Charleston Jail Tour: Explore Infamous Criminal Cells

Explore Charleston’s haunted Old City Jail at night. Hear chilling tales of infamous criminals and Civil War prisoners. Book your unforgettable tour now.

Duration: 45 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Old City Jail - The Haunted Jail Tour takes you through the cells, hallways, and into the places where Charleston’s worst criminals lived and died. Brace yourself as you hear stories like the legend of Lavinia and John Fisher, hotel owners from the 1800s who supposedly poisoned their guests. Featured on such shows as Ghost Adventures, the story…
What's Included
  • Charleston Haunted Jail Night-Time Guided Walking Tour
  • Admission to Old City Jail in Charleston
  • Professional Guide
  • 45min Behind-The-Scenes Guided Tour of Old City Jail
  • Experience the jail that housed some of Charleston’s most infamous criminals & 19th-century pirates
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Transportation to/from attractions
Additional Information

Join us for a memorable tour of the ground level of the Old City Jail, which housed some of Charleston’s most infamous criminals, 19th-century pirates, and Civil War prisoners. Located on Magazine Street downtown, the Old City Jail operated from 1802 until 1939, and has recently undergone renovation, leaving the first floor in keeping with its original…

Location
21 Magazine St
Magazine Street
Please meet the tour guide at Old City Jail 15 minutes prior to tour time.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.4
(611 Ratings)
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Paige_b
Jul 22, 2025
Sarah was great! She was... - Sarah was great! She was very informative and interactive! Next time I’m in Charleston, I’ll be sure to book with Bulldog Tours!
Review provided by Viator
Seaside46235001816
Jul 22, 2025
Entertaining Charleston Haunted Jail tour - After booking my time slot for the tour, I wanted to join an earlier tour. Arriving early at the jail site, I spoke with one of the guides to change my tour time. The guide was very accommodating and pleasant with my request. Bruce Orr was our guide; his delivery of the jail's history was terrific and engaging. You should put this experience on your list of: Must DO's while in Charleston.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kerri_m
Jul 20, 2025
Faith is a great tour guide! - Faith is an incredible tour guide! She is beyond knowledgeable on the history of the jail, which is very impressive considering how much there is! She seamlessly explained the jail's history in great depth in a very concise manner. Best of all you can see her passion for sharing the jail’s disheartening history. It was a great tour in every which way! My aunt even got a picture with a ghost in it!
Review provided by Viator
Sylvia_g
Jul 19, 2025
Cooperative and flexible... - Cooperative and flexible scheduling. Sarah was very informative and captivating. We had a great tour. Fun time!!
Review provided by Viator
Ryan_m
Jul 6, 2025
This is the real deal. - This is the real deal. If you want to actually experience something paranormal, this is it. Very intense.
Review provided by Viator
815marygracem
Jul 6, 2025
Spooky Jail Ghost Tour! - Yooooo this tour was everything!! Sarah is a spooky queen and made the whole experience educational yet creepy, all in the best of ways. Definitely one of the spookier ones our group had ever been on but we can’t stop talking about it!!! 10/10 recommend following her advice on setting a boundary at the end of the tour. Can’t wait to come back!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carlie_w
Jul 5, 2025
Visiting from Columbia - Sara was our house and she was so knowledgeable. It was fun, creepy, and educational. We loved it! Highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Julie_g
Jul 4, 2025
Dave was a fantastic... - Dave was a fantastic guide. Very knowledgeable and friendly. The tour overall was a great experience!
Review provided by Viator
Taylor_p
Jul 1, 2025
Sarah was a wonderful... - Sarah was a wonderful tour guide, she was very knowledgeable, captivating, and sweet. My family and I really enjoyed her, she made the tour! We just wish it could have been longer!
Review provided by Viator
Rebecca_a
Jul 15, 2025
This is a very much... - This is a very much curtailed tour from your previous jail tour. Our complete tour start to finish was 50 minutes long and was focused on 4 to five rooms . It would be much better if the tour covered several floors for the tour. Additionally, parking is bad in the area…would be very beneficial if you provided parking information as you have people traveling there from out of town to attend the tour.
Review provided by Viator
From $46
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).