The Best European Cities for Halloween 2022, According to Tripadvisor

Pumpkin carving, scary movies, and stories about haunted houses – who doesn’t love the spooky season? For those who also love to travel, we’ve found and presented some of the most exciting European destinations to visit on the 31st of October. Are you ready to discover some of the spookiest cities in Europe?

Holidu, the booking portal for holiday rentals, decided to find out the cities in Europe with the highest-rated Ghost & Vampire tours as presented on TripAdvisor. Sit back, the journey to haunted tours and dark alleys begins!

1. Edinburgh, United Kingdom – 31 tours, 7343 reviews, avg. 4.9 stars

It’s official! Edinburgh is the most haunted place in Scotland, with 31 spooky tours available and 7343 reviews of avg. 4.9 stars on TripAdvisor, so it’s the ideal destination to spend this spooky season. There is always a ghost story attached to the location, no matter where you are in Edinburgh. From ghost stories, witches and lost bagpipers, you can explore them all during Halloween. Don’t miss the opportunity to travel to Edinburgh this season of the year!

2. Paris, France – 19 tours, 523 reviews, avg. 4.8 stars

In the second place of our ranking we meet Paris, with 19 spooky tours available and 523 reviews of avg. 4.8 stars on TripAdvisor. The capital of France, Paris, is firmly established in the minds of the world as the City of Light. However, the history of Paris has other dark stories from its long and turbulent history. You can choose one of its 19 tours, with the Paris Catacombs being the most popular – a network of former quarries under the city, converted into ossuaries beginning in the late 18th century. Sounds spooky? Then don’t miss the chance to explore this underground city of the dead!

3. Barcelona, Spain – 15 tours, 403 reviews, avg. 4.8 stars

Barcelona is next in our ranking, with 15 available tours and 403 reviews with an average of 4.8 stars on TripAdvisor. Halloween may not be a traditional holiday in Spain, but it’s a celebration that’s becoming more popular every year. Plus, you can enjoy its own version, that of the “Day of the Dead” in Catalonia on November 1st. Don’t miss the Barcelona Ghosts & Legends tour where you can hear stories of exorcists, ghosts and bloody murders as you walk through the cobbled streets of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter with your accompanying storyteller.

4. London, United Kingdom – – 54 tours, 1981 reviews, avg. 4,7 stars

London could not be left out of our ranking of course, which is in 4th place, with 54 available tours and 1981 reviews with an average of 4.7 stars on TripAdvisor. London is often considered as one of the most haunted cities in the world, and how could it not be? With its bloody past, dark dungeons and creepy streets, it evokes memories of the world’s most notorious serial killer – Jack The Ripper! During the Halloween season you’ll find plenty of mysteries and fantastic attractions in Britain’s capital city, from spooky tours to spectacular parades! This city certainly knows how to thrill its visitors this time of the year!

5. Rome, Italy – 31 tours, 756 reviews, avg. 4,7 stars

Rounding out our top five we have Rome, with 31 available tours and 756 reviews with an average of 4.7 stars on TripAdvisor. It may not be the most common Halloween destination, but it remains one of the most captivating and beautiful cities in Europe. But if you look closely behind the famous and bustling squares, you’ll spot dark alleys and a mysterious past. It is said that past emperors, heretics and witches still roam the city. Rome is waiting for you to explore it during this spooky season!

1. The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour – Edinburgh, United Kingdom

It’s no coincidence that in the first place of our ranking we find a tour that takes place in Edinburgh, as it is our number one spooky destination in Europe. With 2294 reviews, an average of 5 stars on TripAdvisor and an average cost of €16.31, the “World famous underground ghost tour” is worth every penny! This is a 75-minute evening walking tour of Edinburgh’s Old Town and the South Bridge vaults. On this tour you will hear scary stories of hauntings, murders, executions and cannibalism and have the opportunity to see your tour guide impersonate a notorious character from Scottish history!

2. Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour – Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Second place is taken by another tour of Edinburgh! “Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour” with 2054 reviews, average 5 stars on TripAdvisor and an average cost of €24.00, takes you to the cobbled streets of Calton Hill, North Bridge and Canongate Cemetery which are not accessible by car. On this night tour, you will hear stories focusing on torture, betrayal and death and be immersed in the dark history of the city!

3. Haunted Vaults walking tour in Edinburgh – Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Surprise! Next stop, Edinburgh! The winning destination for spooky tours takes yet another place in our ranking, this time in third place with the “Haunted Vaults walking tour in Edinburgh”. With 763 reviews, an average of 5 stars on TripAdvisor and an average cost of €16.31, this 1 hour tour will take you into Edinburgh’s dark underground vaults which date back to the 1700s and is one of the most impressive parts of the city to explore. The guide will present an exhibition of torture and explain the reasons and ways in which certain objects have been used in Edinburgh’s dark history.

4. The Cloak and Dagger Tour – London, United Kingdom

Next up in our ranking is a spooky tour from London this time! In fourth place we find the “Cloak and Dagger Tour” with 548 reviews, an average of 5 stars on TripAdvisor and an average cost of €20.97. On this hour-long tour you will hear stories you haven’t read in any guidebook. Then you’ll witness the re-enactment of a true story of murder and revenge at Southwark’s George Inn!

5. Liverpool Ghost Walking Tour – Liverpool, United Kingdom

Our top five is completed with another British city, Liverpool and the “Liverpool Ghost Walking Tour”. With 434 reviews, an average of 5 stars on TripAdvisor and an average cost of €20.40, on this spooky tour you’ll shiver as you listen to your guide’s narration as you walk through the city centre. You’ll see a different, darker side of the city centre and make stops at Rodney Street, Liverpool Cathedral Cemetery and St Andrew’s Cemetery, where a pyramid is said to have housed a man who sold his soul to the devil!

Which top rated spooky tours in Europe round out the top 10 in the ranking?

6. Walking Night Tour – Ghost Stories and Legends of Prague’s Old Town, Prague, Czech Republic
7. Fright Night Tour, Edinburgh, UK
8. Dark Dublin Guided Walking Tour, Dublin, Ireland
9. The dark side of Florence – Mysteries and Legends, Florence, Italy
10. 2-hour Forbidden Walking Tour of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Methodology:

This study was created by first identifying the most popular European cities when checking the search volume for the keyword “halloween” and each city name. The top 50 most searched for cities were then used to check Tripadvisor data for the “Ghost & Vampire Tours” in each city. The ranking of the cities with the top rated tours was formed by gathering the total number of reviews and the overall average star rating, ranking from the best rated to the worst. The ranking of the top rated tours was formed in the same way, comparing the number of reviews and average star rating from highest to lowest. The data was gathered in October 2022.