Europe’s spine-chilling history is steeped in traditions and its cities are filled with centuries-old architecture, creating the perfect atmosphere for a spooky Halloween celebration. During Halloween, many European cities transform into bewitching lands, as visits to their ancient castles and medieval streets uncover spooky corners and reveal mysterious pasts. The legends that still shroud modern-day life add to the spirit of the Halloween holiday. You can enjoy graveyard tours in ancient towns, lively costume parades, and parties. You can indulge in age-old Samhain bonfire traditions, fire dancing, and acrobatics too. The urban legends and reported paranormal activities make a European Halloween an unforgettable experience.
In this blog, we take you through the European celebrations of this spooky holiday.
Best Places to Spend Halloween in Europe
Halloween is celebrated in various cities across Europe. There are ghoulish events and unique traditions that get you in the spirit of the holiday. Go Real Travel has curated this list of the best places to spend Halloween in Europe.
1. Derry, Northern Ireland
Halloween originates from the Irish and their celebration of the Celtic festival of Samhain. Pagan traditions continue to be a part of the celebration to date. Being the place of origin of the festival itself, Derry, known as Londonderry by some of its residents, hosts one of the largest celebrations of Halloween in the world. The city goes all out on the events and activities lasting through October.
The streets of Derry will transport you to a vibrant world of bustling harvest markets lined with flickering Jack O’Lanterns. There are dance parties with pyrotechnics and aerial performances organized in Derry. You can enjoy zombie nights and witchery workshops to truly reel in the Halloween spirit.
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2. Edinburgh, Scotland
The city of Edinburgh is steeped in ancient legends and eerie history. This provides the perfect atmosphere for a truly spooky Halloween. You will find former gallows, centuries-old attractions, and underground vaults. All of this delivers a Halloween experience that you will not forget. Like the Irish, the Scots continue to honor Celtic customs of the original Samhain festival.
Experience the best of the holiday with the Samhuinn Fire Festival. This festival hosts many events and activities. They include the neo-pagan theatre, fire dancing, acrobatics, and a special staged finale. The historical traditions, mysteries, creepy castles and vaults, and continuing paranormal activities that have been reported over time make Edinburgh an exciting place to celebrate this spooky autumn holiday.
3. Transylvania, Romania
Halloween was not originally celebrated in Transylvania. However, the region has truly embraced the holiday. It has even become a popular destination for Halloween. Steeped in vampire legends, this city has become renowned for its Halloween parties and celebrations. It is also famous for being the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, who inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
During Halloween, you can enjoy the many vampire-themed events and activities. You can take tours of the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler and eat at vampire-inspired restaurants. You can also see Bran Castle, the home of the fictional Count Dracula. You can even stay for the Halloween party that is organized here.
4. Prague, Czech Republic
The Gothic architecture and gruesome history of Prague make it perfect for a memorable Halloween. The Czechs don’t traditionally celebrate Halloween. However, the macabre lanes and corners, the poetic graveyards and cemeteries, and the mysterious allure of Prague will give you chills, Halloween or not.
There are some spooky Halloween destinations to visit in Prague. This includes the Museum of Medieval Torture Instruments and the Old Jewish Cemetery. You can also visit the legend-shrouded Daliborka Tower and Prague’s Old Town. This Old Town is the setting of many local legends and ghoulish stories, and you’ll find no shortage of spine-chilling haunted tours. Prague also hosts flamboyant Halloween-themed parties for the younger crowd.
Also Read: 13 Most Happening things to do in Prague at night
5. London, England
London is where the legacies of Jack the Ripper and Anne Boleyn linger. It is an incredible place for a scary and unforgettable Halloween holiday. The English capital has a gruesome past, and spine-chilling ghost tours will lead you into eerie dungeons and other frightening locales. It’s the perfect atmosphere for Halloween. Legend has it that the spirits of those executed within the walls of the Tower of London still haunt the grounds. And it’s not just within the tower grounds – London is rightfully regarded as one of the most haunted places in the world!
Halloween in London is studded with themed dinners, flamboyant parades, ghostly tours, dungeon explorations, and a retracing of Jack the Ripper’s steps. You can end this spooky celebration with a pint in a haunted London pub, followed by a walk through Covent Garden’s annual pumpkin display. We recommend a trip to the Chamber of Horrors in Madame Tussauds’ wax museum. The chamber shares details of London’s most gruesome crimes that will send shivers down your spine during Halloween.
6. Paris, France
Halloween in the City of Lights is not traditionally celebrated, but this city does know how to embrace its dark side. Halloween celebrations in Paris are ‘under the radar’ unless you know where to find them. You may not see orange and black decorations on every street, but rest assured, a Parisian Halloween is very thrilling.
You can indulge in the Halloween festival at Disneyland throughout October. You can discover the gargoyles clinging to Notre Dame Cathedral. You can also explore the “City of the Dead” – Père Lachaise Cemetery and the eerie Paris Catacombs. There are many other famous Parisian ghosts to discover on organized walking tours. You can also enjoy spooky events and activities in the halls of The Grévin Wax Museum or partake in escape rooms at The Manoir de Paris. If you prefer less spooky activities, indulge in workshops to make your scary treats at the Chocolate Museum.
Want to explore other cities in France? Read 8 Best Places to Visit in France
7. Berlin, Germany
During Halloween, Berlin comes alive with the eerie spirit of the holiday. There is no dearth of Halloween-themed parties, spooky soirées, and immersive experiences in Berlin. Halloween celebrations are hosted across the city. The Museum for Communication hosts mask-making stations. The Britzer Garten hosts an open party with spooky live performances, music shows, fire shows, and costume contests.
A visit to the Berlin Dungeon takes you through the city’s dark history. You can join “Halloween Run Berlin” and find yourself running amidst costumed runners joining in from all over the world, making for a truly unique and fun local experience. You can also enjoy unique Halloween-themed costume contests in Berlin, including pumpkin carving contests, themed multi-course menus, and extravagant themed parties.
Your Step-by-step guide to planning a Germany trip
8. Corinaldo, Italy
Corinaldo is both one of the ‘Most Beautiful Villages of Italy’ and the ‘Italian Capital of Halloween.’ Every year, the Witches Festival is hosted in the last week of October, where you can also enjoy seasonal attractions like the Fear Tunnel. The La Notte delle Streghe (the Night of the Witches), hosted on the 31st of October, is the highlight of the festival. Here, a ‘Miss Strega’ (Miss Witch) is elected by visitors on the second-to-last day of the festival.
A brightly decorated town center, fireworks at midnight, dancing, music, lively street performers, acrobatic displays, taverns with local groups, fire shows, and more are part of the Corinaldo Halloween experience.
9. Venice, Italy
Venice is a mysterious jewel of a city with a permanently eerie atmosphere perfect for a unique Halloween celebration. Venice may not be the Halloween destination you would ordinarily pick. However, the spooky atmosphere of the city’s canals and architecture when the fog rolls in from the sea makes it a perfect Halloween backdrop. This, coupled with dark shadowy corners, a disturbing past, and legends of sea monsters, adds to the Halloween allure of the city. You’re sure to find plenty of tricks and treats as you explore.
Also Read: 8 Most Romantic places to visit in Italy
10. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam is one of the best places in Europe for Halloween. Halloween here is a city-wide party with something for everyone. Mind-boggling décor, creative costumes, and extravagant themed parties are marks of Halloween here.
You can enjoy all-night horror movie marathons, music concerts, or ghost tours here. You can also pick themed events in clubs, restaurants, boats, and museums, and many free shots along the way. These are some of the options to choose from for your Halloween celebration in Amsterdam.
If you are looking for a professionally organized Halloween celebration, you can join the guided, scary, and educational Amsterdam Ghost Walk. On this walk, you will learn about the witches and demons of Amsterdam. You can follow in the footsteps of Helena, who is regarded as Amsterdam’s most famous phantom.
Plan your perfect trip to the Netherlands, with our travel guide
11. Copenhagen, Denmark
The main attraction in Copenhagen during Halloween is the Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. Tivoli Gardens transforms into a spooky autumn wonderland on Halloween. They are studded with thousands of pumpkins three weeks before the Halloween holiday. During this time, 10 of Denmark’s largest pumpkins are displayed, and on October 28th, they are hollowed out and carved. The amusement park offers many Halloween-themed rides for children. These include riding the witch’s broomstick and the ghost train, and kids can even go trick-or-treating.
For adults who want a spooky experience, there are haunted houses—the Villa Vendetta and the Haunted along with many other rides to enjoy. The park also organizes light shows, stage performances, and other events for visitors to enjoy and get into the spirit of Halloween.
Conclusion
Halloween in Europe is a unique experience, with traditions and celebrations varying in every city you visit. From elaborate parties and events to visiting sites of reported paranormal activities, let Go Real Travel take you through the best Halloween destinations in Europe.