The most terrifying attractions in the world are an adventure you won't want to miss if you enjoy the unusual travel experience. Some of these locations can challenge the bravest of visitors, from the glass walkways above steep mountain cliffs to the tunnels underground, where the bones of human remains line the walls.
Some are terrifying due to their lofty heights, some have exciting rides, some are dark, with horror stories, and some are dark with horror surroundings. The book rounds up 34 places with creepy atmospheres, sketchy locations, intriguing pasts or thrilling adventures. These attractions will definitely leave a lasting impression on you whether you are into dark tourism, haunted places or extreme adventure.
Explore if you dare
Walkways that run along cliff edges with nothing below create a sense of vertigo. Vaults underground stuff human skulls from floor to ceiling. A field of figures stares blankly through lack of eyes at nothing. Coasters will reduce you to a hoarse whimper in just a few minutes.
Maybe this isn't the recipe for a peaceful holiday, but we have meticulously collated the world's 34 goriest attractions, all designed for maximum fun for both adrenaline junkies and ghouls alike, so consider yourselves thoroughly warned!
The Skywalk at the Dachstein Glacier, Austria
The Skywalk presents an awe-inspiring, glass observation platform that hangs over the sheer rock face of the Huner Kogel mountains, which plunge vertically, just like the ground below, to some vertigo sufferers, all the way down 250 meters (820 feet) to a point where the Skywalk platform appears as a mere speck. This viewing spot offers stunning vistas in their beauty that few in the Alps can match on a clear day, the views stretch all the way across into neighboring Slovenia and Czechia.
Though delicate in appearance, this structure does not exhibit a fragility to worry about; the Skywalk is no rickety setup engineers reinforced it with steel, and they constructed it to withstand gusts of winds of 130 mph (210 km/h) and 8 meters (26 ft) of thick snow.
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The Winchester Mystery House, California, USA
Beneath the fairytale exterior of San Jose's Winchester Mystery House, a frightening heart beats, and many have named this abode America's most haunted house.
Insane 'cursed widow' Sarah Winchester built this 160-room mega-house between 1884 and 1922, and it features 2000 doors, 10,000 windows, a 'seance room,' and an endless array of ghost reports and paranormal activity. Visitors can explore the house year-round, but it becomes particularly fascinating when explored in the dead of night.
Goman tong Caves, Borneo, Malaysia
Claustrophobes, beware. Arachnophobes, beware too. These are the Gomantong Caves a key stop on any tourist journey across Malaysian Borneo, home not only to thousands upon thousands of creatures from bats to cockroaches and spiders, to scorpions and terrifying giant centipedes who crawl and scuttle over every floor, damp and mossy wall.
Catacombs of Paris, France
One of the ghastliest sites anywhere in the world lies deep beneath Paris. Known as 'the Catacombs of Paris', workers constructed an ossuary at 33 meters below street level because it became impossible to continue storing so many bodies in the city's overcrowded graveyards and cemeteries. Originally, these are remains that date back to sometime in 1786.
The underground burial chambers extend 5 stories deep, with just over a mile accessible to tourists, but they cover an astonishing 150 miles! Many visitors have called this haunting place of bones beautiful, as artists have laid out the skeletal remains to form intricate designs and murals, which can also be seen along with various art sculptures.
Red Force Roller Coaster, Spain
The record-breaking Red Force, known as Europe's fastest and highest roller coaster, reaches speeds of 0-110 mph (177 kph) in an electrifying 5 seconds. When it opened in 2017 as part of the thrilling Ferrari Land park, the developers created the coaster to provide fans with the exhilarating sensation of being a Formula One racer in a high-G (1.35) ride.
Engineers invested an estimated €80 million ($101.9 million) in the technically advanced attraction, which employs magnetic launch technology during the exhilarating acceleration phase.
Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia
Port Arthur, in the Australian island state of Tasmania, has a truly gruesome history. Once the site of the largest penal colony in Australia in the 18th and 19th centuries, a total of 14,000 convicts passed through or lived here.
And even now, the recent history is of a more tragic nature with the country's largest mass shooting occurring in 1996 in Port Arthur. Today, Port Arthur is a hugely popular historic site, now incorporating the eerie 'Isle of the Dead' where over 1,000 convicts and their families lie buried.
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Felicitas Slate Mine, Germany
Few abandoned locations possess the creepy factor of an abandoned mine, and one that is completely submerged underwater likely represents the peak of such eerie atmospheres. The Felicitas Slate Mine, which sits 96 miles (156km) east of Dusseldorf in Germany, has welcomed visitors since it opened in 1886 before it closed down specifically for the deliberate flooding that occurred in 1997.
Although it has remained abandoned since then, it has transformed into a popular destination for divers who can immerse themselves in the darkness, explore discarded cables, and even discover a tiny chapel beneath the water, all thanks to the old machinery that is still visible down below. Appropriately for the adventurous souls looking to explore in and around this eerie mine, this thrilling adventure is reserved only for divers holding a cave or mine certification, and exciting tours are conducted throughout the entire year.
FAQs
1. What are the most terrifying attractions in the world?
Some of the most terrifying attractions include the Catacombs of Paris, Winchester Mystery House, Gomantong Caves, Red Force roller coaster, and the Skywalk at Dachstein Glacier.
2. What makes an attraction terrifying?
Height, darkness, extreme rides, underground spaces, creepy surroundings, dangerous-looking locations, and tragic or mysterious histories can all make an attraction frightening.
3. What is a good attraction for people who enjoy dark tourism?
The Catacombs of Paris and Port Arthur are strong choices because both have fascinating historical backgrounds and a darker atmosphere.
4. Are terrifying attractions safe to visit?
Most established attractions have safety rules and systems for visitors. However, some activities, such as cave or mine diving, may require specialist training or certification.
5. Which attraction is best for thrill seekers?
Red Force at Ferrari Land in Spain is a strong choice for thrill seekers because of its rapid launch, high speed, and intense roller-coaster experience.
