By: Miriam Bribiesca
Forget the plastic skeletons and cheesy haunted houses. If you’re the type who counts down to October 31st like it’s your personal New Year’s Eve, this one’s for you. Sure, haunted houses are fun, but how about traveling to actual haunted destinations? Places with bone-chilling backstories, ghost sightings, and enough eerie energy to keep your spooky spirit thriving. Whether you believe in the paranormal or just want some eerie content for the ‘gram, these haunted spots around the world are perfect for Halloween lovers who crave more than just a pumpkin spice latte and a late night out in costume. Ready to hunt ghosts in real life?
Paris, France
Starting with what we have on our own travel bucket list, imagine yourself visiting the city of light, snapping pics of the Eiffel Tower, filling your face with croissants, and just generally living your best life. But that’s not all you came here for, there’s a whole other side of Paris most tourists miss. You know that beneath the city lies a labyrinth of tunnels known as the Catacombs, home to the bones of over six million people!
The Catacombs are the ultimate mix of history and horror. The walls are literally made of human bones, carefully arranged to ensure maximum shock factor. We promise this isn’t a tourist trap, it’s one of the spookiest places on Earth and funny enough, the entrance is subtle, so you’ll feel like you’re stepping into a secret society of the undead.
Entry tickets to the Catacombs are pretty affordable for students, especially if you book in advance. And if you have a little more budget, it’s worth splurging on the audio guide—it’s packed with fascinating and creepy stories.
Salem, Massachusetts
If you’re a Halloween lover, we know this should already be on your radar. Famous for the infamous 1692 witch trials, this quaint town turns into a FULL Halloween capital every October. Salem is like stepping into the set of “Hocus Pocus” (which was actually partly filmed there) but at least here you can visit witchy boutiques.
As you might expect, everything about Salem screams Halloween. While the witch trial history is dark, today the town is a celebration of all things spooky and magical. A couple of things we recommend are visiting the Salem Witch Museum, taking haunted history tours, or wandering the streets wearing your favorite costume and trying all the goodies sold in this small town.
We do admit that Salem can get touristy and a bit more expensive in October, so if you’re on a budget, visit a little earlier in the season when hotels and attractions are a bit cheaper. Afterall, haunted places don’t take vacations and that’s a good thing in our book.
Xochimilco, Mexico
This one’s for the ultimate thrill-seekers. The Island of the Dolls in Mexico is straight up nightmare fuel. Located in the canals of Xochimilco, this small island is filled with hundreds of creepy, decaying dolls hanging from trees. Legend has it that the island’s caretaker (Don Julián Santana) placed the dolls to appease the spirit of a girl who drowned there… Spoiler alert: IT DIDN’T WORK!
To get to the location you’ll need to hire a trajinera to take you to the Island of the Dolls. The Island of the Dolls is located about 2 hours from the main docks of Xochimilco. We hear some trajinera operators offer guided tours with local stories about the island’s haunted history. So ask around and see who can offer you the best bang for your buck and because you probably want to save money and have emotional support we highly recommend going with a group of friends.
If you’re not afraid of dolls (or even if you are and are brave), this is truly a unique Halloween destination. The island is hauntingly beautiful in a totally terrifying way. Just Imagine floating through the foggy canals as the dolls stare at you with their hollow eyes. It’s the kind of trip that’ll haunt your dreams and make your skin crawl, in the best way possible of course.
Who says Halloween has to be confined to your local haunted house? These travel worthy destinations will have you experiencing all the chills, thrills, and whispers you could ask for. And because this is the season, the ScholarTrip team has a treat of exclusive student deals to make your spooky trip happen. So whether you come face to face with a spirit or just enjoy the eerie ambiance, one thing’s for sure…you’ll have travel stories that’ll keep the spooky season alive long after October ends. Happy Halloween!
