Six Haunted Places to Visit This Halloween...if you dare!
If you are someone who has a seperate watchlist for horror movies and gets excited, every time a new horror series is launched, then let this Halloween be more than just binge watching your classic favourites. Go about exploring some of the most spookiest islands to get your thrill bone rattling with excitement and fear! Stock up on your essentials, with extra batteries off course, as we bring to you a list of places you can explore this Halloween, giving you access to the most chilling stories and experiences to remember. This list isn’t for the faint hearted so read at your own risk and venture out only if you are a true daredevil!
From former prisons to abandoned asylums, these spine-tingling island destinations with dark pasts, Booking.com, the global leader in connecting travelers with the widest choice of incredible places to stay, has delved into its more than 140,000 destinations in 230 countries and territories around the world to present six haunted places - 5 of them islands, for a thrilling experience beyond trick-or-treating and costume parties.
Kuldhara – Rajasthan, India
This village has been deserted since 1800’s and is believed to be haunted. According to a popular tale, the village was initially inhabited by very wealthy people, the Paliwal Brahmins, and there was a minister named Salim Singh who fell for one of the villager’s daughter and in order to marry her, threatened villagers with irrationally high taxes. In order to protect themselves and the girl from the evil minister, the villagers abandoned the town overnight but not without cursing it. The curse is believed to be the reason no one is able to dwell in the area as the evil aura lives in that town. Want to see what the aura is all about? Pack your bags right away! Also, for this place, you would want to use some company.
Poveglia Island - Venice, Italy
The picturesque and romantic city of Venice is a world famous travel destination thanks to its stunning canals, bridges, and architecture. But for travellers looking for a thrill this Halloween, a visit to Poveglia, the small abandoned island between Venice and Lido, will give a frightful chill. Used as a quarantine station for people suffering of the bubonic plague during the 20th century and a mental asylum during the 1920’s, Poveglia is rumored to be haunted by ghosts and has been featured in several paranormal activities shows. The island is not technically open to the public, but there are some tour operators that will take you around the island.
Alcatraz Island - San Francisco, USA
San Francisco is a vibrant city known for its colourful Victorian houses, charming cable cars and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. In the middle of the famous bay is infamous Alcatraz Island, famed for the notorious criminals once imprisoned there. Travelers can book a guided tour and learn everything about this prison’s infamous past, and if you are brave enough, you can even pay a visit after dark, as night tours are also available. And who knows…you may even hear the sounds of Al Capone’s banjo echoing through the cells.
Island of Dolls – Mexico City, Mexico
As one of the largest cities in the world, Mexico City could be better described as an experience rather than a city. From the Chapultepec Parks and the chic Polanco, to the Bohemian and intellectual Coyoacán, Mexico City will tell travelers it’s thousand secrets and stories. If visiting Mexico City this Halloween and looking for an extra creepy experience, don’t not miss a visit to the mysterious Island of Dolls. Just south of Mexico City, the “Isla de las Munecas” has been featured in various television series about paranormal activities and is home to terrifying dolls hanging over trees.
Isle of Wight, England
Set on England’s south coast, the Isle of Wight offers stunning scenery with dramatic cliffs and unspoiled countryside. However, this fascinating and historic destination is also full of supernatural activity and attracts thousands of ‘ghost hunters’ every year. For travelers interested in meeting one of the many resident ghosts, than a frightful walk along the island’s haunted trails is sure to do the trick.
Norfolk Island, Australia
Situated in the Pacific Ocean, Norfolk Island is a small island located 1,400 kilometers (877 miles) east of mainland Australia. Today this beautiful destination is home to green rolling hills, rocky shorelines and the famous Norfolk pine trees. The island was not always such a pristine paradise, though. During the 19th century it was a settlement for the some of the world’s most violent criminals and the island is rumored to be haunted from this dark past.