Charleston Ghost Tours, Pirate Tours & Dark History
Charleston doesn’t make quite as much of its haunted past as its sister city, Savannah, but there are still any number of people who will tell you that the old buildings and graveyards of the historic peninsula are very haunted indeed!
Ghost tours, along with tours exploring the history of the lowcountry’s age of piracy or of crimes and the Charleston underworld, are a popular tourist activity, with dozens of tours catering to this interest.
Several local guide companies specialize in tours exploring Charleston’s haunted history, many of whom are actively involved in researching the city’s folklore and publish books and podcasts on the subject.
Ghost and pirate stories and the history of Charleston’s seedier side are also a popular topic with the city’s many generalist tour companies, so if you want to learn more about one of the other sides of Charleston’s history, it should usually be possible to find a tour to suit your needs.
See also:
– Things to do in Charleston
– Things to do near Charleston
– Boat and kayak tours to Capers Island, SC
– Charleston events in: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Ghost Tours
With Specialist Guides
Ghost of Liberty Tour, 1hr30 With Ghost City Tours. History and ghost stories from Charleston’s Revolutionary War period. Daily evening tours. Adults $19.95, children (6-11) $9.95, young children (0-5) free – includes admission to the Powder Magazine. Call 888-859-5375 for reservations or book online. More details
Charleston’s Ghost Tour, 1hr30 With Charleston’s Best Tours. Daily evening tours. Adults $20, children (7-12) $10, young children (0-6) free. Call 843-819-4565 for reservations or book online. More details
Pleasing Terrors, 1hr30 With Mike Brown, Old Charleston Walking Tours (Bulldog Tours). Daily evening tours. Adults $22 (online discount available), children (14 and under) $10. Call 843-568-0473 for reservations or book online. More details
Ghost Tour, 1hr30 With Ghosts of the South. Daily evening tours. $25 per person (discount available with online purchase), free for military in uniform. Call 843-343-9255 for reservations or book online. More details
Ghost Walk Tour, 1hr30 With Tricia Goron, GhostWalk. Monday-Saturday evenings. Adults $25, children (4-12) $15, young children (0-3) free. Discount available online. Call 843-720-8687 for reservations or book online. More details
Daytime Ghost & History Tour, 2hrs With Charleston Pirate Tours. Ghost stories and Charleston history. Tours available daily. Adults $25, children (4-12) $15 – includes admission to the Powder Magazine. Call 843-442-7299 for reservations or book online. More details
Ghost Tour, 1hr/1hr30 With Charleston Terrors. Available daily. Tour prices vary seasonally, adults $21-$26; extended tour $5 extra per person. Reservations can be made online online. More details
With General-Interest Tour Companies
Ghost Tours in Historic Charleston, 2hrs+ With Charleston Strolls (Bulldog Tours). Private ghost tour. From $175 for 2 hours, advance reservations required. Call 843-766-2080 for reservations or book online. More details
Ghostly Stroll, 1hr30 With Carol Ezell-Gilson, Broad Street Biz. $150 for 6 participants, additional adults $25 each and additional children (8-18) $15 each. Call 843-577-2947 for reservations or book online. More details
Charleston Haunted Ghost Walking Tour, 1hr30 With Al Ray, Old Walled City Walking Tours. Ghost stories and tragic events, partly based on John Bennett’s book, Doctor to the Dead. $20 per person. Available by special request only, whereupon the booked tour slot opens to the public. A $60 minimum tour fee applies if no one else signs up. Call 843-343-4851 for reservations or book online. More details
Ghosts of Charleston Tour, 1hr20 With Tour Charleston. Ghost stories based on Julian T Buxton III’s book, The ghosts of Charleston, with a visit to the Unitarian Church graveyard. Daily evening tours. Adults $25, seniors/military/AAA $23, students $19, children (7-12) $15, young children (0-6) free. Call 843-723-1670 for reservations or book online. More details
Haunted History Walking Tour, 1hr30 With Walks of Charleston. Friday and Saturday evenings. Adults $20, military/students $15, children (7-12) $10, young children (0-6) free. Call 843-478-7573 for reservations or book online; walk-ups accepted. More details
Supernatural Charleston Ghost Tour, 1hr30 With Geordie Buxton or Ed Macy, Walks in History. Ghost stories and history. Adults $22, seniors (67+)/military $19, children (6-14) $13. Reservations can be made online. More details
The Best Ghost Tour in Charleston, 1hr30 With Holy City Tours. Ghost stories. Evenings, daily. $20 per person, online discount available. Call 843-860-6808 for reservations or book online. More details
Charleston Ghost & Graveyard Walking Tour, 1hr30 With Charleston Strolls (Bulldog Tours). Ghost stories, including entrance to historic graveyards. Evenings daily. Adults $25, children (7-12) $15. Call 843-766-2080 for reservations or book online. More details
Charleston Ghost & Dungeon Walking Tour, 1hr30 With Charleston Strolls (Bulldog Tours). Ghost stories in downtown Charleston and in the Provost Dungeon. Tuesday-Saturday evenings. Tours are not available December through February. Adults $25, children (7-12) $15. Call 843-766-2080 for reservations or book online. More details
Haunted Arsenal Tour, 1hr30 With Charleston Strolls (Bulldog Tours). After-hours ghost tour of the Powder Magazine. Limited availability. Adults $25, children (7-12) $15. Call 843-766-2080 for reservations or book online. More details
VIP Ghost Package, 2hrs With Charleston Strolls (Bulldog Tours). Ghost stories inside the Provost Dungeon and Charleston’s oldest graveyard. Tuesday to Saturday evenings. Adults $35, children (7-12) $25. Call 843-766-2080 for reservations or book online. More details
Pirate Tours
With Specialist Guides
Pirate Tour, 2hrs With Charleston Pirate Tours. Pirate history of Charleston’s French Quarter and waterfront, with a costumed guide and (usually) a parrot. Tours available daily. Adults $25, children (4-12) $15 – includes admission to the Powder Magazine. Call 843-442-7299 for reservations or book online. More details
Children’s Treasure Hunt Tour, 1hr With Charleston Pirate Tours. Pirate history and pirate-themed activities, especially suitable for children under 8. Daily tours. Adults $14, children (3-12) $18. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Call 843-442-7299 for reservations or book online. More details
Evening Pirate & Ghost Tour With Charleston Pirate Tours. Pirate and ghost stories and Gullah folklore. Available daily. Adults $25, children (4-12) $15 – includes admission to the Powder Magazine. Call 843-442-7299 for reservations or book online. More details
With General-Interest Tour Companies
Pirate Tour, 2hrs With Carol Ezell-Gilson, Broad Street Biz. Pirate history of Charleston. $150 for 6 participants, additional adults $25 each and additional children (8-18) $15 each. Call 843-577-2947 for reservations or book online. More details
Crime & Demi-Monde Tours
With Specialist Guides
Death and Depravity Tour (16+ only) 1hr30 With Ghost City Tours. A mix of ghost stories and the dark side of Charleston’s history. Daily evening tours. $29.99 per person – includes admission to the Powder Magazine. Call 855-999-9026 for reservations or book online. More details
With General-Interest Tour Companies
The Haunted Jail Tour, 45mins With Bulldog Tours. Evening tour of the Old City Jail, focused on ghost, pirate and crime stories. Daily evening tours. Adults $29, children (7-12) $19. Call 843-722-8687 for reservations or book online. More details
The Dark Side of Charleston Walking Tour (ages 18+) 1hr30 With Bulldog Tours. The history of Charleston’s underside. Evenings daily. $29 per person. Call 843-722-8687 for reservations or book online. More details
Haunted Pub Crawl (ages 21+) 2hr30 With Bulldog Tours. Pub tour of downtown Charleston, with ghost and crime history. Friday and Saturday afternoons. $35 per person. 843-722-8687 for reservations or book online. More details
Paranormal Investigation (Ghost Hunting)
Paranormal Investigations (ages 13+) With Bulldog Tours. Midnight ghost hunting in the Old City Jail. $65 per person. Call 843-722-8687 for inquiries and reservations. More details