Georgetown Haunted Walking Tour: Exorcist Stairs & JFK Sites

Georgetown's Ghosts Don't Keep Office Hours

You start at Healy Hall and move through Georgetown's most haunted landmarks (the Exorcist stairs, Halcyon House, Martin's Tavern, and the Old Stone House) at your own pace using the walking tour app. The tour combines Civil War-era ghost stories with local folklore and real historical facts, and you can take it anytime, 24/7, since it never expires and the app doesn't care if you're there at 3am or 3pm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Old Stone Housepass by
2. Georgetown40m

Explore Georgetown's haunted sites

• Start at John Carroll Statue
• Hear haunted stories of Healy Hall
• Walk through haunted Georgetown streets
• Walk down the Exorcist Steps
• Learn story of the Exorcist house
• Stop at Martin's Tavern for JFK history
• Visit spooky Halcyon House
• End outside Old Stone House
• Hear Old Stone House spooky history

The experience

"You can do this at three in the morning if you want," our guide said when explaining how the Georgetown haunted walking tour works. "Most people don't, but the app doesn't care." That flexibility is the whole point. You're not locked into a group departure or a daytime slot. The tour starts at the John Carroll Statue outside Healy Hall on the Georgetown University campus, where you'll hear the first of the Civil War-era hauntings and local folklore that shaped this neighborhood. From there, the app walks you through DC's most haunted sites at whatever pace feels right, whether that's a slow afternoon stroll or a midnight investigation.

The route takes you down the Exorcist stairs (yes, those stairs, the ones from the movie), and the app doesn't just tell you about the film. It covers the real-life hauntings tied to the house itself. You'll stop at Halcyon House, where unexplained phenomena have circulated among residents for decades, and Martin's Tavern, a spot with its own connection to JFK and Georgetown's political history. The Old Stone House marks the end of the tour, but by then you've walked through the haunted streets of old Georgetown and heard the stories of the tragedies and happiness that shaped the people who lived there. The app combines historical facts with the local legends that still circulate: the kind of stories residents actually tell each other, not invented drama.

Because it's all outside and self-guided, you move through Georgetown on your own terms. No waiting for a group to catch up, no guide rushing you past a building because the next stop is scheduled. The tour never expires, so you can listen again later, pick it up where you left off, or take different sections on different visits. Service animals are welcome, and public transportation is nearby if you need it. The whole thing lives on the walking tour app, which means you've got the stories and the route whenever you want them.

What’s included

• Self-guided walking tour on the walking tour app.
• access to stories at Georgetown's most haunted sites including the Exorcist stairs, Halcyon House, Martin's Tavern, and Old Stone House.
• historical context on Civil War-era spirits and local folklore.
• the ability to take the tour anytime, 24/7/365, at your own pace.
• lifetime access to re-listen to the tour whenever you want.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (8 to 14 years) · Under 8: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.Operator's directions: “The tour starts at the John Carroll Statue outside of Healy Hall. You'll hear the history and haunted stories linked to the site, then you'll be guided through DC, to it's most haunted sites.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by WalknTours

Is this one for you?This works well if you want to explore Georgetown's ghost stories without joining a group or sticking to a set departure time. The app-based format means you control when you go and how long you linger at each haunted site.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 14 years). Under 8: they can't be included in the booking.

Can I do this tour at night?

Yes. The tour is entirely self-guided on the app and available 24/7/365, so you can walk it at 3am if you want. You move at your own pace with no group or scheduled times.

What's included in the tour?

Access to the walking tour app with the full Georgetown haunted route, stories at each site (John Carroll Statue, Exorcist stairs, Halcyon House, Martin's Tavern, Old Stone House), and historical context tied to Civil War-era hauntings and local folklore.

How long does the tour take?

The tour is self-paced, so duration depends on how long you spend at each stop. There's no fixed time limit. You move through Georgetown at your own speed.

Do I need to download an app?

Yes, the tour is guided by the walking tour app. You'll use it to navigate the route and hear the stories at each site.

Is this tour suitable for all ages?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels and covers ghost stories and historical tragedies. Parents should consider whether the spooky content is appropriate for younger children.

Can I bring my dog?

Service animals are allowed on the tour.

What if I don't finish the tour in one day?

The tour never expires, so you can pause it anytime and pick it up later. You can listen to sections again whenever you want.

Is public transportation available?

Yes, public transportation options are available nearby throughout Georgetown.