Haunted San Francisco
The best San Francisco ghost tours
A one-hour ghost walk, a paranormal hunt, a haunted pub crawl and a North Beach gourmet ghost tour: here is how to pick a San Francisco ghost tour, with honest advice on the steep walking, the guide, and Alcatraz.
See our 6 picks
The best San Francisco ghost tour for most people is the one-hour Gold and Ghouls walk. It is the cheapest of the six, from €21, and the most booked. It walks the haunted hotels and streets of Nob Hill.
Our 6 picks for San Francisco ghost tours
Three short ghost walks, then three longer tours with true crime, food or drinks.
-
from €21 per person Our top pick 1 hour 4.6 (199) reviews on GetYourGuide
Gold and Ghouls ghost walk
A 1-hour evening walk from 333 Post Street past the haunted hotels and clubs of Nob Hill. You hear about the 1906 earthquake and the Fatty Arbuckle scandal.
Best for First-timers and anyone short on time
Check availability: Gold and Ghouls ghost walk on GetYourGuide -
from €27 per person 1.5 hours 4.9 (21) reviews on GetYourGuide
Haunted history walk, running since 1998
A 1.5-hour walk from 1801 Bush Street, built on documented research. The guide ends with close-up magic. It works for skeptics and believers alike.
Best for Skeptics who want real history
Check availability: Haunted history walk, running since 1998 on GetYourGuide -
from €49 per person 1.5 hours 4.6 (36) reviews on GetYourGuide
Ghost hunt with a paranormal investigator
A 1.5-hour hunt from the Transamerica Pyramid through the alleys of Chinatown after dark. You use ghost-hunting tools, including your own EMF meter. Not for children under 13.
Best for Believers who want to hunt, not just listen
Check availability: Ghost hunt with a paranormal investigator on GetYourGuide -
from €39 per person 2.5 hours 5.0 (1) reviews on GetYourGuide
Haunted pub crawl
A 2.5-hour walk from 582 Washington Street to 4 haunted places, with the chance to buy a drink at each. It crosses the old Barbary Coast and ends in Chinatown. You must be 21 or older.
Best for Friends who want drinks with their ghosts
Check availability: Haunted pub crawl on GetYourGuide - from €53 per person
3 hours 5.0 (1) reviews on GetYourGuide
Ghost and true crime walk
A 3-hour small-group walk for up to 10 people from Post and Powell Streets. It covers old opium dens, gambling houses and the Barbary Coast, with ghost stories along the way. Not for children under 15.
Best for True crime fans
Check availability: Ghost and true crime walk on GetYourGuide -
from €88 per person 3 hours 4.8 (3) reviews on GetYourGuide
North Beach gourmet ghost tour
A 3-hour food and ghost walk for up to 10 people. It starts at Fior d'Italia on Mason Street, with a full Italian meal and soft drinks. You also step into haunted Chinatown.
Best for Food lovers and couples
Check availability: North Beach gourmet ghost tour on GetYourGuide
San Francisco ghost tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold and Ghouls ghost walk | €21 per person | 1 hour | First-timers and anyone short on time | The most-booked and cheapest pick: 4.6 from 199 reviews, from €21. |
| Haunted history walk, running since 1998 | €27 per person | 1.5 hours | Skeptics who want real history | The best-rated short walk: 4.9 from 21 reviews. |
| Ghost hunt with a paranormal investigator | €49 per person | 1.5 hours | Believers who want to hunt, not just listen | The only tour where you use the gear yourself. |
| Haunted pub crawl | €39 per person | 2.5 hours | Friends who want drinks with their ghosts | The only ghost tour built around bars. |
| Ghost and true crime walk | €53 per person | 3 hours | True crime fans | The most history per hour, in a small group. |
| North Beach gourmet ghost tour | €88 per person | 3 hours | Food lovers and couples | The only ghost tour with a full meal in the price. |
€21 per person1 hour 4.6 (199)
More details
- Who it suits
- First-timers and anyone short on time
- Why we picked it
- The most-booked and cheapest pick: 4.6 from 199 reviews, from €21.
Haunted history walk, running since 1998
€27 per person1.5 hours 4.9 (21)
More details
- Who it suits
- Skeptics who want real history
- Why we picked it
- The best-rated short walk: 4.9 from 21 reviews.
Ghost hunt with a paranormal investigator
€49 per person1.5 hours 4.6 (36)
More details
- Who it suits
- Believers who want to hunt, not just listen
- Why we picked it
- The only tour where you use the gear yourself.
€39 per person2.5 hours 5.0 (1)
More details
- Who it suits
- Friends who want drinks with their ghosts
- Why we picked it
- The only ghost tour built around bars.
€53 per person3 hours 5.0 (1)
More details
- Who it suits
- True crime fans
- Why we picked it
- The most history per hour, in a small group.
North Beach gourmet ghost tour
€88 per person3 hours 4.8 (3)
More details
- Who it suits
- Food lovers and couples
- Why we picked it
- The only ghost tour with a full meal in the price.
Group size is stated for 3 tours only: Gold and Ghouls ghost walk, up to 30; Ghost and true crime walk, up to 10; North Beach gourmet ghost tour, up to 10. None of the 6 includes hotel pickup: you meet on site. All 6 offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Haunted and spooky things to do in San Francisco
The best spooky thing to do in San Francisco is an evening ghost walk. The stories come from the Gold Rush, the Barbary Coast and the 1906 earthquake.
Make it a full evening. See the city first on a hop-on hop-off bus, then join a ghost walk after dark.
How much walking is on a ghost tour?
Most of these tours are on foot, on hilly streets. Three of them say they are not suitable for people with mobility problems: the Gold and Ghouls walk, the true crime walk and the pub crawl.
Wear good shoes and bring a warm layer. If walking is hard for you, pick the 1-hour walk: it is the shortest.
Who each ghost tour suits
Every tour here has a live guide who speaks English. Pick by what you want from the guide. For history, take the walk running since 1998. For thrills, take the ghost hunt. For food or drinks, take the North Beach tour or the pub crawl.
Haunted Alcatraz: the stories, and how to visit
None of these ghost tours goes to Alcatraz. People tell ghost stories about the island because of its past as a prison, including the 1962 escape of Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers. No one has proven any of them, so treat them as legend.
For the island after dark, book the Night Tour with Alcatraz City Cruises, the only official ferry. Ferries leave from Pier 33. A Night Tour costs $59.65 for adults, and every ticket includes the Cellhouse Audio Tour.
Tips for San Francisco ghost tours
Check the age limit
Some tours are not for children under 12, 13 or 15. The pub crawl is for ages 21 and up.
Dress for the hills
You walk on steep streets at night. Wear good shoes and bring a jacket.
Book a date from 19 November for Alcatraz
The island is closed from 26 October to 18 November 2026. Pick a ticket with free cancellation in case the dates move.
Check the cancellation line
All six ghost tours can be cancelled up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund. Check the cut-off on the booking page before you pay.
San Francisco ghost tours: questions and answers
Is Alcatraz haunted, and why do people say so?
What is the best ghost tour in San Francisco?
Do any San Francisco ghost tours go to Alcatraz?
Are San Francisco ghost tours OK for kids?
How long is a ghost tour in San Francisco?
What time do ghost tours start?
More San Francisco ghost tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
Live prices and availability from GetYourGuide load here.
More San Francisco tours
Facts checked on 23 October 2026 against: NPS: Alcatraz Island · NPS: Alcatraz closes for dock repairs · NPS: Alcatraz fees · Alcatraz City Cruises: tickets · FBI: the Alcatraz escape.
Written by the Things to Do in San Francisco editorial team.