If you've ever asked yourself, "What exactly is a ghost tour?" you're not alone. The term conjures all kinds of ideas, from costumed actors jumping out in the dark to spooky soundtracks in cheesy haunted houses. But here at Ghost City Tours, we’re on a mission to change that perception. For over a decade, we’ve been redefining what a ghost tour truly is—and what it should be. Spoiler: it has nothing to do with fake cobwebs or actors in rubber masks.
Let us walk you through what a ghost tour is, what it isn't, and why it might just be the most meaningful, memorable experience you have while visiting a historic city.
At its core, a ghost tour is a walking tour that explores a city's haunted history. But more than that, it’s a deep dive into the stories of the people who lived, struggled, and sometimes died in the places you’re walking through. Our tours are carefully researched, historically grounded, and told by expert guides who know how to bring the past to life.
Unlike a traditional historical tour that might focus purely on dates, events, and architecture, a ghost tour weaves those facts into stories that resonate on a human level. We explore how the past lingers into the present, not just through plaques or preserved buildings, but through the energy and folklore that remain.
It’s storytelling with substance—and a touch of the supernatural.
Let’s clear up one of the biggest misconceptions right away: a ghost tour is not a haunted house attraction.
You won't find anyone jumping out from behind a corner wearing a bloody costume. We don’t use strobe lights or fog machines. And we certainly don’t rely on gimmicks. If that’s what you’re after, there are plenty of haunted houses and seasonal attractions designed to get your adrenaline pumping. That’s just not what we do.
Instead, Ghost City Tours focuses on the real history behind the legends. We take you to the actual locations where people lived, loved, fought, and sometimes died. These are places with documented history, personal stories, and yes, reports of paranormal activity. But we treat those stories with respect.
In short: we’re not here to scare you. We’re here to fascinate you.
So why do millions of people take ghost tours every year? Because ghost stories are cultural stories. They’re ways to connect with the past, to walk the streets of a city and hear the whispers of those who came before us.
When you take a Ghost City tour, you’re doing more than learning about ghosts. You’re learning about the enslaved people who built the cities, the soldiers who died defending them, the immigrants who dreamed of a better life, and the tragedies that still haunt communities today. Ghost stories are often where official histories leave off—they offer emotional truth when the textbooks fall short.
And of course, they’re entertaining. There’s a reason ghost stories have been told for thousands of years. They invite us to question what we know, what we believe, and what might lie just beyond the veil of understanding.
Every Ghost City Tour is a walking tour, typically 90 minutes to two hours in length. We offer both family-friendly options and adults-only tours in many of our cities, so you can choose the experience that fits your group best.
You’ll meet your guide at a designated location and from there, you’ll explore the most haunted (and historically rich) parts of the city. Our guides are master storytellers. They’ve spent hours learning the history, researching local lore, and developing tours that blend education with entertainment. Many of them are actors, writers, historians, or paranormal researchers themselves.
You won’t need to worry about gimmicks. What you’ll get is a lantern-lit stroll through cobblestone streets, alleyways, and graveyards, hearing stories that will stick with you long after the tour ends.
You don’t have to believe in ghosts to enjoy a ghost tour.
Some of our guests come with cameras and EMF detectors, hoping to catch something paranormal. Others come because they love history, architecture, or folklore. Some are skeptics who want to learn why these stories persist in certain places. All are welcome.
We’ve spent years crafting our tours so that whether you’re a true believer or a curious observer, you’ll find something of value. It’s not about convincing you ghosts exist—it’s about opening a door to the stories that haunt us all.
For a long time, ghost tours had a reputation problem. They were seen as tacky, unserious, and sometimes outright ridiculous. People thought of them as something to do only around Halloween—a once-a-year novelty.
Ghost City Tours was founded with the intention of changing that.
We believed then, and still do, that ghost stories deserve to be taken seriously. Not because they’re necessarily "true" in a literal sense, but because they say something profound about human nature. They tell us what we’re afraid of, what we regret, and what we hope might endure after we’re gone.
Since launching in 2012, we’ve grown into one of the most respected ghost tour companies in the world. We operate in dozens of cities, and our tours have been taken by millions of guests from around the globe. But we haven’t lost sight of that original goal: to elevate ghost tours into a respected form of storytelling and cultural exploration.
If you’re someone who loves history, storytelling, and exploring the unexplained, chances are a ghost tour is going to be right up your alley. Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, with kids, or with a group of friends, a ghost tour is a unique way to experience a city.
It’s immersive. It’s atmospheric. It’s a little bit eerie. And it’s a lot of fun.
Just remember: we’re not going to chase you with chainsaws or jump out from behind tombstones. That’s not our style. What we offer is something far more lasting: a connection to the people who came before us, and the stories they left behind.
If that sounds like your kind of adventure, we invite you to join us on a Ghost City Tour in one of our many cities. Come walk with us, and see your destination in a whole new light—or perhaps, in the flicker of a lantern.
A ghost tour isn’t just a nighttime stroll with spooky stories. At least, not when it's done right. At Ghost City Tours, we believe in offering more than entertainment. We believe in preserving oral histories, in honoring the forgotten, and in giving visitors a powerful way to engage with the past.
So the next time someone asks, "What is a ghost tour?" you’ll know: it’s not a haunted house. It’s not a joke. It’s a cultural experience that brings history to life through the stories that won’t die.
And if you’re lucky—or unlucky—you might just meet a lingering spirit or two along the way.