NYC Ghost Tour: Washington Square & Historic Haunted Sites

Manhattan's Haunted Streets: Where the Living Rub Shoulders With the Dead

You walk a mile through Manhattan's most haunted sites with an expert local guide who knows the history behind each location. The tour includes Washington Square Park, the House of Death, Emma Lazarus House, Jefferson Market Library, and several other stops tied to paranormal activity and dark history. You hear thoroughly researched stories, not just folklore, and finish with a clear sense of how the city's past still occupies its present. Evening departure. Plan for about two hours on your feet.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Washington Square Park8m
2. Jefferson Market Library7m

Haunted New York City walking tour

• Visit Washington Square Park
• Explore the House of Death
• See the Emma Lazarus House
• Tour Jefferson Market Library
• Stop at 12 Gay Street
• Visit Marie’s Crisis Cafe
• End at One if by Land, Two if by Sea

The experience

Washington Square Park looks like any other New York gathering spot on a Friday night: people laughing, street musicians playing, the arch lit up white. Then your guide mentions the potter's field buried underneath, the unmarked graves from centuries back, and suddenly the park feels different. That contrast is what makes this ghost tour work. You're walking through one of the city's most vibrant neighborhoods, but the stories being told pull you into the shadows of the same streets.

The walk covers about a mile through Greenwich Village and the historic district, hitting seven stops that each have their own weight. Washington Square Park opens the evening, then you move to the House of Death on West 10th Street: an elegant brownstone where a spectral woman has been reported for decades, along with other unexplained activity that keeps paranormal investigators coming back. Your guide, a local storyteller who knows the research behind each location, doesn't just recite ghost lore. They layer in the actual history: trials, executions, the lives that left marks on these buildings. The Emma Lazarus House, where the poet who wrote "The New Colossus" lived, carries its own eerie reputation. Jefferson Market Library, a Gothic former courthouse, rounds out the heavier stops with tales of hauntings tied to its past as a site of trials and sentences.

The route also takes you past Marie's Crisis Cafe in the West Village, a piano bar with a long history as a social hub and now a spot where patrons report ghostly sightings, and One if by Land, Two if by Sea, a restaurant in a 19th-century carriage house with its own spectral residents. The walk ends around the same energy it started with. You're back in the living city, but you've spent an evening in its haunted corners. The guide stays courteous and grounded throughout, which keeps the stories credible instead of sensational.

The tour is wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are nearby if you need to get to the starting point. It's not recommended if you have cardiovascular concerns, since you're on your feet for the full evening and moving at a steady pace through city blocks. Bring comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. You're outside the whole time, and there's no shelter built into the route.

What’s included

• Professional and courteous local guide.
• thoroughly researched ghost stories and historical context.
• visits to seven haunted landmarks including Washington Square Park, the House of Death, Emma Lazarus House, and Jefferson Market Library.
• approximately one-mile walking route through Greenwich Village and the historic district.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 20:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (6 to 17 years) · Child (under 6)

GroupUp to 35

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.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Junket: New York City Tours and Premium Experiences

Is this one for you?Right for anyone who wants to see Manhattan's darker history without arranging their own research or navigation. The guide handles the stories and the route, and you just show up with comfortable shoes and two hours to spare.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 17 years); Child (under 6).

How long is the NYC ghost tour?

The walk covers approximately one mile and takes place over an evening. Plan for around two hours total.

What's included in the tour?

Thoroughly researched and accurate history, a professional local guide, and authentic local ghost stories tied to each location. Entry fees to attractions are not included.

Is the ghost tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are available nearby.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Service animals are also allowed.

What are the main stops on the tour?

The tour visits Washington Square Park, the House of Death, Emma Lazarus House, Jefferson Market Library, 12 Gay Street, Marie's Crisis Cafe, and One if by Land, Two if by Sea.

Is this tour recommended for people with health concerns?

It's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. You'll be walking at a steady pace for the full evening with no extended breaks.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. You'll be outside for the entire tour with no shelter built into the route.