Austin: Haunted Walking Tour with Ghost Stories & Driskill Hotel

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/6

Duration1h 30m

GroupUp to 25

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Ghost stories, secret corners and laughter on Austin’s streets

You’ll walk Austin’s shadowy streets with a storyteller-guide, hear ghost tales at landmarks like the Driskill Hotel and Paramount Theatre, and slip into hidden bars for exclusive stories. Expect laughs, shivers, and small surprises—this haunted walking tour is less about jump scares and more about feeling Austin’s strange heartbeat after sunset.

1h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Haunted Austin walking history tour

Begin at The Speakeasy tavern
Explore inside The Speakeasy
Walk along iconic Austin boulevard
View Texas Capitol from boulevard
Pass by Austin Paramount Theatre
Visit Driskill Hotel
See Dirty Sixth Street
End tour back at The Speakeasy

The Experience

“If you hear piano music coming from the Driskill lobby when nobody’s playing—just keep walking,” our guide, Marcus, grinned as we huddled outside the old hotel. He had that kind of voice that made you lean in closer, even if you didn’t want to admit you were spooked. The air was sticky and warm (Texas never really cools off at night), and someone nearby was smoking clove cigarettes—sweet and sharp. We’d just started our haunted Austin walking tour, but I already felt like I’d stumbled into one of those late-night radio shows where everything gets a little stranger after dark.

We wandered down 6th Street, dodging party crowds and neon reflections in puddles left by a quick evening rain. Marcus pointed out where the old saloons used to be—he even stopped us in front of a battered doorway to tell a story about a gambler who never left. I caught myself glancing over my shoulder more than once. It wasn’t just the stories; it was the way he told them, pausing just long enough for your mind to fill in the gaps. At the Paramount Theatre, he showed us this faded photograph—supposedly America’s most famous ghost pic—and yeah, it gave me goosebumps even though I tried to play it cool.

The highlight for me was stepping inside the Speakeasy (I’d never been before). There’s something about old wood floors under your feet and the faint smell of whiskey that makes you feel like time folds in on itself. Marcus joked that if any spirits showed up, we could blame it on the drinks. He introduced us to one of the bartenders—a local who claimed she’d seen glasses move on their own during closing shifts. Maybe she was just messing with us, but her eyes said otherwise.

I didn’t expect to laugh so much or get genuinely creeped out by a city I thought I knew pretty well. The whole haunted history tour took about 90 minutes but honestly? It felt both longer and shorter at once—like good stories always do. Sometimes I still think about that echoey hallway at the Driskill or how everyone walked a little closer together after dark. It’s weird what sticks with you.

What’s included

Your evening includes guided storytelling through downtown Austin’s historic sites like 6th Street and Paramount Theatre, exclusive access inside The Speakeasy tavern (where you can grab a drink if you arrive early), plus time spent exploring inside legendary spots such as the Driskill Hotel—all led by an engaging local guide before returning back downtown at night’s end.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Walking Tours of Austin