In the weeks leading up to Halloween, we’re all up for a good scare, and interest in all things creepy tends to spike. But delving deeper into unsettling subject matter is possible throughout the year, thanks to these eerie and eclectic European museums examining crime, crypts, myths and more.

Krampus Museum in Kitzbühel, Austria: With cloven hooves, dark matted fur, sharp horns and long tongue, this beast has been terrorizing the youngest residents of certain Alpine regions for centuries. Although Krampus usually makes an appearance on or around the date of the feast day of St. Nicholas on Dec. 6, they can also be encountered outside peak season at this small museum in the village of Ruatn Pass. About 600 hand-carved masks, along with many of the creature’s other accoutrements, are on display here. The museum’s director, Christoph Rieser, produces the furs and accessories worn by the members of the many active Krampus groups throughout Austria. The museum, located at Sportfeld 1, is open from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays from June through mid-January or at other times by prior arrangement. Online: tinyurl.com/3fmh2rx8

Museum of Ghosts and Fairy Tales in Pilsen, Czech Republic: Portrayals of monsters and storybook creatures hailing from Pilsen and its environs, from fire dogs to witches to water sprites and other mythical creatures, have found a new home on the former site of a 16th-century guest house. Visitors leaving reviews of the Muzeum Strašidel rate it as appropriate and engaging, even for younger children. The museum located at Náměstí Republiky 33 is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Admission costs 80 Czech Koruna (about $3.85) for adults and 60 CZK for children. Online: muzeumstrasidel.cz

Museum of the Mummies in Agrigento: This municipal museum located in a Capuchin convent in the village of Burgio on the island of Sicily serves as the final resting place for the mummified remains of individuals dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The bodies of 49 friars and local benefactors, meticulously preserved, clad in elaborate clothing and accompanied by their personal effects, are respectfully displayed in a crypt. Visits to the Museo dei Mummi are free of charge and can be arranged with the town’s tourist authority. Online: tinyurl.com/5e9bf8dp

Museum of Vampires and Werewolves in San Marino: Blood-sucking vampires, wolfmen and other creatures of the night have formed part of European myth and culture for centuries. The Museo dei Vampiri e Licantrope, found in the historical center of this tiny landlocked republic, offers four floors of objects including life-size statues, photographs, installations, stage sets and memorabilia helping bring these eerie legends to life. The museum is described as suitable for children. Expect to pay about 9 euros entry for adults and 5 euros for children. Online: tinyurl.com/3rr6wbt2

Museum of Curiosities in Nottingham, England: Thousands of objects, from taxidermy mounts to skulls to horror movie props, are on display across four stories of exhibition space. Guides are on hand to provide the backstory of any object that sparks the imagination. The museum, located at 75-77 Derby Road, is open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily except Mondays; adult admission costs 8 UK Pounds ($10.75). Online: themuseumofcuriosities.co.uk

True CRIME Museum in Hastings, England: Gruesome killings and unsolved mysteries are the topics of most of the exhibits in this disturbing museum. The macabre items shown here include a board for administering lethal injections and the barrels used by a serial killer to dissolve his victims’ bodies in acid. The museum’s cave-like setting only adds to its creepiness factor. The museum, found at Palace Court, White Rock, is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily; entry tickets go for 11.50 UK Pounds adults and 9.50 pounds for youth ages 6-16. Online: truecrimemuseum.co.uk

Voodoo museum in Strasbourg, France: The Château Vodou Museum, near the city’s main train station, contains more than 1,200 objects hailing from west Africa, to include sculptures, statuettes, clothing, jewelry and more. The display is laid out across three floors of what once served as a water tower. The museum, located at 4 rue de koenigshoffen, is open 2 p.m.-6 p.m. daily; entry costs 14 euros for adults and 8 euros for visitors ages 6-10. Online: chateau-vodou.com

Dutch Funeral Museum in Amsterdam: The Museum Tot Zover offers insight as to how the local population views death, funerals and the afterlife. More than 2,000 exhibits, photos and videos explore the living’s relationship with those who have passed on. Many visitors are particularly moved by the displays of hair art, in which a dead one’s locks were weaved into an item of jewelry. The museum, found at De Nieuwe Ooster, Kruislaan 124, is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily except Mondays. Admission costs 11 euros for adults and 6 euros for ages 13-18. Online: totzover.nl

Morbitorium in Wales: Just a half-hour drive from the center of Cardiff brings one to this cabinet of curiosities, three rooms jam-packed with objects ranging from antique lobotomy tools to mummified cats to Victorian sex toys. This quirky place located 5 Gelli-Unig Place in Pontywaun, Caerphilly, is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily except Wednesdays and Sundays. Entry costs 2.50 UK pounds per person; those under 16 enter free. Online: morbitorium.co.uk/museum