11 Best Places to Visit for Halloween This Year
Every year, as October fades into November in the fall season, people of all ages don their spookiest costumes and hit the streets in search of thrills and chills.
Some places around the world truly know how to celebrate Halloween with style and spirit. If you want to visit some of these places, you’ve landed on the right post.
Discover here the 11 best places to visit for Halloween this year!
Best Places to Go For Halloween
1. Salem, USA
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Famous for its spooky history with the 1692 witch trials, Salem, Massachusetts, is historically one of the most popular places to spend Halloween.
Every October, the city embraces this eerie past and the streets buzz with excitement, packed with ghost tours, dramatic reenactments, and visitors decked out in costumes. Some events like the Festival of the Dead and Haunted Happenings events make Salem a must for a truly immersive Halloween experience.
Best Halloween tour: Salem Ghosts, Witches, & Warlocks Guided Walking Tour
2. Transylvania, Romania
If you’re after the thrill of vampire tales and gothic ambiance, Transylvania is unmatched. Synonymous with the legend of Dracula, the region offers a truly mystical setting with its medieval castles and misty mountains.
Particularly, Bran Castle, alleged to be the inspiration for Dracula’s home, hosts a night-time Halloween party complete with a haunted tour and costume contest. This immersive experience is enhanced by the local lore and the historic, spooky architecture, providing visitors with a chillingly authentic Halloween that’s hard to find anywhere else.
Plus, it’s a wonderful destination to go to enjoy fall foliage in Europe!
Best Halloween tour: Transylvania Dracula’s Castle and Birthplace Tour
3. Dublin, Ireland
Dublin is the birthplace of Halloween, originally the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. This deep-rooted history makes it a standout destination for celebrating.
Each year, Dublin hosts the Bram Stoker Festival, a nod to the famous ‘Dracula’ author who was born here. The festival features a mix of horror, the supernatural, and gothic arts, with events like night walks, haunted houses, and theatrical performances. Dublin’s historical landmarks add an authentic eerie backdrop, making the Halloween experience in Dublin truly immersive.
Best Halloween tour: The Dublin Ghostbus Tour
4. Derry, UK
The city of Derry (Londonderry) in Northern Ireland is renowned for hosting one of Europe’s largest Halloween celebrations. And its rich history adds an extra layer of intrigue, making its Halloween festivities unique.
Each year, the city comes alive with the Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival, a spectacular event featuring a massive street parade that draws crowds with its creative and spine-chilling costumes. The festivities include fireworks, haunted tours, and a variety of performances.
Read more: 15 Best Things to Do in Derry
5. Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City offers a unique Halloween experience as it merges traditional Halloween customs with its famous Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations, which start on October 31st.
Families visit the graves of their departed loved ones and make offerings. This is a sacred moment for Mexicans, who experience a true union with their departed loved ones. The city bursts into life with vibrant parades, elaborate altars, and streets lined with marigolds and papel picado. La Catrina figures and skeleton costumes are everywhere and themed events and decorations in various neighborhoods add a spooky festive flair.
6. Tokyo, Japan
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Tokyo turns into a Halloween hotspot with its massive street parties, especially in areas like Shibuya, where thousands of people wearing creative and intricate costumes gather to celebrate.
Unlike many places where Halloween is centered around trick-or-treating or haunted houses, Tokyo’s celebrations are more about costume parades and public gatherings showcasing a blend of international and local pop culture. The energy is incredible, with DJs playing live music and people engaging in impromptu dance-offs. This modern, urban take on Halloween, combined with Tokyo’s flair for fashion and technology, makes it an unforgettable experience.
7. New Orleans, USA
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New Orleans, with its deep roots in voodoo and a rich history of hauntings, is a prime destination for Halloween. The city’s famous French Quarter transforms with elaborate decorations, and the streets fill with live music and costume-clad revelers.
Notable events include the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience (not held since Covid, but might return), blending big musical acts with local culture, and the Krewe of Boo parade, featuring spectacular floats and throws. Ghost tours and haunted attractions offer thrilling experiences, tapping into the city’s eerie past.
Best Halloween tour: New Orleans Haunted Ghost, Voodoo, and Vampire City Tour
8. London, UK
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London is a thrilling destination for Halloween, thanks to its storied past and abundance of ghostly lore. The city’s historical sites, like the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace, offer ghost tours that bring chilling tales to life.
Halloween in London also features unique events like the London Dungeon’s Halloween specials, where actors and special effects recreate gruesome historical events. For those seeking a mix of history and horror, London delivers with eerie walks through its ancient streets and haunted pubs.
Read more: 20 Nerdy Things to Do in London
9. Sleepy Hollow, USA
Sleepy Hollow, immortalized by Washington Irving’s tale of the Headless Horseman, is a must-visit for Halloween lovers. The town brings the legend to life with its annual Sleepy Hollow Halloween events.
Highlights include spooky hayrides through shadowy woods and dramatic readings of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” at historic locations like the Old Dutch Church. The town also features haunted houses, lantern-lit cemetery tours, and more. This authentic connection to American folklore, set against the backdrop of this quaint, historical town, creates a uniquely immersive Halloween atmosphere.
10. Edinburgh, UK
Edinburgh, steeped in history and legend, provides a perfect setting for Halloween celebrations with its spooky landmarks and chilling ghost stories.
The city is famous for its Samhuinn Fire Festival, a dramatic reenactment of the Celtic New Year celebration blending fire, drumming, and performance that captivates spectators. Additionally, the underground vaults and historic graveyards offer guided tours that delve into the city’s dark past, filled with tales of mystery and hauntings.
Best Halloween tour: Edinburgh Haunted Underground Vaults and Graveyard Tour
11. New York, USA
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New York City comes alive during Halloween with its world-famous Village Halloween Parade. This spectacular event in Greenwich Village draws thousands of people every year, showcasing an array of giant puppets, bands, dancers, and some of the most creative costumes imaginable. The parade allows anyone in costume to join, creating a participatory and lively atmosphere.
Beyond the parade, NYC offers countless haunted houses, themed bar crawls, and family-friendly events across all five boroughs. The city’s vibrant energy and diversity make it an exciting destination for both locals and tourists looking to experience Halloween in a big way.
Best Halloween tour: New York City Gangsters and Ghosts 2-Hour Walking Tour
Where is the Best Place in America for Halloween?
The best place to celebrate Halloween in the US depends on what you’re looking for. But there are indeed some places that get everyone to agree, such as Salem, Massachusetts with its deep history of the 1692 witch trials and tons of Halloween festivities.
New Orleans, Louisiana, and Sleepy Hollow, New York, are also famous for their spooky vibe due to their historical and cultural heritages.
Other cities offer great Halloween experience like Los Angeles, California, where the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval turns the city into a massive street party. And of course, there’s New York City, where the Village Halloween Parade showcases some of the most creative costumes and floats you’ll ever see.
🔍 Further readings:
- Best Destinations For Christmas in Europe
- Best Places to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Europe
- Best Places to Go in Winter in Europe
- Best Places to Go in Summer in Europe
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