There’s more to Europe’s favourite holiday hotspots than famous landmarks and picture-perfect views. This Halloween, Jet2 is revealing the spooky stories, haunted locations and ghostly legends lurking in some of its most popular destinations.
In Tenerife, the legend of Catalina Lercaro surrounds a historic family home, while Venice has its own tales of misfortune at a supposedly cursed canal-side palace.
Malta and Crete bring legends of a headless bride and a ghostly army, while Paris takes visitors beneath the streets into the bone-lined passages of the Catacombs.
David Hills, Chief Customer Officer at Jet2, said:
“Every destination has its own stories to tell, and some of Europe’s most popular holiday hotspots come with a surprisingly spooky past.”
“From ghostly legends and local folklore to mysterious landmarks, these destinations prove there’s so much more to discover beyond the beaches and postcard-perfect views. For holidaymakers looking to experience a different side to their favourite destinations this Halloween, they’re sure to make for an unforgettable Jet2holiday.”
Five European holiday favourites with a spooky side
- Tenerife
Palacio de Lercaro is at the centre of a Tenerife ghost story. The historic house was once home to Catalina Lercaro, whose spirit is said to haunt the building.
The house now forms part of the Tenerife History and Anthropology Museum in La Laguna’s UNESCO-listed historic centre. Visitors can explore its ornate central patio, stone staircase and exhibitions on Tenerife’s history, then continue on foot through the surrounding old town.
Jet2holidays – Canary Islands, Tenerife, Playa De Las Americas, 3 star Coral Compostela Beach Golf And Siam Park Waterpark for 7 nights, Self Catering, departing from Manchester on 1st November 2026.
Price: £429 per person based on 2 adults and 2 children (aged 3 and 4) sharing, includes a 22kg baggage allowance and return transfers.
- Malta
Mdina’s medieval streets are said to be haunted by a headless bride. According to Maltese folklore, Katrina was sentenced to death after killing a knight in self-defence. Before being beheaded, she was granted a final wish: to marry her true love.
Her ghost is said to wander the city’s narrow lanes, beckoning passers-by before disappearing through a wall. Known as the Silent City, Mdina also rewards a daytime stroll, with honey-coloured buildings, historic squares and views across Malta from its city walls.
Jet2holidays – Malta, Malta And Gozo, Qawra, 3+ star Mayflower Hotel for 7 nights, Bed and Breakfast, departing from London Stansted on 6th November 2026.
Price: £519 per person based on 2 adults sharing, includes a 22kg baggage allowance and return transfers. Approximately £18 in tourist tax is payable at the property for this holiday (included in the price above).
- Venice
Ca’ Dario overlooks Venice’s Grand Canal, but its reputation is less romantic than its setting. Known as the ‘cursed palace’, it has been associated with a succession of owners who met tragic ends. Over time, those stories fuelled the legend that owning the building brings bad luck.
Visitors can admire the palace from the water on a trip along the Grand Canal, taking in Venice’s grand waterfront buildings along the way.
Jet2holidays – Italy, Venetian Riviera, Lido Di Jesolo, 4+ star Milton Boutique Hotel for 7 nights, Half Board, departing from Birmingham on 6th May 2027.
Price: £939 per person based on 2 adults sharing, includes a 22kg baggage allowance and return transfers. Approximately £32 in tourist tax is payable at the property for this holiday (included in the price above).
- Crete
A ghostly army is said to appear near Frangokastello, a four-towered Venetian castle in the Chania region on Crete’s south coast. The restored fortress is open to visitors and stands beside a sandy beach overlooking the Libyan Sea, so a visit can combine history with time by the water.
Local legend describes shadowy figures known as the ‘Drosoulites’ emerging from the morning mist over the beach each May. The figures are said to be fighters who died in the battle of 1828.
Jet2holidays – Greece, Crete Chania Area, Stalos, 4 star Creta Palm Resort for 7 nights, Bed and Breakfast, departing from East Midlands on 4th May 2027.
Price: £799 per person based on 2 Adults sharing, includes a 22kg baggage allowance and return transfers. Approximately £58 in tourist tax is payable at the property for this holiday (included in the price above).
- Paris
Paris’s Catacombs reportedly hold the remains of six million people beneath the city’s streets. The burial site was created in former limestone quarries in the late 18th century to ease overcrowding in the cemeteries above.
Visitors enter at Place Denfert-Rochereau before following a 1.5km route through the underground tunnels. Afterwards, nearby Rue Daguerre offers a change of pace, with pavement cafés, bakeries and independent shops to explore.
Jet2CityBreaks – France, Paris, Disneyland Paris, 3 star Explorers Hotel for 7 nights, Bed and Breakfast, departing from Leeds Bradford on 9th November 2026.
Price: £459 per person based on 2 adults sharing, includes a 22kg baggage allowance. Approximately £28 in tourist tax is payable at the property for this holiday (included in the price above).
All deals supplied are the cheapest available rates for the holiday(s) or flight(s) specified and therefore availability may be limited at this price. Prices are correct as of 29/10/2026.
Customers booking with Jet2holidays can choose from a huge range of 2-5 star accommodation, with package holidays including return transfers and 22kg baggage, all protected by ATOL.
For more information or to book, visit Jet2.com or Jet2holidays.com.
