Notorious SF: Ghost & Crime Tour

On our Notorious SF: Ghost & Crime tour we visit the sites of old Hollywood scandals, red light districts, opium dens, Gold Rush era lynchings and kidnappings, haunted locations (with some of the scariest ghost stories you've ever heard) and stop to enjoy a drink in a historic bar from the Barbary Coast era.

We start with the Fatty Arbuckle affair at the St Francis, the first Hollywood sex scandal, a moment that changed the public's perception of celebrity forever (and lead to the 'morality clause'). Then we stroll down Maiden Lane, which is lined with designer boutiques now, but a hundred years ago was the city's main red light district. After that we visit Chinatown, a neighborhood that was full of opium dens and gambling hellholes more than a hundred years ago, but is now a fun and fascinating place to visit.

Next you'll learn about Gold Rush era SF, when it was the Wild West here and public lynchings were held on Portsmouth Square. Finally, we head to the infamous Barbary Coast, which was once full of brothels and dance halls, often used to Shanghai unwary sailors (which is where the term originated). During the evening we'll regale you with some very scary San Francisco ghost stories from that period. We end the tour at the oldest continuously operating bar in the city, the Old Ship Saloon, which dates all the way back to the 1850's.

Join our Notorious SF: Ghost & Crime tour and be haunted by these tales from San Francisco's lawless past for weeks!

Our tours can sell out. If you can't make a booking email [email protected], telling us when you want to go and how many guests are in your party. If we can squeeze you in we’ll let you know.

*Walking distance: 2 miles.

*Tour starts 6 pm Saturday, Union Square, opposite St Francis Hotel (meeting point photo).

*Tour finishes 9 pm, Old Ship Saloon.

*We donate $1 for every guest to Climate Cents, a climate change organization.

*We can go into two different bars for cocktails on this tour, each for about 15 minutes. You do have to be over 21 y.o. to order an alcoholic drink – but you don’t have to be over 21 y.o. to do this tour.

This tour is in English. If your English isn’t fluent this may not be the best option for you. We do not offer this tour in any other language at this time.

Drinks are not included.

This is a walking tour and we move at a reasonable pace. If you have mobility issues please book a private tour.

This tour is not recommended for children under 15 y.o.

We never cancel tours in advance due to the weather conditions. Be sure to wear warm clothing, nights are usually cool in SF.

Aim to get to the meeting point 10-15 minutes early. If you’re late you may miss the tour.

Contactless payment for gratuities available, please allow 15-20%.

Event Venue

Union Square, Powell and Post Street, San Francisco, United States