San Francisco Ghost Tours: Gold and Ghouls Tour
Description
Embark on a spine-tingling journey through San Francisco's shadowy streets with our captivating walking ghost tour, where history and hauntings intertwine! Guided by an expert local storyteller, this tour takes you to some of the city's most iconic and eerie locations in the historic district. As you stroll through fog-laden streets, hear chilling tales of spirits lingering in places like the Sutter Building and the Fairmont Hotel, where echoes of the past resonate. This mile-long trek reveals San Francisco's tumultuous history, from the Gold Rush's promise to the tragedies that scarred the city. Encounter stories of the California Street Wandering Bride and the Pacific-Union Club, once the opulent Flood mansion. While entry into private buildings isn't allowed, standing on haunted ground will send shivers down your spine. Each tale uncovers the darker side of San Francisco, offering ghostly encounters and historical insights that will both entertain and enlighten you!
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Sutter Building in San Francisco, a striking office structure adorned with elaborate Neo-Mayan carvings, was erected in 1929 as a medical building and once earned the nickname "The Temple of Doom." Despite its architectural grandeur, the building is notorious for reports of dark, unsettling presences, with visitors and staff alike feeling an eerie and oppressive atmosphere that lingers within its walls.
On California Street, the legend of the Wandering Bride haunts the area with a tragic tale. This ghostly bride is said to roam the streets in her wedding gown searching for her lost groom and leaving behind a chilling presence that still unsettles those who encounter her spectral form.
The Fairmont Hotel, a historic and esteemed landmark in San Francisco’s prestigious Nob Hill neighborhood, is celebrated for its elegance and exceptional service. However, after the devastating 1906 earthquake, the hotel gained a reputation for being cursed, with numerous accidents and reported apparitions adding a haunting dimension to its storied past.
Though a men's-only secret society holds meetings behind closed doors in this old mansion, they can't keep out the ghost of the original owner. Hear the testimony of a custodian who shared his insider information.
Huntington Park in San Francisco, once the site of the grand Huntington Mansion owned by the renowned Collis P. Huntington, now offers a different kind of intrigue. After the mansion was lost to the 1906 earthquake, the park that replaced it has become known for its nighttime paranormal activities, with ghostly presences and eerie phenomena reported by those who visit after dark.
Explore this historic neighborhood, shaped by centuries of interesting personalities and unexpected disasters. Listen as even more stories unfold as spirits of the past make their presence known.
The Dennis T. Sullivan Memorial in San Francisco honors the bravery and sacrifice of the Fire Chief who, despite severe injuries from the 1906 earthquake, emerged from the rubble to help save lives. The memorial, dedicated to this heroic figure, is also known for its haunting legacy, with many visitors reporting eerie sensations and ghostly presences linked to the chief's tragic and selfless act.
The Sir Francis Drake Hotel, an opulent landmark built in 1928, has long been a symbol of historic grandeur in San Francisco. Its reputation for elegance is shadowed by the tragic fall of James Davidson from the 8th floor, a tragedy that has since given rise to numerous paranormal encounters and ghostly phenomena reported by guests and staff alike.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(305)
Fun walking tour, loved all the stories! Wish it was longer because I had a great time! Learned a lot about Nob Hill and SF! Thom is a great storyteller and guide~
Very knowledgeable and entertaining! Thom had all the good stories and knew his SF history. Interacted with everyone on tour in a positive and exciting manner. Highly recommend!
Hi Melissa, thank you for your hauntingly wonderful review! We’re so glad you had such an enjoyable experience with Thom. It’s great to hear his knowledge of San Francisco history, engaging storytelling, and positive energy made the tour both fun and memorable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again for another spooky adventure!
Eric was fantastic! He made the tour fun, engaging, and entertaining from beginning to end. The stories were interesting, and his sense of humor made the experience even better. Highly recommend this ghost tour—and definitely ask for Eric!
Hi, thank you for your ghostly great feedback! We’re so glad you had such a fantastic experience with Eric. It’s wonderful to hear he kept the tour fun, engaging, and entertaining from start to finish, and that his sense of humor made the stories even more enjoyable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and are thrilled you enjoyed your spooky adventure with us!
It was very exciting and fun. The hills were a bit of a challenge but part of the expierence. Host made it very interesting and fun.
Hi Charles, thank you for your hauntingly wonderful review! We’re so glad you had an exciting and fun experience. Those hills can definitely be a challenge, but we love that you embraced them as part of the adventure! It’s great to hear your host helped make the tour interesting and enjoyable. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again for another spooky adventure.
My wife and I go on many ghost tours—not necessarily due to a belief in the paranormal but because it’s usually a great pairing with a more traditional city tour at learning a city’s more complete history. Thom demonstrated a masterclass performance and due diligence at inculcating us all with his dark tales of San Francisco alongside the spirit of renewal and resurgence the city itself lives as a credo. Brilliant orator with a fine set of approaches to all of these stories—this is THE guy to share this local history!
Hello, thank you for your hauntingly wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you and your wife enjoyed the tour and appreciated the blend of San Francisco’s darker tales with its rich history of renewal and resurgence. It’s wonderful to know Thom delivered such a masterful experience—his storytelling and thoughtful approach truly help bring the city’s history to life. We truly appreciate your kind words and are so glad he made the tour so memorable for you!
Thom was great super informative and funny made the whole thing amazing, would definitely recommend this to friends
Hello Arman, thank you for your hauntingly wonderful review! We’re so glad you had such an amazing experience with Thom. It’s great to hear his mix of humor and knowledge made the tour so enjoyable for you. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again for another spooky adventure!
Thom was a fun and knowledgeable guide. A nice experience and a good group.
Hello Mark, thank you for your ghostly great feedback! We’re so glad you had a nice experience and enjoyed the group. It’s wonderful to hear Thom made the tour both fun and informative with his knowledge and energy. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again for another spooky adventure!
This was a great short walking tour to get to know the city better and learn more about its spooky history.
Hello, thank you for your hauntingly wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the short walking tour and had a chance to learn more about the city’s spooky history. It’s a great way to explore and discover new stories, and we truly appreciate you joining us. We hope to see you again for another spooky adventure!
Great experience with some special insider peaks inside some buildings. Prepare for a big hill climb but worth it after a nice meal and some exercise to wear out the kids.
Hello Dan, thank you for your hauntingly wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the experience and those special insider peeks inside the buildings along the way. It’s great to hear the hill climb was worth it after a nice meal and some family adventure time definitely a fun way to explore the city and keep the kids happily worn out! We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again for another spooky adventure.
Tour guide walks fast and the path of the tour is very steep hill at the beginning. Stories at the stops were entertaining as was the history of the city.
Hello Dan, thank you for your hauntingly thoughtful review! We’re glad you enjoyed the stories and learning about the city’s fascinating history along the way. We also appreciate your feedback regarding the pace and the steep hill at the beginning of the tour, and we’ll be sure to share it with our team. Thank you for joining us, and we hope you had a memorable experience exploring the city’s haunted past!
