The top ten European cities for a spooky break this October

As the days start getting shorter and the weather gets cooler, we’re approaching Halloween. In our latest research here at global car rental comparison site DiscoverCars.com, we’ve rounded up the top ten European cities for an atmospheric, curious and even rather spooky city break! To choose the best Halloween destinations, we’ve looked at factors like the number of Medieval Gothic buildings, as well as how many hours of darkness there are in a day. We also compared the costs, to pick out top affordable potential destinations.

Methodology

We selected an initial list of 27 cities around Europe that are known for their Gothic architecture. We worked out the hours of darkness on 24 October in each location, and gave the cities with the longest hours of darkness the highest points out of a possible 27. The cities with a higher number of examples of Medieval Gothic architecture were also given a higher number of points out of 27. Cities with a lower population were also given a higher score out of a possible 27.

We checked the hotel price per night using a popular hotel booking website, and gave the cities with the cheapest hotel prices a higher number of points out of 27. Finally, we used the global car rental comparison site DiscoverCars.com to work out the price to rent a car from 24-27 October, giving cities with a lower cost a higher number of points out of a possible 27

Sibiu, Romania

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.

Gdańsk, Poland

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.

Tallinn, Estonia

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!

Kraków, Poland

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.

Brașov, Romania

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.

Riga, Latvia

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, France

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.

Ghent, Belgium

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, United Kingdom

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’.

Venice, Italy

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.

Milan, Italy

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.

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

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?

Halloween city breaks

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.

Top related locations

Here are some other great destinations for a spooky Halloween getaway.

• Prague, Czech Republic (Václav Havel Airport): cobbled lanes and looming castles make the old town feel otherworldly at night.
• Munich, Germany (Munich Airport): gothic churches and crypts mix with eerie Bavarian folklore.
• Hamburg, Germany (Hamburg Airport): historic harbor warehouses and haunted St. Nicholas’ ruins set a spooky scene.
• Cologne, Germany (Cologne Bonn Airport): towering gothic cathedral and medieval cellars make nights atmospheric.
• Budapest, Hungary (Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport): labyrinths under Buda Castle hold dark stories and eerie chambers.
• Porto, Portugal (Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport): baroque churches and foggy riverside alleys feel haunting at night.
• Warsaw, Poland (Warsaw Chopin Airport): reconstructed old town and gothic churches mix with legends of war ghosts.
• Bucharest, Romania (Henri Coandă International Airport): Dracula legends and gloomy palaces bring a spooky vibe.
• Sofia, Bulgaria (Sofia Airport): underground Roman ruins and medieval churches whisper ancient tales.
• Istanbul, Turkey (Istanbul Airport): mysterious cisterns and ancient city walls are perfect for eerie explorations.
• Marseille, France (Marseille Provence Airport): old port legends and prison island Château d’If add ghostly intrigue.
• Lyon, France (Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport): traboules (hidden passageways) and gothic churches make for spooky wandering.
• Geneva, Switzerland (Geneva Airport): gothic St. Peter’s Cathedral and underground crypts bring the past to life.
• Zürich, Switzerland (Zürich Airport): medieval towers and legends of witches haunt the old town streets.
• Dublin, Ireland (Dublin Airport): gothic cathedrals and crypts tell ghostly tales of Ireland’s past.
• Mexico City, Mexico (Benito Juárez International Airport): Día de los Muertos celebrations bring a festive yet haunting vibe.
• New Orleans, Louisiana (Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport): voodoo traditions, haunted mansions, and eerie cemeteries.
• San Francisco, California (San Francisco International Airport): Alcatraz Island is one of the most chilling prison sites.
• Los Angeles, California (Los Angeles International Airport): home to haunted Hollywood theaters, spooky theme park events, and legendary Halloween parties.
• Bangkok, Thailand (Suvarnabhumi Airport): temples, spirit houses, and ghost legends are everywhere.