Ghost and Haunted Tours in St. Augustine

There’s no escaping the ghostly haunts of St. Augustine, with its rich and eerie history.

Across from the Castillo de San Marcos National Fort, the base for the Spanish army’s first line of defense for St. Augustine is a massive graveyard where many soldiers now lie. Ghost trains and trolleys navigate the tight cobblestone streets of St. Augustine in search of eerie history.

Stories from Flagler College, once a hotel for the rich and famous, is now a major site for modern-day haunts to this day. Just a few years ago, a group of students insisted on switching dorm rooms because of ghostly activities, and their floor was closed for a period of time. Students still report stomps, screams, and knocks on doors, as it is a well-known – and intriguing – part of living at Flagler College.

St. Augustine is rich in haunted attractions. A few very popular and unnerving haunted sites and ghost tours invite you to learn more about this phenomenon from a (mostly) safe distance. Here is a list of some of the best tours in the area – ones that will send you back to your St. Augustine vacation rental eager for the sun to rise.

Ghosts and Gravestones: St. Augustine’s Frightseeing Tour

Take a trip with the Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley for an overview of St. Augustine’s paranormal history.

You will be led through St. Augustine by a seasoned tour guide who tells stories of the city’s dark side based on personal accounts, history, and legends. The trolley will stop at multiple locations, such as the Old Jail, the lighthouse grounds by St. Augustine Beach, and the eerie Tolomato Cemetery.

The guide may shed some unsettling light on some of the unmarked graves in a graveyard that’s more than a century old. Some of these ghost stories happened only a few years ago, while others happened during the city’s Spanish reign.

You can book a seat on the trolley at 27 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine, FL or by calling (888)-920-8687. Try the latest tour for an extra dose of fright.

The Ghostly Experience: A Walking Tour

The Ghostly Experience is a walking tour through some of the haunted nooks and crannies of St. Augustine that the trolley just can’t access.

A knowledgeable guide will take you to the very edge of the Tolomato Cemetery, sharing authentic ghost stories of the area. The guide will explain the presence of orbs and cold spots, both a common occurrence in the graveyard. You will also head up to the Castillo Fort at night for some of the best ghost tales of the tour.

The walking tour is a story-driven adventure through the spooky parts of St. Augustine. Experience a side of St. Augustine rarely shown on bright and cheery travel brochures through chilling stories that will stay with you for weeks.

The tour is about two hours, and it includes a lot of walking. Book a spot on this tour at 4 Granada St., St. Augustine, FL (at the corner of Granada and King), or by calling 904-829-1122.

The Old Jail: St. Augustine’s Most Harrowing Ghostly Visit

The Old Jail (167 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine, FL) is a little different as you venture deep into the Old Jail itself. The jail was first built by Henry Flagler in 1891, and the original jail was considered an eyesore amidst the luxurious hotels of the era.

It was relocated with a new construction that resembled the other structures of the area and featuring a remarkable Romanesque Revival architectural style. It was the city’s main jail for over 60 decades until it was finally closed in 1953.

This historic jail has a dark side. Guests are told tales of torture and hangings from the ancient jail. There were also no facilities for waste disposal or bathing, adding to the torturous experience of being jailed there. Only the worst of the worst in the city were sentenced there, and many didn’t survive. This tour is not for the faint of heart. Take the night tour for an even more frightening experience.