Halloween travel to 10 Amazing Places

Spooky season is upon us, and instead of allowing ourselves to be haunted by the travel experiences we didn’t take, let’s look through the crystal ball at what Halloween travel might look like for you, with a little list of some amazing places that just ooze the mystery and charm of deep, dark autumn. 

Many of these destinations are located in the Northern Hemisphere, primarily because Halloween wouldn’t be the same without the crunch of crisp leaves underfoot and the mysterious chill in the air, though there are many places closer to the Equator and below it that would also provide amazing travel experiences. 

Read on, dear reader, and be inspired by our ideas for Halloween travel to amazing places:

Prague

Prague is a true Gothic city, nicknamed the “city of a hundred spires,” for its unique architecture. The capital of the Czech Republic, the northern European locale takes on a mysterious aura when autumn rolls in. There’s nothing like being surrounded by Gothic and Baroque buildings with leaves crunching underfoot and fog rolling in from the river. 

The city’s medieval Astronomical Clock and the Charles Bridge, completed in the early 1400s, are just two main attractions that combine science and design in a way that all travelers will adore. 

Halloween lovers are sure to enjoy Prague’s many art and history institutions, including the Clementinum Astronomical Tower and Baroque Library, where the world’s first meteorological data was first compiled, and continues to be compiled today, and where 27,000 books dating from the 1550s reside in what the city itself calls its most beautiful library. 

Boston

Boston is a city ripe with history, so it’s no surprise that Halloween lovers will adore visiting it during the holiday. 

October allows for more comfortable weather for discovering the city, so walking the Freedom Trail or one (or all!) of the three different Heritage Trails is a must. There are also several different ghost tours available to enjoy, along with witchcraft tours discussing the history of the Boston witch hunt. 

Those in love with the smell of old books can visit the nation’s oldest independent library, the Boston Athenaeum, as well as the nation’s oldest public library, the Boston Library. The Boston Library, for the very first time, is hosting its Night in the Stacks event over Halloween this year, which is sure to be a memorable experience. 

Halloween lovers will also enjoy a variety of amazing historical sites and Boston’s unique architecture, ranging from Colonial to Federal and Greek Revival; architecture lovers and those who enjoy absorbing a destination’s unique atmosphere will adore walking Boston’s historic streets in the autumn. 

Besides all these, it’s also home to some amazing museums to visit on rainy days, including the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

Cairo

What Spooky Season lover doesn’t enjoy a good flick about ancient civilizations and creepy tombs? That’s why Cairo, Egypt is on our list for travel to during Halloween. While you’re likely to avoid the cultural candy and spooky decorations, you’re more likely to find some amazing experiences with the ancient world and step into a culture wholly unlike your own. 

The Grand Egyptian Museum is a must-visit for anyone visiting Cairo: the newly built museum is a breathtaking homage to the amazing history of Egypt, which spans thousands of years, boasting 66,000 artifacts on display at any given time. It’s also close to the Pyramids of Giza, allowing you to visit both at once—if you have time after getting lost in the museum, of course. 

In addition, travelers can wander through the city’s Khan el-Khalili market for locally made goods, step into living history in UNESCO-listed Historic Cairo, explore art at the Museum of Islamic Art and enjoy a small rest or wander through the Al-Azhar Park, a vast green space within the city. 

Seattle

Seattle might be known for its slightly spooky rain and fog year-round, but did you know there’s an entire city underneath the current one? 

After the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, city officials chose to rebuild the city on top of the current one to prevent flooding issues, which the city had also been plagued with. Today, the Seattle Underground is an incredibly preserved time capsule of the late 1880s, and travelers can take tours of the area with local tour operators. 

Seattle calms down over the fall, with cooler, rainier weather less popular among tourists. That means you can snuggle into your favorite cozy cafe or spend some quiet time at your chosen art gallery with fewer people—and that walking through Seattle’s historic areas or Japanese Garden or Washington Park Arboretum is much more relaxing, and more scenic. 

Did I mention Seattle goes hard for Halloween? Just take a look at Georgetown Morgue Haunted House, set in a real morgue, or participate in the truly unique Bollywood Thriller event. And, for culture lovers, Seattle celebrates lively Dia de Muertos events. 

Oxford

If dark academia would have its source in a single location, it would be Oxford. Both a prestigious university and a destination in its own right, there’s nothing quite like the architectural gem, home to the Bodleian Library and several other sites made famous by shows like “A Discovery of Witches.” 

Just an hour’s train ride away from London, stepping into Oxford is like stepping into another world, especially in the fall. Cobbled streets, Gothic spires, red and green clinging ivy…what else could a Halloween lover desire for an autumn escape? 

Travelers can take tours of the Bodleian, walking history or architecture tours of the city, step back in time 900 years in Oxford Castle, visit the Ashmolean Museum, which dates back to the seventeenth century, take a ghost tour, and, for Harry Potter lovers, enjoy one of the city’s Harry Potter tours or experiences. 

Mexico City, Mexico

What’s better for a Halloween lover than celebrating one of the world’s largest Spooky Season celebrations in the place of its birth? Mexico City, Mexico is the largest city in North America, and this powerhouse of art and culture is also home to the Dia de Muertos event, in which Mexicans celebrate and honor their loved ones who have passed on. The event takes place November 1-2, so travelers should be aware and plan ahead if they want to participate. 

Beyond the event, Halloween lovers can take a variety of tours through Mexico City to learn about its pre-Colonial past, learn about traditional folklore like La Llorona. Foodies will enjoy no lack of incredible cuisine, from fine dining restaurants to tasty street food.

Travelers should also visit one (or many) of the city’s incredible museums, including the Frida Kahlo Museum, the Museo Nacional de Antropología, which is the most-visited museum in the country or the stunning Palacio de Bellas Artes. Of course, check out some of the lesser-known ones too, like the mysterious Museo Casa de la Bola. 

We can’t forget, of course, that a visit to Mexico isn’t complete without experiencing ancient Mexico—the city, built atop the ruins of a pre-Columbian city, is home to several archaeological sites where travelers can learn about the wisdom of the ancients. 

Templo Mayor Archaeological Site & Museum is located in the historic heart of the city and offers a great starting point, though there are many more. 

Ireland

Ireland has long been known as a land of myth and legend, and when better to visit than during Halloween, a holiday that’s been connected to the Gaelic Samhain? 

In Dublin, travelers can enter the stunning library at Trinity College and view the Book of Kells, sit outside in the brisk air and sip coffee or tea at a local cafe, visit sites like Chester Beatty, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the National Library of Ireland and the off-beat National Leprechaun Museum of Ireland. 

But the true magic happens outside the city. There’s no lack of magical places to visit in Ireland, but we recommend The Burren, an otherworldly landscape located in County Clare, where the more popular Cliffs of Moher are also located. 

A visit to Burren National Park will bring The Lord of the Rings lovers down the same paths that J.R.R. Tolkien walked while he was writing the beloved series. Travelers can hike the beautiful, stark landscape, visit the beautiful Poulnabrone Dolmen and have a bit of an unexpected journey for themselves in the very world that inspired the books. 

Transylvania, Romania

Transylvania grew into a well-known spooky destination due to its Bran Castle, associated with the real-life inspiration for Dracula, but it’s got more going for it than that, from hiking in ancient forests to enjoying Eastern European architecture and history.

The city of Brașov is home to Gothic architecture, the Black Church, a local history museum and more, while a few hours’ drive away is one of Romania’s most interesting attractions: Salina Turda.

Salina Turda is an attraction built inside of a salt mine, home to both legend and incredible experiences. Visitors can venture deep underground and enjoy an amusement park and several wellness experiences, including a spa and pool, or take a tour through the mine’s incredible history. 

Turda itself is an especially interesting place, home to natural wonders like the Turda Gorge and ancient history, like the Roman Castrum. 

New Orleans, Louisiana

It would be remiss not to mention New Orleans on the list of amazing places to visit during Halloween: the home of voodoo and history dating back to French Colonial times and piracy, it’s well-known for its spookier side, complete with uniquely designed historic cemeteries and buildings, a lively music scene and a connection to magic and spooky happenings that very few cities have. 

Music lovers and party-goers can don their frightening festive wear and enjoy one of the several hosted parties around New Orleans, like the HallowBEAN with Lapis, the Halloween Balcony Party or, for a more literary gala, the 37th Annual Anne Rice Vampire Ball, which celebrates Rice’s vampire books, some of which are set in New Orleans. 

Travelers and Halloween lovers can enjoy haunted tours or magical tours through New Orleans’ historic areas, enjoy tasting Creole cuisine at a number of local joints, listen to a variety of live music every evening and visit some of New Orleans’ historic or cultural sites. 

Literary lovers will enjoy walking in the footsteps of many literary greats who enjoyed visiting New Orleans or who lived there themselves, including Anne Rice, Mark Twain and William Faulkner. History and culture lovers should consider adding the National World War II Museum, the Sydney and Wanda Besthoff Sculpture Garden or any of the city’s many other historic and cultural museums to their lists. 

Halloween travel to Amazing Places: Luxembourg

Luxembourg might feel a bit off-beat for Halloween, but trust me, it’s got a lot of unique—and dare I say, magical—things going for it.

As the only remaining duchy in the world, this small, oft-overlooked European principality is an amazing destination, home to the Moselle wine region, Manternacher Fiels, where travelers can traverse a long, winding hiking trail through ancient, biodiverse forests and several fairytale castles, including Vianden Castle, not to mention everything else. 

Travelers can start their fairytale autumn adventure in Luxembourg, the duchy’s capital city, where travelers can wander the UNESCO-listed Old Quarters, sip coffee at its many cafes, and delight in the city’s autumn beauty on full display. 

Architecture and history lovers should consider taking a city tour and visit the Cathedral Notre-Dame, the spooky Petrusse Casemates or UNESCO-listed Bock Casemates. 

Nature lovers will adore the fall colors at the Luxembourg Urban Garden, while renting a car and visiting the Minett region will allow them to experience a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve, where its many parks combine biodiversity with human accessibility. 

This article originally appeared in TravelPulse.

Contact My Journey Begins Travel to plan and book a Halloween travel adventure to one of these amazing places!