13 spooky places that are perfect for Halloween is written by Anna-Sophie Christensen
Visit some of the creepiest places and strange destinations in the world
Are you ready to explore some of the most eerie, mysterious and, not least, strangest places in the world? Forget about sunny beaches and cozy city breaks – these places offer mystery, unexplained events and terrifying pasts.
We've rounded up some of the creepiest and most mysterious places in the world – from the gates of hell to a certain bloodsucking Count's castle. Go on a hair-raising adventure right here – if you dare!
Island of Dolls in Mexico – real Halloween horror
If you're wondering where the inspiration for the many horror movies starring dolls comes from, you might well think that it comes from the island of the dolls in Mexico.
The story goes that a man started hanging up dolls around the island in memory of a girl who drowned near the island under mysterious circumstances.
In fact, she is said to have held one of the dolls in her arms while it was happening. There are now hundreds of scary dolls hanging in the trees, and the stories say that they are possessed by the girl.
You can probably safely call it one of the creepiest and strangest places in the world!
Doors to Hell in Turkmenistan
Did you know that the door to hell is found in Turkmenistan? At least that is the name of the large burning gas crater that you can experience in the middle of the desert in Turkmenistan.
The phenomenon, officially called Darvaza Crater, is man-made by accident.
In 1971, drilling was carried out in the area which resulted in the creation of the gas crater. To stop a methane leak, geologists set fire to the gas, which they expected would burn out after a few weeks.
However, the fire has been burning ever since and has now become an attraction in the area.
The Bermuda Triangle – the scariest place in havet
This place probably doesn't need much introduction, because the place is famous and infamous for its mystery. The Bermuda Triangle has been the subject of many conspiracy theories, and inspiration for movies and fairy tales, and with good reason.
The loosely defined geographic area that lies between Bermuda, Florida og Puerto Rico, is known for being a particularly dangerous area with an incredible number of sudden storms.
And then it is said that many ships and planes have mysteriously disappeared around the Bermuda Triangle.
Snake Island in Brazil
If you are afraid of snakes, this island will i Brazil, which goes by the name Snake Island, probably quickly entering your list of the creepiest places in the world.
The island is known as one of the deadliest places on earth, and for good reason. There are thousands of incredibly poisonous snakes living on the island. In fact, the local "Golden Lancehead" snake is considered one of the most poisonous snakes in the world, and it only lives here.
It is probably therefore not so surprising that no one lives on the island.
In fact, it is considered so dangerous that the Brazilian government has banned people from visiting the island except for scientific expeditions.
Perhaps it's no wonder, then, that there's already a Halloween movie about the island about—you guessed it—venomous snakes.
Bhangarh Fort in India – the most haunted place in India
Bhangarh Fort i India is known as the country's most haunted place. In fact, it is considered to be so mysterious and haunted that it is strictly forbidden to enter the fort between sunset and sunrise. Talk about creepy places.
Located in Rajasthan, the fort was built in the 17th century and is surrounded by ruins and ancient temples.
There are several stories about the place, but all of them deal with curses that caused the place to be abandoned by all its inhabitants.
Because of these tales, and the fact that the place is said to be haunted, Bhangarh Fort has become a popular place for ghost stories and paranormal investigations.
Salem in the USA – witch hunts and Halloween
If you think you've heard of the town of Salem before in connection with spooky places and Halloween movies, then it's not so strange. The city in the American state of Massachusetts is infamous for its witch trials in 1692.
This part of history has left its mark not only in Salem, but also in the rest of the world, which has resulted in the town today being closely associated with the witch culture.
Salem has many museums, historic houses and memorials, all of which help to tell the story of the witch trials, and which make the city a popular tourist destination - especially in October, when Halloween is celebrated in style.
Salem's unique blend of history, myth and modern witchcraft deserves a place on the list of weird and spooky destinations.
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7: Koh Mai Thon south of Phuket
6: Koh Lao Lading at Krabi
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Bran Castle in Romania – Count Dracula's creepy castle
If there is a castle that has been the setting for spooky tales, it must be said to be Bran Castle in Romania. Also better known as Count Dracula's home.
There is no historical evidence that Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration behind Count Dracula, ever lived in the castle, but the Gothic castle has come to be known as the Transylvanian home of the fictional and bloodthirsty Count Dracula.
The castle is today a popular tourist attraction – especially around Halloween.
And even if you probably won't come across Count Dracula on your tour, the old medieval castle and the surrounding woods still create the perfect setting for an (un)pleasant Halloween destination.
The Nazca Lines in Peru – an archaeological mystery
Peru hides many mysteries, including from the famous Inca Empire, but the Nazca lines in the Nazca desert are probably one of the country's biggest mysteries. In fact, the enormous geoglyphs are considered to be one of the world's most enigmatic archaeological mysteries.
The lines form large shapes and patterns, ranging from simpler lines to complex animal figures.
What makes the Nazca lines so unique is their gigantic size and precision. The purpose of the lines is still unknown, but theories include religious rituals and astronomical calendars.
Danakil in Ethiopia – extreme desert
Danakil Desert i Ethiopia is known to be one of the strangest destinations in the world with its extreme temperatures, colorful sulfur lakes and active volcanoes.
It is one of the lowest points on earth, and the landscape is characterized by surreal geological formations and hot springs that make the area almost unreal and a little bit eerie.
In fact, it looks more like something out of a supernatural movie than anything else.
It regularly happens that temperatures reach over 50 degrees - all year round!
The pink Lake Hillier in Australia
Lake Hillier i Australia is one of the world's most unique lakes due to its characteristic pink color.
The lake, located on Middle Island in Western Australia, differs markedly from the surrounding blue sea, creating a wild contrast and making it a stunning sight.
One is not entirely sure of the exact cause of the lake's permanent pink colour, but it is believed to be due to a combination of microorganisms such as algae and bacteria.
What makes Lake Hillier so special is not only its unusual color, but also the fact that the water remains pink even when you put it in a container.
Rainbow Mountains in China – hauntingly beautiful
Rainbow Mountains i China are known for their spectacular, multicolored stripes that create an almost surreal landscape. The crags are located in Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park and were formed over millions of years through the deposition of sandstone and minerals.
The process is what gives mountains the intense red, orange and yellow colors that seem to ripple through them.
The combination of the vivid colors and the dramatic rock formations make the Rainbow Mountains one of the most remarkable natural phenomena in the world, making the place look like the earth's palette.
It is undoubtedly one of the greatest geological wonders and strangest places in the world – and hauntingly beautiful.
The Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland
Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland is one of the strangest destinations with its fascinating geological formations.
The place is known for its approximately 40.000 intertwined basalt columns that practically rise up from the coast. These hexagonal columns were formed about 60 million years ago after a volcanic eruption, where the lava cooled rapidly and crystallized into the characteristic shapes.
The unique geometric patterns in the columns give the place a mysterious and almost otherworldly appearance, which has inspired many legends, including the story of the giant Finn MacCool, who, according to myth, created the path as a way to Scotland. Hence the name "Kæmpens Dæmningsvej" also comes from.
Crooked Forest in Poland
Nature is full of mysteries, and Crooked Forest i Poland is undoubtedly one of those that has left many scratching their heads in confusion.
The forest consists of 400 pine trees, all bent in the same mysterious way. All the trees in the forest have the same strange arch that looks like something that belongs in an adventure movie.
No one knows why the trees got their unique and strange shape, and the stories range widely from natural science explanations to supernatural tales.
You might not exactly call the forest one of the creepiest places (unless you believe some of the mystical tales about the place), but it certainly belongs on the list of strange destinations around the world.
Spooky and strange destinations to explore for Halloween
- Dragsholm Castle (meet the White Lady), Denmark
- stonehenge, England
- Blood Falls, Antarctica
- Richat Structure, Mauritania
- red beach, China
- The Catacombs of Paris i France
- Spotted Lake Khiluk, Canada
- Fingal's Grotto, Scotland
- Waitomo Caves, New Zealand
- Easter Island, Chile
- Jervis Bay, Australia
- Rainbow River, Colombia
- Pamukkale, Turkey
- Uyuni Salt Flat, Bolivia
- Loch Ness, Scotland
- Deadvlei, Namibia
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