Take a ghost tour

What is a ghost tour? It’s a guided walk through the old part of a town after dark, where a guide tells you what happened where and what people say still lingers. It’s part history lesson and part campfire story, and it works well on a night when you want to be out of the house without doing anything strenuous. This is how to find a good one and what to expect when you get there.

Find a tour

Many old towns and cities run guided ghost walks, and October is when they’re busiest. Places with long histories, harbours, old hotels, cemeteries and historic districts are the likeliest. Search for your town or the nearest old city plus “ghost tour”, and look at what’s on offer before you choose.

Check these on the booking page:

• How long the tour is, and how far you’ll walk
• Where it starts and ends
• Whether it’s aimed at adults, families or both
• What happens if it rains
• Whether it’s guided by a person or an app

Reviews are worth reading, because a good guide is the whole difference between an evening you remember and one you don’t. Look for mentions of the storytelling and the history, not only the scares.

Book ahead

Book a few days ahead, and more in October, because weekend tours sell out. Most cost a modest amount per person, in the under-$20 range for a typical walking tour, though prices differ by city. Some tours work on tips instead, so bring a little cash in case.

Go with someone

It’s more fun with a friend or a small group, because someone is there to whisper with when a story gets creepy. Four or five people is plenty, and the guide will usually appreciate a group that listens.

What to wear

• Comfortable walking shoes, because streets in old towns are often cobbled or uneven
• A warm layer, since you’ll stand still a lot in the evening air
• A small bag or pockets, so your hands are free
• A phone with some charge, for photos and for getting home

What happens on the tour

1. You meet your guide at the start point a little before the time.
2. The guide walks the group from place to place, stopping at buildings, alleys, squares or graveyards.
3. At each stop they tell a story: who lived or died there, what people say they’ve seen, and what is known about the place.
4. The tour ends where it started or somewhere nearby, often with a last story.

Ghost stories on these tours are usually a mix of documented history and local legend. They’re meant to entertain, and nobody expects you to believe in any of it. Some of the best parts are the real details, like how the town grew, who lived where and what daily life was like.

How to enjoy it

Stay near the front if you want to hear the guide, and ask questions at the end. Good guides love to be asked. Don’t go off on your own, because it’s dark and the group moves together. Be polite around places that are real homes, businesses or graveyards, and keep your voice down when the guide asks.

Photos are fine on most tours, but a flash can be rude in a quiet moment. If you see something strange in a picture, it’s probably a reflection or a speck of dust, and that’s part of the joke.

Questions to ask the guide

Guides like being asked, and the answers are often the best part. Try asking which story is best documented, how they found the stories, and what the building was used for before. Ask which parts of the tale are known history and which are legend. It turns the walk from a list of spooky tales into a story about the town you live in or are visiting.

Staying comfortable and safe

You’re outside after dark, so stay with the group and tell someone where you’re going. Check the weather, bring a layer, and wear shoes with grip. If the tour passes through a graveyard or an uneven path, watch your footing.

Make it a fall evening

Eat something warm before or after, because you’ll be out for a while: a bowl of soup or a hot drink makes a good ending. If you liked the stories, read a ghost story at home with one lamp on, or take your group on to a haunted house if you want to be properly scared.