Photo by Ismail Maqbool on Pexels
By Michael Gonzales ยท Published October 26, 2026
The best-known Boston ghost tour is the Ghosts and Gravestones trolley tour, rated 4.5 stars from 2,750 reviews on Viator as of October 2026, a 2-hour evening ride and walk from $46.20 per person that takes you inside two of Boston's oldest burying grounds.
If you would rather walk, a nighttime walking tour covers the same haunted downtown ground in 1 hour and 30 minutes from $29.99, and an adult-ticket walking tour at 9 pm ET goes deeper on colonial death and mourning from $34.99.
Boston ghost tours are not a seasonal attraction. These tours run year-round, in winter cold and summer heat alike, because the stories are tied to places you can visit in any month: Granary Burying Ground, Copp's Hill, King's Chapel Burying Ground and Boston Common.
This guide compares only year-round bookable tours, so you can use it for a trip in any season. All start times are Boston local time (ET).
If your trip falls around October 31, our Halloween in Boston 2026 guide covers the seasonal events, and our list of spooky things to do in Boston goes beyond tours to crypts and haunted sites.
What are the best Boston ghost tours at a glance?
| Tour | Duration | Style | Rating | Reviews | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Tour | 2 hours | Trolley ride plus walking, host in character as a 17th-century gravedigger | 4.5 stars | 2,750 | $46.20 |
| Ghosts of Boston Night-Time Walking Tour | 1 hour 30 minutes | Walking tour, 8 pm start | 4.4 stars | 317 | $29.99 |
| Boston "Death and Dying" Walking Ghost Tour | 1 hour 30 minutes | Walking tour, adult tickets only (16+), 9 pm start | 4.4 stars | 227 | $34.99 |
Figures were checked on Viator in October 2026. All three tours offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Group sizes are capped at 20 travelers on the trolley tour and 30 travelers on each walking tour.
Why is the trolley tour the classic Boston ghost tour?
The Boston Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Tour calls itself Boston's original frightseeing tour, and its format is different from a standard walk. You ride the Trolley of the Doomed between stops, and your host stays in character as a 17th-century gravedigger for the full 2 hours.
Stories cover figures such as Albert DeSalvo, known as the Boston Strangler, and Jane Toppan, along with the grave-robbing scandal that the operator describes as the biggest in New England history.
The walking portions are the highlight. The tour steps inside two burying grounds after dark, Granary Burying Ground and Copp's Hill Burying Ground in the North End. At Copp's Hill you will hear about Cotton Mather, who was involved in the Salem witch trials and is buried there.
At Granary you are among the graves of Samuel Adams, John Hancock and Paul Revere, plus the five victims of the Boston Massacre.
Practical points matter with this one. Boarding is at 200 Atlantic Avenue, at the end of the Long Wharf Marriott, and you must check in 20 minutes before departure. Children under 6 are not allowed, the operator rates the tour PG-13, and it is not wheelchair accessible.
Recent reviewers praise the hosts and the graveyard stops, and several note that there is more walking than the trolley name suggests, so wear proper shoes.
This is our primary recommendation for first time ghost tour visitors and for groups who want the most produced, theatrical version of Boston's dark history.
Which Boston ghost tour is best on foot?
The Ghosts of Boston Night-Time Walking Tour is the straightforward walking alternative. It starts at 8 pm outside King's Chapel Burying Ground at 58 Tremont Street, runs for 1 hour and 30 minutes, and is rated 4.4 stars from 317 reviews as of October 2026, from $29.99 per person.
The route is compact and central. Stops include Boston Common, the Old State House, King's Chapel Burying Ground and Granary Burying Ground, with Revolutionary era history mixed into the ghost stories.
Because you stay on foot downtown, there is no trolley transfer and no ride across town, which keeps the evening simple if you are staying near Downtown Crossing or Beacon Hill. Viator lists it as wheelchair and stroller accessible, which the trolley tour is not.
Reviewer opinion is mixed in a useful way. Fans praise guides who balance history and spooky stories, and families have called it the right level of scary for children.
Critics say you view the cemeteries from outside rather than walking inside them, and that traffic noise can compete with the guide. Set your expectations accordingly: this is a history-led ghost walk at the lowest price of the three, not a haunted house.
Is there an adults only ghost tour in Boston?
Yes. The Boston "Death and Dying" Walking Ghost Tour is sold as an adults only tour, with a 9 pm start, a 1 hour and 30 minute run time, and a focus on how colonial Boston handled death, mourning and the afterlife. It is rated 4.4 stars from 227 reviews as of October 2026, and it holds Viator's Badge of Excellence, from $34.99 per person.
You meet in front of the Massachusetts State House at 24 Beacon Street and finish at Granary Burying Ground on Tremont Street.
Along the way the tour covers the Old South Meeting House, where the guide tells a story about a phantom said to be an omen of death, and Boston Common, including its hanging tree history and pirate stories.
The tone is more unsettling and less theatrical than the trolley tour, and without younger children in the group the guide can stay with the grimmer material, including burial customs and early American beliefs about spirits.
Choose this tour if you are traveling without kids, you prefer a later start after dinner, or you have already done a general ghost walk and want the darker, more historical version.
How do you pick the right ghost tour for your trip?
Start with who is in your group. The trolley tour sells child tickets for ages 6 to 12 and does not allow children under 6, but the operator rates it PG-13, so it suits older kids who enjoy a scare more than nervous younger ones.
With children or teenagers who scare easily, the 8 pm walking tour is the gentlest option, and families on it report a mild level of scary content. For adults, the 9 pm Death and Dying tour is built for you.
Next, think about mobility and weather. The trolley reduces walking between distant stops but still includes two graveyard walks on uneven ground, and it is not wheelchair accessible. Both walking tours stay downtown on shorter routes, and both are listed as wheelchair accessible on Viator.
Frequently asked questions
Do Boston ghost tours run all year?
Yes. The three tours compared here are bookable year-round on Viator, not only in October. Evening start times shift with the season and availability, so check the calendar for your exact date when you book.
Are Boston ghost tours suitable for children?
It depends on the tour. The trolley tour bans children under 6 and rates itself PG-13. The nighttime walking tour is open to most travelers and families report a mild level of scary content. The Death and Dying tour is sold only as adult tickets for ages 16 and up on Viator, so it is not an option with younger children.
How much walking is involved in the trolley tour?
More than the name suggests. The trolley carries you between areas, but the tour includes two walking portions inside burying grounds, on cobblestones and rough terrain. The operator recommends comfortable shoes, and recent reviewers make the same point.
Where do Boston ghost tours meet?
The trolley tour boards at 200 Atlantic Avenue by Long Wharf. The nighttime walking tour meets at 58 Tremont Street, outside King's Chapel Burying Ground. The Death and Dying tour meets at 24 Beacon Street, in front of the Massachusetts State House.
Can you cancel a Boston ghost tour?
Yes. All three tours in this comparison listed free cancellation on Viator up to 24 hours before the start time, for a full refund, as of October 2026. The trolley tour states that confirmation is received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability.