Embrace the spookiness and fun of the Halloween season on a San Francisco getaway at Tilden Hotel near Union Square. The Bay Area comes chockablock with Halloween happenings across the entire spectrum, from family-friendly pumpkin patches to history tours with a spicing of the supernatural to all-out-freaky haunted houses. Here’s a quick survey of some of the options at your disposal on an October stay at Tilden!
Ghost Tours
San Francisco has a well-earned reputation as one of the most haunted cities in the country, and it’s no surprise you’ve got multiple options for ghost tours all year-round—with a definite crescendo of offerings during this wraith-ridden time of year! The possibilities include:
- San Francisco Ghost Hunt Walking Tour
- Haunted Haight Walking Tour
- Paranormal Investigation and Haunted San Francisco tours by Wild SF Walking Tours
- Alcatraz Night Tour – an after-hours look at one of America’s most infamous landmarks
A free and highly recommended paranormal perambulation takes place on October 30: the Ghost Walk at City Hall led by San Francisco City Guides, which explores tales of assassinations, ghost encounters, and more.
Haunted Hotspots
You don’t need to book a formal tour to tap into San Francisco’s supernatural energy. Visit some of the city’s famous haunted landmarks, such as:
- Alcatraz Island
- Curran Theater – where a ghostly ticket taker is said to linger
- Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park – home to a mysterious woman in white
- San Francisco Art Institute – known for eerie sounds and ghost sightings
Ghost Signs of San Francisco
This season is also perfect for hunting a different kind of ghost: historic hand-painted advertisements known as ghost signs. San Francisco is home to several hundred of these relics, and thanks to the San Francisco Ghost Sign Mapping Project, they’re easier than ever to explore.
Use the interactive map or geo-caching tools to discover them yourself—and don’t miss the ghost sign right next door to Tilden Hotel, visible from select guest rooms and from the Backyard!
Haunted Houses and Other Eerie Experiences
Looking for a real scare? Check out haunted attractions across the Bay Area, including:
- Fear Overload Scream Park
- California’s Great America Halloween Haunt
- Winchester Mystery House – a famously eccentric and paranormal-friendly mansion built in 1923
Halloween Pub Crawls
If you prefer your Halloween with more cheer than fear, join in one of San Francisco’s spirited Halloween pub crawls. The biggest of them all is Crawloween, taking place this year on October 26. Don your costume and join fellow revelers in a holiday-themed bar-hopping adventure you won’t forget.
Whatever your Halloween vibe—historical, paranormal, family-friendly, or full-on fright—there’s something for everyone near Tilden Hotel this October.