Magpie
4.4(723 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

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
723 reviews
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Fantastic Haunted Jail Tour — Highly Recommend!!!

We had such a fantastic time on the Bulldog Haunted Jail Ghost Tour! Our guide, Dustin, was excellent—knowledgeable, engaging, and a great storyteller. We learned so much about the history of the jail and Charleston while still getting all the spooky atmosphere we were hoping for. We happened to do the tour during a thunderstorm, and it honestly couldn’t have been more perfect. The thunder, lightning, and rain added a whole other level of creepy to the experience—in the best possible way! It made walking through the old jail feel even more atmospheric and memorable. Dustin really made the tour for us. You could tell he knew the history well, and he did a great job balancing the historical stories with the haunted side of the jail. We had a wonderful time from start to finish and would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Charleston. We’ll definitely be booking another Bulldog tour the next time we’re in town!

jessicavertmanAug 26, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Amazing Tour

Very informative and interesting about the jail conditions back in the day. Definitely a wild and fun experience with Jane as the tour guide. Chilling experience

Daniel_TAug 24, 2026VIATOR

Fun, true and very well done.

I enjoyed this tour so very much. Sara was our guide, not only was she very knowledgeable but she made it interesting with stories of different things plus one experience that truly affected her. Just a wonderful, well done tour. Kudos to Sara.

G9421PLkimcAug 23, 2026TRIPADVISOR

The best scary tour in Charleston

Fun and scary. Also entertained

luismF3881NVAug 21, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Take Sarah’s Tour

Loved the tour and history. Sarah was AWESOME and is definitely in the right field of work! Worth the money just to hear the history of the jail!

Sabrina_SAug 19, 2026VIATOR
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