Uncover the haunted and ghastly throughout the DC area with these spooky ghost tours.
This fall, consider a fright-inducing walking ghost tour through Washington, DC. The following tours, many of which are year-round, will have you delightfully spooked as you attempt to walk from haunt to haunt in some of DC's oldest neighborhoods.
01
Fiat Luxe Tours: Haunted and Historic Georgetown
Fiat Luxe Tours offers comprehensive private expeditions that you can book at your convenience and the company features a journey that is perfect for getting spooked. The Haunted and Historic Georgetown tour will dive deep into the creepy past of one of DC’s oldest neighborhoods. You’ll see the steps from The Exorcist, the eerie Oak Hill Cemetery, the Old Stone House and much more. There’s a secret souvenir in store at the end of the tour, so you’ll be rewarded for withstanding the scares.
02
AmeriGhost: Ghosts of Lafayette Park & Capitol Hill Haunts
AmeriGhost boasts professional tour guides dying to show you the paranormal activity that haunts the nation’s capital. Ghosts of Lafayette Park traverses through “Tragedy Square” (as Lafayette Park is known) and includes stories of conspiracies, crimes of passion, duels and assassinations that have sparked a spooky presence in this historical section of DC. Capitol Hill Haunts dives into the disagreements among ghostly former lawmakers, dancing statues in the Statuary, a demon cat and the ghastly creeps that surround the Lincoln conspiracy trial. Tours run nightly, so there are plenty of chances to let DC's devilish past seep into your dreams. All ages are welcome.
Ghosts of Lafayette Park: 8 p.m. nightly | Meet at Dolley Madison House, 1520 H Street NW
Capitol Hill Haunts: 9 p.m. nightly | Meet at Good Stuff Eatery, 303 Pennsylvania Avenue SE
03
DC By Foot: Ghosts of Georgetown & White House Ghost Tours
Georgetown is perhaps DC’s most storied neighborhood, and DC by Foot brings out the darker side of this history with two awesome tours. Ghosts of Georgetown takes you behind the symbols of the past that shroud the area, revealing the ghosts and spirits that have called Georgetown home for hundreds of years (there's also True Crimes of Wicked Georgetown for ages 14 and up). You’ll even get the inside scoop on curses, startling incidents and those infamous Exorcist steps. Reservations are required.
View calendar & purchase tickets
Ghosts of Georgetown Tour: Meet at Old Stone House, 3051 M Street NW
04
Off the Mall Tours: Lesser-Known Notables of Oak Hill Cemetery
Don't let October go by without appreciating the eerie beauty of one of DC's most historic graveyards. Particularly gorgeous in the fall is Georgetown's Oak Hill Cemetery, which dates back to 1848. The unique, romantic-style cemetery was created to integrate into its natural environment, and the landscape is dotted with the graves of many notable (or even notorious) men and women, from spies to generals, educators to architects, Civil War to Cold War. Costumes not only welcome but encouraged.
Note: This tour lasts approximately 1.5 hours kicks off at the cemetery entry gate at 3001 R Street.
05
Scary DC Tours: Horror on the Hill
Scary DC boasts historically accurate and chilling ghost tours, as founder Dr. Phillip Ernest Schoenberg is both a historian and an American government professor. Horror on the Hill includes scandal-filled tales, stories of mysterious apparitions and more. You’ll hear accounts featuring some of DC’s legendary landmarks, including the Capitol Building, the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court.
View calendar & book tour
Horror on the Hill: Meet at Capitol Hill Starbucks, 237 Pennsylvania Avenue SE
06
Soul Strolls: Twilight Tours at Congressional Cemetery
Once twilight dawns during Halloween season, you can join a creepy tour of Congressional Cemetery, which holds its own ghostly residents. Soul Strolls will reveal stories of people buried at the cemetery through guided tours led by costumed interpreters. The tours are spread out over four nights, so you’ll have plenty of chances to catch the chills at DC’s most historic resting ground. View the schedule and book your excursion online.
07
Nightly Spirits: DC & Alexandria Ghost Tours
Nightly Spirits is a go-to for creepy, alcohol-accented tours. There are numerous DC tour options available, including haunted bars, "Booze and Boos"-themed excursions and student-focused offerings. Nightly Spirits also showcases Old Town Alexandria and its quaint, cobblestoned city streets and intimate bars that create a small-town vibe just a short drive from the District.
08
Boos and Booze: DC Ghosts & Haunted Pub Crawl
Join one of DC Ghosts' tours and discover the haunted side of the nation's capital, including fascinating stories behind DC's famous people and landmarks, from presidents to assassins to conspirators to heroes. If you're looking for an experience sprinkled with some liquid courage, DC Ghosts also runs a Haunted Pub Crawl that makes for a wonderful evening.
Note: Ghost tours meet at 15th and F Streets NW. The Haunted Pub Crawl meets at Old Ebbitt Grill.
More About DC