Haunted Things To Do in St. Augustine, Florida Ghost Tours, Haunted History & America’s Oldest City After Dark
- Desirae-Haunted Traverse
- 8 hours ago
- 6 min read
St. Augustine, Florida is often called the most haunted city in the United States—and with good reason. As the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in North America, St. Augustine has witnessed centuries of conquest, disease, imprisonment, and loss. Where history runs deep, stories of lingering spirits are never far behind.
For travelers interested in haunted things to do in St. Augustine, this guide explores the city’s most notorious haunted locations, famous ghost stories, and the best ghost tours for experiencing St. Augustine’s paranormal side.
Let's Explore Haunted Things To Do in St. Augustine, FloridaGhost Tours, Haunted History & America’s Oldest City After Dark
St. Augustine is rich with chilling ghost stories, colonial haunted locations, forts with star-crossed lovers and don't get me started on the hauntings at a nearby cemetery. Ready to plan your visit to St. Augustine's haunted past? Read on Dear Reader...read on.
Why Is St. Augustine Considered One of America’s Most Haunted Cities?
Let's Explore Haunted Things To Do in St. Augustine, FloridaGhost Tours, Haunted History & America’s Oldest City After Dark by starting with a quick summary of its history.
Founded in 1565, St. Augustine’s history spans Spanish colonization, British rule, pirate attacks, epidemics, executions, and war. Many of the city’s buildings date back hundreds of years, creating ideal conditions for residual hauntings and paranormal encounters.
Common themes reported by visitors and investigators include:
apparitions in historic homes and hotels
unexplained footsteps and voices
cold spots and sudden changes in temperature
shadow figures and moving objects
The city’s dense concentration of historic sites makes it especially active for paranormal experiences.
A Famous St. Augustine Ghost Story: The Spirits of Castillo de San Marcos
One of the most well-known haunted locations in St. Augustine is Castillo de San Marcos, a 17th-century stone fortress overlooking Matanzas Bay.
The Haunting of Castillo de San Marcos
Originally built by the Spanish, the fort later served as a military stronghold and prison. Soldiers, prisoners, and civilians suffered and died within its walls over centuries.
Reported paranormal activity includes:
ghostly figures seen along the battlements
unexplained voices echoing through empty corridors
the sound of cannon fire and footsteps at night
shadowy forms appearing in photographs
Folklorists tell of Dolores and Manuel, two star crossed lovers that were walled up in a hidden room and this tragedy fuels the castillo's haunting. Some believe these experiences are residual energy from many intense historical events, while others believe spirits remain tied to the fortress due their passings at this site.
Haunted Places to Visit in St. Augustine
Beyond the Castillo, St. Augustine is filled with locations known for ghostly encounters.
St. Augustine Lighthouse
Frequently cited as one of the most haunted lighthouses in America, visitors report:
childlike laughter, possibly the Pittee Girls who drowned in a construction accident.
the Pittee Girls are witnessed swinging, laughing, or playing near the tower
shadow figures on the stairs
objects moving on their own
Old Jail Museum
Once home to criminals and outlaws, the Old Jail has long been associated with:
phantom cell doors
disembodied voices
oppressive feelings during tours
Huguenot Cemetery🪦
Dating back to the 1800s, this small cemetery is known for:
burial ground for yellow fever vicitms
Known as "Spirit Central"
apparitions walking between graves
strange lights after dark
sudden drops in temperature, orbs, cold spots
sightings of a young girl in white
sightings of Judge John Stickney searching for his stolen gold teeth
Need a guide through the grounds that can bring these hauntings to life? Here is a well recommended tour company that includes the Huguenot Cemetery on its highly reviewed tour.
Best Ghost Tours in St. Augustine
St. Augustine, as the nation's oldest European colonized town, offers some of the most varied and well-established ghost tours in the United States. I have sorted by best walking tour, walking tours by area, bus tours, and pub ghost tours below.
Best Walking Ghost Tour in St. Augustine
St. Augustine Ghost Tour: A Ghostly Encounter
Explore the city’s historic fort guided by a costumed tour guide while learning about hauntings, legends, and local history.
Best Walking Old Towne Ghost Tour in St. Augustine
The Night Watchman Ghost Walking Tour
Explore the city’s historic fort guided by a costumed tour guide while learning about hauntings, legends, and local history.
Paranormal Investigation or Ghost Hunting Tours
Some tours allow guests to use ghost-hunting equipment inside historic buildings as they assist in conducting a paranormal investigation.
Old Jail After Dark Paranormal Experience
Haunted Saint Augustine A Paranormal Investigation
Paranormal Gear for Curious Investigators
Reading about St. Augustine’s haunted history often inspires visitors to investigate further and St. Augustine has several tour companies that provide paranormal investigative experiences.
If you want to explore beyond the tours, having some equipment on hand for cemeteries and haunted hotel stays may be a wise item to pack in your luggage.
For beginners, simple tools such as:
EMF meters
digital voice recorders
flashlights or headlamps
Golf Cart or Vehicle Ghost Tours
Located in Florida, St. Augustine can get hot. For those that need to avoid walking or enjoy ghost stories with a cool breeze here are some options for visitors who want a guided haunted experience without extensive walking.
The Last Ride Private Golf Cart Ghost Tour for up to 5 people!
St. Augustine Ghost Tour on Premium Golf Cart with Pick Up
St. Augustine Ghost Ride: Haunted House, Creepy park + Cemetery [Van Tour]
Planning a Haunted Visit to St. Augustine?
If you’re not ready to book a ghost tour just yet, consider saving this guide for later. Tour availability and schedules change throughout the year, and having this page bookmarked makes it easy to return when you’re ready to plan your haunted experience.
Planning Your Haunted Visit to St. Augustine Tips
Best time to visit:Fall and spring offer comfortable weather and peak ghost-tour availability. I personally enjoyed my Christmas-time visit. If you're timing is right, they hold a Christmas Lights maritime parade that passes by the fort.
What to bring:Comfortable shoes, water, and an open mind. Paranormal tours often last several hours.
Safety tips:Stick with guided tours at night and respect historic properties.
Related Haunted Travel Guides
If you enjoy haunted destinations, you may also like:
Final Thoughts: Why St. Augustine Continues to Haunt
St. Augustine’s hauntings feel inseparable from its history. Whether spirits linger as echoes of the past or conscious presences tied to place, the city continues to attract those seeking answers—and experiences—after dark.
For anyone drawn to haunted travel, St. Augustine offers one of the richest paranormal landscapes in the United States. Spiritual activity is often spurred by tragedy, violent ends, and unrequieted love loss which leads to the haunting of St. Augustine.
Thank you for visiting this article!
Wishing You Safe and Spirited Travels, my Dear Readers. ~Dez
Let's Explore More if You Have Time!
I explore the emotional and personal side of haunted travel and spiritual curiosity in my Substack reflections->Substack Here 🌙
More Haunted Destinations to Explore
Haunted travel doesn’t stop here. I’m continuing to explore some of the most paranormally active destinations across the U.S., including Savannah, Salem, Charleston, and beyond.
Explore More Paranormal Topics
If haunted travel draws you in, these destinations are known for their ghost tours, paranormal history, and unexplained encounters.
For those drawn to paranormal symbolism and spiritual meaning, I create art and tools inspired by the unseen in my Haunted Traverse shop.
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