Tours/Chicago/Chicago Hauntings Original Ghost Bus Tour
Chicago Hauntings Original Ghost Bus Tour
3.8(150)Chicago3 hours
VIATOR4.6(32)TRIPADVISOR3.6(118)
+10 photos
At a glance
Duration
3 hours
Price from
$45 / person
Rating
3.8 / 5 · 150 reviews
Languages
EN
Group
Small group, up to 50
Cancellation
Free cancellation
Meeting point
The tour meets inside the bar at the Congress Plaza Hotel. Please arrive 15 minutes early. the bus has to leave promptly to be able to reach every destination. We cannot guarantee participation for late arrivals.
Often imitated but never matched, this 3 hour ghost bus tour with stops remains the "Best of Chicago" since its founding 23 years ago by the city's ghostlorist, Ursula Bielski. Ursula and her team of veteran paranormal researchers and historians have thrilled thousands of guests with firsthand experiences of this, one of the world's most legendarily notorious cities. We take you where the other walking tours simply can't--to the many shadowed corners where the fateful tales began. From the Fort Dearborn Massacre to the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. From the Great Chicago Fire to the Eastland Disaster. From ghost ships that sail Lake Michigan to the Chicago origins of "Ghostbusters" And to the lair of the Devil Baby of Hull House.
Tour Options
Saturdays 7pm
Itinerary
15 min
Learn the story of how the Devil Baby came to strike terror into the hearts of inhabitants.
15 min
Who knows what happened to the abandoned graves of 10,000 at the old City Cemetery?
10 min
Who's really buried in this Chicago landmark and what eerie things have happened around it?
10 min
Do people really see a ghost around Abe Lincoln's bed here?
5 min
Chicago's most famous "suicide bridge"
10 min
The site of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, the most notorious mob hit of all time...
10 min
With the old City Cemetery underneath, what kind of ghosts do they see at the zoo?
10 min
The site of John Dillinger's demise. Has the famous gangster moved on since?
10 min
An unbelievable boat tragedy that killed hundreds and some spirits seem to have never gotten out of the water here
15 min
The site of the worst theater fire in American history. Learn why they call the Chicago Tribune called it Death Alley...
Highlights
Tour escort/host
What's included
Included
Tour escort/host
Not included
Gratuities
Transportation to/from the pickup/dropoff site.
Traveller Ratings
3.8
150 reviews
5
78
4
19
3
20
2
14
1
19
Important Information
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Some walking and numerous stops of the bus
Bus can accommodate up to 50 passengers
Frequently asked questions
How long does Chicago Hauntings Original Ghost Bus Tour take?
Chicago Hauntings Original Ghost Bus Tour lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 10 stops.
How much does Chicago Hauntings Original Ghost Bus Tour cost?
Prices start at $45 per person for this Chicago experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Chicago Hauntings Original Ghost Bus Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is The tour meets inside the bar at the Congress Plaza Hotel. Please arrive 15 minutes early. the bus has to leave promptly to be able to reach every destination. We cannot guarantee participation for late arrivals.. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Chicago Hauntings Original Ghost Bus Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 50 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap Children must be accompanied by an adult
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(150)
A
Annie A
June 15, 2026
Great tour, guide, bad driver
The tour guide was amazing. She knew all the history. It was great to know things we didn’t know. The bus driver on the other hand, gave us a whiplash and should never be allowed to drive downtown.
Operator response
Thank you for your feedback. We're so glad you enjoyed the tour and that your guide's knowledge and storytelling made the experience memorable. We sincerely apologize for the driving experience, as your comfort and safety are very important to us. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention, and we'll be sure to share your comments with our team. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back for another tour in the future.
B
B7079FJjimr
March 29, 2026
Fun and Informative
Very fun informative tour. Loved the history. Highly recommended.
Operator response
Thank you for the great review! We’re so glad you had a fun and informative time on the Chicago Hauntings Original Ghost Bus Tour there’s nothing better than mixing a little history with a few chills along the way 👻
J
Joe_L
February 22, 2026
Fun Night with Cemetery Larry!
Great Value! Cemetery Larry is a great story teller. Highly recommend! Would do this tour again anytime!
Operator response
Thank you so much for the 5-star review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the Chicago Hauntings Original Ghost Bus Tour and had a great time exploring the city’s haunted history with us.
We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, and we hope to welcome you back for another spooky adventure soon!
D
Danielle_K
January 12, 2026
A bit of dark history
I'm always up for a ghost tour. I actually like hearing grim history, and like any large city, Chicago has plenty. (The tour guide apologetically mentioned it was a bit of a downer, but then I expect that on a ghost tour.) The start and end point, the Congress Plaza Hotel, is supposedly very haunted. We heard plenty of spooky stories about it. The tour takes you by numerous spots where tragedies occurred, although the site of the St. Valentine's Day massacre in 1929 is now a parking lot. The Iriquois Theatre, site of one of the worst fire disasters in history, still stands but is now known as the Nederlander, and the alley where patrons jumped to their deaths (known as Death Alley) is still haunted. The guide gave us two readers and tried to communicate with any spirits present, and I got readings, plus we watched her use a dowsing gem to communicate.
Because it was night, it was a bit hard to see some things, but what's the point of doing a ghost tour during the day? I still saw enough to make the tour worth it.
Operator response
Thanks for the great review! Chicago’s dark history is a big part of what makes this tour so compelling, and we’re glad you enjoyed the stories, haunted locations, and spirit communication tools. Nighttime definitely adds to the experience because ghost tours just hit different after dark. 👻 Hope to see you again soon!
A
Ali_N
November 2, 2025
Cemetery Larry
Larry was an amazing tour guide!! He mad it fun spooky and educational. Very funny guy!!! He got everyone involved and the tour was somewhat interactive. Me and my Fiancée had an amazing time!
Operator response
Thank you so much for coming on the tour Ali, Larry is indeed a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide!
K
Katie_R
October 27, 2025
Rainy ghost history lesson and tour
It was rainy, but informative, interesting, and fun! Our guide was very knowledgeable and let us use EMF readers and dowsing rods to ghost hunt on our own. Even though we all got soaked, my boyfriend and I had a wonderful time and I’d recommend this to anyone who’s interested in the paranormal and/or interested in learning more about Chicago’s history, that you might not learn about on other tours or in museums.
Operator response
Thank you for joining us on a rainy night! We’re so glad the tour was still fun and informative, and that you enjoyed the ghost-hunting tools and Chicago history. We appreciate the recommendation!
T
Toni_B
October 19, 2025
Haunted bus tour
Very informative. Lots of history about the city. Nice comfy bus ride, with bathroom which is a plus. Was raining very hard so we couldn't get out and explore.
Operator response
We’re so glad you enjoyed the ride and the history and totally agree, having that onboard bathroom is a lifesaver on rainy nights! Hope you can join us again for some exploring next time!
W
WhitneyD346
October 12, 2025
Worth the time to learn about spooky history
We did this tour as a part of a Wedding anniversary adventure for my husband and I and this did not disappoint. We wanted to experience a ghost tour of chicago and came across this option with a package deal with the torture museum. Our tour guide Joann was a wealth of knowledge and even taught us how to use some ghost finding equipment. I learned so much about chicago and haunted places it was just a fun experience. If you into the macabre and ghost and spookyness then this is well worth it.
Operator response
We love hearing that you chose to spend your anniversary with us! that’s awesome! Joann will be thrilled to know you enjoyed the stories and ghost-hunting fun. Thanks for celebrating spooky Chicago with us!
T
tammy_l
September 21, 2025
Excellent tour!!
It was so much fun, I would def recommend that anyone visiting Chicago do this ghost tour!! You won’t regret it.
Operator response
Thanks so much for joining us! We’re thrilled you had a spooky good time!
M
Matthew_P
September 15, 2025
Well it's not their fault...
Well it's not their fault but the police presence downtown was a little unnerving. I would also recommend bring a snack. Other than that it was a great time.
