October's chill in the air always pulls many toward Europe, with its rich history and folklore. For 2025, the continent's best Halloween travel destinations are ramping up with everything from massive parades to candlelit castle tours, combining history and lively street parties. If you are plotting a getaway, these spots turn the ordinary into the eerie and are perfect for solo wanderers, families, or anyone chasing that perfect pumpkin-spiced thrill.
Top Halloween Destinations in Europe for 2025
Europe in the fall already feels like a set from a Gothic novel, with fog rolling over cobblestones and leaves crunching underfoot. But come late October, the Halloween destinations really lean in, hosting festivals that draw on local legends while keeping things accessible and fun. We have focused here on the places to visit for Halloween that stand out for their mix of scale and atmosphere, places where you can chase ghosts by day and dance with them by night, all without feeling out of place.
Before you pack for your spooky getaway, check out our guide on 10 Best Travel Gadgets for a Hassle-Free Journey, perfect for making your Halloween trip smooth and stress-free.
Derry, Northern Ireland
Derry's walled old town feels tailor-made for Halloween, with its medieval ramparts echoing Celtic roots that go back to Samhain itself. It's hands down one of the best places to go for Halloween, pulling in over 100,000 visitors each year for a four-day spectacle that's equal parts spectacle and community. The 2025 edition kicks off on October 28 with the Awakening the Walled City light trail, think projections on ancient walls, acrobatic performers, and soundscapes that make the streets lively.
By October 31, the Carnival of the Dead parade takes over, a river of costumes snaking through the city before fireworks light up the River Foyle. Families love the daytime workshops and pumpkin patches, while evenings shift to live music in historic pubs. Book a spot at the Tower Museum beforehand to ground the festivities in Derry's layered past; it's a low-key way to start before the crowds swell.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh's got that perpetual haunted factor to it, from its underground vaults to the ghosts said to prowl Greyfriars Kirkyard, but Halloween amps it up with a nod to ancient fire festivals. As a top pick among cool places to go for Halloween, the Samhuinn Fire Festival on October 31 draws folks to Calton Hill for drumming, dances, and a dramatic clash between the Summer and Winter Kings, ending in pyrotechnics that light up the night sky.
The Mackenzie Poltergeist in the kirkyard has reportedly scratched visitors since the '90s, so pair your festival ticket with a daytime ghost tour through the vaults, where guides share tales without the full-on scares. It's chilly up there, so layer up and snag tickets early. For a quieter wind-down, wander the Royal Mile's costumed buskers the next morning.
Bran Castle, Transylvania, Romania
Nothing says immersion like Transylvania's Carpathian mists and Bran Castle, the so-called home of Dracula, which ties straight into Vlad the Impaler's bloody lore. This stretch of Romania tops lists as the best destination for Halloween for its mix of history and parties, expect a midnight candlelit tour on October 31, followed by a costumed gala with folk dancers and "vampire" actors until early morning.
Tickets for the two-night bash sell out months ahead, so plan a side trip to Sighişoara's medieval citadel for daytime wanders through UNESCO-listed streets. The Hoia-Baciu Forest nearby adds something new, and locals swear it's a UFO hotspot with twisted trees that mess with your compass. It's remote, about 30 minutes from Brașov, so a rental car or guided tour keeps logistics simple.
Prague, Czech Republic
Prague's spires and bridges look straight out of a fairy tale gone dark, making it a natural for lantern-lit walks and alchemist tales. Among the best Halloween travel destinations, the city's October tours through the Old Town and Prague Castle hit peak spook on the 31st, with costumed guides spinning yarns about headless monks and the Golem in spots like the Golden Lane.
Evenings fill with masquerades on riverboats or in historic palaces, blending beer hall warmth with shadowy corners. The Astronomical Clock's hourly chime feels extra eerie after dark. Join a free square gathering for treats and live fiddlers. Stay central to avoid slippery cobbles, and hit the Klementinum Library for a candlelit peek at demonology tomes if you are into the scholarly side of scares.
Paris, France
Paris swaps pumpkins for ossuaries and opulent haunts, turning the City of Light into something moodier come October. It's a standout place to visit for Halloween thanks to the Catacombs' 6 million skeletons arranged in macabre patterns, and tours extend into the night throughout the month.
For a lighter mood, Disneyland Paris runs its Halloween Festival from October 1 to November 3, complete with villain parades and fireworks on the 31st. Stroll Père Lachaise Cemetery by day to pay respects at Oscar Wilde's grave, then catch a costumed cocktail in Le Marais. Metro access is straightforward.
London, England
London's fog and fortresses make it a classic for ghost chasers, especially around the Tower of London, where Anne Boleyn's specter supposedly paces Execution Square. As one of the cool places to go for Halloween, the after-hours tours on October 31 weave in Beefeater-led stories of the Princes in the Tower, with lantern light flickering on 900 years of drama.
Dublin, Ireland
Dublin claims Halloween's origins in Samhain, and 2025's Bram Stoker Festival from October 25-28 honors the Dracula author with Gothic flair. This makes it one of the best place to go for Halloween, featuring Victorian séances at Dublin Castle and film screenings in haunted pubs. Over 50,000 turned out last year for the after-dark ball.
Ghost bus tours roll past Viking-era sites and asylums, with actors jumping out for laughs and chills. The fair city's walkable style means pub-hopping for storyteller sessions is effortless. Tie it off with a daytime ramble through St. Stephen's Green, where autumn leaves add their own quiet haunt.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam flips the script with playful horrors, from plague recreations to Alice in Wonderland-themed raves. It's emerging as a best Halloween travel destination for its inclusive edge, the Amsterdam Dungeon's 80-minute shows on witch trials and inquisitions run extended hours all October, smells and screams included.
The city hosts a massive party on the 31st with horror twists on fairy tales, selling out quickly. Canal ghost tours by boat add a watery spin, passing under bridges with tales of drowned souls. Bikes rule here, so rent one for daytime explores; the Vondelpark's fall colors soften the scares.
York, England
York’s winding snickelways and the cobbled Shambles feel straight out of a ghost story. It’s a perfect Halloween pick for 2025, when the city’s year-round ghost walks turn extra atmospheric. October tours include eerie spots like the Treasurer’s House, where tales of Roman soldiers and the Grey Lady come alive through a mix of theater and genuine spine-tingling moments.
For something lighter, the Ghosts in the Gardens trail offers glowing wire sculptures scattered through city parks, free, family-friendly, and hauntingly beautiful at dusk. Afterward, stop by one of York’s famously haunted pubs like the Golden Fleece, where you can sip spooky-themed gin tastings and trade ghost stories.
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona layers its All Saints' traditions with imported Halloween flair, turning the Gothic Quarter's alleys into a maze of lanterns and legends. Among places to visit for Halloween, the October 31 boat parties on the harbor mix drag shows and monster balls, while ghost walks hit spots like the Cathedral's geesse-guarded crypt.
La Castanyada on November 1 follows with chestnut roasts honoring the dead, over 20,000 join the plaça gatherings. The Nightmare Horror Museum's maze adds interactive jumpscares. Metro to Plaça Catalunya keeps it easy; evenings in El Raval's clubs extend the night without straying far.
If you love exploring Europe, don’t miss our list of 10 Best Cities to Visit in Europe in 2025 for more amazing travel ideas
Why Europe Calls for Your 2025 Halloween
The best Halloween destinations in Europe prove the continent doesn’t just celebrate spooky season, it practically invented it. It’s not only about costumes and crowds, but the way each city spins its own version of the eerie into something vibrant and alive.
From Derry’s massive 100,000-strong parade to the endless underground bones of Paris’s catacombs, there’s a haunt for every thrill level. Book early to beat the rush, pack your passport and a flashlight, and get ready, the old continent is waiting to both chill and charm you. So, where will you go first?
