The top ten European cities for a spooky break this October

Sibiu in Romania claims the top spot as our best city for a spooky October break, with 88 points, thanks to a few different factors. We gave cities with a lower population a higher score, because less crowded streets might be more atmospheric, and it has a population of 134,309.

Sibiu is famous for its architecture and is, in fact, nicknamed ‘The City With Eyes’ because of the eyebrow dormers on the roofs of buildings. These ventilation windows make it seem like the buildings are looking at you with multiple eyes, which can look a little eerie!

This was also one of the most affordable destinations, with a night’s stay in a hotel costing around €146 and car rental over the weekend working out at €4, the lowest price in the whole study.

Next up is Gdańsk, Poland with 85 points. This is one of the cities with the longest nights, with 14 hours and 4 minutes of darkness on October 24, giving visitors a little bit longer to explore the historic city streets while the sun is down. Mariacka Street is one of the most beautiful streets in Gdańsk, rebuilt in the 60s in its original style after World War Two, and many of the buildings have fantastical gargoyles that peer down at you as you walk along!

Gothic buildings in Gdańsk include St. Mary's Church, one of the world's largest brick churches. Built in 1502, it’s known as the ‘Crown of Gdańsk’ and is well worth a visit. The cost to stay in a hotel for one night is €135, and the cost to rent a car for the weekend is €34, making it another affordable city break option.

Poland also ranked sixth in our roundup of the easiest countries to navigate by car, another reason why it could be a great destination for your next trip.

In third place, the Estonian capital Tallinn has 82 points. This city has the longest night in the whole ranking, with 14 hours and 33 minutes of darkness on 24 October. Medieval Gothic buildings in this city include St. Mary's Cathedral and St. Olaf’s Church – the tallest Medieval building in Tallinn, with an observation deck 60 metres high where you can look out over the skyline.

There are lots of Ghost Tours and spooky-themed walking tours around the city’s Old Town, which could be an ideal way to spend an evening in Tallinn! A night’s stay in a hotel costs €327, and it would cost €34 to rent a car for the weekend.

Tallinn also came sixth in our study earlier this year into the best destinations for a springtime city break, if you prefer to travel when the days get a bit longer and brighter!

A second Polish city appears within the top five, with Kraków scoring 78 points in fourth place. One of the most famous examples of Gothic architecture in the city is Wawel Cathedral, a very grand and beautiful cathedral which is nearly 1000 years old. The crypts beneath the cathedral are the resting place of many important figures in Polish history.

Night-time walking tours where you can explore the city and hear some spine-chilling stories are available to book onto. It would cost €249 to stay in a hotel for a night, and €16 to rent a car for the weekend, one of the lowest prices in the ranking.

Finally in the top five, we have another Romanian city – Brașov, with 76 points! This city sits at the foot of the Carpathian mountains in the Transylvanian region, an area that’s incredibly rich in folklore, myths and legends.

The Black Church is one of the most magnificent Gothic buildings in the city and got its name because of the way the external walls have darkened over the years. It costs €152 to stay in a hotel for a night, and €26 to rent a car for the weekend.

About 30 km from Brașov, you can find Bran Castle, an imposing fortress that’s marketed outside Romania as ‘Dracula’s Castle’ (although there’s no evidence Vlad Țepeș, the character’s real-life inspiration, ever went there). Every year, the castle throws a world-famous Halloween party and costume contest.

In sixth place, Riga has 71 points. The Latvian capital has the second longest night in the ranking, at 14 hours and 18 minutes of darkness on October 24. Famous examples of Gothic architecture here include Riga Cathedral and St. Peter's Church.

Riga also ranked in third place in our previous study into Europe's top scenic locations – another reason to visit this gorgeous city.

Rouen achieved 68 points—it's home to one of the most famous and beautiful examples of Gothic architecture in the world, the Notre-Dame of Rouen Cathedral. This city in France is another one of the smaller cities in our ranking, with a population of 119,500.

We have also previously found France to be the second easiest country to drive in, according to factors like road investment per capita.

Next up, Ghent scored 66 points. This Belgian city has lots of examples of Medieval Gothic architecture, making it very atmospheric for an evening wander, namely St. Bavo's Cathedral, the Ghent Belfry, and St. Nicholas' Church.

York in the United Kingdom landed in joint eighth place with Ghent, with 66 points. York’s most famous Gothic landmark is York Minster, Northern Europe’s second-largest Gothic cathedral. Also, the International Ghost Research Foundation once called York ‘the most haunted city in Europe’.

In ninth place, we have Venice with 61 points. Venice is so famous for Gothic architecture that it even has its own style, Venetian Gothic. If you’ve ever watched the classic horror movie ‘Don’t Look Now’, you’ll know just how spooky this beautiful Italian city can look at night!

Italy also ranked fifth in our previous research into the countries with the most beautiful views.

Another Italian city ranked in joint ninth place, Milan, with 61 points. Milan Cathedral is one of the city’s most impressive Gothic buildings, taking six centuries to complete.

Finally, in tenth place, Edinburgh scored 60 points. The capital of Scotland is full of Gothic architecture, like the Scott Monument dedicated to writer Sir Walter Scott, and St Giles’ Cathedral. Why not try a spooky walking tour of The Edinburgh Vaults, the tunnels underneath the South Bridge arches?

We hope you enjoyed our round-up of the top ten destinations for a city break with an eerie twist this October. If you’re looking to rent a car for a vacation this autumn – spooky or otherwise – please consider booking with us. We’re a global car rental comparison site who can help you find the perfect rental car in over 164 countries around the world.