REVIEW · SAVANNAH AUDIO TOURS

Haunted Savannah Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour

★ 4.5 · 3 reviews 1 to 2 hours (approx.) From $14 Operated by Action Day Trips · Bookable on Viator
Book on Viator →

Savannah keeps its ghosts close. This self-guided walk pairs more than 16 audio stories with a 3.2-mile route through old squares, hotels, cemeteries, restaurants, and the riverfront. At $14.99 per person, it gives you a flexible way to explore Savannah’s darker stories without joining a fixed group.

I like the location-triggered audio, which lets you walk at your own speed and pause for food, photos, or a closer look. I also like the mix of folklore and history, from Civil War hospital stories at the Marshall House to the murder tied to the Mercer-Williams House. The main drawback is the app: some phones may need a little time to configure, and a walk with constant GPS and audio can drain your battery.

The tour takes about one to two hours if you follow the route steadily. You can also stretch it across several days because access never expires. Bring earbuds, download everything on strong Wi-Fi or cellular service, and carry a portable charger if you have one.

Key Points Before You Start

Haunted Savannah Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour - Key Points Before You Start

  • More than 3.2 miles of Savannah: The route connects the riverfront, historic squares, cemeteries, famous houses, and a former railroad yard.
  • Audio starts by location: Once you reach each point, the story begins automatically and guides you toward the next stop.
  • Lifetime access: Use the tour on any day, pause it, restart it, or return to it on another trip.
  • Strong value at $14.99: The price is reasonable if you want history, ghost stories, and the freedom to explore without a guide.
  • Bring power and headphones: GPS, maps, and continuous audio can use plenty of battery.
  • Entry fees are separate: The tour takes you to several museums and restaurants, but admission, meals, and reservations are not included.

What You Get for $14.99

At $14.99 per person, this is priced below many live walking tours, but the comparison is not quite like for like. You do not get a guide answering questions in real time. You do get a private experience for your group, a prepared route, offline maps, automatic audio, and the ability to reuse the tour for life.

That last point matters. You can take the walk in one stretch, then return later to hear extra stories or visit a stop you skipped. If two people are comfortable sharing earbuds, one purchase can also work well for a couple, though the password can only be used on the same number of devices as the number of booked participants.

The app also points out dining, restrooms, and other useful amenities. That is a small feature, but it helps on a walk of this length. You are not locked into a tight schedule, and you can stop for lunch or a drink without losing your place.

The published score is 4.7 from three ratings. One person needed a minute to learn the navigation, while another had a phone configuration problem even though a companion’s phone worked properly. I would treat the app as useful but not foolproof. Download the tour before you arrive, test the audio, and keep the support contact details handy.

Starting at the Olde Pink House

Haunted Savannah Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour - Starting at the Olde Pink House

The route begins at the Olde Pink House, built by James Habersham Jr. in 1789. It is a good first stop because the building is both an important Savannah landmark and a strong introduction to the tour’s tone.

The stories here include ghostly orbs, poltergeist activity, and apparitions. The audio gives you a reason to look closely at the building rather than simply pass by it. The stop is planned for about five minutes, and admission is not included.

You do not need to enter every building on the route to enjoy the walk. In many cases, the point is to hear the story while standing outside and imagining the events connected to the site. That keeps the price low, but it also means you should not expect a museum visit at every stop.

Reynolds Square and Little Gracie

Haunted Savannah Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour - Reynolds Square and Little Gracie

At Reynolds Square, the story shifts to the former Pulaski Hotel. It was once a place for lavish Savannah parties before being demolished in 1957 for newer buildings.

The ghost story centers on Little Gracie, a child said to remain near the site. The contrast works well: the building itself is gone, but the story survives. This is a quick stop, and there is no admission charge.

The square also gives you a chance to slow down. The tour is not only about finding the next point on the map. Savannah’s squares are part of the pleasure, and the audio can add a darker layer to a pleasant public space.

Moon River Brewing Company and the Riverfront

Haunted Savannah Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour - Moon River Brewing Company and the Riverfront

Moon River Brewing Company is presented as one of Savannah’s most haunted places. The building was once a hotel dating to 1821 and is tied to a shocking murder. It has also drawn paranormal investigators, including a Travel Channel television crew.

You will hear the story outside or near the business, but admission is not included. If you want to stop for a drink or meal, plan that separately. The tour’s short five-minute timing is more of a listening estimate than a full visit.

From there, the route heads toward John P. Rousakis Riverfront Plaza. This part brings a welcome change of scenery. Shops and restaurants line the riverfront, while the audio points out reports of glowing orbs, poltergeist activity, and a spectral figure said to trigger an alarm without appearing on security cameras.

I like this stretch because it connects Savannah’s tourist center with its ghost stories. You can hear about the supernatural while still having practical places nearby for a meal, restroom break, or rest.

The Shrimp Factory and Difficult Stories

Haunted Savannah Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour - The Shrimp Factory and Difficult Stories

The Shrimp Factory is known for seafood, but the tour focuses on an upstairs storage room where employees reportedly hear unexplained noises. The story attributes some of the activity to the spirits of enslaved people who were chained to the walls.

This is one of the points where the tour moves beyond playful ghost lore. Savannah’s past includes slavery, war, violence, disease, and death, and a good haunted walk should not treat all of that as a joke. Listen with care, especially when stories connect supernatural claims to real human suffering.

The stop takes about ten minutes, but the restaurant is not included in the tour price. You may choose to eat there, but the audio experience itself does not provide a reservation or meal.

Hampton-Lillibridge House and the Marshall House

Haunted Savannah Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour - Hampton-Lillibridge House and the Marshall House

The Hampton-Lillibridge House dates to 1796 and has a reputation for being one of Savannah’s most haunted homes. The story includes a sailor who supposedly hanged himself, a renovation worker who died mysteriously, and a general sense that people avoid the property.

You are left with the central question: is the house cursed, or has its reputation grown through repeated storytelling? The tour does not need to settle that question. Its job is to give you the history and let you decide how much of the legend you believe.

The Marshall House offers a more firmly historical setting. During the Civil War, it became an emergency Union hospital. Human remains were found inside during renovations in the 1990s, and reports of wounded Civil War soldiers walking the halls add the ghostly layer.

This stop shows why Savannah works so well for this kind of tour. The supernatural stories are tied to buildings that already have powerful pasts. You get more from the stop if you pay attention to both parts.

Savannah’s Squares and Juliette Gordon Low’s Birthplace

Haunted Savannah Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour - Savannah’s Squares and Juliette Gordon Low’s Birthplace

The itinerary identifies one stop as Chippewa Square, while the accompanying story describes Wright Square and executions that took place there. Because the route uses GPS, check the app’s map and stop title carefully when you reach this part of the walk.

The story concerns convicts who were hanged, including two young lovers accused of killing their abusive master. It is a grim tale in a quiet public space. The contrast between a leafy square and its violent past is typical of Savannah.

The next stop is the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, connected to the founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA. The building has greater historical than supernatural importance, though the tour includes a ghost story involving Juliette’s mother.

Admission to the birthplace is not included. If you want to tour the interior, check the museum separately and allow more time than the audio stop requires. If you stay outside, the story still gives you useful context about an important Savannah figure.

Colonial Park Cemetery After Dark History

Haunted Savannah Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour - Colonial Park Cemetery After Dark History

Colonial Park Cemetery was established in 1750 and is said to hold about 10,000 bodies, while only around 600 graves are marked. That imbalance gives the stop its eerie force. A cemetery with clear rows of headstones feels different from one where so many people have no visible marker.

The tour allows about five minutes here, but I would avoid rushing. You can listen, look at the visible graves, and consider how much of Savannah’s early population is represented by names that have disappeared.

Admission is not included, though the tour does not require a separate ticket simply to follow the audio route. Treat the cemetery respectfully. This is a burial ground, not just a backdrop for spooky entertainment.

Mercer-Williams House and the Midnight Connection

The Mercer-Williams House is one of the route’s strongest stops for anyone interested in Savannah’s modern crime history. A murder took place here in 1981, and the case became widely known through the novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Jim Williams was acquitted of the crime. The house has since been associated with unexplained events, giving the stop a direct link between real legal history, popular culture, and ghost lore.

This was a favorite for one person using the tour, along with the Olde Pink House. I can see why. Even if you are not convinced by paranormal claims, the Mercer-Williams story gives you a clear narrative thread and a recognizable Savannah connection.

Museum admission is not part of the $14.99 price. The audio stop is useful on its own, but you will need to arrange a separate visit if you want to go inside.

The Railroad Story at the End

The final itinerary entry is labeled Purse Street, while its description points to the Roundhouse Railroad Museum. The route ends at 539 West Charlton Street, so use the app’s map and directions rather than relying only on the written stop name.

The story concerns war-related spirits around Savannah’s rail yard. One reported figure wears a cavalry jacket and disappears after making eye contact. It is a fitting ending for a tour that has moved through hotels, homes, cemeteries, and places shaped by conflict.

The stop is planned for about ten minutes, and there is no admission charge for following the audio route. Museum entry, if available or desired, is separate.

How the Audio App Works on the Street

After booking, you receive setup instructions and a password by email and text. Search for audio tour if you do not see the message quickly. You then download Action’s separate tour app and enter the password.

Download the tour while you have strong Wi-Fi or cellular service. Once the route is stored, it works offline, which is useful if your signal becomes unreliable. Your phone needs GPS and should run iOS 15 or later, Android 9 or later, or use an iPad or tablet with GPS and cellular service.

At the starting point, open the app and launch the version that matches your planned direction. No guide meets you. Enter the first story point, and the audio should begin automatically. The next story plays as you reach the correct location.

The hands-free design is the best part of the technology, but pay attention to the route. One person found the navigation easy after getting used to it, while another had trouble with phone configuration. I would allow a few minutes at the start to get your bearings fast.

The tour also includes bonus stories and extra information. One person wished for more material during the walking stretches, so the added content is worth checking instead of simply following the main prompts.

Timing, Walking Comfort, and Battery Life

The stated duration is one to two hours, with more than 3.2 miles of walking. Your actual time will depend on pauses, photos, meals, museum visits, and how often you stop for extra audio.

You can complete the main route in one outing, but I think the flexible format works even better if you split it. Start in the late morning, pause at the riverfront, and continue later. The published operating hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and the app can also be used on later trips because access does not expire.

Keep your phone charged. Continuous routing, GPS, maps, and audio can use a lot of power. Earbuds or headphones are strongly recommended, especially if you want to hear every story near busy streets.

The route is near public transportation, and most people can participate. No group fitness requirement or special walking ability is stated, but the distance matters. If three miles of urban walking sounds tiring, use the pause function and split the route.

Who Should Book This Savannah Ghost Walk?

I would recommend it to independent sightseers who like a plan but do not want a guide setting the pace. It suits couples, families with older children, history fans, and anyone who wants to combine Savannah’s landmarks with ghost stories.

It is also useful for repeat visitors. You can use it on a later trip without paying again, and the route gives familiar streets a new angle.

I would be more cautious if you want a lively guide, live conversation, or guaranteed app performance. The experience depends on your phone, your battery, and your ability to reach each GPS point. It is also not ideal if you want every listed building included as an interior visit, since admission and reservations are separate.

Cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded.

Should You Book It?

Book this tour if you want Savannah’s haunted side on your own terms. The price is fair, the route covers major historic areas, and lifetime access gives you room to pause or return.

Prepare properly by downloading the app before arrival, bringing earbuds and a charger, and checking the map when stop names appear unclear. If you want a polished live performance, choose a guided walk instead. If you want independence, useful history, and a little uncertainty around every old doorway, this is a solid Savannah choice.

FAQ

How long is the Haunted Savannah Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour?

The tour covers more than 3.2 miles and takes approximately one to two hours to complete. Stops for meals, photos, museums, and extra stories will make the outing longer.

What language is the tour offered in?

The audio tour is offered in English.

Are admission tickets included?

No. Attraction entry, museum tickets, restaurant purchases, and reservations are not included.

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts in Savannah, Georgia, in the 31401 area. The listed ending point is 539 West Charlton Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401.

Do I need cellular service during the walk?

You need strong Wi-Fi or cellular service to download the tour. After downloading, the audio and maps work offline.

Can I pause and resume the tour?

Yes. You can start, pause, skip stops, take breaks, and continue later. Access is lifetime and does not expire.

What device do I need?

An iPhone running iOS 15 or later, an Android device running version 9 or later, or an iPad or tablet with GPS and cellular connectivity is recommended.

More like this

Self-Guided Tours, compared.

The full Self-Guided Tours list →
Acropolis Ticket & Optional Self-Guided Audio Tours
★★★★★★★★★★4.1· 2,542 reviews· from $46

Acropolis Ticket & Optional Self-Guided Audio Tours

Read our review →
Ultimate Lake Tahoe Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
★★★★★★★★★★4.5· 435 reviews

Ultimate Lake Tahoe Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Read our review →
Scenic Newport, RI Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
★★★★★★★★★★4.5· 325 reviews

Scenic Newport, RI Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Read our review →
Santorini: Akrotiri Ticket with Optional Self-Guided Audios
★★★★★★★★★★4.1· 298 reviews· from $30

Santorini: Akrotiri Ticket with Optional Self-Guided Audios

Read our review →
Arches National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
★★★★★★★★★★4.5· 288 reviews

Arches National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Read our review →
Scroll to Top

Where to listen next

Pick a city, a building or a road.