With Halloween around the corner, it is the perfect time to go on a short vacation. You can finally take that ghost tour, check out that haunted castle, and visit that eerie city. Check out the best spooky places to visit in October which have curated for you.
Are you ready for some tricks and treats? You should explore at least one of these spooky places this October.
Spooky Places to Visit in October
Here is our list of the spookiest places to visit this October to get you into the thrill of the season.
1. Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA
Jack o’ Lanterns Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow, New York is the place to be for a spooky Halloween holiday for your family. The Sleepy Hollow is home to the “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” author Washington Irving who has made the place popular.
You can tour the decorated Washington Irving house on weekends in October. Also, you can enjoy games on the lawn, watch an original shadow puppet short film, and the hayride is amazing.
Enjoy the magical sights of the Great Jack o’ Lantern Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson. This event is known as the best display in America with more than 7,000 illuminated jack o’ lanterns.
2. Poveglia, Italy
Poveglia Island, Italy
Next on our list of the best spooky places to visit this October is the ghostly island, of Poveglia. The island was once home to quarantined victims of various plagues and illnesses, adding to its eerie feel.
In 1922, a psychiatric hospital was built on the island to hide mentally ill people from the public. As the story goes, the chief doctor tortured his patients gruesomely until he finally committed suicide by throwing himself off the Bell Tower. However, in 1968 the hospital stopped working. After that, the island has not been inhabited, even though charter boats and ferries take passengers on pre-approved visits.
Most people claim to have seen ghosts or experienced some sort of paranormal activity. But other than the moans and creaks of the old building, and the shadows cast by the trees on the island, which was a bit frightening, we had no ghostly experience.
While you’re at it, you can consider visiting some other fun places in Italy.
3. Spookiest Places to Visit in October: Salem, Massachusetts, USA
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts in the United States is a haven for supernatural activities which began after the witch trials in 1692. During October, the entire town comes alive with celebrations of spooky events as the Salem Haunted Happenings Festival begins.
The festival features ghost tours, a re-enactment of the witch trials, haunted buildings, and witchcraft demonstrations, making it one of the spookiest places to visit in October. You can even get a reading or participate in a seance.
Some of the amazing sites to visit in Salem, Massachusetts are, The Witch House, the Salem Witch Museum, and the Old Burying Point Cemetery where the witches tried were buried.
4. Catacombs of Paris, France
Catacombs of Paris
Beneath the pomp and glamor of Paris’s streets lies a labyrinth of tunnels called the Paris Catacombs, which house the remains of over six million people.
In 1780, Paris decided to stop burying bodies in the cemeteries because of a lack of space. Hence, in 1785, they transferred dead bodies to the Catacombs. Inside the Catacombs, you will see skull-lined walls arranged like a decorative piece with millions of bones giving it the name the “Empire of the Dead.”
You can only walk through some parts of the subterranean tunnel. But the eerie silence and dark history make it an unforgettable experience.
Perhaps you just want to enjoy the romantic and beautiful ambiance of France without the dark side. See our post on the top places to visit in France outside of Paris.
5. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
St. Louis Cemetery, New Orleans, Lousiana
You may ask – why is New Orleans, Louisiana one of the spooky places to visit in October? That’s because New Orleans has a rich history of voodoo, ghosts, and the paranormal making it one of the spookiest cities in the United States. October is the best time to explore the dark past of New Orleans. The haunted LaLaurie Mansion spooked us big time as we discovered that horrific crimes were perpetrated in the house in the 1800s. Also, the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is where the body of voodoo queen Marie Laveau was buried.
The French Quarter is also a hotspot for voodoo shops and the supernatural. You can also get a costume and be part of Krewe of BOO!. It is the official Halloween parade in the city that features over-the-top-floats and costumed participants scheduled for October 31st.
You should participate in Krewe of BOO! the Monster Mash Post-Parade Party, Captain’s Masquerade Ball, and the New Orleans Zombie Run.
6. Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California, USA
Winchester Mystery House, California
This Mystery House in San Jose, California received an award as part of the top 10% of attractions worldwide by Tripadvisor in their 2023 Travelers Choice Award. Why? Because it is only in Winchester Mystery House that you will find stairs leading nowhere, doors that open to nothing, skylights on the floor, and walled-off windows.
Sarah Winchester lost her husband and child and believing she was cursed, she consulted a medium. The medium told her to build a house for the spirits of the victims killed by Winchester rifles to live in. So, Sarah built this house in 1886 without an architect. The construction continued until Sarah died in 1922 resulting in a 24,000-square-foot mansion, with 10,000 windows and 2,000 doors. Some people say Sarah was trying to confuse the ghosts of the victims.
The intriguing sight of the switch-back stairs, the seance room, the beautiful stained-glass windows, and the stairs to nowhere is worth the visit.
You can join the October 31st tour and experience “Unhinged: Housewarming,” a new Halloween event.
7. Spooky Places to Visit in October: Philadelphia, USA
Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia
Philadelphia is often known for its good food and spooky history. The spookiest place to visit in Philadelphia is the Eastern State Penitentiary, once known as the most famous and expensive prison in the world with its vaulted and sky-lit cells housing 85,000 people. The prison notably held the famous bank robbers, “Slick Willie” Sutton and “Scarface” Al Capone. Now, it stands in ruins with the remains of its haunted past and is open to tourists.
You can tour the cell blocks, solitary punishment cells, and even Al Capone’s cells. We recommend the audio tour for the interesting information it provides and you even get to hear from the previous inmates which is such a thrilling experience.
Another place you must visit is the haunted Baleroy Mansion featured in the book “Haunted Houses, USA”, where the infamous owner Amanda, who is now deceased, is said to trick visitors into sitting in a “death chair.” Some people claimed to have seen Amanda’s ghosts out of the corner of their eyes while on visits to the mansion.
Also, you can sign up for a Ghosts of Philly tour for a well-rounded experience, from Betsy Ross House, Independence Hall, and Washington Square, to the haunted Powell House and City Tavern.
Conclusion
Although it is still school season, a little fun won’t hurt you and your kids. So, if your kids love a good thrill and some adventure, then, it’s time to plan a spooky getaway that will give your whole family a spine-tingling experience in one of the best spooky places to visit in October mentioned above.
However, some of these places can be busy in October due to the Halloween season like the Catacombs of Paris, New Orleans, Sleepy Hollow, New York, and Salem, Massachusetts. So, ensure to book ahead to avoid the rush and high prices.
