Why Charleston earns its haunted reputation
Few American cities carry as much history as Charleston, and few embrace it as openly. Founded in 1670 as Charles Town, the port played major roles in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, drew pirates including Blackbeard himself, and was deeply entangled in the slave trade, which the city formally acknowledged and apologized for in 2018. War, epidemics, and natural disasters left the Holy City with layers of stories, which is why it is so often called one of the most haunted cities in the country.
The tours above are our honest picks, strongest first. Charleston has more ghost tour variety than almost anywhere: walking tours, a horse-drawn carriage, pub crawls, dungeon access, even a dessert pairing.
Which Charleston tour fits you
For access, two tours stand out. The Ghosts of Charleston walk includes after-hours entry to the Unitarian Church graveyard, an overgrown southern garden of historic plots that closes to the public at dusk. The Ghost and Dungeon walk ends inside the Provost Dungeon beneath the Old Exchange, where war prisoners were once held. For storytelling, locals point to Pleasing Terrors, led by Charleston native and podcast host Mike Brown, and to the Ghost and Graveyard tour through the city's oldest cemetery.
Prefer not to walk? The evening horse and carriage tour covers the twisting side streets and cobbled alleys in comfort. Adults have the Death and Depravity tour for the city's seedier chapters and several pub crawls, including the Boo Hag and Brews walk built around Lowcountry legend. Families get dedicated versions too: the all-ages dark history walk and a kids-and-family edition of the Ghosts of Charleston tour departing from Buxton Books.
Rounding out the field: a paranormal investigation where you handle thermal imaging gear yourself, a private 19th-century dining room where dessert comes with dark history, and a self-guided smartphone tour for going at your own pace.
The places the stories cling to
The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, said to hold the spirits of prisoners from the Revolution. The Old City Jail, once home to Charleston's worst criminals. The Unitarian Church graveyard, Philadelphia Alley, St. Philip's Church, and the Powder Magazine. Each guide has a different favorite, and the versions rarely match, which is half the fun.
Questions people ask
What is the Provost Dungeon?
A pre-Revolutionary dungeon beneath the Old Exchange building where war prisoners were held. It is one of the few haunted sites in Charleston a tour can actually take you inside, and reports of activity there go back generations.
Which tours get into the Unitarian Church graveyard?
The Ghosts of Charleston night walk holds after-hours access, and its kids-and-family edition visits the same grounds. Most other tours view the gates from outside.
Are there family-friendly Charleston ghost tours?
Yes. The Dark History All-Ages walk, the family edition of the Ghosts of Charleston tour, and the horse and carriage ride all work for kids, while the Death and Depravity tour and the pub crawls are strictly for adults.
Can you do a Charleston ghost tour without much walking?
The haunted evening horse and carriage tour covers the historic district with no walking at all, and the self-guided smartphone tour lets you set your own pace and stopping points.
Keep planning your Charleston trip
Read our ranked list of the best haunted ghost tours in Charleston, then browse haunted Charleston, things to do in Charleston, and where to stay in Charleston, or see everything we cover in South Carolina.
