Scariest Places To Visit And Photograph For Thrill-Seekers

The world is full of scary places: catacombs, abandoned prisons, an island full of creepy dolls, and strange nooks and crannies with ghosts. Inexplicable phenomena and disturbing stories only make these places even more bizarre and, of course, arouse the curiosity of photographers. Who knows what you'll catch on camera?

We have selected 15 of the most terrifying places to visit and photograph. Are you ready? So be brave, grab your favorite camera, and see some of the most terrifying places on Earth. After all, Halloween isn't all about trick-or-treating.

Quick Tips for Spooky Location Photography

Before we move on to the top creepy places, we want to share some photo tips that will definitely come in handy:

1. Before shooting, spend time on location to find the best angles and details to convey the eerie atmosphere. Also, remember that shooting spooky locations can be dangerous, so always take safety precautions and follow the rules.

2. Add natural elements to the frame to emphasize the place's neglect — branches, stones, or moss. On the other hand, sometimes, including people in the frame (especially in costumes or creepy poses) can increase the image's emotional impact. Experiment with the frame filling

3. Shooting in low light or at dusk will help create a mysterious atmosphere. Use a tripod for stability. We encourage you to try shooting in black and white or with high contrast to emphasize shadows and textures even more. To create the vibe, using some Halloween Filters can also be beneficial.

4. Highlight details that may cause alarm, such as cracks in the walls, rust, or forgotten items, to create an atmosphere of decay. Here is a good tip: play with depth of field to draw attention away from the background and emphasize those foreground details.

5. After shooting, you can enhance the atmosphere by adding effects in photo editors, such as grain or vignetting. Also, we advise trying Skylum’s Halloween Backgrounds to make your images more mysterious and creepy.

15 World's Scariest Places to Visit Popular Tourist Destinations

1. Salem, Massachusetts, USA

Salem, Massachusetts, is famous for its spooky history related to the 1692 witch trials, during which many people were accused of witchcraft and executed. Today, the city attracts tourists with numerous museums, ghost tours, and themed events that recall this dark chapter in history. Walking through the streets of Salem, you can feel the eerie atmosphere filled with legends of ghosts and witches who have left their mark on this town.

• Shooting tip: Use morning or evening light to create a dark photography aesthetic and emphasize textures and details that can add more depth to your shots.

2. Transylvania, Romania

Transylvania is known for its mysterious atmosphere and legends about vampires, particularly Count Dracula, who became a symbol of this mysterious area. Picturesque castles such as Bran Castle impress with Gothic architecture and dark stories intertwined with local myths and folklore.

Walking among ancient towns and vast forests, you can feel the magic and mysticism that makes this legendary land one of the most spooky places to visit during Halloween.

• Shooting tip: Use a wide angle of view to capture the scale and atmosphere of the surroundings to convey a sense of space and mystery.

The Halloween Vibe

3. Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong is a city that combines modernity with a rich history, and on Halloween, it has a particularly spooky atmosphere. Visiting the Island Cemetery, where ancient burials and gloomy monuments are located, becomes a real challenge for the brave who want to feel the spirit of the past.

Another interesting spot is the Black Location in Nan Liang Park, where various ghostly entertainments occur, with illusions and performances that enhance the terrifying sensations. During the holiday, Hong Kong is filled with themed parties, parades, and mystical events that make the city the perfect place to celebrate Halloween.

• Shooting tip: Focus on night shooting. Use a tripod for stability and experiment with long exposures to catch the lighting effects of decorations and holiday lights.

4. Edinburgh, Scotland

With its ancient streets and Gothic architecture, Edinburgh is the perfect place to celebrate Halloween. History and mystery intertwine in every corner. Greyfriars Cemetery attracts tourists with its eerie tombstones and terrifying legends about ghosts that seem to roam these areas.

Ghost tours create a special atmosphere, revealing the dark pages of the city's history and immersing visitors in the world of mysterious events. On Halloween night, the city is filled with themed events, parties, and parades, making Edinburgh a true mecca for lovers of all things mystical and terrifying.

• Shooting tip: Shoot against the background of ancient buildings or cemeteries in the morning or evening when the light is soft and warm. Also, we advise you to try to change the saturation of some photos, as the result can be beneficial.
  

Really Creepy Places

5. Mexico City, Mexico

During Halloween and the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), Mexico City becomes a mystical and spooky place filled with vivid and terrifying images. Central squares and streets are decorated with colorful but eerie altars, where residents honor the dead, and parades with skull masks and skeleton costumes create an atmosphere of mystery. 

The Island of the Dolls (Isla de las Muñecas) is especially impressive. Hundreds of ominous old dolls hang from the trees, giving the place a truly terrifying look. A visit at this time allows you to experience an unusual combination of fear and celebration of life and death, which makes Mexico City ideal for mystical travel.

A ferry ride through the Xochimilco canals brings you to what looks like the material embodiment of a nightmare. Dolls in various states of decay hang from branches while severed limbs and heads dot the trees.

• Shooting tip: Use wide-angle and portrait lenses to document this location fully. Discover our article How to Create Spooky Halloween Image to make your shoots more creepy and interesting.

6. Nagoro, Japan

Japan is known for its mystery and strange rituals. However, among all its spooky places, the “village of dolls” stands out. For every resident, dozens of homemade dolls replace dead or displaced people. Visitors to Nagoro especially feel alienated and anxious when they find themselves among these motionless, puppet “dwellers” watching them from every corner.

About 350 life-size dolls inhabit this dwindling village. Dolls sit in classrooms for class, wait for the bus, and do many other activities. It creates an ominous atmosphere of emptiness and oblivion. Look closer, and the story of Nagoro is as sad as it is creepy.

• Shooting tip: Take a leisurely pace and take your time. Get up close and personal to capture the small details.

Real Bones

7. Paris, France

Paris is a city of romance and secrets, with numerous legends hidden among the wonderful streets and iconic monuments, giving it a mystical aura. A portion of the Paris Catacombs, home to over six million remains, is legally accessible. Piles and piles of bones, sometimes arranged decoratively, greet you. However, people very often venture into the rest. You’ll find cataphiles, swimmers, mushroom growers, and much more. 

• Shooting tip: Flash photography and tripods are prohibited, so bring a fast lens and get creative with the rest. Also, we advise you to learn more about night photo editing.

8. Prague, Czech Republic

In autumn, Prague turns into a fairy-tale city with a rich palette of colors when the trees in the parks and streets are covered with golden, red, and orange leaves. Walking through the old cobbled streets, you can enjoy cozy cafés and traditional dishes that create a special atmosphere. The aroma of fresh baked goods and spices wafting through the air, combined with the mystical architecture, makes the autumn vibe of Prague unique and magical.

The Church of Bones (St. Jacob's Ossuary) can be considered the most mystical and strange place for tourists. It is an eerie place that amazes visitors with its unique design, where a huge number of real human bones are used to decorate the interior. The church is unassuming on the outside, but enter the chapel and come face to face with 40,000 human bones. They cover the walls and hang from the ceiling as chandeliers. Luckily, the chapel is accessible for a small fee.

• Shooting tip: Just leave behind the tripod and forget the flash. To better preserve the city's autumnal vibe, use the dark filter for photos.

Ghost Hunting

9. Penafiel, Portugal

Portugal is famous for its Penafiel Castle, which stands on top of a hill and has a rich historical background filled with legends and mystical stories. According to local legends, the castle is often visited by ghosts, including the spirits of former residents who remain within the walls of this ancient structure. Walking among the ruins and mysterious corridors, visitors can feel an invisible presence and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the terrible stories of the past.

Visit the abandoned farmhouse to catch the ghost of Baron of Lages and his family, whom he murdered before taking his own life. There have been multiple sightings throughout the years: rumor is that the Baron himself shows up occasionally.

• Shooting tip: By all accounts, it’s truly abandoned, so take precautions.

10. Junee, Australia

Junee, Australia, is famous for its spooky stories involving historic prisons and forgotten burial grounds. One of the most interesting, creepy places to visit is the Juni prison, where you can hear terrible stories about the prisoners and the cruel conditions of their lives. The legend of the ghost of Elizabeth Crawley has become part of local folklore and attracts tourists interested in paranormal phenomena and the history of June.

The most haunted house in Australia allows night tours and overnight stays. Look for the ghost of Elizabeth Crawley, listen carefully for strange sounds, and learn about the multiple deaths that have occurred here over the years.

• Shooting tip: A fast lens is handy if you stay overnight or visit at night. For post-processing, we recommend using the Lighten Photo tool in Luminar Neo.

11. Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is a city where history is intertwined with legends and offers a unique experience for those who love spooky places and mysterious stories. Visiting this city will leave unforgettable impressions and help you feel the atmosphere of the Old South.

Savannah is known for its ghosts. Many houses and streets have terrible stories related to tragic events. Evening ghost tours allow visitors to learn about local legends, mysteries, and mystical phenomena. Immortal nature and atmospheric cemeteries, where victims of various epidemics and battles and famous personalities are buried, will create the right mood for your photos.

• Shooting tip: For ghost photography, utilize long exposure techniques to capture the eerie ambiance of the historic streets and haunted locations.

Mysterious Rites

12. Lomé, Togo

Lomé, Togo's capital, has a spooky reputation for its Voodoo Market, which sells magical ingredients such as human skulls, animal bodies, and other mysterious artifacts. This market is the center of voodoo culture, where visitors can feel the eerie atmosphere and learn more about the rituals that evoke fear and curiosity. A walk among the impressive exhibits of the market leaves an impression of the powerful forces of nature and culture that still live in the hearts of residents.

This open market is a study of the occult. Vendors cater to the needs of shamans and Voodoo practitioners, offering live and dead (some freshly) creatures, along with talismans and other assortments. There is an entrance fee and an extra fee to take pictures.

• Shooting tip: A standard zoom with a wide aperture will be handy.

13. Šiauliai, Lithuania

Šiauliai, Lithuania, is famous for its eerie place — the Chapel of the Victims, which contains the bones of victims of Stalinist repressions found in the local cemetery. This place has a strong emotional atmosphere and reminds visitors of Lithuania's tragic history, which makes it especially impressive. Plunging into this part of history, you will feel a mystical connection with the past, which still hangs in the air.

The Mountain of Crosses in Šiauliai is an impressive and eerie place, where thousands of crosses arranged in endless rows create an atmosphere of mystery and deep spirituality. This sacred place, which became a symbol of the resistance of the Lithuanian people against foreign rule, is filled with stories of horror and hope. This small hill in Lithuania has been a pilgrimage site for generations. Visitors have continually added crosses, rosaries, and other Catholic symbols since at least the 1830's. Though not haunted, over 100,000 crosses create an eerie landscape.

• Shooting tip: Visit at dusk and bring your tripod.

Hellish Adventures

14. Darvaza, Turkmenistan

Darvaza, or “Door to Hell,” is an impressive and eerie place in Turkmenistan. It is made famous by a fiery crater that has been burning for more than 50 years. This huge crater spews fire and gas, creating an amazing and terrifying atmosphere, especially at night, when the crescent moon illuminates the surrounding desert landscape. Visiting Darwaza leaves an unforgettable impression, a feeling of mystery and the power of nature that cannot be forgotten.

The almost 230-foot-wide Darvaza Gas Crater has been continuously on fire since 1971. To explore this unique place and learn more about this trip, you can book a guide, a tour, or a camp there.

• Shooting tip: Set up a tripod and an ultra-wide-angle lens for the perfect shot.

15. Sleepy Hollow, New York

It is one of the most motivated places to visit in the US. It is known for its spooky history and atmosphere. This place became famous thanks to Washington Irving's story “The Legend of Sleepy Valley.” This story about Ichabod Crane and his encounter with the headless horseman attracts the attention of tourists who want to immerse themselves in this mystical atmosphere. Are you ready to meet the infernal rider in the middle of the bleak terrain?

The landscapes of Sleepy Hollow, with its picturesque forests, old trees, and the Hudson River, make great backdrops for spooky photos. It is especially worth visiting the Washington Irving Cemetery, where famous figures are buried, and you can feel a real atmosphere of mystery.

Every October, the city hosts the Halloween Festival, where various events occur, from haunted tours to themed parties. The town is famous for its nighttime ghost tours, during which guides tell scary stories about the place, making the walks even more atmospheric.

• Shooting tip: Consider night photography. The darkness can amplify the spooky atmosphere, especially when capturing lit-up pumpkins or candlelight.

Bottom Line

Visiting the world's famous scary locations is always a good idea on the eve of Halloween. It is not only for thrill-seekers but also photographers seeking unique shots. In addition to the strange and often spooky nooks and crannies, you can explore local festivals and immerse yourself in legends. So feel free to grab your camera and book tickets to the places on today's list that interest you!