A family getaway with a spooky twist could be just the ticket for October half term.
With Halloween falling at the end of the school break this year, travellers from Manchester Airport can choose from a range of destinations offering eerie attractions and gothic adventures across Europe.
From haunted castles to lantern-lit parades, there’s no shortage of ghoulish fun to be found just a short flight away.
One standout option is Bran Castle in Romania, commonly known as 'Dracula’s Castle' and said to have inspired Bram Stoker’s legendary novel.
The castle is hosting a week-long Halloween festival during half term, featuring costumed actors, themed exhibits and a party in a neighbouring park.
Flights from Manchester to Bucharest with Ryanair start from £125 per person return.
Other family-friendly destinations include Copenhagen, where Tivoli Gardens is running a month-long Halloween event with themed rides and more than 20,000 jack-o-lanterns.
Ryanair offers return flights from Manchester for £171 per person.
Derry, home to what organisers claim is Europe’s largest Halloween festival, marks its 40th anniversary this year with ghost tours, acrobatics, and a fireworks finale over the River Foyle.
Return flights with Ryanair start at just £75 per person.
For those seeking something a little closer to home, Dublin offers a family-friendly Ghost Bus Kids Tour and decorated city streets, with return flights from Manchester priced from £34 per person.
If medieval mysteries appeal, Prague’s underground tunnels and gothic architecture provide a haunting backdrop for Halloween activities, including a lantern parade at the Botanical Garden.
Ryanair flights start from £120 per person return.
Barcelona marks the mid-autumn festival 'La Castanyada' with roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes, as well as a family festival at Poble Espanyol featuring potion workshops and haunted tunnels.
Vueling flights from Manchester start at £106 per person return.
In Germany, Königstein Castle near Frankfurt will host the annual Frankenstein Halloween Festival, while in Venice, visitors can explore haunted alleyways and join ghost tours in the city of masquerades.
Flights to Venice with Ryanair begin at £111 per person return.
Share