🏛️ 10 Places with a dark history: from the Paris catacombs to the Sedlec ossuary

Dark tourism has long stopped being a niche hobby. Ghost walks in Australia, bones in a Czech church, a historic prison near Dublin: these sites draw hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

People mostly visit cemeteries, prisons, catacombs, and memorials. You won't see staged sets, you'll see places where real tragedies happened. People want to see history with their own eyes, not read about it in a textbook.

Below are ten places in Europe and Australia where people go for dark history. Each entry includes how to get there. Figures come from official sources, and you'll find a link next to each one.

Ad: this article contains affiliate links, we earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.

What to see: 10 places with dark history

💡 In short:

Cemeteries and city walks are usually free, museums charge admission.
Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official website.

1. Ghost walks in Gosnells

Gosnells, Australia, a southeastern suburb of Perth, has been running "Ghost Walks" for nearly 30 years (as of 09/2026, official city website). You walk with lanterns through heritage sites while actors portray historical residents. The project has won a Western Australian Heritage Award and a national creativity award.

Historic Wilkinson mansion with veranda in Gosnells

The season runs from October to March, with tours starting on Fridays closest to the full moon (as of 09/2026, city website). Tickets are released in advance and often sell out months ahead.

How to get there: Gosnells is in Perth's southeastern suburbs; buses run to the district center.
Cost: tickets are paid; check the price on the city website.
Who it's for: anyone who enjoys evening walks and local legends.
The catch: tours run only in season; they don't operate in winter.

2. Aberdeenshire historic church trail

Aberdeenshire Council in Scotland invites you to walk among ruined churches and old graveyards. The trail links 12 sites across the region (as of 09/2026, council brochure). You'll pass ruins where plaques explain the memento mori symbols on gravestones.

Historic St Ternan's Church in Arbuthnott

Guides also cover a grim chapter of local history: body snatching. It left burial houses and safes in cemeteries, where bodies were hidden from corpse hunters. The route is long, so take a car.

How to get there: trail sites are scattered across the region; a car is the most convenient option.
Cost: walking the trail is free.
Who it's for: fans of quiet ruins and church architecture.
The catch: some sites stand in open countryside with no transport nearby.

3. Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh

Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh is called one of the most famous haunted places in the world. Harry Potter fans find gravestones here whose names inspired the author's characters: Minerva McGonagall, Alastor Moody, and Tom Riddle. Entry to the grounds is free (as of 09/2026, official website).

Stone vaults and gravestones at Greyfriars Kirkyard

How to get there: the cemetery is next to the Royal Mile, about five minutes on foot (per the map).
Cost: entry to the cemetery is free; only evening tours are paid.
Who it's for: those looking for atmosphere and literary details.
The catch: evening tours must be booked in advance; there may be no spots available on site.

4. Wicklow Gaol in Ireland

Wicklow Gaol in the county of the same name is considered the best interactive prison museum in Ireland. The 18th-century stone building has been preserved almost entirely, and the route leads straight through the cells.

Guides tell stories about the men, women, and children who were held here over two centuries (official website). The "Gates of Hell" attraction uses virtual reality: visitors are transported into events from the prison's history. The building earned its reputation as Ireland's top haunted site because of the torture and starvation its inmates endured.

Book prison and town tours in advance, groups fill up quickly in summer. Wicklow tours on GetYourGuide.

Getting there: the prison is in the center of Wicklow, next to the main street.
Cost: check the schedule and seasonal price on the official website (as of 09/2026).
Who it's for: anyone interested in prison history and immersive museums.
The catch: the museum operates seasonally, with shorter hours in winter.

5. Paris Catacombs

The Paris Catacombs lie 20 meters beneath the city, and their galleries stretch for dozens of kilometers (as of 09/2026, official website). The underground ossuary holds the remains of several million Parisians.

Paris Catacombs corridor with walls of bones

Admission costs €31 for adults, €25 for concessions, and €15 for children aged 8-17, with the audio guide included (as of 09/2026, official website). The Catacombs welcome visitors Tuesday through Sunday from 9:45 to 20:30, with last entry at 19:30; Monday is closed (as of 09/2026, Catacombs website).

Entry slots sell out weeks in advance. Timed tickets on Tiqets will save you time in line.

Getting there: the entrance is next to the Denfert-Rochereau metro station.
Cost: admission is paid, small children enter free.
Who it's for: those who don't mind narrow underground galleries.
The catch: there is no elevator or restrooms inside, and the exit staircase is long.

6. Leap castle in county Offaly

Leap Castle in County Offaly is called the most famous haunted castle in the world. It was built more than five hundred years ago under the rule of the O'Carroll clan, whose history is full of feuds and bloodshed (official website).

The castle remains a private residence, but the owners let tourists in. The owner, Seán Ryan, plays the Irish tin whistle. He personally guides you through the halls and sometimes plays a tune or two.

Guests are welcomed Monday through Saturday, roughly from 10:00 to 17:00, closed on Sundays (as of 09/2026, visit page). Check the schedule on the website before your trip.

How to get there: the castle is near the village of Roscrea, easiest by car.
Cost: admission is by arrangement with the owner, confirm the price when booking.
Who it's for: those interested in lived-in castles and private collections.
The catch: the parking lot is small and unmarked, spaces may run out.

7. Lú Festival of Light in Drogheda

The Lú Festival in Drogheda tells Irish myths through the language of light. The shows are free, and the action unfolds right on the city streets (as of 09/2026, official website).

The stories are presented through audio narration and projections on buildings. In addition to the main shows, you'll see street performances, and cafes and bars in the center stay open late. A family area with a Viking camp is set up in the Old Abbey parking lot.

How to get there: Drogheda is close to Dublin, reachable via the M1 motorway.
Cost: admission to the shows and venues is free.
Who it's for: families with children and fans of light shows.
The catch: festival dates change, check the program before your trip.

8. Sedlec ossuary in Kutná Hora

The Sedlec Ossuary is located in the town of Kutná Hora, not far from Prague. From the outside it's a modest church, but inside it's decorated with the bones of more than 40,000 people (as of 09/2026, official website).

Gothic All Saints Chapel with ossuary in Sedlec

The main exhibit here is a huge chandelier made of bones in the center of the hall. Nearby hangs the Schwarzenberg family coat of arms, also assembled from human remains. The sight is both eerie and orderly, which is why visitors remember the ossuary.

Getting here from Prague is easy by train. Prague to Kutná Hora train tickets are worth booking in advance during high season.

How to get there: a direct train runs from Prague to Kutná Hora station.
Cost: admission is paid, check the exact price on the official website.
Who it's for: those interested in Baroque art and history.
The catch: it's cramped inside and full of tour groups, in summer it's best to arrive at opening time.

9. Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris

Père Lachaise in Paris is considered the most visited necropolis in the world. Around 70,000 graves lie on the hill, and the park itself resembles an open-air museum (as of 09/2026, Paris tourist office).

Main entrance to Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris

Honoré de Balzac, Frédéric Chopin, Molière, Édith Piaf, Camille Pissarro and Oscar Wilde are buried here. Gothic graves sit alongside family vaults and old mausoleums. Entry is free, and themed walks run across the cemetery on weekends.

Père Lachaise tours on GetYourGuide will help you avoid getting lost among thousands of graves.

Getting there: entrances at Père Lachaise and Gambetta metro stations.
Cost: entry is free, only guided tours are paid.
Who it's for: those who come for the architecture and history.
The catch: on weekends the paths fill up with groups, early morning is quieter.

10. London's old cemeteries

London is surrounded by a belt of 19th-century cemeteries. Three of them stand out for their atmosphere, and each holds its own story.

Abney Park

Abney Park opened in 1840 as a non-denominational cemetery (as of 09/2026, Conde Nast Traveller). It retains a rebellious spirit: narrow paths lead to dead ends, and the monuments are so weathered that the names are barely legible.

Old brick chapel with lattice gate in overgrowth

Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets in the East End was bombed more than once. The chapels were so badly damaged that they were demolished, and many graves are now hidden by undergrowth.

Mossy gravestones among trees in an old cemetery

West Norwood

West Norwood is called the cemetery of contrasts. New burials sit next to old plots, wild growth competes for space with flowers and offerings. A rose garden lies at the center, and the most prominent spot is taken by the Greek Orthodox necropolis with its mosaics and the Chapel of St Stephen.

Getting there: all three cemeteries are connected to central London by tube and rail.
Cost: entry is free, the grounds are open during daylight hours.
Who it's for: those who love overgrown parks and Victorian sculpture.
The catch: some sections are overgrown, it's better to stick to the main paths.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

What is dark tourism?

It's a type of travel where tourists visit places associated with death, war and tragedy. These include cemeteries, prisons, memorials and catacombs. Today it's part of ordinary urban tourism rather than a separate subculture.

Do I need to book tickets in advance?

Yes, if you're going to the Paris Catacombs or the Sedlec Ossuary. In season, the queue without a booking stretches for a long time. For cemeteries and city walks, tickets are usually not needed, entry is free.

Can I visit cemeteries for free?

Most old cemeteries are open to everyone and don't charge admission. Exceptions include evening tours, private grounds and certain museums. The rules are simple: keep quiet, respect other visitors and be careful about taking photos during funeral ceremonies.

Is it ethical?

The question is debated by the museums themselves. Many sites put their revenue into preserving monuments and explaining the context. Some cemeteries ask visitors to keep quiet and not photograph people. If you're unsure, take an organized tour with a guide.

How much time should I allow for one site?

A small cemetery is fine for a short walk. For a prison museum or catacombs, leave more time, the underground route follows a long loop. London's old cemeteries cover a lot of ground, and it's easy to spend half a day there.

In short: what's worth booking

If you're after atmosphere, start with Greyfriars and Père Lachaise: entry is free and there's plenty to take in. If you want a striking museum, choose the Sedlec Ossuary or Wicklow Gaol. For a more intense experience, the Paris Catacombs fit the bill.

For a multi-country trip, it's convenient to book tickets in one place. Attraction tickets on Tiqets and trains across Europe on Trip.com cover most of the route. Check opening hours before you set off: schedules are seasonal.

Catacombs, ossuaries and ghost walks: 10 places for a dark trip