Haunted Washington after dark
The best DC ghost tours
Georgetown ghost walks to the Exorcist Steps, a spies-and-ghosts walk, haunted walks past the White House and Lafayette Park, an adults-only tour and a lantern-lit walk. Here is how to pick a DC ghost tour, with honest advice on how scary each one is, where it really goes and getting your money back.
See our 6 picks
The best DC ghost tour for most visitors is the Ghosts of Georgetown and Exorcist Steps walk, from €44 for 1.5 hours.
The cheapest well-rated one is the downtown ghost tour near the White House, from €21. All six tours on this page have free cancellation.
Our 6 picks for DC ghost tours
Six guided walks of 1 to 1.5 hours, all with free cancellation. Two are rated just under 4.0, so they come last, marked.
- from €44 per person Our top pick
Exorcist Steps
Ghosts of Georgetown walk
1 h 30 min 4.8 (161) reviews on GetYourGuide
Ghosts of Georgetown and the Exorcist Steps
A 1.5-hour night walk through Georgetown with a licensed guide. You stand in the yard of the Old Stone House and walk down the Exorcist Steps from the horror film. It starts at 3051 M St NW.
Best for First-timers, film fans
Check availability: Ghosts of Georgetown and the Exorcist Steps on GetYourGuide - from €40 per person
90 minutes
Georgetown spies and ghosts
1 h 30 min 4.8 (39) reviews on GetYourGuide
Georgetown spies and ghosts walk
A 90-minute walk that mixes ghost stories with Cold War spy tales. You see historic homes, alleys used for dead drops and the Exorcist Steps. It is not for wheelchair users.
Best for Spy and history fans
Check availability: Georgetown spies and ghosts walk on GetYourGuide -
from €21 per person 1–1.5 hours 4.1 (197) reviews on GetYourGuide
Dreaded Dead downtown ghost tour
A 1- or 1.5-hour walk past the Treasury Annex and President's Park, with ghost stories tied to the White House. It is not for people who cannot walk more than a mile.
Best for A cheap, short evening walk
Check availability: Dreaded Dead downtown ghost tour on GetYourGuide - from €31 per person
Adults only
Dark Nights ghost walk
1 h 30 min 4.2 (34) reviews on GetYourGuide
Dark Nights adults-only ghost tour
A 1.5-hour adults-only walk with darker stories. It starts at the Octagon Museum, 1799 New York Ave NW. Entry to the places you pass is not included.
Best for Adults who want it darker
Check availability: Dark Nights adults-only ghost tour on GetYourGuide -
from €27 per person 1 h 30 min 3.93 (15) reviews on GetYourGuide
The Ghosts of Washington family walk
A 1.5-hour walk that starts on Capitol Hill, at 1 First St NE. Its listing invites the whole family. Rated 3.93 from 15 reviews, so read the reviews before you book.
Best for Families on Capitol Hill
Check availability: The Ghosts of Washington family walk on GetYourGuide - from €22 per person
Costumed guide
Lantern ghost walk
1 h 30 min 3.99 (7) reviews on GetYourGuide
Haunted walk by lantern light
A 1.5-hour lantern-lit walk with a guide in Victorian costume. It visits Lafayette Park and tells of St. John's Church, the Hay-Adams Hotel and Lincoln's ghost. Rated 3.99 from only 7 reviews: few reviews yet.
Best for Costumed storytelling
Check availability: Haunted walk by lantern light on GetYourGuide
DC ghost tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Starts at | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghosts of Georgetown and the Exorcist Steps | €44 per person | 1 h 30 min | Old Stone House, 3051 M St NW | First-timers, film fans | The best rated ghost tour with many reviews: 4.8 from 161. |
| Georgetown spies and ghosts walk | €40 per person | 1 h 30 min | 2920 R St NW | Spy and history fans | Ghosts plus spies, rated 4.8 from 39 reviews. |
| Dreaded Dead downtown ghost tour | €21 per person | 1–1.5 hours | 15th St NW and F St NW | A cheap, short evening walk | The cheapest well-rated tour, from €21, rated 4.1 from 197. |
| Dark Nights adults-only ghost tour | €31 per person | 1 h 30 min | Octagon Museum, 1799 New York Ave NW | Adults who want it darker | The only adults-only ghost tour, rated 4.2. |
| The Ghosts of Washington family walk | €27 per person | 1 h 30 min | 1 First St NE (Capitol Hill) | Families on Capitol Hill | The one family ghost walk. It is rated under 4.0 on GetYourGuide, so it is not our top pick. |
| Haunted walk by lantern light | €22 per person | 1 h 30 min | 1520 H St NW | Costumed storytelling | The only costumed guide. It is rated just under 4.0, with few reviews. |
Ghosts of Georgetown and the Exorcist Steps
€44 per person1 h 30 min 4.8 (161)
Details
- Starts at
- Old Stone House, 3051 M St NW
- Who it suits
- First-timers, film fans
- Why we picked it
- The best rated ghost tour with many reviews: 4.8 from 161.
Georgetown spies and ghosts walk
€40 per person1 h 30 min 4.8 (39)
Details
- Starts at
- 2920 R St NW
- Who it suits
- Spy and history fans
- Why we picked it
- Ghosts plus spies, rated 4.8 from 39 reviews.
Dreaded Dead downtown ghost tour
€21 per person1–1.5 hours 4.1 (197)
Details
- Starts at
- 15th St NW and F St NW
- Who it suits
- A cheap, short evening walk
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest well-rated tour, from €21, rated 4.1 from 197.
Dark Nights adults-only ghost tour
€31 per person1 h 30 min 4.2 (34)
Details
- Starts at
- Octagon Museum, 1799 New York Ave NW
- Who it suits
- Adults who want it darker
- Why we picked it
- The only adults-only ghost tour, rated 4.2.
The Ghosts of Washington family walk
€27 per person1 h 30 min 3.93 (15)
Details
- Starts at
- 1 First St NE (Capitol Hill)
- Who it suits
- Families on Capitol Hill
- Why we picked it
- The one family ghost walk. It is rated under 4.0 on GetYourGuide, so it is not our top pick.
€22 per person1 h 30 min 3.99 (7)
Details
- Starts at
- 1520 H St NW
- Who it suits
- Costumed storytelling
- Why we picked it
- The only costumed guide. It is rated just under 4.0, with few reviews.
- Group size: none of the 6 listings states one.
- None of the 6 includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
- All 6 offer free cancellation.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 25 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Ghost tours in Washington, DC: ratings compared
The two Georgetown walks have the best ratings, both 4.8. The downtown tour near the White House has the most reviews: 197.
Two tours are rated just under 4.0. One has only 7 reviews, so its score can still move a lot.
| Tour | Rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Ghosts of Georgetown and the Exorcist Steps | 4.8 | 161 |
| Georgetown spies and ghosts | 4.8 | 39 |
| Dark Nights adults-only | 4.2 | 34 |
| Dreaded Dead downtown | 4.1 | 197 |
| Haunted walk by lantern light | 3.99 | 7 |
| The Ghosts of Washington | 3.93 | 15 |
Haunted Georgetown tours
Two haunted Georgetown tours are on sale: the Exorcist Steps walk and the spies-and-ghosts walk. Both take 1.5 hours and both walk down the Exorcist Steps.
The spies walk adds Cold War stories, such as safe houses and dead drops. It starts at 2920 R St NW.
For Georgetown by day, see our Georgetown tours.
Ghosts of Georgetown and the Exorcist Steps walking tour
This night walk starts at the Old Stone House, 3051 M St NW. You stand in its yard. The listing calls it the oldest and one of the most haunted buildings in DC.
You hear of haunted houses, curses and Victorian true crime. Then you walk down the steps from the film The Exorcist.
Haunted DC tours: the White House area
Three haunted DC tours start near the White House. They tell stories of President's Park, Lafayette Park and the streets around them.
The Dreaded Dead tour meets at 15th St and F St NW. The lantern walk meets at 1520 H St NW. The adults-only tour meets at the Octagon Museum.
The lit-up memorials are a short way south; see our guide to the National Mall monuments.
For daytime DC sightseeing tours, see our full guide.
Before you book a DC ghost tour
Pick the right scare level
The adults-only tour is the dark one. The Ghosts of Washington walk invites families.
Check the start point
Each tour meets at a street address, not your hotel. Georgetown tours start on M St NW or R St NW.
Plan for a mile on foot
The downtown tour is not for people who cannot walk a mile. The spies walk is not for wheelchair users.
Cancel in time
All six have free cancellation. Check the exact cutoff on your booking.
DC ghost tour questions
Are DC ghost tours scary for kids?
How long is a DC ghost tour?
Where do DC ghost tours start?
Can I cancel a DC ghost tour?
More DC ghost tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See every tour with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideMore DC tours
Sources (3), facts checked on 25 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in Washington DC editorial team.