Last updated October 2026
The best ghost tours in Chicago come down to how you want to spend the evening. Walk the Loop’s old vice district on foot, ride a coach to haunted sites across the city, paddle the river in the dark, or, in October only, walk Lincoln Park Zoo after hours over the city’s old cemetery grounds. Here are five worth booking for 2026, with the details checked against each operator’s own site.
I’ve lived in Chicago part-time for about ten years, and my husband’s family is from here, so I’ve sorted these by what actually matters when you’re choosing: how far you’ll walk, how late it runs, and whether you can bring the kids. A couple of them have age limits that catch people off guard, so check those before you book for a family trip.
In a Nutshell
- Best walking tour: Gangsters and Ghosts, four departures a day from Wacker Drive in the Loop.
- Covers the most ground: the Original Chicago Hauntings bus tour, Saturdays at 7 p.m., ages 13 and up.
- October only: Lincoln Park Zoo’s Haunted History Tours, Tuesday and Wednesday nights, ages 16 and up.
- On the water: Seadog’s Haunted River Tour, Fridays through Sundays in October, dogs welcome.
- Most active: Wateriders’ Ghosts and Gangsters night kayak tour from River North.
Chicago’s ghost stories grow out of real disasters, which is what makes the tours here more history lesson than haunted house. The 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire, the 1915 Eastland capsizing in the Chicago River, Prohibition-era mob killings, and the old City Cemetery that once sat where Lincoln Park is now all show up on these routes. A guided tour is one of the best things to do in Chicago for Halloween, and most of them run well beyond October too.
Quick Picks by Interest
- Visiting with kids: Gangsters and Ghosts, the only tour here with youth pricing and free admission for kids 6 and under.
- True crime fans: the Original Chicago Hauntings bus tour, which stops at the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre site.
- Bringing the dog: Seadog’s Haunted River Tour, the one tour here that invites dogs aboard.
- Something different: the zoo’s Haunted History Tours or a night kayak paddle.
Chicago Ghost Tours at a Glance
| Tour | When | Ages |
|---|---|---|
| Gangsters and Ghosts (walking) | Daily at 11 a.m., 1, 4 and 8 p.m. | All ages |
| Original Chicago Hauntings (bus) | Saturdays at 7 p.m. | 13 and up |
| Lincoln Park Zoo Haunted History Tours | Tue. and Wed. nights in October | 16 and up |
| Seadog Haunted River Tour | Fri. to Sun. in October | Check when booking |
| Wateriders Ghosts and Gangsters (kayak) | Evenings; check schedule | Swimmers only |
1. Gangsters and Ghosts Walking Tour
Who it’s for: first-time visitors staying downtown who want mob history and ghost stories in one walk, and families, since kids are welcome.
This two-hour walking tour covers the Loop’s old vice district, mixing Al Capone-era gangland history with the ghost stories that grew up on the same streets. Tour listings put the route at about 1.5 miles, with stops including Death Alley behind today’s Nederlander Theatre, the Palmer House, and the Congress Hotel. The company bills itself as the original Gangsters and Ghosts Tour, running since 2017.
Pro tip: In October it’s dark well before 8 p.m., so book the 8 p.m. departure if you want the ghost stories after nightfall. The 4 p.m. tour is the better pick with younger kids.
Quick Facts
- Meeting point: next to the Royal Sonesta Hotel at 71 E. Wacker Drive, on the corner of Wacker and Wabash (the Loop, on the river).
- When: daily at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 8 p.m.; the operator notes seasonal schedules can differ.
- Cost: about $35 to $36 for adults, with senior and youth rates; kids 6 and under free. The site lists two slightly different price sets, so confirm at checkout.
- Nearest L: State/Lake (Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple lines) and Lake (Red Line), each a few minutes’ walk.
- Accessibility: a walking tour on city sidewalks and an alley; contact the operator about mobility needs.
- Book: Gangsters and Ghosts Tour
2. Original Chicago Hauntings Ghost Tour by Bus
Who it’s for: teens and adults who want to see haunted sites across the city in one night, without walking miles to reach them.
Founded by Chicago ghostlore historian Ursula Bielski, this three-hour narrated coach tour reaches places walking tours can’t. Stops include the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre site, Lincoln Park Zoo, the site of the Iroquois Theatre fire, and the Eastland disaster site, with stories along the way about Hull House and the Hancock building. You step off the bus at several of them.
The tour meets inside the Congress Lounge bar at the Congress Plaza Hotel, itself one of the city’s most famous haunted buildings, so arrive early for a drink. Know before you book that all sales are final; the operator reschedules only for emergencies.
Quick Facts
- Meeting point: inside the bar at the Congress Plaza Hotel, 520 S. Michigan Ave. (south end of the Loop, across from Grant Park).
- When: Saturdays at 7 p.m.; about 3 hours.
- Cost: $57.31 per adult, taxes and fees included. Minimum age 13.
- Nearest L: Harrison (Red Line), a short walk west.
- Dogs: service animals only.
- Accessibility: the operator says the bus is not wheelchair-friendly and points guests to its walking tours instead.
- Book: Original Chicago Hauntings Ghost Tour
3. Haunted History Tours at Lincoln Park Zoo
Who it’s for: adults and older teens in town on an October weeknight who like their ghost stories with real history.
Lincoln Park sits on what was once Chicago’s City Cemetery, and the zoo leans into it every October. Author and historian Adam Selzer, who runs Mysterious Chicago Tours, leads 75-minute walkabouts through the zoo grounds and its allegedly haunted history. The animal houses are closed during the tour, so this is about the stories, not the animals. If you want the animals too, my guide to things to do with kids in Lincoln Park covers a daytime visit; the zoo itself is always free.
Pro tip: The zoo warns these sell out quickly and there are no tickets at the gate. The later 8:30 p.m. tours only run October 13 through 28.
Quick Facts
- Meeting point: The Patio at Café Brauer, 2021 N. Stockton Drive, near the southwest end of the zoo (Lincoln Park).
- When: remaining 2026 dates are Tuesdays, October 6, 13, 20, and 27, and Wednesdays, October 7, 14, 21, and 28, at 7 p.m. (plus 8:30 p.m. from October 13).
- Cost: $35 for nonmembers, $28 for members; ages 16 and up.
- Getting there: the zoo points riders to the Armitage and Fullerton L stations and the #22, #36, #151, and #156 buses.
- Dogs: pets aren’t allowed; service animals are welcome.
- Accessibility: the zoo lists the event as accessible and offers an accommodations contact; tours move indoors in bad weather.
- Book: Haunted History Tours at Lincoln Park Zoo
4. Seadog Haunted River Tour
Who it’s for: groups who’d rather sit back with skyline views than walk, and anyone traveling with a dog.
Seadog brings back its Haunted River Tour every October, cruising the Chicago River while guides tell stories of mobsters, unsolved mysteries, ghost sightings, and historic tragedies. It’s a lighter, more social take on a ghost tour: costumes are encouraged, guests can bring their own drinks, and dogs are invited aboard. In 2026 it runs Fridays through Sundays in October.
Quick Facts
- When: Fridays through Sundays in October 2026, through October 31.
- Boarding, times, and prices: shown when you pick a date on the booking page; confirm your dock before you go.
- Dogs: welcome aboard.
- Drinks: bring your own beverages.
- Book: Seadog Haunted River Tour
5. Ghosts and Gangsters Night Kayak Tour
Who it’s for: active travelers and confident swimmers who want a ghost tour nobody else back home has done.
Wateriders, which has run kayak tours on the Chicago River since 1997, offers an evening paddle through downtown as the sun sets, with a guide telling stories of the city’s mobsters and spots along the river said to be haunted. Seeing the downtown canyon from water level at night is the draw. If you’d rather stay on land afterward, the Chicago Riverwalk runs along the south bank of the same stretch.
Quick Facts
- Meeting point: 500 N. Kingsbury St. (River North, on the river west of the Merchandise Mart).
- Included: kayak, equipment, guide, and a safety orientation.
- Who can go: the tour listing says it isn’t suitable for non-swimmers or people with mobility impairments.
- Dates and prices: check Wateriders directly, since paddling season and evening times change into late fall.
Do It Yourself: The Congress Plaza Hotel
Who it’s for: independent travelers who want a haunted landmark without a tour schedule.
The Congress Plaza Hotel on Michigan Avenue opened in the 1890s to house visitors to the World’s Columbian Exposition, and its ghost stories are some of the best-known in the city. For more of the city’s haunted landmarks, see my list of haunted places in Chicago. The bus tour operator calls the hotel bar the perfect spot for a drink before or after a tour, and the bar is open to anyone, so you can soak up the atmosphere without booking a room.
Make a night of it: start with drinks at the Congress Lounge, then head to one of the Halloween pop-up bars in Chicago if you’re in town in October.
Getting Around for Ghost Tours
The CTA Red Line runs 24 hours and reaches three of these tours: Lake for Gangsters and Ghosts, Harrison for the Congress Plaza bus tour, and Fullerton for Lincoln Park Zoo. That matters because most of these end after dark, when you won’t want to hunt for a cab. My Chicago CTA guide covers fares and the L lines.
Driving in for the bus tour? Downtown parking near Michigan Avenue gets expensive, and the operator itself suggests reserving a garage spot ahead of time with SpotHero.
The Chicago Weekly
October ghost tours sell out, and seasonal ones like the zoo’s only run a few nights. I send one email a week with what’s happening in Chicago and what’s worth booking before it’s gone. Come along.
Chicago Ghost Tours FAQ
Which Chicago ghost tours are OK for kids?
Gangsters and Ghosts welcomes kids, with youth pricing and free admission for children 6 and under. The Original Chicago Hauntings bus tour is for ages 13 and up, and Lincoln Park Zoo’s Haunted History Tours are for ages 16 and up.
Do Chicago ghost tours go inside haunted buildings?
Mostly no. The Original Chicago Hauntings bus tour focuses on building exteriors and outdoor spaces, though businesses on the route are open to visit during normal hours. The Congress Plaza Hotel’s bar, where that tour starts, is open to the public.
Do Chicago ghost tours run year-round?
Some do. Gangsters and Ghosts runs daily and the Original Chicago Hauntings bus tour runs on Saturdays, while the Lincoln Park Zoo tours and the Seadog Haunted River Tour run only in October.
If you have one night, I’d pick the 8 p.m. Gangsters and Ghosts walk for a first visit and the Saturday bus tour if you’ve already seen downtown. Then make it a whole weekend with the rest of my picks for fall in Chicago.