If you have ever wandered through a candlelit cemetery after dark or listened to a storyteller spin tales of restless spirits, you know there is something genuinely thrilling about a good ghost tour. It mixes history, atmosphere, and just enough mystery to make an evening unforgettable.
But how do you know which ones are worth your time and money? A video production company called Magic Hour set out to answer exactly that. Researchers pulled Tripadvisor data on 218 ghost tours across the country. They looked at each tour’s average rating, percentage of five-star reviews, and total number of reviews. Smaller tours were weighted fairly so they could compete with big-name operations.
The result was a “Ghost Experience Score” out of 100 for each tour. Here are the ten that came out on top.
The Full Top 10 Rankings
| Rank | Tour | Location | Score | Rating | Five -Star % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour | Salem, Massachusetts | 93.75 | 4.9 | 94.77% |
| 2 | Satanic Salem Walking Tour | Salem, Massachusetts | 91.65 | 5.0 | 99.54% |
| 3 | Charleston Haunted Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour | Charleston, South Carolina | 87.83 | 4.9 | 97.36% |
| 4 | Savannah History and Haunts Candlelit Ghost Walking Tour | Savannah, Georgia | 86.18 | 4.9 | 93.89% |
| 5 | Bewitched Walking Tour of Salem | Salem, Massachusetts | 85.91 | 4.9 | 96.01% |
| 6 | New Orleans Yellow Fever Ghost Tour | New Orleans, Louisiana | 85.84 | 4.9 | 94.59% |
| 7 | Haunted Savannah Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour | Savannah, Georgia | 85.56 | 4.9 | 96.19% |
| 8 | Haunted Chicago Crime, Ghosts and Capone Walking Tour | Chicago, Illinois | 85.29 | 5.0 | 98.45% |
| 9 | New Orleans Adults Only Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Tour | New Orleans, Louisiana | 85.25 | 4.8 | 93.25% |
| 10 | Salem Voodoo, Vampires and Ghosts Guided Walking Tour | Salem, Massachusetts | 84.60 | 4.9 | 92.89% |
Salem Dominates the Rankings
Salem, Massachusetts claimed the top spot by a wide margin. The History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour earned a Ghost Experience Score of 93.75, more than two full points ahead of its nearest competitor. It has collected nearly 9,500 reviews on Tripadvisor, with a 4.9 average rating.
The tour digs into Salem’s haunting past, including its 17th-century witch trials. Stops include the Witch House, one of the last remaining structures directly connected to the 1692 trials, and the famously haunted Ropes Mansion.
Salem’s second entry, the Satanic Salem Walking Tour, finished right behind it in second place with a score of 91.65 and a perfect 5.0 rating. The 90-minute tour takes a scientific approach to Salem’s history rather than a paranormal one. It is led by a member of the local Satanic Temple. That unique angle convinced 99.54 percent of guests to leave a five-star review.
Salem also placed fifth with the Bewitched Walking Tour, which earned a score of 85.91. That gives Salem four of the top ten spots overall.
The South Brings Its Own Kind of Spooky
Southern cities made a strong showing in the middle of the rankings. Charleston’s Haunted Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour finished third with a score of 87.83. The tour weaves together centuries of dark Lowcountry history, with a drink in hand to help take it all in.
Savannah placed twice in the top ten. Its History and Haunts Candlelit Ghost Walking Tour came in fourth with a score of 86.18. Reviewers especially responded to the atmosphere: lantern-lit squares draped in Spanish moss after dark, with 93.89 percent leaving five stars. The Haunted Savannah Booze and Boos tour rounded out the list at seventh with a score of 85.56.
New Orleans and Chicago Round Out the List
New Orleans claimed two spots. Its Yellow Fever Ghost Tour came in sixth with a score of 85.84, and the Adults Only Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Tour landed ninth with a score of 85.25 and over 2,800 Tripadvisor reviews.
Chicago’s entry, the Haunted Chicago Crime, Ghosts and Capone Walking Tour, earned a perfect 5.0 rating and 98.45 percent five-star reviews. Its score of 85.29 placed it eighth. If Al Capone’s Chicago holds any appeal, and for many of us it just might, this one sounds like a worthwhile evening.
Not Ready for Salem? Try Williamsburg
Ghostly Whispers of Williamsburg Tour in Virginia is an option worth knowing about. The tour leads visitors through historic streets said to be haunted by Civil War soldiers and phantom carriages. It is a bit off the beaten path and sometimes that is exactly what makes a trip memorable.
Whether you are planning a fall getaway or looking for a different kind of bucket-list experience, any of these tours promise an evening full of stories, atmosphere, and a little harmless history from the darker side of American life.
