The Ghosts of Philadelphia Tour

Philadelphia has ghosts. This tour makes them tangible. It’s a 90-minute evening walking route through Old City, priced at $24.99, with stops at the Bishop White House, the American Philosophical Society Museum, and Independence Hall—and yes, you’ll use a mobile ticket to get in. I like how the stories stay tied to real places and real people, especially when the guide connects the sites to Benjamin Franklin’s afterlife. One heads-up: if you’re hunting for nonstop chills, the tone is more history-and-hauntings than full horror.

I also love the small-group feel. The tour caps at 15 for a more personal vibe, with a maximum of 30 travelers listed, so you’re not lost in a crowd. Plus, each stop has free admission, so you’re not getting surprise add-ons as you go.

The only drawback to plan around is pacing. A few people noted the guide can sometimes get sidetracked, which can feel longer when it’s cold—or when you’re traveling with kids who want action, not extra lectures.

Key things to know before your Old City ghost walk

• Small-group cap (15 for a personalized tour feel, with a max of 30 listed for the activity)
• Free admission at every stop so the $24.99 price covers the experience without extra ticket hunting
• Three major landmarks: Bishop White House, American Philosophical Society Museum, and Independence Hall
• Benjamin Franklin’s ghost story is a core thread at the American Philosophical Society Museum
• Evening start time (8:00 pm) makes it a great match for an Old City dinner-before-or-after plan
• Family-friendly and accessible (stroller and wheelchair accessible, service animals allowed)

Price and value: what $24.99 buys you in Old City

At $24.99 per person for about 1.5 hours, this is priced like a “doable add-on” tour—something you can fit into a night in Philadelphia without reshuffling your whole budget. The value comes from how the cost is handled: all fees and taxes are included, and the stops you visit list admission as free.

That matters because Old City can quietly pile up costs. Here, the tour structure keeps it straightforward: you pay once, you walk the route, and you get three landmark stops with time carved out at each one.

Also, it’s an evening tour (it starts at 8:00 pm). If your daytime schedule is already packed—Statue of Liberty style outside the city, museums, cheesesteaks—you can still get a themed experience after dark without burning an extra half-day.

Meeting at City Tavern (138 S 2nd St): where the night starts

You meet at 138 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106, and the tour highlights say the guide meets you at City Tavern. That’s a helpful detail: you’re not wandering around trying to guess which tour is yours.

The first moment is part of the fun. The guide gives you a look at what Colonial-era dining was like, which works as a quick “warm-up” before you step into the heavier stories. It also helps the tour click for families, because you start with something visual and everyday—food and daily life—before the ghost stuff turns more serious.

One practical tip: arrive a few minutes early and get your group together. With a small cap, you don’t want to be that person who makes everyone wait while the cold sets in.

A 1.5-hour walking format: pacing, weather, and group energy

This is a walking tour of Old City with stops at three sites, each getting roughly 20 minutes. In real life, that usually means you’ll have a clear rhythm: walk, listen, stop, listen, repeat—without feeling like you’re trapped inside one building for an entire evening.

Duration is listed as about 1 hour 30 minutes, but a couple of guided-night reports ran closer to 2 hours. So I’d plan your evening as: “around 90 minutes,” and keep dinner or dessert plans flexible.

Weather matters here. The tour requires good weather, and if conditions are poor, it may be canceled with a refund or another date offered. Even when the tour runs, an evening walk can be chilly—especially if you end up moving slower due to questions from the group.

If you’re bringing kids, this is where your strategy helps. Aim for the guide’s strongest storyteller moments, and don’t be shy about asking what parts are most spooky, most historical, or most kid-friendly. One nice thing about the small-group setup is that the guide can often respond to the crowd you bring.

Stop 1: Bishop White House and the mosquito-and-chaos backstory

The first stop is the Bishop White House, and it’s where the tour leans into a kind of dark-turning history. You’ll learn about Reverend William White and how the Reverend’s world got shaken up by mosquitos—and how the events still echo in the lingering spirits described for this tour.

Why this stop works: it doesn’t start with famous speeches or simple patriot labels. Instead, it brings in human disruption—illness, environment, and how ordinary life can get overturned fast. That’s a good bridge between family-friendly spooky and serious historical context.

It’s also a free-admission stop, with about 20 minutes planned. That timing is great if you want a meaningful chunk of story without needing to rush through a museum display.

Possible drawback: this is the kind of storytelling that gets better when you lean in and listen. If you’re more of a “quick facts, then move” visitor, you might wish for less narrative and more bullet-point history. Still, the tone here tends to set up the rest of the tour’s “hauntings with a reason” style.

Stop 2: American Philosophical Society Museum and Franklin’s afterlife antics

Next up: the American Philosophical Society Museum. This is the stop where Benjamin Franklin takes center stage. Expect to hear about him as a colorful character and a serious bookworm—and, crucially, the tour frames what his spirit might be doing now, connected directly to the building and its history.

This is one of the strongest “Philadelphia-only” vibes you can get. Franklin isn’t just a name on a street or a signature on a document. Here, the tour uses the building to make him feel like a presence—someone with unfinished business.

The museum stop is also listed as admission free, with 20 minutes scheduled. And based on guide notes from real tour experiences, guides often do a strong job keeping the information moving without turning it into a lecture. People praised guides like Jonathan for lots of information, and Roux for making the stories spooky while still understandable for all ages.

If you want the most out of this stop, use your phone as a prompt. Jot down two questions while you’re walking between sites. Then ask them during the museum moment—like what detail connects Franklin’s life to the ghost story you’re hearing. That turns the “fun” part into a memorable takeaway.

Stop 3: Independence Hall and hauntings tied to oppression

Independence Hall is the big name stop—no surprise. But what makes this particular tour interesting is how it treats the building’s layers. The tour describes the first floor as the place where people fought for freedom, while the second floor is framed around those denied freedom.

The “ghost” part is tied to that darker contrast. In other words, you’re not just hearing spooky folklore. You’re hearing a story that points to oppression as the fuel for the hauntings being talked about here.

This stop is also listed for about 20 minutes, and admission is noted as free. That’s a practical advantage: you can hit the emotional and historical weight of Independence Hall without spending additional money on tickets at each stop.

One consideration: this part may feel heavier than the first stop. The “spooky twist” is still there, but the themes are serious—history, power, and who got left out of freedom. If you’re traveling with kids, it can help to tell the guide early that you’d like the scariest parts moderated and the history explained in simple terms.

What guides do well: storytelling that fits different ages

A major theme in the experience is guide performance. Different names show up across guided nights—Ryan, Jonathan, Roux, Claire, Judah, Clare, and even Ailish (mentioned as a standout guide). And the pattern in the feedback is clear: the best tours feel like a conversation, not a script read at you.

Here’s what I’d pay attention to as you choose your tone:

• Some guides focus heavily on history behind the hauntings. That’s great if you want the “why” as much as the creepiness.
• Other guides lean more into spooky storytelling. That’s best if your group is there for laughs, frights, and a fun night out.
• A few people wished for more spookiness and even wanted more paranormal-style photos. That’s a clue: this tour’s strength is story + history, not evidence-based investigations.

If you’re the type who asks questions, this tour can reward you. Small group size makes it more likely the guide will actually respond, instead of rushing past your curiosity.

If you’re the type who gets cold easily, plan for it. One note suggested a guide went off-track, making the tour feel longer than desired—especially when kids were present. You can fix that by steering the guide back gently: ask for the next stop’s most important moment and then let the tour flow.

Family-friendly and accessible: stroller, wheelchairs, and service animals

This tour is built to be family-friendly and it’s listed as stroller and wheelchair accessible. Service animals are allowed. It also says it’s near public transportation, which is helpful if you don’t want to lock into parking plans for an evening walk.

In practical terms, this matters because walking tours can be punishing if you’re hauling a stroller or maneuvering a wheelchair. The tour’s structure—short stops, clear segments of time—helps families manage pacing.

Also, because the story theme is playful “ghosts of Philadelphia,” you’re not stuck trying to keep kids interested in something that only adult history-lovers enjoy. People specifically praised the way guides engaged kids, with Claire highlighted for patience and storytelling that brought the past to life.

Mobile ticket and getting in without fuss

The tour uses a mobile ticket, which is exactly what you want for a night tour. No paper. No last-minute print runs. Just have your phone ready and your confirmation accessible.

The tour also includes all fees and taxes, so you’re not missing a step in your booking process where costs pop up later.

One small planning note: because it starts at 8:00 pm, you might want to grab a quick snack beforehand. You’ll be walking and listening, and it’s easier to enjoy the spookiness when you’re not hungry.

Who should book this tour—and who might want a different night

This is a smart choice if you:

• Want a guided Old City walk that hits major landmarks without a heavy museum day
• Like ghost stories that connect to real people and real buildings
• Are traveling with kids and want something spooky but not too intense
• Appreciate a small-group setting where you can actually hear the guide and ask questions

You might consider a different type of tour if you:

• Want only high-intensity scares and little history
• Prefer paranormal investigation-style content (this one is story-and-site focused)
• Are extremely sensitive to tours running long due to group questions—because pacing can stretch depending on the crowd and weather

Final verdict: should you book the Ghosts of Philadelphia Tour?

Yes, I think you should book it—especially if you want an evening plan that blends Old City landmarks with ghost stories that make sense in context. The value is hard to beat: $24.99 with free admissions at the stops, plus a small group cap that keeps it more personal.

Just go in with the right expectation: this is spooky-history storytelling, not a jump-scare marathon. If you dress for the evening (seriously, layers) and come ready to listen and ask questions, you’re likely to leave with a stronger sense of Philadelphia than you arrived with—and a little extra shiver when you look at those historic buildings.

FAQ

What is the Ghosts of Philadelphia Tour price?

It costs $24.99 per person.

How long is the tour?

The tour duration is about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Where is the meeting point?

You meet at 138 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA.

What time does the tour start?

The start time listed is 8:00 pm.

Is the ticket digital?

Yes. The tour uses a mobile ticket.

Are admissions included for the stops?

Yes. Each listed stop notes admission tickets as free, and the tour includes all fees and taxes.

Is it stroller and wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The tour is listed as stroller and wheelchair accessible.

Is there a limit on group size?

There is a limit of 15 people mentioned, and the activity also lists a maximum of 30 travelers.

Can I get a full refund if I cancel?

Yes, free cancellation is available. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund (100% refund at 24 hours prior). If you cancel within 24 hours, the amount paid is not refunded.