25 Of The World’s Most Haunted Hotels

Karosta was used as a Nazi and Soviet military prison where thousands of prisoners died. These days, the site serves as a bizarre hotel where guests are treated like prisoners. Multiple paranormal activities have allegedly been witnessed at the hotel with visitors claiming to have heard footsteps, whispers, and audible warnings such as “get out of here”.

Built as a luxury hotel and spa in 1886, the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is considered to be one of the most haunted hotels in the US. The hotel is said to be haunted by at least eight different spirits all of whom are believed to be ghosts of people most of which died at the hotel during its gloomy history.

Located at the renowned ski resort town of Geilo, southern Norway, the Dr. Holms Hotel is a large, luxury hotel with spa, swimming pools, gyms and many other facilities. However, this hotel is also popular for its ghost sightings. The legend has it that in 1926, a young woman hanged herself at the attic and her ghost lives in room No. 320.

Situated at the heart of Florence, one of the world´s most romantic cities, Hotel Burchianti is definitely not a place where lovers want to stay. Numerous guests have claimed to see creepy translucent figures, feel icy cold breath in their faces and hear indefinable human voices.

When it opened in 1888, the Hotel del Coronado was the largest resort hotel in the world. Nowadays, this San Diego hotel ranks among the most haunted hotels in the US with employees, workers and guests experiencing odd noises, spirited breezes, strange faces and a ghostly figure of a young lady wearing a black lace dress.

Considered one of the best luxury hotels in Taipei, Grand Hyatt Taipei is a renowned resort that was built over a former wartime political prison and is said to be haunted by the ghosts of several executed inmates. The hotel has even placed some sacred scrolls throughout the lobby in an attempt to rid the place of any wandering spirits.

Located in the village of Hever, some 30 miles (48 km) south-east of London, the Hever Castle was built as a country house where Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VII of England, spent her childhood. These days, the castle serves as a luxury hotel but the ghost of Anne Boleyn is still thought to reside there, having been spotted by numerous guests.

Built in 1888, the Banff Springs Hotel is considered one of the most haunted places in Canada. Apart from a ghost of a young woman wearing a wedding dress, the building is also haunted by spirits of a family that was murdered in room No. 873. The door to this room has since been bricked up but the ghosts are often seen in the hallway outside the room.

Located in The Rocks, Sydney’s oldest district, the Russell Hotel has a long history full of various legends. According to one of them, hotel room No. 8 is haunted by the spirit of a sailor who refused to check out. Many hotel guests have described seeing a man staring at them from the center of the room.

Built in 1625, the Ballygally Castle is one of the most haunted places in Northern Ireland. Now serving as a hotel, the castle is reputed to host a number of ghosts, the most active of which is the former resident, Lady Isobel Shaw, who has a habit of knocking on guests doors then disappearing. It’s believed that Isobel fell from the window after her husband locked her in the room.

Akasaka Weekly Mansion is generally regarded as the scariest place to stay in Tokyo. Building No.1 is said to be the most haunted, with guests claiming to have seen apparitions standing at the end of their beds, lights and appliances being turned on by itself and even being stroked whilst sleeping.

A historic building on the Danish largest island of Zealand, the Dragsholm Slot hotel is said to be haunted by three ghosts who are residents at the local castle: a grey lady, a white lady and Earl James Hepburn who was allegedly imprisoned in the castle and died in the cellars in 1578. The Earl is said to ride through the courtyard with a full horse and carriage.

One of the most famous hotels in New York City, Hotel Chelsea has hosted a number of world-known celebrities. Not all of them have made it alive from the hotel though – Welsh writer and poet Dylan Thomas died at the hotel after a night of excessive drinking and former Sex Pistols member Sid Vicious´ girlfriend got stabbed by Vicious in room No. 100. Ghosts of these people are thought to haunt the hotel.

Situated some 8 mi (13 km) south of Edinburgh, the Dalhousie Castle was converted into a hotel in 1973. The hotel is allegedly haunted by the ghost of Lady Catherine of Dalhousie, the daughter of some of the previous owners. Catherine fell in love at a young age and her parents forbid her from seeing her boyfriend – prompting Catherine to lock herself into the top room of the castle and starve herself to death.

Located in Tijuana, northern Mexico, this former lavish resort is allegedly haunted by a female singer who poisoned her lover after stealing money from him in the 1930s. According to the legend, the man pursued her in an attempt to get the antidote, but she refused to give it to him. Frustrated, the man shot the female singer.

Situated in the center of Portland, the renowned Heathman Hotel is one of the most haunted places in Oregon.  Rooms 703, 803 and 1003 are said to be the most haunted with regular paranormal events being recorded. These events include cold spots, inexplicable sounds, ghost-like figures in the mirrors and poltergeist activity.

One of the scariest places in South Australia, the North Kapunda Hotel is reputed to have several ghosts due to it being the main meeting point in the town for over a century. The hotel was investigated on the TV series Haunting: Australia and found that most paranormal activity occurred in a disused section of the building formerly used for accommodation.

A large renowned Dublin hotel with 265 rooms, the Shelbourne Hotel is believed to be haunted by a seven-year-old girl from the 18th century, named Mary Masters. She died due to cholera in 1791. Allegedly, her apparition still roams the halls.

Located in Portimao, a coastal town in south Portugal, the Bela Vista Hotel is thought to be haunted by its previous owner’s ghost. The owner reportedly died in room No. 108 which is where most of the paranormal activities and unexplainable sounds have been reported.

Notorious for the witchcraft trails, Salem, a little town in the US state of Massachusetts, is also home to the famous Hawthorne Hotel. The hotel has witnessed a lot of unusual activity, from missing keys to water tap and lights turning on by themselves. The hotel is alleged to be haunted by a ghost of a woman who often roams the hall outside room No. 612.

One of the oldest pubs in Wales with a history dating back to over 900 years, the Skirrid Mountain Inn is where almost 180 men were hanged during the Welsh revolt. Not only can the rope marks still be seen on the beams but some guests have even claimed they felt like somebody was tightening the ropes around their necks while they were sleeping.

Now serving as a bed and breakfast, Myrtles Plantations in St. Francisville, Louisiana, is rumored to be built on top of an ancient Tunica Indian burial ground. The site has also witnessed a murder and several bizarre natural deaths, which makes it one of the scariest and most haunted hotels in the US.

Built as a castle in 11^th century, Chateau de Brissac is a large, seven-storey chateau located in the Loire Valley, France. These days, the chateau also serves as a guesthouse but if you book a room here, be ready for a creepy encounter as the chateau is believed to be haunted by ghosts of two lovers who were murdered at the chateau centuries ago.

One of the largest and most luxurious hotels in India, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel is rumored to be haunted. One of the possible ghostly residents include it’s architect who killed himself by jumping from a fifth floor balcony because the design didn’t go according to his plans. In 2008, the hotel became a site of a gruesome massacre as the place was attacked by terrorists. During the three-day battle, at least 167 people were killed. Some of these people are also rumored to haunt the hotel.

One of the world´s most famous haunted hotels, the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, inspired Stephen King to write the iconic bestseller “The Shining”. While at the hotel, King stayed in room No. 217 but it is room No. 418 that reports the most ghostly activity. The hotel is supposedly haunted by Flora Stanley, the wife of the owner, who likes to play the piano late at night. Her ghost is said to be very visible and a high profile haunting.