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Europe’s Top Halloween City Breaks
Vienna comes second, but which is the best city in Europe to celebrate Halloween? See which destinations make our top 10 for a spooky escape.
Halloween isn’t just about costumes and sweet treats anymore, it has become a wonderful time to take a short break, enjoy crisp autumn days, and discover new traditions across Europe. This year, many cities are hosting themed tours, colourful celebrations, and family-friendly attractions that make the long weekend feel extra special.
To help travellers pick the perfect destination, the Holafly research team analysed 30 European cities to see where Halloween is celebrated at its very best.
We looked at:
- Halloween events and activities
- Hotel – Value for a two-night stay over the holiday weekend
- Museums and attractions with spooky or mysterious themes
- The forecasted temperature for the holiday weekend
- Rain levels – always important for outdoor costumes
Each factor was given a score out of 100, creating a Halloween Getaway Score out of 400, helping us uncover destinations that offer the ideal mix of seasonal fun, comfort, and affordability.
Top European Halloween Getaways
1. London – Europe’s Halloween Capital
- Halloween Getaway Score: 358.94
- 760 Halloween events – the most of any city in Europe
- 252 museums, giving London the top museum score
London offers a weekend full of Halloween wonder, lantern-lit walks, themed attractions, and stories waiting behind every historic doorway.
2. Vienna – A Fairy-tale Autumn Escape
- Halloween Getaway Score: 281.19
- 80 Halloween events across the city
- £164 average hotel cost for two nights (great value in a capital city)
Vienna’s charming palaces and evening concerts take on a magical feel at this time of year, the perfect backdrop for cosy Halloween exploring.
3. Paris – Seasonal Sparkle Among Iconic Sights
- Halloween Getaway Score: 280.69
- 14°C forecasted – one of the warmest in the top five
- 156 museums offering world-famous historical intrigue
Halloween gives Paris an extra glow, with beautiful streets, gentle thrills, and plenty of opportunities for unforgettable October photos.
4. Berlin – A Creative and Lively Halloween Atmosphere
- Halloween Getaway Score: 276.68
- 141 Halloween events – excellent variety for families and groups
- 155 museums to explore during daytime adventures
Berlin combines history and imagination with seasonal fun around every corner, from quirky exhibitions to cheerful evening celebrations.
5. Valencia – Sunshine Meets Halloween Fun
- Halloween Getaway Score: 268.24
- 19°C forecasted temperature – warmest in the top 5
- £143 average hotel cost, making it the most affordable of the top five
Valencia offers a bright and cheerful take on the holiday, perfect for travellers who prefer pumpkins by the sea.
The European Halloween Getaway Index
More Cities Bringing the Fun This Halloween
These next cities may not have made the top five, but they each offer a wonderful Halloween weekend with their own unique atmosphere.
6. Amsterdam
Halloween Getaway Score: 267.65
Amsterdam’s canals look wonderfully atmospheric in October, especially at sunset. With a strong seasonal events calendar and lots of family-friendly attractions spread across the city’s cosy neighbourhoods, it’s perfect for travellers looking for a relaxed yet lively Halloween escape.
7. Madrid
Halloween Getaway Score: 264.54
Spain’s capital embraces Halloween with cheerful celebrations that carry long into the evening. With bright autumn days and a friendly cultural scene, Madrid offers a holiday weekend that’s as much about shared fun as it is about Halloween traditions.
8. Bucharest
Halloween Getaway Score: 252.05
With a rich heritage of folklore and striking architecture, Bucharest offers a colourful setting for a unique seasonal experience. The city plays host to creative storytelling tours and decorated streets, a great choice for travellers curious to explore somewhere different this October.
9. Rome
Halloween Getaway Score: 251.57
Rome provides warm weather, iconic landmarks, and extraordinary history, making Halloween feel like a cultural celebration. Light-hearted events pop up across the city, perfect for travellers who want to combine sightseeing with a sprinkle of seasonal charm.
10. Naples
Halloween Getaway Score: 246.84
Naples is known for its local festivals and unbeatable food, and Halloween joins right in. With vibrant street life, family-friendly activities, and views over the coast, it brings together tradition and seasonal fun in a relaxed setting.
Europe is full of thrills and eerie adventures, so boredom isn’t on the menu during the spooky season. To dodge extra scares, make sure you bring a backup battery and activate an eSIM Europe. Running out of power in a haunted castle or foggy graveyard is spooky enough, but an unexpected roaming bill waiting at home? Now that’s a fright you won’t forget!
Methodology
To identify the best European cities for a Halloween getaway in 2025, Holafly’s research team analysed 30 leading travel destinations across five key seasonal travel factors. The cities were selected from the World’s Best Cities 2025 ranking of Europe’s top city destinations. *
- Halloween events: Eventbrite
- Hotel prices: Average cost of a two-night stay around the Halloween weekend, sourced from Expedia
- Museums and attractions: Total number of museums per city, sourced from WhichMuseum.co.uk
- Weather conditions: Forecasted Halloween weekend temperature and average annual precipitation levels, sourced from TimeAndDate.com
Each factor was normalised and given a weighted score out of 100 before combining to make a Halloween Getaway Score out of 400.
Plans that may interest you
Born and raised in the UK, I discovered content creation as a journalist while studying at the University of Manchester. I've since covered a range of roles, both editorial and SEO, across the travel, hospitality, and professional services industries. I spend my weeks ensuring Holafly's content is relevant, insightful, and helpful, and my weekends exploring new destinations to satisfy my ever-growing travel bug.
