Haunted Houses, Ghost Tours & Eerie Fall Adventures near BART
Take a ghost hunter tour with "The Haunt" in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of The Haunt.
Spooky season has arrived! Whether you want to chase chills through Chinatown, sip cocktails in a haunted speakeasy or spot ghosts inside a Victorian mansion, there’s no shortage of frightful fun throughout the Bay Area. These BARTable Halloween experiences are the perfect fall adventures.
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Take a tour this fall with San Francisco Ghosts. Photo courtesy of San Francisco Ghosts.
SF Ghost Tours | Montgomery St / Powell St
Kick off your Halloween season on the "Haunted Pub Crawl". Meet at The High Horse (0.4 miles from Montgomery St at 582 Washington St.) to discover dark secrets hiding above and below the city streets. You'll also learn more about the Barbary Coast and its criminal past, all while raising a glass with new friends at The Lions Den, a famous bar in Chinatown. Alternatively, you can join the "San Francisco Ghost Tours: Gold and Ghouls" experience to explore the city’s landmarks and haunted mansions and learn about earthquakes, outlaws and the city’s dark past. This tour starts at 333 Post St., just 0.3 miles from Powell St.
Check out the ghost hunter tour in San Francisco this fall. Photo courtesy of The Haunt.
"The Haunt Ghost Hunter Tour" in Chinatown | Montgomery St
Want to see ghosts in San Francisco’s oldest neighborhood? Who you gonna call? "The Haunt Ghost Hunter Tour," led by a real paranormal investigator, is a 1.5-hour nighttime adventure through Jackson Square and Chinatown. Guests (ages 12+) use professional ghost-hunting tools to detect paranormal activity while uncovering true crimes, tragic tales and Gold Rush–era hauntings. Expect stories of brothels, murder and dark history—and maybe even a cold spot or two. The tour starts near the Transamerica Pyramid (0.4 miles from Montgomery St) and ends with a ceremony honoring the spirits encountered. Bring your curiosity, and maybe your courage—some guests have experienced strange sensations, such as feeling pinched, hearing voices and even seeing apparitions.
With ghost tours on both sides of the Bay, it's easy to visit ghosts. Photo courtesy of The Haunted Bay.
The Haunted Bay Ghost Tours | Downtown Berkeley / Montgomery St
The "Berkeley Haunted Hike," featured on Amazon Prime, treks across the Cal campus and nearby decrepit buildings. You’ll hear ghost stories and likely see paranormal evidence. Similarly, the "San Francisco Ghost Tour," also seen on Amazon Prime, visits locations to meet ghosts from the Gold Rush and haunted buildings in Chinatown. Both tours last 2.5 to 3 hours. In Berkeley, meet outside of the Bakar Ingenuity Hub at 2630 Bancroft Way, 0.9 miles from Downtown Berkeley. In San Francisco, meet at 606 Broadway, 0.7 miles from Montgomery St.
Get spooked at the Terror Vault: 1874 Halloween Haunt. Photo courtesy of San Francisco Travel.
"Terror Vault: 1874 Halloween Haunt" | Powell St
It doesn’t get much spookier than the Terror Vault: 1874 Halloween Haunt. The city’s most immersive haunted attraction is hidden beneath the Old Mint. This year’s scary storyline transports you back to 1874, where you’ll witness restless spirits haunting the space. Expect live actors, cinematic effects and surprises around every corner—plus themed cocktails in the Vault Bar. The experience runs through Nov. 1 (0.2 miles from Powell St), so there’s plenty of time to get your haunted house thrills.
Stretchy Pants’ North Beach: Gourmet Ghost Tour is the perfect mix of haunted history and tasty bites. Photo courtesy of Stretchy Pants Food Tours.
"North Beach: Gourmet Ghost Tour" | Montgomery St
If you’re a foodie, Stretchy Pants Food Tours’ "North Beach: Gourmet Ghost Tour" is the perfect fall adventure. This unique excursion blends San Francisco’s hot culinary scene with spooky tales of the Gold Rush era. You’ll explore the historic streets of San Francisco's Little Italy, stopping for tastings and scary stories. Highlights include famed focaccia bread sandwiches, pizza slices from a local pizzeria, and a renowned Italian dessert. The tour starts at the haunted San Remo Hotel (1.3 miles from Montgomery St) and continues with stories of kidnapped sailors at The Saloon, a stop in haunted Chinatown and much more. On Halloween, join this fun tour at 5:30 p.m. dressed in costume!
Celebrate Halloween night in San Francisco at The Academy. Photo courtesy of The Academy.
The Haunted Speakeasy: "Halloween at The Academy" | 16th St Mission
For one night only on Halloween, step through a secret door into The Academy SF’s Ghostly Speakeasy in the Castro. You’ll witness where jazz-age glamour meets the supernatural, sip forbidden cocktails by candlelight, sway to haunting tunes and mingle with flappers, phantoms and the living alike. Guests are encouraged to dress in vintage or noir-inspired attire for an evening of mystery and mischief. Enjoy the party, 0.8 miles from 16th St Mission.
Tour the Cohen Bray House for spooky thrills this fall. Photo courtesy of Cohen Bray House.
Paranormal Exploration Tour at Cohen Bray House | Fruitvale
Oakland’s most mysterious Victorian mansion is the perfect setting for a haunted escape this fall. The "Paranormal Exploration Tour" at the historic Cohen Bray House invites ghost-loving guests to explore the house’s historic hallways. Led by experienced investigators, the ghost tour blends local history with real ghost-hunting techniques. Think EMF (electromagnetic field) detectors and other spirit communication tools. You’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for this 1880s treasure and its lingering past. Visit Cohen Bray House, 0.4 miles from Fruitvale at 1440 29th Ave.
Don't miss a special candlelight concert celebrating Halloween classics. Photo courtesy of Secret San Francisco.
"Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics" | 16th St Mission
Experience Halloween in the most unique way possible—with a live, candlelit concert that’s equal parts eerie and enchanting. Set inside the stunning Chan National Queer Arts Center, you’ll see hundreds of flickering lights during this special edition of the Candlelight Concert Series. Enjoy hauntingly beautiful string performances of "Thriller," "The Exorcist," "The Addams Family," "Psycho," and more—all performed by the Listeso String Quartet. The perfect spooky date night is only 0.5 miles away from 16th St Mission at 170 Valencia St.
Enjoy a cocktail at the spookiest bars in the Bay Area. Photo courtesy of Visit Oakland.
Have a drink at The Avenue | MacArthur
If you have to choose one spot to grab a drink on Halloween, make it The Avenue in Oakland. Operated by die-hard horror fans Curtis and Tana Howard, it’s the only bar in the Bay Area themed after the holiday every single day of the year, with a treasure trove of horror movie relics bursting from every corner. On one side of the bar, you might see a pinstriped cavern of killer clowns like Pennywise from “It,” while on the other you might see a Chuckie doll or a copy of “Helter Skelter” apparently signed by Charles Manson. For the ultimate experience, be sure to go to the bar’s annual Halloween party and costume contest. The Avenue is 0.5 miles from MacArthur.
Don't miss The Roxie's "Noche Oscura: Mexican Gothic Terror Tales." Photo courtesy of The Roxie.
See a scary movie | Multiple
Interested in a classic horror film this October? Check out BARTable movie theaters! The Roxie Theater is showing "Noche Oscura: Mexican Gothic Terror Tales" where you can catch flicks like "Hasta el Viento Tiene Miedo" ("Even the Wind Is Afraid"), a 1968 film about wayward girls at a haunted school being tortured by the ghost of a former student, among other things. The Alamo Drafthouse is another place to be for scary movies this fall. Check out their “Dark Visions” film series, if you dare! It features bone-chilling classics, cult favorites and the full “Nightmare on Elm Street” collection in stunning 4K. The Roxie is 0.1 mile from 16th St Mission, while The Alamo Drafthouse is only 0.3 miles from 24th St Mission.
What's your favorite Bay Area Halloween activity?
