Best Ghost Tours in Charleston, SC | Charleston Haunted Walking Tours | Freaky Foot Tours
Charleston Ghost Tours

Best Ghost Tours in Charleston: A Spooky Exploration of the Historic City With The Best Haunted Walking Tours

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Best Haunted Tours in Charleston

There might not be another US city as rich in history and as willing to embrace it as the port of Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 1670 and christened Charles Town after King Charles II, the city played a major role in both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. It’s location on the mid-Atlantic attracted pirates (most notably Blackbeard himself) and Charleston’s intricate involvement in the slave trade lead to a formal acknowledgement and apology in 2018.

Check out Charleston's most popular tours.

Charleston's Haunted Ghost Tour - Solo Smart Phone Guided Tour

Charleston's Haunted Ghost Tour - Solo Smart Phone Guided Tour

This ghostly adventure is smart phone guided. You go to the Old Exchange, open the tour, enter your experience code from Viator and press play. From there you are guided turn by turn through Charleston's haunted streets.

Charleston
Haunted Evening Horse and Carriage Tour of Charleston

Haunted Evening Horse and Carriage Tour of Charleston

Get all the thrills of a Charleston ghost tour without any walking on this haunted horse and carriage ride. A horse and carriage takes you down twisting side streets and cobbled alleyways with ease as your guide shares spooky stories from Charleston’s past. Make your way past the Mills House, the Circular Congregational Graveyard, and and Provost Dungeon in the heart of the Holy City.

Charleston
Charleston Ghost & Graveyard Night-Time Guided Walking Tour

Charleston Ghost & Graveyard Night-Time Guided Walking Tour

Peek into Charleston’s shadowy history with a chilling nighttime walking tour of the city’s most eerie sites! Wind through the dark corridors of the Historic District and hear spooky tales of graveyard hauntings, voodoo and botched burials from your local guide. Pass by infamous locations with grisly histories and wander through the Charleston’s oldest cemetery after hours.

Charleston
Charleston's Pleasing Terrors Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour

Charleston's Pleasing Terrors Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour

Join Charleston native and host of the popular Pleasing Terrors Podcast, Mike Brown, on this 90-minute Pleasing Terrors Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour. Join Mike as he combines suspenseful storytelling with unparalleled knowledge of the hidden and often frightening stories lurking in Charleston's past and present.

Charleston
Charleston Dark History and Ghost Tour

Charleston Dark History and Ghost Tour

Explore the haunted side of Charleston with a small-group history and ghost tour. Meet your guide for a city stroll that includes popular landmarks like Hibernian Hall, Washington Park, Chalmers Street, and St. Philip’s Church. Hear scary stories and learn about local history, including true crime, during this family-friendly walking tour.

Charleston
The Death and Depravity Ghost Tour in Charleston

The Death and Depravity Ghost Tour in Charleston

From the city's brothels to gritty crime stories, explore Charleston's seedier history on this evening ghost tour. By combining aspects of the horrific, the salacious, and the just plain weird, this walking tour offers a unique look at the city. Keep in mind that this tour contains mature themes and language.

Charleston
Charleston Haunted Boos and Booze Tour

Charleston Haunted Boos and Booze Tour

Take a tour of Charleston on this haunted boos and booze tour with your pirate guide. This is a small group experience, with just you and 3 other friends in your group. You can sip on cocktails while your guide takes you through the city to places like the Powder Magazine, Charleston City Market, Washington Square, and more.

Charleston
Ghosts of Charleston Night-Time Walking Tour with Unitarian Church Graveyard

Ghosts of Charleston Night-Time Walking Tour with Unitarian Church Graveyard

Uncover Charleston’s darkest secrets on an evening ghost and cemetery tour. Stroll through the atmospheric heart of the old city while an entertaining local guide regales you with tales of the dark deeds, restless spirits and supernatural phenomena that make Charleston one of the most haunted cities in America. Get exclusive after-hour access to the famous Unitarian Church Graveyard, where an overgrown southern garden surrounds historic plots said to be haunted by wandering ghosts.

Charleston
Charleston Ghost & Dungeon Night-Time Walking Tour with Entry to Provost Dungeon

Charleston Ghost & Dungeon Night-Time Walking Tour with Entry to Provost Dungeon

Explore the darker side of Charleston and experience some of the city’s most eerie sites with a 90-Minute Ghost & Dungeon Nighttime Walking Tour with Entry to Provost Dungeon! Wind through the Historic District’s dark corridors and graveyards, and hear spooky tales of ghosts, voodoo, local superstition and famous haunted spaces from your local guide. Cap off the tour with a chilling visit to the Provost Dungeon, a pre-Revolutionary dungeon steeped in grisly history.

Charleston
Supernatural Charleston Tour

Supernatural Charleston Tour

Discover the spooky charms of South Carolina on this supernatural walking tour. Walk the nighttime streets of Charleston as your guides share chilling tales of public executions, exhumations, and violent episodes of the Civil and Revolutionary Wars. This 90-minute tour is led by local authors who are experts in supernatural history.

Charleston
Charleston Boo Hag & Brews Walking Ghost and Bar Tour

Charleston Boo Hag & Brews Walking Ghost and Bar Tour

Join this combination bar crawl and ghost tour with a local Charlestonian and spend your evening learning about the scary side of the city. Visit two bars as part of the tour and enjoy a complimentary snack at the first bar location. Hear ghost stories as you stroll by graveyards and historic homes. Finish the tour at a local park where you’ll learn about a grizzly historical fact. (Please note we do not enter the graveyards)

Charleston
Charleston Ghosts of Liberty Guided Walking Tour

Charleston Ghosts of Liberty Guided Walking Tour

Decide for yourself if Charleston’s ghost stories are true on this haunted after-hours tour of the Holy City. Walk to infamously spooky locations—including the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon—and hear a mix of history and lore from your guide about soldiers who once fought within the city.

Charleston
Small Group Haunted History Walking Tour of Charleston

Small Group Haunted History Walking Tour of Charleston

Dating back to 1670, Charleston is one of the most haunted cities in America. With a history of pirates and criminals, patriots and founding fathers, the city swarms with restless souls and unexplained phenomena. On this tour, your local guide takes you to all the spookiest spots, from haunted graveyards to execution sites and more, keying you into the spirits who walk the cobblestone streets.

Charleston
Charleston Haunted Pub Crawl

Charleston Haunted Pub Crawl

The Charleston Haunted Pub Crawl delivers a haunted pub tour experience focused on the ghosts of Charleston's colonists, pirates, bootleggers, and brothels. This tour will showcase the not-so-holy history of the Holy City, emphasizing Charleston's place in the Civil War, Prohibition, and Piracy.

Charleston
Charleston Terrors Ghosts and Pirates Haunted Tour

Charleston Terrors Ghosts and Pirates Haunted Tour

Discover the most haunted locations in Charleston with this small-group walking ghost tour. Hear ghost stories inspired by the city’s past during this stroll that includes landmarks like the Dock Street Theater and the Circular Congregational Church. Learn about paranormal activity in Charleston and go in search of spirits with a guide leading the way.

Charleston
Guided Walking Ghost Tour in Charleston

Guided Walking Ghost Tour in Charleston

Discover the spooky side of Charleston with a guided ghost tour. Set out on foot to explore a different side of Charleston and see city landmarks including Philadelphia Alley, St. Philip’s Church, and Charleston City Market. Hear stories about graverobbers and ghosts during this family-friendly, supernatural-focused walking tour. Get extra value with admission to the Halsey Gallery of Contemporary Art and Philip Simmons House included.

Charleston
Ghost Walking Tour in Charleston

Ghost Walking Tour in Charleston

Charleston may be one of the most beautiful cities in America, but there is a deeper darker side to her. Come hear their stories, chilling tales of death, of lost love, of vengeance. Come hear the stories of the Dead that still walk our city streets; the chilling tales of the Shades and Shadows that haunt these stones. Walk with us and you may find, we're not walking alone.

Charleston
The ORIGINAL Ghostwalk of Charleston

The ORIGINAL Ghostwalk of Charleston

Discover the spooky side of Charleston with a ghost-themed walking tour. Meet your guide at a departure point and set out on a guided stroll in Charleston focused on ghost stories. See popular city landmarks during the walk including St. Philip’s Church and the Powder Magazine museum. Learn about the history of several sites from a ghost perspective during the tour.

Charleston
Charleston Dark History All-Ages Ghost Walking Tour

Charleston Dark History All-Ages Ghost Walking Tour

Step back in time to explore the parts of Charleston that most only dare to talk about. You’ll hear tales about the dead that haven’t quite moved on, visit some of the most haunted places in the city and get to know the spirits that haunt the locals.

Charleston
Charleston Family & Child-Friendly Nighttime Ghost Tour with Unitarian Graveyard

Charleston Family & Child-Friendly Nighttime Ghost Tour with Unitarian Graveyard

Come walk with us on the Kids & Family version of The Ghosts of Charleston walking tour, leaving nightly from Buxton Books, Charleston’s independent bookstore located at 160 King Street.

Charleston
1-Hour Ghost Tour in Charleston

1-Hour Ghost Tour in Charleston

All historical information has been thoroughly researched and vetted. Photographic and audio evidence will be shown throughout the tour to confirm the veracity of these hauntings. We will make a believer out of you!

Charleston
Dessert with Death in Charleston

Dessert with Death in Charleston

Indulge in 5 local dessert pairings in a private 19th-century dining room while your captivating guide chronicles Charleston's dark and troubled past, evoking the haunted remnants still felt today.

Charleston
Paranormal Investigation: YOU are the Ghost Hunter

Paranormal Investigation: YOU are the Ghost Hunter

If you dare, explore Charleston as a paranormal investigator and use the real tools of the trade including a thermal imaging camera. Your guide will provide tutorials on how to use each device, as well as share local ghost stories. Plus, you’ll receive access to all of the data recorded during your investigation.

Charleston

A Spooky Walk Through Charleston's History

Charleston, South Carolina, is a city steeped in rich history and folklore, making it a hotspot for ghost tours. This city, known for its pre-Revolutionary heritage, centuries-old tombstones, and ghost-centric stories, is considered one of the most haunted in America. This article will take you on a virtual journey of the most popular Charleston ghost tours, delving into the city's spooky past and the haunted places that make it a favorite destination for ghost hunters and enthusiasts.

Charleston: A City of Ghosts

Charleston, often referred to as the "Holy City," is no stranger to tales of hauntings and eerie sightings. Its history is a tapestry of war, slavery, natural disasters, and financial prosperity, all contributing to its reputation as a city of ghosts. From the spirits of civil war soldiers to haunted pubs and the old haunted jail, the city is teeming with ghostly tales and haunted locations.

The Dark Side of Charleston

Despite its charm and beauty, Charleston has a dark side that is revealed in its numerous ghost tours in Charleston. These tours explore the city's haunted places and share chilling tales of hangings, serial killers, love triangles, and murders. As you walk the city's streets and back alleys, you'll discover that the spirits of the past still linger, adding a spectral dimension to the city's allure.

Charleston Haunted Tours
Charleston Ghost tours

Top Charleston Ghost Tours

Charleston offers a plethora of ghost tours that cater to varying interests and scare-tolerance levels. Whether you're a history buff, a paranormal enthusiast, or simply curious, there's a Charleston ghost tour for you. Here are some top-rated tours that promise an unforgettable journey into Charleston's haunted past.

Ghosts of Charleston Night-Time Walking Tour

This tour, operated by Tour Charleston, takes you through the city's most historic and haunted areas, including the exclusive after-hours access to the Unitarian Church graveyard. Participants often report encounters with local spirits during the tour while listening to captivating and sometimes chilling stories. Despite the presence of ghosts, the tour isn't overly frightening, making it suitable for the whole family.

Haunted Evening Horse and Carriage Tour of Charleston

If walking isn't your thing, consider this horse-drawn carriage tour that takes you around Charleston while sharing the city's spooky history. As you pass by some of Charleston's most haunted locations, you'll learn about the city's dark past in the comfort of the carriage. The tour is family-friendly and offers a unique way to explore haunted Charleston.

Charleston's Pleasing Terrors Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour

Led by podcaster Mike Brown, this tour is known for its excellent storytelling. You'll hear tales about Charleston's history, ghost encounters, and gruesome folklore. The tour includes a visit to the Charleston Library Society, where you'll discover the building's creepy history. This tour is ideal for those looking for a good scare and captivating storytelling.

Bulldog Tours' Ghost and Graveyard Walking Tour

This unique walking tour takes you to one of the city's oldest graveyards after dark. As you walk through the cemetery, your expert tour guide will tell you about notable graves and some of the city's spookiest paranormal stories. You'll learn about Charleston's past residents who may have been buried alive, making this tour both captivating and spooky.

Haunted Locations in Charleston

Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon is one of Charleston's most haunted locations. The building, which has served various purposes throughout history, is believed to be haunted by the spirits of former war prisoners who were held in the dungeon. Ghost tours offering exclusive access to this location promise an eerie and chilling experience.

The Unitarian Church Graveyard

This graveyard is known for its ghostly sightings and is one of the stops on the Ghosts of Charleston Night-Time Walking Tour. As you walk through the graveyard, you'll hear tales of those who were laid to rest here and perhaps encounter a few spirits.

The Old City Jail

The Old City Jail, now a historical landmark, was once home to Charleston's worst criminals. The spirits of those who lived and died here are said to haunt the building, making it a must-visit for any ghost tour.

Ghost Tours for Every Interest

In addition to walking and carriage tours, Charleston also offers boat tours, pub crawls, and prison visits, each providing a unique perspective on the city's haunted history. Whether you're interested in pirates, wars, or the city's seedier history, there's a Charleston ghost tour for you.

Haunted Charleston

The city blends traditional southern culture with West African, French and English influences. To stroll through downtown is to inhale the scent of magnolias and take in all Charleston offers. Indulge your senses with colorful art displays, outdoor theatre, strains of jazz drifting from the clubs and, of course, the aroma of delectable seafood.

Haunted Charleston

Whether you are looking for historical museums, colonial architecture or maybe just the best bowl of jumbo ever, Charleston has it and then some. It’s worth your time to book a tour to sample what’s available. Especially recommended: Old Charleston Walking Tours and Bulldog Tours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some of the best ghost tours in Charleston?

Are there any haunted pub crawl tours in Charleston?

Can I take a walking tour around Charleston’s haunted sites?

What can I expect during a haunted pub crawl in Charleston?

Are there any carriage tours to explore the haunted places in Charleston?

How does a ghost tour in Charleston typically work?

Are there any free Charleston ghost tours that I can join?

Can I explore the haunted sites of Charleston independently?

What makes Charleston a great city for ghost tours?

What are some must-visit places for a ghost tour in Charleston?