The 13 Scariest Places in the World

Warning! The following article is not for the faint of heart. Some of the scariest places in the world are actually right here, in the heart of Germany!

Do you remember the nights when a truly terrifying story was told before bed? These stories were especially popular on school trips. In the evenings, students would gather around the campfire, sharing their best scary tales. Once in the dormitory or tent, even the most mundane sounds could seem menacing.

A crack in the brush or the gurgling of rusty pipes-your heart would race! Today, I will show you the 13 scariest places in the world. Whether in Scotland, Germany, or Japan, nearly every country has a location you'd best avoid in the dark. Even if you don't believe these stories, some places will surely give you goosebumps.

Greyfriars Kirkyard | Gongers of Sylt

Dragsholm Castle | Centralia, Pennsylvania

Chernobyl, Ukraine | Haunting on the Queen Mary

Beelitz Sanatorium | Discovery Island

Myrtles Plantation | Doll Island

Aokigahara Forest, Japan | Ghost Town in Italy

Spreepark, Berlin

The ancient Scottish Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh is definitely one of the scariest places in the world. Nestled in the beautiful city, this truly unique cemetery is eerie even in daylight. Since the 16th century, the deceased have been buried here, and incredible stories have surrounded this grim location ever since.

Visitors and employees report experiencing actual assaults in the dark near the 'Covenanters' Prison,' a locked section in the southern part of the kirkyard. This served as a prison in 1679 for those who had signed a covenant against the royal Stuart family and had been defeated. Some were released or rescued, but many of the more than a thousand imprisoned died tragically or were executed. The man who commanded these and many other executions is also buried in this cemetery.

Many of the over a thousand inmates died tragically or were executed...

Legend has it that one day a homeless man sought refuge in his mausoleum and fell through a wooden trapdoor in the floor. This may have awakened the cruel commander from his death-like state. Since then, stories have circulated of visitors who have been injured or knocked unconscious near the grave. The Scots, however, are not easily disturbed and even offer nighttime ghost tours of the haunted cemetery. Chilling sights, right?

The beautiful North German island of Sylt is said to regularly receive visits from undead sailors, known on the island as Gongers. A drowned sailor returns to his family, but only in the third or fourth generation. Allegedly, he returns in twilight or at night from the sea, wearing the clothes in which he drowned. In the dark night, he opens the door of his relatives' house, turns off the light, and lies down on the bed of a sleeping descendant. The next morning, the relatives of the Gonger find a puddle of saltwater in the kitchen, left behind by the returning spirit's clothing. The Gonger continues to return until the family remembers his tragic death and him. This ghost simply does not want to be forgotten. Sounds eerie, doesn't it?

In daylight, Dragsholm Castle in Hørve is a true beauty. In the Middle Ages, it served not only as a fortress but also as a prison. The lord's daughter was supposedly imprisoned by her own father due to an unhappy and forbidden love affair. She starved behind the thick walls of the castle and has since roamed its corridors. Renovations about 70 years ago uncovered the skeleton of a girl wearing a white dress. So it's possible that this was indeed the imprisoned girl.

Good to know:

Today, Dragsholm Castle is a lovely 4-star hotel where you can spend the night from €160. During the day, there's no hint of hauntings, but most ghosts are known to act up at night...

But it's not just the white lady who haunts the castle-an ex-prisoner, the Earl of Bothwell, also appears regularly in the castle grounds. Guests at the castle report hearing the sound of his horse's hooves distinctly. Ghost hunters from all around the world come to Dragsholm Castle to explore the unusual vibrations and learn more about the unusual occurrences.

Apart from a few brave residents who refuse to leave their homes, the small town of Centralia in the USA is a ghost town. A fire in the coal mines has been smoldering beneath the town for over 50 years, enveloping the abandoned houses and streets in choking smoke. In 1981, 2,500 residents lived in the town; today, only 11 remain.

As the sun sets and the smoke swirls through the streets, the town resembles a forecourt to hell. Throughout entire blocks, the asphalt appears to be tearing apart. In 1981, a 12-year-old boy sunk into the soft, warm ground in his grandmother's garden. The heat from the glowing coals had softened the earth to the point where it could no longer support the boy's weight. Some time later, the town's mayor had to be hospitalized due to gas poisoning. Even just driving through the streets of the town on Google Maps, you can see plumes of smoke waft through the empty streets. Only a few houses still stand. A truly spooky place-especially at night and during Halloween.

The gondolas of the Ferris wheel are rusty, and the bumper car rides are overgrown with grass. When the wind blows across the site, it creaks and groans from all directions. Empty houses with shattered windows, some already collapsed, line the deserted streets of the city. Every step, every movement echoes. A glance over the scene reveals only decay and emptiness, which is the haunting description of the ghost town of Prypjat near Chernobyl. Not exactly a dream destination for your next vacation. But you can still take tours here.

Prypjat was once built as a workers' town to provide housing for the employees of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Located about four kilometers from the reactor, it lies in the uninhabitable 30-kilometer zone. When the meltdown occurred on April 26, 1986, the town closest to the plant was evacuated only 36 hours after the accident. Since then, it has been left to nature. It was too dangerous to let the residents return to their irradiated homes. Over time, a few residents have returned to their old places, but most still avoid the area. Only visitors are welcome here on tours-you can book multi-day tours on the site.

Surrounding the magnificent passenger ship RMS Queen Mary are some chilling stories. About 150 ghosts are said to have haunted here, and since the ship was built, more than 40 people have met their death aboard the Queen Mary. It's no wonder that many myths gather around the sister ship of the similarly unfortunate Titanic.

Guru Tip:

If you're not brave enough to spend a night on the Queen Mary, you can alternatively participate in tours or book special spooky events that narrate the history of the passenger ship.

Besides the now unused pools, ghosts have allegedly been sighted again and again. Room B340 has not been rented to guests for some time now. The occurrences in this room are too unusual. Water flows from the pipes without turning on the faucets, and bedcovers are often found misplaced. The ship, which operated from 1936 to 1967, is now a hotel in Long Beach, California. So those searching for paranormal activity can do so without issue. Anyone still not convinced should join one of the ghost tours that delve into the depths of the enormous ship and reveal more secrets than a typical hotel guest would ever see.

The doors of Beelitz Sanatorium are boarded up, while the wind whistles through the windows. The 140-hectare area, which once served as a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients from Berlin, now stands empty and has become one of the scariest places in the world. Hobby photographers often wander through the sanatorium grounds with their cameras, searching for the perfect shot. The decaying halls and impressive architecture are eerie even in the daylight-but at night, it feels like a horror film. Unauthorized stays are prohibited, and entering is punishable by law. However, this doesn't deter youth groups and thrill-seekers from celebrating illegal secret parties on Halloween and searching for a special adrenaline rush in the former hospital buildings. For those not so adventurous, the Beelitz Sanatorium can be viewed from above on the treetop path or join an official tour.

Disney World in Florida is THE vacation destination for families, allowing visitors to get really close to their idols and immerse themselves in the stories of Mickey and company. But this park has a dark secret: Discovery Island. Have you heard of this island? Discovery Island was for a long time the zoo in Disney World, where visitors could admire numerous exotic animals. However, dark clouds began to hover over the island, as there were repeated rumors that animals were not being treated properly on this island. An investigation uncovered 16 cases of severe animal cruelty, prompting Disney to pay a $95,000 fine. Visitors stayed away due to the negative headlines, leading to the decision to close the island to visitors in 1999.

...the atmosphere there is said to be horrific.

Now, bizarre scenes unfold on this once-bustling island; from a distance, you can see lights burning at night, although no one has set foot on Discovery Island for years. Nature has reclaimed its territory, and the cages that once housed rare bird species during the island's glory days are gradually falling into disrepair. The island is said to be a cursed place where alligators now dwell, and the former water park on the island is rumored to be contaminated with bacteria. Visitors who have secretly and illegally snuck onto the island report hearing strange noises and bird cries; the atmosphere there is said to be horrific, just like what happened there back then.

Video: Bright Sun Films

The title of one of the most haunted houses in the USA goes to the Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana. This is due to a photo taken in 1992. It depicts two buildings, the General's Store and Butler's Pantry. Between the buildings, you can see a figure leaning against the wall with crossed arms. The more people viewed the photo, the more theories emerged about the ghost of a slave girl who was accidentally captured on film that day. The fact that the horizontal boards are also visible through the figure on the wall sparked much debate.

Good to know:

The Myrtles Plantation is also, typical for America, now available for a hotel stay or tour. How about a bit of Halloween spookiness?

In general, it is assumed that the slave girl is Chloe, the young mistress of the plantation owner, who, out of jealousy, poisoned the owner's daughter and wife. She had only intended to make them ill and then miraculously save them, but both died. The other slaves feared the man's revenge, hanged Chloe from a tree, and then threw her body into the Mississippi River. The area around the tree where the girl was supposedly hung still shines impressively in sunlight.

South of the Mexican capital Mexico City, one of the largest cities in the world, thrill-seekers can find an island that gives every visitor goosebumps. Originally intended as a retreat for tourists, the Island of the Dolls, Isla de las Muñecas, is now a chilling hotspot for those seeking thrills and excitement. According to legend, a young girl drowned under mysterious circumstances on the island. The island's caretaker, Don Julian Santana Barrera, tried to rescue the child, but assistance arrived too late. Shortly thereafter, he found a doll in the water near the island and hung it in the trees. Over the years, more and more creepy-looking and eerie dolls have appeared in various trees and bushes.

Don Julian passed away in 2001-he drowned on his island. Since then, the island has become a popular place for thrill-seekers. Even in broad daylight, the place, which is brimming with frightening dolls with soulless eyes, is stark; however, it becomes even more intense in the dark. It is said that whispers and movements can be both heard and seen.

The perfect place to die is said to be at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan. Each year, up to 78 people commit suicide in the Aokigahara Forest. A novel from the 1960s is said to be responsible for the increasing suicide rates. In the novel Kuroi Jukai, two of the protagonists end their lives in this dense and opaque forest.

Since then, countless troubled individuals have been making pilgrimages to the foot of Mount Fuji. Perhaps they simply want to take a closer look at the legendary and mysterious place and get lost in the vastness of the forest. The Japanese government can do nothing and has put up signs appealing to the reason of the visitors of the forest. Here you can read things like 'Life is a precious gift your parents gave you' or 'Please contact the police if you feel like ending your life.' In the parking lot at the forest's edge, some abandoned cars sit, their owners having gone into the forest and never returned. A chilling place...

Italy is known for its beautiful old villages and cities that enchant every visitor. For example, walking through the old streets and alleys of Siena feels like a beautiful dream. Laundry hangs out of the windows, and residents loudly gesture as they greet the mailman and chat about the weather.

These typical street scenes have been a thing of the past in the southern Italian town of Craco for several decades. Between 1959 and 1972, devastating earthquakes caused the town to be nearly completely destroyed. Many residents sought a new home, leaving decaying buildings, deserted streets, and scattered remnants of the past, making the village a popular destination for ghost hunters. Especially at night, goosebumps are guaranteed.

In the idyllic Plänterwald in Berlin lies one of the scariest places in the world. Spreepark was once the showcase project of the GDR, designed to give residents of East Berlin and the surrounding area days full of fun and joy. Today, not much remains of that, as the park has been abandoned for 16 years. Nature is reclaiming its space, and many of the former attractions are already overgrown with ivy and weeds.

Visitors with cameras climb over old dinosaurs and up to the defunct roller coasters. The photos taken here are chillingly beautiful, and as you click through the pictures, you can imagine what it must look like here in the dark. The ferris wheel creaks in the wind, and the animals rustle in the underbrush. You find yourself waiting for one of the roller coasters to suddenly race over the tracks again. There is a security staff that patrols the park and maintains law and order. Still, many people sneak onto the grounds, especially in the evenings, needing to be chased away. Guided tours are available during the summer months, but these take place during the day.

There are plans to revive the park in 2021 and turn it into a cultural space where Berliners and visitors can meet and linger. You can find more information here.

Have you ever been to a truly spooky place? Share in the comments which one you consider the scariest place in the world.

Creepy Transylvania

Dark Tourism