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San Francisco Ghost Tours: Gold and Ghouls Tour

Badge of Excellence
San Francisco, USA
Popular pick
Booked 5+ times last week!
  • 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.5
·
· Dr_S ·
Nov 2025
We had a wonderful time and I want others to know, if they have a hard time with steep hikes, they need to be prepared for that. Otherwise, the stories were wonderful. Our family included a party of eight including people who were 12, 16, 21, 26, and 53. All genders and ages enjoyed this.
· Stephen_V ·
Oct 2025
Dress in layers, walking shoes, have cash,tip is not included, very educational, great tour for history buffs

Overview

San Francisco's rollicking, rags-to-riches history has left plenty of haunted happenings in its wake, so explore the city's more sinister side on a walking ghost tour. Visit some of San Francisco's most historic and allegedly haunted locations on and around Nob Hill, once the epicenter of San Francisco high society. Learn trivia and hidden history that you won't find in any guidebook on this ghoulishly fun, after-dark adventure.
  • Hear San Francisco ghost stories right where they happened
  • Explore a fabled hilltop neighborhood after the sun goes down
  • Makes a great evening activity away from the bar scene
  • Enjoy spooky fun and history any time of year

What's Included

  • Professional and Courteous Guides
  • Intensely researched true stories of history
  • Documented accounts of hauntings and paranormal activity
  • Dinner
  • Private transportation

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Union Square
    San Francisco, CA 94108, USA

    All tours meet at Union Square, 333 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94108, on the corner of Powell Street and Post Street, across from the giant lit sign that says "Saks Fifth Avenue". Please look for your guide wearing a US Ghost Adventures t-shirt and carrying a lantern. Please arrive 15 minutes early.

End point

  • Beacon Grand A Union Square Hotel
    450 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA

    Our tour will end at Sir Francis Drake Hotel, where your guide will recount eerie tales before sending you on your way.

Itinerary

1

450 Sutter Building

7 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

2

California Street

8 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

3

Fairmont San Francisco

8 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

4

Pacific Union Club

7 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

5

Huntington Park

8 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

Nob Hill (Pass By)

6

870 Bush St

7 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

7

Beacon Grand A Union Square Hotel

7 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 35 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.5
based on 292 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

SF Ghost tour

Dale_C, Mar 2026
Fun tour, taking in some interesting sites with great insights from the guide Eric, who was knowledgeable and experienced.

Boring, a must skip.

Cindy_M, Feb 2026
The experience was honestly very boring and not spooky at all. Our entire group arrived much earlier than our tour guide, all 15 minutes plus in advance whereas he walked in 5 minutes late, no lantern or shirt to identify him. He claimed he would tell us these great ghost stories from the gold rush and earthquake, but everything was so BORING. Everything was surface level information and nothing interesting at all. We went inside the lobby of one building and that was it. Pictures were shown from his phone, could have at least printed and laminated photos like other walking tours do, so we could see details better. Our guide often looked like he was trying to remember a script, forgetting words, and going back to redo it. We did more walking than we had stories.

Ghost tour

Kimberly_K, Jan 2026
A fun experience to do with kids, not too long and not too short. Price was better than other tours too

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Hello Kim, thank you for your review! We’re glad to hear it was a fun experience for the kids and that the tour length and pricing felt just right. We appreciate you choosing us and hope to see your family again!

The hills weren’t alive

psteinik, Dec 2025
The hills were insane!!! We had to bow out early because of the hills and the cold. And it just wasn’t spooky at all.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Hello, thank you for sharing your experience. We truly appreciate the honest feedback. We’re sorry to hear the hills and cold made the tour challenging and that it didn’t feel as spooky as you were hoping. We understand how important comfort and atmosphere are, and your comments help us continue improving. Thank you for giving the tour a try.

Wonderful for everyone

Dr_S, Nov 2025
We had a wonderful time and I want others to know, if they have a hard time with steep hikes, they need to be prepared for that. Otherwise, the stories were wonderful. Our family included a party of eight including people who were 12, 16, 21, 26, and 53. All genders and ages enjoyed this.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thanks for your thoughtful feedback! It’s great to hear that guests of all ages and genders had a fantastic experience. We appreciate your advice about the steep hikes, and we hope to see your family again on a future tour!

Family tour

Stephen_T, Nov 2025
Good historical walk and interesting highest tales. Overall it was good. Guide was very good……..,,,.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for your detailed feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed the historical walk, the stories, and that you had a great experience overall. We’ll be sure to pass your compliments on to our guide. We hope to welcome you again soon for another memorable tour.

Mosts of the Ghosts

Eleanor_H, Nov 2025
Great little experience. It was just me, the host and the ghosts, and I'm glad the excursion wasn't cancelled because it was the last night of my trip. It does include *hills* like only San Francisco can offer so be wary if you're daunted by a hike. That being said, the host took her time and let me asthmatically wheeze up the hill which I was grateful for. The stories and history were fun and there were plenty of photo worthy stops. Also a fair amount of SFs walking their dogs so puppy loving along with spooky vibes 😍

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thanks so much for your feedback! We’re so glad you enjoyed your private excursion, the stories, and even the local puppies along the way. We’ll pass along your compliments to your host and hope to see you again for another spooky adventure!

Wear comfortable shoes,...

Janell_R, Nov 2025
Wear comfortable shoes, remember San Francisco has lots of streets that are uphill. So maybe a bottle of water also.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thanks for sharing your advice! Comfortable shoes and water are definitely a must for exploring the city. We hope you’ll join us again for another fun tour!

NM tourists and ghosts enthusiasts

Camille_A, Oct 2025
Great tour with lots of history! Thanks to our great tour guide! Super excited about hearing about ghosts!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hello Camille, thanks for joining us and for the great review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the mix of history and ghostly stories our guides love sharing those eerie details. If you had fun on this tour, be sure to check out our other haunted walks in nearby cities for even more chills and local legends!

There were no ghost stores on our ghost tour

rachelle_b, Oct 2025
Our tour guide Mike spent the entire two hours regaling us with conspiracy theories, stories of secret societies, and tales of who “really” runs the government. He used his cell phone to bring up photos of things he wanted us to see rather than have a print out of the picture. He walked at his own pace with no regard for the age or physical condition of the group including up some very challenging hills. When we walked up the third very steep hill in a row and were questioning where we were going he told us “it will be worth it in the end” At the top instead of a ghost story or a panoramic view of the city we were given a conspiracy theory about the number nine and the building of a particular tower in the city. When crossing busy intersections he would walk with little regard for the group saying “come on we can make it” and then seem disappointed when not everyone made it across the street. When booking this tour we booked a Ghost Stories of San Francisco. We did not book a conspiracy theories and why the government is run by the rich in one man’s opinion tour. I cannot in good faith recommend this tour for anyone.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're truly sorry to hear that your experience did not align with the expectations set for a ghost tour. The content and conduct you described fall short of our standards, and we understand your frustration—especially regarding safety, pacing, and the lack of relevant storytelling. Please reach out to guestrelations@tourismo.com with the name your booking was under so we can assist you further. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and will be following up with our team. Thank you.

Scary ,not

Stephen_V, Oct 2025
Dress in layers, walking shoes, have cash,tip is not included, very educational, great tour for history buffs

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! We're happy to hear you enjoyed the tour and found it educational—perfect for history lovers. Great advice on what to bring, too! If a guide was involved, we’ll be sure to pass along your compliments. Hope to see you again on another one of our tours!

We had an absolute blast...

Tess_W, Oct 2025
We had an absolute blast on this ghost tour! Our guide, Mike, was phenomenal—so knowledgeable, engaging, and a wonderful storyteller. He brought San Francisco’s history and hauntings to life in such an articulate way, weaving in fascinating details that kept us hooked the entire time. We got to see so many spots we never would have discovered on our own, which made the experience feel extra special. And of course, a huge shoutout to Oakley, his adorable pup and tour “sidekick.” Oakley stole the show with a little performance playing dead! Between the spooky stories, hidden corners of the city, and the perfect mix of history and humor, this tour was truly unforgettable. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for the glowing review! We're thrilled you had a blast with Mike and, of course, Oakley—our favorite four-legged co-host. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words. Hope to see you again for more spooky fun!

We're three locals who...

James_O, Sep 2025
We're three locals who were psyched for this ghost tour. Unfortunately it was riddled with historical errors (for example, "Nob Hill was the wealthiest zip code before COVID") and a lack of enthusiasm from our guide. It was actually so bad that we left early and used Google to create our own tour.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your feedback, and we’re truly sorry to hear that your experience fell short of expectations. We understand how disappointing it must have been to encounter inaccuracies and a lack of enthusiasm from your guide—especially as excited locals. This is not the standard we aim to uphold. Please reach out to guestrelations@tourismo.com with the name your booking was under, and we’ll be happy to assist you further. Thank you again for bringing this to our attention.

Late Night Ghost Tour!

Gina_S, Sep 2025
Our tour guide was energetic and very educational on San Francisco and the hidden history behind it. Oakley the ghost hunting dog was such a good and sweet boy! Highly recommend.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed the tour and loved Oakley. We’ll be sure to pass along your compliments. Hope to see you again soon!

Avoid at all costs!

lisamegna, Aug 2025
Tour leader left early, leaving a group of us to fend for ourselves wandering around looking for a person holding a “lantern”. Missed 20 minutes of a 1 he expensive tour, only to be taken to 4 buildings out side and told the least ghost like story’s ever. Most of the group left and before the last stop, the rest of us snuck into a pizza place for food! horrible!!!! But the kicker is: NOWHERE does it state you will be walking STRAIGHT UP HILLS the entire time, no rest, just one swoop! She never stayed with the group, was always running ahead and could Barely hear her! She embarrassed my family on 3 separate occasions by having the entire group clap as we would finally make it up the hills! 64 yrs old with emphysema , thanks a lot!!!!! I want a refund and an apology! I DID NOT book this tour, but was FORCED to take it since the one I wanted cancelled on me!

Response from Host, Sep 2025

We’re very sorry to hear about your disappointing experience on the tour. It’s unacceptable that the guide left early, causing you to miss part of the tour, and that the walking conditions were not clearly communicated, especially given your health concerns. We sincerely apologize for any embarrassment or discomfort caused to you and your family. Please reach out to guestrelations@tourismo.com with the name your booking was under, and we’ll be happy to assist you further. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Ghost tour

Mary_T, Aug 2025
The tour guide was knowledgeable but because the group was so large, it was difficult to hear the stories. And remember, you are in San Fran - the hills during the walking tour were brutal.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad you found the guide knowledgeable. We understand how large groups and San Francisco’s hills can make the tour challenging. We’ll pass your compliments to the guide and hope to see you again soon!

Waste of time

GENIE_B, Aug 2025
This is a walking tour. Guide showed up late. You can’t even hear her. This was a total waste of time.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

We sincerely apologize for the disappointing experience you had with the tour guide arriving late and being difficult to hear. This is not the standard we strive for, and we understand how frustrating that must have been. Please reach out to guestrelations@tourismo.com with the name your booking was under, and we'll be happy to assist you further. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Great tour. Mike was...

Andrew_M, Aug 2025
Great tour. Mike was great and very knowledgeable. I learned alot about the history of San Francisco

Response from Host, Aug 2025

We truly appreciate you taking the time to leave such thoughtful feedback! We're thrilled that you enjoyed the Gold and Ghouls Tour and that Mike’s deep knowledge of San Francisco history made the experience memorable. We’ll definitely share your compliments with him. Thanks again for joining us—we hope to see you on another one of our tours soon!

Worth it

Hector_S, Jul 2025
Mike and Oakley the investigator dog were awesome. We learned a lot about the history of San Francisco. So many secret societies; we have a lot of googling to do!

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you so much for your review! We're thrilled that Mike and Oakley helped bring San Francisco's hidden history to life. Secret societies definitely leave a lot to dig into—we’ll pass along your kind words and hope you’ll join us again for more discoveries!

Ghoul and Gold

Kay_L, Jul 2025
Our ghoul and gold tour was awesome!! Our tour Guide and his ghost hunting companion ( his dog) We’re totally delightful!! Stories were rich, and our guide was very entertaining!!

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you for your feedback! We’re thrilled to hear you had an awesome time on the Ghoul and Gold Tour. Our guide and their ghost-hunting pup are quite the team, and we’ll definitely pass along your kind words. Hope to welcome you back for another spooky adventure!

Fun walk through haunted history

Jaime_G, Jul 2025
This walking ghost tour was the perfect mix of spooky, historic, and fun! Mike was a fantastic storyteller — engaging, knowledgeable, and just a blast to listen to. He really brought the city’s haunted past to life, and his sidekick Oakley the dog was the cutest bonus. Whether you're into history, ghost stories, or just want a fun evening stroll through San Francisco, this tour is absolutely worth it!

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re so glad you found the tour to be the perfect mix of spooky, fun, and informative. Mike has a real gift for storytelling, and Oakley never fails to steal the show. We’ll be sure to pass along your compliments and would love to see you again next time you're in San Francisco!

Great guide!!! Lots of...

Stephanie_B, Jul 2025
Great guide!!! Lots of interesting stories! Very informative. Did a great job communicating and including everyone in the group.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

We truly appreciate your wonderful feedback! It’s great to hear that our guide provided such interesting stories and made sure everyone felt included and informed throughout the tour. We’ll pass your compliments on to them—they’ll be thrilled! Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back for another memorable experience soon.

Walking tour. Wear good...

Stephanie_W, Jul 2025
Walking tour. Wear good shoes and keep a light jacket on you. The spooky aspect could have been bumped up a little, but the history we learned was very interesting.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thanks for sharing your experience! We’re happy you enjoyed the historical aspects and appreciate your helpful advice about wearing good shoes and bringing a light jacket. We’ll pass on any compliments if a guide was mentioned. Hope to welcome you back for another tour soon!

Great Fun!

Leslye_J, Jun 2025
Erin was very generous with her knowledge and time. She’s drew us in and had us captivated with the history and folk lore of the buildings we visited. Part of the walk is a bit strenuous, going uphill. Highly recommended

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad Erin’s knowledge and storytelling captivated you. We’ll pass your compliments along and hope to see you again soon!

Interesting history

Donna_A, Jun 2025
Loved the history. Just wish there were more. Felt very short and quick. What we heard was good but I would have liked more.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thanks for sharing your experience! We’re happy you enjoyed the historical stories and appreciate your suggestion for more content. We’ll pass along your compliments if a guide was mentioned. Hope to welcome you back for a longer experience!

Great Informative and Fun Tour

ron_f, Jun 2025
Mike was a great guide- instantly had tons of historical, cultural and legendary stories to tell. Plus he is a very engaging and entertaining story teller, which elevates the experience. Note: there are a few hills , up and down.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad Mike made the tour engaging and informative. We’ll be sure to pass along your compliments. Hope to see you again soon!

Unfortunately, the tour...

Suzanne_B, May 2025
Unfortunately, the tour operator never showed up. We were looking forward to this experience, but it never eventuated.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

We’re very sorry the tour operator didn’t show up as expected. Please reach out to guestrelations@tourismo.com with your booking name, and we’ll be happy to assist you further. Thank you for letting us know.

It was great, we had the...

Carlos_H, Apr 2025
It was great, we had the deligthful experience of meeting Mike and Oakley, Mike was very well versed in San Francisco’s history and was a very interesting man to talk to, we enjoyed it very much! Definetly worth it

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Hello, Carlos! Thank you for the lovely review! It’s always a treat when guests get to connect with our guides, and we’re so happy Mike made your experience special. He’ll be thrilled to hear your comments. Looking forward to your next visit!

The guide was friendly...

Pamela_M, Mar 2025
The guide was friendly and knowledgeable and it was good to do something different whilst visiting the city

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Hello, Pamela! Thank you for your feedback! It’s great to hear that you enjoyed your time exploring the city in a new way. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to your guide. We look forward to seeing you again soon for another memorable experience!

Not really impressed.

Claudia_P, Feb 2025
Stories were told but not really how were related to the future incidents. We walked through streets. I could’ve just used an audio tour. The guide didn’t add anything to the experience

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Thank you for your feedback, and we sincerely apologize that your experience didn’t meet your expectations. We understand how important it is for the stories to feel connected to the locations and events, and we’re sorry to hear the guide didn’t enhance your experience as expected. Please reach out to us at guestrelations@wejunket.com with the name your booking was under, and we’ll be happy to assist you further. We appreciate your input and hope to have the opportunity to make things right.

From $26.00

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 16 days in advance.

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