Halloween travel is on the rise, with Google Trends search data showing a 122% increase for the term “Halloween Trips” for September 2025 compared with last year.
Many Brits are searching for Halloween holiday destinations that offer unique traditions or experiences to get into the spirit of the spooky season.
From Ireland’s ancient folklore to the legendary Dracula of Transylvania, Travel Experts at Iglu Cruise have compiled a list of the top 5 spooky destinations to visit for an authentic Halloween experience.
1. Derry, Northern Ireland
Halloween originated in Ireland around 2000 years ago from their ancient festival of Samhain, which marked the beginning of winter and incorporated traditions such as bonfires and costumes to ward off evil spirits. It was believed that the boundary between our world and the Otherworld was most permeable during this period, allowing spirits and demons to move freely. Derry celebrates Samhain by hosting a 4-day Halloween festival, “Derry Halloween”, within the city walls with multiple events for all ages and attracts over 100,000 visitors annually.
Top things to do:
Awakening of the Walled City Trail
This major attraction transforms the city walls with light installations, pyrotechnics, street performers and various spooky characters for several nights leading up to Halloween. The ancient walls, cobbled streets and darkened alleyways are invaded, creating a truly immersive experience that embodies that city’s traditions.
The Harvest Market
Derry’s Cathedral Quarter is the place to be for Halloween for foodies and shoppers alike. The Harvest Market offers local produce, artisan treats, crafts and antiques. There’s also face painting, fortune telling and live music to add to the spooky atmosphere.
Derry Halloween Carnival Parade
Join tens of thousands of people in fancy dress to cheer on floats, performers and extraordinary Samhain characters, bringing the story of Halloween to life on the evening of 31st October. The celebration concludes with a firework display that illuminates the River Foyle and the city’s iconic landmarks.
2. Mexico City, Mexico
The main event celebrated at this time in Mexico City is the cheerful Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, from October 31st to November 2nd. This festival is to honour deceased loved ones, and an ofrenda, or an altar, is built in the home to welcome spirits. These altars include portraits of the departed as well as their favourite foods and drinks, with marigold flowers, candles, papel picado and sugar skulls. Families also gather at cemeteries on November 1st and 2nd to clean and decorate graves, creating a festive atmosphere.
Top things to do:
Day of The Dead Grand Parade
Mexico City is a great place to enjoy the Day of the Dead celebrations, with their famous Grand Parade inspired by the James Bond film Spectre, which featured a fictional Day of the Dead parade. The procession isn’t just a tribute to ancestors, but includes Catrinas (elegant skeletal figures), floats, traditional music and dance.
La Alumbrada
For a truly authentic experience, San Andrés Mixquic, located southeast of Mexico City holds a celebration, “La Alumbrada” where the entire town’s streetlights are turned off, the only illumination comes from thousands of candles placed on the graves of deceased loved ones by their families.
Isla de las Muñecas
For those seeking a spookier Halloween, Isla de las Muñecas (Island of the Dolls) in Xochimilco is unsettling with its hundreds of decaying dolls, collected by a former caretaker who believed they were possessed.
3. Transylvania, Romania
Transylvania is a top destination to visit at Halloween, largely due to its fictional association with Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Stoker, who never actually visited Transylvania, was inspired by travel pieces on the place, drawing on its mysterious image and loosely basing his character on Vlad the Impaler. Bran Castle, despite minimal direct ties to Vlad, is widely recognised as the iconic “Dracula’s Castle” due to its dramatic appearance.
Things to do:
The Great Dracula Ball
Attend the annual “Great Dracula Ball” held on October 31st in the historic centre of Sighisoara, a medieval town and a UNESCO World Heritage site in Romania and the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. The event includes a Vampire Dinner, an open bar and live performances such as magic and ballet.
St. Andrew’s Night
Romania has deep-rooted spooky season traditions in St. Andrew’s Night (Noaptea Sfântului Andrei), which takes place on November 29th. This night is considered the “Night of the Vampires”, in which Romanians believed the veil between the living and the dead weakens. Across the country, parties are thrown where a pot of garlic is guarded to protect against the evil spirits, and fortune-telling is also a common element.
Hoia Baciu Forest
Visit the Hoia Baciu Forest, known as “the Bermuda Triangle of Romania” for its paranormal activity and unsettling atmosphere, where there have been reports of UFO sightings, strange lights and unexplained disappearances.
4. Salem, Massachusetts, USA
Another great choice of spooky destinations to celebrate the scary season is Salem, Massachusetts, USA. For hundreds of years, the city has been associated with witches, mainly due to the famous Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Today, residents fully embrace their “Witch City” identity throughout October, blending tributes to its witch history with modern Halloween fun.
Things to do:
Haunted Happenings Grand Parade
The month-long festivities kick off with the Haunted Happenings Grand Parade on the first Thursday of October, which is a huge event featuring floats, marching bands and elaborate costumes.
Visit the Haunted Happenings Marketplace
The Haunted Happenings Marketplace is another popular attraction where visitors can find local artisans selling witch-themed goods, handmade crafts and unique souvenirs, alongside psychic readings and live entertainment.
Learn about Salem’s Witch History
Guests can visit The Salem Witch Trials Memorial and The Old Burying Point Cemetery to learn more about the famous witch trials. The cemetery is also a popular site for ghost hunters who claim to have captured the spirit of Judge John Hathorne wandering the grounds.
5. Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh is one of the top locations in the UK to visit for a spooky staycation. The city has a dark history, dating back over 6,000 years, and is thought to be a hotspot for paranormal activity. The city blends ancient Celtic traditions, rooted in the Gaelic festival of Samhain, with modern spooky celebrations.
Things to do:
The Samhuinn Fire Festival
The Samhuinn Fire Festival celebrates the Celtic New Year, marking the end of summer and welcoming the onset of winter and is an impressive display of fire, drumming and theatrical performance.
Terminal V Halloween
For music lovers, Terminal V Halloween is a full day-to-night electronic music festival and is Scotland’s largest Halloween event.
Tour Edinburgh’s haunted locations
Edinburgh Castle, with its 2000-year history, is said to be haunted by a phantom piper. Mary King’s Close, a sealed-off labyrinth of underground streets, is also thought to be a hotspot for paranormal activity. Guests can also see the Edinburgh Vaults on a private nighttime tour. Top of the list for spooky destinations.
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