With New England’s origins dating back to 1620 when the Mayflower landed in Massachusetts, there’s bound to be a few ghost stories. In fact, this region is one of the best places to take a ghost tour in the U.S. because of its deep-rooted history.
Many historic inns in this area are said to be haunted, and with cemeteries being the home of famous graves like Paul Revere, there are plenty of spooky tales to go around. This post rounds-up the very best New England ghost tours you can take that are pretty much guaranteed to give you at least a few chills. So, let’s get started!
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Tip For Planning Your New England Ghost Tour
- If you plan to visit during the month of October, this is the most popular time for ghost tours in New England. You’ll want to book well in advance and plan accordingly.
- Weather in New England can vary quite a bit, even in the fall season, so be sure to check the weather policy on your New England ghost tour to see if it’s on in both rain or shine, and come prepared with an umbrella just in case!
- If you scare easily, book a tour in the daytime. Many places like Salem and Boston have great walking tours that are during the day, but still share the all the spooky legends, and stories of ghost sightings.
Best New England Ghost Tours By Destination
I’ve organized all the New England ghost tours by state, and also included sections for some popular towns and destinations known for their ghost tours to make your planning easier.
Best Massachusetts Ghost Tours
1. Lizzie Borden House Ghost Tours
One of the most well-known houses in New England with a very sordid past is the Lizzie Borden house, where the infamous axe murders of 1892 took place. Visitors and staff have reported doors opening and closing on their own, and a strong floral scent that’s said to be Lizzie herself still haunting the home. Now an inn where you can even stay as an overnight guest, they also offer ghost tours.
Ghost tours at the Lizzie Borden House are held at night, and also take you to other parts of town that are said to be haunted. If you’re particularly interested in experiencing a ghost sighting, they also offer a ghost hunting tour with paranormal equipment.
Click here to book your Lizzie Borden House Ghost Tour!
2. The Mount Ghost Tours – Edith Wharton’s Home
The former home of celebrated author, and also famed ghost story teller, is also said to be one of the most haunted places in New England. The estate, called The Mount, hosts tours of the property beginning in July through the fall season. They take place at dark, and share all the eerie stories of the hauntings that have taken place there. It’s so spooky, in fact, that’s it’s not recommended for children.
Click here to book your Edith Wharton Home Ghost Tour!
Best Boston Ghost Tours
Boston in the fall season is such a wonderful experience, and it also just so happens to be an awesome place for spooky tours! Here are the best ghost tours in Boston to check out:
3. Haunted Ghost & Pub Walking Tour
For something a little different, this ghost and pub tour in Boston is a great way to shake things up a bit by also visiting some of the local pubs between your spooky destinations. But don’t worry, there are still plenty of ghost stories to go around. This tour takes you by haunted places in Boston like Old City Hall and King’s Chapel, but you’ll be able to relax a bit between each site with a cold brew.
Click here to book your Haunted Boston Ghost & Pub Walking Tour!
4. Ghosts & Gravestones Night Trolley Tour
One of the best New England ghost tours that gives your feet a rest is this nighttime trolley tour in Boston. But don’t think you’re off the hook when it comes to stepping into haunted places. Your costumed guide for this tour, dressed as an old grave digger from the 17th century, will also take you to some of the oldest cemeteries in Boston, where you’ll walk around and hear all the spooky ghost stories that have taken place there. But for the rest of the trip, you can enjoy a haunted ride around the city on a trolley.
Click here to book your Ghosts & Gravestones Night Trolley Tour!
5. Death & Dying Ghost Tour
One of the spookiest New England ghost tours is this Death & Dying walking tour in Boston, which is adults-only, and takes you to some of the city’s most haunted places. You’ll go to sites like Boston Common and the Granary Burial Ground, and hear ghost stories that date back to the Colonial Era.
Click here to book your Death & Dying Walking Tour!
Salem, MA Ghost Tours
6. Murders & Mysteries Ghost Tour
One of the most popular New England ghost tours is the Murders & Mysteries tour in Salem, which is one of the only tours in town that doesn’t focus as much on the Salem Witch Trials, and shares stories on some of the most brutal murders to have taken place in Salem. You’ll also be taken to some of the town’s lesser-known haunted places, where stories of ghost sightings will be told. This is an adults-only tour.
Click here to book your Mysteries & Murders Salem Ghost Tour!
7. Voodoo, Vampires & Ghosts Walking Tour
If you’re hoping to go on a New England ghost tour with a paranormal expert, this is one you’ll want to book. One of the best-rated ghost tours in Salem is the Voodoo, Vampires & Ghosts walking tour, where you’ll be told very real stories of witchcraft and ghost sightings by a paranormal expert and historian. You’ll also go some of the most haunted places in town.
Click here to book your Voodoo, Vampires & Ghosts Walking Tour in Salem!
8. Ghosts Of Salem Tour
This nighttime walking tour through Salem dives deep into the history of the Salem Witch Trials, and takes you to some of the most haunted places in town, including landmarks like Old Town Hall, House of Seven Gables and The Witch House. Along the way, your guide will point out places where ghosts have been spotted, and even share ghost-hunting tips during the tour. This is great for those who loves both history and hearing the scarier side of it all.
Click here to book your Ghosts of Salem Tour!
Psst! I have some helpful guides including planning the perfect Salem, MA day trip, and the best time to visit Salem if you need more information 😉
Plymouth, MA Ghost Tours
9. Plymouth Night Ghost Tour
One of the best New England ghost tours to take if you’ve ever wanted a chance to use real paranormal equipment yourself is this Plymouth Night Ghost Tour. Guides will take you to some of the most haunted areas in Plymouth, and teach you to use paranormal equipment to hunt for spirits. Your guide will also share lesser-known stories of the oldest town in the U.S., and tales of haunted happenings.
Click here to book your Plymouth Night Ghost Tour in Plymouth!
10. Twilight Lantern Ghost Tour
On this tour, you’ll walk on some of the oldest streets in the country, and visit places were an abundant of ghost sightings have said to have taken place. You’ll visit places like Old Town Square and Burial Hill where many of the pilgrims have been buried. Your guide will also share tips for capturing spirits with your camera.
Click here to book your Twilight Lantern Ghost Tour in Plymouth!
Best Cape Cod Ghost Tours
11. Provincetown Ghost Tour
Located at the very trip of Cape Cod is Provincetown, the actual landing location of the Mayflower. During this tour, you’ll be guided by a local with expert knowledge on the town’s history, haunted locations and ghost sightings, and hear stories of strange events, folklore, and most importantly, the true stories behind these ghostly sightings.
Click here to book your Provincetown Ghost Tour!
12. Cape Cod Haunted History Tour
One of the best New England ghost tours is the Cape Cod Haunted History tour, which takes you to over 10 locations on the Old King’s Highway route, and shares stories on how 8 of those locations are haunted. During this nighttime tour, you’ll even get to step inside the oldest wooden jail in the U.S., which has been confirmed to have lots of paranormal activity.
Click here for information on booking your Cape Cod Haunted History Tour in Barnstable!
Click here to read my post on the best things to do on Cape Cod in the fall!
Nantucket Ghost Tours
13. Nantucket Ghost Walking Tour
Nantucket Island is also referred to as the Grey Lady because of the thick fog that can quickly roll in, and not all sailors survived this phenomenon, which has, of course, led to some scary ghost stories. This walking tour through town on Nantucket takes you to some of the most haunted buildings on the island, and also shares stories of unexplained events like chairs rocking on their own and lights flickering without cause. You’ll even hear stories of a Puritan female ghost who likes to give unmarried couples sleeping in the same bed a hard time at a local inn.
Click for more information on booking your Nantucket Ghost Walking Tour!
Click here to read my post on the best haunted houses and attractions in Massachusetts!
Best Rhode Island Ghost Tours
Newport, RI Ghost Tours
14. Ghosts of Newport Tour
Newport’s history dates back to the 1630s, and its streets have so many stories to tell, including those of ghosts and hauntings. This nighttime walking tour is led by lantern light, and your guide will take you to some of the most haunted places in Newport, including the Jailhouse Inn and Colonial district. They’ll also share tales of ghost sightings, local lore, and the true stories behind the some of the eerie history of this city by the sea.
Click here to book your Ghosts of Newport Tour!
Providence Ghost Tours
15. Haunted Boat Tour
One of the best New England ghost tours you can take by boat is the Haunted Boat tour in Providence. This tour begins after dusk, where you’ll climb aboard the boat, and listen to your guide share ghost stories and tales of eerie local lore, and also enjoy seeing the city lit up at night for a unique perspective.
Click here to book your Haunted Boat Tour in Providence!
16. Providence Walking Ghost Tour
If being on land is more your speed, a great New England ghost tour option is the Providence Walking Ghost Tour. This nighttime tour is guided by lantern light, and an expert tour guide that shares stories of ghost hauntings at Brown and RISD universities that continue to scare students today, as well as spooky history and other local lore that’s sure to give you a few goosebumps.
Click here to book your Providence Walking Ghost Tour!
You may also like:
My post on the best haunted houses and attractions in Rhode Island!
Best Maine Ghost Tours
Portland, ME Ghost Tours
17. Portland Ghost Tour
One of the best New England ghost tours that shares the sinister history of the early days of this port city is the Portland Ghost Tour. This nighttime walking tour tells the real stories behind the city’s ghost hauntings, including the city’s most famous ghost often to be seen walking the cobblestone streets at night. This tour could be a little too scary for younger children, so plan accordingly.
Click here to book your Portland Ghosts Tour!
18. Wicked Walking Tours
For something a bit different, one of the best New England ghost tours that also infuses a little humor is the Wicked Walking Tour in Portland. This tour is led by professional actors and comedians who entertain you with all the best stories about the local ghosts in the city, as well as its history with pirates and witchcraft. While this one’s still pretty spooky, it’s also a bit more lighthearted.
Click here for information on booking your Wicked Walking Ghost Tour in Portland!
York, ME Ghost Tours
19. New England Curiosities Tour of York
Some of the best New England ghost tours are led by New England Curiosities, and run ghost tours in both York and Portsmouth, NH (more on he Portsmouth tour below!). Led by a guide who literally wrote the book on ghost hauntings in York, Roxie J. Zwicker will take you to one of the oldest burial grounds in Maine and share eerie stories about some of the most haunted locations in town including lighthouses, inns and a ghost ship. With all her knowledge on the ghosts of York, this is one you won’t want to miss.
Click here to book your New England Curiosities Ghost Tour in York!
Best New Hampshire Ghost Tours
Portsmouth, NH Ghost Tours
20. New England Curiosities Wicked Waterfront Ghost Tour
Led by the same guide as the York tour above, this local expert also offers a walking tour along the Portsmouth waterfront. Here, she tells you the stories behind this area’s hauntings, including haunted theaters, Naval shipyards and a Naval prison. This walk is set at nighttime along the water, and is not recommended for those under 16, as the real-life stories that these hauntings originated from are very scary.
Click here for information on booking New England Curiosities Wicked Waterfront Tour!
Click here to read my post all about the most haunted hotels
and places you can actually visit in New Hampshire!
Best Connecticut Ghost Tours
21. New Haven Ghost Walk
One of the best New England ghost tours in Connecticut is the New Haven Ghost Walk. During this tour, your expert guide will lead you through the city’s most haunted and historic sites, and shares tales of ghost sightings that are likely to give you the chills. But don’t worry, while this tour is pretty spooky, it’s also family-friendly and not quite as dark as the others on this list.
Click here to book your Ghost Tour in New Haven!
22. Moonlit Graveyard Ghost Tour in Mystic
Mystic is packed with so much history, and as I’m sure you’ve guessed, a lot of eerie town lore. This tour takes place at Whitehall Burial Ground, and shares stories of the town’s history and most famous residents, both of the dead and spirit variety. Visitors have claimed to have experienced unexplained footsteps and even full-body apparitions on this tour, so this one is not for the faint of heart!
Click here to book your Moonlit Graveyard Ghost Tour in Mystic!
Best Vermont Ghost Tours
23. Queen City Ghost Walk
The best Burlington, VT ghost tour is the Queen City Ghost Walk. This tour has even been named Best Ghost Tour in New England and the Northeast by outlets like Yankee Magazine. During this tour, your guide is Thea Lewis, the author of several books exploring the haunted happenings of Burlington and all of Vermont. She offers several tours in Burlington, each with different ghost stories to tell. Some include sites lake Lake Champlain, and others, historic cemeteries. One thing they all have in common? They’re sure to keep you up at night.
Click here to book your Queen City Ghost Walk Tour in Burlington!
24. Lantern Ghost Walk In Stowe
The quaint little town of Stowe in Vermont is also home to one of the top Lantern Ghost Tours in the U.S., according to USA Today! This lantern ghost walking tour takes place at night, and shares the history of the town, including the first settlers in Stowe. But of course, you’re going to hear about the spirits who have been known to haunt the streets and local establishments, too.
Click here to book your Lantern Ghost Walk in Stowe!
More posts you may enjoy:
- Vermont In The Fall: Festive Things To Do!
- The Perfect New England Fall Road Trip Itinerary
- Best & Coziest Places To Stay In Vermont In The Fall
- Fall In New Hampshire: The Best Things To Do
- Amazing Places For Fall Foliage In Maine
- Awesome Corn Mazes In Vermont
- Spookiest Haunted Houses In Maine + Haunted Places You Can Actually Visit!
- Maine In November: What To Expect & Things To Do
That’s A Wrap On The Best New England Ghost Tours
I’ll be impressed if you haven’t already gotten a few chills! But as you can see, there’s no shortage of haunted happenings throughout this area, and there are so many spooky New England ghost tours you can take. Whether you’re hoping to spot a spirit in Salem, or are thrilled to hit the waters for an eerie boat tour in Providence, one thing’s for sure – you’re going to get a few goosebumps along the way.
