This post reviews and compares the various Charleston ghost tours, including our "pay-what-you-wish" option.
There are many options, including walking tours, carriage trips, prison visits, and pub crawls.
- Ghost Tours
- Paranormal Investigations
- Dark Side of History Tours
- Ghost Carriage Tours
- Haunted Jail Tour
- Ghost Pub Crawl
- Deals & Discounts
Disclosure: While we think you should take our tour, we have listed several other options. Our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.
GHOST TOURS
The tours listed in this section are more traditional ghost tours in the sense that they combine both history and ghoulish lore, but do not use any investigative technical equipment.
All of the tours welcome families, though some (as we note) are scarier than others.
Can't attend this tour - we also have a GPS-led audio Ghosts of Charleston tour for those brave enough to go at it alone.
And if you're interested in spooky experiences, consider visiting Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon.
FREE TOURS BY FOOT
This tour goes behind sensational ghost stories to understand the tragedies of the human beings who once walked the streets of Charleston and whose spirits still remain.
Stops include:
- The Harbor
- Old Exchange and provost
- St. Michaels Church
- St. Phillips Graveyard
- Philadelphia Alley
Tours are 75 minutes long
Tour Information
Reservations: REQUIRED. Click here to reserve. Groups of 6 or more should review our group booking policy.
Charleston city regulations allow only 20 participants (including children) per tour guide. This is a hard cap. Reservations are required and must be an accurate number of persons, regardless of age.
Where: The tour meets at the steps of Custom House on East Bay Street (map) at 200 East Bay Street
Duration: Approximately 75 min.
When: Tours run at 8 pm OR 1030 pm (select dates at 830 pm) Wednesdays-Sundays.
Cost: This tour is free to take, and you get to decide what, if anything, the tour was worth when it's done. A name-your-own-price tour is a tour for anyone's budget.
Though our tours work on a pay-what-you-like basis, we must charge $3 upfront cost per ticket to cover an admin fee and the tour tax that the City of Charleston imposes per participant on any tour within the city plus the administrative fees to handle.
Bulldog Tours
This company offers the widest selection of ghost tours in Charleston.
Guests can choose between their Ghost and Graveyard Tour, The Dark Side of Charleston Tour, the Ghost and Dungeon Tour, the USS Yorktown Ghost Tour and more.
Each tour introduces visitors to the haunted history of some of Charleston’s most famous buildings and neighborhoods.
Though many ghost stories are told throughout the evening, these tours are not intended to terrify guests.
Bulldog Tours aims to offer insight into the darker history of Charleston, and they have exclusive access to the Provost Dungeon, the Old City Jail, and the oldest graveyard in the city.
Ticket Details
- Prices: $37/Adults | $27/Children (7-12)
- Availability: Daily
- Hours: 7 pm - 10 pm
- Duration: 1 ½ - 2 hours
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
NOTE: Two of the tours provided by this company are included with a Charleston tourist pass. For more details on this service, please read our deals and discounts section.
Reviews
Bulldog Tours come highly rated on TripAdvisor thanks to a 4-star rating with well over 1600 reviews. There are also many positive reviews for their ghost tours.
This tour is typically a hit with anyone who wants to learn about the haunted history of Charleston, but visitors looking for actual paranormal experiences should probably look elsewhere.
Tour Charleston, LLC
The Ghosts of Charleston Tour led by Tours Charleston, LLC is another solid option for those keen to take a ghost tour in the city.
This is the only company with night-time access to the haunted Unitarian Church Graveyard, which was established in 1772.
Additionally, this is the oldest ghost tour offered in Charleston!
Ticket Details
- Prices: $35/Adults | $25/Students | $22/Children (7-12)
- Senior/Military/AAA Discount: $3 off
- Kids 6 and under are free.
- Availability: Daily
- Hours: 7:30 pm, 8:30 pm & 9:30 pm
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
Reviews
Tour Charleston, LLC has earned a 4 star TripAdvisor rating and nearly 200 reviews for all of their tours.
Reviewers of the ghost tour praise the guides in particular, who they describe as “fab” and “informative.”
An excellent way to learn a bit of Charleston’s history as well as a number of very entertaining ghost stories.
Revolutionary Charleston
This company also offers a Charleston ghost tour which covers a variety of creepy subjects. During the course of this outing, you can expect to learn about pirates, lost loves, burial practices, and even reported hauntings.
Revolutionary Charleston offers significantly lower prices than their competitors, so if you're looking for something more affordable, this is an excellent option.
While their main ghost tour is open to the public, they also offer private tours for up to 20 people at a price of $450. At $22.50 per person, that's actually cheaper than the public tour price!
Ticket Details
- Prices: $25/Adults | $15/Children (6-11)
- Discount of $5 off for Military, Veterans, Police, Fire & Rescue
- Ages 5 and under are free
- Availability: Daily
- Hours: 7 pm and 9 pm
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
Reviews
This is a relatively new tour company in Charleston, but currently they have a full 5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor. There really aren't enough reviews to make any conclusions yet, but it's definitely a good sign.
The reviewers who have left comments report that their tour guides are very friendly and informative. At least one guest suggested the tour was appropriate for kids under 13, so it's definitely family-friendly.
Honorable Mentions
In addition to the three most popular ghost tours listed above, there are several additional options you may want to consider.
Here are a few of the other haunted tours available in Charleston.
PARANORMAL INVESTIGATIONS
Explore haunted areas with the use of technical equipment such as infrared cameras and audio devices.
These investigative tours are for serious ghost hunters who want to do more than just learn about a haunted space…they want to experience it!
Bulldog Tours
Unlike their other ghost tours, the Paranormal Investigations Tour this company offers takes a much more serious approach to learning about Charleston’s haunted history.
Guests will explore the Old City Jail with special equipment including a ghost meter, an infrared camera, and special audio equipment.
Beware… this tour is not for the faint of heart! Tours are only available for ages 18+.
Ticket Details
- 2-Hour Tour: $75 per person
- All tours start at midnight.
- Learn more about the Paranormal Investigations tour.
Reviews
Guests who have attended the Bulldog Tours Paranormal Investigation rate it very highly, with many commenting on the unexplained supernatural encounters they had.
This trip focuses less on history and more on discovering what may lie beyond the veil.
If you want to learn more about the spooky stories of Charleston, consider Bulldog’s Ghosts and Graveyards Tour instead.
DARKSIDE OF HISTORY TOURS
These tours aren’t necessarily ghost tours, but some of the tales are dark enough to give anyone a fright.
Rather than focusing on the supernatural, this type of tour will introduce guests to the darker side of history!
You will hear stories about murder, prostitution, and infamous debauchery. While some of these outings are more theatrical, others dig deep into the historical background of Charleston.
Bulldog Tours
In addition to their other ghost tours, this company also offers a Darkside of Charleston Tour for mature audiences.
The tour “takes an uncensored look at history” as it tells tales of prostitution, crime, and other sordid affairs.
This is not a ghost tour, but rather a history tour that focuses on the more graphic and gruesome side of Charleston’s past.
Due to the descriptions and details provided on this outing, this tour is only available for ages 18+.
Ticket Details
- Price: $37 per person
- Availability: Nightly
- Hours: 8 pm & 10 pm
- Duration: 1 ½ hours
- Purchase tickets and learn more.
Reviews
Bulldog Tours averages an overall 4-star rating on TripAdvisor and the reviews for this tour are generally very positive.
Small groups such as couples and those who brought their friends were more likely to give a good review of this experience.
GHOST CARRIAGE TOURS
Haunted carriage tours are a unique way to learn about Charleston’s dark past.
As carriage tours tend to be somewhat of a novelty, this is a great way to combine the experience of riding in a carriage with a ghost tour.
Old South Carriage Company Ghost Tour
Old South Carriage Company offers a range of carriage tours throughout Charleston, including their Haunted Carriage Tour that covers several historic landmarks.
This is the only haunted carriage tour offered in Charleston. As it is only 40 minutes long, the Haunted Carriage Tour is also the shortest of all ghost tours offered.
Ticket Details
- Prices: $50/Adults | $40/Children
- Kids 3 and under are free
- Availability: Feb - Oct
- Hours: 5:30 pm - 10 pm
- Duration: 40 minutes
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
Reviews
Like their other services, the Haunted Carriage Tour by Old South Carriage Co. comes highly recommended with an average of 4 ½ stars and nearly 2,300 reviews for all of their tours.
Guests describe it as very entertaining and informative, praising the guides for their in-depth knowledge.
HAUNTED JAIL TOURS
This section will provide details about each of the Charleston tours which include a trip to either the Old City Jail or the Provost Dungeon.
These outings cover both the disturbing history of each location and some of the reported hauntings that have taken place.
Bulldog Tours
There are a lot of reportedly haunted locations in Charleston, but few are as spooky as the Old City Jail and Provost Dungeon.
These historic locations housed a variety of criminals from Civil War prisoners to 19th-century pirates!
In addition to housing disturbing criminals, these landmarks were also the site where several people spent their final days, which makes one wonder whether or not their spirits are still hanging around.
These tours aren’t recommended for small children, but they do provide tickets for kids 7 and older.
Haunted Jail Tour
- Ticket Prices: $37/Adults | $27/Children
- Hours: Every 30 minutes from 7 pm - 10:30 pm
- Duration: 1 ½ hours
- Availability: Nightly
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
Ghost & Dungeon Tour
- Ticket Prices: $37/Adults | $27/Children
- Hours: 7 pm & 9 pm
- Duration: 1 ½ hours
- Availability: Tue-Sat
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
NOTE: The Ghost & Dungeon tour is included with the Charleston Tour Pass. If you’re looking for a way to save money on tickets, check our discounts section for more details about this opportunity.
As we’ve mentioned in our ghost tours section, this company has very good overall ratings on TripAdvisor.
Customers indicate that they learn a lot about the history of the landmark and some even report feeling or experiencing something haunting!
GHOST PUB CRAWLS
Ghost pub crawls can be a fun and interactive way to discover Charleston’s haunted history while also enjoying a few drinks at some of the city’s most popular pubs.
Needless to say, this is an adults-only type of tour, so best for those who are not traveling with kids.
Bulldog Tours
In addition to their other ghost tours, Bulldog Tours offers a Haunted Pub Crawl of the Market – a ghost tour that doubles as a bar crawl!
Guests hear stories about the many ghosts haunting Charleston whilst visiting several traditional pubs and taverns.
Additionally, guides share the superstitious history behind certain late-night spirits like Plateyes and Boo Hags.
Ticket Details
- Prices: $45 per person
- Availability: Fri & Sat
- Duration: 2 ½ hours
- Hours: 4 pm
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
Reviews
Recent reviewers praise the tour as “fantastic” and “a must.” Guests also highly rate the pubs that are visited during the tour, saying that they in and of themselves were “awesome.”
This is a popular activity to enjoy with a friend, so consider bringing along your best buddies for this spooky trip through the haunted pubs of Charleston.
DEALS & DISCOUNTS
This section will cover several different ways to save money on various ghost tours in Charleston.
In addition to providing details about tourist passes, we will also include information about discount sites.
Tourist Attraction Discount Pass
Several ghost tours are included with the Charleston Tour Pass, as are some of the most haunted locations in the city.
This pass will allow you to pay one flat price for tickets to each of the included activities and attractions, potentially saving you 50% or more off general admission prices.
Each pass is valid for 3 days, which means you’ll probably have an opportunity to take at least 3-4 different ghost tours if you want!
Here are the haunted tours and sites included with this service:
- Ghost & Dungeon Tour | Bulldog Tours
- Spirits of Magnolia Cemetery Tour | Bulldog Tours
- Powder Magazine | Historic Site
- Provost Dungeon | Historic Site
If you want to save money on tickets for any of these activities, make sure to read our post about Charleston tourist passes for more information about how to use these services.
Discount Sites
For budget-conscious travelers, there are several websites that regularly offer discounts on ghost tours in Charleston.
Both Groupon and Living Social promote a variety of local ghost tours on their Charleston pages, so be sure to check their websites before visiting to see if there are any great deals you can score.
In addition to the discounts they provide to begin with, these sites also offer coupon codes every now and then which allow you to save even more money on tickets.
Make sure to check for these coupon codes on banners either at the top or bottom of the page when you visit the site.
