Which Key West Ghost Tour is the Best?
There are more than a dozen ghost tours in Key West.
Most of them are great, but each is different.
Selecting the best Key West ghost tour for you can be a daunting task, so we’ve narrowed down the field to the four locally owned ghost tours in Key West with the the best satisfaction ratings.
All of them are owned and operated by dedicated locals. Read on to see what makes each one different.
We’ve provided a few tips at the end to make sure you end up on the ghost tour that is right for you.
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VIP Robert the Doll Experience
Ghost Key West has the only ghost tour where you meet Robert the Haunted Doll.
It’s a real-deal ghost hunt inside a dimly lit Civil War fort museum that once served as a yellow fever hospital.
This Sloan Family ghost tour has a great mix of history and hands-on ghost hunting with top-of-the-line equipment.
It is the only Key West Ghost Tour that takes place 100% inside, but the tour can get intense at times, so it is not appropriate for anyone under 10.
VIP tickets include a 30-minute guided ghost tour through the haunted fort, a 30-minute seated lockdown with Robert the Doll, an hour exploring the haunted fort on your own in the dark, and free next day admission to Fort East Martello Museum. Ghost Key West provides ghost-hunting equipment.
Every ticket benefits the non-profit Key West Art & Historical Society. There is free on-site parking for this ghost tour.
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Haunted Key West Firehouse Paranormal Investigation
Ghost hunters can conduct their own private investigation at one of America's most haunted historic firehouses.
Dozens of spirits haunt the old station and its grounds.
Bring your smartphone for a guided audio ghost tour narrated by Ghosts of Key West author David L. Sloan.
Private investigations require advance scheduling. Rates start at $250 for two hours, which includes up to six people in your party.
Guests can listen to the audio tour during regular museum hours with paid museum admission, too. For museum information, visit keywestfire.com
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Island Tales Ghost Tours
Amy Andrade offers a killer selection of private tours, including a ghost tour with complimentary transport between locations on an 8-person golf cart.
Amy Andrade has the best ghost tour in Key West if you want a private experience that covers a lot of ground.
Amy is famous for many things in Key West, including Sip & Tales Ghost Stories.
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The Original Key West Ghost Hunt
The Original Key West Ghost Hunt's Haunted History Tour is still the best walking ghost tour to experience Key West’s haunted history in the historic district.
Owned by The Sharkey Family, their small team of guides are well-loved by locals and visitors.
The Key West Haunted History tour costs a few dollars more than the remotely operated ghost tours, but you get what you pay for.
They keep groups smaller, so you won’t feel like cattle.
Follow the link to their site to book directly.
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Key Whiskey Tours
Whiskey Rick is an AirBnB Experience Guide with over 12 tours available to book day and night that tell the island's history and lore.
Weaving together the various stories Rick creates a unique tour for you. He has four distinct paranormal walking routes that he can pull from to give you a one of a kind experience with an in=depth discussion on the various island stories or keep it light and funny while moving around the Old Town area.
Rick’s private tour allows you to get the focus and knowledge from the guide for your learning and enjoyment. After your tour you will understand why Key West's original name was Cayo Hueso (Island of Bones).
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Ghosts & Gravestones Trolley
The Ghosts & Gravestones trolley is the best ghost tour in Key West if you don’t want to do much walking and want a broad overview of Key West's haunted histories.
Trolley guides are costumed, and the tour is more theatrical than the walking ghost tours.
Ghosts & Gravestones doesn’t take people to see Robert the Doll anymore, but they drive by some great haunted locations.
The tour is just 60 minutes long, making it a great choice if you are short on time.
Tips for choosing the best Key West Ghost Tour
Tour with a local company. Several Key West ghost tours are chains that operate out of state. They might have good intentions, but they frequently get the history wrong, have a high turnover rate on guides, often cancel tours at the last minute, and only a fraction of your ticket price benefits the local economy.
Book directly. Sites like TripAdvisor take 25% of your ghost tour ticket price or more. Booking your experience directly with the company will help keep prices lower.
After selecting a Key West ghost tour company, read recent reviews on Google and TripAdvisor. Look for a guide people mention by name in the review comments and book the ghost tour on a night when they are leading it.
Book with a company listed on hauntedkeywest.com for the best experience.