From spooky vibes to elaborate costumes and “trick or treat” sessions, these are the little things that make Halloween a fun holiday to experience. But while you can easily find great spots back home to celebrate this holiday, nothing ever beats visiting a true spooky destination when it comes to Halloween.
From visiting spooky festivals to attending events that encourage dressing up with unique costumes or even popping by themed parties that span from night until day, being at a holiday destination where Halloween is taken seriously can turn this scary day into a fun escapade. That said, we hope you enjoy a good scare, because we’ve picked out 7 of the best spooky destinations that will show you how the world celebrates Halloween. Who knows, you may just want to book a trip to be part of the fun!
Wait, what’s the deal with this spooky holiday?
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Before we dive right into the spooky destinations to visit, let’s look into the history of Halloween and how it came to be. For many years, the day has been believed to have originated from the ancient festival of Samhain. This was a celebration that marked the end of summer and the harvest on the 1st of November. However, as the barrier between the living and dead was said to be the thinnest, many Celts wore costumes to disguise themselves and built bonfires as steps to self-protection.
These beliefs later blended with Christian observances, which also established the All-Saints’ Day feast on the 1st of November, while marking the night before as All Hallows’ Eve. This day eventually became the Halloween we know today, and the unique customs of costume disguises that bring a little scare to everyone’s lives were born.
Experience the fright across all of Singapore
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Now, we understand that you wouldn’t want to go too far just to celebrate a day of scares. This is why we’ve found a Halloween event that’s set just across the border in the neighbouring Singapore that will satisfy all your spooky needs.
Hosted annually, Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights is a special celebration that promises guests a world of fright. On top of having staff members dress up to set spooky tensions across the park, Universal Studios also carefully sections off its theme park for Halloween. Before long, the iconic Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights will come to life, transforming the cheery hotspot into the ultimate spooky destination. Complete with eerie tunes and special shows to celebrate the occasion, this is one event you’ll want to make time for.
Alternatively, brave visitors who prefer their Halloween extra spooky would want to make their way down to Haw Par Villa along the Pasir Panjang Road. Also known as “Hell’s Museum”, this is where you’ll find an exciting line-up of activities, including being a part of interactive ghostly guided tours, visiting scare houses, and even lying in a real coffin.
Be warned, however, that this experience is definitely not for the faint of heart, but is befitting of being the best Halloween scare of the year. To commemorate the Halloween festivities, Haw Par Villa is even extending its visiting hours, so you can spend your evening getting scared all the way until midnight.
Get spooky at Asia’s biggest haunted theme park event in Hong Kong
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Halloween may not be a tradition that originated from Hong Kong, but the holiday has definitely picked up in popularity among locals and tourists in recent days, with many travelling specifically to celebrate the day in Hong Kong.
As such, it’s no surprise to see the iconic Hong Kong Ocean Park turn into a favourite destination for spooky lovers. Said to be Asia’s largest haunted theme park event, the Hong Kong Ocean Park Halloween Bash features thrilling experiences such as haunted houses and live performances by the returning paper effigy dance troupe. Entrance tickets are required if you’d like to sign up for the fun at Hong Kong Ocean Park, but many returning guests have raved about how it’s the place to be if you want a Halloween to remember.
Nightlife enthusiasts will want to pop into Lan Kwai Fong, a popular tourist spot where the crowds are buzzing to complete your evening. Here, you’ll catch plenty of partygoers dressed for the Halloween fun, with most of their costumes presumably available following a visit to Pottinger Street. Home to over 90 bars and nightclubs, this is where you can expect plenty of crowds enjoying the music and dancing the evening away, making it the best way to end your spooky Hong Kong visit.
Celebrate with all your favourite Halloween costumes in Tokyo, Japan
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Another spooky destination that’s risen in popularity for Halloween has got to be Tokyo, Japan. But it’s no surprise, really. For a city where dressing up as your favourite characters is the norm, Halloween is taken very seriously among many locals and tourists alike.
In fact, Shibuya has become a hotspot for many of the Halloween parties in Japan over the past few years, and it’s really common to spend the evening in the lively environment of the streets. Unfortunately, the Shibuya Halloween Party along the streets have been cancelled for 2025 due to safety concerns for holidaymakers. But don’t let this dampen your mood because you’ll still find a variety of bars and clubs in Tokyo that have their doors open to Halloween festivities.
For a different kind of Halloween vibe with a Japanese twist, why not join the Tachikawa Yōkai Bon Odori Festival, where the Japanese spirits come out to play? Known as “yōkai” to the locals, this free festival offers guests the opportunity to see a monster night parade and sample ghostly snacks to celebrate the spooky evening out. However, a separate Bon Odori area where most of the “yōkai” displays are out requires an entry ticket and for participants to dress up. Don’t skimp on this, as it’s where you’ll fully enjoy the spirit of a Japanese Halloween while you’re in town.
Romance takes a backseat as Halloween comes to town in Paris, France
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While traditionally crowned as one of the most romantic cities in the world, Halloween often changes Paris into an unexpectedly spooky destination. Les Catacombes de Paris, the city’s underground ossuary that was officially opened to the public in 1810, is a place where brave visitors wander, as it’s lined with skulls and bones of Parisians dating back to the 18th century. The dramatic sight of these age-old human remains does prove to be creepy, but it definitely adds to the Halloween mood if that’s the fright you seek during this celebration.
Guided tours run daily except on Mondays at the Les Catacombes de Paris, and prior reservations are required before entering. If you’re travelling with brave children who wouldn’t mind walking through the spooky 1.5-kilometre tunnel, they could be eligible for discounted tickets. Do note, however, that you’ll first have to climb 131 steps down the tunnel and 112 steps to come back up. As such, wearing comfortable shoes is highly recommended, and visitors with accessibility difficulties may not be able to visit.
Now, just because your visit to Paris is spooky, it doesn’t mean your travel has to be. Together with Emirates Airlines, we at Holiday Tours are proud to present exclusive fare deals so you can travel in style without the scary price tag. From luxury suites with lie-flat beds to relaxing premium economy seats that allow you to fly in comfort, we just can’t think of a better way to start or end your Halloween adventures.
See how spooky turns festive in Derry, Northern Ireland
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Of course, not everything has to be spooky just because it’s Halloween. Over in Northern Ireland, this celebration is done with a festive twist thanks to the Derry Halloween Festival. Said to be the largest festival celebrating Halloween in Europe, guests will be treated to a variety of fun activities that will satisfy the whole family. Entry tickets are required, but the programme that follows is what sets the festival apart.
In fact, what awaits are exciting shows such as acrobatic banshees and performances by Celtic circus troupes. Crafty visitors can also join the on-ground workshops or stroll down the pumpkin patch. Local Irish artists have also been invited to drum up the crowd with live music come sundown, before ending the night with fireworks displays that illuminate the skies of Derry.
Outside the festival, Derry offers a unique blend of cultures that stem from Irish and British influences. The architecture across the city is not to be missed during your visit, especially as it’s the last standing walled city in Ireland. To best admire these massive stone walls that were built between 1613 and 1618, you can always join a walking tour that will take you down the roads of history. Plenty of neo-Gothic buildings still stand around the Derry city centre, adding to a spooky feel in the evening, especially if you’re visiting during the Halloween season.
Pay a visit to Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania, Romania
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Every mention of Halloween is often followed by the words spooky and eerie, so we think it’s only fitting to celebrate it at the one and only “Dracula’s Castle”. Officially known as Bran Castle, this historic fortress is also a national monument in Romania. It’s set in the city of Transylvania, which unsurprisingly adds to the spooky environment, especially as the mist blows through the lush forest that surrounds the castle grounds.
As for the nickname, many have said that the legendary Bram Stoker presented Bran Castle as the home to the famous character, Dracula. Since then, the castle has been called “Dracula’s Castle” outside of Romania, and frequent Halloween partygoers recognise it as the hottest spooky destination to be at each year. Should you wish to be a part of this annual bash, dressing up in your favourite costume is highly recommended, as it adds to the fun of celebrating Halloween.
Thankfully, Bran Castle is just as beautiful even if you’re not there for the Halloween party. To enjoy the best of both worlds, you can always visit this hotspot in the day to see the architecture of the castle in its original form before returning later to celebrate the festivities. If charming old town vibes and medieval castles that cover the city skylines are also your cup of tea for a holiday, then you’ll definitely love what Transylvania has in store for you, even during less creepy days.
Halloween parties never stop when you’re in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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When it comes to parties, nobody does it like the Dutch, and this also goes for spooky celebrations like Halloween. All across the city of Amsterdam, you’ll find themed parties being set up across bars and nightclubs, inviting you to dress up for the best night out of your life. Offering experiences complete with Halloween-inspired drinks, spooky decorations, and exciting live music, Amsterdam is where the real fun of Halloween lies for the party animals in you.
Holidaymakers who prefer to stay away from parties but want an equally exciting and spooky adventure can instead opt to join the guided Amsterdam Ghost Tour that will introduce you to the largest ghost of Amsterdam, named Helena. With an interesting backstory that will spook the ends of your hair while strolling down the streets of Amsterdam, we simply can’t think of a creepier way to spend Halloween while you’re in the Netherlands. Courage and open-mindedness are recommended, though we can’t promise that you’ll hear Helena’s allegedly screeching the way locals did in the past.
To treat yourself before or after your Dutch adventures, we’d recommend booking your seat with Emirates Airlines. Featuring exclusive fares available through Holiday Tours, your travel to this fantastic, spooky destination is set to come with award-winning service and world-class amenities to keep your flight experience a joyous occasion. If you’d like to elevate your travel experience, why not settle into the spacious seats available on the Premium Economy class or lie flat in the Business Class? Either way, the Emirates Airlines experience will go down in history as the best you’ve flown this Halloween.