5 Scariest Places to Visit Around the World 

Many travelers are driven to some of the most disturbing corners of the world because of a fascination with the unknown and fear-induced rush of hormones. Often, these are abandoned structures with violent histories, said to be haunted by tormented souls. Other places offer a quiet crypt or a lonely, dimly lit road where macabre energy is believed to linger. The most frightening part of the trip doesn’t have to be the expense of getting there. Haunted houses and musty dungeons will have to do with the feelings of terror.

Make sure you consider how to get there on your next haunted trip without breaking the bank. Here’s a list of spooky destinations that should be on your radar if you’re looking for a scare fix. With a plan and some helpful tools, you can enjoy the same scares for less.

Ancient Ram Inn (Gloucestershire, England)

As the story often goes, the inn was built on an ancient burial ground. It was originally used as a keeping house for slaves and workers working on St. Mary Church. It’s also said that the inn is located on the intersection of two ley lines that are directly linked to Stonehenge. Legend has it that these ley lines give the inn its paranormal power.

The inn has been said to have witnessed murders, human sacrifices, witchcraft, and devil worshiping over its long history. A Roman Centurion, a little girl, a High Priestess dressed in white robes, and an executed witch were among the spirits that visitors saw at the inn. A priestess is said to have often appeared at the foot of guests’ beds, repeating unintelligible chants before disappearing. While you cannot stay the night in the inn anymore, the inn is still open for tours. The Bishop’s Room is the most haunted room of all.

It is about an hour’s drive from Bristol or Birmingham Airport. Stay in one of the many local room shares instead of a hotel. 

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Aokigahara Forest (Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan)

It is located 13.5 square miles northwest of Mount Fuji in a beautiful, wooded area. Its name originates from the countless people who have chosen this place as their final resting place.

It is also a natural eerie forest — full of twisting and turning trees, winding roots, and uneven ground pierced by hundreds of caves in addition to its bad reputation. The feeling of isolation is most jarring, since the trees are so dense that they reduce wind and noise almost completely.

The ancients are believed to be haunted in these woods by vengeful spirits. Legend says they are lured into the forest by spirits who are sad and adrift from the path. Legend says their families abandoned them after failing to provide them with food during a time of famine. As the area is filled with magnetic iron that interferes with cell phone service, GPS, and compasses, you may want to stay on the path or risk getting lost.

It’s only a 90-minute drive from Tokyo to Aokigahara Forest. But while you’re there, make sure you bring a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.

Shades of Death Road (Warren County, New Jersey)

Shades of Death Road in central Warren County, New Jersey is a winding two-lane road that stretches nearly seven miles alongside Jenny Jump State Forest, the subject of numerous local legends. There are many theories about how this road got its name, ranging from murders committed by bandits and highwaymen to malaria-carrying insects which caused countless deaths in the 1850s. Travelers have reported ghosts living along the windy road, and trucks that disappear into the night just as fast as they appear have chased them.

Just off the road is a haunted lake that often produces wraith-like vapor formations on top of the water if you dare to get out of your car. If you’re feeling particularly fearless, take a drive to Lenape Lane, which crosses the street from Ghost Lake. This abandoned stable is the site where apparitions and floating orbs can be seen. It is said, however, that the white orb if it chases and turns red will kill you.

A drive from Lehigh Valley International Airport will take you to Shades of Death Road, and if you’re brave enough, you can camp for free in Jenny Jump State Forest. If you’ll be driving, bring a credit card that pays for gas. It will not protect you on Shades of Death Road, but it will save you money at the pump.

Shanghai Tunnels (Portland, Oregon)

With its direct water access to the Pacific Ocean, the city of Portland has grown rapidly into a bustling port city after it was once only a small river town settled in the 1840s. As Portland’s economy grew, so did its reputation as one of the world’s most dangerous port cities.

Portland was known for “shanghaiing” — human trafficking. Swindlers drugged and kidnapped unsuspecting men who were taken to underground tunnels by trap doors in local saloons. Until sea captains needed laborers, these men would be kept in cells beneath the city until they were drugged again and transported to ships where they did not awaken until hours into the journey. It sometimes took these men years to return home after working for the duration of the voyage.

Although most of the tunnels have been closed off, tours are still available for some tunnels that are still accessible. These tunnels are haunted by those who died in the dark confines of the city’s tunnels.

Get a hotel near Portland International Airport (PDX) and fly to the tunnels. When you’re ready to go, order up a rideshare service. Don’t worry, though — every rideshare service we know has a strict “no shanghai” policy. You won’t have to worry about waking up on a ship halfway across the Pacific if you order up rideshare.

The Stanley Hotel (Estes Park, Colorado)

Stanley Hotel was built in 1909 in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and has hosted a number of celebrities throughout its history. In 1977, Stephen King woke up from a nightmare in the hotel and penned his classic horror novel, “The Shining,” based on the nightmare that haunted him.

Guests on the fourth floor have reported hearing children running, laughing, and playing. Room 217 was King’s stay in the hotel, believed to be haunted by the hotel’s head housekeeper. There have been reports of lights turning on and off, doors slamming shut, and sudden temperature drops. A cowboy sometimes appears at the corner of the bed in room 428. Even though Flora Stanley has been dead for 80 years, you might still hear her playing the piano.

Stanley Hotel is located near Rocky Mountain National Park, a popular campsite and Rocky Mountain National Park, about an hour from Denver. If you decide to stay at a hotel, make sure you reserve your room well in advance if you plan on attending the annual Shining Ball and Halloween Masquerade Party during the fall season.

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