Ghosts of Georgetown & The Exorcist Steps Walking Tour

Georgetown’s ghost stories are best heard on foot, after dark, when its old houses and narrow streets take on a different character. This 90-minute walk links local legends and true-crime tales with places such as the Old Stone House, Halcyon, and the Exorcist Steps.

I like two things about this tour: it gives you a fresh reason to explore Georgetown at night, and its stories come with a strong dose of local history, from the neighborhood’s early days as a port to its Civil War-era buildings. The route also ends at the famous steps from The Exorcist, a memorable finish for movie fans.

One consideration: the tour is built around storytelling, not entry to historic buildings. You’ll see many sites from the street or yard, and the tales are spooky rather than proof of the supernatural. If you want a daytime tour focused on interiors or documented history alone, this may not be your best fit.

At a glance

• Start at the Old Stone House: Meet your guide at 3051 M Street NW, then begin with stories tied to one of Georgetown’s oldest buildings.
• Hear about hauntings and true crime: The walk mixes ghost lore, local history, and macabre tales, with a family-friendly approach.
• Pass the old high street: Follow streets that once served as a Native American trading route and now hold neighborhood shops and restaurants.
• Finish at the Exorcist Steps: The tour ends at 36th and Prospect Street NW, beside the movie-famous staircase.
• Plan on a 90-minute evening walk: The price is $39 per person, and the group is listed as having no more than 15 people.

Georgetown after dark suits the stories

By day, Georgetown’s handsome row houses, shops, and restaurants draw plenty of people. After dark, the same streets feel quieter and more atmospheric, which helps a guide set the mood without needing theatrical tricks. The tour uses that change in pace well: you walk through an old neighborhood while hearing about the lives, deaths, rumors, and reported hauntings attached to its buildings.

The setting is part of the appeal. You aren’t standing in a theater listening to ghost stories detached from place. You move past churches, alleys, homes, and historic buildings as the guide connects Georgetown’s past to what you can see around you. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, the walk offers a different way to notice the architecture and street layout.

The stories draw on both supernatural lore and true crime. Some are framed as local legend, including tales residents once believed, rather than established fact. That distinction matters: go for a mix of history and spooky storytelling, not a scholarly lecture or a promise of paranormal proof.

From the Old Stone House to the Colonial

The walk begins at the Old Stone House, at 3051 M Street NW. This is a natural place to set the scene: the building is associated with stories of death and ghosts, and its age gives the opening tales a tangible backdrop. The stop is brief, about 10 minutes, and admission is free.

You’ll then continue to The Colonial, a building with a more unsettling reputation. The guide raises the question of why residents may not stay long and connects the site to its past as a Civil War hospital, where pain and loss shaped the building’s history. The tour does not include entry, so expect to hear the story from outside rather than explore the apartments.

These opening stops establish the tour’s style. A building’s history and its ghost story are often presented side by side, giving you something concrete to picture while the guide explains the legend. If you like a little uncertainty in your history walk, that blend is fun. If you prefer firm answers and fully documented accounts, keep in mind that ghost tours leave room for rumor.

A half hour among Georgetown’s old streets

The longest stretch is a roughly 30-minute walk through Georgetown. Here, the focus broadens beyond a single haunted building to stories of curses, haunted houses, and the macabre, alongside the neighborhood’s past. The tone is meant to be spooky but family-friendly, so you can bring older children who enjoy a good ghost tale without expecting an especially graphic or frightening production.

The route also follows the old high street, once a Native American trading road and now lined with restaurants and shops. That contrast gives the walk a useful historical thread: Georgetown did not begin as an upscale destination. It grew from a small port into a commercial center, and the streets you pass reflect those changing roles.

This part of the tour is where a good guide makes the biggest difference. The strongest descriptions of the walk point to guides who keep the group engaged with humor, questions, and lively storytelling. Wayne, Trevor, Sonia, Inge, Ingeborg, Mariah, Jim, and Georgia are among the guides who have led tours. The particular guide on your date can vary, so treat those names as examples, not a booking guarantee.

A guide who can connect a house’s architecture with its story gives you more than a succession of spooky stops. The tour’s appeal is not only the ghost lore. Georgetown itself is beautiful, and the tales give you a reason to look closely at the homes and streets instead of simply passing through.

Halcyon and the approach to the steps

At Halcyon, the guide shares a story about a long-gone resident said to have stayed attached to the 18th-century home and his life’s work. The stop lasts about 10 minutes. Admission is not included, so this is a look and a story from outside, not a visit through the house.

The walk then continues along cobblestone streets near the campus, where the dark spires and older architecture add atmosphere. This section helps the tour build toward its final stop. It also gives you a chance to take in Georgetown at a slower pace than a daytime shopping walk, when the focus tends to be on getting from one storefront to the next.

The ending is the Exorcist Steps, at 36th and Prospect Street NW. The staircase is famous for its role in The Exorcist, and the tour includes a walk down the steps. The stop is brief, about 10 minutes, but it gives the route a clear finale. If you know the film, you’ll recognize the setting; if you don’t, the steep staircase is still an unusual place to end a neighborhood walk.

The tour ends here rather than returning to the Old Stone House. Keep that in mind when planning your evening, especially if you have a dinner reservation or need to arrange a ride afterward. The steps are a memorable finish, but they are not close to the starting point in the sense of a circular route.

What $39 gets you

At $39 per person, this is a reasonable choice if you value a guided evening walk and an entertaining blend of history, neighborhood character, and ghost lore. The listed duration is about an hour and a half, and the fee covers a licensed guide, the walking tour, and access to the yard of Georgetown’s oldest and most haunted building. The tour also includes the walk down the Exorcist Steps.

You are not paying for museum admissions or indoor access to every building. The listed stops at the Old Stone House, The Colonial, and the Exorcist Steps have no admission charge, while Halcyon is not included. That makes the price easiest to justify if you enjoy the guide’s stories and the atmosphere of exploring after dark, rather than expecting a ticketed-site itinerary.

The small-group format is another point in its favor. The stated maximum is 15 people, which should make it easier to hear the guide and keep the walk feeling social rather than like a large procession. Bring friends if you like sharing a laugh at the more dramatic stories, but the tour is also suitable for solo visitors and couples.

Gratuity is not included. The tour is offered in English, and a mobile ticket is accepted. It is listed as suitable for most participants, with service animals allowed. The operator requires good weather; if poor weather cancels the tour, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Who will get the most from this walk

I’d recommend the tour to anyone who enjoys a good ghost story but wants more than a string of jump scares. History buffs can pick up context about Georgetown’s growth and its old buildings, while film fans get the Exorcist staircase as a fitting end. Architecture lovers have plenty to look at along the way, even though the focus is on the stories rather than formal architectural analysis.

It also works well as an evening activity with friends or family. The family-friendly framing makes it less intense than a horror attraction, and the humor used by guides such as Wayne, Trevor, and Sonia can keep the mood light. The walk is a particularly nice option if you have already seen Georgetown by day and want to experience its streets in a different setting.

You may want another kind of tour if you prefer to go inside historic buildings, need a route that ends where it starts, or want a strictly factual account with no folklore. The guide’s delivery is central to the outing, and no particular guide can be promised. Still, the repeated emphasis on engaging storytelling and a lively group experience suggests that the format has a clear strength: it turns a neighborhood walk into a shared evening activity.

A few practical details before you go

The tour starts at the Old Stone House, 3051 M Street NW, and ends at the Exorcist Steps at 36th and Prospect Street NW. Allow about 90 minutes, though the listed stop times do not account for every walk between locations. Wear shoes suited to an evening stroll over Georgetown’s streets and cobblestones, and plan onward transport or dinner around the finish point.

The tour is booked an average of 15 days ahead, so reserving early is sensible if your schedule is fixed. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund, and weather-related cancellations are handled with a new date or full refund.

Should you book the Georgetown ghost tour?

Book it if you want an easy-to-join nighttime walk that pairs Georgetown’s architecture and history with ghost lore, true crime, and a film-famous final stop. At $39, the strongest value is the guide-led storytelling and the chance to see the neighborhood after dark, not access to historic interiors.

Skip it if you want a museum-style visit, a guaranteed appearance by a particular guide, or a route that returns to its starting point. For an offbeat evening with friends, family, or a curious solo traveler, this is a well-focused way to hear Georgetown’s darker tales and finish at one of Washington’s best-known movie locations.

FAQ

How long is the Ghosts of Georgetown tour?

The walking tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $39 per person. Gratuity is not included.

Where does the tour start?

Meet at the Old Stone House, 3051 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at the Exorcist Steps, at 36th and Prospect Street NW in Washington, DC 20007.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English.

Does the price include admission to the stops?

The listed stops at the Old Stone House, The Colonial, and the Exorcist Steps have no admission charge. Admission to Halcyon is not included. The tour includes access to the yard of Georgetown’s oldest and most haunted building.

How many people can join the tour?

The stated maximum group size is 15 travelers.

Is the tour suitable for families?

Yes. It is described as family-friendly.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.