Many think the U.S. has cornered the market on creepy, especially with urban legends and haunted spots. However, countries worldwide boast their own eerie stories designed to make your heart pound and chills race down your spine. Get ready to explore some truly unsettling tales from beyond American shores.
10. Ghostly Marble Games
Singapore is an island known for shopping malls and some truly horrifying legends. When the Bishan MRT station opened in November 1987, tales of headless ghosts wandering among passengers quickly spread. This might be because the station was built over the former Peck San Theng cemetery. To make things spookier, night-shift staff reported seeing ghostly coffin bearers in the tunnels connecting Bishan to the Novena MRT station, which also sits on a former cemetery.
But the spirits aren’t confined to the train lines. A persistent urban legend involves residents in high-rise buildings hearing children playing marbles in the apartment above, often late into the night. When they go to complain, they discover the apartment is empty and has been for months. They also learn the previous family living there never had any children.
9. Corpse on the Tube
In 2007, a chilling urban legend surfaced online about a late-night tube ride in central London. An art student was on the train with only one other man, who appeared to be in his mid-thirties. A few minutes later, three more people boarded: two men supporting a woman between them. The student assumed the woman was simply drunk or high.
While trying to avoid eye contact, the thirty-something passenger suddenly sat beside her. He whispered urgently that she must get off at the next stop. Hesitantly, she decided to follow his advice. As they stood on the platform watching the train depart, the man revealed what he’d seen from his window: the two men had been dragging the woman, and a pair of scissors was embedded in her skull. Another version of the tale claims the men strangled her, and a ticket guard later discovered the crime.
8. Last Resting Place of Terror
Australia is known for its fearsome wildlife, but Brisbane is also home to paranormal creatures that might make you prefer the Outback. It’s said that at Toowong Cemetery, at the top of Avenue 12, lies the double grave of two sisters who died in a car accident. Legend claims if you park your car at the bottom of the hill, the sisters’ ghosts will slowly drag it uphill toward a terrifying fate.
Another haunted spot is Goodna Cemetery. One visitor reported being unable to move his car all night after a visit, despite it being turned on. Only as the sun rose did the car finally start. Upon arriving home, he found deep scratches along both sides of his vehicle. Goodna Cemetery holds remains from the 1800s to the modern era, including former patients of the old Brisbane Mental Hospital.
7. The Haunting of La Mussara
The once-beautiful town of La Mussara in Vilaplana, Spain, now stands in haunting silence, its ruins overlooking the plains of Tarragona. Officially, the town was abandoned after a severe insect invasion destroyed the vineyards vital to the local economy. Unofficially, a curse drove its residents away.
Rumors say a dense fog often envelops the town, disorienting visitors. Those who explore La Mussara’s ruins report hearing horses’ hooves and distant whispers. Some believe the town contains a gateway to another realm called La Vila del Sis. Jumping over a specific stone outside a particular house is said to transport you to this realm, where horrifying underworld creatures await. Adding to the mystery is the 1991 disappearance of Enrique Martinez Ortiz, who vanished while mushroom picking with friends in La Mussara and was never seen again.
6. The Devil Himself
Ireland is rich with urban legends, from banshee screams to the scorched figure of Francis Bruen’s bride roaming Coolbawn House. One of its most infamous tales centers on Loftus Hall in County Wexford. In 1766, Lord Tottenham occupied the hall. After his wife’s unexpected death, he remarried. During storms, shipwrecked survivors were often invited to Loftus Hall for shelter.
One such storm brought a young man to their door. Lord Tottenham’s youngest daughter, Anne, found herself drawn to him. They spent hours talking and playing cards. One night, Anne dropped a card and, upon retrieving it, noticed the man had hooves instead of feet. Realizing he was the devil, she screamed. The devil transformed into a ball of fire, shot through the roof, and vanished. Anne never recovered from the shock. Her family, embarrassed by her behavior, locked her in the Tapestry Room until her death in 1775. Today, Loftus Hall is considered Ireland’s most haunted house, with Anne’s ghost making appearances. The hole in the roof where the devil escaped is reportedly still visible.
5. Bad Light
The folklore of Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile includes the eerie tale of the “bad light,” or “luz mala.” In northern Argentina, particularly in Mendoza, a mysterious light often appears at night, hovering a few feet above the mountainside. Many motorists, especially truck drivers, claim to have seen it.
Local indigenous people believe the light is evil. Some visitors say it’s a fireball that chases lone travelers. A white light is said to be harmless, but if it appears green or red, travelers should flee, as it signifies a curse of lifelong bad luck. Natives believe the light could be the soul of someone who didn’t receive a proper burial and has returned seeking revenge. Some who have tried to find the light’s source have allegedly discovered human remains.
4. Multicultural Monster
Even today, parents worldwide use stories of the Bogeyman to encourage good behavior. This monster takes on different forms and names depending on the country or culture, but the message is always the same: listen, or face dire consequences from the local version of the creature.
In Latin America, this monster is known as El Cuco. It can take any form, even human, and can hide anywhere undetected. The legend of El Cuco dates back to texts by Diodorus Siculus, who claimed Iberian soldiers would offer the heads of their enemies to El Cuco. Author Stephen King’s interpretation suggests El Cuco is a body of worms that infiltrates a person’s DNA before transforming into their likeness. In Portugal and Spain, the monster is often depicted with a pumpkin head lit from within by a candle.
3. Come Tomorrow
During the 1990s, a peculiar practice arose in small towns and villages in Karnataka, India. Residents began writing “Nale Ba” on their walls. This started after a rumor spread about a witch who would knock on doors, mimicking the voice of a beloved relative. If someone opened the door, death would befall the household.
To protect themselves, families wrote “Nale Ba,” meaning “come tomorrow,” on their outer walls. When the witch approached, she would read the message and return the next day. This created an endless cycle, preventing her from harming anyone. Even now, some places observe April 1st as Nale Ba day. The 2018 Bollywood movie, Stree, drew some inspiration from this chilling legend.
2. Out of Control Jealousy
Visitors to Amsterdam often explore the Zeedijk, now part of Chinatown but once one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods. It’s also the site of a brutal murder, and the victim’s screams are said to still echo through the night. In the early 1800s, sisters Dina and Helena both fell in love with Wouter, a sailor. Wouter loved Dina and sent her letters while at sea, but Helena intercepted and burned them.
When Dina discovered Helena’s deception, they fought. Enraged, Helena pushed Dina down the basement stairs of their Zeedijk home. Seeing Dina was still alive, Helena beat her to death. Dina’s parents believed her death was an accident, and Helena eventually married a heartbroken Wouter. However, on her deathbed, Helena’s conscience compelled her to confess. Shocked and disgusted, Wouter left her to die alone. Helena’s restless spirit is said to still wander the Zeedijk, causing cold shivers. On stormy nights, Dina’s spirit howls, her ghostly voice carried by the wind.
1. The Screaming Woods
Dering Woods in Britain, nicknamed the Screaming Woods, is reputed to be one of the most haunted locations in the country. Explorers have reported hearing screams from deep within the forest and whispers seemingly appearing from behind them on foggy days.
Some believe the screams belong to the restless souls of those who died in a massacre in 1948, when 20 bodies were discovered among the trees on November 1st. Residents recalled seeing strange lights hovering in the woods the night before—Halloween night. Autopsies couldn’t determine the cause of death. Others attribute the hauntings to an 18th-century highwayman captured and killed by villagers. His spirit is said to roam Dering Woods, screaming in rage and frustration, unable to avenge his own death.
These tales from around the globe demonstrate that spine-chilling stories are a part of human culture everywhere. Each legend, whether from a bustling city or a remote village, offers a glimpse into local fears and the enduring power of the unknown.
What’s the creepiest urban legend you’ve ever heard from outside the U.S.? Share your stories in the comments below!
