Are your vacations getting boring? Sure, lying on a beach or renting an idyllic country home is relaxing. But if you have a hankering for something more exciting for your next trip, why not look into a spooky destination?
Take your love of haunted houses and escape rooms to the next level. Travel to some of the scariest places around the globe for an unforgettable, eerie vacation. Whether you spend the night at an abandoned asylum or take a walk through a haunted village, you and your traveling companions are sure to get a fright.
If you love spooky or crazy stories, keep reading. We’ll discover ten scary places to travel around the world… if you dare. Let’s get started!
1. Island of the Dolls, Mexico
Have you ever encountered an old doll and felt like its eyes were following you as you moved? Now, imagine having that feeling hundreds of times in a row.
You may just experience this sensation at the Isla de las Munecas, or the “Island of the Dolls,” in Xochimilco, Mexico. Legend has it that a young girl tragically passed away on the island many years ago. Since then, people have been placing dolls around the location of her death in her honor.
While the intention is nice, the outcome is downright creepy. Hundreds of old dolls fill the island, making it a super scary travel destination to explore.
2. Aokigahara Forest, Japan
The Aokigahara Forest is a gorgeous, dense forest near Mount Fuji that hides a disturbing truth. Known as Japan’s “suicide forest”, these woods have been the site of countless tragic suicides over the years. It seems to be a common spot because of its heavily wooded nature, which provides privacy for those who wish to end their lives.
If you do choose to visit this creepy and beautiful place, please show respect for those who have passed. Take heed from Youtuber Logan Paul, who posted a distasteful and disrespectful video from the Aokigahara Forest.
3. Death Road, Bolivia
As its name suggests, this thin, winding road is an extremely dangerous destination. It connects northern Bolivia with the capital city along very steep cliff faces.
It’s mostly a one-way path, making Yungas Road the site of hundreds of deaths every year. Would you dare to travel on Bolivia’s Death Road?
4. Paris Catacombs, France
Have you been dying to visit Paris and get your dose of creepy at the same time? If so, the Paris Catacombs are the perfect destination for you.
These ossuaries are the final resting place of millions of people. Feeling skeptical? You’ll believe it when you see their skulls, which decorate the walls!
Curious about how to skip the line for a tour? See more here.
5. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, West Virginia
Are you into scary abandoned places? This psychiatric hospital, formerly known as the Weston State Hospital, originally existed as a place of hope and wellness for mentally ill patients. However, this vision disintegrated due to overcrowding, botched lobotomies, and inhumane treatment of the patients.
Although the asylum shut down in 1994, it’s currently open for ghost tours. Who knows, you just might hear the sounds of the tortured souls who still roam the halls.
6. Snake Island, Brazil
Not only is this Brazilian island filled with thousands upon thousands of snakes, but it also has one rare breed whose venom can disintegrate human flesh. If snakes didn’t already terrify you, melting flesh certainly will!
7. Hoia Baciu Forest, Romania
Much like the Aokigahara Forest in Japan, this wooded area of Romania is both beautiful and scary. The Hoia Baciu Forest is home to many paranormal phenomena, like witches, ghosts, and a clearing in the woods where nothing grows (and where there have been multiple UFO sightings).
If you’re brave enough to visit, beware. Electronic devices seem to lose reception or power in the forest.
8. Love Scary Places? Check out Pluckley, England
Known as the most haunted place in England, Pluckley is the home of between twelve and sixteen ghosts. These ghosts are the spirits of locals who met sad endings. One woman is said to have burned to death alone, another took his own life while his wife and children slept nearby.
Pluckley is the perfect place for a trip because it’s not only haunted but also a charming place to stay. So, if you’re looking for a cute vacation destination where you may also have a ghost sighting or two, Pluckley’s the place for you.
9. Villisca Ax Murder House, Iowa
Have you ever wanted to visit a truly scary haunted house? Ditch the carnival rides, because we have a real-life version that will give you nightmares.
The Villisca ax murder house is one of the best haunted attractions the USA has to offer. It’s the scene of a gruesome crime where eight people (six of whom were children) were slain in their beds in 1912.
The murder weapon? You guessed it: an ax. And the killer was never discovered.
If you dare, you can sleep in this home overnight with a few friends. Although, we doubt you’ll get much sleep.
10. Gansbaai, South Africa
If you have a fear of sharks, Gansbaai will feel like one of the scariest places on earth to you. It has a dense population of the famously terrifying great white sharks and an even more terrifying opportunity to get up close and personal with them.
Brave tourists can sign up to go shark diving, which means hanging out in the open waters in a metal cage. The cage sounds secure… until a great white shark swims right up to you!
Don’t Get Scared
Spice up your next holiday by visiting one of the destinations above. From haunted and abandoned buildings to creepy forests, there are scary places all over the world.
Just remember to be respectful at any destination you choose. Whether you’re there to see some frightening wildlife or in the hopes of running into a ghost or UFO, it’s important to respect all creatures, living or dead.
Want to know more about what we do here at Augustines? Send us an email and let’s chat!
