Inside the world's spookiest hotels
Travelers share what it's like to spend a night with ghosts.
Updated September 17, 2024
We hear a lot of your average, everyday hotel horror stories—filthy rooms, rowdy neighbors, watery eggs at the breakfast buffet—but nothing makes the hair on our arms stand on end quite like the stories we hear about hotel ghosts and eerie, unexplainable events.
Even if you don't believe in the paranormal, spending the night at a haunted hotel just might be enough to convert you. We took a look at what a few travelers had to say about some of their creepiest stays around the globe and listen, we’re convinced. Buckle up.
New Orleans, LA
Running since 1886, the upscale and historic Hotel Monteleone sits just one block from Bourbon Street. It’s most notable for its famous Carousel Bar, which slowly spins as patrons sip on Sazeracs. (If you want a whirl, go on a weekday, as the bar gets packed on weekends.) Hotel guests rave about the friendly staff—be sure to ask them about the many spirits they believe occupy the Monteleone, including that of a friendly toddler named Maurice Begere who died there.
Travelers say: "I recently spent four nights with my five-year-old daughter at Hotel Monteleone. The place was great—amazing staff, classy rooms, a beautiful rooftop with a heated pool—but we had a very scary experience there. In the middle of the night, I woke up to what I swear was someone whispering to me. I managed to fall back asleep but the next morning my daughter asked me where the child had gone who was singing in her ear and tickling her feet during the night."—@Kristen P
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Boston, MA
The elegant Omni Parker House, opened in 1855, is the longest continuously operating hotel in the U.S., and with a history to prove it. Everyone from Ralph Waldo Emerson and Babe Ruth to John F. Kennedy and Judy Garland have wined and dined here, while Malcolm X and Emeril Lagasse worked as restaurant staff. When you visit, be on the lookout for haunted happenings and be sure to grab a slice of Boston Cream Pie—it was invented here.
Travelers say: "My wife was sleeping and I was watching TV in our room when I saw what looked like a woman dressed in a robe in profile. I didn't want to alarm my wife, so I quickly shut off the TV and went (or tried to go) to sleep. Three days later, my wife told me that she had glimpsed a woman in our hotel room but decided not to mention anything to me because she didn't want to seem delusional. Without saying a word about my own experience, I asked her to draw the image she'd seen on a cocktail napkin, and I did the same. When we were done, the drawings were identical...not close, but identical!"—@tabicma1
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Tasmania, Australia
The 64-room Rydges Hobart sits just five minutes from the waterfront and botanical gardens in southern Tasmania. It’s housed in a beautiful two-story brick heritage building that was formerly a school for deaf and blind children. Today, it offers a variety of rooms, an outdoor pool, and a restaurant serving breakfast and dinner. Be sure to stop by the cozy 1898 Bar for a nightcap before reading a few ghost stories and heading to bed.
Travelers say: "The hotel has a nice view of the oval but an eerie vibe. Believe what you like, but at 4:40 a.m. I awoke to what I thought was the sound of kids playing in the room next door, thumping a ball against the wall and laughing, and also an adult telling them to be quiet in an angry voice. Then my bed started to shake violently and I heard the door slam and it felt like a cat was crawling over my sheets. The sheets were crumpling over my legs but I couldn't see anything moving. I really freaked out."—@SDAussie
Alberta, Canada
The iconic, castle-like Fairmont Banff Springs is a UNESCO World Heritage Site within the stunning Banff National Park. Open since 1888, the luxury hotel offers breathtaking park views, great dining picks, and a ton of stellar amenities, including a 27-hole championship golf course and massive spa that will have you feeling complete zen after a long hike in the park. It also attracts ghost hunters, due to reports of spirits like a former bellhop and bride that died at the hotel.
Tip: If you can’t stomach the +$1,000/night cost, stop by for a drink at the Rundle Bar, which will give you a taste of the hotel's architecture and incredible views.
Travelers say: "When we got to the Fairmont Banff Springs, a staff member told me that in the 1930s a bride fell down the hotel's marble stairwell just before her wedding and died. As rumor has it, male guests who look like the groom tend to experience ghost sightings at the hotel. Shortly after, a group of us went on a tour of the property and ended up in a ballroom with the lights off. We all took pictures in the dark but only my camera showed glowing orbs. Then as we were walking past Room 873 (the site of a murder in 1928), I felt a hand on my shoulder. I quickly turned around but no one was there."—@Mark Rust
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Pioche, NV
The 1948-opened Overland Hotel & Saloon lets guests step back in time with Old West–themed decor and possible ghost encounters. The town claims to be the most notorious and liveliest ghost town, and Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures filmed an episode at the hotel in 2014. There’s not much in the way of amenities here, but locals, visitors, and ghosts alike frequent the on-site saloon.
Travelers say: "I was in my room when suddenly my brother ran in, completely terrified. He said a shadowy being had come into his room, slammed the door shut, and held him down on his bed with a pillow. He tried to break free but couldn't, and then it just stopped. My brother went through Navy Seal training and isn't scared of much...but he was scared to death."—@J.D. the "Movie Guy"
Dingwall, Scotland
Dating back to the 12th century, Tulloch Castle was a private property for most of its existence, then acted as a hospital for casualties of Dunkirk, a hostel for students, and a hotel as of 1996. Expect traditional charm and the option to take a free ghost tour, which offers access to some of the castle's restricted rooms. Don't miss a stop at the bar, which is named after one reported spirit known as The Green Lady.
Travelers say: "My boyfriend and I stayed in room 15, and I will never forget it. Long story short, I woke up in a sweat to my heart pounding and the sound of someone trying to get into our room. As I was trying to fall back asleep, I heard an old man yell 'Hey!' and a woman started whispering names in my ear."—@Davisonlm
Estes Park, CO
Known as the inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining, The Stanley Hotel is a popular spot for paranormal enthusiasts. Located a short drive from Rocky Mountain National Park, the hotel leans into its haunted reputation with nighttime tours, theatrical seances, and various spooky events. The tours are open to the public ($30, book online in advance) and the grounds are free to explore. If you'd rather skip the spooky stuff, relax in the spa, which is located away from the ghosts in a newer building onsite.
Travelers say: "I am not generally a believer in these things and had requested a ‘non-haunted’ room (why pay extra to share a room with a stranger?). Apparently, the ghosts don't care much what you request, especially if you’re near places they like to hang out. One night I came back to our room and found the drawers I was using all ajar, and the mask I had left out to dry sitting on the floor. I didn't think anything of it. The next night something tugged on my ear when I was in bed, and I knew my husband was sound asleep at the time. I thought I saw a woman wearing an old-fashioned hat looking down at me. If ghosts freak you out, stay elsewhere."—@majorcubfan
Galveston, Texas
Opened in 1911, the pink Grand Galvez is the only historic beachfront hotel on the Texas Gulf Coast. At one point the hotel acted as a temporary White House for Franklin Delano Roosevelt, while today it's home to renovated, 1920s-style rooms and multiple ghosts. Tours are offered year-round by ghost expert Melissa Hall (aka the Ghostess). The 90-minute walking tour costs $25 and reservations can be made online.
Travelers say: "We stayed in one of the most haunted rooms in the hotel, room 505. While sleeping, I felt someone sit down at the foot of my bed, and later that night, someone kissed me on the forehead."—@Lisa D.
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East Sussex, U.K.
Built in 1425, Strand House is a quaint half-timbered hotel that has lived many lives. Less than two hours from London by train, it originally acted as a farmhouse, then reportedly a brothel, a hospital inhabited by monks, and a workhouse. Today, its low ceilings, quirky details, and mix of wood and brick materials add to its historic charm as a B&B. (While there’s not a ton to do on-site, travelers rave about the buffet breakfast—and the occasional ghost sighting.)
Travelers say: "The Strand House, which I’ve stayed in several times under different owners, is a magnificent hotel. The rooms, service, food and location are all superb. And for those interested in the supernatural, it has the added value of several active ghosts! I once saw a full-blown apparition at the bottom of the stairs and have often heard footsteps walking around my bed in the dead of the night."—@FireflyManchester, Manchester, U.K.
Savannah, GA
Built in 1851, the Marshall House acted as a hospital during the yellow fever epidemics in the 1800s and for the Union during part of the Civil War, helping it earn its haunted status. Aside from possible ghost encounters, the hotel offers breakfast in its courtyard and perfectly curated rooms. Don’t miss the complimentary afternoon wine and cheese receptions with live music.
Travelers say: "I have stayed there three times now in room 414 and have had experiences two of the three times with waking in the middle of the night to a ghost nurse taking my temperature, so truth be told, the hotel is very haunted. This trip I spent two nights there waking up in the middle of the night to the ghost nurse coming to take my temperature. The staff here is also always top notch."—@h6p8gv
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San Antonio, Texas
Right in the middle of the action—no really, the Alamo is directly across the street—the Neo-Gothic Emily Morgan is a striking part of downtown San Antonio. The property served as a hospital for many years, before being converted to office space, and then opening as a hotel in 1984. Contemporary rooms, an outdoor pool, and its quick stroll to the River Walk make it popular, as does its alleged haunted status. Pro tip: Ask for a room on a higher floor to enjoy the fantastic city views.
Travelers say: “The 12th floor of the hotel was the surgical floor and paranormal activity is well documented online. I was awakened in the middle of the night with what felt like hands running over my body above the covers, coupled with other motions on the bed (like two small dogs walking all over the lower part of the bed). As I came fully awake, the activity stopped and I eventually went back to sleep.”—@cpt1515, Amsterdam
Hong Kong
Located in Hong Kong's lively Tsim Sha Tsui district, the Mira is a glitzy, modern hotel with a handful of onsite restaurants (plus a fifth-floor outdoor bar), a full-service spa with an indoor pool, and a few ghost sightings. Whether or not you spend the night, book a table at the Michelin-recommended Cuisine Cuisine and order the Peking duck—you won’t be disappointed.
Travelers say: "Woke up one night wondering why there was a little girl in our room dressed in old fashioned clothes; just as I was about to turn the light on to take her to reception (of course not even thinking how did she get into the room) she disappeared. My first and hopefully last visit from a ghost."—@Mandyclan, Alloa, U.K.
Quotes have been edited for clarity.