6 best haunted houses in Montreal to spook you

This well-known haunted house in Montreal pushes the limits of realism and immersive creepiness a little more every year. To the point that it’s only open to those aged 18 and up. For this highly anticipated edition, expect a unique immersive event that challenges taboos and fills you with anxiety—but the good kind. (Expect Squid Game horror—with a little less actual murder.) With between 700 and 1,000 animators whose sole aim it is to produce cold sweats, you might get a little PTSD from this one.

The main haunted house at this Six Flags amusement park is a year-round attraction, but at Halloween it’s just the beginning. The annual Fright Fest happens throughout October and features 3 haunted houses, fills the park with wandering zombies and monsters, and offers spooky activities for the whole family (including rides 100% in darkness and an immersive ode to nightmares). After dark, prepare for extra frightening fun as nightmares hide around every corner. New this year: a haunted trail, a new haunted house, and new scary characters. Time Out Tip: Don't miss the evening opening show at 5:30 PM featuring more than 20 characters, each more horrifying than the next

An annual tradition in the neighbourhood for over three decades, this haunted house organized by and located in the Outremont youth club creeps its visitors out with the enthusiasm of teenage angst. So, you know—it's creepy! From jumpscares to cobwebs in the face, it’s got plenty hidden around dark corners to give you the willies, but since it’s aimed at entertaining the neighbourhood’s littler kids, it’s also heartwarmingly tame. 

Why stop at a haunted house when you can visit an entire haunted village? This controversial Halloween destination an hour and a half’s drive from central Montreal is a ghost town, literally. Set in the houses of a historic village in Drummondville (worthy of a visit anytime of the year, to be honest), this creepy experience has both a kid-friendly section (including face-painting and a candy fairy) and (in past years) one destined for adults. You can dine in horror at the thematic restaurant before exploring the 3 kilometres of streets and trails where 100+ actors bring your nightmares to life in 20 horrifying areas.

Bring kids aged 10 and up to the Universum space in the Latin Quarter on Saint-Denis Street for an immersive experience that pushes the limits of the haunted house experience with the help of technology. You’ll be plunged into a horrific experience, VR set included, as you enter a haunted mansion where every room hides surprises that will make even the bravest jump. Meet Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster and zombies aplenty, up close and personal.

While it is located out in Saint-Amable, the level of detail in Maxime Duval’s haunted houses are legendary and worth the trip out of Montreal. The artist's designs have regularly made headlines on the South Shore. This year, fans have been watching the progress on Facebook as he builds a Viking ship from scratch on his front lawn—all we can say is it’s sure to be larger than life.