Magpie
4.4(695 reviews)

Charleston Haunted Jail Night-Time Walking Tour with Admission to Old City Jail

From$45.5
45 min
Commentary: Guide · en
Charleston, USA

About this activity

Discover the eerie history of Charleston's Old City Jail on a guided night tour, delving into tales of notorious criminals and haunted spaces.

Highlights

  • Explore Charleston's most haunted building
  • Hear tales of notorious criminals and pirates
  • Visit eerie spaces like prisoner cells and hallways
  • Learn about 19th-century punishments and conditions
  • Experience a spine-chilling atmosphere after dark

Full description

Join us for a memorable tour of the ground level of the Old City Jail, which housed some of Charleston’s most infamous criminals, 19th-century pirates, and Civil War prisoners. Located on Magazine Street downtown, the Old City Jail operated from 1802 until 1939, and has recently undergone renovation, leaving the first floor in keeping with its original design (with the welcomed addition of air conditioning). Bulldog Tours, exclusively, guides guests through the cells, hallways and places where Charleston’s earliest criminals lived. Get a glimpse of how the incarcerated were mistreated with primitive forms of torture while living in miserable conditions. Hear stories like the legend of Lavinia Fisher, the jail’s most famous inmate and first female serial killer. Since Bulldog's first tour of this storied place in 2004, guests have returned again and again to make their own discoveries about what has transpired in this historic site. PLEASE NOTE THIS TOUR IS FOR 10 AND UP ONLY.

Included / Excluded

  • Charleston Haunted Jail Night-Time Guided Walking Tour
  • Admission to Old City Jail in Charleston
  • Professional Guide
  • 45min Behind-The-Scenes Guided Tour of Old City Jail
  • Experience the jail that housed some of Charleston’s most infamous criminals & 19th-century pirates
  • Gratuities
  • Transportation to/from attractions

Itinerary

1

The Haunted Jail Tour takes you through the cells, hallways, and into the places where Charleston’s worst criminals lived and died. Brace yourself as you hear stories like the legend of Lavinia and John Fisher, hotel owners from the 1800s who supposedly poisoned their guests. Featured on such shows as Ghost Adventures, the story goes that Lavinia’s ghost still, very audibly, haunts the premises. This Haunted Jail Tour is quite possibly the scariest place you will ever go!  Open often to the public for arts events, the jail even gives locals an eerie chill down the spine as soon as one steps foot into the space. Visitors go as far to say they’ve seen objects move or even disappear, while others hear voices, the slamming of doors, or chains as they’re allegedly dragged against the floor of the jail.

Admission: YES

Important information

Know before you book

  • Tours are conducted in English; proficiency in the language is recommended.
  • The tour involves walking through dimly lit and potentially uneven areas; proceed with caution.
  • Advanced booking is recommended, as tours often sell out quickly.

Know before you go

  • Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for uneven surfaces.
  • Bring a flashlight or use your phone's light feature for better visibility.
  • Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly, as tours operate rain or shine.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 1 days before the activity starts

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Accessibility

  • Easy Public Transport

Traveler reviews

4.4
695 reviews
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Sarah is the best, give her a raise!!!

Sarah, our guide was excellent. Her knowledge and experiences were spooky and reassuring. We would definitely recommend to friends and strangers alike. May the ghosts rest in peace.

U6947QTlarrysJul 11, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Ok

This is not really a “haunted tour” it’s really just a tour of a prison. The history of what happened there is interesting and the guide was good. Its not scary :)

Kim_CJul 11, 2026VIATOR

Wish the tour was a...

Wish the tour was a little longer for the price. Our guide was fun and entertaining but we had a drunk girl approach our carriage and harass the guide about the horses being mistreated and kinda put a damper on the experience.

Abby_GJul 11, 2026VIATOR

Great expedience!

Very interesting and fun! Cool experience with a great tour guide. Also, in a nice location that you can walk to a restaurant afterwards or do some shopping.

Nicole_RJul 9, 2026VIATOR

Old city jail

This was a fun tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable of the history of the jail. I am a bit of a scaredy cat so I’m glad we did not see or hear anything. My teens liked this tour too. Fun thing to do in Charleston. Just wear sneakers

KlosChrisJul 8, 2026TRIPADVISOR
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