves. Although these turned out to be those of hunters taking shelter, there are still reports of a “White Woman” who walks the hallways.

How to get there by train: There are hourly trains from Munich to Regensburg Hauptbahnhof. From there, a bus will connect you to the castle every 3 hours.

Sceptic or not, there is no denying that these locations are some of the most haunted places in Europe. If you are planning on traveling with a Global Pass at the end of October, a visit to at least one of these may produce your most memorable Halloween yet.