6 Best Atlanta Ghost Tours

You don't have to be a paranormal investigator or a professional ghost hunter to see the spooky side of Atlanta; the haunted sites are obvious. Come and discover the must-see tours according to the experts.

María Cano

María Cano

8 min read

6 Best Atlanta Ghost Tours

Ghosts | ©Nothing Ahead

Atlanta is haunted —or so the experts say—and we've heard stories of ghosts, with some people even claiming to have had paranormal experiences with them. Anyone who wants to enjoy the best excursions in Atlanta needs to set aside some time to discover the spooky side of Georgia's capital city.

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 events in houses. And if that's not enough, I'll also leave you with a bonus list of spine-chilling locations that have made it to the screen in series such as Stranger Things and The Walking Dead.

1. Roswell Ghost Tour

Ghost Tour| ©Carden D
Ghost Tour| ©Carden D

Are you ready for one of the most spine-chilling experiences in Atlanta? If your answer is yes, follow in the footsteps of ghosts and demons in the heart of the city. Learn about the myths and legends of Roswell, a town that, in addition to being obsessed with UFOs, has hundreds of apparitions and curiosities to its name.

The number of ghosts and spirits residing around Roswell's town square is surprising, 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 and others rest.

The tour covers an easy 2-kilometre 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 waiting for?

Details of interest

  • Price: from €20.
  • Duration: 2.5 hours.
  • Time: night-time.
  • What the tour may include: active paranormal guide service.

2. Walking tour of haunted Atlanta

On the ghost tour with children| ©Andrew Quinney
On the ghost tour with children| ©Andrew Quinney

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

Begin your tour in Babs Midtown, visiting a haunted house where the sickly atmosphere of its first inhabitants has prevented their souls from finding peace 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, learn about the hidden side of the Fox Theatre, Saint Mark's Church and Piedmont Avenue, and half a dozen other chilling locations that mark the history of ghosts in the capital of Georgia.

These types of tours usually come in two versions. The first is 75 minutes long and covers the most notable sites. The second is an extended version that adds Victorian ghosts, a series of four more modern locations, and the victims of the plane crash that have continued to appear at Biltmore Ballrooms since 1970.

Immerse yourself in the city's strange energy and take home some spine-chilling stories.

Details of interest

  • Price: from £30.
  • Duration: 75-120 minutes.
  • Time: night-time
  • What the tour may include: expert guide service, in some cases with relatives of the ghosts.

3. Atlanta: Marietta Ghost Tour

Ghost tour of the cemetery| ©Christopher Martian
Ghost tour of the cemetery| ©Christopher Martian

Stories of hauntings, ghosts, and other paranormal entities are common in Atlanta, but these beings are concentrated mainly in Kennesaw House.

With its 700 ghosts, the Marietta History Centre ranks at the top of Cobb County's haunted sites in Atlanta. On this tour, you can discover this crown jewel alongside impressive locations such as Marietta's Historic Square, the City Cemetery, the Confederate Cemetery and the National Cemetery.

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

As in any community that hosts this type of event, some residents decide never to leave. This is believed to be the case with Civil War soldiers, as well as residents of stately homes. These are just some of the curiosities of Marietta's most haunted building, which is why its details have been featured in several history programmes and countless specialised books.

Listen to stories of recent sightings and interactions told by employees of various establishments in the square and see if you have unknowingly rubbed shoulders with the supernatural. This is a paradise for fans of the supernatural.

Details of interest

  • Price: from £20.
  • Duration: 90 minutes.
  • What the tour may include: guide with paranormal investigators. Tram ride.

Book a tram tour in Atlanta

4. Atlanta: Guided tour of the spirits of Oakland

Dressed up on the Ghost Tour| ©A Muñoz
Dressed up on the Ghost Tour| ©A Muñoz

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 autumn.

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

A costumed guide leads you through the beautiful Victorian gardens, illuminated for the occasion, where you learn their fascinating stories amid musical performances, craft beer and cocktails. Best of all, you can go in costume, making it ideal for adding to your list of things to do with children in Atlanta.

During the 75-minute tour, you will learn about the history and charm of the Oakland Historic Cemetery in a new and exciting way. The walking distance is approximately one and a half kilometres. Every 15 minutes, a new group begins 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 activities.

5. Atlanta: Ghostly tours of the Fox Theatre

Fox Theatre| ©arianravan
Fox Theatre| ©arianravan

If you've ever wanted to experience the spookier side of cinema, Atlanta's Fox Theatre has everything you need with this night-time ghost tour.

This is one of the places highlighted by professional ghost hunters and mediums, and it's not just a legend. This tour occupies a place of honour among the things to do in Atlanta at night thanks to the many testimonies of people who claim to have seen ghosts or felt their presence at the Fox... Would you like to join this group of witnesses?

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

Children aged 10 and older are welcome to join the tour and listen to the stories of Mr. and Mrs. Fox, along with other characters from the Fox's past, while enjoying a cocktail in the Marquee Club. With your senses alert and your mind open, you may feel the presence of spirits and other entities that roam the premises. 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, appetisers and dessert at an exclusive stop on the tour.

6. Forest Ghost Tour at Fernbank Museum

On the ghost tour| ©Andrew Quinney
On the ghost tour| ©Andrew Quinney

Every year, Fernbank Museum presents its Halloween exhibition at an event called Fernbank Halloween, Woodland Spirits, where adults and children discover the ghosts lurking in the shadows of the forest.

The experience takes visitors into the curious confines of literature from works such 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 square metres of the park.

The Fernbank Science Centre is considered one of the best children's museums in Atlanta, and the benefits of this event begin upon arrival, as 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 may include: a walk through the different areas of the park, such as the rainforest, the dinosaur plaza and the science laboratory.

Purchase your Atlanta CitypassPASS

What other excursions should I not miss besides the ghost tours in Atlanta?

Iconic locations from Stranger Things in Atlanta| ©Doctor Casino
Iconic locations from Stranger Things in Atlanta| ©Doctor Casino

The spooky reputation of certain areas in Atlanta precedes it and gives rise to the excursions we saw earlier. Continuing with the theme of legends, myths, and apparitions in the capital of Georgia, some Hollywood productions found their settings in Atlanta. These are places that make your hair stand on end and where you can feel a supernatural atmosphere. They are:

The Stranger Things filming locations tour

Stranger Things is a Netflix series with a cult following. The production company chose Atlanta to recreate the macabre atmosphere of the 1980s, which was so appropriate for the series.

As the name suggests, strange things happen in this space, 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 its best settings while listening to interesting facts, learning the secrets of the place and finding out everything there is to know about Hawkins Middle School and the iconic houses during a three-hour excursion.

Book your private tour of the Stranger Things locations

The Walking Dead Tour in Atlanta

Now you can discover the real locations where the series was filmed! This The Walking Dead tour in Atlanta takes place in the Senoia region, better known in the series as Woodbury. You will also visit the locations where the Alexandria scenes were filmed, where the protagonists settle throughout the series, and you will even have the opportunity to choose your prop weapon.

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

Book a tour of The Walking Dead film set in Atlanta

Tips for a ghost tour in Atlanta

Ghost tour| ©Rick
Ghost tour| ©Rick
  • Wear comfortable shoes, as most tours are on foot and the distances can be long. The more comfortable, the better.
  • Confirm your tours, as unlike other excursions, ghost experiences are usually offered for a minimum number of participants, depending on the operator you hire.
  • If you are travelling with children, confirm whether your little ones can participate in the chosen tour.
  • When booking ghost tours in Atlanta, keep in mind that most are held at night and usually last between 75 and 90 minutes.