Best Places to Spend Halloween in 2023: Spooks, Spells, and Scares

Here are the best places to spend Halloween. From ghosts and ghouls to mystery and historical horror, Halloween 2023 is bound to be the spookiest yet!

Nowhere does Halloween quite like the USA. The costumes, masks, Halloween decorations, and spooky celebrations are taken to another level. From trick or treating for the little ones dressed in their favourite fantasy character Halloween costumes to some seriously scary parades and events, there is something for everyone to enjoy on a Halloween holiday in the USA.  

The best place to spend Halloween in the USA will be based on the type of spooky night you’re after, but without a doubt, one of the most popular is the Knott’s Scary Farm event at Knott's Berry Farm in Southern California. The famous theme park has been hosting this event for 50 years, perfecting its ultimate night of terror for visitors over 13. From spine-chilling mazes to frightening creatures around every corner, this is one Halloween you’ll certainly remember. 

For the little one’s a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida offers a range of fantastic Halloween events and attractions that the whole family can enjoy. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party takes place from August 11th to November 1st, giving everyone a chance to meet their favourite characters at the Magic Kingdom theme park.

Whether you’re after a night of terror or a simple laid-back Halloween with trick or treating, the USA has activities and events for everyone. Simply walking the streets, the Halloween decorations on the houses are an amazing sight. The USA truly does this spooky night justice with candy and creepy experiences taken to another level.

Halloween in Mexico is a little different. While the US is all about nights of fright, Mexico honours a traditional holiday called Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). This sacred cultural event is a time for families to come together to recognise and celebrate the departed. 

Even though Dia de Los Muertos surrounds death, it is not a sad or gloomy event, but a way for the living to honour and celebrate those not in the living world. The people of Mexico believe their ancestors make their way to the land of the living once a year from the 1st-2nd of November. 

Holidays in Mexico over Dia de Los Muertos are a real treat. It’s one of the best ways to get a first-hand glimpse into the traditions and customs of Mexico. You’ll see streets lined with marigold flowers that are placed as a gateway for the deceased to reach their loved ones. Making your way into a cemetery, you won’t be met with doom and gloom but beautiful celebrations with offerings to the dead on headstones, along with photos of the departed. 

Houses and streets are decorated with the most intricately designed skeletons with stunning vivid colours. Parades and celebrations often have attendees dressing up with the classic skull face paint to pay respects to the dead. Food and otherworldly delights are placed on headstones and altars dedicated to family members for them to enjoy on the other side. 

Cancun, Mexico, is a fantastic destination for experiencing Dia de Los Muertos. Most hotels will feature their own altars to commemorate the departed, so you won’t have to travel far. With stunning white sand beaches, enticing restaurants, and an all-out adventure in the calm blue waters, Cancun offers sublime luxury with the perfect mix of traditions. 

The world-renowned Chichen Itza archaeological site may also offer some spooky insights into the fascinating history of the Mayans. As one of the seven wonders of the world, there is a lot of history and mystery surrounding the site. From human sacrifice to ancient voices singing hymns, this is a spook-tastic way to spend Halloween in Mexico. 

Finding the best place to spend Halloween in Europe is a difficult choice. There is so much haunted history. One of the best places has to be Crete, with one of the spookiest places in the world on one of its many islands. 

Just off the coast of Elounda, Spinalonga, a rocky islet was once a fortress before becoming a leper colony. You may recognise the name from the bestselling novel, The Island by Victoria Hislop. 

Abandoned in 1962, the fortress was built to protect the trade routes and was eventually established as a leper colony in 1903. The conditions of Spinalonga were less than ideal. Those with leprosy were banished from society to prevent the spread when little was known about the disease. Sufferers were taken from the mainland, their identity smudged from the record and forced to live in solitude with little to no care. 

Unfortunately, this history has left a haunted mark on the island, with many claiming to see and hear the unexplainable while visiting the historic site. If you want to experience the paranormal this Halloween, Spinalonga is one place where things go bump in the day and night!

But it’s not all doom and gloom with holidays in Elounda offering golden sand beaches with endless opportunities to explore the stunning turquoise waters. From a wide range of water sports to historic exploration on land, Elounda is a luxurious paradise. 

Are you ready to explore the best places to spend Halloween? At Sovereign Luxury Travel we have over 50 years’ experience in tailormade luxury holidays. We take care of all the finer details, so you don’t have to. Our Personal Travel Planners are on hand every step of the way to ensure your luxury holiday is memorable and enjoyable.

Visit sovereign.com to start planning your next luxury escape today! 

Read more: Top 5 destinations to visit in Winter

Read more:  What's hot for 2024 - Sovereign's guide to best luxury holidays