Halloween is just around the corner, and this is the best time for fans of this occasion to enjoy a travel experience of a different kind. There are a lot of places across the globe that have unique and interesting Halloween festivities.
Parks all over the world have tons of Halloween events, costume contests, fireworks shows, and pumpkins. If you're traveling with your family, there are plenty of places to enjoy with your kids.
While each city has its own traditions and ways to celebrate, costume parties, trick-or-treating, haunted attractions, and sharing scary stories are among some of the more popular activities.
And there is no question Halloween events in bigger cities can be very entertaining. From pumpkin-carving events and festivals to creepy forests and haunted houses, here are destinations across the United States and beyond brimming with Halloween spirit.
1- New Orleans, Louisiana
Locals celebrate the scariness in New Orleans with a Halloween parade, zombie runs, and street parties. It's said to be one of the most haunted cities in America, making it a fabulous spot for Halloween celebrations. It just so happens that it is also one of the coolest places in the world to celebrate Halloween.
New Orleans' deep ties to the occult, as well as a propensity for quirky costumes, makes it a great Halloween destination. Spending Halloween in New Orleans is not just an awesome idea due to the city's haunted locations, fun parades, and voodoo magical history (there is even an entire museum dedicated to this), but because New Orleans is one of the most adorable cities in the nation.
2- New York City, New York
New York's filled to bursting with haunted hotels, bars, and buildings, and the museums and zoos go full force on Halloween, too. The city's brownstone residents often decorate their homes to their hearts, and Halloween-themed events are plentiful.
Of the countless parties and haunted events in the city, perhaps none is as famous as Greenwich Villages Halloween parade. The people of the city are crazy about Halloween, and the festivities are madness.
3- St. Helens, Oregon
St. Helens hosts a month-long celebration called Spirit of Halloween Town, which starts with lighting up a great pumpkin at the Municipal Center, and continues with haunted tours, costume contests for both humans and pets, face painting, parades, movie screenings, parties, and more.
4- Salem, Massachusetts
Throughout the entire month of October, Salem is Halloween-themed, and it celebrates with Haunted Happenings all month long. This town just north of Boston is known for the notorious Salem Witch Trials. It was where twenty-six people were once tried and killed for being witches, and Halloween is when Salem celebrates witches in all their funky glory.
The story of the witch trials is still a true tourist magnet, and visitors can find not just a museum dedicated to witches, but a number of events surrounding Halloween.
You can browse through many of the witchcraft and occult shops on Essex Street for some Halloween fun. Better yet, you can visit Salem any time throughout the month of October to experience the complete Halloween experience.
Find perfect apartments for rent in Barcelona
5- Coupeville, Washington
For lovers of the spooky season, Coupeville is one of the places you should check out on Halloween. Local stores decorate, restaurants offer seasonal specialties and the pumpkin patch opens its doors every weekend.
Coupeville is one of the oldest towns in the U.S., which truly gained fame when it was used as the setting for the 1998 film Practical Magic.
6- Sleepy Hollow, New York
Go to Sleepy Hollow during the month of October and there is literally an entire calendar of events, ranging from tours to performances, Halloween parades, and so much more.
7- New Hope, Pennsylvania
New Hope is one of the best places to go to on Halloween in Pennsylvania. This scenic, small town located along the Delaware River and New Jersey/Pennsylvania State Line, celebrates Halloween like an entire season. Don't miss the Peddler's Village's scarecrow walk and contest. Nearby Sesame Place offers a "not-too-scary Halloween drive-through" for families.
8- Derry, Ireland
If you are looking for somewhere outside the U.S. to celebrate Halloween, make it a point to visit Ireland. It's one of the scariest places to visit on Halloween. It gets autumn foliage, but also lots of rain, so that makes for a perfectly creepy atmosphere for Halloween parties.
Visit Derry to experience the best Halloween festivities in Northern Ireland. It's a city where some of the world's most underestimated Halloween events take place. Halloween weekend, visitors head out onto the streets and to the town's main plaza, including a 17th-century walled-in town-within-a-town, to watch fireworks displays and carnival parades.
9- Dublin, Ireland
There is something about Dublin that is cool, sexy, glam about celebrating Halloween, and Dublin does that consistently, with massive parades, carnivals, traditions, and all sorts of charming events that suit everyone's tastes.
Every year, all over Ireland, you find a thrilling Halloween vibe, and Dublin has one of the most vibrant Halloween celebrations. Some cities across the globe really do go the extra mile with Halloween festivities, which involve plenty of ghouls and goblins.
10- Venice, Italy
Venice might sound like a strange Halloween destination, but its residents celebrate Halloween by dressing up in costumes and visiting many of the spooky islands surrounding it.
11- Prague, The Czech Republic
There are few cities in Europe that can compare to Prague in terms of Gothic architecture. There is a mysterious and slightly macabre charm to the city because of its impressive medieval architecture and winding streets. Prague offers many exciting ways to celebrate Halloween even though it isn't traditionally celebrated in a big way there. The city boasts haunted cemeteries, spooky local legends, and even a museum dedicated to Halloween's scarier aspects.
12- Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Amsterdam offers a wide variety of Halloween activities, whether it's family-friendly fun or an adult extravaganza (such as events at Obscene Halloween). Cafes, restaurants, clubs, and even museums host some of the city's most creative costume parties.
You can also take part in ghost tours, attend concerts, or watch scary movies all night long. Make sure you stop by the legendary Monster Ball or the Amsterdam Halloween Festival if you can.
13- Hong Kong
Hong Kong is known as Asia's Halloween Capital. There is a real sense of celebration throughout the city as Halloween approaches. Disneyland and Ocean Park host special events (such as Halloween Bash), which include festive costumes, food, and beverage.
It is also worth visiting the Lan Kwai Fong Halloween Street Party, as well as the more traditional Hungry Ghost Festival (or Yue Lan) in which dead spirits receive gifts.
