Ghost Tours in Italy: The Best-Rated Night Walks in Rome, Venice and Turin (2026)

Ghost tours in Italy are really history tours told after dark: executions in Rome’s squares, murders in Venice’s alleys, magic and the occult in Turin. They cost less than most guided tours, they run when museums are closed, and they show you the back streets that day tours skip. We compared the ghost, crime and dark-history tours sold on Viator in four cities and kept only the ones with strong ratings, a clear route and free cancellation.

Last updated: September 30, 2026

Want the full comparison for one city? Start with our Rome ghost tour page, which sets the two best walks side by side.

Ghost tours in Italy at a glance

We read ratings, review counts and prices on each Viator product page in September 2026. Prices are per person and change; the live price is on Viator.

How we picked these tours

We searched Viator for ghost, crime and dark-history tours in Rome, Venice, Turin, Palermo and Sicily, then read every product page. A tour made the list only if it met four tests:

• a rating of at least 4.4, from at least 25 reviews;
• a clear meeting point and route on the product page;
• free cancellation up to 24 hours before;
• a price in line with a group walking tour.

That rule left out several tours. For example, we skipped private dark-history walks in Rome and Venice priced at $600 or more with no reviews yet, a non-refundable Angels and Demons private tour, and a self-guided Vatican audio tour rated 3.7 from 3 reviews. We also left out the most-reviewed Venice ghost walk, because its rating is only 3.9 from more than 850 reviews.

Rome: the widest choice after dark

Rome has the widest choice and the best ratings. Most walks cross the same small area between Campo de’ Fiori, Via Giulia and Castel Sant’Angelo, where public executions once took place. Our Rome ghost tour page compares the two best:

• Rome’s Dark Side: 4.9 from 132 reviews, two hours, storytelling with no gimmicks, from about $29.
• The Original: 4.7 from 696 reviews, ninety minutes, with dowsing rods for a ghost hunt, from about $33, and listed as wheelchair accessible.

If you are more interested in real crimes than in ghosts, the Rome crime tour page compares the Criminal Tour of Rome, rated 5.0, with a cheaper Ghosts and Crimes night walk. For an evening of Rome by night with dinner or by e-bike, see the Rome night tour.

Venice after dark

Venice after the day-trippers leave is its own ghost story: empty squares, black canals and street names like Calle della Morte. On our Venice ghost tour page, the pick is Ghosts and Murders, rated 4.7 from 145 reviews, with a cap of 10 travelers. It passes Marco Polo’s house and ends in St. Mark’s Square. The cheaper alternative, Crimes and Legends at Sunset, focuses on assassinations around the Rialto Bridge.

On certain dates, day-trippers to Venice pay an access fee; our guide to the Venice access fee explains who pays.

Magic tours in Turin

Turin has a long reputation as a city of magic, and Torino Magica is the tour built on that reputation: an evening walk from Piazza Statuto to Piazza Castello among sinister statues and occult legends. It scores 4.4 from 210 reviews, and a few reviewers found themselves in Italian-speaking groups, so check the language when you book. The better-rated option goes below ground: Torino Sotterranea visits the tunnels of the 1706 siege and a WWII air-raid shelter. Our Turin magic tour page compares both, and things to do in Turin covers the rest of the city.

Dark-history tours in Sicily

In Sicily the dark side is less about ghosts and more about film and history. The Godfather tour in Sicily page compares two day trips to Savoca, where the Corleone scenes were filmed: one from Catania and Taormina, rated 4.9 from 349 reviews, and one from Messina cruise port, rated 4.8. For underground Italy, see the Naples underground tour, and for bone chapels and catacombs, our guide to dark tourism in Italy.

Ghost tours in Italy around Halloween

Evening walks fill up fast in the last week of October. In 2026, October 31 falls on a Saturday, so book a few days ahead if you want a ghost walk on Halloween night. Our guide to Halloween in Italy covers the other events of the week, from Lucca Comics and Games to theme-park nights.

Practical tips before you book

• Wear flat shoes: every tour here is on cobblestones, and one Rome reviewer warns of a lot of walking.
• Plan a light day: tours start at 6 or 8 p.m., after a full day of sightseeing.
• Expect history, not jump scares: several reviewers describe them as insightful rather than spooky.
• Check the group size: it ranges from 10 people in Venice to 50 in Turin.
• Children: the stories are about real murders and executions; one Venice supplier says its tour may not suit children.

Ghost tours in Italy: frequently asked questions

Which city has the best ghost tours in Italy?

Rome, on ratings and choice. Rome’s Dark Side ghost walk is rated 4.9 from 132 reviews and the Original is rated 4.7 from 696 reviews on Viator (checked September 2026).

How much does a ghost tour in Italy cost?

The group walks compared here cost from about $29 to $67 per person. Private dark-history walks cost far more, from $600, and had no reviews when we checked.

Are ghost tours in Italy scary?

Mostly not. They are history tours about executions, murders and legends, told at night. Reviewers often call them more insightful than spooky.

What time do ghost tours in Italy start?

In Rome, the ghost walks start at 8 p.m. and the Criminal Tour at 6 p.m. Torino Magica is an evening tour.

Can I cancel a ghost tour in Italy?

Every tour on our list offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.