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7 Haunted castles in Europe with real ghost stories to visit
From Dracula’s Bran Castle to Scotland’s clifftop Dunnottar, explore 7 haunted castles in Europe, their ghost stories, and how to visit this Halloween.
Europe’s oldest castles have lived through centuries of sieges, betrayals, and family feuds, so it’s no surprise a few of them still come with permanent residents.
From fairytale-gone-wrong castles in Germany to crumbling fortresses perched on misty cliffs in Scotland, these castles look straight out of a Gothic film set, and some have actually starred in horror movies.
Whether ghost-hunting gives you the thrills or you’re just curious about real-life paranormal stories, these seven haunted castles in Europe will leave your spine tingling. If you’re planning a spooky-season trip, several of them run special tours and events in October, so they pair well with other Halloween celebrations around the world.
Haunted castles in Europe at a glance
| Castle | Location | How to visit in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Bran Castle | Bran, Romania | Open year-round; Halloween program Oct 24 to Nov 1 |
| Leap Castle | County Offaly, Ireland | Private home; check visiting arrangements before you go |
| Houska Castle | Near Prague, Czech Republic | April to October; weekends only in April and October |
| Château de Brissac | Loire Valley, France | February to early January; hours vary by season |
| Eltz Castle | Moselle region, Germany | Daily, March 29 to November 1 |
| Dunnottar Castle | Stonehaven, Scotland | Year-round, weather permitting |
| Moosham Castle | Lungau, Austria | Guided tours only; closed November 1 to December 26 |
Bran Castle, Romania: Dracula’s castle and its White Lady
Hidden among a towering tree canopy in Bran, Romania, is Bran Castle. Commonly known as “Dracula’s Castle,” it’s famously linked to Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire stories.
Beyond Dracula, Bran Castle is home to many ghostly legends, including the ‘White Lady,’ a noblewoman who tragically died in the castle.
Fun fact: Bran doesn’t actually appear in Werner Herzog’s 1979 film Nosferatu the Vampyre, which shot its Count Dracula scenes at Pernštejn Castle in today’s Czech Republic. Bran has leaned into its Dracula fame anyway, from themed tours to an annual Halloween party.
Today, Bran Castle is a museum, and it saves its eeriest room for last: a separate exhibition of medieval torture instruments, sold as an add-on to the standard ticket.
How to visit: Various guided tours (group or private) of Bran Castle depart from major Romanian cities, including Brașov and Bucharest. Around Halloween, the castle runs a themed program from October 24 to November 1, 2026, with its big party night on October 31. For packages and getting there from Brașov, see our guide to Halloween in Transylvania.
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Leap Castle, Ireland: A violent past and restless ghosts
Leap Castle, in the rugged Irish countryside, is infamous as one of the most haunted castles in Europe. Its walls have witnessed centuries of bloody history, including clan feuds, murders, and betrayals.
Many visitors have reported chilling encounters with the castle’s ghosts, Elemental and Red Lady, who haunt its halls, the latter of whom is said to walk holding a dagger.
What makes Leap Castle even more chilling is the hidden dungeon discovered in the early 1900s, reportedly so full of human remains that it took three cartloads to clear them out, some still impaled on wooden spikes!
Leap Castle looks and feels like a scene straight out of The Conjuring or The Others, and you’ll be convinced you heard a scream at least once during your visit!
How to visit: Leap Castle is a private home owned by Sean Ryan and his family, who have welcomed visitors for owner-led tours in the past. Visiting arrangements are currently under review, so check the official website before making the trip. You can pair it with other spooky stops from our guide to Halloween in Ireland.
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Houska Castle, Czech Republic: The castle built over a “gateway to hell”
Houska Castle in the Czech Republic is a fortress of mystery as much as it is of stone. Unlike traditional castles, it occupies no strategic defensive position, fueling centuries of speculation.
The castle was constructed over a large hole in the ground and is said to cover a “hell hole,” a dark chasm that connects to the underworld. The castle is also said to be haunted by various demonic beasts, including a headless horse.
Over the years, Houska has featured in numerous paranormal documentaries, including Ghost Hunters International and Most Haunted, which filmed there in 2010. More recently, it appeared on Expedition X in 2025 and The UnXplained in 2026.
Today, it continues to attract ghost hunters and thrill-seekers eager to explore its eerie dungeons, hidden chambers, and strange architectural anomalies.
How to visit: Houska opens to visitors from April to October: Tuesday to Sunday from May to September, and weekends only in April and October (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in October). All visits are by guided tour. It’s roughly 30 miles (50 km) north of Prague, so it slots easily into a Prague itinerary.
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Château de Brissac, France: Home of the Green Lady
Standing majestically over the Loire Valley, Château de Brissac is France’s tallest castle, and its grandeur is matched only by its ghostly legend. Charlotte de Brézé, the “Green Lady,” is said to wander its opulent halls after being tragically murdered by her husband.
Château de Brissac is an idyllic setting for a period horror film. The flicker of candlelight across the baroque walls gives it a cinematic ambiance that feels made for a ghost story.
How to visit: Château de Brissac is open for most of the year, from February to early January, with self-guided visits that end with a wine tasting in the cellar. Hours vary by season, so check the official website before you go. The castle’s current owners have turned some rooms into B&Bs, available from mid-April to mid-October, so you can stay the night and check out its spooky vibe for yourself.
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Eltz Castle, Germany: A fairytale with a dark legend
Nestled in a lush forest, Eltz Castle appears to have been plucked straight from a fairy tale, with a cluster of towers and turrets and a cobblestone path leading to its entrance. Yet its centuries-old halls harbor dark whispers.
The castle is shrouded in legends of family feuds, mysterious disappearances, and restless spirits that roam the corridors. The most haunted room is the Countess Room, where the castle’s ghost, Agnes, is said to have died defending the castle.
Its storybook architecture, combined with shadowy interiors, makes Eltz Castle a perfect cinematic backdrop for suspenseful thrillers. It stood in for the exterior of a military asylum in William Peter Blatty’s psychological horror, The Ninth Configuration.
How to visit: In 2026, Eltz Castle is open daily from March 29 to November 1, starting at 9:30 a.m., and the interior can only be seen on a guided tour lasting about 35 to 40 minutes. Adult tickets cost €14.
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Dunnottar Castle, Scotland: Clifftop ruins and a film location
Perched dramatically on a cliff above the North Sea, Dunnottar Castle looks and feels both majestic and menacing. The wind howls through its crumbling stone walls, waves crash against the rocks below, and mist shrouds the ruins, creating an eerie, cinematic haze.
This haunting fortress has appeared in various movies, including Victor Frankenstein and Hamlet.
The site has been fortified since the early Middle Ages, and it has a long, blood-soaked past. Various Viking and Scottish conflicts took place here, and Scottish knight William Wallace reportedly trapped and burned English soldiers in the chapel in 1297.
Because of this, it’s said to be home to several ghosts, and there have been reported sightings of ghostly soldiers, prisoners, and even a “Green Lady” who still searches for her lost child in the ruins.
How to visit: Various day tours of Dunnottar Castle depart from cities such as Aberdeen and Edinburgh. The castle sits about 2 miles south of Stonehaven and is open year-round, with shorter hours from October to March. It can close at short notice in high winds or snow, so check before you set out.
Share your spooky snaps in real time at Dunnottar Castle with Holafly’s eSIM for the UK, which will keep you covered across Scotland’s many castles, including Ardross Castle, the set of The Traitors UK.
Moosham Castle, Austria: Where witches met their fate
Moosham Castle in Salzburg, Austria, is another of the most haunted castles in Europe with a dark history.
First documented in 1191, this castle has a past as grim as its reputation. Between 1675 and 1690, it served as an administrative center for the Zaubererjackl witch trials, which led to the execution of 139 people, 39 of them children. Werewolf legends followed in later centuries.
With a history like that, many superstitious locals believe Moosham Castle is cursed. Filmmakers are drawn to its eerie atmosphere and gothic turrets, which require no set dressing to create an indie horror film.
How to visit: Moosham Castle is only accessible on a guided tour. From May to September, tours run five times a day from Tuesday to Sunday, dropping to two a day (11 a.m. and 2 p.m.) for the rest of the season. The castle is closed from November 1 to December 26.
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When to visit haunted castles in Europe
October is the most atmospheric time to go castle hunting in Europe. Days get shorter, mist rolls in more often, and several castles lean into the season with special tours and events:
- Bran Castle, Romania: The 2026 Halloween program runs from October 24 to November 1, with the main party night on October 31. The October 31 evening packages have already sold out, but daytime themed tickets were still on sale at the time of writing.
- Château de Brissac, France: A new “Fireworks and Candlelight” evening takes place on October 23 and 24, 2026, with candlelit tours, costumed characters, and a fireworks show. Online booking is required.
Timing matters at the other end of the season, too. Eltz Castle closes for winter after November 1, Houska only opens on weekends in October before closing for the season, and Moosham closes from November 1 until December 26. Moosham also takes a short break from October 21 to 26, 2026, with tours resuming on October 27. Dunnottar stays open year-round, but winter brings shorter hours and occasional weather-related closures.
If you’re linking several castles into one trip, plan your route around these dates, and sort out mobile data before you go so you aren’t hunting for a SIM card in Europe after you land.
Stay connected as you hunt ghosts in Europe’s haunted castles with Holafly
From misty Scottish cliffs to remote Czech forests, exploring the most haunted castles in Europe means wandering off the beaten path, often far from café Wi-Fi. A Holafly eSIM for Europe keeps you connected across borders with unlimited data, 5G speeds, and 24/7 customer support, so you can hunt ghosts rather than SIM cards. Planning to castle-hop through several countries or travel often?Holafly Plans covers 160+ destinations with a single eSIM.
What’s more, every Holafly eSIM includes Always On: 1 GB of monthly backup data at no additional cost. It stays active as long as the eSIM is installed on your device, renews every month, and works in 150+ destinations. So if a late castle tour leaves you checking the last bus back to town, you’re still covered… unless, of course, a restless spirit decides to toy with your connection!
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Hi, I'm Mika, a South Korean writer living in the US. I cover travel and live events, focusing on the practical stuff that makes your trip smoother, whether you're navigating a new city or heading to a major international event.I'm also the founder of Search SEOul, South Korea's leading SEO conference, bringing together search marketing experts and speakers from around the world.
