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The Best Ghost Tours in America's Most Haunted Cities

BY: Groupon Editors |Jun 27, 2017

Sure, haunted houses have their own place in the pantheon of scary fall activities. But there's one problem with all those bloody chainsaws, zombie brides, and moaning corpses: they aren't real. True connoisseurs of the paranormal have to dig a bit deeper to scratch their itch for things that go bump in the night. To the detriment of our nerves, we've done that digging for you. What follows are six of the top cities for ghost tours in America. Plus, we've highlighted the spookiest tours in each city to appeal to those who have a grim fascination for the undead. Hint: these are not for the easily startled. Check them out.

New Orleans

At this point, New Orleans is practically synonymous with witchcraft and the supernatural, so it only makes sense that it regularly tops the lists of the most haunted cities in America. For example, the city's cemeteries prove a spooky sight since unlike most, all of the graves sit above ground rather than buried beneath it because the city is below sea level. Amidst all the spooky encounters, we've determined some of the best ghost tours in New Orleans:

Chicago

Thanks to prohibition, Chicago became a hotbed of gangster activity in the early 20th century. While Al Capone ruled the streets with an iron fist, the city has another gruesome claim to fame: H.H. Holmes. Holmes is said to be America's first serial killer and his murderous exploits were detailed in full in The Devil in the White City. Many tours take guests to the sites outlined in the book where his victims' ghosts might still be found. Although you might not think of the Windy City as one of the more ghost-friendly places in the country, it definitely has it's darker side. Check out some of the best ghost tours in Chicago:

Boston

As one of America's oldest cities (settled in 1630), Boston is definitely one of the most haunted. Beautiful Boston Commons was long ago the site of many public hangings and the city's cemeteries have gravestones dating back to the pilgrims. The Pilot House, for instance, the 19th-century hotel for ship captains, hosts the Lady in White—an apparition that has appeared regularly to guests as a glowing figure. When it comes to tours though, one thing is for sure: expect to be spooked. After all, wouldn't one of our country's oldest cities also have some of the oldest ghosts as well? Here are some of the best ghost tours in Boston:

Gettysburg

Gettysburg's claim to fame is an obvious one: site of one of the Civil War's bloodiest battles. Over the course of three days, Confederate and Union soldiers duked it out, resulting in more than 40,000 casualties. That many fallen soldiers mean there's plenty of room for restless spirits on the old grounds. The Gettysburg Hotel is said to be haunted by no less than 10,000 spirits. For even more spooky encounters, check out some of the best Gettysburg ghost tours:

Los Angeles

Not nearly as old as most of the cities on this list, Los Angeles is no less haunted. The ghosts of old Hollywood literally walk the halls of the city's most famous hotels, from John Belushi's spirit at the Chateau Marmont to Marilyn Monroe's at the Roosevelt Hotel. The famous Hollywood sign itself is even alleged to be haunted by the ghost of a stage actress who threw herself off the top of the "H", falling to her death. If you believe in the supernatural, these Los Angeles tours will surely thrill you. If you don't, well, you might change your mind by the end. Here are some of the best ghost tours in Los Angeles.