Halloween is not a traditional holiday in Romania. It was, however, imported and thanks to many expats and our love for partying, it quickly became a popular day to have fun.

We do have a similar spooky holiday, though, celebrated on November 30th. Dedicated ato Saint Andrew, it is considered the “Romanian Halloween”.

whether you prefer the imported or the local one, however, Romania doesn’t lack haunted and scary places, which are just perfect to visit…on any occasion.

Baciu Forest, Cluj

I used to visit Cluj a lot when I was in high school and I do remember spooky stories about this forest. Between lights that shouldn’t be there, human-like shadows , weird energy fields (apparently a car can “drive itself” in the vicinity) and UFO sightings, Baciu Forest is a mystery.

Still, each time I was near or in the forest, nothing weird happened. Maybe I have to try again…

Sighisoara

To be honest, I found Sighisoara quite spooky although I visited right smack in the middle of the summer. The torture chamber is incredible and the squeaky stairs leading to the Clock Tower will give you enough adrenaline for the day. And by the way: this is where Vlad Dracul was born.

Radovan Forest, Dolj

This is one of those places where car accidents happen on a flat surface which shouldn’t offer any chance for an accident. Legends are related to a young woman who died in the forest (one legend says she killed herself by jumping into a well, other legend says she hung herself). Either way, her ghost has something to do with the problems here.

Lunganilor Hill, Iasi

Apparently, this place is haunted by the ghosts of soldiers who died in the First World War. Sightings include seeing men without a head , see-through shadows and weird lights.

DN 7, near Gaiesti

DN7 (a national road linking Bucharest to Nadlac, via the mountains) is really spooky in places and there are always quite a lot of accidents. Apparently, one such place is near Gaiesti, Dambovita county, a place where another ghost of a young woman is wracking havoc. A long time ago, a girl died in a car accident exactly on her wedding day. Since that day, accidents happen close to where the cross marking her death is located.

Bran Castle

It’s considered one of the spookiest places on the planet thanks to the link to Dracula (or better said Vlad Dracul or Vlad the Impaler). Truth be told, apparently Vlad never set foot here, but his legend has. So, tourism set in and we’ve got a spooky place for those looking for Halloween fun, the American way.

Each year, there’s a party to mark the occasion and visiting the castle can give you chills down the spine, too.

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Poienari Fortress

Now this is the former fortress of Vlad Dracul, up in the mountains , in a quite spooky place. Apparently tourism has come here as well, but it’s still in its infancy so you can enjoy real ruins with a spooky feeling.

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