Check-In at Your Own Risk
Are you up for a scare? Depending on whether you want to get a good night's sleep during your travels or you'd rather be spooked, there are plenty of hotels around the globe known for paranormal activity. From The Red Lion Inn to the Lizzie Borden House, here are 20 notoriously haunted stays only the bravest souls will dare to check into.
1. Omni Parker House
A four-star property in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, "eerie" might not be the first word that springs to mind, though the hotel is steeped in rich history. It's rumored that the ghost of its founder, Harvey Parker, still roams the halls—especially on the tenth floor, where it's reported his apparition appeared first as a mist, then in clear view, before fading away.
Kimberly Vardeman from Lubbock, TX, USA on Wikimedia
2. The Marshall House
Constructed in 1851 and used as a hospital during the Civil War and through two yellow fever epidemics, it's no surprise that the Marshall House in Savannah, Georgia, has seen its fair share of ghosts. For one, during its renovation in the late 90s, workers found human remains while replacing the floorboards. People have also heard children giggling and skipping down the halls, only to find no one when peeking out the door.
3. The Red Lion Inn
Located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, The Red Lion Inn is a notorious hotspot for paranormal activity. In particular, the fourth floor is where most of the activity is concentrated, especially room 301. Staff have reported seeing the ghost of a girl carrying flowers and a man in a top hat; guests have reported cold spots and unexplained knocks—and even claim to have awoken to the feeling of someone hovering over them at the foot of the bed.
4. Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
Surrounded by the breathtaking peaks of the Rocky Mountains, the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel should be described as idyllic, not haunted. But the ghost of a bride still roams the place, even years after her tragic fall down the staircase on her wedding day. Another room in particular is said to have witnessed an entire family being murdered, and guests who stay in that room have awoken to screaming, with handprints on the mirror that wouldn't wash off.
5. The Langham
Steeped in opulence, The Langham in London, England, is likely another hotel you wouldn't suspect was haunted. For one, the ghost of a soldier is often seen roaming the halls before jumping out a window, as he'd done so many years earlier. Room 333, in particular, is notorious for paranormal activity, to the point it's not open for reservation to the public.
6. The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection
Between sparkling chandeliers and antique decor, this five-star luxury hotel in Dublin, Ireland, feels like a palace—that is, if you didn't know about the ghosts who frequent the corridors and suites. Guests have reported the usual: cold spots, misty figures, and unexplained noises. But one room in particular is where many have experienced faucets being turned on. In 2013, actress Lily Collins also shared an eerie encounter of hers on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.
7. Hotel El Convento
With its bright yellow facade, Hotel El Convento in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, screams happy more than paranormal. Yet, maybe it's not so much of a shock that it's haunted, given that was built in 1646—and Old San Juan is notorious for ghost sightings. Along with encounters of ghostly nuns, strange, eerie noises have also been heard.
8. Emily Morgan Hotel
Deemed as one of the most haunted hotels in America, the Emily Morgan Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, has no shortage of spooky stories to share. Having served as a medical center, with a hospital, psychiatric ward, morgue, and crematorium from 1924 to 1976, it's no wonder why guests sometimes still hear hospital carts rolling down the hallways and phones ringing with no one on the line.
9. The Driskill
An iconic landmark in Austin, Texas, The Driskill is frequented by many tourists and wedding guests. It's also well-visited by its first owner, Jesse Driskill, whose portrait hangs in the lobby—and whose spirit lingers in the corridors. Perhaps he's still remorseful about losing his hotel in a poker game.
Kenneth C. Zirkel on Wikimedia
10. Toftaholm Herrgård Hotel
Tucked in the Småland countryside, the Toftaholm Herrgård Hotel in Lagan, Sweden, occupies a former manor where a suicide occurred. As the story goes, a young commoner was forbade from marrying a rich landowner's daughter after the father caught on to their secret affair. Heartbroken after the daughter was married off to a man of wealthier status, he took his own life in what is now room 324.
11. The Hawthorne Hotel
Salem, Massachusetts, is the notorious site of the Salem Witch Trials, a series of investigations that took place in the late 17th century. Given that, it's not a shocker that the Hawthorne Hotel is another spot where the paranormal lingers. Along with sheets being tugged by invisible hands and furniture shifting on their own, you might also come face to face with a ghostly woman in the mirror of room 612.
12. Tulloch Castle Hotel
A towering fortress in Dingwall Ross-Shire, Scotland, you might at first be too taken in by the magnificence of Tulloch Castle Hotel to notice anything off. But the property is known for a few ghostly sightings—one, in particular, is The Green Lady. Believed to be Elizabeth Davidson, a former lady of the castle, her spirit still roams the hallways and her portrait in the Great Hall seems to have eyes that follow.
13. Mermaid Inn
Of the many haunted spots in England, Mermaid Inn is one of the most famous. Located in the quaint, medieval town of Rye, a night at this inn means you might encounter rocking chairs moving on their own, spots turning cold, spirits floating through walls, and a white lady who walks across the room and stops at the foot of the bed.
Herman.vandenbroeck on Wikimedia
14. The Taj Mahal Palace
Despite being one of the most luxurious places to stay in Mumbai, India, the five-star Taj Mahal Palace has a spooky legend. As the tale goes, the architect of the building jumped from the fifth floor upon discovering the hotel wasn't facing the right direction. Even now, he still wanders on the roof and in the corridors, sometimes running into guests.
15. Borgvattnet Haunted Vicarage
An unassuming little house in Ragunda, Sweden, you might assume the eeriness of Borgvattnet Haunted Vicarage is just for show—but only a truly brave soul could spend an entire night here. More than just the occasional creaking footsteps and ghostly sobs, you might catch a glimpse of the Grey Lady walking down the hall or faint music playing behind closed doors.
16. Lizzie Borden House
Horror enthusiasts are likely familiar with the Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts, a property so notorious it's been turned into part museum. The story behind the property goes like so: Lizzie Borden, 32-year-old daughter to Andrew and Abby Borden, killed both her father and stepmother with a hatchet in 1892. The spirits of the victims still haunt the house even decades after the brutal murder.
Kenneth C. Zirkel on Wikimedia
17. Hotel Kurrajong
A four-star heritage hotel in Canberra, Australia, Hotel Kurrajong houses a peculiar spirit: the ghost of former Prime Minister Ben Chifley. It's rumored that after suffering a heart attack, his spirit still roams the room from time to time. It's probably fitting that the property is near the Parliament House, which is also known to be haunted.
18. Roch Castle Hotel
Balancing on a rocky outcrop, the Roch Castle Hotel in Pembrokeshire, Wales, is said to be haunted by Lucy Walter, a daughter of the family who lived in the castle in the 1600s. Lucy later became the mistress of King Charles II—birthing the Duke of Monmouth—before dying in Paris a few decades later. Guests have reported seeing a floating woman drifting down the halls and through closed doors.
19. The Nottingham Road Hotel
Known also as the Notties Hotel, this property is located on its namesake road in South Africa. It has a storied history, dating back to the 1800s, and is home to the ghost of housekeeping ghost named Charlotte. Gentle as she's claimed to be, she continues to roam around room 10, where she had jumped off the balcony after being jilted.
20. The Read House
The Read House in Chattanooga, Tennessee is infamous for room 311—so much so that there's a dedicated page. The ghost of Annalisa Netherly is said to haunt this room, a former guest of the hotel back in 1927 who was allegedly beheaded in the bathtub by a jealous lover. Guests who stay in this room report flickering lights, the sound of running water, shadowy figures, and the lingering presence of Annalisa.
