Best Places to Visit for Halloween
October is one of my absolute favorite times to travel—the summer crowds have dispersed, but the cold winter weather has yet to creep in. The only thing I don’t like is missing out on fall festivities at home in New England, especially surrounding Halloween. So, if you’re looking to enjoy a Halloween holiday away from home, I’ve put together some of the best places around the world to celebrate Halloween.
Orlando, FL
Come on, guys! I specialize in Disney Destinations, so of course this is the first on the list! But Disney actually isn’t the reason I added it. Universal Halloween Horror Nights are a must do for any fans of scary movies and haunted houses. If you are like me and love Halloween but hate to be scared (or if you have school-aged children), Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is so much fun! Both require an additional ticket, though, but Disney and Universal aren’t the only ones to get into the game—SeaWorld and Legoland both get into the Halloween spirit! Their Halloween celebrations happen during the day, are included in the price of your park ticket, making them perfect for little ones and price-conscious parents alike.
Sleepy Hollow, NY
The town made famous by Washington Irving’s spooky legend embraces its most famous resident: the headless horseman. With an incredible haunted house and a wide range of activities, Horseman’s Hollow is the ultimate Halloween event. On top of that, there are countless theatrical retellings of the Washington Irving Ghost Story. Don’t forget to check out the haunted hayrides and ghost or cemetery tours for a bit of extra flare!
Salem, MA
No list of Halloween destinations is complete without “the witchy city.” Made famous by the 17th century witch trials, the city has embraced its tragic past and has quickly become the Halloween capital of the world. Throughout the month of October, the area celebrates “Haunted Happenings,” which includes festivals, parades, and events.
Of course, the city is spooky any time of the year, with witch and pirate museums featuring dioramas, wax figures, and artifacts from the historic trials. But during October, you can find a costume party every night and dozens of haunted houses. There are plenty of activities for kids (or scaredy-cat adults like myself), so whether you’re looking for tricks or treats, Salem is definitely worth a visit. It can get pretty busy around Halloween, though, so visit earlier in the month to avoid the crowds.
Charleston, SC
Charleston is considered one of the country’s most haunted cities, making it the go-to filming location for horror films and home to year-round ghost tours. Since the city is such a spooky sight all season, Charleston amps things up to the max around Halloween. Must-sees include a haunted horse-drawn carriage tour and Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens’ Fright Nights, South Carolina’s largest haunted house event. As with most of the other options on this list, you can choose from a few different attractions with varying degrees of spookiness, including a haunted corn maze and hayride.
Oaxaca, Mexico
If you ask anyone the best places to experience the Day of the Dead in Mexico, Oaxaca is going to on the top of the list. The Day of the Dead is dedicated to honoring loved ones who have passed rather than celebrating the spooky season, but that doesn’t stop many travelers from wanting to see the sights around Halloween. Markets are filled with sugar calaveras (skulls) and dozens of items meant to decorate ofrendas (altars). With music, dancing, feasts amongst the tombstones, and tons of other cultural curiosities, the Day of the Dead is a great way to teach your kids about other cultures without turning learning experiences into lectures.
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans looks for any excuse for a party, and Halloween is the perfect reason to celebrate. If you’re into history and haunted tours, there are plenty of haunted tours through the French Quarter, but the highlight is Krewe of Boo, a Halloween parade that feels like a mini Mardi Gras. The floats feature fantastical things like trolls on horseback and dancing witches, and, of course, there are a ton of street parties full of the over-the-top costumes that make this city famous.
Transylvania, Romania
The region of Romania is home to centuries of vampire lore, but Bram Stoker’s Dracula brought it to the rest of the world. You won’t find colorful decorations and fun costumes in Transylvania, but the town embraces its vampiric roots, making it perfect for older kids (or parents) looking for a slightly less in-your-face Halloween experience. Here, you can visit ancient castles, learn about the country’s haunted history, and enjoy a Vampire-themed restaurant or a Halloween Party at “Dracula’s Castle” (Bran Castle) to top off the trip.
Dublin, Ireland
In addition to costume parties, the spooky season in Dublin is also home to Samhain, the Pagan New Year. The precursor to many of our Halloween traditions, Dubliners have kept Samhain alive as a festival of music and light, complemented by rich harvest-inspired food experiences, storytelling, and the occasional bonfire.
Whether you’re looking for a spooky surprise or a laid-back cultural experience, I hope this list of my favorite Halloween haunts will make your holiday spook-tacular! Even if you’re hoping to travel outside of the spooky season, I offer travel planning year-round, letting you and your family take a break from the busy wherever—and whenever—you are.
Who is Christina?
Meet Christina Vieira, a Traveler, a Planner, and a Mom. She is also the owner of Showcase the World Travel, a modern travel agency that helps busy Moms take the vacation they deserve without adding “planning it all” to their to-do lists. After all, Mom should get to enjoy their vacation, too!
She specializes in Disney, Caribbean, Europe, and has helped dozens of families have magical vacations that they will always remember. She loves traveling with her four-year-old daughter, Annabelle. Her favorite destinations include Walt Disney World, Wyoming, and Prague.
