Halloween Fun for the Whole Family: Tripeden.com Presents Not-So-Scary Getaways to Celebrate Spooky Season
From pumpkin festivals in New England to costumed parades in South America and glow-in-the-dark zoo adventures in Asia, Halloween (taking place annually on October 31) is no longer just about trick-or-treating. It’s become a global celebration of family-friendly fun. While the holiday’s roots lie in Celtic tradition, destinations around the world have embraced it with their own playful twists, blending local culture, seasonal festivities, and just the right hint of spookiness. With 66%* of global travelers planning activity-oriented trips when traveling with their families, Tripeden.com is spotlighting some of the most spirited Halloween getaways that prove you don’t have to stay in your local neighborhood to enjoy the magic of the season.
Salem, Massachusetts, USA
Located in the northeastern United States, the historic city of Salem embraces its infamous past to become the epicenter of Halloween festivities. Each October, its cobbled streets and colonial squares come alive with haunted happenings, where ghost tours, street performers, and costumed parades turn history into spectacle. Families can join the Salem Voodoo, Vampires and Ghosts Tour, weaving past old cemeteries and historic houses while hearing tales of the 1692 witch trials and New England’s history of voodoo and ghost sightings. Beyond the spooky season, Salem offers plenty for curious travelers. The Peabody Essex Museum showcases maritime treasures and global art, while the Salem Maritime National Historic Site tells the story of America’s earliest seafaring days. Families can picnic on Winter Island overlooking the Atlantic, browse eclectic witch-themed shops, or simply savor cider doughnuts on a crisp autumn stroll.
Where to stay: In the heart of Salem, The Cove takes fright night seriously with uniquely themed rooms, from a witches cottage to a medieval dungeon, making this property the ultimate Halloween hideaway. Families will love each spacious room’s playful decor and easy access to the city’s bewitching activities.
Limoges, France
In the heart of France’s Limousin region, Limoges adds a distinctly European touch to Halloween. Medieval squares glow with lanterns and pumpkins, while street performers and market stalls selling masks and autumn sweets turn the city into an open-air festival. Families can join pumpkin-carving workshops or attend storytelling evenings where ghosts and goblins enchant rather than frighten. Known as the world’s porcelain capital, Limoges also offers artistic adventures beyond the season. At the Musée National Adrien Dubouché, children can get hands-on with a variety of workshops including porcelain painting and comic strip making while parents admire centuries of craftsmanship. Tree-lined promenades and public gardens invite leisurely strolls while nearby Millevaches Plateau provides trails where families can hike through rolling hills and forests, making Limoges a blend of spooky fun and cultural charm for all to enjoy.
Where to stay: Villa37 is a stylish private retreat where guests step from the candlelit streets of Limoges into their own dark and charming cozy escape. With five bedrooms and five bathrooms, it’s the ideal accommodation for a family reunion. Close to the city center, travelers can easily head out to enjoy frightening October celebrations before returning to the villa’s warmth for a home cooked meal.
Taipei, Taiwan
The capital of Taiwan, Taipei is known for its modern towering skyscrapers, vibrant street-food scene and bustling markets. Beyond the city lights, Taipei brings Halloween to life with “Zoolloween,” the Taipei Zoo’s annual festival inviting animals and families to dress up to turn the zoo into a playful and spooky celebration. Children can join trick-or-treat parades through the park, while zookeepers stage pumpkin-themed surprises, from elephants smashing gourds, a local hard-shelled fruit, to red pandas rummaging in festive treats. Away from Zoolloween, travelers can ride the Maokong Gondola which glides above tea plantations and city skylines, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding greenery. The lively Shilin Night Market keeps little hands busy with street snacks and glowing lanterns, while Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall offers wide plazas perfect for children to run free. Blending spooky charm with cultural exploration, Taipei ensures families find adventure long after the jack-o’-lanterns fade.
Where to stay: Gloria Residence blends sleek modern style with warm hospitality in the heart of Taipei. Families can stretch out in spacious apartment suites before exploring near-by attractions, including Ningxia Night Market (less than a 15-minute walk away) and Xingtian Temple or, instead, spend their days swimming in the property’s indoor pool or enjoying a drink or two in the communal lounge.
Billund, Denmark
Nestled in Denmark’s countryside, Billund transforms into a Halloween playground with LEGOLAND Billund Resort at the center of the town’s celebrations. Taking place from October 3 to November 2, the resort takes on a festive glow with giant LEGO pumpkins, cobweb-draped castles, and parades where friendly ghouls lead “brick-or-treat” adventures for kids. Seasonal shows and dazzling light displays extend the fun long after sundown, while themed rides keep the energy high. But Billund is more than just a world of bricks and costumes. Families can dive into year-round excitement at the sprawling waterpark of Aquadome, explore the rolling Danish countryside by bike, discovering scenic trails and charming villages along the way, or Grindsted Church, a charming piece of architecture dating back to the Middle Ages. After a day of adventure, travelers can settle in for some classic Danish comfort food, think hearty frikadeller, meatballs and sweet kanelsnegle, cinnamon rolls.
Where to stay: Located only 300 metres (328 yards) from LEGOLAND’s “brick-or-treat” celebrations, The Lodge Billund pairs minimalist interiors with autumnal charm, surrounded by forests and crisp seasonal air. The property’s family-friendly location makes it the ideal cozy retreat for all, paired with both indoor and outdoor playgrounds and a swimming pool to help children burn off some energy.
Bogotá, Colombia
In Colombia, Halloween is known as “Día de las Brujitas” (“Day of the Little Witches”) and is celebrated with vibrant parades where families fill the streets in costume and trick-or-treat while singing a short song to receive candy. An annual march attracts over 40,000 people dressed up as zombies who roam the city’s streets. The colonial streets of La Candelaria, located in the heart of Bogotá, Colombia’s capital city, come alive each October with costumed processions, live music, and the festive energy of Witches’ Day. Join a La Candelaria Walking Tour to explore colonial houses and baroque churches. The dazzling Gold Museum showcases pre-Colombian treasures, while the Monserrate Mountain lifts visitors by funicular or cable car for sweeping city views, and Simón Bolívar Park provides a green haven for cycling and paddle boating. From science museums to street art tours, Bogotá is a year-round destination for all the family to enjoy.
Where to stay: Cassa Luxury Homes offers families a luxury stay within Bogotá. From two-bedroom apartments to penthouse rooms all kitted out with a balcony, kitchenette, and modern amenities, travelers will feel right at home. Within walking distance of Parque de la 93 and El Chico Museum, travelers will come to Bogotá for the Halloween-celebrations and want to stick around to explore all the city has to offer.
*Research was commissioned by Tripeden.com and independently conducted among a sample of adults who had taken a leisure trip in the last 12 months with an overnight stay and plan to travel in 2025. The sample comprised 32,106 respondents across 32 markets surveyed in January 2025. USA N=2,000, Canada N=800, Spain N=800, Italy N=800, France N=1800, UK N=1800, Germany N=1800, Netherlands N=800, Denmark N=500, Sweden N=500, Croatia N=501, Switzerland N=800, Belgium N=800, Ireland N=504, Austria N=500, Portugal N=800, Mexico N=1,800, Colombia N=800, Brazil N=1,800, Argentina N=800, India N=1,800, China N=800, Hong Kong N=500, Thailand N=800, Singapore N=800, Taiwan N=500, Vietnam N=800, South Korea N=800, Japan N=1,800, UAE N=500, Australia N=1,800, New Zealand N=500.