Spend the Night at A Haunted Hotel: 12 Most Notorious Hotels Around the World

Updated On: November 08, 2023 by   Miranne Khaled

Giving your trip around the world an edge means creating a memory that will continue to live on. It is time to plan a spine-tingling getaway as the spooktacular holiday approaches. Surprisingly, the world is full of places that will give you the chills. Staying in a haunted hotel is a good plan to spend your Halloween. Luckily, despite the eerie reputation, many haunted hotels are open for people to stay at.

Whether you believe in ghosts and wandering spirits or not, it shouldn’t stop you from embarking on this scary journey. Haunted hotels have always been a thing in horror movies, but the fun part is that they exist in real life. You never know whether they are haunted by ghosts of people who had terrible things happening to them or simply spirits that like to live in such hotels. Whatever the case is, the superstitious stories still make them captivating.

We have gathered a list of hotels from various corners of the world with a reputation for being haunted. Unleash your brave side and book a few nights to see for yourself what happens. It is also an enthralling way to spend your fall listening to spooky stories from the people around the area. So, buckle up!

Note: The following list doesn’t aim to defame any renowned hotels. We are just sharing some of the scary stories people have been circulating regarding these places to entertain your fearless side.

1. The Shelbourne Hotel – Ireland

In the heart of Dublin lies the 5-star hotel Shelbourne, overlooking the famous square of St. Stephen’s Green. This is not just an ordinary hotel you spend a regular night at. It is one with a long history of reporting paranormal activity. Since this building has survived for almost two centuries, there must have been a lot within the walls of this haunted hotel. 

This luxurious hotel doesn’t seem like a small, dark motel that you feel unsettled about staying in. In fact, it looks pretty lavish and attracts tourists from everywhere around the world. People flock to this historic Irish building despite its mischievous stories. However, only a few would have the bravery to stay in one of the creepy rooms. 

There is a particular room where many people have reported seeing a ghost of a not-so-friendly girl. She doesn’t look like a typical young girl; she seems like one that steals your soul while looking deep into your eyes. There is a theory that this spirit was of a girl who died of cholera, and her name was Mary. 

Many guests have reported some out-worldly presence in their rooms during their stay. Investigations have been taking place ever since the complaints have been coming. Very advanced technology and thermal imaging cameras did detect some unusual activity. It seems that the guests were right after all since the investigation team noticed the presence of high energy in some spots in the hotel.

2. The Langham Hotel – England

The Langham is London’s most famous haunted hotel. The hotel’s sinister reputation goes way back, and reports of ghost sightings have never ceased. The stories told of multiple ghosts have been around for decades. Room 333 seems to be the most suitable spooky place for Halloween. It is famous for being home to a man who appears every October, chilling around in his Victorian attire.

There are tales about hearing voices in the hallways and seeing spirits dashing through the corridors. One ghost is believed to be that of a WWII soldier who jumped from his hotel window just before the beginning of the war. Some have also reported hearing footsteps that sound to be approaching, but no one ever shows up.

The haunted hotel also seems home to the ghost of Napoleon III, who likes to stay in the basement, according to many guests. Napoleon III used to be a frequent guest at the hotel when he was alive. It seems he liked the place a little too much that he never even checked out.

3. Dalhousie Castle Hotel & Spa – Scotland

Staying in an ancient castle is a magical experience. Not every ancient fortress was turned into a beautiful hotel for people to stay at. Well, you can live this experience in the beautiful Scottish lands in the Dalhousie Castle Hotel. It has made staying a couple of nights at a castle a reality, albeit scary.

The Dalhousie Castle doesn’t just have the reputation of being a haunted hotel but is also ranked as one of the scariest places in Edinburgh. It goes several centuries back, being established in the 13th century. Its old age has allowed the castle to open its door to millions of people. This castle has witnessed a lot of history, some of which were really dark and brutal.

Guests have reported ghost sightings at this hotel several times. What made their statements sound real was the repetition of the exact words used by the observers. People always state that they see a Grey Lady roaming the halls. It is said that the spirit belonged to Lady Catherine.

The ghost of Sir Alexander Ramsay is said to be seen around the place as well. According to history, William Douglas was left to starve to death in 1342 when he tried to defend the castle against Henry IV. These ghosts seem to have unfinished business on Earth and are determined to get it done before they pass on to the other side.

4. Parador de Jaén – Spain

If you are up to sleeping among ghosts, you should really pay the Parador de Jaén a visit. This historic Spanish fortress goes way back to when Arabs resided in Spain. The Moorish fortress lies in Santa Catalina, overlooking the fascinating landscapes of the Andalusian countryside.

Despite the splendid appearance of the building, the secrets lying behind its doors aren’t all that pretty. Back in the day, this castle used to have a section where prisoners were kept. The presence of a prison within the walls means torture and abuse that took place within the walls of what became a haunted hotel.

People believe there are more than a few ghosts freely roaming in the halls of the ancient castle. However, two ghosts are said to be the spirits of notable figures. In Room 22, there is that ghost of a lady that guests have reported hearing crying at night. Some psychics who investigated the room claim that she died of sadness. 

Another famous ghost is the “Terrible Lizard,” as people call him. This ghost belongs to a prisoner who was locked up and left to starve to death. As harmless as he is, people claim he can still possess guests for a few moments when they are not paying attention. So, make sure you never get distracted.

5. La Fonda on the Plaza – Santa Fe, USA

La Fonda on the Plaza is an exciting hotel with an entire Mexican culture to immerse yourself in. In fact, it is known as one of the scariest and most haunted hotels in America. If you happen to lie on the adventurous side and would love to get the chance to encounter the ghost, you won’t have to look so hard in here. Ghosts roam freely in the hotel halls, carelessly making themselves visible.

Before La Fonda became the haunted hotel it is today, it used to be a stay-in for soldiers, politicians, traders, and hikers. It witnessed many unfortunate incidents; deaths of all kinds, including hanging, shooting, and suicide. Those dark events have left the hotel laden with ghosts co-living with human guests.

Many have claimed to see the ghost of Judge Slough wandering about the hallways. There is also another tale about a ghostly figure of a man who walks into the dining room, La Plazuela, then disappears after jumping onto the floor. People believe the ghost belongs to a salesman who threw himself into the well situated right below the hotel after losing all of his fortunes.

6. Taj Mahal Palace Hotel – India

Taj Mahal Palace is one of the world’s top attractions that never fail to amaze its visitors. Architect W.A. Chambers took the design of the beautiful palace and built a hotel with the exact specifications, resulting in the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, which is located in Mumbai.

The hotel has a very intriguing exterior and an eye-catching structure. The dome also resembles that of the actual palace, creating vibes of Aladdin’s palace, which inspired the actual Taj Mahal. Chambers thought the hotel’s final execution was nothing like he thought it would be. That fact sent him into a really dark place, leading him to commit suicide on the premises.

People have believed that his ghost has lingered around since this incident occurred. It is said that he wanders around the Old Wing, where most of the spooky tales and ghost sightings take place. The hotel’s luxurious appearance is sufficient to keep attracting tourists from around the world.

Yet, it is still a hot destination for fearless souls who don’t mind spending some sleepless nights. Some also claim that the hotel has a questioning past that kept ghosts around. Reports of paranormal activities have constantly been coming in by the staff and guests alike, who swear to sense a mysterious presence.

7. Le Château de Marçay – France

Le Château de Marçay is not just a haunted hotel with many theories and stories. It is one of the scariest hotels to step in, not only in France but throughout Europe. This place is suitable to stay at for a couple of nights while exploring the French streets. It may be thrilling to enjoy some ghost stories while learning about France’s dark past.

Le Château de Marçay is an ancient castle that dates back to the 15th century. Like many centuries-old castles worldwide, it now serves as a hotel that welcomes guests from every corner of the globe. Its location is quite strategic, acting as a factor of attraction to those who like to treat your sight with beautiful scenes. The castle overlooks the Loire Valley, one of the most picturesque areas in France.

Despite its fairytale-looking appearance, it has a lot of superstitions that may ward off the faint of heart. The most popular myth about the building being a haunted hotel is the unfortunate death of one of the female residents. It narrates that the woman used to shift to a werewolf by night and was shot to death by a farmer who saw nothing but a predator.

This story keeps going around among the guests and staff. Sightings of a ghost of a woman dressed in white have been reported several times. The werewolf story is the one that many people seem to relate to that particular ghost that decided to stay around for some reason.

8. Ballygally Castle Hotel – Northern Ireland

On the Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland lies the beautiful castle of Ballygally, which has been turned into a hotel. It seems that every ancient castle that currently welcomes guests seems to be transformed into a haunted hotel. They have become top travel hot spots that attract travellers all year long, not just on Halloween.

The Ballygally Castle goes way back to the 17th century. It seems home to a friendly ghost that many people are familiar with, Lady Isobel Shaw. This lady used to stay at the hotel back in time. It is said that she fell from the tower window to face her irreversible fate immediately.

Her spirit stays around and roams the hotel hallways, greeting the residents. She also stays in a particular room that the hotel has given the name “Ghost Room”, honouring the spirit of the late lady.

9. The Pfister Hotel – Milwaukee

The Pfister Hotel is the frequent residential for the Milwaukee Brewers game baseball players. It seems like intensive workouts and rigid muscles won’t be of much use when facing a potential existing spirit standing in the same room.

Each player has once reported hair-raising incidents that left them unsettled and disturbed. Being a public figure is enough reason to take the statements of those famous athletes as actual truth. No one would ever want to intentionally announce false reports or damage their reputation unless they have experienced some extremities.

The haunted hotel has given those athletes the chills through the sounds of moving furniture, flickering lights, and devices turning on for no apparent reason. If you are up for spending an authentic Halloween night, we urge you to stay at this haunted hotel and get face-to-face with the unseen.

10. The Chelsea Haunted Hotel – New York City

New York is a buzzing city that never sleeps. Although people tend to believe ghosts are up when people lay down, the case is slightly different in NYC. People are always awake, and so are the spirits of the Chelsea Hotel. This iconic hotel is an utterly splendid place to stay. However, it has a pretty dark side, with many spine-chilling stories.

On West 23rd Street lies the renowned building, with a design that goes really well with the reputation of a haunted hotel. It has a Gothic structure with a Victorian twist that goes way back to the 17th century. The Chelsea Hotel is one of the most well-known historic landmarks in Manhattan that welcomes floating spirits within its premises.

This hotel has welcomed people ever since it was founded, including some public figures, such as Mark Twain and Ethan Hawke, the real survivors of Titanic. One of the most famous Titanic-related stories is about a woman named Mary, who happened to wait for her husband, who sailed on the Titanic but didn’t make it. She hung herself, and her spirit has been roaming around restlessly ever since.

The hotel has a brutal history of incidents that took place within its walls, with the incident of Nancy Spungen being another famous death story. Legends have it that she was stabbed to death in room 100. She was 20 years old at the time of her death and was known to have dated Sid Vicious. The knife with which she was stabbed was proven to belong to Vicious, who was found dead four months later.

11. Ruthin Castle Hotel & Spa – North Wales

Wales is a country rich in history, not only the good kind, though. It is also famous for some dark tales that go way back in time but somehow still linger to this day. Being in a country with so many archaic buildings, you will see more than a few castles. However, nothing comes in comparison with the renowned Ruthin Castle.

This castle has witnessed years of torture, suicides, executions, and a lot of gruesome murders. People believe that those dark years have definitely left a mark on everything inside the castle. With it now being a hotel that welcomes guests from every corner of the globe, people claim to sense some mysterious presence that leaves them shivering.

Ruthin Castle has earned the reputation of a haunted hotel, given the many paranormal stories associated with it. It now ranks as one of the scariest and creepiest spots in North Wales and a popular destination for Halloween. The hotel hosts several ghosts that are known among the staff and guests.

Lady Grey Ghost

Lady Grey happens to be one of the residing ghosts at Ruthin Castle. That lady was sentenced to death after killing her cheating husband, the second command of the castle, but her restless spirit never left the place. Some believe that not receiving a funeral or a proper burial is why she sticks around.

Room 222

Room 222 is one of the grand rooms in the haunted hotel, and many guests have reported experiencing some out-worldly presence. Reports include slamming door sounds, chilling temperature, and sounds of footsteps.

The Little Girl

The ghost of the little girl is one that many people claim to have encountered but never actually saw as she runs fast and hides. However, many have reported hearing their doors knocked to find no one on the other side, believing it was her.

12. The Marshall House Hotel – Savannah, Georgia, U.S.

In this renowned hotel of Savannah, the Marshall House has got the best of both worlds. Well, it is a haunted hotel that can be intimidating to some but interesting to others. Still, the ghosts here are friendlier than Casper. This place is not only filled with ghosts of human figures. There is also a well-known ghost cat that wanders the floors of the hotel. 

This building is over a century old and was used for several purposes before it became the famous hotel it is now. During the mid-1800s, it served as a hospital, welcoming patients during the Yellow Fever Epidemic. Union troops also occupied the house for quite some time during the final months of the Civil War. So basically, there is much more history here than you may expect.

This historic structure has a very joyful exterior. Still, if you are adventurous enough, you may get inside and meet the ghosts that live within. It now looks modern and lavish, coping with the newly emerging designs, yet that doesn’t erase the history that happened there.

Reports of laughter and running footsteps have always come in from different visitors and guests. If you are up for some adventurous stay-in, you may go and give this experience a try yourself. Besides the notorious superstitions and tales, the hotel is one of the best modern hotels.

So, are you willing to go for the leap and stay in a haunted hotel for a few nights to live this paranormal experience, or would you prefer to stay in buildings with no dark history?