The Greenwich Village Ghost Tour, Close Up
In short: the Greenwich Village Ghost Tour is a 2-hour walk after dark, in English, for groups of up to 10, from 385 Sixth Avenue. It tells the neighbourhood’s legends at the places attached to them: the Hangman’s Elm, the Brown Building, the “house of death” on West 10th Street, Gay Street and Chumley’s. Accessibility is not stated.
What it is
A night walk through the same half square mile as the history walk, told through ghost stories. Some stops carry documented history, such as the 1911 fire at the Brown Building; others carry legends that come from the ghost-tour trade rather than from records. The walk presents both, and this page marks which is which.
The route, stop by stop
- 385 Sixth Avenue: the meeting point.
- Washington Square Park and the Hangman’s Elm. The park was a potter’s field from 1797 to 1825. The English elm in the north-west corner is estimated at over 300 years old; the hanging stories attached to it are legend.
- The Brown Building, site of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. The Brown Building has the history.
- The Church of the Ascension, Fifth Avenue at West 10th Street, built 1841.
- 14 West 10th Street, where Mark Twain lived in 1900–01. The listing calls it the “house of death”, said to hold 22 spirits; that is a legend.
- The former home of Emma Lazarus.
- Jefferson Market Library, the 1877 courthouse with the clock tower. Jefferson Market Library covers the building.
- 12 Gay Street, with the legend of a former mayor’s ghost.
- The Stonewall Inn, 53 Christopher Street.
- Chumley’s, 86 Bedford Street, the 1920s speakeasy behind an unmarked door.
Who it suits
Visitors who have a daytime plan already and want the Village in the evening, and readers who like the history with its legends attached. The content is dark by design, which matters for younger children; tours with kids covers age. No minimum age is stated.
Accessibility is not stated on the listing, and it involves moderate walking. The daytime version of the same streets, without the legends, is the Greenwich Village walking tour.
What travellers mention
Cheyenne from Germany says the stories were told as if the group were there, with jokes to lighten them. Birgit from Austria mentions the stories from the past, and Kate from Canada found it full of surprises. Katy from the UK notes that the guide backed the stories with newspaper clippings.
Aurelie from France found it easy to follow with beginner English, in simple words, with good anecdotes. Joel and Alex from the US, New Yorkers themselves, still learned things and found it fun. Gabriel from the US names the guide in his comments.
Practicalities
Included
- A local guide for 2 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Not allowed
- Pets, weapons, alcohol and drugs
- Oversize luggage and large bags
Comfortable shoes for moderate walking. Start times are not published as fixed: check the calendar in the booking widget. The Village is residential and well lit, and the walk stays in a group; is it safe covers the evening.
In its favour
- Groups of up to 10
- The Village after dark, with its legends
- Documented history mixed in: the 1911 fire, Jefferson Market, Stonewall
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Worth knowing
- Dark content by design
- Accessibility not stated
- English only
Park hours are 6 am to midnight, as published by NYC Parks, so an evening walk and a late look at the arch both fit. Layers help in spring and autumn once the sun is down.
Two alternatives
Max 6 peopleNew York: Rock and Roll History Tour with Dylan & Ramones
History walkGreenwich Village Tour
Frequently asked questions
Is the ghost tour suitable for children?
No minimum age is stated on the listing, but the content is dark by design. Tours with kids sets out the six walks for families.
Are the ghost stories presented as fact?
The walk mixes history and legend. The 1911 fire at the Brown Building is documented; the “house of death” at 14 West 10th Street and the hanging stories of the Hangman’s Elm come from legend and the ghost-tour trade.
Where does the ghost tour meet?
At 385 Sixth Avenue. West 4th Street–Washington Square is the central station for the Village; how to get there lists the lines.