Washington, D.C., is more than the nation's capital and the heart of our government. It's also a hotbed for the paranormal. The Dark Nights in D.C. tour is our adults-only tour emphasizing the macabre nature of the city’s past. We will explore restless spirits, murders, mysterious deaths, violent suicides, and tragic hauntings of past presidents and soldiers.
If you have 10 or more guests in one group, please get in touch with the private & group sales coordinator with Ghost City Tours.
Tour Options
Dark Nights in D.C. - Walking Tour
Itinerary
20 min
Harry Truman called it America's greatest monstrosity. Mark Twain referred to it as the ugliest building in America. Regardless, it is considered the most haunted office building in America, and on this tour you will get to find out why!
20 min
The home of Stephen Decatur. During his time, he was one of the nation’s most celebrated naval commanders. Many of his political friends were certain that Stephen Decatur would become president. And, who knows, maybe he could have been. But James Barron kind of ruined those chances, and you're here to find out how!
20 min
Where trees, paths, and statues now lay, these grounds used to house a graveyard, a racetrack, a zoo, and an apple orchard. Some even speculate that a slave market was held here. You can only imagine the wealth of history and hauntings that exist in the illustrious Lafayette Square, but thanks to this tour your imagination won't be all you have!
Highlights
Adults-Only Tour
Explore restless spirits, murders, mysterious deaths, and hauntings of past presidents and soldiers
90-Minute Murders, Mysteries, and Hauntings of DC Night-Time Walking Tour
Learn about the macabre nature of the city’s past
All Fees and Taxes
What's included
Included
Adults-Only Tour
Explore restless spirits, murders, mysterious deaths, and hauntings of past presidents and soldiers
90-Minute Murders, Mysteries, and Hauntings of DC Night-Time Walking Tour
Learn about the macabre nature of the city’s past
All Fees and Taxes
Not included
Gratuities
Traveller Ratings
4.8
203 reviews
5
179
4
12
3
4
2
2
1
6
Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Frequently asked questions
How long does Dark Nights in D.C. - Walking Tour take?
Dark Nights in D.C. - Walking Tour lasts about 1h 30min. The itinerary has 3 stops.
How much does Dark Nights in D.C. - Walking Tour cost?
Prices start at $35 per person for this Washington DC 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 Dark Nights in D.C. - Walking 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 Guests will meet their tour guide in front of the Octagon Museum.. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Dark Nights in D.C. - Walking 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 9 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Reviews(203)
S
Seaside41533144964
August 25, 2026
Fun and spooky
Easy way to see famous houses with a history of the supernatural. The guide was a good presenter which added to the experience
Operator response
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re glad you enjoyed exploring some of Washington, D.C.’s famous homes and learning about the supernatural history connected to them. It’s wonderful to hear that your guide’s presentation style added to the experience and helped bring the stories to life. We appreciate you joining us for a fun and spooky evening, and we hope to welcome you back for another tour in the future!
H
H5610ONnicoles
March 14, 2026
Definitely worth it!
Christa was awesome! She was very knowledgeable and added a good amount of humor and wit to the experience. Due to current events, some of the locations were cordoned off but she adapted well and kept the experience enjoyable. I’ve already recommended the tour to friends!
Operator response
Thank you for taking the time to share such thoughtful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that Christa’s knowledge, humor, and wit made the experience so enjoyable. We also appreciate you highlighting how she adapted when some locations were temporarily unavailable. It’s wonderful to know she helped keep the tour engaging despite those changes. Thank you for recommending Ghost City Tours to your friends—we truly appreciate it! We hope to welcome you back for another memorable evening of history and ghost stories.
L
Lauren B
November 17, 2025
Fun&interactive
Krista was an exquisite tour guide! She had humor, all the knowledge and was very genuine. She made the tour super fun and was best ghost tour I have been to!
I
I7419RFwaleeda
October 18, 2025
Disappointing and Boring — Not What I Expected
I was really looking forward to this ghost tour, but it ended up being a letdown. The tour guide started about five minutes early and honestly seemed like he didn’t even want to be there. Instead of chilling ghost stories, most of what we heard were dry historical facts — nothing spooky or engaging at all.
It felt like the guide had just memorized long paragraphs from Google. There was no passion or storytelling, just a monotone recital. By the middle of the tour, I was literally struggling to stay awake — and that says a lot for something that’s supposed to be about ghosts and hauntings.
They could’ve easily made it more entertaining with a bit of atmosphere — even something simple like a staged scare or an actor jumping out would’ve helped. Also, I’m not sure why it’s billed as adults-only when there’s nothing remotely intense or scary about it.
Overall, I expected much more and left disappointed. If they trimmed down the filler and focused on the darker, more sinister parts of the stories, this could actually be a great experience. Right now, though, it’s just not worth it.
E
Emma_C
October 11, 2025
Our guide was insightful...
Our guide was insightful and told stories we had never heard before. We had a nice time. Great pace, great story telling.
J
Jennifer_H
September 4, 2025
Great DC experience
Great experience! We learned a lot about some of the old buildings of DC and the stories behind them. Matthew was our guide and he was possibly the best story tell ever!! Try to request him if you can.
K
K3366GAmikeb
July 17, 2025
Haunting in DC
The historical places that we visited were amazing. Tour guide had lots of info regarding the haunting around the city. This was our first ghost tour so now we’re hooked and need more. I would highly recommend this tour because of the new history we learned about the locations
Operator response
Thank you for your review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed your first ghost tour and learned so much about Charleston’s haunted history. We’re excited to have you hooked—hope to see you on another tour soon!
A
A467YVnatashat
July 16, 2025
Great Stories!
The tour was fantastic. We got to learn about some cool ghost stories in many famous places! Our tour guide, Rizzo, was awesome. She was funny and put on a great tour. All three of us learned a ton and we would definitely go again.
Operator response
It was a pleasure having you — with us in Washington D.C.! We’re grateful you joined the tour and hope the rest of your visit was just as fun and memorable.
N
NorthStar57210649011
June 28, 2025
fantastic tour
the tour was great . our guide Mike was very knowledgable and entertaining. it was great to hear the stories of what had happened and what people have seen or heard of ghost inside the buildings.
Operator response
Thank you for your feedback ! We’re thrilled to hear Mike made your tour unforgettable!
M
Marie H
June 19, 2025
Highly recommend
Very engaging and well informed, perfect pace and humor throughout. Interesting stories and the group happened to be small (8)
Operator response
Thank you for joining us! We hope that the rest of your time in Washington D.C. was just as much fun!
