Portsmouth has a way of feeling a little haunted after dark.

This self-guided route lets you wander at your own speed while a narrated guide connects spooky stories with real local sites. I especially like the easy pace control and the fact you avoid a big group’s “hurry up” energy.

The main thing to consider is the experience depends on your phone working well, so you’ll want to be ready for app setup and solid battery life.

You’ll start at Ceres Bakery on Penhallow Street and finish at the Portsmouth Brewery on Market Street, following step-by-step audio that’s meant to keep you moving from stop to stop. I also like that the stops include both playful ghost tales and heavier history, including the African Burying Ground Memorial area. One drawback: access can be frustrating if you download the wrong app, pick the wrong city, or don’t have enough signal—some people run into exactly those issues.

Key things to know before you go

• Self-paced walking with audio you can pause and restart whenever you want to shop or grab food.
• Clear narration designed to give you both direction and story, with music and sound effects.
• A free stop at the African Burying Ground Memorial area (admission ticket free).
• GPS/route guidance that helps you stay on track and keeps the tour moving at the right moments.
• One-tin-can price point: at $9.75 per person, you’re buying the audio walk, not a whole guided labor budget.
• Finish where the vibe fits: the tour ends at Portsmouth Brewery, which also leans into the haunted theme.

Route Preview: From Ceres Bakery to the Haunted Brewery

This tour is built for wandering. You’re not racing a clock or keeping up with strangers. Instead, you follow the story, stop when you want, and let the audio guide you forward when you’re ready.

Start point: Ceres Bakery, 51 Penhallow St, Portsmouth, NH 03801.

End point: Portsmouth Brewery, 56 Market St, Portsmouth, NH 03801.

The walking time is about 40 minutes to 1 hour, which usually means you can do it even if you’re visiting in the afternoon and still want time to poke around shops. If you pause often for photos or to read details outside the audio, plan closer to the upper end.

Price and Private Comfort (Why $9.75 Actually Works)

At $9.75 per person, this feels like a “buy the audio, save the hassle” kind of deal. You’re not paying for a live guide standing in the rain for your benefit. You’re paying for a narrated walking route with direction cues—so the value is mostly about flexibility.

It’s also set up as a private tour/activity, meaning only your group participates. That matters because self-guided doesn’t always mean peaceful—sometimes you still end up bunching up with other people. Here, your group is the only one tied to your start time and pacing.

The trade-off is that you are the system technician. If your phone battery dies or the app won’t load correctly, you’ll have to fix it on your feet.

Stop-by-Stop Spooks and History in Old Portsmouth

This is the part I find fun: the stories match the buildings. You’re not just listening to a general ghost playlist—you’re moving through Portsmouth’s older streets with clues about what used to be there.

The 1814 building that changed hands too often

You’ll begin with a building story that claims it was originally built in 1814, and that it changed hands so many times it’s compared to a sailor eating clam chowder. The point isn’t courtroom-level proof. The point is mood: you get a spooky tale attached to a real-era structure so your walk feels themed, not random.

Practical thought: if you’re the type who likes to see physical details (windows, entryways, old masonry), keep a slow pace here. The audio sets up expectations, and it’s more satisfying when you can look at what you’re hearing about.

The 1815 building and the peak-brothel era

Next comes a building dated to 1815, with the story that it once housed one of the city’s most popular brothels. This gives the tour a darker edge than “fun ghost” alone. It’s also a reminder that Portsmouth history includes more than just ships and presidents.

Potential drawback: the tone here is dramatic. If you prefer strictly historical facts with minimal storytelling, you might find the ghost framing more theatrical than factual.

The 1749 pre-Revolutionary building and the underground tunnel idea

You’ll hear about a 1749 building described as pre-revolutionary and among the oldest still standing. The spooky twist: beneath its foundation ran an underground tunnel system that secretly connected many buildings.

This is one of those sections where the walking tour works best. The audio gives you a story to hold while you look around, and the city’s maze-like layout makes the idea feel plausible even if you’re not verifying it street by street.

African Burying Ground Memorial: Where the Tone Turns Serious

This stop shifts the atmosphere. The African Burying Ground Memorial is described as the largest of its kind in the United States, and the narrative says over 200 people from the African American community were believed to be buried here.

You’ll likely spend around 3 minutes at this stop, and that short window is actually part of the respect factor. This isn’t a long lecture. It’s a focused pause in the middle of a haunted-themed walk, which makes it easier to keep your attitude grounded.

Tip: treat this as a moment to slow down and actually look. The audio adds context, but the place does a lot of the work.

Rockingham Hotel Stories (Presidents, Mark Twain, and a Ghost Who Won’t Leave)

After the burial ground stop, the route heads to the past-in-plain-sight world of old inns and famous visitors.

You’ll hear about The Rockingham, originally built in 1785, once described as one of New England’s most prestigious hotels. The story includes big-name guests such as Franklin Roosevelt, JFK, Ulysses Grant, and author Mark Twain.

Then the ghost angle kicks in through entertainment history. The tour connects the building with world-renowned acts who performed there over the past century, including Harry Houdini, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Mark Twain again. The narration suggests the quality of the shows was enough that the ghosts stuck around.

How to make this section land: don’t rush. Even if you’re not obsessed with presidential history, you’ll get a better payoff if you take a couple minutes to imagine what a “headline crowd” hotel felt like in its prime.

John Paul Jones House (A Haunted Home with Maritime Fame)

Next is the John Paul Jones house, originally built in 1758. Here, the tour leans hard into the claim that the house holds more ghosts than the idea of a Maine boat holding lobsters—big exaggeration, but that’s the point.

The story says some believe John Paul Jones lingers in the room he slept. Others have reportedly seen an angry spirit opening cabinets and slamming doors.

Even if you don’t buy the supernatural part, this stop is good for two reasons:

1) it ties Portsmouth to a known figure from U.S. naval history, and

2) it turns the building’s layout into a story stage.

If you’re traveling with kids or friends who roll their eyes, this is still a fun section because it’s more specific than the generic “something is haunting this place” setup.

Portsmouth Brewery Finish: Drink, Bite, and One Last Spooky Cue

The final destination is Portsmouth Brewery at 56 Market St—the kind of ending that works because you can settle in, warm up (especially in cold weather), and compare notes with your group without feeling like you’re holding the last train of the day.

The tour frames the brewery as one of the best spots in Portsmouth for a drink and a burger, and it adds that it’s haunted by a flirty ghost of the night.

One practical consideration: the brewery’s listed hours show it should be open for long stretches, but it can still be closed for reasons like renovations. If you pull up and the doors are shut, have a fallback nearby. In one case, people switched to Gaslight instead.

What to Bring and How to Make the Audio Work

The tour is simple once it’s running. The hard part is making sure it runs on day one—because you’re relying on your phone.

Here’s what matters most:

• Charge your phone fully before you start. Multiple people highlighted that the tour is on your phone and you’ll likely be walking long enough for battery to matter.
• Bring earbuds if you can. The audio is described as clear, and using earbuds helps you hear directions without blasting your sound into the street noise.
• Expect on-foot audio. You can pause the tour when you want to stop for lunch or shopping, then start it again and keep moving.

Also, don’t assume the tour will run if you have weak connectivity. If you can, download or start in advance so it plays even if the internet gets spotty. One user couldn’t get internet where they were, but the guidance was to start after downloading ahead of time.

App and Navigation: The Main Source of Headaches

This tour’s biggest frustration isn’t the story—it’s setup. The experience depends on using the correct system and selecting the correct city/tour.

If you run into a problem:

• Make sure you’re using the WalknTours app (not a different platform).
• In the app, select Portsmouth or the tour from the section shown as near you.
• If your audio isn’t playing, double-check Bluetooth settings and whether the audio is routing properly to your earbuds.

Some people also reported that the audio didn’t connect to their phone even though others in their group could hear theirs. That’s a reminder to test your audio route before you step into your first block.

If you like your tech set-and-forget: this isn’t that tour. If you’re patient and you follow the on-screen prompts, it’s usually smooth.

When to Go and How Long to Budget

Because it’s self-guided, you can do it at basically any time your schedule allows. The tour content is designed so you can take it at your pace.

Still, I’d plan around comfort:

• If you’re doing it in a colder month, finish at the brewery and give yourself time to eat.
• If you’re doing it in daylight, you’ll read more and spot more street details; at night, you’ll feel more of the haunted mood.

If you’re unsure where to park, leave extra time. People flagged that parking can be difficult in the area, especially when you’re already trying to manage phone setup and walking.

Should You Book This Haunted Portsmouth Walk?

Book it if you want:

• a spooky but flexible way to see Portsmouth’s older streets
• a history-heavy walk where the stories come with place-based context
• an activity that won’t eat your whole day or force you to match a group pace

Skip it or be cautious if:

• you hate phone apps while walking
• your battery life is usually a problem
• your group depends on perfect audio syncing across multiple phones

For most people, the best way to win is simple: get your phone ready, use earbuds, and treat the audio as the “guide,” not the real guide replacement. Do that, and you’ll end with a fun, walkable loop of Portsmouth history—and possibly a memorable last stop at the brewery.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Ceres Bakery, 51 Penhallow St, Portsmouth, NH 03801, and ends at Portsmouth Brewery, 56 Market St, Portsmouth, NH 03801.

How long is the self-guided walking tour?

The tour takes about 40 minutes to 1 hour, approximately.

What does it cost, and is it in English?

It costs $9.75 per person, and the tour is offered in English.

What app do I need to run the tour?

You need the WalknTours app to access and play the tour audio. Your tour is meant to run through that app with the selected Portsmouth tour.

Do I need to download anything ahead of time?

It’s a good idea to download ahead before you start, especially since internet service can be unreliable in some areas. If you download beforehand, the tour can still play when you’re on the route.

Is the African Burying Ground Memorial stop free?

Yes. The stop at the African Burying Ground Memorial is listed as admission ticket free.

Can I use service animals?

Yes. Service animals are allowed.

Is it really private for my group?

Yes. It’s a private tour/activity, so only your group will participate.

What’s the refund policy if I cancel?

You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance. If you cancel within 24 hours of the start time, no refund is given.