Bran Castle, Romania
'Dracula' may be a work of fiction, but the legendary vampire's iconic abode was anything but. Author Bram Stoker had based it on the beautiful Bran Castle, situated in Romania, which has since then become a national landmark. Full of dark alleyways and secretive tunnel, the imposing residence is quite mysterious!
While the character is imaginary, Bram is said to have derived inspiration from the bloodthirsty ruler - Vlad the Impaler, a real-life villain. Ironically, he was a resident of the castle as a prisoner when captured by the Hungarian Army during the 15th century!
Aonach Eagach Ridge, Scotland
Situated in Glen Coe, in the western part of Scotland, the Aonach Eagach Ridge is considered one of the most challenging hikes in the UK, and with good reason. It is tricky to get through; the drop-offs are so steep that it can make anyone sick. Definitely not for the faint-hearted!
Up at 3,000 ft, many climbers have not lived to see the end of the day as the exposure is intense and difficult to navigate! Only the most experienced hikers undertake the six-mile journey as it can be physically demanding and mentally daunting.
Canopy Walk, Kakum National Park, Ghana
If you have seen ‘Mission Impossible 4,’ then Tom Cruise must have taught you not to look down when you are hanging at a high altitude! This advice will come in handy while traversing the Canopy Walk in Ghana’s Kakum National Park.
The one of a kind bridge sits at the height of 130 feet above the ground - the best point to enjoy nature among birds and monkeys! In case you are scared of heights, then this is your best chance to conquer the fear without taking a huge risk.
Danakil Depression, Eritrea
Be it the Northern Lights of Iceland or our very own Fire Falls of California, we all love nature's display of colors! But the neon hues seen in Eritrea's Danakil Depression is certainly not something to spark joy in anyone!
Danakil is among some of the hottest and harshest environments on the planet; it can routinely witness a temperature of around 140 degrees Fahrenheit! At times, the hydrothermal fields end up coloring the tiny microbes in a bright neon color, making it an incredibly rare sight to behold that comes at a hefty price!
Capuchin Catacombs, Palermo, Italy
Housing the world’s most extensive mummy collection, the Capuchin Catacombs was originally a cemetery for the monastery’s monks. After many years, the officials realized that there isn’t enough space left, so they decided to exhume a few old corpses only to find them in a naturally mummified form.
Many considered this to be an act of god and started requesting to be buried in the same place. By the end of the 19th century, it was filled once again, so they stopped accepting more bodies. If the claustrophobic aspects aren’t terrifying you enough, then the 200-year-old corpses will surely do the job!
Craco, Italy
In the year 1980, we saw the last sign of human settlement in Craco, and ever since, the Italian town has practically resembled the set of ‘The Walking Dead’! At the time, the administration ended up making the area more prone to earthquakes and landslides by constructing an elaborate water and sewage system beneath the ground.
Now the place makes for a great filming location, with movies like ‘Saving Grace’ and ‘Quantum of Solace’ being shot here. It also has a thriving tourism business, including a museum that pays homage to the city’s rulers from even the BCE era!
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Northern Ireland
This is the place to be if you want to get a spectacular view of a breathtaking European sunrise! It is a small rope bridge that does an excellent job of connecting Northern Ireland’s mainland with the small island of Carrickared.
The 89-feet high Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge has certainly stood the test of time since it was built by a few fishermen in the year 1755. Even today, you can spot many ancient rock formations, cliffs, and caves while crossing - all you have to do is muster some courage and look down!
The Chapel of Bones, Evora, Portugal
During the construction of this 16th-century chapel by members of the St. Francis Royal Church, many cemeteries already dotted the Portuguese town of Evora. Keeping this situation in mind, the church monks who were overseeing the construction had a brainwave, and that led to the formation of 'The Chapel of Bones'!
The brotherhood decided to use the skulls and bones from nearly 5000 bodies to decorate the church's columns, walls, and ceilings. Even today, the Portuguese sign at the entrance roughly translates to 'we bones here are waiting to receive yours,' - how utterly chilling!
Catacombs, Paris, France
Hold on to your thoughts of Paris being the most romantic place in the world! The city of lights has a dark secret that sits beneath the ground in an extensive network of tunnels.
The underground walkways feature thousands upon thousands of centuries-old corpses in a subterranean labyrinth spread out for about 200 miles underneath the capital. In the 17th century, there was a paucity of burial places, so nearly 6 million bodies ended up in such underground tunnels. So when the city officials dug up the ground to build a subway centuries later, they found this now most terrifying of tourist spots!
Cahills Crossing, Kakadu National Park, Australia
At the outset, nothing might seem off to you about the Kakadu National Park. It has beautiful rock formations, many waterfalls, and natural crossings, including one that could pose a substantial threat to your life!
The Cahills Crossing is a popular feeding area for the saltwater crocodiles in the region. With very shallow water in the stretch, there could easily be up to 120 of those dangerous predators at any given point in time. All of this might sound scary, but it certainly doesn’t deter tourists and daredevil explorers from venturing into the waters.
Cenote Esqueleto, Tulum, Mexico
You know there’s a catch to the place when it is called the ‘Temple of Doom’! True to its name, the Cenote Esqueleto is an underwater cave that is known to have claimed the lives of many divers over the years. After all, the mixture of fresh and saltwater makes it alluring for people to take a dip in it.
A natural sinkhole formation, the cave takes the shape of a skull, much to the horror of those visiting the place. Besides, the dark and narrow passageways make it even deadlier!
Centralia, Pennsylvania
Can’t get enough of apocalypse movies? Here’s Centralia, a small place in Columbia County that has become a ghost town over the years. An underground coal mine here caught fire in 1962, and ever since, it has been in flames.
Time and again, there are reports of the ground becoming warm and new sinkholes getting created. Besides, the poisonous smoke emanating due to it has led to the demise of many people, plants, and animals. The US government ordered the citizens to evacuate the town, but a handful of residents refuse to leave the place even to this day!
Beelitz-Heilstatten Hospital, Beelitz, Germany
Abandoned for more than twenty-five years, Beelitz-Heilstatten Hospital looks eerie on the outside, but its story is even more chilling. Active during both the world wars, the infamous Adolf Hitler was once treated here at a young age for a thigh injury.
The place was later converted to take in wounded soldiers and treat them during World War 2. After Germany came under Soviet Russia, the Communist leader Erich Honecker was also a patient here! Once the largest treatment center in the world for lung-related diseases, it now lays in ruins and has become an attractive site for movie shoots.
Lake Natron, Tanzania
Lake Natron in Tanzania is not the sort of lake you would want to swim in. The water is highly alkaline (it has a pH of 10.5) due to sodium carbonate and other minerals flowing into it and is also very hot; it can reach 140°F (60°C)!
The lake only supports animal life adapted to the conditions; a vast colony of flamingos thrives there because their nests are protected from predators. Some people believe the lake water can turn animals into stone if they drink it, but this isn’t true; the minerals’ preservative effect just makes it seem like that when lifeless creatures wash up.
The Door to Hell, Darvaza, Turkmenistan
The earth is a beautiful place, with a lot of breathtaking natural sites and animals. However, our home also contains some of the most mind-blowingly scary creatures and places. Take, for instance, the Darvaza gas crater.
Named as 'The Door to Hell' the crater is a covert natural disaster, where a sinkhole erupted in a gas field, and during a Soviet drilling operation, an accident happened that set the area on fire. The mishap occurred over 40 years ago, and since then, the 225 feet wide and 90 feet deep crater has been on fire. The perfect example of hell on earth!
Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, United States
The 'Eastern State Penitentiary' in Philadelphia is the world's first penitentiary which was established in the 1820s and has several harrowing stories. Considered one of the most haunted places in America, the facility subjected inmates to 23 hours of solitary confinement each day with just one hour of sun and interaction.
Before it was shut down in 1971, it is estimated that more than 1,000 people lost their lives, and while inmates were not executed, several guards passed on over the years. Visiting these derelict cells can be a petrifying experience, and it's easy to see why.
General Cemetery, Guatemala City, Guatemala
The General Cemetery in Guatemala is among the most significant cemeteries in Central America, and sadly there is a tragic reason for that. Guatemala City has the highest crime rates globally, and with that, countless people lose their lives, and the cemetery experiences large numbers of up to twelve funerals in a day.
Due to this sad case of demand and supply, the pricey, vertically stacked tombs are leased out in four-year agreements. If the lease is not renewed or has not been paid, then the remains are removed and buried in a mass grave.
Gomantong Caves, Borneo, Malaysia
If you are strong enough that a visit to 'Snake Island' doesn't give you the jitters, then we recommend you try going to Gomantong caves in the Malaysian area of Borneo. The numerous caves that form a spiral pattern are home to a massive intrusion of cockroaches swarming the entire region.
As if that is not enough, the caves contain hundreds of thousands of enormous wrinkle-lipped bats that you can watch as they exit their abode every night. If this doesn't make you scared and hold on to your dear life, we don't know what will.
Half Dome Cable Route, Yosemite National Park, California, United States
While it is considered one of the most beautiful places in America's parks, 'Half Dome' is also equally dangerous. The granite dome offers an extremely strenuous hike, and one can only get to the summit by climbing 400 feet of metal cable on the Dome's steep side.
Like any other rock formation, injuries are common for hikers, and many people have lost their lives either by falling or getting struck by lightning. In what looks like a case of a double tragedy waiting to happen, we suggest you keep off the Dome and its route.
Hashima Island, Japan
Rarely do we see a fully functional city get abandoned unless in extreme situations like a natural disaster or a human-made one, and 'Hashima Island' in Japan is the victim of the latter. Thanks to underwater mining activity, the island developed swiftly, but when the mine was closed in 1974, the town was deserted for three decades.
The concrete structures that include a movie theater, a school, and apartments all became ruins, and after a while, the ruggedness began attracting curious guests. Also known as the 'Battleship Island,' Hashima was officially re-opened in 2009, with parts of the island accessible to tourists.
Hanging Coffins of Sagada, Sagada, Philippines
The Philippines is home to the most beautiful beaches and blue seas on the planet. A land of rich culture and great food, with lots of adventurous paths. Speaking of the rich culture, the indigenous tribe called the Igorots found in the Sagada mountain area have maintained their 2,000-year-old unique funeral customs.
The tribe does not bury their loved ones as most communities do; instead, they put them in coffins, which are then nailed or tied on the sides of the cliffs. They believe by doing so, the spirits of the people who have passed on would be closer to their ancestral spirits and heaven.
Hill of Crosses, Siauliai, Lithuania
Among the spookiest places to be or look at, the 'Hill of Crosses' should be top of the list. Located north of the Siauliai city, the hill began as a shrine to Lithuanian rebels who lost their lives in a revolution against the Russian empire.
Since 1831, an assortment of more than 200,000 shrines, crosses, and carvings have been brought here, making for a unique pilgrimage site that’s scary to look at. Despite the efforts to pull the place down by the Soviets, people have been bringing crosses here, and in 1993, the hill was declared a symbol of hope by Pope John Paul II when he visited the site.
Hussaini Hanging Bridge, Hussaini, Pakistan
Dubbed as the most dangerous bridge across the globe, 'Hussaini Hanging Bridge' is found in Hussaini, Pakistan, and it crosses over Borit Lake. The bridge is narrow and old, and to make matters worse, some planks are missing.
Crossing the bridge would surely give you the creeps, as the ropes holding it together are so thin, and the winds effortlessly sway it. Yet, the view from up there is breathtaking, and one can be seen as if they are walking on clouds. If you love to hang by a thread, in the literal sense, then this is the place to visit.
Island of the Dolls, Mexico City, Mexico
Located in the Xochimilco neighborhood in Mexico City, 'Isla de las Muñecas,' translated to the 'Island of the Dolls,' is an island that is hideous as it is the stuff of nightmares. Legend has it that the island's caretaker could not save a girl from drowning over 50 years ago, and he became overwhelmed by guilt after that.
To deal with it, the guy uncontrollably hung dolls all over the island until he passed on, drowning mysteriously at the same place the young girl did. The scary sight of, dolls with detached limbs, ragged ones, and empty eye sockets will welcome you if you decide to visit the island.
Mount Everest, Nepal and China
As the highest point in the world, 'Mount Everest' has achieved almost mythical status. The mountain’s peak is over 29,000 ft, and climbers are subject to numerous hazards. Climbers can expect altitude sickness, atrocious weather, high-speed winds, and a lack of oxygen, but this has not stopped mountaineers from trying to stand on the top of the world.
Since the 1920s, people have attempted to reach the summit. Nearly 6,000 people have achieved this incredible feat, some more than once! Not everyone has made it back down, though, and despite over 300 lives ending on the mountain, adventurers continue to put themselves at the mercy of Everest.
Kawah Ijen Volcano, Java, Indonesia
It might look like this incredible volcano is spewing electric blue lava during an eruption, but in fact, you are looking at rivers of liquid sulfur! The 'Kawah Ijen' volcano in Java releases sulfuric gases at high pressure and temperatures over 1000°F (600°C) through cracks in the rock.
The gases catch fire on encountering the air, and the flames can reach up to 16 ft high! Some of the gases condense into sulfur's liquid form, which flows down the volcano, still flaming. The phenomenon is a spectacular sight at night but also an unbelievably dangerous one!
Lake Shawnee Amusement Park, West Virginia, USA
Many people believe that 'Lake Shawnee Amusement Park' in West Virginia is haunted, and we can see why! The park was closed in 1966 after operating for 40 years and left abandoned to the elements. These days vines are entwined with the structures, giving it an eerie look.
The amusement park was believed to be cursed from the outset as it was built on the site of a massacre that resulted from a land dispute in the 1700s. Subsequent tragic occurrences at the park led to stories of hauntings; these days, you can take a paranormal tour of the park if you’re brave enough!
The Blue Hole, Egypt
The Blue Hole in the Red Sea of Egypt attracts a large number of adventurous divers due to its infamous reputation. One of the most dangerous diving sites globally, many people have not been so lucky to make out of this hole alive.
This sinister site is 394-ft deep underwater has also earned itself a nickname of ‘Diver’s Cemetery.’ No one has managed to reach the bottom of it, despite many attempts. Since the large part of it remains a mystery, mythical tales of mermaids and ghosts have been spawned by residents.
Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia
Cemeteries are depressing, and people prefer to stay far away! There is one such place in Savannah, Georgia that sees a massive influx of tourists and locals. With the story attached to Bonaventure Cemetery, we’d say it is worth visiting.
There is a particular statue of Little Gracie Watson that is hauntingly beautiful and catches the eye. Said to be the daughter of a previous owner of the land, she passed away at a young age. People have claimed to see her ghost roaming about, and legend has it that the statue is also said to cry real tears!
Madidi National Park, Bolivia
The 'Madidi National Park' in Bolivia has the honor of being one of the most biodiverse areas in the world; with habitats ranging from glacier-topped peaks to lush rainforests, thousands of different species make this region their home.
But don’t let the beauty of this national park lull you into a false sense of security! Not all the creatures in this environment are friendly, and some of the indigenous species are highly dangerous. There are poisonous snakes, venomous spiders, flesh-eating fish, toxic plants, and predatory jaguars; so, it’s best to be prepared!