Top 10 Ghost Tours in the U.S.

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Bare trees stand in the snow.

Learn the spooky history of your town on a ghost tour. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Top 10 ghost tours in the U.S.

Allegra PusateriOctober 28, 2024

If you’re like me, you like to learn about the history of a place when you travel… but you also don’t necessarily need to do it in a museum. You want something with character. Something with drama. Something that will grab your attention. Which is why, without fail, I go on a ghost tour every time I visit a new city. It’s a fun and easy way to get to know a place and its history. So grab your favorite walking shoes and muster up some courage because in honor of Halloween and spooky season, I’m sharing my top 10 favorite cities with ghost tours in the U.S.

1. Dallas, Texas

The Dallas skyline at night.
Enjoy a boozy ghost tour in Dallas. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

There’s a few ghost tours in Dallas, but if you’re looking for something a little less terrifying and a little more indulgent, I recommend the Dallas Booze and Boos Tour from Nightly Spirits. You’ll learn more about the city’s hidden past, the hauntings it inspired and you’ll obviously get the chance to enjoy a drink or two.

2. Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu skyline with Diamond Head volcano in the background.
Go on a native walking tour in Honolulu. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Spend the day on the beach and then head to downtown Honolulu after the sun sets for the Night Marchers tour from Mysteries of Hawai’i (which is the only Native Hawaiian-owned ghost tour company in Hawai’i). Night Marchers, or Huaka’I Pō, are the ghosts of past warriors who are still carrying out their regular duties every night. On the tour you’ll learn more about the stories of these warriors and their people, including some eyewitness accounts.

3. Salem, Massachusetts

A gray house with a sign outside saying “Witch House”
Salem offers both adults and family-friendly ghost tours. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Salem is already known as a spooky place due to the Salem Witch Trials, and there are so many ghost tours available in Salem it can get overwhelming. I recommend one of the Black Cat Tours. The history and stories they discuss on the tour are factually accurate. You can take a day tour or a night tour, and there are walking tours and boat tours. Plus, it’s family friendly.

4. Seattle, Washington

A dark alley with graffiti on one wall.
Rather than a ghost tour, try a ghost hunt. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Rather than taking a normal ghost tour in Seattle, go on a ghost hunt at the Lizzie Borden House. You’ll learn more about the history of Lizzie and the house itself, plus get your very own equipment to feel like a real ghost hunter.

5. New Orleans, Louisiana

The neon lights outside pubs and bars lining the French Quarter glow on the dark street.
A ghost tour is a new way to explore the Frech Quarter. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

It’s almost a requirement to go on the Voodoo History Tour when you’re in New Orleans. You’ll learn more about the complex history of the practice of voodoo and the historical and cultural traditions surrounding it. Everything discussed on the tour is historically accurate and works to dispel the myths and stigma surrounding one of the most misunderstood practices in the world.

6. Denver, Colorado

Red Rocks Park at sunrise.
Guests on Denver ghost tours report seeing anomolies in photos. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Go see a series of haunted mansions (no, not the video game) in Denver on the Twilight Ghost Tour. Also known as millionaires row, this is one of the most expensive areas of Denver. The tour explains the history of the area and the stories of the people who used to live in these homes. It’s not unusual for guests on this tour to capture inexplicable anomalies in photos, including shadowy figures and orbs of light.

7. Charleston, South Carolina

View of a white clocktower in Charleston at twilight.
Rather than a walking tour, go on a carriage tour in Charleston. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Give your feet a rest after all the walking tours, and hitch a ride on the Haunted Carriage Tour in Charleston. You’ll learn about everything from historical spirits to ghost dogs to hidden alleyways to dungeons—all in the comfort of a horse drawn carriage.

8. San Francisco, California

View of San Francisco from Pier 7 at night.
Go on a paranormal investigation in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Take a tour of the haunted San Remo Hotel on the Paranormal Investigation Tour. The San Remo is said to be one of the most haunted hotels in the country. And on this tour you get to investigate anomalies first hand and try to capture evidence of this haunting. Plus, you get to enjoy a cocktail and hear about true crime while you do it.

9. Santa Fe, New Mexico

Downtown Santa Fe at night.
See the spooky side of the oldest capital city in the U.S. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in the U.S. On the Dark Side of Santa Fe walking tour you’ll get to learn about (and possibly meet) some of the city’s original residents, like Julia Staab at the La Posada Hotel. They swear they can make a believer out of anyone. I cannot confirm or deny whether they managed to make me one.

10. Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Rolling green hills dotted with trees.
If you’re looking for a ghost tour in the Ozars, Eureka Springs is the place to go. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

I have to admit, the Haunted Eureka Springs tour might my favorite one. A good tour guide can make or break any tour (especially a haunted one). And the guides here are top-notch. They’ll take you through the history of the area, to secret spots (including underground tunnels) and maybe throw in a few restaurant recommendations after working up your appetite by scaring you.

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