Frightening: The 17 Scariest Places in Germany

Here it is again: the dark time of the year. Days are getting shorter, nights longer, and especially darker. On October 31st, Halloween has been celebrated in Germany for many years. Little and big fans of fright dress up, go door to door, and look forward to hours of horror movie marathons.

But for a truly special scare, it doesn't always have to be a movie or a podcast. In Germany, there are numerous spooky places, dark legends, and true crime scenes that can be visited.

Just in time for Halloween, Travelcircus has searched for eerie spots and found 17 of the scariest places in Germany that will freeze the blood in your veins.

The Top 17 Scary Hotspots in Germany at a Glance

So, are you curious? Our dark places can be found all over Germany, if you look closely. Most of our TOP 17 are located around and in Berlin, with others by the sea or deep hidden in the woods.

Sleep, baby, sleep

What looks like a beautiful and spacious care facility from the outside was, during the Nazi era, a place that couldn't be more gruesome. At the institution, horrible atrocities were committed against mentally disabled adults, and even children. Children were put to sleep with Luminal. In total, 99 children and 455 adult patients died there.

The Moor Bodies of Windeby

Moors, often shrouded in deep fog, always have something eerie about them. In 1952, the discovery of two bodies made Domslandmoor near Eckernförde an even darker place. The two bodies were suspected to be of a murdered couple.

The woman wore a blindfold and had a shaved head, while the man had a rope around his neck - this is how adulterers were executed in the past. However, it turned out in the 1990s that the two could never have met in life: the male body is 300 years younger than that of the woman, who later additionally turned out to be a boy's body.

Europe's Creepiest Sanatorium

No horror fan or hobby photographer with an affinity for dark places can pass by Beelitz-Heilstätten. Opened in 1902, it was the largest and most modern hospital in Europe at that time. Patients recovering from tuberculosis stayed in this impressive facility. Today, it is one of the most popular lost places in Germany.

In recent years, several murders have occurred around the sanatorium: In 1991, the serial killer known as 'The Beast of Beelitz' murdered a young woman and her three-month-old son. About 20 years later, in 2008, a young model met with a photographer who later beat and strangled her.

Megalomania with Many Victims

Right on the Weser at the edge of Bremen, a massive concrete colossus disrupts the rural idyll. The former U-Boat Bunker Valentin, measuring 420 meters in length and nearly 100 meters in width, is likely the largest bunker in the world. However, the concrete giant was meant not to provide shelter for people, but to assemble U-Boats. The goal was to complete a U-Boat every 56 hours. However, the war ended before any U-Boats could be built.

At least 6,000 forced laborers died during the construction of the bunker. This gave the concrete giant the sad nickname 'Germany's Largest Gravestone'.

Ghost Sightings in the Fog

Forests can be eerie and hauntingly beautiful, especially in the dark. A particularly spooky specimen can be found in Nienhagen on the Baltic Sea. The trees, some of which are over 120 years old, are mostly bare and twisted by the salty sea breeze. Especially in fog and with a slight wind, the forest appears ghostly. It is not uncommon for walkers to report eerie ghost sightings in the Ghost Forest.

The Forgotten Dream of the Water Park

After the political turnaround, many subsidies were invested in various construction projects - including water parks. In 1993, the first fun pool in the new federal states opened: the Basso Fun Pool, which immediately became very popular. However, joy and enthusiasm did not last long. More newer and even more modern fun pools were built in Saxony, and the little pool in Bad Schmiedeberg fell into oblivion. In 2009 it was finally abandoned.

Instagram Hotspot Built by the Devil

When examining the iconic Rakotz Bridge closer, one might wonder how this bridge built in 1863 was constructed? It seems that it could not have been built by human hands alone. According to legend, none other than the Devil himself helped with the construction. However, the assistance came at a price. The Devil demanded a sacrifice for his help: the soul of the first being that crossed the bridge. It could have been an animal, but in the case of the Rakotz Bridge, the bridge builder himself crossed it first and died.

No Lonely Silence

Welcome to the idyllic forest cemetery in Stahnsdorf. With its 200 hectares, it is also the tenth largest cemetery in the world. Thousands of graves are lined up here, and the large trees and old gravestones create a particularly eerie atmosphere. Alongside Berliners and Brandenburgers, many soldiers are buried in the forest cemetery. Especially in the area of the graves of English soldiers, it is said that ghosts are especially active at night. Walkers report having seen ghosts and feeling continuously watched.

No Entry Allowed

Another spooky lost place is located about an hour away from Berlin. In the inconspicuous Wünsdorf, tens of thousands once lived, but today only ruins and bunkers tell the story of the 'forbidden city.'

After World War II, the Soviet forces took over the city and turned it into an independent Soviet city. They built a hospital, a school, recreational facilities, shops, and even a railway line to Moscow. The name 'forbidden city' was given to Wünsdorf because few Germans were allowed to enter the city. Only about 1,000 employees were permitted to come to Wünsdorf to work.

Idyllic Outskirts and Dark Magic

Few places in Berlin are as idyllic as Peacock Island. But hardly anyone knows that the island was once regarded as a place of dark magic. At the end of the 17th century, entering Peacock Island was strictly forbidden. The people of Berlin suspected that the alchemist Johannes Kunckel was conducting dark experiments on the island and accused him of witchcraft. All they saw related to Kunckel's activities on the island were dark clouds of smoke and biting odors.

The Forgotten Amusement Park

Children's laughter has fallen silent, the Ferris wheel no longer turns - the former amusement park Spreepark in Berlin-Treptow has become quiet. The park used to host 1.7 million enthusiastic visitors annually, but today, the last remnants like toppled dinosaur figures or the roller coaster Spreeblitz are popular photo motifs.

The Business of Cocaine

After the Spreepark closed, the previous park owner Norbert Witte attempted to smuggle 167 kg of cocaine with six of his rides and his family to Peru. However, they were caught. Father Norbert was sentenced to 7 years in prison in Germany, and his son to 20 years in prison in Peru.

Dares and Black Masses

The overgrown garden, the covered fences, and the slowly decaying empty house remind one of horror houses like those from Resident Evil. This particularly atmospheric Ghost Villa is located in picturesque Verden and is rumored to be a site of paranormal activity.

For youth in Verden, it is a common dare to visit the Ghost Villa after dark. What they sometimes discover is truly creepy: animal carcasses, pentagrams, and other signs of black masses rumored to be held there in secret. Horror enthusiasts and ghost hunters have visited the villa and agreed that there is a dark energy within the house. Many locals also report that it is haunted inside and around the villa.

Creepy Villa with a Darker History

Few houses in the Cologne area are surrounded by as many ghost stories as House Fühlingen. According to legend, thousands died in a bloody knight's battle on the grounds in 1288. Some ghosts are said to haunt the property: the spirit of a forced laborer murdered in 1943 and that of a former Nazi judge who hanged himself on New Year's Eve in 1962. In 2007, youths discovered the body of another man, who was reportedly also hanged at exactly the same spot.

Restless Souls in Germany's 'Shining Hotel'

An abandoned hotel in a deserted, snowy area? What sounds like the hotel from Stephen King's horror story is actually a real hotel in Germany. Opened in 1902, Castle Hotel Waldlust was once a luxurious hotel and a meeting place for high society. However, it drastically changed at the end of World War II. The grand hotel became a military hospital, and many succumbed to their injuries there. Their restless souls are said to haunt the grounds to this day.

10,000-Year-Old Mass Grave

The Ofneth Caves draw many visitors each year. Parts of the once vast cave system can even be toured. In 1908, researchers made a gruesome discovery here: they found skulls of 19 children, ten women, and four men. It appears that the skulls were decapitated shortly after death and then placed in the cave with skin and hair. Researchers are certain: the 33 individuals were victims of brutal rituals.

The Cursed Chapel in the Woods

Deep in the dark woods near Weilheim stands the deceptively idyllic chapel. But appearances can be deceiving: the chapel is a particularly dark place surrounded by many spooky stories. Large black hellhounds are said to roam the forest, a light often burns at night in the chapel, and witches are rumored to carry out their misdeeds there. The chapel itself and everything within a 5 km radius are said to be cursed. No wonder that the chapel attracts both horror fans and youths for dares in a delightfully chilling manner.

Listening Station in Grunewald

On Berlin's highest mountain, Teufelsberg, is one of the capital's most popular excursion destinations and photo motifs: the former US listening station with its distinctive domes. This popular lost place offers not only a glimpse into the history of the Cold War, but also the best view over Grunewald and the entire city. Those who dare should try the ascent at dusk when the idyllic Grunewald turns into a hauntingly beautiful panorama.

Has the thrill of horror grabbed you, and do you want to discover even more dark places? Then you are in luck: there are countless more sinister places, haunted houses, abandoned islands, and scary legends in Germany. Three particularly spooky places that unfortunately didn't make our TOP 17 list must not be withheld from you:

The Forbidden Peninsula

Anyone who believes that forbidden places and ghost towns only exist in films is greatly mistaken - such a phenomenon is closer to some than they would like. The peninsula of Wustrow on the Baltic Sea (not to be confused with the village of the same name) is not legally accessible to the public; at least not on one's own.

Until the 1990s, the 10 km² peninsula was used militarily, including during World War II, when Hitler had Luftwaffe shows performed here. After the war, Wustrow was converted into a espionage base for the Red Army. Even today, remnants of the war can be found on the grounds alongside decaying residential areas and ruins, making it dangerous to enter the peninsula.

The Castle with the Bloodthirsty Princess

As one of the best-preserved castles in all of Brandenburg, Friedland Castle in the eponymous small town is now a popular destination. However, especially male visitors should be cautious: the bloodthirsty spirit of the princess wanders the halls.

In her pride, she allegedly rejected all suitors during her lifetime. The king, in search of an heir, was ultimately so bitter that he cursed her on his deathbed. Since then, she has roamed the castle as a White Lady, silently stalking men to strangle them from behind. Those who believe they are being pursued by the ghost of the princess at Friedland Castle have only one way to escape her: don't speak to her, don't curse, don't strike her, and by no means turn around and look at her!

The Creepy Ossuary

From the outside, the Michaels Chapel in Oppenheim appears idyllic, but a glance through the barred window into the ossuary takes your breath away: skulls and bones of over 3,000 dead are stacked here. In the Middle Ages, the remains of up to 20,000 people were stored in the basement area. The reason behind this is somewhat bizarre: after a population explosion, there was a lack of space for new graves, so old ones were dug up and the bones stacked in the ossuary. Those who dare can take a special tour to see the entire vault!

Admittedly, cursed places and mystical lost places are not necessarily everyone's cup of tea. Therefore, Travelcircus's travel experts have also summarized five attractions specifically developed to be spooky. This way, beginners in horror can first get familiar with fear under supervision:

The Hamburg Dungeon takes visitors on a 90-minute journey through the dark history of the Hanseatic city. Actors guide you through the time of the great flood, the plague, torture, and devastating fires and executions. Sometimes you even become part of the performance! Pure thrill in Speicherstadt!

In the air raid shelter at Anhalter Bahnhof, the Berlin Story Museum takes its visitors through the history of Berlin chronologically in over 30 stations. The eras of emperors, world wars, the GDR, and the Berlin Wall come to life with the help of audio guides and film sequences - history up close!

Goosebumps guaranteed! In Berlin-Hohenschönhausen, witnesses lead visitors through the former Stasi prison. During the impressive tour, it is explained in detail how political prisoners were incarcerated and tortured both physically and psychologically. The personal fates are deeply moving - often visitors end the tour with tears in their eyes!

In the Horror Labyrinth NRW, the name says it all: on 6,000 m², creepy attractions and scary stories await visitors. In the main attraction, you will be guided through a total of 16 show and labyrinth sections. To ensure that both big and small horror fans get their money's worth, the main show is available once in a family-friendly version and once as an over-16 version. Europe's largest horror experience world thus ensures thrill for the whole family!

The Museum for Sepulchral Culture in Kassel has something creepy about it, as it provides insight into the history of burial culture and funeral rituals. The permanent exhibition mainly features exhibits from German sepulchral culture, such as coffins, hearses, tombstones, and mourning garments. In addition, there are exciting film contributions and changing special exhibitions.

So, are you already getting chills, feeling goosebumps, or does your heart race? Which scary attractions have made your blood run cold the most? Or do you know other places that teach us to fear? We look forward to your thoughts!