The Best Ghost Tour in Savannah (What Locals and Historians Actually Recommend)
Savannah is famous for its ghost tours, but that popularity can create a conundrum for visitors.
With dozens of options, wildly different styles, and dramatic price ranges, travelers often ask:
“What is the best ghost tour in Savannah?”
As historians who live and work here, and as locals who regularly hear feedback from visitors after they’ve taken other tours, the honest answer depends on what you’re actually looking for.
Not all ghost tours are the same product.
But just for you, dear reader . . . below is a clear, grounded comparison of Savannah’s ghost tour styles.
What “Best Ghost Tour” Really Means in Savannah
Before comparing companies, it’s important to define best.
In Savannah, ghost tours generally fall into three categories:
Entertainment-first ghost walks
History-first walking tours with ghost stories (this includes Pub Crawl drinking tours with ghost stories shared between locations)
Historian-led experiences that integrate hauntings into documented history
Each serves a different audience, and most disappointment happens when guests book one style while expecting another.
Entertainment-First Ghost Tours
(Who They’re For, and Who They’re Not For)
These tours focus on:
Jump scares
Performative storytelling
Costumed guides
Exaggerated legends
Large groups
Pub crawls are often more about the spirits (drinks) than the spirits (ghosts), very light on the storytelling
They can be fun for:
Bachelor/bachelorette parties
Groups seeking campy entertainment
Guests who prioritize spectacle over substance
However, keep in mind that many reviews for these tours often report:
Difficulty hearing the guide
Indifferent, awkward guides
Stories that feel exaggerated or inconsistent
Limited historical context
For travelers genuinely curious about Savannah’s history or true ghost storytelling, these tours often fall short. Which leads us to . . .
History-First Walking Tours with Occasional Ghost Stories
Some Savannah tours emphasize:
General city history
Architecture and layout
Light ghost folklore as supplemental material
These are excellent for:
Daytime exploration
Guests who prefer minimal supernatural content
However, ghost stories on these tours are often brief and secondary.
Where Genteel & Bard Is Different
Genteel & Bard occupies a third category entirely.
Rather than performing ghost stories or downplaying them, Genteel & Bard presents both Savannah’s history and haunts as dynamically intertwined.
Key differences guests consistently note:
1. Historian-Led Storytelling
Tours are written and delivered by published historians and professional storytellers, not actors or seasonally-hired script readers.
Ghost stories are placed within:
Historical timelines
Documented events
Cultural and social context
This creates depth rather than theatrics.
2. Designed to Be Heard
Unlike many Savannah ghost tours that rely on a shouting guide, each guest receives a personal audio earpiece.
This matters more than most travelers realize:
No crowding around the guide
No missed details
Clear storytelling even on busy nights
For many guests, this alone elevates the experience.
3. Controlled Group Size
Rather than maximizing headcount (Savannah city law is 30 max), Genteel & Bard intentionally limits group size.
The result:
Quieter movement through historic areas
More respectful engagement with sites
A calmer, spookier, more immersive atmosphere
4. Ghost Stories Rooted in Verifiable History
Stories are tied to:
Known locations
Recorded deaths or events
Period newspapers, journals, and records
Nothing is presented as fact without historical grounding.
For skeptics, this builds credibility.
For believers, it adds weight.
How Locals Tend to Recommend Tours
Locals rarely book ghost tours, but they hear about them constantly.
When asked which Savannah ghost tour they recommend to visiting friends and family, locals tend to steer people toward experiences that are:
Not gimmicky
Respectful of the city
Historically accurate
Suitable for adults who want substance
Genuinely a spooky good time
This is where Genteel & Bard consistently stands out as Savannah’s favorite ghost tour.
Price Comparison and Why It Matters Less Than You Think
Many Savannah ghost tours advertise lower prices.
However, price alone doesn’t reflect:
Audio quality
Group size
Guide training and experience
Narrative depth
A slightly higher price reflects:
Better pacing
Better listening conditions
A more refined, memorable experience
Most guests who choose Genteel & Bard report that the difference is immediately noticeable.
So… What Is the Best Ghost Tour in Savannah?
If your goal is:
Loud scares → choose entertainment tours
Light folklore, heavy on the history → choose general history walks
A thoughtful, immersive, historically grounded spooky ghost experience → choose Genteel & Bard
The best ghost tour is the one that helps you understand why the stories exist at all.
A Historian’s Closing Perspective
Savannah doesn’t need embellishment to be haunting.
Its past is complex, beautiful, and sometimes very spooky, and when ghost stories are told responsibly, they send us off with not only chills, but a deeper connection with the experiences that make us human.
Planning Your Visit?
JOIN THE ADVENTURE THROUGH SAVANNAH'S MACABRE SIDE on GEnteel & Bard’s immersive WAlking Ghost tour.
HEAR TALES OF OUR HAUNTED CITY's DARKEST HISTORY AND MOST SPINE-TINGLING GHOST STORIEs.
Proud to be ranked in the top 1% of TripAdvisor’s U.S. Cultural and Historic Experiences!
Reservations are Required! Tours SELL OUT quickly!