Europe Halloween Bucket list, The top 9 destinations (2026)

Halloween is the favorite holiday of those who enjoy spending a little time on the dark side. On October 31st ghouls, goblins, and all things that go bump in the night come out to play. For those of us who truly love this holiday, the entire month of October is a reason to celebrate!

Halloween 2026: Saturday October 31

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Ultimate Halloween Bucket List, travel edition!

October is the perfect time to visit haunted attractions and spooky destinations around the world.

Halloween lovers rejoice! From spine-tingling experiences to bone-chilling attractions, this list includes 25 Halloween bucket list ideas for the best places around the world to get in the Halloween spirit and make the most of the spooky season. Start planning your Halloween travel adventure today!

Here are the top 9 Halloween bucket list PLACES (in no particular order!)

(1) Edinburgh Scotland, UK

The city of Edinburgh with its gothic architecture and hidden alleyways is deliciously dark, and darkly magical! These are the characteristics that influenced and inspired JK Rowling when she was writing the Harry Potter books.

Explore Greyfriars Kirkyard cemetery with its beautifully ornate headstones, or tour Mary King’s Close, a network of underground streets and buildings. Edinburgh’s poor lived in the Close until the 19th century, and it’s said to be haunted by the ghosts of those who died during the plague.

Special Halloween events include the Samhuinn Fire Festival. For a special dining experience make a reservation at the darkly romantic Witchery, which sits mere steps away from the reportedly haunted Edinburgh Castle.

when: There’s a “chill in the air” year-round. Samhuinn Fire Festival: October 31st (yearly)

bookable activities:

• Late-Night Underground Vaults Terror Tour
• Witches Old Town Walking Tour & Underground Vault
• Underground Scotch Whiskey Tasting
• The Dark Side of Edinburgh
• 2-hour Nighttime Ghost Tour
• Dark History Royal Mile Walking Tour
• The Edinburgh Dungeon

(2) Transylvania, Romania

Transylvania is a darkly forested area, rich in legend and folklore, located in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. The area is also associated with tales of vampires, and was the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel.

One of the most popular places to visit in Romania is the 14th century Bran Castle, one of Europe’s most authentic medieval castles. The castle has come to be know as “Dracula’s Castle, although it is unlikely that Vlad the Impaler, who is said to have inspired the novel, ever lived at Bran castle.

Also of interest in the area is The Hoia Baciu Forest which is known for its paranormal activity. The city of Sighisoara hosts a “Medieval Halloween” festival with costume contests, parades, and other spooky events.

when: year-round, Sighisoara festival: (check the website for 2026 dates!Halloween Party at Bran Castle: Late October (these sell out so plan ahead! Look under “events” for dates, 2025 date was November 1)

(3) Bram Stoker Festival, Dublin Ireland

The Bram Stoker Festival in Dublin includes fun activities such as lighted displays on the River Liffey, a freakshow theater, The Macnas Parade (Cnámha La Loba) on the Eve of Hallowe’en, cemetery tours, theatrical experiences, workshops and a whole lot more!

when: Friday 31 October – Monday 3 November 2025 (check the website for 2026 dates)

website: Bram Stoker Festival

(4) Púca Festival in County Meath, Ireland

The Púca Festival is an annual festival that celebrates the ancient Irish festival of Samhain. The festival takes place over several nights during the last weekend in October and celebrates Irish folklore and mythology.

One of the highlights of the festival is the Púca Parade, which is led by the Púca, a mythical creature from Irish folklore. Other festival highlights include storytelling sessions, fire shows, live music and dance performances, and plenty of festival food! This one just shot straight to the top of my own Halloween bucket list!!!

when: October 30th & 31st, November 1st & 2nd, 2025 (check the website for 2026 dates)

website: Púca Festival

(5) The Catacombs of Paris, France

The Catacombs in Paris are a network of underground tunnels and chambers beneath the streets of Paris. In the late 18th century Paris’ cemeteries were overflowing. To solve the problem, the remains of more than six million people were moved to these dark underground chambers.

Today, visitors can take a guided tour of the catacombs whose walls are lined with bones and skulls which creates a wonderfully eerie atmosphere. The tunnels are said to be haunted by the ghosts of those whose remains are interred there.

when: year-round

website: Catacombs in Paris

(6) The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine

The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is an area of land surrounding the site of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the site of the worst nuclear disaster in history (1986).

The 1,000 square mile (2,600 square kilometer) site is today a ghost town, something out of an apocalyptic movie. The area is still highly radioactive and is said to be haunted by the ghosts of those who died in the disaster.

Visitors can take guided tours of the exclusion zone. However, there is a risk of radiation exposure. To ensure your safety you will want to book a guided tour of the facility.

when: year-round (currently closed to tourists due to the war in Ukraine, check back at a later date)

(7) The Tower of London, England

The Tower of London has a chilling history. For almost 1,000 years it was used as a prison and was the location of over 100 executions.

Many ghosts reportedly haunt the tower. One of the most famous is Anne Boleyn who was beheaded in 1536; her ghost has been said to walk around the White Tower carrying her head under her arm. Other noteworthy ghosts in the tower include Henry VI, Lady Jane Grey, Margaret Pole, and the Princes in the Tower. Take a ghost tour around the tower!

when: year-round

website: Tower of London

(8) Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival, Derry Northern Ireland

The Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival is a four-day festival featuring a variety of events, including a haunted house, a fireworks display, a parade, and live music. It’s a family friendly extravaganza!

when: October 28-31, 2026

website: Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival

(9) Loch Ness Monsters, Scotland, UK

The famous Loch Ness in Scotland is shrouded in mystery and legend. The dark loch sparks tales of creatures who lurk deep below the surface.

The Loch Ness Monster, affectionately known as Nessie, is one of Scotland’s most well-known Folklore tales. There have been recorded sightings of a creature in the loch since the 6th century.

Spend a day on this misty lake trying to spot the elusive Loch Ness Monster. While in the area don’t miss the haunting Urquhart Castle ruins, situated picturesquely on the bans of the loch. Here’s how we visited Loch Ness.

when: year-round

Join a tour! There are plenty of tour options on Get Your Guide, some examples:

• Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Scottish Highlands Tour
• Inverness: Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Trip
• Glasgow: Loch Ness, Glencoe and Highlands Tour

The history of Halloween

Halloween began as an ancient Celtic festival more than 2,000 years ago. The festival of Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”), which marked the end of the harvest season, and the beginning of winter was celebrated on the night of October 31st. This time of year was often associated with death and darkness.

The Pagan Celts believed that on the night of Samhain, the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred, and that ghosts and other supernatural beings could more easily cross over into the world of the living. To ward off these spirits, people would light bonfires and wear costumes and masks to disguise themselves as ghosts and other creatures.

When Christianity spread to the Celtic lands, the church attempted to replace Samhain with a Christian holiday called All Saints’ Day, which was celebrated on November 1st. The night before All Saints’ Day became known as All Hallows’ Eve, which eventually became Halloween.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best Halloween attractions in Europe?

Edinburgh Scotland, Transylvania, Romania, Bram Stoker Festival Dublin Ireland, Púca Festival in County Meath Ireland, the Catacombs of Paris, France, The Tower of London England, Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival Derry Northern Ireland, Loch Ness Monster, Scotland UK, The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Ukraine

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