Spooky Destinations Around the World

It’s not hard to find beautiful natural spaces around the world, or stunning man-made landmarks which have caught the eye of millions over the years. But if you’re hoping to discover something a little less scenic and a little more spooky, we’ve got a few suggestions for spots around the world where explorers can experience the scarier side of life. Embrace the bizarre, the macabre and the downright chilling on your next road trip - go on, we dare you.

Capuchin Catacombs, Palermo, Italy

Although these catacombs were originally intended to be a final resting place exclusively for the friars of Palermo’s Capuchin monastery, the crypts’ dry conditions led to a kind of natural mummification and it soon became a mark of status to be interred there. As a result, almost 8,000 bodies now call the catacombs home, with many arranged in life-like poses, dressed in their Sunday best. Photography is not allowed, but visitors have very little between themselves and the preserved dead, offering an unobstructed view of those who were once powerful enough to find a place in these catacombs. Picking up a Palermo motorhome rental will give you the chance to go on explore the rest of Sicily after this eerie encounter.

Port Arthur, Australia

In the mid-19th century, Port Arthur was a place reserved for some of the most serious, recalcitrant criminals in the British Empire. Living conditions were dire and punishments notoriously harsh, with many inmates meeting their untimely end here. Today with a campervan rental from Hobart, you can reach Port Arthur in about an hour and a half and thrill to dark tales of crime and punishment. For an extra spooky experience, jump aboard one of Port Arthur’s nighttime “ghost story” tours - you could even take a boat ride out to the Isle of the Dead, where the prison’s convicts were interred. Book your tours early, especially during the summer months, to make sure you don’t miss out.

The Dolls, Nagoro, Japan

Image: Shikoku Tours

It’s not unusual for small, isolated towns and villages to dwindle in size as more people move away to find opportunities elsewhere, but only in Nagoro, Japan are the dead and the departed replaced with life sized dolls. The passion project of one woman who grew up in Nagoro, these cloth “scarecrows” have often been crafted to resemble those who are gone, and can be found in all kinds of everyday poses. Fishermen dangle their lines in the river, road workers stand paused in their repairs, and a whole classroom full of cloth students await lessons from a cloth teacher. There are well over 300 of the dolls, and less than 40 living humans left in Nagoro, giving visitors an extremely unusual experience. Booking a motorhome rental in Japan will give you the chance to discover this bizarre place and many other wonderful spots along the way.

Kingseat Psychiatric Hospital, Karaka, New Zealand

Image: Haunted Auckland

Opened in the 1930s and running right through to the last days of the 20th century, Kingseat is arguably New Zealand’s spookiest destination. While some psychiatric patients died on the premises, it’s been reported that these deaths were outweighed by those of the nurses who worked there, due to the high stress levels involved in enduring such a physically and emotionally draining working environment. Well over 100 paranormal sightings have been reported here, giving it a reputation as the most haunted place in the country. Today the former psychiatric hospital is used as a site for Spookers, a haunted attraction theme park which provides thrills and chills amidst the ghosts of the past. Pick up an Auckland campervan rental to reach Karaka in about half an hour, then continue south to explore the rest of this unique nation.

Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, USA

Although many have heard of the iconic Winchester rifles, far fewer know about the dark obsessions of Sarah Winchester. After her husband, the longtime treasurer of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, died of tuberculosis, she became convinced that she had to appease the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles by continuously building a home for both them and herself. The result is a seven-story mansion with bizarre architectural features like doors and stairs leading to nowhere, windows which looked into other rooms instead of outside, and numerous non-functional decoy bathrooms. Those who book a San Jose RV rental are in prime position to drive on from the Winchester Mystery House south to Big Sur, or north to the ever iconic San Francisco.

Don’t be afraid to stray a little outside the ordinary next time you set out on a motorhome holiday - there’s a whole world of weird and wonderful things to experience out there!

Or maybe you are interested to take the roads less travelled on? Go grab motorhome rentals from Romania, Bucharest, or Zimbabwe, all with fantastic deals coming from Motorhome Republic.