Top California Crime Tours in 2026

Explore downtown LA's past through a different lens on this murder mystery ghost tour. Hear stories from your guide about the city's dark past while visiting stops such as the infamous Hotel Cecil (where the Night Stalker stayed) as well as the Barclay Hotel to hear about the Chinatown Massacre of 1871. Stop in a few haunted bars to purchase some cocktails if you wish.

While San Diego may be famous for its sunshine, the city also has a dark side lurking beneath the surface. Uncover the hidden history of gangsters, gunslingers, ghosts, and ladies of the night on an entertaining walking tour through the city's historic Gaslamp Quarter. It's the only haunted history tour in San Diego that actually goes inside buildings for a closer look at what goes bump in the night (pending COVID restrictions).

Visit Northern California wine country and Muir Woods for a truly fabulous day out. This popular tour takes you to Muir Woods National Monument, then to multiple wineries in Napa and Sonoma Valleys, with tastings included. Opt to include a gourmet lunch in historic Sonoma (choose option at checkout) and cross the Golden Gate Bridge on the return to San Francisco, with a stop for a photo opportunity.

Open-Top Double-Decker Bus Adventure: Hop on and off all day long with our lively hop-on-hop-off service! Buses roll up every 30 minutes, ready to whisk you away on a 2-hour whirlwind tour if you choose to stay on for the full loop. Cruise past iconic landmarks and charming neighborhoods while soaking in breathtaking panoramic views and entertaining audio commentary. Feel free to explore at your own pace—jump off whenever a spot catches your eye, then hop back on to keep the adventure rolling! Alcatraz Island Experience: Step into a gripping self-guided audio tour packed with intriguing stories from former inmates and guards. Sail across the shimmering waters to Alcatraz aboard a ferry offering unbeatable views of San Francisco’s sparkling skyline. Your adventure’s starting point changes depending on whether you dive into the bus tour or Alcatraz first—so get ready for a day packed with excitement and surprises! Your meeting point will depend on what activity you partake in first.

Discover Los Angeles through its chilling true crime history on this immersive sightseeing experience that explores the infamous O.J. Simpson and Menendez Brothers murder cases. Journey through West L.A. from the glamorous streets of Brentwood to Beverly Hills, retracing the real locations tied to these shocking 1990s tragedies. With Grave Line Tours, uncover the dark intersections between fame, family, and fatal obsession that forever changed Hollywood’s story.

Welcome, brave soul, to the haunted side of San Diego, where history and the afterlife intertwine. Beneath the surface of this vibrant city lies a haunting history of restless spirits, unsolved mysteries, and lingering echoes of tragedy. You'll see many haunted sites. Discover the old red light district known as the Stingaree District, and hear the hauntings and history of the area. Go at your own pace, anytime. Want to go at 3am? No problem. 2pm? Also no problem. The tour is hands free and plays as you walk, making it a heads up immersive experience. This is all on our walking tour app.

See the sights of Hollywood on this tour by open-top Mercedes minibus or Ford Van with a canopy, which allows you to enjoy unobstructed views as you go. Traveling with an on-board guide, you'll pass by attractions such as the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood Sign, Rodeo Drive, and movie studios. Plus, get a look at some of the mansions where past and present stars have lived.

Prebook general admission to San Francisco’s de Young Museum—located in Golden Gate Park, and home to one of the city’s most prominent art collections—and have the freedom to explore its galleries at your own pace with this convenient visiting option. Upgrade your ticket to include entrance to the Special Exhibits. With your ticket, you can also enjoy same-day entry to the Legion of Honor Museum at no extra cost.

San Diego's waterfront has a long history of adventure and dark deeds, so explore the more sinister side of the harbor on a walking ghost tour. Hear chilling tales of haunted ships, deadly outbreaks, and espionage, right on the water where it happened. There are even opportunities to do some ghost hunting of your own on this spine-tingling, PG-13 stroll.

If you enjoy a good fright you'll love this spooky supernatural tour of San Diego's Gaslamp District. Listen to ghost stories and true tales of creepy events at numerous places throughout this atmospheric district. Whether you're a first-time visitor to San Diego or a resident looking for a fun way to pass the time, this tour will let you see a different side of the Californian city.

Explore Hollywood through the lens of real criminal cases on a guided evening walking tour paired with drinks at historic bars. The experience focuses on documented crimes, investigations, and cultural impact, offering context beyond sensational headlines. With a structured route and expert storytelling, the tour combines nightlife with historical narrative for a distinctive after-dark experience.

See all of San Francisco's top sights and attractions in one hassle-free way with this combination sightseeing package. With a 72-hour hop-on hop-off bus pass, you have the flexibility to explore the city at your own pace, including highlights such as Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, the Golden Gate Bridge, and more. This package also includes ferry and admission tickets to Alcatraz Island, 60-minute San Francisco Bay cruise and a panoramic sunset tour.

Most tours focus on Los Angeles’s sunny side, missing out on the city’s sordid and sinister past. Ideal for true crime aficionados and dark history enthusiasts, this small-group tour tells you all about the Sunset Boulevard scandals, broken Hollywood dreams, and haunted Beverly Hills estates that most itineraries won’t touch. Plus, ride in a funeral limo for the ultimate spooky jaunt around LA.

Roll through Northern California’s famous wine country on the renowned Napa Valley Wine Train. Pass charming towns like Rutherford and St. Helena, and soak up the scenery of rolling hills, vineyards, and estates through large picture windows on the trip. Explore the restored vintage train cars, and then take a seat for a gourmet lunch or dinner freshly prepared by the train’s acclaimed on-board restaurant.

Explore the dark underbelly of Hollywood with the ultimate walking tour. You will be led on a fright filled walk down the Boulevard of Broken Dreams to visit haunted hotels, mobster hangouts, and landmarks with ties to some of LA s most notorious crimes. If you love Hollywood, the paranormal, or true crime - this is the tour for you! This tour was written by the writer of Sunset Strip True Crime, Haunted Hollywood, and more of LA's highest rated experiences. This new version of the Hollywood tour comes with updated stories, a new route, images, and videos to provide the most exciting look into Hollywood's past! There are many tours of Hollywood, but you can book this tour knowing it was created by people who care about LA history and giving the best tours in the world.

Experience the eerie side of Hollywood after dark on this immersive 2-hour walking tour. Starting at 6:00pm, follow your expert guide to historic theaters, haunted hotels, and infamous landmarks where chilling tales and true crime come to life. Feel the supernatural vibe as you hear well-researched stories of the Hollywood Ripper, the ghost of Marilyn Monroe, and LA’s dark past along legendary streets.

Drive down one of the most scenic roads in California on this full-day tour from San Francisco. Cruise along the coast-hugging Highway 1, passing Pebble Beach on the iconic 17-Mile Drive. Enjoy free time to explore Monterey, where you can stroll down Steinbeck’s Cannery Row or visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium (own expense). Then enjoy free time to explore Carmel-by-the-Sea before returning to San Francisco.

If you're intrigued by the details of the OJ Simpson trial, see where the most infamous crime of the 1990’s took place on a true crime tour in LA. Pass by locations like Mezzaluna restaurant, the Rockingham condo murder scene, and more, all while traveling on a private tour. The in-depth and respectful tour is led by a Brentwood native and recognized local expert on the "trial of the century."

Travel to Southern California’s Catalina Island by boat, and solve your transit logistics in advance, when you prebook this one-way departure ferry service aboard the Catalina Express. Depart from San Pedro in Los Angeles, and enjoy views of the Pacific during the journey. The ferry conveniently drops you in the town of Avalon, the main town on the island, which is home to shops, restaurants, hotels, activities and more.

Explore Los Angeles through the lens of one of its most studied true crime cases on a guided Black Dahlia tour. Travel in a limo while tracing historically documented locations tied to the case and its Hollywood-era context. The experience focuses on separating fact from myth, placing the story within the social, media, and cultural landscape of mid-century Los Angeles.

Make the most of your limited time in San Francisco, and combine a guided morning bus tour with a visit to Alcatraz. Enjoy a fully narrated sightseeing adventure through iconic neighborhoods such as Haight-Ashbury, Chinatown, and North Beach, with stops at the Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Bridge, Land’s End, and Twin Peaks. Then, skip the ticket line for your official Alcatraz Island ferry and tour, including a self-guided audio experience.

Discover how a forgotten strip of mid-century motels and dive bars was transformed into a vibrant, thriving cultural sanctuary. On this immersive walking tour, you will trace the footsteps of resilient immigrants who built an entire community from scratch, armed with nothing but family recipes, entrepreneurial grit, and an unwavering commitment to hospitality. Come hungry for history, and leave with a profound understanding of the human stories behind the baklava. - A 1.5 km self-guided tour with 6 stops over 76 min - Ideal for travelers interested in Identity, Migration & Globalization and Foodways & Culinary Identity - Immersively told in a podcast style by experts and locals - Matching audio content, AI guide and navigation through the app

Explore the Gaslamp Quarter, where Victorian elegance meets the vibrant history of San Diego. This engaging walking tour reveals the rich tapestry of stories woven through the streets, from 19th-century architectural gems to the enigmatic alleys of Stingaree. You'll stroll along Fifth Avenue, uncovering tales of ambition, vice, and resilience, and witnessing the remnants of Chinatown and labor movements. Each stop unveils the contributions of preservationists, performers, and reformers who shaped this iconic neighborhood. The Gaslamp Quarter Walking Tour is ideal for history enthusiasts and ghost story lovers. It delves into the complexities of the past, ensuring a captivating experience. — Discover the layered history of the Gaslamp Quarter — Walk past iconic Victorian architecture and haunted hotels — Uncover stories of Chinatown and historical labor uprisings — Perfect for history buffs and those intrigued by ghost tales

The ultimate San Francisco Bay tour with visits to both the Alcatraz Island prison and the Golden Gate Bridge! This tour gets you to both inside the Alcatraz Island and around it for the ultimate views of the world famous prison site. As an added bonus, we have included a voucher of a 60-minutes Golden Gate Bridge Bay Cruise that will take you under the Golden Gate Bridge and around the Alcatraz Island so you can get to see both the best of San Francisco's attraction sites! What's better? You will have the flexibility to do the Bay Cruise at any available time on any day! Note: The time you choose during booking is the Alcatraz tour departure time. The official Alcatraz tour is self-guided with an audio tour and it usually lasts about 2-3 hours. You can take any returning ferry (runs every 30 minutes) back to the Pier once finished.