The Haunted Memphis Walking Ghost Tour, also run by Backbeat Tours, is the most popular evening activity in the city after live music, and a great way to see downtown after dark. A storytelling guide leads you about two miles from Beale Street to South Main, mixing local history with tales of the ghosts said to haunt some of the city’s best-known buildings. Stops include the grand Orpheum Theatre, the Victorian John Alexander Austin House, the Green Beetle, one of the oldest bars in town, and the area around the Lorraine Motel, before the tour ends inside Earnestine and Hazel’s, a former brothel turned famous dive bar, which is the only stop with admission included. The tone is playful and spooky rather than gory, and the guides are good at weaving in the real stories of yellow fever epidemics, river trade and the music scene. This page links to the tour on Viator, rated 4.5 from more than 850 reviews.
How to visit: the tour meets at Alfred’s on Beale, 197 Beale Street, and ends at Earnestine and Hazel’s, 531 South Main Street. The listing shows a 19:30 start, with the booking calendar showing the available times, and it lasts about an hour and a half. Groups are capped at about two dozen, and the tour is often booked a couple of weeks ahead. Prices are moderate, you can pay later, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before.
What to expect: the route covers about two miles of mostly outdoor walking with some slopes, so wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather; November evenings can be chilly. The tour suits a moderate fitness level and is stroller accessible but not wheelchair accessible.
Making the most of it: eat an early dinner first, take the tour and stay for a drink at Earnestine and Hazel’s at the end, then grab a rideshare back to your hotel or carry on to the South Main bars.
What to expect
The experience
A storytelling evening walk of about two miles from Beale Street to South Main, with a drink stop at Earnestine and Hazel’s at the end.
Best time
An autumn evening, when the early dark adds atmosphere.
How long
About ninety minutes.
Tips
Wear comfortable shoes, bring a warm layer for November evenings and book a couple of weeks ahead for weekends.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Couples, history fans and anyone looking for an evening plan beyond the clubs.
- Families
- Fine for older children who like spooky stories, but the route is long and ends in a bar.
- Couples
- A fun, slightly spooky date that finishes with a drink at a legendary dive bar.
- Pair with
- An early dinner downtown, then live music on Beale Street afterwards.
- Time needed
- Ninety minutes.
Good questions
Where does the Memphis ghost tour start and finish?+
It starts at Alfred’s on Beale, 197 Beale Street, and finishes at Earnestine and Hazel’s, 531 South Main Street. Plan a rideshare back if you are tired.
How long and how far is the ghost tour?+
It lasts about ninety minutes and covers about two miles on foot. The route includes a few slopes.
What stops are on the tour?+
Stops include the Orpheum Theatre, the John Alexander Austin House, the Green Beetle, the Lorraine Motel area and Earnestine and Hazel’s. Admission is included only at Earnestine and Hazel’s.
Is the ghost tour scary?+
It is more playful and atmospheric than frightening, mixing ghost stories with real Memphis history. Older kids usually enjoy it.
Is the tour accessible?+
It is stroller accessible but not wheelchair accessible, and it suits a moderate fitness level. Contact the operator with specific needs.
