Charleston Ghost Tour: 10 Stories & Ghost Equipment Night Walk

Charleston night walk with real ghost stories and hands-on spirit tracking

You’ll wander Charleston’s haunted streets after dark with a small group and a local guide who brings real ghost-hunting equipment for you to try out yourself. Hear ten original stories tied to places like St. Michael’s Church and the Old Exchange Dungeon—and maybe even catch something on camera if you’re lucky (or unlucky). It’s eerie, funny sometimes, and surprisingly moving.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Charleston ghost stories and haunted sites

• Tell ghost stories at Waterfront Park
• Discuss ghosts behind Old Exchange building
• Share tales about dead bodies at Tavern
• Reveal secrets of St. Michael's graveyard
• Visit historic hanging site

The Experience

The first thing I noticed was how quiet Charleston gets at night—except for our little group, shuffling past St. Michael’s Church under those old streetlights. Our guide, Marcus, handed us these odd little EMF meters (I’d only seen them on TV) and grinned like he knew something we didn’t. The air felt heavy, almost sticky—maybe it was just nerves. Someone’s phone buzzed and everyone jumped. I tried not to laugh but honestly, I was spooked already.

We stopped behind the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon while Marcus told us about prisoners who never really left. He had this way of pausing just long enough for you to imagine something moving in the shadows. At one point my EMF reader beeped and I swear my heart skipped—I mean, probably nothing, but still. He showed us photos past guests had snapped: blurry shapes that looked way too much like faces for my liking. I tried taking a few myself but mostly got my own thumb (classic me).

The stories weren’t just recycled stuff either—Marcus said each one came from local records or people he’d actually met around Charleston Waterfront Park or old taverns nearby. There was one about a bartender who used to leave out a shot of rum for a regular who died in 1840-something; Li laughed when I tried to say his name in Mandarin—probably butchered it. We couldn’t go inside the graveyard by St. Michael’s at night (makes sense), but standing outside those iron gates with the Spanish moss swaying overhead felt close enough.

I didn’t expect to feel so much—half scared, half weirdly grateful to be in that strange hush with strangers listening for something we couldn’t see. Walking back at the end (they walked us to the starting point), I kept glancing over my shoulder just in case. That last story about what they did in the old tavern… still gives me goosebumps when I think about it now.

Top questions

How many people are on each Charleston ghost tour?

The group is limited to 15 participants per tour.

Is ghost-detecting equipment included on this Charleston ghost tour?

Yes, all guests can use ghost-detecting equipment provided during the tour.

Does the Charleston ghost tour include stories from local history?

Yes, all 10 stories are original and well-researched from local records and people.

Can children join this Charleston ghost tour?

Infants and small children can join if in a pram or stroller; service animals are allowed too.

Where does the Charleston ghost tour start and end?

The tour ends a few blocks from where it starts, but your guide will walk you back afterward.

Are any of the attractions entered during the tour?

No buildings are entered; stories are told outside sites like St. Michael's Church and Old Exchange Dungeon.

Is public transportation available near the meeting point?

Yes, public transportation options are available nearby.

What’s included

Your evening includes a certified guide passionate about Charleston’s paranormal side, use of real ghost-detecting equipment during your walk through haunted sites like Waterfront Park and St. Michael's Church, plus ten original stories you won’t hear anywhere else before returning together at the end.