We may be months away from the spookiest time of the year, but to truly have a gourd time it’s best to plan in advance! Halloween is the world’s second commercial holiday after Christmas and a good opportunity to travel the world, visit frightening places, learn about other nations’ cultures and traditions, and, why not, have fun and indulge yourself in the local delicacies. Read ahead for our top 5 spooky destinations to visit this coming Halloween!

Transylvania, Romania

When I think of Transylvania, I think of haunted castles, gothic churches, and of course, vampires! So it’s no surprise then that every year, set in the grounds of Dracula’s Castle, an absolutely fangtastic party is thrown to celebrate Halloween. With the Castle looming over you’ll drink and party into the night so make it truly unforgettable with your best Halloween costume yet! Could there be a more iconic place to spend Halloween? After all, it is the birthplace of the legendary Dracula! Follow in the footsteps of the myth and legend of Dracula and celebrate a Halloween like no other with an epic party at Dracula’s Castle. Click here for more info on our 4-night Halloween Dracula experience!

Oaxaca, Mexico

Each year, from Oct 31st to Nov 2nd, the streets of Oaxaca, Mexico are transformed into one massive street festival for the annual Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, celebrations. Streets are decorated with skulls, skeletons, and vibrant orange marigolds while costumed people visit local cemeteries to welcome the souls of their dearly departed. Follow the seas of flowers and flickering candles, watch street dances and painted faces during the Day of the Dead parades – This colorful and fascinating festival should be on everyone’s bucket list!

Salem, Massachusetts

A city rich in erie history, Salem is one of the best places in the US to celebrate Halloween. During the entire month of October, the city is in Halloween mode and celebrates with “Haunted Happenings” all month long. There are Halloween parades, costume contests, and other events. You can also take a tour of Salem’s harrowing history where a series of prosecutions for witchcraft started in 1692 in Salem Village, or peruse the many witchcraft and occult stores on Essex Street to get into the Halloween spirit.

Derry, Ireland

Did you know Halloween can trace back its origins to Celtic celebrations? So, it’s no surprise that there the Irish celebrate Halloween in great style! In fact, the city of Derry hosts the biggest Halloween festival in Europe! At the Banks of Foyle Halloween Carnival, you can enjoy haunted houses, ghost tours, spooky parades, and much more making it the perfect place to dress up and have fun. Back in the day, Halloween was not a celebration but rather a day that the ancient celts dressed up in animal skins to ward off evil spirits and avoid being taken away. Creepy!

Venice, Italy

Venice might not be your first choice when it comes to Halloween, but it is one of the most romantic, mysterious, and beautiful places in Europe. With the hoards of tourists now gone, Venice is left with an eerie quietness to it and oftentimes covered in a layer of fog that’s rolled over from the sea. This combined with Venice’s ghostly atmosphere, disturbing past, shadowy corners, and mind-blowing legends about sea monsters make it the perfect place to spend Halloween. Add to all these the city’s stunning architecture, the sensual Venetian masks, and the spectacular masquerade balls, and you’ll probably have the most sophisticated Halloween of your life.

If you have any questions or are interested in the fantastic Dracula experience mentioned above please don’t hesitate to get in contact. For those with extended families interested in travelling on mass then we can offer great value private tours for the whole family!

Written by Lucy Kaufmann