Charleston Ghost Walking Tour: Haunted Bars & Local History

A pirate guide leads you through graveyards and arsenals, stopping at bars housed in buildings with their own ghosts.

This is a 2.5-hour walking ghost tour of historic downtown Charleston led by a costumed guide in English. You begin and end at a bar, with time to purchase drinks at each location while the guide shares haunted stories of the city's landmarks: the Circular Congregational Church, Charleston City Market, the historic arsenal, and the Four Corners of Law. Guests must be 21+ with valid ID. Some bars may require 23+ to consume alcohol, and the tour route and drink stops are subject to availability.

Step-by-step itinerary

Haunted walking tour in Charleston

• Start at historic bar
• Walk to historic arsenal
• Pass by outdoor market
• Visit Circular Congregational Church graveyard
• Learn about Four Corners of Law ghosts
• End at historic bar

The experience

What ghosts are still haunting Charleston's oldest buildings? A costumed pirate guide answers that question over the course of 2.5 hours, walking you through historic downtown and stopping at local bars housed in buildings with their own stories. You'll pass the historic arsenal, visit the Circular Congregational Church graveyard to learn who is still there, walk by Charleston City Market, and hear about the multiple ghosts that haunt the Four Corners of Law. Between stops, there's a lot of ground to cover on foot, so the walking is real, but that's what gets you past the places where the hauntings happened.

The tour begins and ends at a bar, each one a historic building in its own right. You have time to purchase and enjoy a drink at each location while the guide tells the stories: the fascinating history of Charleston woven through its creepiest legends. Keep in mind that alcohol must stay inside the bar per city law, and drinks are not included in the price. Some of the bars you visit may require guests to be 23 or older to order alcohol. The tour will do its best to select alternatives for those under 23, but accommodations cannot be guaranteed since each bar's policy is final.

You'll need to be at least moderately fit for the walking, and the tour is not recommended for travelers with mobility issues. The route and drink stops can shift based on availability, so the exact landmarks and bars may vary. Public transportation is nearby if you need it to get to the starting point.

What’s included

• A 2.5-hour guided walking tour with a costumed pirate guide speaking in English.
• visits to historic bars in downtown Charleston.
• stories of local hauntings and ghosts at landmarks including the Circular Congregational Church, Charleston City Market, the historic arsenal, and the Four Corners of Law.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except TuesdayDepartures at 16:30, 19:00, 19:30 and 19:45

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (21 and older) · Under 21: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 14 · max 4 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Nightly Spirits

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and leads the group at a walking pace, so you'll follow the stories comfortably as long as you're comfortable with a lot of ground to cover on foot between stops. If you have mobility issues or prefer not to walk much, this tour is not the right fit.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Circular Congregational Church and why is it on this tour?

The Circular Congregational Church is a historic Charleston landmark with its own graveyard, and the guide will tell you about the ghosts that still haunt it. That's one of the stops where you'll learn the creepy local history.

Do I have to drink alcohol on this ghost tour?

No. The tour begins and ends at bars, and you have time to purchase drinks if you want to, but alcohol is not included and you're not required to buy anything. You must be 21+ with valid ID to join the tour, though some bars may require 23+ to order alcohol.

How much walking is involved in the 2.5-hour tour?

There's a lot of walking between the drink stops as the guide shares haunted history along the way through historic downtown. You'll pass the arsenal, the city market, the church graveyard, and other landmarks. You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness.

What bars will we visit on the tour?

The tour begins and ends at bars housed in historic buildings, but the exact bars and route are subject to availability and may change. Your guide will lead you to the locations on the day of your tour.

Can I take my drink outside the bar while we walk?

No. Per city law, alcohol must never be taken out of the bar, so you'll finish your drink inside before moving on to the next stop.