While a haunted house is a frightening enough prospect during the Halloween season, haunted hotels might be even creepier—and even more delightfully thrilling. Maybe it’s the influence of so many movies and TV shows, but things going “bump” in the night seem to be even, er, bumpier in an unfamiliar hall packed with sleeping strangers. And with many of the world’s most famous hotels being more than a century old, they’ve wracked up all sorts of tragedies and legends over the decades, as well as peculiar guests and residents who despite checking out, decide to never, ever leave.
From the home of the Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts, to the notoriously ghost-populated city of Savannah, Georgia, many of the towns and cities these hotels are home to are rife with paranormal activity—and are well worth exploring on a spooky fall getaway. Whether they’re castles in Ireland or top resorts ranked on our Readers’ Choice Awards, these hotels all have a little… extra spirit. We’ve compiled 55 of the scariest stays out there, from a storied boutique hotel in Manhattan once frequented by Andy Warhol to a permanently docked historic ocean liner haunted by the now-dead crew, to a luxurious Arizona resort occupied by a ghost cowboy. Read on if you dare.
All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This gallery has been updated since its original publish date.