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The Best Ghost Tours in Savannah for a Girls' Night Out
Savannah is one of America's most haunted cities — and honestly? That's a selling point.
By Jennifer Rancourt ·
Why Savannah (and Why the Ghosts Are the Whole Point)
Let's get one thing straight: Savannah didn't earn the "most haunted city in America" title by accident. It was made official — the American Institute of Parapsychology handed over the crown back in 2002 — and the city has been leaning into it ever since. Cobblestone streets, Spanish moss dripping off the live oaks, gas lamps flickering over 24 historic squares. It's atmospheric before anyone even mentions a ghost.
Here's the part that gives you chills. When General Oglethorpe laid out those pretty squares in 1733, a lot of them went right on top of colonial burial grounds and Native American sites. Cemeteries got relocated over the centuries — but the bodies mostly didn't. Add in yellow fever epidemics that wiped out one in ten residents in a single year, plus Civil War carnage, and you've got a gorgeous little city built quite literally on the dead. Playgrounds over graves. Sidewalks over the departed. That's not a marketing gimmick — it's the foundation.
Which makes Savannah the perfect girls' night out. It's giving haunted mansion meets day drinking, and we are absolutely here for it. Come for the ghost stories, stay for the ghost stories and the bourbon on a candlelit patio.
Getting There
Fly into Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV) — a breezy 20 minutes from the historic district, and a small, sane airport that won't eat your afternoon. From most East Coast cities you're looking at a quick nonstop. Grab a rideshare into downtown and you're checked in before happy hour.
Find Flights to Savannah via WayAwayWhere to Stay (Preferably Somewhere Haunted)
If you're doing a ghost weekend, you might as well sleep in the ghost story.
The Haunted Pick
Book on Booking.comThe Marshall House
Savannah's oldest operating hotel, built in 1851. It served as a hospital during two yellow fever epidemics and a Union Army hospital — and in 1999, a renovation uncovered human remains under the floorboards. Guests today report children running the halls, faucets turning on alone, and figures in corridors. USA TODAY ranks it among the best haunted hotels in America. Book it. Just maybe not the ground floor if you're squeamish.
Boutique & Chic
Book on Booking.comThe Kimpton Brice
If you want the atmosphere without wondering what's under the floor, the Brice is your girl. Kimpton-polished, walkable to everything, gorgeous cocktail scene, and just enough Savannah character to keep it interesting. The "we came to have fun and also sleep soundly" pick.
Southern Romance
Book on Booking.comThe Gastonian
A restored 1868 mansion turned bed-and-breakfast — four-poster beds, afternoon wine, secret garden courtyards. The value-luxury sweet spot that feels like staying in a very well-dressed friend's ancestral home. (Is it a little haunted? This is Savannah. Everything is a little haunted.)
Want more options? Browse all Savannah hotels on Booking.com →
The Ghost Tours Worth Booking (Before They Sell Out)
A few things first: these tours sell out fast on weekends, so book ahead. Wear real shoes — most run about 90 minutes over cobblestones.
What to Pack
You're covering cobblestones after dark. Pack cute, pack practical.
- Comfortable-but-cute walking shoes — cobblestones for hours. Not the weekend for heels. Shop travel flats →
- A light layer for night — the riverfront and squares get a breeze after dark, and rooftop bars run cool. Shop travel jackets →
- A crossbody bag — hands free for your drink, your phone, and clutching your friend's arm when the guide gets to the good part. Shop crossbody bags →
- A portable phone charger — you will take 400 cemetery photos and record every spooky story. Your battery will not survive without backup. Shop portable chargers →
- A small flashlight or headlamp — some tours go properly dark, and you'll thank yourself on the uneven sidewalks. Shop compact flashlights →
- Bug spray — Spanish moss is romantic. The gnats it hides are not. Trust me on this one. Shop travel bug spray →
The GGC Bottom Line
Savannah is what happens when a city stops apologizing for its ghosts and starts pouring them cocktails. It's beautiful and eerie and a little bit unhinged, and that combination makes it one of the best girls' weekends in the South.
Sleep in the Marshall House if you're brave. Walk the squares by candlelight. Save Bonaventure for last, when the light goes gold through the moss and you remember that "haunted" and "gorgeous" have always been the same word here.
Book the tours before they sell out — because they will. And bring the friend who screams. Every group needs one. Go get spooked.
Find & Book Your Savannah Stay
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Savannah ghost tours actually scary?
Most walking tours are more storytelling than jump-scares — think dark history, candlelit squares, and goosebumps rather than haunted-house theatrics. If your group wants a bigger thrill, choose a late-night or investigation-style tour.
What should we wear on a Savannah ghost tour?
Comfortable walking shoes are non-negotiable — most tours cover a mile or more on brick and cobblestone. In fall, bring a light layer; evenings can turn cool once the sun sets.
Do we need to book ghost tours in advance?
Yes — the best tours regularly sell out, especially in October and on weekends. Book as soon as your trip dates are set, and confirm the meeting point the day of.
Is the Marshall House really haunted?
It's Savannah's most famously haunted hotel, with guest reports of footsteps and flickering faucets dating back decades. Skeptics still love it for the location and the history — believers get a story to tell at brunch.
Know someone who's been saying "we should do Savannah" for two years? Send this to her. This is the nudge she needs.
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