Hotels are usually places to unwind, rest, and enjoy a sense of calm. Yet, some properties capture a very different kind of attention, drawing visitors with stories that linger long after checkout.
These places carry layers of history, unusual architecture, and curious events that spark both intrigue and unease.
If you’re the kind of traveler who’s looking for more than just a clean bed and a good breakfast, some hotels deliver an experience you’ll actually remember.
These aren’t your usual chain properties, they have character, stories, and a way of making you feel like you’ve stepped somewhere a little different.
You might find yourself lingering in hallways, noticing odd details, or wondering about the history of the place. Every creak, shadow, or turn of a corner adds to the adventure, turning a simple stay into something you’ll tell friends about long after you leave.
In this article, we’ve rounded up some of the spookiest hotels around the world that are guaranteed to leave a lasting impression.
Stanley: Estes Park, Colorado, USA
The Stanley Hotel is a grand 1909 mountain retreat famous as one of America’s most haunted hotels. This Georgian-style lodge, framed by the Rocky Mountains, inspired Stephen King’s The Shining and has long been associated with eerie occurrences. In 1911, a gas explosion in Room 217 nearly killed a housekeeper named Elizabeth Wilson.
After her death, countless guests reported her ghostly presence, with belongings mysteriously moved or even neatly packed. Visitors also claim to hear phantom music drifting from the ballroom and the sound of a piano when no one is near.
Guests and staff have described sightings of Flora and F.O. Stanley, the original owners, with Flora often appearing by a Steinway piano. Other strange encounters include a mischievous boy ghost and the spirit of Lord Dunraven, known for tugging on women’s jewelry and collars.
The combination of tragic history, high mountain isolation, and persistent ghostly tales makes The Stanley a destination that blends luxury with chills.
Cecil: Los Angeles, California, USA
The Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles opened in 1927 as a glamorous stopover but soon descended into infamy. With the economic collapse of the 1930s, it transformed into a flophouse and later earned the grim nickname “America’s Hotel of Death.”
Over the decades, at least 16 people are recorded to have died there, including suicides and murders. Its sinister reputation deepened when two notorious serial killers (Richard Ramirez, the “Night Stalker,” and Austrian murderer Jack Unterweger) stayed at the hotel while active.
Perhaps most infamous is the tragic death of Elisa Lam in 2013, whose body was discovered in a rooftop water tank after she was last seen in unsettling elevator footage. Reports of flickering lights, malfunctioning elevators, and strange noises continue to haunt those who enter.
The Cecil is no longer a functioning hotel in the traditional sense, but its dark history cements it as one of the most chilling places to spend a night.
Chelsea: New York City, New York, USA
The Chelsea Hotel, opened in 1884, is a Gothic-Victorian landmark with a turbulent history of artistic brilliance and tragedy. It was once home to poets, musicians, and actors, but also witnessed heartbreaking deaths.
Dylan Thomas, the Welsh poet, collapsed and died after a night here, and many claim his headless apparition haunts Room 205. In 1978, Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols fatally stabbed his girlfriend Nancy Spungen in Room 100, a crime that left a stain on the building’s legacy.
Guests have long reported ghostly sightings, from Dylan Thomas drifting through the halls to the figure of “Mary,” a Titanic widow said to appear in mirrors. The corridors are filled with cold spots and unexplained sounds that enhance its eerie aura.
Despite renovations and a modern reputation as an upscale residence, the Chelsea retains its reputation as one of New York’s most haunted hotels.
The Langham: London, England, UK
The Langham in London is one of the city’s oldest luxury hotels, dating back to 1865. Behind its elegance lies a catalog of ghostly legends. Guests and staff alike report seeing the ghost of a Victorian doctor who murdered his wife before killing himself on their honeymoon.
Each October, his figure in period dress is said to appear. The spirit of Napoleon III, who once lived there in exile, reportedly lingers in the basement, while a German prince who leapt from a fourth-floor window is believed to haunt Room 333.
Room 333 is the epicenter of paranormal encounters, with guests waking to find themselves pushed from bed by unseen hands. Visitors also describe sudden cold drafts and the feeling of being watched in the hallways.
The Langham’s opulent décor and 19th-century heritage only heighten its unsettling charm, making it a favorite for ghost hunters.
Fairmont Banff Springs: Banff, Alberta, Canada
Nicknamed the “Castle in the Rockies,” the Fairmont Banff Springs is a striking alpine resort built in 1888. Among its most enduring tales is that of a young bride who tragically fell to her death down a marble staircase before her wedding.
Guests often report seeing her ghostly figure in a white gown wandering the corridors or dancing in the grand ballroom. The hotel is also said to be haunted by the spirit of a longtime bellman, who continues to help guests even in the afterlife.
Other chilling accounts include pillows being ripped from beds, lights flickering without cause, and bloody handprints mysteriously appearing on mirrors.
The combination of fairy-tale architecture, tragic lore, and remote mountain setting makes Banff Springs both enchanting and terrifying. Guests may book a luxurious stay but often leave with stories of ghostly encounters.
Dragsholm Castle: Hørve, Denmark
Dragsholm Castle, over 800 years old, is one of Europe’s most haunted buildings. It once served as a fortress and royal prison, where Mary of Scotland’s husband, Lord Bothwell, was tortured and eventually died.
His spirit, known as the “Grey Lady,” is said to ride the castle grounds on horseback. In the 1930s, workers uncovered a skeleton bricked into a wall, believed to be the “White Lady,” a young noblewoman entombed alive.
Her ghost is often spotted wandering the halls carrying a candle. The castle’s medieval atmosphere and isolation amplify its dark past. Visitors often describe cold spots, ghostly noises, and the unnerving sensation of being followed.
Today, Dragsholm embraces its eerie reputation, offering tours that highlight its sinister stories, allowing brave guests to dine and sleep where tortured souls are said to roam.
Russell: Sydney, Australia
The Russell Hotel, built in 1887 in Sydney’s historic Rocks district, exudes heritage charm but comes with unsettling folklore. The most enduring tale is that of a murdered sailor whose ghost is said to haunt the rooms, particularly Room 8.
Female guests have reported feeling an icy touch or a tug at their bedcovers during the night. Staff say his presence is shy yet persistent, always drawn to women.
The hotel’s antique décor and creaking hallways only heighten the sense of unease. Its proximity to Sydney’s oldest pubs and dark maritime history add to the legend of “The Sleepless Sailor.”
For guests who check in, the Russell offers comfort, but for some, the sense of being watched never quite goes away.
Shelbourne: Dublin, Ireland
The Shelbourne, established in 1824, is one of Dublin’s most prestigious hotels. Its grandeur is matched by the chilling tale of “Little Mary,” a seven-year-old girl who died of cholera in the building.
Guests on the sixth floor have reported hearing giggling, footsteps, and taps turning on by themselves. Some have even claimed to see the shadowy form of a child in their rooms.
The Shelbourne’s opulent interiors, with marble floors and ornate décor, provide a sharp contrast to the innocent yet haunting spirit said to roam the halls.
Stories of “Little Mary” are so persistent that they’ve become part of the hotel’s lore, adding a spectral layer to its historic charm.
Nottingham Road: KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
The Nottingham Road Hotel, built in 1903, sits in the misty foothills of the Drakensberg mountains. Its ghost story centers on Charlotte, a heartbroken young woman who is said to have thrown herself from a balcony after her lover failed to return.
Guests often report feeling her gentle presence in their rooms, with clothes neatly folded or bathwater mysteriously drawn. Rather than frightening, Charlotte’s spirit is often described as caring and protective. Yet, her tragic backstory gives the hotel an air of melancholy.
Surrounded by scenic hills and with its antique interiors, the hotel remains one of South Africa’s spookiest inns, where visitors often leave feeling as though they have truly met its resident ghost.
Hotel del Salto: Tequendama Falls, Colombia
Perched on a cliff above Tequendama Falls, the Hotel del Salto is an abandoned Art Deco masterpiece from the 1920s.
Once a glamorous escape for Colombia’s elite, it was abandoned in the 1990s as the falls became polluted. Its chilling reputation stems from decades of suicides, with countless individuals leaping to their deaths from the cliffs nearby.
Today, the building has been converted into a museum, but its eerie atmosphere persists. Visitors describe hearing whispers, footsteps, and seeing shadowy figures in the empty halls. The tragic history of loss combined with its dramatic setting makes Hotel del Salto a haunting destination.
Hotel Henry: Buffalo, USA
Hotel Henry may look like a stylishly modern urban resort, but beneath its polished exterior lies a dark past. For over a century, the castle-like structure was home to thousands of mentally ill patients as the Buffalo State Asylum.
Guests today stay in what were once treatment and patient rooms, walking through corridors that once echoed with the cries of those confined. The hotel’s Gothic architecture adds to the atmosphere, with looming towers and thick stone walls that hint at its unsettling history.
Although modernized with luxury amenities, many believe its past lingers, making it a prime location for those who wish to spend a night brushing shoulders with ghosts of the past.
Desiatka Hotel: Chernobyl, Ukraine
The Desiatka Hotel is the only accommodation open to guests in Chernobyl, offering the closest possible stay to the abandoned city of Pripyat. The building itself is a modest Soviet-style hotel, but its location is what makes it chilling.
Just a few kilometers away lies the Chernobyl reactor, still encased in a massive sarcophagus holding radioactive material. Visitors come not for the hotel’s amenities, but for the eerie sense of being so close to one of history’s worst nuclear disasters.
The surrounding area, with its empty schools, rusting Ferris wheel, and ghost town streets, casts a shadow over every night spent there. Staying at Desiatka is less about comfort and more about confronting the haunting legacy of Chernobyl.
Het Arresthuis: Roermond, Netherlands
Het Arresthuis offers guests the chance to spend the night in a real prison. The former jail has been transformed into a boutique hotel, with cells converted into stylish rooms.
Original features like heavy metal doors and barred windows remain, creating an atmosphere that reminds visitors of its past.
Walking down the old prison corridors, now refurbished as lounges, it’s easy to imagine the lives of inmates who once occupied the building. The mix of sleek modern comfort with stark reminders of incarceration gives Het Arresthuis a unique, unsettling edge.
Guests often describe the experience as thrilling yet eerie, as though the walls still hold the whispers of prisoners.
Chillingham Castle: Alnwick, UK
Chillingham Castle, a 13th-century fortress in northern England, is often called the most haunted castle in the country. Once an execution site for traitors and criminals, it was home to brutal hangings, quarterings, and torture.
The torture chamber, still preserved, showcases devices like thumb screws and gauntlets that offer a disturbing glimpse into its grim past.
Guests and ghost hunters alike report apparitions, whispers, and sudden cold spots throughout the castle. The “White Pantry Ghost” is said to appear in search of water, while tortured souls are believed to linger in its dark corridors.
Ghost tours allow visitors to confront the castle’s past, but those who wander alone often report their most chilling encounters.
Luxor: Las Vegas, USA
The Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas is instantly recognizable for its massive black pyramid structure, topped by a powerful beam of light. While it’s one of the Strip’s most iconic resorts, many believe its unique design brings with it an unsettling energy.
The pyramid shape, often associated with ancient curses, has fueled rumors that the Luxor is plagued by bad luck. Over the years, the hotel has been linked to a number of mysterious deaths and accidents, adding to its eerie reputation.
Inside, the cavernous atrium and slanted elevators create a disorienting atmosphere. Guests have described an oppressive feeling in certain areas, as though they are being watched.
Combined with its history of tragedies and the looming symbolism of its architecture, the Luxor has become one of Las Vegas’s most talked-about haunted hotels; an unsettling contrast to the city’s glittering façade.
Adventure Tourism Just Got Spookier
Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, a history buff, or just someone who enjoys a hotel with a little extra character, these properties offer experiences you won’t forget. Some are unsettling, some are downright eerie, and all of them have stories worth exploring.
Even if you don’t plan to stay overnight, learning about these hotels gives a glimpse into the strange, mysterious, and sometimes spooky side of travel. Next time you’re planning a trip, you might just find yourself tempted to take the stairs instead of the elevator.
