9 Most Haunted Places in the World With Frightening Sightings

By Sally Painter

The world's most haunted places attract ghost hunters and paranormal investigators in search of evidence. Most of these haunted sites mark where tragedy, torture, and death left a cosmic imprint that continues through time.

World's Most Haunted Island - Poveglia Island (Venice, Italy)

Claimed to be one of the most haunted places in the world, Poveglia Island is said to be cursed. The island's ghostly reputation forced the local government to close it from entry by the public. The island was later sold to a private party interested in creating a family vacation home. However, after only one night spent in the newly purchased property, the family escaped the island never to return. No one is allowed on the island.

The island's past is one of torture, abuse, human experimentation and unimaginable suffering.

Bubonic plaque victims were herded onto the island. About 160,000 victims of the plague died on the island.
Bodies were tossed into trenches and burned. Many victims were still alive when they were set on fire.
The sticky black ash of burn victims permeates the soil.
Fishermen avoid the surrounding waters for fear of human bones being snagged by their nets.
In later years, a mental hospital was located on the island. The patients were tortured and experimented on and often murdered.

Paranormal Activity on Poveglia Island

Types of paranormal activity reported include:

Disembodied voices of cries and screams are commonplace.
People have reported seeing apparitions of corpses and plague victims.

Shadow figures have been seen throughout the island buildings.
Spirits have been reported to take possession of visitors. In 2010 during the filming of a Ghost Adventures episode on the island, show host Zak Bagans claimed to have been possessed.

Most Haunted Inn - Ancient Ram Inn (Wotton Under Edge, England)

The Ancient Ram Inn is over 1,000 years old and was originally a church. It was sited on two ley lines that run all the way through Stonehenge. Built in 1145 by priests, slave labor was used to build the St Mary Church. The church was sold in 1930 and became private property. The building sits on a Pagan burial site that dates back to 5,000 years. Remains of devil worshipping have been found that included skeletons of children with broken daggers still wedged in their remains. A witch was burned at the stake on the site.

Paranormal Activity at the Inn

Types of paranormal activity reported include:

The owner, John Humphries, purchased the inn in 1968 and discovered the children's skeletons.
Caregivers attending the aged Humphries fled the inn when frightened by bloodcurdling screams of a child and refused to return. They were granted funds to work in pairs.
Caregivers reported hearing things being moved about in other rooms, feeling cold drafts, and tugging on their clothes.
Humphries's daughter previously provided care and reported she witnessed drawers being lifted up and dropped down the stairs.
Humphries claims on one occasion he was dragged feet first from his bed.
In a 2014 Official UK Haunted investigation, Humphries complained to the investigators he was being terrorized by a succubus or incubus.
Witnesses have reported seeing children, a centurion on horseback, and hearing disembodied voices and screams.
Twenty different spirits have been seen over the decades.
The room, Bishop's Inn, is said to be haunted by a monk that has scared off many guests in the middle of the night when the inn was open as a B&B.

Most Haunted Forest in the World - Hoia Baciu Forest (Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

The mysterious paranormal phenomena of the Hoia Baciu Forest is complex and ancient. Legend claims it was created some 55,000 years ago by the first Atlanteans that came to Earth. Cluj-Napoca is commonly known by the locals to be the center of Atlantis. The being known as Atlanta is credited with creating the forest to serve as a portal for easy travel between the Atlanteans' planet and Earth. It's believed the forest provides a time travel portal that can take the person to any time period on any planet, including Earth, without the need of a spaceship.

Paranormal Activity at Hoia Baciu Forest

In 1968, Emil Barnea took a photo of a UFO in the forest that became famous worldwide. Since then, many UFOs and strange lights have been reported. Investigators have documented electromagnetic interference, radioactive emissions, microwave emissions, magnetic anomalies, and infrared emission that were above normal ranges. Locals don't venture into the forest.

Tales of light beings, fairies, and evil spirits have been told over the centuries.
Strange lights have been seen and photographed.
Physical symptoms of headaches, dizziness, and nausea have been reported by visitors.

Most Haunted Tunnels in the World - Paris Catacombs (Paris, France)

When searching for a word to describe the disturbing scene of the Catacombs of Paris running underneath Paris, France, macabre doesn't begin to convey the horror and terror the Paris Catacombs evoke. Over 2,000 years of quarrying stone and over 200 hundreds miles of tunnels later, what remains is a burial site with over six million skeletal remains. The public can participate in official tours. The skulls and bones are used as some twisted form of art and architecturally embedded. It's little wonder that these spirits are not at rest and according to reports, many are angry.

Paranormal Activity in the Catacombs

There are many types of paranormal activity experienced by those venturing into the Catacombs.

Activity is greatest after midnight.
Disembodied voices are often heard.
Visitors report voices encouraging them to venture farther into the tunnels.
Orbs of light have been seen.
Visitors have the sensation of being watched and even being followed.
EVPs have been captured by paranormal investigators.
Misty images have shown up on photos and film.

Most Haunted Fort - Bhangarh Fort (Rajasthan, India)

Touted as the most haunted fort in India, the Bhangarh Fort, comprised of temples, palaces, and gates was abandoned sometime around 1783. Also known as Bhoot Bangla, the Fort of Ghosts, the city boasts two mesmerizing stories of how the township was cursed. Built in 1573, the fort was built by the ruler for his son.

One story blames the ill-fate of the town on a tantric priest who forbade the building of any structure that rose higher than his home. When one building shadowed his home, the man cast a curse over the town.
The other story tells how a lovelorn wizard cast a love spell over the Princess of Bhangarh, but she overcame his magic. In retribution, the wizard placed a curse over the town.

Paranormal Activity at the Fort

There are many stories about the strange haunting of the Bhangarh Fort. Some of these include:

Ghosts aren't the only spirits roaming the fort. There are reports of frightening ghouls inhabiting the town.
Tourists have heard odd unexplained noises, witnessed apparitions, and heard music and dancing inside the fort.

The government doesn't allow anyone access into the fort between sunset and sunrise. Consequently, there are numerous urban legends about people sneaking into the fort after operating hours. These people either disappear never to be heard from again or meet with an untimely death or disaster after their nightly adventure inside the fort walls.

Most Haunted Gothic Castle in the World - Corvin Castle (Hunedoara, Transylvania)

The Gothic style Corvin Castle was built in the 15^th century on the same site of an ancient Roman encampment. Today, the castle is a museum and on occasion serves as host to special celebrations and private events. The castle is best known for Vlad "the Impaler" Dracula the 3rd being imprisoned and tortured. Many point to this treatment as the root cause of him becoming Vlad the Impaler later on. There have been many eyewitness accounts of his spirit roaming the castle.

Paranormal Activity at the Castle

Other spirits known to wander about the castle include:

The spirit of prisoners that Dracula impaled are said to haunt the castle.
Twin children murdered in their beds are believed to be present in spirit form.
A man murdered his adulterous wife with a spike through her skull.

Unexplainable ghostly silhouettes show up on photos.
Ghosts are said to roam the halls and appear in the chambers at night.
According to Ancient Origins, a group of tourists sneaked into the castle one night and when they emerged the next day, they were terrified, sporting bruises and badly beaten by a violent ghost. The tourists said they'd been tortured until daybreak.

World's Most Haunted City - Forbidden City (Beijing, China)

The Forbidden City covers 180 acres with 980 buildings. It was home to the Chinese Emperor until early 20^th century. In 1421, a grieving Emperor Yongle ordered that his 3,000 ladies-in-waiting be killed. He believed his favorite concubine had been poisoned and sought retribution. It's said the emperor spared the lives of some of his harem. However, 16 courtesans were hanged with silk nooses on the day of his funeral.

Paranormal Activity in the Forbidden City

It's believed that all these and other deaths within the walls of the Forbidden City have made it ones of the most haunted places in China. Some specters and ghostly activities include:

A faceless woman in black is seen walking about the grounds.
A woman in white is often seen.
Bodies of the dead in pools of blood are common sights.
A woman with dark hair was seen fleeing a soldier.
Sounds heard include, sobbing, sword-fighting and screams.

Most Haunted Battlefield - Gettysburg Battlefield (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)

With over 51,000 Americans either wounded or killed during the Civil War battle of July 1 through 3, 1863, it's not surprising the Gettysburg Battlefield is one of the most haunted places on Earth. The Gettysburg Battlefield is the bloodiest battle in the Civil War and proved to be the turning point with the Union winning with the defeat of General Robert E Lee's North advancement. The grounds and surrounding buildings and homes turned makeshift hospitals have become havens for the restless spirits of those who died there.

Paranormal Activity at Gettysburg

There are so many instances of reported paranormal activity that books have been written about the various Gettysburg ghost stories. Some of these include:

Soldiers are seen wandering around the battleground.
Sounds of guns, cannons, drums, and swords clashing have been heard.
Lights turning off by themselves have been witnessed by visitors and groundkeepers.
Disembodied voices are often heard by visitors.

Most Haunted Scottish Castle - Edinburgh Castle (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Built on top of Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle was first known as The Castle of the Maidens. Legend claims the first castle was actually a shrine to the Nine Maidens, young girls turned to stone as retribution for dancing on the Sabbath. While the castle was long held as a strategic military necessity, the present day castle wasn't built until the 12th century. The castle survived the two-year siege by the English against Mary, Queen of Scots, execution of Charles I, Jacobite Risings, and a prison during the many English wars.

Paranormal Activity at Edinburgh Castle

It's easy to understand why Edinburgh Castle is considered one of the haunted castles in Scotland. Some famous ghosts seen in the castle and castle grounds include:

Shadow figures are often reported by visitors.
A headless drummer seems to be still drumming in spite of his handicap.
The most famous specter is the phantom piper still playing his warning.
French prisoners (Seven Years War) and Colonial prisoners (American Revolutionary War) make up the cast of ghosts haunting the castle.
There's even a ghost dog that has been seen in the dog cemetery.

Ghosts and Hauntings Around the World

The paranormal tales the encircle the world all point to the supernatural mystique of the afterlife. Some incidences may be residual activity that's imprinted on the very fabric of time, while other instances appear to be intelligent activities with ghostly interactions. Certainly, there is no shortage of hauntings throughout the world.