Exploring creepy and scary places can be a chilling adventure into the unknown. Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, notorious for its history of confinement and tales of ghostly apparitions, stands as a testament to its dark past. Poveglia Island, shrouded in legends of plague victims and rumored experiments, remains off-limits to visitors due to its haunting reputation.
Pripyat, abandoned after the Chernobyl disaster, offers an eerie glimpse into a frozen moment in time, where decaying buildings and overgrown streets evoke a sense of desolation and tragedy. These places stir both fascination and fear, drawing brave souls willing to confront their unsettling histories and ghostly tales.
Whether it's the chilling corridors of Alcatraz, the spectral whispers of Poveglia Island, or the silent streets of Pripyat, each location holds a unique blend of danger and intrigue, inviting those daring enough to step into the unknown. Which of these frightening places would you venture to explore, or is there another creepy locale that captures your imagination?
Pripyat, abandoned after the Chernobyl disaster, offers an eerie glimpse into a frozen moment in time, where decaying buildings and overgrown streets evoke a sense of desolation and tragedy. These places stir both fascination and fear, drawing brave souls willing to confront their unsettling histories and ghostly tales.
Whether it's the chilling corridors of Alcatraz, the spectral whispers of Poveglia Island, or the silent streets of Pripyat, each location holds a unique blend of danger and intrigue, inviting those daring enough to step into the unknown. Which of these frightening places would you venture to explore, or is there another creepy locale that captures your imagination?
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 20 Scariest Places
00:10on Earth You Should Never Visit Alone.
00:14For this list, we're looking at locations that
00:28are frightening, dangerous, or both.
00:31We'll also be taking ghost stories and legends about these unsettling places into account.
00:36Let us know in the comments which frightening place you're brave enough to visit.
00:4020.
00:41The Edinburgh Vaults, Scotland
00:44Inside the arches of Southbridge, built across a valley in Scotland's capital city in
00:48the 1780s, are dark, damp chambers once used as taverns, workshops, and storage spaces
00:55for the business above.
00:56However, once the businesses left, Edinburgh's poorest residents moved into the vaults, and
01:02they became dens of illegal activity, even being used by body snatchers.
01:07Eventually, the vaults were closed down and forgotten about for over a century.
01:11Today, organized tours take visitors through the chambers, but they should still beware
01:16the malevolent spirits that supposedly roam the halls.
01:1919.
01:21The Great Blue Hole, Belize
01:24Belize's Great Blue Hole isn't the only marine sinkhole in the world, but it is the largest,
01:28at 1,000 feet wide and over 400 feet deep.
01:33Several divers have become lost and died inside it.
01:36In fact, a 2019 expedition to the bottom discovered two bodies of long-lost divers.
01:42Not only is the hole dangerous to inexperienced divers, but also to the sea life around it.
01:47The bottom is so full of hydrogen sulfide that life can't survive inside for long.
01:53Unfortunately, many reef-dwelling crabs learned that lesson firsthand.
01:5818.
01:59Montpelier Hill, also known as the Hellfire Club, Ireland
02:04A sinister, derelict building stands at the top of Montpelier Hill near Dublin, Ireland.
02:09This foreboding location was once the hunting lodge home to one branch of the infamous Hellfire
02:14Club.
02:15The Hellfire Clubs existed across the British Isles as bases for societal elites in the
02:201700s to engage in all kinds of debauched and potentially even violent practices.
02:26The organization remains somewhat mysterious to this day thanks to the secrecy surrounding
02:31it, so it's not clear exactly what happened during its meetings.
02:34But while we don't know whether the darkest tales of horrifying rituals are true or not,
02:39it's been said that this Hellfire Club spot supposedly hosts a number of spirits.
02:4517.
02:46Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, USA
02:50For 30 years, Alcatraz was an ominous presence on a lonely island in the middle of the San
02:55Francisco Bay.
02:56Since it was in a relatively isolated position, it was frequently cited as totally inescapable.
03:07And although three people notably did escape in 1962, they were never seen again after
03:13leaving the island.
03:15After squeezing through this cement wall, they climbed up a network of pipes and plumbing
03:20before they made it here to the roof.
03:23Even while it was still in use, Alcatraz was a dangerous, decaying place.
03:27Its prisoners were often mistreated since it was designed to feel as hostile as possible.
03:32Though it's been shuttered for far longer than it was ever in operation, that hostile
03:36atmosphere persists.
03:37Today, you can tour the prison and experience its horrors, and many alleged ghosts, for
03:43yourself.
03:4416.
03:45Loftus Hall, Ireland
03:46It's been named the most haunted house in Ireland for a scarily good reason.
04:00Located in County Wexford, its most famous ghost story involves a visit from the devil
04:04himself.
04:05He apparently arrived one evening to play cards until his identity was revealed.
04:16Satan supposedly flew up through the ceiling and left a hole that remains today.
04:20For about a decade, Loftus Hall was open to brave souls who wanted to go on a ghost tour.
04:26There were even overnight stays offered for anybody desperate enough to test their mettle.
04:31In 2020, it was put on sale for a hefty sum of around $3 million.
04:36Now, it waits for a new owner to purchase its hallowed halls.
04:4115.
04:42Houska Castle, Czech Republic
04:44This creepy castle has long been rumored to be built over an actual entrance to hell.
04:49Naturally, this has given the castle a nearly unmatched reputation for supernatural entities.
04:54You'll find it just outside Prague, open to all visitors brave enough to enter.
04:59It was built around 800 years ago and has been home to many royals and nobles over the
05:04centuries.
05:05The so-called Gateway to Hell is an enormous, supposedly bottomless pit that the castle
05:10was constructed over the top of.
05:12The pit was deemed so horrific that, according to legends, prisoners were sent to investigate
05:17it, and returned with stories of indescribable horrors.
05:2114.
05:23The Stanley Hotel, USA
05:25Master of horror Stephen King stayed in this hotel in 1974 when he and his wife were the
05:30only guests in the entire place.
05:33This spooky atmosphere served as the inspiration for The Shining, the novel that was later
05:38adapted to film and became one of Stanley Kubrick's scariest movies.
05:53Just knowing that The Stanley was the inspiration behind the Overlook Hotel will send a chill
05:57down your spine.
05:59Located in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, the hotel is supposedly haunted by numerous
06:03ghosts.
06:04It's become a prime destination for paranormal tourism since the book was released.
06:18Stay the night at The Stanley, if you dare.
06:3013.
06:31Poveglia Island, Italy
06:33Known as one of the most haunted spots in Europe, Poveglia Island has a long and gruesome
06:38history that dates back centuries.
06:40It first began to gain its reputation in the late 18th century when it was used to quarantine
06:45victims of various diseases.
06:47Experts reported that over 100,000 people passed away and were buried and or cremated
06:52on the island.
06:53To make matters creepier, an asylum was constructed there in the 20th century.
06:58While Poveglia is closed to visitors today, the derelict asylum still stands.
07:03The Venetian government has been looking for someone to redevelop it, but nobody has yet
07:08been bold enough to sign the lease.
07:1012.
07:11Bran Castle, Romania
07:14Long before The Stanley Hotel inspired a horror legend, Bran Castle may have inspired
07:19another scary icon.
07:26Located in Transilvania, Romania, Bran Castle has built an entire business around the claim
07:30that it was the basis of Bram Stoker's Dracula.
07:33While there isn't actually much evidence for this, or the claim that Vlad the Impaler
07:37stayed there, it still can be a terrifying destination.
07:44Many deaths occurred within the castle walls due to its use as a hospital in the Second
07:48World War.
07:49Whether you believe Bran Castle was the true home of Count Dracula or not, it's still
07:54an impressive and intimidating fortress right in the heart of vampire country.
07:5911.
08:00Sedlec Ossuary, Czech Republic
08:02On the outside, the Czech Republic's Cemetery of All Saints seems like any other quaint
08:07small-town cemetery.
08:08But underneath, it looks like a serial killer's lair.
08:28The Sedlec Ossuary is located below the Cemetery of All Saints in Sedlec, Czech Republic, and
08:33it contains the skeletons of up to 70,000 people.
08:37The bones are artistically arranged to form various attractions and furnishings, including
08:42a chandelier composed of every bone in the human body.
08:45The area has been a desirable burial site since the 13th century, and it contains many
08:50victims of the Black Death and Hussite Wars.
09:03The ossuary itself was built around 1400 to house the bones of those buried on the
09:07property in mass graves.
09:0910.
09:10Aokigahara Forest, Japan
09:13This woodland in Japan has an extremely distressing reputation.
09:17It's widely known as a place where people frequently take their own lives.
09:27In an attempt to combat this disturbing trend, the local authorities have put up messages
09:32encouraging people to think again about what they intend to do.
09:35Dozens of people each year sadly lose their lives when they journey into these woods.
09:40However, it's never been entirely clear why the forest has seen so much tragedy.
09:54Many people believe that it may have roots in Japanese folklore.
09:57While the forest itself is beautiful, the history of what's happened there is decidedly
10:02dark.
10:039.
10:04Chillingham Castle, England
10:06The suitably named Chillingham Castle is certainly chilling all right.
10:24Located in northern Northumberland, this medieval castle dates back to the 12th century,
10:29when it served as a monastery.
10:31It was even visited by King Edward I of England in the late 13th century, when he was traveling
10:35to fight William Wallace.
10:37It's said to be the most haunted castle in all of Britain, known primarily for its resident
10:42Blue Boy.
10:48Guests would supposedly hear a loud wailing noise and witness a blue halo floating above
10:52their beds.
10:53However, the hauntings have reportedly stopped after renovation work uncovered the bones
10:58of a young boy buried within the walls.
11:088.
11:11Snake Island, Brazil
11:13You can probably guess what occupies Snake Island.
11:15Ilha da Queimada Grande is a small 106-acre island located off the southeastern corner
11:21of Brazil.
11:22It's inhabited by untold number of snakes, who became trapped on the island once rising
11:26sea levels cut it off from the mainland.
11:28It remains the only place on Earth to host the endangered golden lancehead, a highly
11:33venomous pit viper that devours birds.
11:42It's estimated that up to 4,000 golden lanceheads reside on the island.
11:46Snake Island cannot be visited by citizens, both to protect the endangered snakes from
11:50prying eyes and the humans from becoming snake victims.
11:53The only people allowed there are select researchers and members of the Brazilian Navy.
11:587.
11:59Yungas Road, Bolivia
12:01Health and safety?
12:02Psh!
12:03Yungas Road is located in Bolivia, linking the city of La Paz to the greater Yungas region.
12:13Chillingly nicknamed the Road of Death, Yungas Road was famous for its complete lack of safety
12:18precautions.
12:20The road itself is very thin, which doesn't allow for many mistakes.
12:24There are no guardrails, the slopes are steep, and the area is regularly hit by heavy rain
12:29and fog cover, making travel an extremely dangerous expedition.
12:36A new road has been built for driving, but Yungas remains a popular tourist destination
12:40owing to its stellar mountain biking, even though 18 cyclists have died on the route
12:45since 1998.
12:526.
12:59Catacombe de Cappuccini, Italy
13:01Forget the Paris catacombs, these catacombs, located in Palermo, Sicily, originated in
13:06the 16th century, when monks excavated crypts below the overpopulated Capuchin Monastery.
13:11A crypt was created for the wealthiest priest, by the archpriest of the time.
13:21It soon became a status symbol to be buried within the Capuchin catacombs, and it was
13:25maintained through donations paid by the rich relatives of the entombed.
13:29It's estimated that the catacombs contain 8,000 corpses and 1,252 mummies, all of which
13:35are visible to the public and even set in various poses.
13:56Each of the bodies are categorized into different sections of the catacombs, including men,
14:00women and children.
14:02The catacombs are also famous for hosting Rosalia Lombardo, a one-year-old child whose
14:06preserved body remains in exceptional condition.
14:165.
14:26The Door to Hell, Turkmenistan
14:29Turns out the Door to Hell exists, and it's located in Turkmenistan.
14:39The village of Dervaza is home to the Dervaza gas crater, which was unintentionally created
14:44in 1971 while Soviet engineers were drilling for oil.
14:48Fearing the release of dangerous methane gas, the engineers decided to light the crater
14:52on fire in the hopes of burning off the methane.
14:54The crater has continued to burn throughout the decades, and shows no signs of slowing
14:59down.
15:00So now, in the middle of the Katakum desert, there is a 100-foot-deep crater that is persistently
15:05on fire.
15:06Naturally, the site is off-limits to both tourists and almost all documentarians.
15:10You wouldn't want to get pulled into hell, would you?
15:174.
15:19Bielitz-Heilstätten, Germany
15:22Abandoned and deteriorating hospitals are inherently creepy places, never mind one with
15:26such a rich and disturbing history.
15:44Located in Bielitz, Germany, this large hospital complex encompasses around 60 different buildings.
15:50The Bielitz-Heilstätten hospital was originally used as a tuberculosis sanatorium before it
15:53was converted to a war hospital.
15:55During World War I, it housed injured soldiers of the Imperial German Army, including Adolf
16:00Hitler after he was wounded at the Battle of the Somme.
16:02It was later occupied by the Red Army throughout World War II and remained a Soviet military
16:07hospital well into the 90s.
16:09Most of the complex is now a derelict ghost town, having been completely abandoned in
16:131994.
16:163.
16:19Centralia, USA
16:25There is an area of Pennsylvania that has essentially been on fire since
16:391962.
16:40In the early 60s, Centralia hosted roughly 1,500 residents, but the area suffered a horrific
16:46coal mine fire that is estimated to keep burning for another 250 years.
16:51Regardless of how it happened, this fire quickly grew out of control.
16:55Remember, this wasn't just a small shaft too, the coal mines in the area were all interconnected
17:00and it was an enormous labyrinth under the town of Centralia.
17:04The major detrimental effects weren't really known until 1981, when a sinkhole randomly
17:09opened and nearly killed a 12-year-old boy.
17:11The government bought out most of the residents and had them relocated, leaving just 63 people
17:16by 1990.
17:17Today, the town hosts under a dozen citizens, and various signs are littered throughout
17:22the area warning of sudden ground collapse and fatal levels of carbon monoxide.
17:27A graffiti highway that became a destination spot in the area has been paved over as of
17:332020.
17:34The former ruins of Highway 61 remain, now known as the Graffiti Highway.
17:38It used to be covered with spray paint dating back to the 70s and 80s.
17:422.
17:43The Island of the Dolls – Mexico
17:46Turns out there are many areas throughout the world populated by dolls.
17:49There's a village in Japan called Nagoro, which has become a famous tourist attraction
17:53due to its countless life-size dolls.
17:55It takes two days to prepare and make each scarecrow, and now there are 350 of these
18:00mannequins, way outnumbering the 10 villages left here.
18:04But perhaps the freakiest of all is Mexico City's La Isla de las Muñecas, which is
18:10located in the canals of Xochimilco.
18:12The island contains hundreds of dolls, most of which are hung from the trees.
18:22Legend states that the spirit of a young girl haunted the island, forcing its owner to hang
18:26dolls from the trees to appease her ghost.
18:35The owner passed away in 2001, and the island became a popular tourist destination, even
18:41though some locals refuse to go there owing to superstition.
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19:011.
19:01Pripyat – Ukraine
19:04Now, here's a ghost town.
19:25Pripyat is what was called a nuclear city, housing the employees of the nearby Chernobyl
19:29nuclear power plant.
19:31It was the home of thousands of citizens, until the power plant famously exploded on
19:35the morning of April 26, 1986, spreading an unbelievable amount of radiation into the
19:41area, including Pripyat.
19:43In the instant the lid is thrown off the reactor, oxygen rushes in.
19:48It combines with hydrogen and superheated graphite.
19:53The chain of disaster is now complete.
20:00The town was not immediately evacuated, despite dozens of people falling ill and showing signs
20:05of acute radiation sickness.
20:07The evacuation was finally ordered 36 hours after the blast, and the city remains abandoned
20:12for long-term residents.
20:13Although, governmental authorities still did work in the area, and there is now limited
20:18tourism.
20:19It's now part of the wider Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
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