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The most reliably spooky things to do in Boston are an after-dark ghost tour, such as the Ghosts and Gravestones trolley, which takes you into two historic burying grounds after closing, and, in October, the evening crypt tours beneath Old North Church. By day you can walk the city's oldest burying grounds for free; the city opens them daily from about 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Boston's scares are mostly history rather than haunted houses: executions, epidemics and grave robbers, told on the ground where they happened. Here is how the main options compare, as of September 2026. True-crime fans can add a guided Beacon Hill true crime walk, bookable on Viator.
Boston ghost tours compared
| Tour | Format | Length | Price from | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghosts and Gravestones | Trolley plus two short walks | About 90 minutes | $37.40 | PG-13 |
| Haunted Boston Ghost Tours | Walking, small groups | See booking page | See booking page | See booking page |
| Nightly Spirits Boston Booze and Boos | Walking pub crawl, 3 to 4 bars | 2 to 2.5 hours | $29.95 | 21 and over |
Ghosts and Gravestones
Ghosts and Gravestones is a trolley tour led by guides in character, with two walking portions of about 20 minutes inside burying grounds such as King's Chapel, Copp's Hill or the Granary, which are otherwise locked after dark. It runs from April through October, departing nightly from 6 p.m. beside the Boston Marriott Long Wharf at 200 Atlantic Avenue; arrive 15 minutes early. The company rates it PG-13 for murders, executions and grave robbing, and warns of stairs, cobblestones and rough ground.
Haunted Boston Ghost Tours
Haunted Boston, running since 2005, is a storytelling walk in small groups rather than a jump-scare show. Its stops include the Central Burying Ground on Boston Common, the site of the Hanging Tree, the Omni Parker House, the Boston Athenaeum and Edgar Allan Poe sites. Start times and prices are on its booking page.
Nightly Spirits: Boston Booze and Boos
Nightly Spirits combines ghost stories with a pub crawl through three or four reputedly haunted bars, a little under a mile in all, starting at The Last Hurrah in the Omni Parker House. It runs year-round and is strictly 21 and over; drinks are extra. The same company runs an all-ages Spooktacular Ghost Walk and an 18-and-over Nightmares and Nightcaps tour.
Old North Church crypt
Beneath Old North Church in the North End is a brick-vaulted crypt of tombs. The church's self-guided Discovery Pass ($10 for adults) includes the crypt year-round during opening hours. In October it adds 45-minute After-Hours Crypt Tours for $20, at 6 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Thursday to Saturday through October 31, plus select dates in early October. They sell out, so book on the church's site.
Boston's oldest burying grounds
Four historic burying grounds in the city center have regular visiting hours, daily from about 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: the Granary and King's Chapel on Tremont Street, the Central Burying Ground on Boston Common, and Copp's Hill in the North End. The Granary holds Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and John Hancock. The gates close in the afternoon, so an after-dark visit means a tour with after-hours access.
The Omni Parker House
The Omni Parker House on School Street, open since 1855, is a stop on most ghost tours, and the hotel tells the stories itself: its blog relays guests' accounts of seeing the founder, Harvey Parker, on upper floors, in one case recognized afterwards from his portrait in the dining room. You do not need to stay the night; a drink in The Last Hurrah puts you inside the building.
Fort Warren on Georges Island
The granite Civil War fort on Georges Island has a Dark Tunnel and a ghost story, the Lady in Black, that rangers will tell you about. Ferries run only from mid-May to mid-October; in 2026 the last sailing is October 12. See our Boston Harbor Islands listing for the schedule.
Planning a spooky night
- Book ahead in October, when the Old North crypt tours and ghost tours sell out first.
- Wear shoes for cobblestones and uneven burying-ground paths.
- Check ages: Ghosts and Gravestones is PG-13, Booze and Boos is 21 and over, and Nightly Spirits' Spooktacular Ghost Walk is for all ages.
More for the season: spooky things to do during your vacation, things to do in Boston in October, Boston at night and a day trip to Salem.
Sources: Ghosts and Gravestones, Haunted Boston Ghost Tours, Nightly Spirits, Old North Church, City of Boston historic burying grounds, Omni Hotels. Checked September 30, 2026.