Some hotels promise comfort and elegance, but others carry an atmosphere that feels touched by the past. From grand castles to historic inns and ocean liners, these places offer more than fine service and architecture. They are alive with legends, where footsteps echo in empty halls and whispers seem to ride the night air. Each creak of the floorboards holds a story, and every shadow hints at a presence unseen. These haunted hotels blend history, luxury, and mystery into an unforgettable stay.
1. Ballygally Castle, Ireland
Perched on the Antrim coast, Ballygally Castle has stood since the 17th century and carries with it tales of restless spirits. The most famous ghost is Lady Isobel Shaw, who is said to have been locked in a tower by her husband and either fell or jumped to her death. Guests often report knocks on doors and unexplained cold spots. Today, the castle functions as a hotel where visitors can stay in rooms steeped in history while wondering if the gentle knock they hear is just the wind or Lady Shaw herself.
2. Hotel Sorrento, Seattle, Washington
Seattle’s Hotel Sorrento, opened in 1909, is admired for its Italianate design and old-world elegance, yet it is equally known for its spectral resident. The spirit most often associated with the hotel is Alice B. Toklas, the longtime partner of writer Gertrude Stein, who is said to appear most often near room 408. Guests have reported flickering lights, objects shifting on their own, and an uncanny sense of being watched. Blending architectural charm with ghostly lore, the Sorrento offers a refined stay touched by the supernatural.
3. Hotel Viking, Newport, Rhode Island
Since opening in 1926, Hotel Viking has welcomed travelers with its grand design and refined charm, but guests often leave with stories of more than fine hospitality. Visitors have reported hearing footsteps in empty corridors, whispers in the dark, and televisions flicking on by themselves. Some say the hotel’s long history of serving dignitaries and celebrities has left behind more than just memories. Staying here means enjoying classic Newport elegance alongside a possible ghostly encounter.
4. The Langham, London, England
The Langham, one of London’s most celebrated hotels, has been hosting royalty and literary icons since the 19th century, but it is also considered one of the city’s most haunted landmarks. Room 333 is especially notorious, with sightings of a man in Victorian attire who appears during October. Other accounts include floating figures and a German prince who allegedly leapt to his death from a window. Despite these chilling tales, the Langham continues to shine as a symbol of timeless luxury.
5. The Henderson Castle Inn, Kalamazoo, Michigan
The Henderson Castle Inn, built in 1895 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, blends Victorian grandeur with a reputation for the unexplained. Guests have described shadowy forms moving across rooms, sudden flickers of light, and voices that seem to come from nowhere. Many believe the spirit of its original owner, Frank Henderson, still wanders the estate. Despite these ghostly tales, the inn welcomes visitors with fine dining, spa services, and historic charm, offering a stay that combines elegance with an air of mystery.
6. The Marshall House, Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is already famous for its haunted history, and The Marshall House fits perfectly into that reputation. Used as a hospital during the Civil War and later yellow fever epidemics, it carries a weight of sorrow within its walls. Guests have reported faucets turning on by themselves, the sound of children laughing, and even ghostly soldiers roaming the halls. Despite its eerie past, the hotel embraces its history, offering a stay that combines Southern hospitality with chilling echoes of the past.
7. Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Canada
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Canadian Rockies, the Fairmont Banff Springs is often called the “Castle in the Rockies.” Its grandeur is matched by ghost stories, including the legend of a bride who fell down the staircase on her wedding day and a former bellman who helps guests long after his passing. Visitors describe cold drafts, phantom lights, and unexplained noises. While its paranormal tales linger, the hotel remains one of Canada’s most iconic and luxurious destinations.
8. Chateau de Marcay, France
Tucked in the Loire Valley, the 15th-century Château de Marcay enchants visitors with its fairytale charm while hiding a darker legend. Local lore tells of a noblewoman believed to be a werewolf, slain by frightened villagers, whose restless spirit is said to still wander the estate. Guests report unsettling sounds, flickering lights, and the eerie sensation of being watched within its stone halls. Today, the château pairs rustic French elegance and historic allure with an unmistakable air of supernatural mystery.
9. Tulloch Castle Hotel, Scotland
Tulloch Castle in the Scottish Highlands traces its origins to the 12th century, carrying centuries of history and enduring ghostly legends. Its most famous spirit is the Green Lady, thought to be the daughter of a former laird, who is often seen drifting through corridors in her emerald gown. Guests have reported icy chills, faint whispers in empty rooms, and sudden apparitions. Despite its spectral tales, the castle offers warm hospitality, allowing visitors to enjoy authentic Scottish heritage wrapped in an air of mystery.
10. Ruthin Castle Hotel & Spa, Wales
Ruthin Castle in Wales began as a medieval fortress before transforming into a grand hotel, but its walls hold darker stories than its elegant setting suggests. The most famous spirit tied to the castle is the “Grey Lady,” believed to be a noblewoman executed for the violent murder of her husband’s lover. Guests claim to sense her presence drifting through the banquet hall and across the grounds. Today, Ruthin blends luxury dining, spa indulgence, and rich Welsh history with an undeniable aura of the supernatural.
11. Mermaid Inn, Rye, England
The Mermaid Inn in Rye, England, stands as one of the nation’s oldest and most atmospheric inns, with origins reaching back to the 12th century. Its half-timbered walls and secret passageways once sheltered smugglers, adding to its storied past. Today, it is celebrated not only for its history but also for its paranormal reputation. Guests recount rocking chairs that sway on their own, sudden chills in otherwise warm rooms, and ghostly figures gliding silently through walls. Blending medieval charm with spectral intrigue, the inn offers an unforgettable stay steeped in mystery.
12. Crescent Hotel and Spa, Arkansas, USA
The Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, often called “America’s most haunted hotel,” carries a history as unsettling as it is fascinating. Built in 1886, its grandeur masked a sinister chapter in the 1930s when conman Norman Baker converted it into a sham cancer hospital. Patients endured false promises and cruel experiments, leaving behind lingering sorrow. Today, guests speak of ghostly nurses, flickering lights, and apparitions of former patients. Yet alongside its eerie reputation, the Crescent thrives as a spa and hotel, offering visitors both luxury and legend.