Best Atlanta Ghost Tours

Atlanta is haunted - so say the experts - and we've heard of ghosts, some even claim to have had a paranormal experience with them and anyone who wants to enjoy the best tours in Atlanta needs to book a space to see the spooky side of Georgia's capital.

In this post you'll find a list of the most popular ghost tours and excursions, from paranormal sightings in churches, cemeteries and monuments to unexplained occurrences in homes. And if that's not enough, here's also a bonus with spooky scenarios that made it to the screen in series like Stranger Things and The Walking Dead.

Are you ready for one of Atlanta's spookiest experiences? If so, you should follow in the footsteps of ghosts and ghouls in the heart of the city. Learn about the myths and legends of Roswell, the city that is not only obsessed with UFOs but also has hundreds of apparitions and curiosities to its credit.

The number of resident ghosts and spirits around Roswell's town square is astounding to say the least. The walls of the antebellum mansions that General Sherman never burned, the ravines with their ruined mills, the Founders Cemetery where the remains of Roswell King lie, and more.

The tour covers an approximately 1.5-mile easy walking route and is as exciting as it is enlightening thanks to the guidance of active paranormal investigators.

From SyFy to Ghost Hunters International, celebrities and experts in the paranormal field certify these tours as some of the best in Atlanta. What are you in the mood for?

Details of interest

• Price: from £20.
• Duration: 2.5 hours.
• Schedule: Nighttime.
• What the tour may include: active paranormal guide service.
• Means of transport: Not applicable.
• Pros: Often meet around the Roswell Visitor Centre at 617 Atlanta St., Roswell, making the departure and arrival point quite convenient.
• Cons: The tour only includes the services of the guide. Night shift only.

In Atlanta, it's not just about haunted places but the stories and footprints that jump out at visitors on every tour. From an abandoned mental institution to a haunted house to an evil doctor with corpses buried in his basement, there are many stories waiting for you to discover.

Start your tour at Babs Midtown, visiting a haunted house where the sickly atmosphere of its first inhabitants has prevented them from finding peace for their souls to this day. Tour a Goodwill Donation Centre where dolls and statues deserve their place in The Conjuring universe.

Investigate the paranormal activity at the Stone Summit fitness and climbing centre, get to know the hidden side of the Fox Theatre, Saint Mark's Church and Piedmont Avenue, and half a dozen other spooky places that mark the ghost history of Georgia's capital city.

There are usually two versions of these tours. The first is a 75-minute tour of the highlights. A second extended version adds to the Victorian ghosts, a series of four more modern sites and the plane crash victims that continue to appear in Biltmore Ballrooms since 1970.

Immerse yourself in the strange energy of the city and take home spooky stories.

Details of interest

• Price: from £30.
• Duration: 75- 120 minutes.
• Timetable: evening
• What the tour may include: expert guide service, in some cases with relatives of the ghosts.
• Means of transport: Not applicable.
• Pros: Both versions of this type of tour are convenient, and the combination of ghosts of yesteryear with some "entities" of a few years old adds a different energy to this type of tour.
• Cons: Often offered only in high season, between July and October after Halloween. Only available at night.

Stories of spooks, ghosts and other paranormal entities are commonplace in Atlanta, but these beings are most concentrated at the Kennesaw House.

With its 700 ghosts, the Marietta History Center ranks at the top of Cobb County's haunted sites in Atlanta, and with this tour, you can experience this crown jewel along with impressive sites such as the Historic Marietta Square, as well as the City Cemetery, Confederate Cemetery and National Cemetery.

This type of guided walking tour of downtown Marietta is usually led by expert investigators and mediums and guided by lantern light for 90 minutes. Think you know the city? What if I told you it was possible to dine in a former mortuary that has been restored to one of Marietta's most prestigious restaurants? What if I told you that a visit to the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art often involves the haunting of the ghost Katherine?

As with any community that hosts such shows, some residents choose never to leave. As is presumed to have happened to Civil War soldiers, as well as residents of the stately homes. These are just a few of the curiosities of Marietta's most haunted building, which is why its details have landed the city on several history programs, as well as countless specialty books

Listen to the stories of recent sightings and interactions told by employees of various establishments on the square and see if you've unknowingly rubbed elbows with the supernatural. This is a supernatural aficionado's paradise.

Interesting details

• Price: from 20 €.
• Duration: 90 minutes.
• What the tour may include: guide with paranormal investigators. Tram ride.
• Means of transport: on foot or by tram.
• Pros: This type of tour is offered on foot and by tram through historic Marietta, so you can choose an experience that suits your taste for ghost sightings and interactions. Unlike other tours offered only on Halloween, you can participate in these tours year-round.
• Cons: Tours require a minimum of 4 participants and can be cancelled up to 3-4 hours before the tour date. Only takes place at night.

Better known as Capturing the Spirit of Oakland, the guided tour of the spirits of Oakland is one of the fun things to do in Atlanta in the fall.

Capturing the Spirit of Oakland guided tours are a Halloween tradition designed to illuminate the cemetery's resident spirits rather than scare, bringing to life the stories of some of Oakland Cemetery's most notable and famous residents.

A costumed guide leads you through the beautifully illuminated Victorian gardens for the occasion, where you learn their fascinating stories amidst musical performances, craft beer and cocktails. Best of all, you can go in costume - perfect for a kid-friendly Atlanta activity.

During the 75-minute tour you get to know the history and charm of Historic Oakland Cemetery in a new and exciting way. The walking distance is approximately one mile. Every 15 minutes a new group starts the Capturing the Spirit of Oakland tour during the last two weeks of October.

Details of interest

• Price: from €25.
• Duration: 75 minutes.
• What the tour may include: Costumed guide. Attendance at musical performances, plays and other entertainment.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Pros: It takes place during the day and at night, unlike most ghost tours. The dynamic is different, not trying to scare the attendees but honouring the spirits in and around the cemetery. It's a different take on this kind of tour and makes it perfect for families to share while preserving the atmosphere of the season.
• Cons: This is an autumn activity so it is not available the rest of the year.

If you've ever wanted to see the spookier side of the movies, Atlanta's Fox Theatre has it all for you on this nighttime ghost tour.

It's one of the top haunts for professional ghost hunters and mediums, and it's not just a legend, this tour takes pride of place among the top things to do in Atlanta at night thanks to the many testimonials claiming to have seen ghosts or felt their presence at the Fox... Would you like to join that group of witnesses?

During the 60-minute ghost tours of the Fox Theatre, tour participants walk through spaces haunted by those who loved the theatre and the land on which it sits so much... that they have refused to leave. Brave visitors walk through the historic theatre to learn about more than 90 years of ghostly sightings and unexplained occurrences.

Children ages 10 and up are welcome in the audience to hear the stories of Mr. and Mrs. Fox, along with other characters from the Fox's past while enjoying a cocktail at the Marquee Club. With attentive and attuned senses, you can feel the presence of the spirits and other entities that roam the grounds, this is a tour of great distinction.

Details of interest

• Price: from €50.
• Duration: 60 minutes.
• What the tour may include: expert guide service, access to the Marquee Club, seasonal cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and dessert at a dedicated stop on the tour.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Pros: This is a ghost tour for VIP clients. The evening is exquisite and ghost sightings are highly likely according to experts.
• Cons: It is one of the most expensive tours of its kind, however, their combos include food and drinks so they make up for the cost.

Each year the Fernbank Museum presents its Halloween exhibit in an event entitled Fernbank's Halloween, Woodland Spirits, where adults and children discover the ghosts peeking through the shadows of the woods.

The experience takes visitors into the curious confines of literature from such exponents as Harry Potter and The Wizard of Oz among others. The intention is to evoke mystery, adventure and imagination during the Halloween season through commissioned sculptures that change the atmosphere of the 263,000 sqm park.

The Fernbank Science Center is considered one of the best children's museums in Atlanta and the benefits of this event begin upon arrival, admission is included in the Atlanta City Pass, one of the many advantages offered by this pass.

Details of interest

• Price: from €25.
• Duration: All day during the Halloween season (the week of 31 October).
• What the tour can include: walk through the different areas of the park such as the Rainy Park, Dinosaur Square and the Science Lab.
• Means of transport: on foot
• Pros: The pass makes for an entertaining day where kids have fun while learning about science and history in a perfect witches' day atmosphere.
• Cons: This is not a ghost walk with paranormal events, the intention here is to have a good time with the family.

The spooky reputation of certain areas in Atlanta precedes it and gives rise to the tours we saw earlier and, in keeping with the theme of legends, myths and hauntings in Georgia's capital, some Hollywood productions have found their sets in Atlanta. These are places that make your hair stand on end and where you can breathe a supernatural atmosphere:

The Stranger Things film set tour

Stranger Things is a Netflix series with a cult following. The production house chose Atlanta to recreate the macabre 80's atmosphere so fitting for the series.

As the name suggests Stranger Things happens there and if you're looking for a fun way to spend the afternoon, this private tour of the Stranger Things filming locations will allow you to see some of the best locations while you hear interesting facts, learn the secrets of the place and learn all about Hawkins Middle School and the iconic houses during a 3 hour tour.

The Walking Dead Atlanta Tour

Now you can discover the real locations where the series was filmed! The Walking Dead Atlanta Tour takes place in the Senoia region, better known in the series as Woodbury. You also visit the locations where the Alexandria scenes were filmed, where the main characters are set up throughout the series, and you'll even have the chance to choose your prop weapon.

This guided tour lasts about 2 hours and everything is set up for a Halloween zombie experience.

• Wear comfortable shoes, as most tours are on foot and distances can be long. The more comfortable the better.
• Confirm your tours, as unlike other tours, ghost experiences are usually offered for a standard minimum number of participants depending on the operator you hire.
• If you are travelling with children, confirm that your children can participate in your chosen tour.
• When booking time for ghost tours in Atlanta consider that most of them take place at night and usually last between 75 and 90 minutes.