10. De Wallen
Belle, the world's first monument honoring sex workers, stands in Amsterdam's red-light district as a call for global respect. Unveiled in 2007, she is often overlooked by visitors exploring De Wallen.
Yet nearby Bloedstraat (Blood Street) holds a darker history. Once a site of executions, prisoners' blood is said to have flowed into the canal. A 16th-century monastery there hosted the "Blood Trials," where political rebels were killed. Legend says their ghosts still roam the street at night, seeking revenge.
9. Disney World
Disney World is "The Most Magical Place on Earth," a top destination for tourists visiting the USA. Its 18-month 50th anniversary celebration, lasting until March 2023, showcases extraordinary efforts by staff to create unforgettable experiences.
Yet, even this magical park has a darker side. Persistent rumors speak of ghosts in attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean, where a worker named George is said to have died during construction. Cast members often greet "George" daily to prevent malfunctions or eerie pranks, acknowledging this lingering supernatural lore.
8. Nevis
Nevis Island is among the world's most beautiful places, situated in the Caribbean Sea as part of the Leeward Islands in the West Indies. Its central volcano and Kalinago-given name, Oualie (Land of Beautiful Waters), underscore its natural allure. However, even this stunning destination harbors a haunting tale.
Legend says that in 1822, Julia Huggins' wedding was shattered when her groom and best man fatally dueled. The heartbroken Julia withdrew as a recluse to the Eden Brown Estate on Nevis. After her death, locals have reported hearing her late-night sobs and screams, forever linking the island's beauty with this tragic ghost story.
7. The Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher stretch 8.7 miles along Ireland's coast, reaching 700 feet high near O'Brien's Tower. A major tourist destination featured in films like Harry Potter, the cliffs are also steeped in eerie folklore. One legend tells of a corpse-eating eel slain by Saint Macreehy, with two tide-marked stones said to be his bed.
Another tale recounts the witch Mal, who pursued the hero Cu Chulainn. After chasing him to the Shannon River, she leapt between the cliffs and an island with the aid of wind. When Cu Chulainn jumped back, Mal attempted to follow but fell to her death as the wind faded. The rocks where she died, stained by her blood, are now called Hag's Head.
6. Great Smoky Mountains
Nestled along the Tennessee-North Carolina border, the Great Smoky Mountains are a celebrated Appalachian subrange. They house the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, established in 1934 and now the most visited national park in the United States. This region is renowned for its expansive hardwood forests and hosts the densest population of black bears in the Eastern U.S.
Visitors are drawn to the abandoned ghost town of Elkmont, a former logging and resort community, where some have reported sightings of spectral railmen and loggers. Another famous tale is that of the little ghost girl at LeConte Lodge, said to appear silently at the foot of guests' beds at 3:33 am before vanishing.
5. Kilimanjaro
Towering as Africa’s highest peak, Kilimanjaro is the world’s tallest free-standing mountain, featuring three volcanic cones. Although its glaciers are rapidly retreating, it remains a premier global destination for hiking and climbing.
For the Chaga people living on its foothills, Kilimanjaro holds profound spiritual meaning. They believe it hosts two gates where “sky and Earth join”: one leading to paradise, the other to the underworld of ghosts. This legend teaches that just as ghosts can influence earthly events, world events can also affect the spirits within the mountain.
4. Antelope Canyon
If you haven't visited Arizona's breathtaking Antelope Canyon, you've likely seen it in a Britney Spears video. Shaped over millions of years by erosion and named for the pronghorn antelope that once lived there, it is a photographer's dream, offering spectacular images year-round.
The canyon is featured in the most expensive photo ever sold: Peter Lik’s “Phantom,” which fetched $6.5 million. The black-and-white image shows light spilling over dust and sand into the slot canyon, with a ghostly figure seeming to manifest within the beam.
3. Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island in Western Australia is famed for its happiest animals—quokkas—alongside stunning beaches, aquamarine waters ideal for diving, and scenic walking trails. However, since 2010, the island has carried an Indigenous Elder's curse, invoking "endless misfortune" upon tourists and authorities after a dispute with the Rottnest Island Authority.
Adding to its eerie lore, Rottnest Lodge is said to be haunted by two ghosts—both women whose tragic lives seem to echo into the afterlife. Visitors drawn by natural beauty should be mindful of these supernatural tales intertwined with the island's history.
2. Simon’s Town
South Africa’s largest naval base is in Simon’s Town, Western Cape—a historic harbor and one of the country’s oldest settlements. Rich in history, the town is also reputedly home to many ghosts. One infamous spirit resides within a painting at the Simon’s Town Museum, said to cause unease in viewers and defy traditional photography; smartphone images of it appear only as blurs.
The town offers a “ghost walk” past historic sites like Café Pescado and the Lord Nelson Inn. Admiralty House is believed to be haunted by a brown-haired woman, while at the naval residence Ibeka, the ghost of a man sitting on a toilet has been reported. These eerie tales add a supernatural layer to Simon’s Town’s long maritime legacy.
1. Venice
The City of Canals is renowned for its gondolas, bridges, and the San Marco bell tower. However, it faces severe challenges, sinking about 2mm annually and losing over 1,000 residents each year. Following a major flood in 1966, many fled to Mestre, leading experts to warn Venice could become a ghost town by 2030.
Venice is also famed for eerie ghost sightings, notably of a 16th-century nobleman, Loredan. After beheading his wife in a jealous rage, he was ordered to carry her corpse to Rome for papal forgiveness. Denied by the pope, he returned to Venice and drowned in the lagoon. To this day, many report seeing his ghost in the Grand Canal, still clutching his wife's head.
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