The Travel + Leisure article, “35 Most Haunted Places in the World, From Eerie Hotels to Ghostly Castles and Chilling Islands”, published October 12, 2026, presents a worldwide travel guide to destinations renowned for their ghost stories, paranormal legends, dark histories, and unexplained occurrences. The article explores how historic buildings, abandoned settlements, islands, hotels, and other locations have acquired reputations for being haunted, making them attractions for travelers interested in supernatural folklore and unusual historical experiences. It also emphasizes that many of these destinations can be explored through guided tours, overnight stays, or other visitor experiences.
Among the featured destinations are Raynham Hall in England, associated with the legendary Brown Lady; Bhangarh Fort in India, surrounded by tales of curses and wandering spirits; and Poveglia Island near Venice, whose history as a plague quarantine site contributes to its unsettling reputation. The article also highlights the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California, where visitors report ghostly encounters aboard the retired ocean liner, and the Stanley Hotel in Colorado, famously associated with Stephen King's The Shining.
Other notable locations include the Tower of London, Edinburgh Castle, the Paris Catacombs, the Winchester Mystery House in California, and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where reported supernatural experiences are closely connected to significant historical events.
Overall, the article presents haunted tourism as an opportunity to experience history, architecture, folklore, and the macabre from a different perspective. Its central appeal is the combination of documented historical tragedies and enduring supernatural legends, allowing readers to choose between exploring ancient castles, visiting notorious historical sites, taking organized ghost tours, or spending a night in a reputedly haunted hotel. The authors encourage prospective visitors to research destinations and their available tours in advance, while the article itself treats paranormal encounters as reported experiences and folklore rather than scientifically established evidence of ghosts.