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St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States, and after more than four centuries, it has collected a lot of stories. Some are told with a wink and a laugh.
Others are told in the dark, with a flashlight and a pause that lasts a little too long. Ghost tours are one of the easiest ways to learn the city’s history after sunset, and most of them start within a short walk of St. George Street or San Marco Avenue.
The tricky part is picking the right one for your group. A family with curious kids wants something very different from a crew hoping to hold real ghost-hunting gear inside a historic jail.
So this list starts gentle and ends with the tour that might keep you up at night. Read it in order, and stop wherever your nerves tell you to.
1. Ghost Tours of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, FL
History buffs who are a little shy about spooky stuff should start right here. The tour leans into local storytelling and landmark visits, so the scares come mixed with plenty of real background on the city.
That balance is the whole point. Guests tend to walk away knowing a lot more about St. Augustine’s past, not just its ghost stories.
Tours begin from 27 San Marco Ave, a convenient spot near the north end of the historic district. I would save this one for the first night of a trip, when you still want to get your bearings and learn which old buildings are which.
It sits at the bottom of the fear scale because the goal is fun and education first. Think of it as a warm-up lap before the creepier options on this list.
2. Ghosts & Gravestones Tour St. Augustine, St. Augustine, FL
Tired feet get a break on this one. Ghosts and Gravestones is a theatrical trolley tour, which means you ride between stops while hosts deliver historical accounts and ghost stories with plenty of showmanship.
The theater angle makes it popular with groups celebrating something, like birthdays or bachelorette weekends. It lands as fun and spooky rather than truly frightening.
The ticket office at 27 San Marco Ave is open daily from 10 AM to 9:30 PM, so booking ahead in the afternoon is easy. Parking options include a free lot, free street parking, and a paid lot nearby.
Questions can go to 904-826-3663. For anyone who wants atmosphere without a long walk, this ride sits comfortably in the mildly creepy zone.
3. A Ghostly Encounter, St. Augustine, FL
St. George Street is busy by day, and it takes on a different character once the shops quiet down. A Ghostly Encounter starts at 12 St George St, right in the pedestrian heart of the historic district.
These walking tours mix informative history with local ghost stories. Guides know the city well, and the tales hit that sweet spot of fun and creepy.
The company welcomes everyone and is listed as LGBTQ+ friendly and a transgender safe space. Hours run from 10 AM or noon to 9 PM depending on the day, with noon openings Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday.
Call 904-827-0807 to check tour times. On the fear scale, this one nudges a step higher, mostly because you are on foot in the dark streets themselves.
4. Ghost City Tours of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, FL
Here is where the stories start getting darker. Ghost City Tours specializes in haunted walking tours, and guides are known for sharing a heavier take on the city’s haunted spots.
The history still matters, and it is a big part of the appeal. The difference is the mood, which turns more serious than the earlier tours on this list.
The office sits at 32 Charlotte St and is open daily from 11 AM to 10 PM. Friday evenings and Sunday and Wednesday afternoons tend to be the busiest times, while Monday evenings are usually quieter.
Planning around those patterns can mean a smaller group. Reach the team at 855-999-0491 or through their website.
5. Secrets Of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, FL
Night owls, this one runs late. Secrets of St. Augustine starts at 8 PM every night and keeps going until 11 PM Monday through Thursday and 12:30 AM Friday through Sunday.
Those later hours push it up the scale. Storytelling here is immersive and built on local historical narratives, with guides who mix humor into the darker material.
The laughs help, but the stories head into the city’s grimmest corners. It meets at 12 St George St, so grab dinner downtown first and walk over.
Call 904-814-1174 with questions. I like it for groups split between jokers and true believers.
6. Last Ghost Tour, St. Augustine, FL
Aviles Street is one of the oldest streets in the city, and it makes a fitting starting point at number 3. Last Ghost Tour promises spooky and historically accurate tours, and its guides bring backgrounds in ghost investigation.
That investigator angle changes the tone. Stories feel less like campfire tales and more like case files.
The Horrible Hauntings tour is one option, pairing historical context with ghost stories. Tours run nightly from 8 to 10:30 PM.
The company is LGBTQ+ friendly and a transgender safe space. Call 904-395-7035 or check lastghosttour.com for current schedules.
7. Old Jail After Dark, St. Augustine, FL
Listening to ghost stories is one thing. Holding professional ghost-hunting equipment inside a historic jail is something else entirely, and that is exactly what Old Jail After Dark offers.
The interactive paranormal investigation puts guests to work. Guides play theatrical characters, answer questions, and sometimes include a medium who helps lead the hunt.
Groups have captured what sound like disembodied voices during sessions. Some guests call the experience genuinely terrifying, with activity starting the moment they walk inside.
The site is at 167 San Marco Ave and runs nightly from 8 to 11:30 PM. Restrooms are available on site, and you can call 904-701-0083 or book through trolleytours.com.
This is the top of the scale for good reason. Save it for the last night, when you are ready to stop listening and start investigating.
Whichever tour fits your comfort level, St. Augustine makes it easy to stack two in one trip, since most start within a few blocks of each other. Begin with history, end with the jail, and see how brave your group really is.
