By: Heather Keys
If you adore scary movies and have wondered where in the world you could experience that same eerie feeling (without the actual serial killers or monsters), we’ve got you covered!
From creepy forests to isolated islands and mysterious towns, these unexpected travel destinations capture the spooky, unsettling vibes of your favorite scary flicks. Whether you’re a sucker for supernatural horror, psychological thrillers, or the classic slasher genre, this list has something for every kind of fear junkie.
- Looking for actual filming locations for your favorite scary movies? Check out our list here!
Ready to pack your bags and face your fears? Let’s go on a haunted adventure!
The Shining – Arosa, Switzerland
Photo by Marc Schadegg on Unsplash
Vibe: Remote, snow-covered isolation.
If you’re a fan of the eerie Overlook Hotel from The Shining, head to the Swiss Alps and find yourself in Arosa. Surrounded by towering snow-covered mountains and quiet, isolated resorts, you’ll get that “all work and no play” energy without murder-y hotel ghosts.
Midsommar – Shetland Islands, Scotland
Photo by Martin Neill on Unsplash
Vibe: Rural, mysterious, and hauntingly beautiful.
For those fascinated by Midsommar’s rural, nature-worshiping cults, try the Shetland Islands in Scotland (you thought we were going to say Sweden, didn’t you?). Starkly beautiful, the Shetlands are home to sweeping meadows, rugged coastlines, and ancient rituals—just don’t go over one of those cliffs!
The Witch – Salem, Massachusetts, USA
Photo by SalemPuritan on Wikimedia Commons
Vibe: Witch trials and sinister forests.
A must for The Witch fans, Salem has witchy history around every corner. It’s got a heavy, ominous energy—especially in the fall. Visit the spooky woods of nearby Ipswich, where you’ll feel like you’ve stepped right into the eerie, puritanical nightmare of the 1600s.
The Blair Witch Project – Black Hills, South Dakota, USA
Photo by Tyler Kissner on Pexels
Vibe: Creepy woods and unknown terrors.
Do you dare to explore the woods while imagining creepy figures watching you from the shadows? Welcome to the Black Hills! Full of dense forests, winding trails, and local legends, it’s perfect for channeling that Blair Witch Project anxiety—just don’t leave any creepy twig figures around.
The Ring – Aokigahara Forest, Japan
Photo by Artem Shuba on Unsplash
Vibe: Mysterious, unsettling.
Did you love the atmosphere of The Ring? You might want to check out Aokigahara, a forest with a haunting and tragic reputation. Located at the base of Mt. Fuji, this area feels otherworldly, full of twisted trees and haunting quietness. It’s a place where you’d expect to see Samara climbing out of a well at any moment!
A Nightmare on Elm Street – Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA
Photo by Richard Hedrick on Unsplash
Vibe: Historic, spooky, and loaded with haunting legends.
Let’s crank up the creep factor by heading to Sleepy Hollow. This town has a long, eerie history, made famous by Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It’s perfect for fans of Nightmare on Elm Street, with its haunting, dreamlike vibes. Wander through the town’s old cemetery or explore the dark, foggy woods—just don’t fall asleep!
Psycho – Coober Pedy, Australia
Photo by Ivan Frolov on Unsplash
Vibe: Deserted and unsettling.
Psycho lovers will dig the eerily isolated, underground town of Coober Pedy in Australia. It’s got those vibes of being stuck in the middle of nowhere, like the Bates Motel—except here, people literally live underground to escape the desert heat. It’s strange, eerie, and oddly fascinating.
Get Out – Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
Vibe: Southern Gothic, tense, and historic.
For Get Out fans, the eerie atmosphere of Vicksburg, with its antebellum mansions and dark Civil War history, captures that same unsettling Southern Gothic tension. You can almost feel the hidden secrets lurking beneath the surface.
Hereditary – Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Photo by Laura Beth Buchleiter on Unsplash
Vibe: Isolated desert and unique art.
For those who love Hereditary’s blend of psychological horror and family curses, Santa Fe offers vast desert landscapes and a local art scene that thrives on spiritual and otherworldly themes. The desert’s quiet isolation feels like a place where family secrets might just manifest in a supernatural way…
The Others – Channel Islands, UK
Photo by Mohammad Monowr Munna on Unsplash
Vibe: Foggy, ghostly, and old-world.
Channel your inner The Others fan with a trip to the Channel Islands. The misty, rolling hills and historic houses give off the same haunted, ghostly vibes as the movie. You might just feel like you’re not alone in those dark hallways.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre – Terlingua, Texas, USA
Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash
Vibe: Abandoned, desolate desert town with a creepy edge.
Located in the barren desert near the Mexican border, this eerie, half-abandoned mining town has a creepy, desolate vibe that feels like it’s straight out of a horror movie. It’s the kind of place where you wouldn’t be surprised if a chainsaw-wielding maniac showed up out of nowhere. Plus, with crumbling ruins and the endless stretches of Texas desert, it’s perfect for getting your Texas Chain Saw Massacre fix—without a family of cannibals.
It – Bangor, Maine, USA
Photo by Zachary Edmundson on Unsplash
Vibe: Small-town America with a sinister twist.
Let’s go straight to the heart of Stephen King’s inspiration: Bangor, Maine. King modeled Derry after this town, and walking through Bangor’s streets, you can practically feel the lurking presence of Pennywise. Take a stroll through the sewers—sorry, check out the historic neighborhoods and spooky old bridges. If you’re a diehard It fan, this spot will make your skin crawl.
Suspiria – Budapest, Hungary
Photo by Lucas Davies on Unsplash
Vibe: Old-world, gothic, with a touch of surreal.
Fans of Suspiria will find Budapest’s grand, old architecture and moody atmosphere similar to the eerie, otherworldly ballet school in the film. Wandering the streets at night feels like stepping into an art-house horror dreamscape.
The Exorcist – Rome, Italy
Photo by Carlos Ibáñez on Unsplash
Vibe: Ancient, spiritual, and creepy.
Rome has a mix of ancient history, religious intensity, and deep spiritual undercurrents that will appeal to Exorcist fans. Visit the catacombs for an extra dose of eerie, and you might just feel the same unsettling, dark energy that made the movie so iconic.
The Silence of the Lambs – Florence, Italy
Photo by Giuseppe Mondì on Unsplash
Vibe: Refined, cultured, but with a dark underbelly.
The cultured, sophisticated atmosphere of Florence makes it the perfect destination for fans of Silence of the Lambs. Hannibal Lecter himself would feel at home in this city of art, luxury, and history—just keep an eye on your liver!
Pet Sematary – The Isle of Skye, Scotland
Photo by Nuno Antunes on Unsplash
Vibe: Ancient and eerie.
The windswept Isle of Skye, with its misty hills and ancient landscapes, is perfect for Pet Sematary fans. The ancient standing stones and rugged terrain feel like a place where the dead just might come back… but not in the way you’d hope.
Over to you! Have you traveled somewhere that reminded you of a favorite scary movie? Share your stories and recommendations with the Frayed Passport community!
About the Author
Heather is a freelance writer who loves exploring the intersection of travel and history. Read her other articles on Frayed Passport here.
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