The Best Ghost Tour in Savannah
— What Actually Makes One Worth Taking
Savannah has no shortage of ghost tour companies. This guide explains what separates an authentic, memorable tour from an overpriced walk with a flashlight and a script nobody believes.
Savannah, Georgia consistently ranks among the most haunted cities in America. It has the history to back it up — 300 years of colonial settlement, yellow fever epidemics, Civil War occupation, and a civic culture that chose, deliberately, to build over its cemeteries rather than around them. The paranormal activity here, whether you believe in it or not, is deeply embedded in the physical landscape of the city.
That history also means Savannah has a robust ghost tour industry. Dozens of companies operate in the Historic District. Most of them are fine. A few of them are genuinely worth your night. This guide is about how to tell the difference.
What Actually Separates a Good Savannah Ghost Tour from a Mediocre One
Ghost tours tend to fall into two categories: performance-based and investigation-based. The first type hires guides who are essentially actors. They’ve memorized a script, they’re good at building tension, and they’ll give you a consistently entertaining 90 minutes. The second type employs guides who have actually researched — or personally investigated — the locations they’re talking about.
Both have their place. But if you want to walk away having learned something real, having heard a story that can be independently verified, having had an experience that holds up the next morning over coffee, the investigation-based approach is what you’re looking for.
Signs of a quality tour
- Guide has a verifiable background in history or paranormal research
- Group size capped — max 12 to 15 guests
- Stories reference specific, documented events
- Guide adapts to questions and adjusts on the fly
- Locations chosen for historical significance, not foot traffic
- Reviews mention specific details, not just “amazing”
Red flags to watch for
- 40+ person groups following a guide with a lantern
- Script-heavy — same delivery regardless of questions asked
- Stories you can find verbatim on a dozen other sites
- No verifiable guide credentials beyond “I love ghost stories”
- Reviews that all sound identical and oddly recent
- Upsells, sponsorships, or bar partnerships driving the route
Why Most Savannah Ghost Tours Fall Short
The frustrating truth is that most Savannah ghost tours source their material from the same three or four books written about Savannah’s haunted history. The stories become homogenized. The Sorrel-Weed House, the Colonial Park Cemetery, Hampton Lillibridge — every tour hits the same stops because those are the ones that have been most documented in popular literature.
There’s nothing wrong with those locations. But when every tour covers the same ground with the same stories drawn from the same sources, you’re not getting a ghost tour. You’re getting a recitation.
The other persistent problem is group size. Ghost tours are a high-margin business when you put 40 people on a route that costs nothing to operate. That’s not in your interest as a guest. In a group that large, half the people can’t hear clearly, nobody feels comfortable asking a question that might sound stupid, and the guide has no ability to react to the energy of the group. It becomes a production. It stops being an experience.
The Guy in the Kilt Ghost Tour — Why It’s Different
Patrick Burns has been investigating paranormal activity since he was 16 years old. He’s the founder of Ghost Hounds Paranormal Research Network, a published author on Savannah’s haunted history, and one of the few guides in this city who has been featured on national television specifically for his paranormal work — not for his ability to lead a tour.
That’s a meaningful distinction. Most tour operators come from hospitality or performance backgrounds. Patrick came from investigation. The stories he tells on his tours are stories he has personally documented, personally witnessed, or personally investigated. The Hamilton-Turner House, which he discusses on tour, is a property he has investigated directly. The accounts from the former owner he references are conversations he has had.
TRIPADVISOR TRAVELERS’ CHOICE
Every year since 2017 • ★★★★★ 4.8 / 5
TV credentials worth noting
Patrick Burns has appeared on TruTV’s Haunting Evidence and the Travel Channel as a featured paranormal investigator — not as a performer or ghost tour guide. His television work predates his guiding career and gives him a level of documented credibility that no local competitor can match.
The tour itself is deliberately capped at 12 guests. That cap exists because Patrick believes — correctly — that a ghost tour only works as an intimate experience. At 12 people, everyone hears every story. Everyone can ask a question. The guide can read the group and follow a thread when something clearly resonates. The tour is different every night because the conversation is different every night.
What the Tour Covers
The Savannah Ghost Tour with the Guy in the Kilt covers Savannah’s haunted Historic District on foot over approximately two hours. The route includes stops at locations that Patrick has personally investigated — not just historically significant buildings that appear in the guidebooks, but places where documented paranormal activity has been recorded, photographed, or experienced firsthand.
The tour includes a stop at one of Savannah’s most storied haunted bars, chosen specifically because of its paranormal history rather than its drink menu. The pub stop is part of the tour’s design, not an afterthought.
The tour does not use props, costumes, actors, or staged scares. What Patrick brings to the route is 12+ years of accumulated firsthand knowledge about this city and its history — and the ability to talk about it without pretending.
What Guests Consistently Say
“This was more than a ghost tour. It was an architecture, history as well as ghost tour. Patrick answered questions throughout and adjusted the conversation based on those questions. Patrick is a great historian for the city.”
— KCJHox81, Kansas City, MO • TripAdvisor, September 2025
“He brings in the true history of the town compared to the fluff that other tour companies may tell you. I didn’t want the tour to end.”
— Jenny D. • TripAdvisor, April 2025
“Patrick backs up his information instead of just using a script with folklore. I can feel he really cares about what he is talking about.”
— kjopek, Milwaukee, WI • TripAdvisor, June 2025
The pattern across several hundred reviews is consistent: guests who have done other Savannah ghost tours describe this one as meaningfully different. Not louder, not more theatrical, not more terrifying — more real. More grounded. More worth the two hours it takes.
Practical Details
- Price: $39 per person (use code SAVE10 for $10 off)
- Duration: Approximately 2 hours
- Group size: Maximum 12 guests
- Location: Savannah’s Historic District — meeting details sent after booking
- Same-day booking: Usually available up to 1 hour before the tour
- Cancellation: Full refund up to 24 hours before the tour
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this tour good for people who are skeptical about ghosts?
It’s specifically designed for skeptics. Patrick doesn’t require you to believe anything. The historical accounts and firsthand stories hold up regardless of how you interpret them. Many guests who describe themselves as skeptics report the tour as their most memorable Savannah experience.
How does this compare to the other ghost tour companies in Savannah?
The primary differences are group size (capped at 12 vs. 30–50 elsewhere), guide credentials (active paranormal investigator vs. trained actor or hospitality professional), and story sourcing (firsthand accounts vs. literature-based scripts). The experience is less theatrical and more substantive.
Is Savannah actually haunted?
Savannah was built partially on top of Colonial-era burial grounds, suffered repeated yellow fever epidemics that killed thousands, served as a major Civil War occupation site, and has one of the highest concentrations of antebellum architecture in the country — meaning the physical spaces where historical events occurred still exist. Whether that produces paranormal activity is a matter of interpretation. The history itself is undeniable.
What’s the best time of year for a Savannah ghost tour?
Year-round tours operate in Savannah, but the most atmospheric conditions tend to be fall (September–November), when the Spanish moss is at its peak and the evenings are cooler. October books out the fastest. Summer tours operate in heat and humidity that can be challenging but the after-dark atmosphere is still compelling.
Can I book for a group?
Yes, up to the 12-person cap. For larger groups, private tours can be arranged — contact the tour directly for availability and pricing. Private tours allow more flexibility in route, timing, and depth of content.
Is the tour kid-friendly?
Recommended for ages 10 and up. The tour is not designed to frighten — it’s designed to inform. Patrick reads the group and adjusts accordingly. For younger children, a private tour offers more control over content.
Ready to See What the Difference Feels Like?
$39 per person • Max 12 guests • Same-day booking available