If there is one thing that all horror fans share, it’s, in fact, their unmatched curiosity. While you can sit back, pop your corn, and enjoy a good haunted house horror movie on a Sunday night, exploring scary and haunted places in real life, in-person gives a whole different experience altogether.
From an island filled with dolls of dead children to a ghost town that was abandoned at a moment’s notice, here are the 10 scariest places to visit in the world.
1. Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, Scotland
In the middle of the city of Edinburgh, horror fans will find the unique cemetery, where people who have died since the 16th century have been buried. Since then there have been gruesome stories about the place again and again.
The haunting reports particularly emphasize the cordoned-off part of the cemetery, the infamous “Covenanters Prison”. There was a prison there in the 17th century for those who had made a pact against the Stuart royal family. Many died or were executed.
2. Hashima Island (Battleship Island)
The massive buildings of the former coal mine are reminiscent of a huge warship, hence the name of the island. James Bond’s film ” Skyfall “, was the headquarters of the villain Raoul Silva and in reality, the landscape looks back on a dark time. More than 500 Korean prisoners of war were forced to slave labor on Gunkanjima during World War II.
In 1973, the entire island was abandoned. Today, tourists can visit the island and see the remnants of the coal mines and the apartment buildings. Besides all the other horror factors the place offers, it is considered to be a haunted place, and visitors report all sorts of paranormal activity.
Tourists say the place is haunted by the ghosts of the miners who worked in the mines. These miners worked in terrible conditions, and many of them died trying to make a living.
3. The Zone of Alienation
Located in the heart of the exclusion zone around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, the zone today is home to around 2,000 stray dogs. This exclusion area was created to protect the surrounding area from the deadly radiation following the Chernobyl incident in 1986.
The area is full of abandoned houses and even a school. Villagers and their families left their houses and never returned. The whole area is considered to be a very haunted place. There are many stories about the paranormal activity welcoming anyone who dares to spend some time there.
4. The Catacombs of Paris
The Catacombs of Paris is a 200-mile network of tunnels, located beneath the streets of the French capital. The catacombs were built in the 18th century and served as a burial ground for hundreds of thousands of Parisians.
The place is home to the remains of more than 6 million people. There are thousands of graves, and some of them are very old. There are stories about people being chased out by ghosts. So, if you are a curious horror fan, the place has a lot to offer.
5. Island of the Dolls
This island is located in Mexico. The island is home to the famous “Island of the Dolls.” It is named after the famous “dolls” that are found on the island.
These dolls actually belong to hundreds of dead kids who once lived there. Legend says that the dolls are cursed, and they are haunted. The island itself is surrounded by the murky waters of the swamp.
6. Beelitzer Heilstätten, Brandenburg, Germany
There are also many creepy places in Germany – for example, the former hospital “Beelitz-Heilstätten”. It was built in 1898 to cure tuberculosis, which was widespread at the time, but then served as a military hospital during the World Wars.
Because sedatives were rare in those days, patients often had to be operated on while fully conscious. Even today, their screams are said to echo through the crumbling walls.
7. Courtyard to Hell, Centralia, Pennsylvania
A fire has been smoldering in the coal mines under the city of Centralia in the USA for more than 50 years. Most of the once 2,500 residents have already left the city. When the sun goes down and the smoke drifts through the streets, it looks like the courtyard to hell. The heat softens the soil and breaks the tar apart. The streets are deserted.
8. Aokigahara Forest, Mount Fuji, Japan
Only a few rays of sun shimmer through dense treetops on soft moss. Nobody comes to the Aokigahara Forest at the foot of Mount Fuji to pick mushrooms. More than 500 people have committed suicide there since the 1950s. Loops on the trees are evidence of this.
In order to prevent those who are tired of life from doing their thing at the last minute, signs warn with the inscription: “Life is something very valuable. Think about it again!”
9. The Ghost Town, Pripyat, Ukraine
Once there was a lot of life and hustle and bustle in the small town of Pripyat near Chernobyl. However, 36 hours after the 1986 nuclear disaster, the city had to be evacuated. The then 50,000 inhabitants left everything behind, believing that they would return soon. But that never happened. Today the city is a wearing-off still image of the then cheerful life. More about the Ghost Town here.
10. The Winchester Mansion
This mansion was originally owned by Sarah Winchester, the widow of the famous gun manufacturer William Winchester. Sarah was told by a psychic that she would continue to be haunted by the ghosts.
Winchester Mansion is a feast for horror explorers. Horror fans from around the world consider the mansion a site of pilgrimage.
Do you have any other scary places on your mind? Did you visit any of the above sites? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.