Savannah: Ghosts, Asylums, Voodoo, and Horror Walking Tour

Savannah’s prettiest squares conceal a grim secret: the tour explains that you may walk over more than 46,000 buried bodies, with graves only a few feet below the surface. That uneasy contrast between graceful buildings and brutal stories gives this two-hour walk its bite. You’ll hear about murders, decapitations, asylums, voodoo, root magic, and spirits said to linger around the Historic District.

I like two things here. First, the focus is not only on ghost stories. Guides connect hauntings with Savannah’s past, including the treatment of the mentally ill, enslaved people, and those who did not fit social rules. Second, the guides bring different skills to the walk. Nathan is praised for humor and strong storytelling, while Jess, Kate, Pam, and others have been described as warm, careful, and well prepared. The drawback is clear: the material is graphic, and children under 12 may find stories involving murder and children too upsetting.

Key things to know before you go

• The tour begins and ends at Monterey Square, making it easy to fit into an evening in Savannah.
• You’ll walk through the Historic District and stop at Forsyth Park, with time for photographs.
• The stories are gruesome rather than mildly spooky, with no promise of a gentle, family-friendly tone.
• Guides are presented as practicing psychics, not actors in costumes, so the tone leans toward personal paranormal belief.
• A camera and charged phone are useful, especially if you want to photograph possible orbs or apparitions.
• The $25 price is fair for two hours, particularly if you value both local history and supernatural storytelling.

Why Savannah makes a good ghost-tour setting

Savannah works unusually well for a walking ghost tour because its old squares, churches, mansions, cemeteries, and narrow streets sit close together. You do not spend the evening riding in a bus or looking through windows. You move from one historic setting to the next on foot, with the ordinary city still operating around you.

That matters. A story about an old house feels different when you are standing in front of its facade at night. You can see the windows, ironwork, steps, and dark corners for yourself. The experience leaves room for belief, doubt, and simple appreciation of Savannah after sunset.

The supernatural side is only one layer. The better stories connect a reported haunting with an actual event, a family, a building, or a period of poor medical and social treatment. Past guides have used historical accounts, photographs on their phones, and details that cannot be seen from the street to make the stories easier to follow.

You should still know what kind of tour this is. It is not a quiet architectural walk with one or two playful ghost tales. The advertised themes include voodoo, murder, asylums, horror, occult practices, and spirits who supposedly refuse to leave. The guide may invite you to think about unexplained events, but the stories are told with a serious paranormal angle.

Monterey Square sets the mood

Meet your American Tour Company guide in front of the Pulaski Monument in Monterey Square. The meeting point is specific and easy to identify, but arrive with enough time to locate the monument before the group sets off. The walk returns to this same square, which is useful if you are planning dinner, drinks, or another evening activity nearby.

Monterey Square is a strong starting point because it immediately places you among Savannah’s historic homes and shaded lanes. The square itself is attractive by day and more atmospheric after dark. You get your first sense of the tour’s method here: look closely at ordinary buildings, then hear the less ordinary stories attached to them.

Guide assignments can change. Nathan appears often in booking records and is praised for his jokes, clear delivery, and command of Savannah’s past. Jess is described as enthusiastic and careful with the stories, while Kate has been noted for answering questions and adjusting her delivery to the group. Pam has also been praised for making stories feel vivid without turning the walk into a costume show.

That variety is worth keeping in mind. You cannot request a particular guide based on the information provided, but the strongest pattern is a personable guide who knows the material and keeps the group involved.

The Historic District, where beauty meets bad behavior

A major part of the walk passes through Savannah’s Historic District. This section lasts about 20 minutes according to the planned route, though the exact pace and stops can vary with the group and guide. Expect to pause near buildings and streets linked with local legends, family tragedies, violent deaths, and strange activity.

The real value is the connection between place and story. Instead of hearing a list of random ghost names, you learn why a particular building has a reputation and how that reputation fits into Savannah’s social past. Several accounts focus on upper-class families, private suffering, and the unpleasant conduct hidden behind respectable doors.

The tour also touches on the darker treatment of people who were mentally ill, medically vulnerable, enslaved, or simply considered different. This is important context. Ghost tours can easily turn suffering into entertainment, but the better approach gives you a chance to consider what actually happened before discussing why a spirit might be said to remain.

Some stories are intentionally hard to hear. Past participants have described teenagers becoming frightened and younger children feeling overwhelmed, especially when the subject involved children or graphic violence. You should not assume that an evening walking tour is suitable for every child just because the route is outdoors.

The guide may also discuss local superstition, root magic, occult traditions, and voodoo. These subjects deserve care and context. Listen for the difference between historical belief, local folklore, and the guide’s own paranormal interpretation. The tour presents these themes as part of Savannah’s supernatural culture, but it is not an academic class in religious practice.

Forsyth Park gives you a photo pause

The route reaches Forsyth Park for a 10-minute photo stop. This is a practical break in a story-heavy walk and gives you a chance to take pictures of one of Savannah’s best-known public spaces.

At night, Forsyth Park offers a different mood from the tidy daytime version seen in guidebooks. The open space, old trees, and surrounding buildings give the guide room to discuss the city’s atmosphere and paranormal reputation. You can use the pause to catch up with the group, check your phone, or take photographs.

The tour specifically encourages cameras for photographing possible apparitions and orbs. Keep your expectations sensible. A strange light in a photograph may have an ordinary explanation, and the tour does not guarantee a supernatural image. Still, taking pictures gives you an active role instead of making you a passive listener.

Past participants have reported unusual faces, energy, and responses from paranormal tools such as an electromagnetic meter and dowsing rods. Those experiences are personal, not something every person should expect. If you are skeptical, you can enjoy the photo stop and the storytelling without treating every result as proof.

A serious tone, with room for humor

The best feedback centers on the guides’ storytelling. Nathan has been praised for mixing history, jokes, and frightening details without losing the thread. Other guides have kept children and teenagers involved, answered questions, and handled lively groups without becoming flustered.

That balance matters on a ghost tour. Too much theatrical shouting becomes tiring, while a flat recitation of dates can drain the energy from the walk. The guides here are described as personable rather than dependent on costumes or exaggerated acting. You should expect a live storyteller who may use humor to give the group a breather before returning to a grim subject.

The tone is not always light. A guide may describe murders, decapitations, medical mistreatment, or brutal deaths in direct detail. The warning about gore is not a minor note. If you dislike graphic crime stories, choose a gentler history walk instead.

For adults, older teenagers, and people who enjoy folklore, this mix can work well. For younger children, the issue is not simply fear of ghosts. The violent details themselves may be too much. One booking included a 10-year-old who became thoroughly frightened, and another family advised against bringing children under 12.

What the $25 price really buys you

At $25 per person, this is an affordable evening activity in Savannah. You receive a two-hour guided walk in English, rather than a short photo stop or a quick introduction to the city. The route covers the Historic District, Monterey Square, and Forsyth Park, with the guide supplying the main value through stories and interpretation.

You are paying for access to a themed presentation, not entry to private buildings. The walk takes place outdoors, and the sights are streets, squares, facades, and public spaces. If you expect haunted-house effects, theatrical actors, or indoor investigations, this may feel limited.

If you already plan to walk through Savannah after dark, the tour adds structure and context for a modest fee. You could see the streets on your own, but you would not have the connected stories, paranormal equipment, or a guide pointing out the places that matter to the theme.

Tips are not included, so carry cash if you want to thank your guide. A charged smartphone is also sensible for directions, photographs, and meeting-point details. Masks are required under the provided instructions, and they can be purchased on site for $2.

Practical planning for a two-hour night walk

Wear comfortable shoes. The tour lasts two hours and stays on foot, with no transport between the starting point and the stops. Savannah’s historic streets can be tiring if you arrive in stiff shoes, especially if your day already included extensive sightseeing.

Bring a camera, cash, and a charged phone. The provider also asks you to bring a face mask or protective covering. Check the available start times when booking, since the schedule can vary.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Those policies help if your Savannah plans are still shifting, but you should still check the exact booking terms and start time before committing.

Weather can affect the mood and comfort. One past group walked through intermittent rain and found that it added to the atmosphere, but you may prefer to carry rain protection rather than rely on luck. No special equipment is required from you, although some guides may use paranormal tools during the walk.

How to decide if this is your kind of ghost tour

Book this experience if you want Savannah history told through murder cases, local superstition, and haunting accounts. It suits adults, older teenagers, skeptics who enjoy a good story, and anyone who likes to look at historic buildings after dark.

It is also a good choice if you want a walk that returns to its starting point. That makes the evening easier to plan than a route that finishes far across town. The 4.5 rating from 383 bookings suggests a dependable experience, with the guide’s personality playing a major role in how much you enjoy it.

Skip it if you want a mild, family-friendly ghost story or a polished theatrical show. The material can be graphic, and the paranormal claims are presented seriously. You may enjoy the history while questioning the spirits, but you need to be comfortable with the tour’s belief-centered tone.

Should you book the 13 Ghosts tour?

I would book it for a first or second evening in Savannah, especially if you want more than pretty squares and grand homes. The $25 fee buys two hours of focused storytelling, a useful introduction to the city’s darker past, and a chance to see familiar streets in a new light.

Choose it with care if you are traveling with children. For anyone under 12, the murder stories may be too graphic. For adults and older teens who like folklore, true crime, and a little paranormal suspense, the combination of history, humor, and nighttime walking makes this a solid value.

FAQ

Where does the Savannah ghost tour begin?

Meet the American Tour Company guide in front of the Pulaski Monument in Monterey Square.

Where does the tour end?

The tour returns to Monterey Square, its starting location.

How long does the walking tour last?

The experience lasts two hours.

What language is the tour offered in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $25 per person.

What locations are included?

The route starts at Monterey Square, passes through Savannah’s Historic District, includes a photo stop at Forsyth Park, and returns to Monterey Square.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The tour is described as gory and gruesome. The supplied guidance does not recommend it for people who are easily frightened, and past experiences indicate that children under 12 may find the material too intense.

Do I need to bring anything?

Bring a camera, cash, a charged smartphone, and a face mask or protective covering. Masks can also be purchased on site for $2.

Are tips included in the ticket price?

No. Tips are not included.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.