Something about staying in a haunted hotel just hits differently—that eerie stillness at night, the unexplained creaks, the feeling that someone is watching. Some travelers chase adrenaline-pumping adventures, but others?
They seek the thrill of a room with an unseen guest. These hotels aren’t just old buildings with ghost stories; they are places where history lingers, where the past refuses to rest.
From whispered legends to full-bodied apparitions, every one of these stays comes with a chilling warning: Sleep if you dare. So, are you brave enough to check-in, or will you leave the lights on all night?
1. The Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado, USA
If you’ve ever watched The Shining, you already know why The Stanley Hotel is one of the most infamous haunted hotels in the world. Stephen King himself stayed here for one eerie night in Room 217, and the experience was so unsettling that it inspired his horror masterpiece. But even if you haven’t read the book or watched the movie, stepping inside this grand, old hotel is enough to send a chill down your spine.
Guests and staff have reported phantom piano music playing in the dead of night, children’s laughter echoing down empty hallways, and the spirit of F.O. Stanley, the hotel’s founder, making ghostly appearances. Some say he still wanders the hotel, checking in on his beloved property. The most haunted room? Room 217, of course, where guests have experienced everything from objects moving on their own to mysterious shadows lurking in the corners.
If you’re brave enough, you can join one of the hotel’s nightly ghost tours, where guides will lead you through its most haunted spots, including the basement, which is known to be a hotbed of paranormal activity. And if you don’t believe in ghosts? Well, a night at the Stanley just might change your mind.
Other Relevant Details:
- Best Months to Visit: September–November (for peak spooky vibes)
- Most Haunted Room: Room 217 (King’s inspiration for The Shining)
- Ghost Sightings: Piano playing, phantom children, F.O. Stanley himself
- Special Tours: Ghost tours run nightly
2. The Langham Hotel – London, England
If London had a haunted hotel hall of fame, The Langham would be its crowned ghostly champion. This luxurious five-star hotel isn’t just dripping in elegance—it’s also packed with paranormal activity. Dating back to 1865, The Langham has housed royalty, celebrities, and more than a few ghosts over the years.
The hotel’s Room 333 is widely considered the most haunted hotel room in London, with guests reporting the feeling of being watched, unexplained knocks on the walls, and even a ghostly figure dressed in Victorian attire standing at the foot of their bed. Some say this spirit is the ghost of a doctor who took his own life in the room.
Other spectral residents include a German prince who allegedly jumped from a fourth-floor window and still wanders the hallways, and the ghost of Napoleon III, who spent his last days at the hotel and is occasionally seen in the basement.
Other Relevant Details:
- Best Months to Visit: October (for ultimate haunted ambiance)
- Most Haunted Room: Room 333 (guests have fled in terror)
- Ghost Sightings: Victorian man, German prince, Napoleon III
- Spooky Fun Fact: The England cricket team once refused to stay here after multiple ghostly encounters
3. Fairmont Banff Springs – Alberta, Canada
Imagine a castle-like hotel nestled in the Rocky Mountains, surrounded by breathtaking views… and a handful of restless spirits. The Fairmont Banff Springs is as grand as it is haunted, with a history filled with eerie legends and tragic tales.
One of the most famous ghosts is The Bride, a woman who died on her wedding night after falling down the grand staircase. Some say she tripped over her gown, while others whisper that a more sinister force was at play. Either way, guests and staff have reported seeing a veiled woman wandering the ballroom, sometimes with a ghostly candle in her hand.
Another well-known spirit? Sam the Bellman, a former hotel staff member who loved his job so much that he never left—even after death. Guests staying in certain rooms have called the front desk to thank the bellman for his excellent service, only to find out that no living bellman was on duty at the time.
Other Relevant Details:
- Best Months to Visit: September–March (for a cozy yet creepy stay)
- Most Haunted Areas: Grand staircase, ballroom, Room 873
- Ghost Sightings: The Bride, Sam the Bellman, shadowy figures
- Spooky Fun Fact: Room 873 was allegedly sealed off due to intense paranormal activity
4. The Queen Mary – Long Beach, California, USA
A haunted hotel is one thing, but a haunted ship? That’s next-level creepy. The Queen Mary, a retired ocean liner turned floating hotel, has been dubbed one of the most haunted places in America. With a history that includes WWII service, tragic deaths, and countless eerie encounters, it’s easy to see why.
One of the ship’s most active areas is Stateroom B340, where guests have reported seeing apparitions, hearing mysterious knocks, and even waking up with their sheets pulled off. The activity here was so extreme that the room was closed off for years, only reopening recently for thrill-seeking guests.
Other haunted hotspots include the ship’s engine room, where a crew member was crushed to death by a watertight door, and the first-class swimming pool, where ghostly figures of women in 1930s bathing suits have been seen. Whether it’s phantom footsteps, sudden cold spots, or unseen hands touching guests, the Queen Mary never disappoints when it comes to spine-chilling experiences.
Other Relevant Details:
- Best Months to Visit: October (for peak haunted attractions)
- Most Haunted Room: Stateroom B340 (famously terrifying)
- Ghost Sightings: Shadow figures, voices, phantom footsteps
- Spooky Fun Fact: The ship is considered one of the most haunted places in the world
5. Ballygally Castle Hotel – Northern Ireland
Perched along the wild and rugged Irish coast, Ballygally Castle Hotel is the perfect mix of storybook beauty and supernatural horror. Built-in 1625, this picturesque castle-turned-hotel has a long, dark history that has led to centuries of ghost stories.
The most famous spirit here is Lady Isabella Shaw, the castle’s former lady of the house. According to legend, her husband locked her in a tower after she gave birth to their child, and in her desperate attempt to escape, she fell to her death. Today, guests and staff claim to hear her knocking on doors late at night, looking for her lost child.
If that’s not eerie enough, the hotel has a designated “Ghost Room”, where paranormal investigators have recorded chilling EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) and guests have reported seeing a spectral woman in a flowing gown.
Other Relevant Details:
- Best Months to Visit: September–November (for foggy, atmospheric nights)
- Most Haunted Area: The tower and “Ghost Room”
- Ghost Sightings: Lady Isabella, mysterious whispers, cold drafts
- Spooky Fun Fact: The hotel embraces its haunted reputation, offering ghost-themed afternoon teas
6. Bhangarh Fort Hotel – Rajasthan, India
If you’re looking for a hotel with next-level horror vibes, why not stay at one near India’s most haunted location—Bhangarh Fort? This fort is so infamous that entry is banned after sunset, and many locals refuse to go near it at night. The hotel near the fort is just as eerie, attracting ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts from all over the world.
Legend has it that a sorcerer once cursed Bhangarh Fort after being rejected by a princess, dooming the entire town. Since then, people who have stayed overnight in or near the fort have disappeared without a trace, heard bloodcurdling screams, or felt an invisible force pushing them out. The hotel, built close to the fort, is rumored to be haunted by spirits who still wander the ruins at night.
Staying here means experiencing mysterious whispers, shadows moving in the corners of your vision, and an overwhelming sense of dread. Some guests even claim that their dreams were invaded by restless spirits, warning them to leave immediately. If you’re up for a real paranormal challenge, this might be your ultimate haunted stay.
Other Relevant Details:
- Best Months to Visit: October–February (cooler weather, ghostly atmosphere)
- Most Haunted Area: The ruins of Bhangarh Fort nearby
- Ghost Sightings: Shadows, whispers, and screams from the fort
- Spooky Fun Fact: The Archaeological Survey of India forbids people from entering Bhangarh after dark
7. The Hollywood Roosevelt – Los Angeles, California, USA
Los Angeles is known for glitz, glamour, and ghosts, and The Hollywood Roosevelt is a hotspot for all three. Built-in 1927, this historic hotel has housed some of Hollywood’s most iconic stars, and apparently, a few of them never left.
One of the most famous ghosts here is Marilyn Monroe, whose spirit has been seen in her old suite, Room 1200. Guests claim to have spotted her reflection in a mirror, even when no one was there. The mirror was so notorious that the hotel removed it from her old room, but her ghost still lingers.
Another resident ghost? Montgomery Clift, the legendary actor who stayed here while filming From Here to Eternity. He was known for pacing the hallways rehearsing his lines, and to this day, guests in Room 928 report hearing phantom footsteps and feeling unseen hands brushing against them. If you’re lucky (or unlucky?), you might even hear an old-timey trumpet playing from nowhere—Montgomery Clift was known to practice in his room.
Other Relevant Details:
- Best Months to Visit: Anytime (Hollywood never sleeps—neither do its ghosts)
- Most Haunted Rooms: Room 1200 (Marilyn Monroe), Room 928 (Montgomery Clift)
- Ghost Sightings: Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, cold spots, whispering voices
- Spooky Fun Fact: The hotel hosted the first-ever Academy Awards in 1929—some say spirits from the Golden Age of Hollywood still roam the halls
8. Dragsholm Slot – Denmark
If you want to sleep in a 13th-century castle with real ghosts, then Dragsholm Slot is your best bet. This Danish castle-turned-hotel is home to over 100 ghosts, making it one of Europe’s most haunted stays.
Among its most famous spirits is The White Lady, the ghost of a noblewoman who was locked in a dungeon by her father for falling in love with a commoner. Centuries later, when renovations were being done, workers found a skeleton wearing a white dress inside the walls—confirming the legend. Now, her restless spirit wanders the halls, appearing in full view before vanishing into thin air.
Another infamous ghost is The Earl of Bothwell, who was imprisoned here for years before dying in misery. His spirit is known for loud, echoing footsteps, making guests feel like they’re being watched. If you love history, horror, and medieval vibes, this might be the perfect haunted getaway.
Other Relevant Details:
- Best Months to Visit: September–December (moody, foggy weather = peak haunted vibes)
- Most Haunted Areas: Dungeon, main hall, and corridors
- Ghost Sightings: The White Lady, The Earl of Bothwell, ghostly whispers
- Spooky Fun Fact: Guests have claimed to see horse-drawn carriages with ghostly figures arriving at the castle
9. Hotel Monte Vista – Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
When a hotel has a haunted “meat man”, you know it’s not your average ghost story. Hotel Monte Vista in Flagstaff has been welcoming guests—and ghosts—since 1927, and its paranormal activity is no joke.
The most disturbing spirit here is The Meat Man, a long-term guest in the 1980s who had a terrifying habit of hanging raw meat from his chandelier. After his death, guests staying in his old room report waking up to the sensation of cold hands touching them, and some have even heard eerie breathing sounds when they were completely alone.
Other hauntings include a ghostly bellboy knocking on doors, a phantom woman whispering “hello” in guests’ ears, and even the spirits of bank robbers who once used the hotel as a hideout. If you’re looking for an old-school haunted hotel experience, this place is packed with ghostly legends.
Other Relevant Details:
- Best Months to Visit: October (when Flagstaff hosts Halloween ghost tours)
- Most Haunted Room: Room 220 (The Meat Man’s old room—yikes)
- Ghost Sightings: Bellboy, whispering woman, spirits of outlaws
- Spooky Fun Fact: John Wayne stayed here—and even he reported seeing ghosts!
10. The Omni Parker House – Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Boston is one of the oldest cities in America, so it’s no surprise that The Omni Parker House is one of the most haunted hotels in the country. Founded in 1855, this historic hotel has seen its share of famous figures and eerie encounters.
The most famous ghost? Harvey Parker, the hotel’s original owner. Guests and staff have reported seeing his shadowy figure roaming the hallways, checking up on his beloved hotel. If you stay on the 10th floor, you might hear strange knocks, flickering lights, or even ghostly laughter in the middle of the night.
The hotel is also haunted by the spirit of Charles Dickens, who stayed here during his first American book tour. Some guests have even claimed to hear a British voice reciting lines from A Christmas Carol in empty rooms. Spooky or poetic? You decide.
Other Relevant Details:
- Best Months to Visit: October–December (for that historic haunted feel)
- Most Haunted Floor: 10th floor (Harvey Parker’s ghost is seen here most often)
- Ghost Sightings: Harvey Parker, Charles Dickens, strange noises
- Spooky Fun Fact: The hotel is where Boston Cream Pie was invented—but some say the recipe was whispered by a ghostly chef!
11. The Crescent Hotel – Eureka Springs, Arkansas, USA
If hotels could have their horror movies, The Crescent Hotel would be the star of its terrifying franchise. Dubbed “America’s Most Haunted Hotel,” this grand Victorian-era structure has a dark and chilling history that practically invites spirits to linger.
Originally opened in 1886, The Crescent had a brief stint as a luxury resort before transforming into something much more sinister—a fraudulent hospital run by Norman Baker, a man who falsely claimed to have a cure for cancer. He lured desperate patients here, only for many to meet their untimely end. To this day, the spirits of Baker’s victims roam the halls, with guests reporting sudden cold spots, disembodied voices, and ghostly figures peering through mirrors.
One of the most active paranormal hotspots is Room 218, where a stonecutter is said to have fallen to his death during construction. Visitors in this room have heard pounding on the walls, seen objects moving on their own, and even felt unseen hands pulling their sheets. The hotel embraces its haunted reputation, offering nightly ghost tours that take guests into the basement morgue—yes, the same one used when it was a “hospital.” Enter if you dare.
Other Relevant Details:
- Best Months to Visit: Fall (for peak haunted vibes and ghost tours)
- Most Haunted Room: Room 218 (known for extreme activity)
- Ghost Sightings: Norman Baker, ghostly nurses, patients, shadow figures
- Spooky Fun Fact: Paranormal investigators once captured a full-bodied apparition on camera here
12. Toftaholm Herrgård – Sweden
Unlike the grand, imposing hotels on this list, Toftaholm Herrgård is a charming lakeside manor—but don’t let its picturesque setting fool you. Beneath the surface of its beauty lies a tragic tale of love, betrayal, and a spirit that refuses to move on.
The legend? A young peasant boy fell in love with the nobleman’s daughter who once lived here. But since he wasn’t of noble birth, their love was forbidden. On what was supposed to be her wedding day (to a man she didn’t love), the heartbroken young man hanged himself in one of the rooms. To this day, his spirit remains trapped within the hotel, wandering the halls in sorrow.
Guests have reported seeing his ghost standing near the windows, hearing footsteps in empty corridors, and even feeling a phantom presence sitting on their bed at night. Some say the air suddenly turns ice-cold in certain rooms, as if the ghost is still mourning his lost love. If you’re looking for a haunted hotel with a tragic yet romantic ghost story, this is the one for you.
Other Relevant Details:
- Best Months to Visit: Spring or Fall (for misty, atmospheric nights)
- Most Haunted Room: The room where the young man ended his life
- Ghost Sightings: The sorrowful spirit of the peasant boy
- Spooky Fun Fact: Guests have reported doors locking on their own
