There are so many amazing places to visit, whether you seek a relaxing getaway, a thrilling adventure, or a cultural experience. For travellers who fancy a spine-chilling experience, there are several places around the world offering just that. Tourists are attracted to these creepy destinations for their mysterious allure and ghostly ambience.
If you are someone who likes a good scare, you may want to add some of these locations to your bucket list. The nine destinations that we will be exploring are the scariest places on Earth from a list curated by Watch Mojo. These destinations are suitable for the bravest adventurers.
1. The Door to Hell, Derweze, Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan in Central Asia is home to one of the strangest phenomena known as the Door to Hell. The Door to Hell, a massive gas crater, is a blazing pit situated in the Karakum Desert. It has been burning nonstop since 1971. The history behind this phenomenon details that Soviet engineers ignited the pit to prevent methane leaks. The fiery pit is 100 feet deep and has attracted many visitors who watch the mesmerising flames.
2. Pripyat, Ukraine
In Ukraine, there is a ghost town called Pripyat that allures visitors. The isolated town was once the home to thousands of residents. Many of the residents were employees at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which was close by. The town was abandoned after a catastrophe in 1986. The power plant exploded, and several residents fell ill due to the released radiation. Residents abruptly evacuated the area, and now brave tourists visit the eerie town to explore its radioactive ruins.
3. Island of the Dolls, Mexico City, Mexico
Dolls are one of the creepiest elements in horror movies, so imagine a place where over a hundred old dolls are swinging from trees. In Mexico, there is a place deep in the canals of Xochimilco called La Isla de las Muñecas. This is translated to the Island of the Dolls. This area features hundreds of decaying dolls hanging from trees, which might make you feel like you are being watched. The legend behind these weird dolls says that the island’s caretaker sought to appease the spirit of a drowned girl by hanging dolls on the trees. The caretaker in question died in 2001. The haunting allure of the island intrigues visitors to explore the area, while locals avoid the area completely.
4. Centralia, Columbia County, Pennsylvania
Another creepy town is located in Pennsylvania. This creepy town is Centralia, and it has a handful of locals residing there. What earned this town a spot on the list of the scariest places on earth is the fire that burns underneath it. Centralia has been burning since 1962 when a coal mine fire was ignited. The ground collapsed, causing fatal gases to be released and forcing most of the locals to evacuate. In 2024, the town had a population of five. The area now features sinkholes and toxic fumes, which are depicted on warning signs. Centralia inspired the Silent Hill video game due to its eeriness.
5. Beelitz-Heilstätten, Beelitz, Germany
Hospitals can naturally be creepy places, so imagine one that is old and abandoned. In Beelitz, Germany, Beelitz-Heilstätten is an abandoned hospital complex. It once served as a tuberculosis sanatorium, but it was repurposed in World Wars I and II when it was used as a war hospital. The old, dilapidated buildings have been abandoned since 1994. The eerie ruins of Beelitz-Heilstätten are a tourist hotspot for explorers.
6. Catacombe dei Cappuccini, Palermo, Italy
The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo have also earned a spot on the list of the scariest places on earth. These are burial catacombs located in southern Italy. The ghastly catacombs date back to the 16th century. There are over 8,000 corpses and 1,252 mummies inside the underground crypt. They are meticulously preserved and displayed, allowing visitors to observe the haunting figures. The catacombs include men, women, and children, and among them is the famous corpse of a one-year-old child named Rosalia Lombardo.
