Company Logo - Home Link

Chicago Ghost Tours | Haunted Tours in the Windy City

Updated: May 16, 2023
 By Mel

This post details our pay-what-you-wish Chicago ghost tour and also includes additional options, such as a ghost and gangster bus tour, and a ghost-themed pub crawl.

Disclosure: We think you should consider our free tours, but we have also provided other options. While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.


Overview

There are several different ghost tours available in Chicago, as well as a few which cover the often disturbing stories of the criminal history of this city.

Whether you want to learn more about the haunted history of the windy city, or you’d rather hear about the mob and terrible crimes that took place here, chances are you’ll find a tour in this post to fit your itinerary.

We also provide information about tours that combine and cover both subjects simultaneously, giving you the opportunity to discover as much of the dark side of Chicago as possible while you’re visiting.

The cheapest option will be to take our free walking tour, but there are also bus tours that will provide transportation throughout the city. 

Alternatively, if you want to enjoy a few drinks while you’re at it, there are also pub crawls covering some of the more notorious haunted bars in Chicago.

With the obvious exception of our pay-what-you-wish tour, you can expect tickets for most of these services to cost $25-$45 on average.

Most Chicago ghost tours are about 1 ½ - 3 hours in length, so depending on which one you choose, you should have plenty of time to learn about some of the more disturbing stories from the windy city!


Free Tours By Foot Chicago Ghost Tour

The Windy City is known for its food, architecture, and haunting history!

Walk with us as the sun sets through downtown Chicago hearing some of the most gruesome and creepy Chicago stories on one of our Chicago ghost tours.

Chicago Ghost Tours

Your first stop is the Congress Hotel, known as the most haunted hotel in Chicago.

Walk along the streets that H. H. Holmes, Chicago's first serial killer wandered as he stalked his prey.

Or get a glimpse of Chicago’s sordid past through stories of the Everleigh Club and the 1900s Red Light district, and learn about downtown prison breaks.

Expect more history and humor than hauntings.

Our guides aim to tell you the history of the darker side of Chicago with stories of eerie coincidences and stories from the past.

We don't promise any hauntings as we haven't seen any ghosts ... yet.


Highlights of our Chicago Ghost Tours:

  • The Congress Hotel
  • Chicago’s Old Red Light District
  • Murderous Tales of H. H. Holmes and John Wayne Gacy
  • Chicago Fire Hangman
  • Death Alley and the Iroquois Theatre Fire
  • S.S. Eastland Disaster Hauntings
Tour information

Reservations: REQUIRED. Click here to reserve. Groups of 10 or more must contact us before booking.

Duration: The tour lasts approx. 2 hours. Total walking is just over one mile (1.6 km).

When: Select evenings from April through October. View our full tour schedule. Tours are on U.S. Central Standard Time.  

Cost: This tour is free to take, and you get to decide what, if anything, the tour was worth when it's done.

name-your-own-price tour is a tour for anyone's budget.

Save even more money with a Chicago tourist pass.


GHOST BUS TOURS

There are several Chicago bus tours that focus on the criminal history of the windy city.

Additionally, there are also haunted bus tours that provide information about the spookier side of Chicago.

Both subjects focus on rather dark and mysterious happenings in the Chicago area, so it’s safe to say that these tours will send a shiver up your spine one way or another.

Whether you’re interested in the disturbing history of gangsters and crimes in this city or you want to learn more about some of the otherworldly things that have been reported in Chicago, you may want to consider taking one of the following haunted or crime bus tours.

Each of these outings lasts for between 1 ½ - 3 hours, and prices range from $42-$66 per person. 


GHOST PUB TOURS

In addition to all the other reportedly creepy or otherworldly locations in Chicago, there are also several bars THAT are said to be haunted. 

If you want to learn about some of the ghost stories that have come out of these pubs while enjoying a few drinks along the way, consider going on a ghost pub crawl.

While drinks aren’t included, you will have roughly 25 minutes in each bar, which should be enough time to enjoy a drink or two while hearing about the haunted history of the establishment.

This outing is around 2 ½ hours long and tickets are $35 per person.

Purchase tickets for a Ghost Pub Crawl or learn more.


GANGSTERS AND GHOSTS TOURS

As we mentioned in previous sections, some tours focus on both the dark and twisted stories from Chicago’s criminal history and reported hauntings that have taken place in the city.

If you’re interested in learning about both subjects while you’re exploring Chicago, these tours provide an excellent opportunity to discover a side of the windy city that some visitors never get to see.
 

 
One popular option is a 2-hour walking tour which includes stops at several notable locations in the Chicago Loop such as the Congress Hotel, the Palmer House, and Death Alley.

Tickets are $35 per person, and tours are offered 4 times per day including both day and night options.

Purchase tickets for a Gangster & Ghosts tour or learn more.


Windy City Chicago Haunted Tour

Lincoln Park is a lovely area with a dark history, and this Chicago haunted tour will take you right into the center of it. Over 10,000 people may be buried at Lincoln Park, as it was once a cemetery.

Explore Chicago's gruesome past and learn chilling ghost stories at Windy City Ghosts.

While strolling through the park at night, your guide will tell you scary tales of the ghostly activity documented there.

This outing lasts an hour and a half and covers approximately a mile, so it's manageable. If you're looking for a Chicago haunted tour that is perfect for families, this is a great option, because it is enjoyable for people of all ages.

Tickets are $35 per person.

Purchase tickets for Chicago Haunted Tours and learn more.


Medieval Torture Museum Tour

It's not for the weak of heart to visit Chicago's Medieval Torture Museum. This one-of-a-kind admission grants you access to the museum and its macabre exhibits, plus a ghost-hunting expedition!

Explore the spooky history of medieval torture at this unique (and perhaps even haunted) location.

The history of the torture implements firsthand at this museum. Afterward, you can hunt for paranormal activity at the museum using EMF detectors.

Those curious about the shadowy side of human history will find this novel blend of history and paranormal exploration thrilling.

Tickets are $33.59 per person.

Purchase tickets for these Chicago haunted tours and learn more.


Ghost City Tours

This company's Wind and Souls excursion is an adults-only event that visits some of Chicago's most haunted locales.

This Chicago haunted tour is for individuals who are looking for something more terrifying than the standard ghost walk has to offer.

Your knowledgeable guide will regale you with ghost stories, tales of the great Chicago fire, and other eerie anecdotes from the city's past.

The haunted tour of Chicago will take approximately 1.5 hours and involve some walking, so make sure to wear appropriate shoes.

Ticket prices are $34.99 per person.

Purchase tickets for haunted Chicago tours and learn more.


 RELATED POSTS:

About The Author

Mel

Mel loves to be a tourist in her own city. With a background in performing arts, tourism, and photography, giving tours and being a story-teller comes naturally to her. She loves traveling, food, and theatre. Mel splits her time between Chicago and Los Angeles (#theatrelife) and leads tours and manages both cities!
Updated: May 16th, 2023
Back to Top
cross