As local legend has it, the ghost of a little girl looking for a lost doll is said to haunt the world’s scariest tourist attraction, but can you guess where she terrorises?
She died in 1645, after a bout of sickness plagued this centuries-old capital city. The spirit of the troubled child roams the landmark – a dark maze of underground warrens deep beneath the streets – looking for her toy.
To help put her tormented soul at rest, visitors who flock there leave dolls and gifts in the corner of a room where the ghostly girl was reportedly seen.
This spine-chilling place has been named the world’s most haunted tourist hotspot and attracts thousands every year.
Spooky destinations across the world continue to captivate those in intrigued by things that go ‘bump in the night’.
Travel experts have put together a list of the ten most haunted locations, guaranteed to give even the most foolhardy travellers a fright.
Using thousands of TripAdvisor reviews, Planet Cruise have rated each destination, based on how many times ‘haunted,’ ‘scary,’ and ‘spooky,’ were mentioned.
Scroll down to find out the results, including the most terrifying place for travellers, that is haunted by the little girl ghost.
10. Tower of London, UK
This historic fortress, famous for its dark past of executions and imprisonments, ranks on the list as the world’s tenth most haunted location.
With 37 mentions of ‘haunted,’ 64 mentions of ‘spooky’ and the fourth most mentions of ‘scary’ at 126 on TripAdvisor, the Tower of London is considered one of the most haunted places in the UK.
Officially built in 1078, the landmark is world-famous due to centuries-long speculation that it’s haunted by thirteen ghosts who met grisly ends in the Tower while alive.
Guy Fawkes was subjected to intense torture – presumably in the White Tower dungeons – following his involvement in the foiled Gunpowder Plot to assassinate James I at Parliament in 1605.
Additionally, Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, was taken as a prisoner through the infamous Traitor’s Gate after being accused of adultery in 1536, shortly before she was beheaded on Tower Green.
Some 340 years later, a soldier is said to have spotted a ‘burning light’ in the closed chapel where Anne was laid to rest, which revealed a procession of knights and ladies, led by a headless Anne Boleyn.
On TripAdvisor, one satisfied tourist wrote of their tour: ‘You could get the chilling feel of this gruesome site.’
9. The Queen Mary, California, USA
Coming in ninth place as one of the world’s most haunted hotspots is the Queen Mary, a British ocean liner permanently docked since 1967 on Long Beach in California, USA.
At least 49 deaths are said to have taken place on the Queen Mary since its maiden voyage in 1936 – accordingly, ghoulish sightings have been reported in several areas on board.
Hatch door 13, also known as Shaft Alley on the vessel, is the site of a gruesome accident that saw a crewman crushed to death in 1966.
His ghost is now regularly seen around the area, with visitors reporting the sound of someone running behind them and whistling.
These days, the hotel offers ghost tours by day and night to take full advantage of the spooky stories.
On TripAdvisor, where reviews have amassed a staggering 324 mentions of the word ‘haunted,’ one spooked visitor wrote: ‘I went into this tour half-way as a sceptic but definitely left this place a full on believer.
‘When we went into the room under the front deck of the ship we heard screaming and banging on the pipes coming from under us.’
8. Bonaventure Cemetery Savannah, Georgia, USA
In eighth place is Bonaventure Cemetery Savannah, built on the historic Bonaventure Plantation in Georgia, with 67 mentions of ‘haunted’ and 156 mentions of ‘spooky’ on TripAdvisor.
Statues once stationed in the cemetery, such as Little Wendy, are central to local legends – including claims of ghostly sightings of Lorraine Greenman, the eight-year-old girl who posed for the artist behind the sculpture in the 1930s.
Another famous sculpture in the cemetery that has elicited fantastical stories is that of Gracie Watson, also known as Little Gracie.
The six-year-old girl died of pneumonia in 1889, and was memorialised in marble by artist John Walz from nothing but a photograph.
Visitors and locals leave toys for her to play with, especially around Christmas time, who claim she cries tears of blood if her toys are removed.
On TripAdvisor, one visitor wrote: ‘This is one of the coolest/spookiest cemeteries I’ve ever visited… It gives you this feeling that you are in the beginning of a scary movie.’
7. The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park Colorado, USA
The Stanley Hotel in Colorado has the second highest amount of ‘haunted’ mentions at 443, but is let down by the lowest TripAdvisor rating overall at 3.5.
Famous as the inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining, The Stanley Hotel is widely considered to be one of the most haunted destinations in the United States.
Visitors report hearing children’s footsteps and laughter on the fourth floor, while the hotel’s staircase – also known as ‘The Vortex’ – is suggested to serve as a paranormal portal that connects the lobby to the second floor, according to Ghost City Tours.
Room 428 on the fourth floor of the hotel is reported to be the ‘most active’ with ghost sightings, with former guests claiming they could hear heavy footsteps moving across the room and furniture being rearranged as they slept.
On TripAdvisor, one brave visitor wrote: ‘We experienced a lot of static energy on the 4th floor, but nothing too paranormal.
‘However, when we were leaving in the morning we walked out with our bags, said goodbye to the ghosts and 2 empty beverage cans flew off the desk. Worth the price for us.’
6. Myrtles Plantation Louisiana, USA
Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana takes sixth place with 47 mentions of ‘spooky’ and 73 mentions of ‘scary.’
Located in the deep American south, Myrtles Plantation has long been reputed as one of America’s most haunted homes due to its history of overworked slaves and brutal masters.
Spooky experiences reported by former visitors include ghostly apparitions, particularly of a former enslaved woman named Chloe, and unexplained footsteps.
For many years, Chloe fell victim to her master, Mr. Woodruff’s, cruelty.
The prestigious Judge ordered Chloe to have her ears removed after she was caught eavesdropping, and she was later hung before being dropped into the Mississippi River after she poisoned Mr. Woodruff’s children.
The plantation was the sight of other gruesome activity after Chloe’s death, with visitors reporting seeing Woodruff’s children – as well as their handprints – appear in the mirror near the room where they were poisoned.
Today, this residence is known as the Myrtles Plantation Bed and Breakfast, where visitors are offered historical tours through the day and into the dark of night.
On TripAdvisor, one guest wrote: ‘The spirits did not disappoint the night of my birthday. The pillows had moved on the bed upon our return from dinner and the dresser in our room “rocked” several times on the floor making a horrendous noise.’
5. St. Augustine Lighthouse Florida, USA
St Augustine Lighthouse in Florida takes fifth place, with a total of 166 mentions of ‘haunted’ on TripAdvisor.
Tales of ghostly lighthouse keepers and tragic accidents make this a popular spot for paranormal seekers.
Many visitors have reported hearing children’s voices and seeing unexplained shadows while exploring the lighthouse, where visitors climb 219 to reach the top of the structure, which began guiding ships at sea into shore in 1874
Workers say that they lock the door at the top of the tower each night before leaving – yet the door is often open in the morning when they arrive for work.
Meanwhile, visitors regularly claim to spot the spirit of former keeper, Joseph Andreu, at the top of the tower. His presence at the lighthouse could be explained by the fact that he fell to his death while painting the outside of the tower.
On TripAdvisor, one visitor wrote: ‘Very spooky, lots of goose bumps. We rented an EMF meter for $5 and saw a few good spikes throughout the tour.’
4. Bhangarh Fort India
In fourth place is Bhangarh Fort in India, with 322 mentions of ‘haunted’ and 64 mentions of ‘spooky’ on TripAdvisor.
The fort, located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, near the Sariska Tiger Reserve, is considered haunted by some due to a number of legends and superstitions – and is considered so spooky that entry is prohibited between sunset and sunrise.
The fort was built in the 16th century and quickly abandoned, with local legend saying this was due to a tantric cursing the fort and its inhabitants.
On TripAdvisor, one brazen visitor wrote: ‘After reading multiple reviews of this place, I couldn’t resist myself from visiting it “AT NIGHT.”
‘Indeed it feels spooky cos there isn’t any civilization around 3 kms of the fort. Even with the sound of your own footsteps on those parched leaves & the fear of someone following you runs down your spine…’
3. Crumlin Road Gaol Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
In third place is the historical site Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast, with a total of 53 mentions of ‘haunted,’ 155 mentions of ‘spooky’ and 139 mentions of ‘scary.’
Crumlin Road Gaol is a jail that closed in 1996 – and has since been plagued with paranormal sightings and associated with tales of sadness, tragedy and grief.
According the the Gaol’s official website, seventeen executions of male prisoners took place between 1854 and 1961.
On June 21, 1854, soldier Robert Henry O’Neill was the first prisoner to be executed. His body and 14 others are still interred in unmarked graves within the grounds of the Gaol.
The Gaol had a stone execution chamber, used for the first time in C Wing in 1901, and a Padded Cell in B Wing.
The disused jail now hosts public tours, live music and paranormal investigation events.
On TripAdvisor, one visitor wrote: ‘Apparently there has been paranormal activity in the gaol… We had a spooky experience in the Tunnel… a man shouting and banging going on.’
2. Eastern State Penitentiary Philadelphia, USA
Eastern State Penitentiary located in Philadelphia, has the greatest number of ‘haunted’ mentions on reviews on TripAdvisor, at a huge 534, as well as 236 ‘spooky’ and 340 ‘scary’ mentions.
Built in 1829 and famous for introducing solitary confinement, Eastern State Penitentiary is believed to be haunted by former inmates.
According to the Eastern State Penitentiary official website, its vaulted, sky-lit cells held nearly 85,000 people over its long history, including bank robber “Slick Willie” Sutton and “Scarface” Al Capone.
Visitors recount chilling sounds, whispers, and shadowy figures moving through its decaying halls while exploring the decaying castle.
On TripAdvisor, one spooked visitor wrote: ‘This place is positively dripping with bad energy and restless spirits.
‘Even during a daytime tour you can feel the oppressive feelings of those who have suffered in the past and their resentment towards those who invade their space.’
1. Mary King’s Close, Edinburgh, Scotland
Lying deep beneath the streets of Edinburgh’s Old Town is Mary King’s Close – which has been crowned the world’s most haunted tourist hotspot.
The dark maze of underground closes received the most ‘scary’ and ‘spooky’ mentions (604 and 534 respectively) on TripAdvisor – as well as a rating of 4.5.
Under the Royal Mile, Mary King’s Close is a place where people lived, worked and died between the 1600 to 1800s.
During their miserable lives, poorer residents living on the bottom floors and the wealthy living on the top floors.
As legend has it, the tourist hotspot is haunted by plague victims from the 1600s.
Visitors have reported hearing ghostly sounds, skin-prickling sensations – and even glimpses of the ghostly little girl Annie, whose tormented spirit roams the closes looking for her lost doll.
To help put her soul at rest, visitors who flock there leave dolls and gifts in the corner of a room where the ghostly girl was reportedly seen.
On TripAdvisor, one visitor wrote: ‘We had our photo taken at the end with a very strange and unexplained addition in the developed picture!
‘We showed the staff and they said they had never seen anything like that on a person before, the circle to us looked like an orb – not surprisingly as the place is very haunted!’