Charleston’s history does not disappear when the daytime tours end. Its old graveyards, former jail cells, and centuries-old buildings hold stories shaped by war, disease, natural disasters, and crime.
Ghost tours in Charleston, SC bring these stories to life through local legends and documented history, with options ranging from family-friendly walks to late-night tours for mature audiences and nighttime access inside historic sites.
Haunted Places to Visit in Charleston
Old City Jail
The Old City Jail served as the Charleston County Jail frowwm 1802 to 1939. Its inmates included 19th-century pirates and prisoners of war during the Civil War. Bulldog Tours now leads a 45-minute nighttime experience through the first floor, including former cells and hallways. The building is not wheelchair accessible, and the company does not recommend the tour for children under 10.
Past visitors have reported noticing unusual shapes or shadows in photos taken inside the jail. Whether caused by low lighting, camera settings, or something harder to explain, reviewing your pictures afterward is part of the fun.
Read more about the history and legends of the Old City Jail.
Dock Street Theatre
The original Dock Street Theatre opened in 1736 and was likely destroyed in the Great Fire of 1740. Planters Hotel was built on the site in 1809. The present theater was later constructed within the hotel and opened in 1937.
Local legends connect the property to actor Junius Brutus Booth and a woman known as Nettie. Ghost City’s Death and Depravity Tour currently stops outside the building.
Unitarian Church Graveyard
Construction on the Unitarian Church began in 1772, but the building was not completed and dedicated until 1787. Its churchyard is known for winding paths, old headstones, and intentionally overgrown landscaping.
Visitors cannot enter after dark on their own, but Tour Charleston offers guided evening access. If the churchyard is high on your list, reserve an experience that specifically includes entry.
Poogan’s Porch
Poogan’s Porch opened at 72 Queen Street in 1976 and was named for a neighborhood dog that made the porch his regular spot. One of the restaurant’s best-known legends involves Zoe Saint Amand, a former resident who died in 1954.
Today, it remains an operating restaurant rather than a public haunted attraction. Make a reservation if you want to see the Victorian home from inside.
Comparing Ghost Tours in Charleston, SC
Bulldog Tours
Bulldog Tours is the stronger choice for access inside historic properties. Its lineup includes experiences at the Old City Jail, a burial ground, and the Provost Dungeon.
The Haunted Jail Tour lasts 45 minutes and stays within the building’s first floor. Its family-friendly Ghost and Graveyard Tour runs for 90 minutes and enters one of Charleston’s oldest burial grounds after closing.
Ghost City Tours
Ghost City focuses on outdoor walks and storytelling. Current options include the all-ages Ghosts of Liberty Tour, the 16-and-older Death and Depravity Tour, and a Haunted Pub Crawl for guests 21 and older.
Ghosts of Liberty and Death and Depravity each last 90 minutes and cover about one mile. Ghosts of Liberty leans toward war history and works for families, while Death and Depravity covers crime, scandal, and stories intended for an older audience. The Haunted Pub Crawl is a two-hour experience with stops at three to four historic bars along the route for ghost stories and drinks.
Choose Bulldog if interior access matters most. Pick Ghost City for a traditional walk, an adults-only route, or a pub crawl. Since schedules and prices can change, confirm the latest details before booking ghost tours in Charleston, SC.
Plan a Self-Guided Charleston Ghost Walk from The Ryder
Prefer to explore on your own? Leave The Ryder around dusk and head toward Dock Street Theatre. Continue to Poogan’s Porch on Queen Street, then walk to the Unitarian Church graveyard on Archdale Street.
The Old City Jail on Magazine Street makes a fitting final stop if you want a longer route. View the jail and graveyard only from public areas unless you have reserved an authorized visit. Wear comfortable shoes and watch your step on Charleston’s uneven sidewalks.
Halloween in Haunted Charleston
Halloween weekend continues back at The Ryder with Paradise Lost at Little Palm on Friday, October 30, from 9:00 pm to midnight. Little Palm will transform into a forgotten tropical resort with cocktails, live DJ music, sweet bites, hidden lounges, and immersive surprises. Costumes inspired by “lost travelers” are encouraged.
Tickets are $50 and include a welcome cocktail and sweet bites, with $40 early-bird tickets available while they last. Want your own space? A $150 cabana seats up to six guests, but everyone will still need an event ticket.
If a ghost tour is also on your Halloween weekend list, book ahead. The most popular routes and evening time slots can fill quickly.
Stay Near Charleston’s Ghost Tours
Staying at The Ryder puts you on Meeting Street near several downtown ghost tour meeting points and haunted landmarks within the Historic District. Start the evening with dinner or a cocktail at Little Palm, head out for a guided tour or your own walk through Charleston, then come back to 237 Meeting Street when the night’s stories are done.
For a Halloween weekend in haunted Charleston, check The Ryder’s current hotel offers. Ryder Insider members can save up to 20% off the best available rate when booking directly. Availability and restrictions apply.