Where to Travel to Celebrate Halloween Around The World

LAST UPDATED: March 3, 2025

Calling all Halloween enthusiasts. October and November are popular travel months. Usually, this is because of fall foliage. However, for those who love Halloween, the desire to discover themed activities while traveling is a top priority. I fall into this category! Since it’s not widely celebrated everywhere, I enlisted the help of other travel bloggers. Together, we’re bringing you this list of destinations that celebrate Halloween around the world!

Halloween Around the World

Finding Halloween destinations around the world isn’t always the easiest task. There are true enthusiasts out there so if that describes you, we got you with this article!

United States

This one is obvious. The United States is known for its country-wide Halloween celebrations even though it didn’t originate there. Salem, Massachusetts, New Orleans, Anoka, Minnesota, and Helens, Oregon are just a few of the top Halloween towns in America. However, I wanted to highlight a few lesser-known American Halloween destinations.

Buena Park, California

Located in Orange County, Buena Park (sometimes called Boo-ena Park in October) is the Halloween capital of Southern California and one of the biggest Halloween towns in all of America. Known for Knotts Berry Farm, the park becomes Knotts Scary Farm for the Halloween season!

At Knotts Scary Farm, walk through the park’s elaborately decorated ghost town, filled with scary, live actors waiting to give you the fright of your life!

Additionally, try out the many spooky mazes, see Halloween shows, and experience the thrill of the rides transformed for Halloween.

If theme parks for Halloween are your thing, don’t forget there’s a little one called Disneyland (heard of it?) in Anaheim, Buena Park’s next-door neighbor. Disney is famous for its own Halloween celebrations like Oogie Boogie Bash!

If theme parks aren’t your thing, try The 17th Door, Orange County’s most thrilling haunted house. And, if escape rooms are your forte, Orange County has SO many with scary, haunted themes!

Philadelphia

Contributed by Lee Lo from Carry Oner

The USA celebrates Halloween with lots of enthusiasm. In the old city of Philadelphia, you can enjoy the holiday with various fun activities! To start, Philly has a Phantoms of Philadelphia tour, where you can explore the spooky side of one of the United States’ oldest neighborhoods.

Celebrate a heart-pounding Halloween in Philadelphia with Halloween Nights at the Eastern State Penitentiary. The historic prison hosts this top-rated yearly event where visitors can explore haunted houses with varying levels of fright. There, I felt everything ranging from minimal fright to absolute terror!

Aside from the haunted houses, they offer several themed areas, historic prison tours, and themed bars. Philadelphia is amazing year-round but during Halloween, the old city has a vibe that is especially worth experiencing!

PHILADELPHIA RECOMMENDATIONS
Hotel: The Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia – for luxury and best views of the city
Tour: Phantoms of Philadelphia
Restaurant: Uptown Beer Garden – for its “Freak Show” and Halloween-themed drinks
Tip: Don’t miss the Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary. It is a unique attraction that caters to all levels of spooky!

Mexico

Contributed by Denise from Chef Denise

If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the traditions, cultures, and foods of Mexico, visiting during Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, will not disappoint. Held every year on November 1st and 2nd, this UNESCO-recognized celebration honors departed loved ones. Although skulls are everywhere, it’s more of a celebration of life and not just another scary Halloween holiday.

Altars are erected and adorned with photos, flowers (lots of marigolds), candles, and the favorite foods of deceased family members. From sugar skulls to tamales and candied pumpkin, an array of Day of the Dead recipes are traditionally cooked just for the celebration. 

Every town in Mexico celebrates Día de Muertos, but Mexico City and Oaxaca go all out with decorations, festivals, and parades!

MEXICO CITY RECOMMENDATIONS
Hotel: Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico
Tour: Day of the Dead Guided Tour
Restaurant: El Cardenal
Tip: Learn how to say a few of the traditional Day of the Dead foods in Spanish. The locals will love you for it!

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Japan

Yes, Japan celebrates Halloween! Although it looks different than in the United States, the Japanese do observe Halloween. First brought to the country in the 1970s, the celebration took off in Japan after the first Halloween party at Tokyo Disneyland.

Mostly, you will find young adults dressing up as their favorite characters. However, you will not see trick-or-treating. You will find Halloween parades such as the Harajuku Omotesando Hello Halloween Pumpkin Parade and the Sanrio Puroland Halloween parade.

Japan also has the Obon Festival, a Buddhist tradition focused on spiritual reconnection (vs the traditional Halloween spirits or Day of the Dead).

For some, Tokyo might seem like a big Halloween festival any time of year. It is a high-tech, colorful city with cosplay and anime playing big parts in the culture. But, they actually celebrate Halloween in their own, bright and delightful way!

TOKYO RECOMMENDATIONS
Hotel: Oriental Hotel Tokyo Bay – for Halloween-themed rooms, photo-ops, and decorations
Restaurant: Grand Hyatt Tokyo – for different Halloween-themed afternoon teas, takeaway boxes, and the famous Grand Harvest Pumpkin Burger
Tip: Plan your trip from right before Halloween through the first 10-14 days in November to also see fall foliage in Japan and the first Christmas decorations!

United Kingdom

York, England

Contributed by Sinead from York Travel Expert

The historic City of York in northern England is considered the most haunted city in the United Kingdom.

Ghosts haunt our ancient streets, unique snickelways (narrow pedestrianized lanes that crisscross the city center), historic houses, museums, restaurants, and pubs. Ghosts in York include Victorian children playing, a marching Roman legion, a disgruntled Georgian judge, murderer wives, and a canonized saint!

The city celebrates its spooky reputation with city-wide decorations and Halloween events. One of the most popular is Ghosts In The Gardens. Made from wire and mesh, there are 45 ghostly sculptures placed in outside spaces and gardens throughout the city center.

You can follow a free guided trail to find all the sculptures or enjoy stumbling across them as you sightsee around the city center. The silent, ethereal figures add to the eerie atmosphere in York and make it one of the best places to celebrate Halloween around the world!

YORK RECOMMENDATIONS
Hotel: Judges Lodgings York – allegedly haunted by the ghost of a judge.
Restaurant: Golden Fleece Inn – one of York’s oldest and most haunted pubs. 
Tip: Wear comfy shoes (York is best covered on foot) and wrap up warmly as autumn nights are chilly in York. 

London, England

Contributed by Magdalena from Megivorera

Halloween in England is traced back to the ancient Celtic Festival of Samhain. Marking the end of summer and the harvest, the event also signaled the beginning of the dark cold winter. It symbolized the connection between the world of the living and the world of the dead.

Celts believed that on the night of October 31st, ghosts of their dead would revisit them. So, they would light large bonfires in each village to ward off any evil spirits that may come with them.

Christianity came to England in the 6th century with the arrival of St Augustine. Subsequently, the people of England incorporated All Hallows’ Day, also known as All Saints Day, which they celebrated on November 1st.

Today in England, especially in London, there are many different activities you can do for Halloween such as taking ghost tours, painting a pumpkin, or going to a Halloween party. Many museums and sights have Halloween-themed exhibitions and activities you can partake in.

It’s a prime destination for anyone looking for Halloween around the world!

LONDON RECOMMENDATIONS
Hotel: Mermaid Suite Hotel
Tour: Jack The Ripper Guided Walking Tour
Restaurant: Wahaca – Mexican restaurant that decorates for Día de los Muertos.
Tip: To truly experience Halloween in England, wander around its neighborhoods (especially Notting Hill & Belgravia in London) to see all the local’s spooky house decorations.

Scotland

Contributed by Taylor from Brown Eyed Flower Child

If you’re looking for Halloween destinations around the world, one of the spookiest countries to visit is Scotland.

Halloween dates back to the ancient Celtic festival celebrating the living world and the dead. On the evening of October 31, the Celts believed ghosts would follow them so they made bonfires to ward off evil spirits.

Nowadays, the Scottish people make turnip lanterns (similar to Jack-O-Lanterns) and place a candle inside to ward off evil spirits.

Overall, Edinburgh is the leading place in Scotland to experience a blend of thrills, fun, and quirkiness. It’s a medieval city with gas lamp alleyways, Harry Potter inspiration, and a haunting history.

When visiting Scotland during the spooky season, check out the Conifox Halloween Festival. Not far from the heart of Edinburgh, you can go pumpkin picking, enjoy live seasonal performances, and get spooked on the fun house fear of maze!

Another fun thing to do in this city is track down all the spooky characters at Edinburgh’s Haunting Halloween Hunt at the Camera Obscura & World of Illusions.

A Halloween trip to Edinburgh is incomplete without participating in a ghost tour. For a fright, you must do the City of the Dead’s Double Dead Tour. During this thrilling experience, you’ll visit two of the city’s most haunted locations. It just might keep you up at night!

To take your spooky adventure beyond the city, visit the Scottish Highlands and try to catch a glimpse of the Loch Ness Monster!

EDINBURGH RECOMMENDATIONS
Hotel: The Witchery by the Castle – a haunted hotel with five centuries of history
Tour: Haunted Underground Ghosts & Graveyard Tour
Restaurant: Frankenstein & Bier Keller – come celebrate with the famous monster!
Tip: Don’t forget to book hotels, dining, and tours in advance when traveling to Scotland during October.

Europe

Romania

Contributed by Madison from Madison’s Footsteps

If you’re a spooky legends and gothic history fan, there’s no better place to spend Halloween than Transylvania—specifically the epically spooktacular Halloween party at Dracula’s Castle. 

I celebrated Halloween in Bran Castle, a medieval fortress in Romania perched dramatically on top of a hill and known worldwide as Bram Stoker’s inspiration for his novel, Dracula. 

The castle hosts an annual Halloween party that’s nothing short of legendary, starting with an eerie castle tour that leads costumed partygoers from all over the world through secret passageways while learning about Vlad the Impaler and the rich history of Bran Castle. 

After the tour, guests are shuttled to a heated tent on the castle grounds where the bartenders keep the drinks flowing and the DJ keeps the party bumping until the wee hours of the morning!

TRANSYLVANIA RECOMMENDATIONS
Hotel: Radisson Blu Aurum Hotel (Brasov) or Conacul Törzburg (Bran)
Tour: Bran Guided Castle Tour
Restaurant: La Ceaun in Brașov – a cozy restaurant in the heart of Old Town serving tons of Romanian classics
Tip: Visit the castle earlier in the day or on a different day for the tour. While the Halloween Combo Ticket includes a tour the night of the party, it was very dark, most people were already drunk, and there was a hurried vibe to get to the party. Also, get the dates right as the party is not on Halloween but on Saturday the week of Halloween.

PIN IT!

Hopefully, this gives you many ideas to put on your Halloween around the world bucket list. Again, it isn’t widely celebrated. But, for the destinations that do, there are a lot of Halloween-themed activities to explore and experience!

Where have you traveled for or around Halloween? Have you been to any of these destinations? Do you have a destination that celebrates Halloween in cool ways? If so, drop your discovery below for all of the enthusiasts out there!

‘Til next time…

Trimm Travels,

Heather