Some destinations need fake cobwebs and a strategically placed pumpkin to get into the Halloween spirit. Others have been preparing for this for centuries.
Across the world, late October brings out a different side to certain places. Ancient traditions resurface, old legends are retold, castles open their doors at night and entire cities decide dressing as the undead is a perfectly reasonable way to spend an evening.
So, if you have ever fancied building a holiday around spooky season, these are the places where 31st October comes with a genuine sense of place.
SALEM, USA - WITCHES WELCOME
If there is one place where Halloween refuses to be confined to a single night, it is Salem. By October, spooky season has taken over the Massachusetts city almost entirely.
Its reputation stems from a much darker chapter in American history. The Salem witch trials of 1692 saw more than 200 people accused of witchcraft and 20 executed, and the city explores that history seriously through museums and historic sites. Visit the Salem Witch Museum for context before discovering how modern Salem has reclaimed its witchy reputation.
Throughout October, Haunted Happenings brings parades, performances, markets, costumes and ghost tours to the streets. Stay overnight rather than treating Salem as a quick excursion from Boston and you will see another side to it once the day visitors depart and the lanterns come on.
TOP TIP: Make Salem your base if you want to be in the thick of things, or pair a couple of nights here with Boston and turn Halloween into a longer New England autumn break.
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NEW ORLEANS, USA - BEAUTIFULLY BONKERS
New Orleans already possesses most of the ingredients required for a memorable Halloween: elaborate cemeteries, centuries of folklore, shadowy courtyards and a healthy willingness to stay out long after bedtime.
The French Quarter is at its best when you simply wander, but late October gives those wrought iron balconies and narrow streets an extra sense of theatre. Costumes are taken seriously, parties run late and guided walks explore tales of hauntings, mysterious residents and the city’s Voodoo heritage.
What makes New Orleans particularly good for couples and groups of friends is everything surrounding the spooky stuff. Between ghostly encounters there is live jazz, Creole and Cajun cooking, historic bars and cocktails that have a habit of becoming another cocktail.
Come for the ghosts, stay for the lively atmosphere and bewitching bars and restaurants.
TOP TIP: Base yourself in or around the French Quarter so you can explore on foot, preferably with somewhere suitably serene to retreat to when you've had enough excitement for one night.
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EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - BACK TO THE BEGINNING
Edinburgh in late October does not require much help with the mood. Nights draw in over the Old Town, medieval closes disappear between centuries old buildings and the castle watches over everything from its volcanic perch.
There's substance behind the setting too. Halloween has deep Celtic roots, with Samhain traditionally marking the end of harvest and the beginning of winter, when the boundary between the living world and the otherworld was believed to grow thinner.
Modern Edinburgh offers plenty of ways to explore its darker side without requiring you to believe every ghost story you hear. Follow the closes through the Old Town, descend beneath the city into its underground vaults or join an evening tour devoted to some of its less savoury former residents.
TOP TIP: Return to The Balmoral, where the whisky bar SCOTCH offers a particularly civilised way to recover from whatever may or may not have followed you home.
GALWAY, IRELAND - FOLLOW THE SAMHAIN STORY
Ireland has its own important place in Halloween history, with the ancient festival of Samhain helping shape many of the traditions we recognise today. Over on the west coast, Galway feels particularly well suited to the season, with its medieval streets, centuries-old pubs and strong connection to Irish folklore.
As autumn settles over the city, Galway’s atmospheric lanes and lively Latin Quarter make a suitably characterful base for a Halloween break. You can spend the day exploring the city’s history, wander along the Spanish Arch and the waterfront, then find a cosy pub once the evening draws in.
And if you want to lean further into the folklore, Galway is also a great jumping-off point for the landscapes of Connemara, where rugged mountains, lakes and ancient legends provide plenty of atmosphere of their own.
History, folklore, wild Atlantic scenery and a pint afterwards feels like a fairly agreeable combination.
TOP TIP: Stay somewhere central and you’ll have the Latin Quarter, Eyre Square and Galway’s pubs and restaurants within easy walking distance – ideal when the October weather encourages a quick retreat somewhere warm and welcoming.
MEXICO - A CELEBRATION OF LIFE
Día de los Muertos deserves its place here precisely because it is not Mexican Halloween. Taking place around the beginning of November, Day of the Dead is a distinct tradition centred on remembering and welcoming deceased loved ones.
Families create ofrendas decorated with photographs, candles, favourite foods and brilliant orange marigolds, while intricately decorated calaveras appear in art, displays and sweet treats. The result? Decidedly colourful and celebratory rather than gloomy.
Oaxaca is one of the most compelling places to experience the tradition, with decorations, gatherings and processions filling the city. Mexico City offers celebrations on a much larger scale, making either an intriguing addition to a wider Mexican journey.
This is somewhere to arrive with curiosity rather than expectations of conventional Halloween. Death is certainly part of proceedings. It's just not allowed to ruin the party.
TOP TIP: In Mexico City, a hotel around Polanco or Reforma makes a convenient base. For a more immersive experience, continue to Oaxaca and give yourself time to understand the traditions rather than simply observe them.
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or, discover more of the world's best cultural events and celebrations, including Día de los Muertos
TRANSYLVANIA, ROMANIA - DRACULA COUNTRY
If you are going to travel specifically for Halloween, there's something wonderfully committed about spending it in Transylvania.
Bran Castle rises from the landscape looking suspiciously like central casting got involved and while its relationship with Bram Stoker’s fictional Count Dracula is rather more complicated than popular culture suggests, historical technicalities become less pressing when you're standing beneath its turrets on a dark October evening.
Halloween brings special events and nighttime experiences to the castle, but the wider region makes the trip more than a Dracula themed novelty. Pair Bran with Brașov, medieval towns and the forests and mountains of the Carpathians, particularly handsome in autumn. Although, frankly, you came for Dracula. We understand.
TOP TIP: Base yourself around Brașov or Bran if the castle is your main event. Waking to mist over the Carpathians the following morning feels appropriately on theme.
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - GOTHIC BY NATURE
Prague barely needs Halloween decorations. Gothic towers, medieval lanes and centuries-old architecture create an atmospheric backdrop all on their own, particularly once daylight fades and the Old Town begins to quieten.
Rather than travelling here for one headline event, come for the setting, the history and the legends woven through it. Watch the medieval Astronomical Clock spring into action in Old Town Square, wander through the Jewish Quarter and cross the Charles Bridge before climbing towards Prague Castle for views across the city's rooftops. As evening draws in, join a guided walk and delve into Prague's more mysterious side, with tales of alchemists, ancient legends and restless spirits adding a suitably seasonal edge.
The beauty of choosing Prague is that there's just as much to discover the following morning. Explore its galleries and museums, stop for coffee in one of its historic cafés, seek out a traditional Czech restaurant or simply spend a few more hours wandering its cobbled streets and grand squares. Halloween may provide the excuse to visit, but one of Europe's great historic cities provides plenty of reasons to stay.
TOP TIP: Choose somewhere around the Old Town or Malá Strana. Both put Prague’s most evocative streets within walking distance, which is delightful by day and considerably more interesting at midnight.
ORLANDO, USA - MORE TREATS THAN TRICKS
For families travelling during October half term, Orlando offers a rather clever combination: Florida sunshine, theme parks and Halloween without necessarily frightening the life out of younger children.
This is spooky season with the edges softened. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party transforms Magic Kingdom on selected evenings with trick-or-treating, Disney villains, character costumes and the Boo-to-You Halloween Parade. SeaWorld’s Spooktacular and LEGOLAND Florida’s Brick-or-Treat provide even more opportunities to pack a costume.
But some of the most memorable Halloween experiences can be found away from the parks. Head into one of Orlando’s suburban neighbourhoods on Halloween night and you’ll find streets of decorated homes, carved pumpkins and families heading from door to door to trick-or-treat. For British families, it’s a chance to experience Halloween as many Americans grow up with it – and enjoy a little slice of everyday USA beyond the theme parks.
That variety is precisely why Orlando works so well at this time of year. Spend one evening collecting sweets beneath Cinderella Castle and another trick-or-treating in a local neighbourhood, then return to rollercoasters, swimming pools and Florida sunshine the next morning. Older children and adults who prefer their scares with considerably sharper teeth can find more intense Halloween events elsewhere in Orlando.
TOP TIP: Stay at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, where transport to the parks and an onsite Disney Planning Centre make busy theme park days easier. Back at the resort, five acres of pools and water fun provide a welcome change of pace.
Explore more of the best October half-term destinations
Whether you fancy chasing witches through Salem, spending Halloween in Dracula country or treating the family to a rather less terrifying October half-term in Orlando, we can put the whole thing together for you. Call our team on 0203 816 0985 or submit an online enquiry and we'll take care of the details, leaving you to decide how spooky you actually want to go.
Wherever you spend 31 October, sleep tight. And maybe leave the bathroom light on.
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