Specters and Sinners Walking Tour
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 38 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Specters and Sinners Walking Tour worth booking?
Specters and Sinners Walking Tour is a 1.5-hour experience in San Diego, United States, from $35 per person. It scores 70 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 38 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 70 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (38)
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- From
- $35 per person
The Specters & Sinners Ghost Tour is our Adults-Only Tour in San Diego. It's also the most unique. We use San Diego's haunted locations to tell the lesser-known stories of our Founding Fathers and the hauntings tied to t
What you get
About this experience
The Specters & Sinners Ghost Tour is our Adults-Only Tour in San Diego. It's also the most unique. We use San Diego's haunted locations to tell the lesser-known stories of our Founding Fathers and the hauntings tied to them. If you're looking for an amazing, through-provoking Ghost Tour, this is the tour for you.
What's included
Included
- Other
Not included
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
Tivoli Bar
The Tivoli Bar is an excellent starting point to begin telling you all about what San Diego was like during the late-1800s, and happens to have its own interesting history to explore!
20 minutes here · Admission not included
Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House
The Davis-Horton House belonged to the creator of San Diego's downtown area, and also contains the Gaslamp Museum! Each of the rooms represent a different era of history this house has endured.
20 minutes here · Admission not included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
San Diego
Our tour guide will meet guests in front of Tivoli, please have your confirmation email ready.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Our tour guide will meet guests in front of Tivoli, please have your confirmation email ready.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 10 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Ghost City Tours San Diego
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 38 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
6 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
38 verified traveler reviews for Specters and Sinners Walking Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
More Social Anxiety than I had in High School
My husband and I went together thinking it would be a fun ghost tour of a few haunted buildings. Boy, were we wrong. I think we were put into the worst social experiment of our lives. We were paraded around the busier parts of downtown while our tour guide very loudly talked about r*pe, m*rder and generally uncomfortable subjects in front of crowded areas. And I want to clarify, our tour guide was projecting so much that their voice echoed off of buildings. Throughout the whole tour, they had a laser pointer which they would unabashedly shine into occupied restaurants and bustling streets. I understand you need to point things out, but let's not blind people maybe? I think a finger will do the job just fine. At one point, we were in front of a bar where people were eating while our tour guide went on and on about how the building was a morgue and super unclean. Another time, when talking about a serial killer, they LOUDLY proclaimed something along the lines of "he would kill the women and then f*ck their dead bodies." Several people were around us during all of these instances. I was so embarrassed that I was actively trying to think of ways to get myself out of the situation. I haven't felt this much social anxiety since high school. It was worse that my husband and I were the only ones in the tour so we had no crowd to hide in. If you are someone who believes that you could never get embarrassed, this will change that. :)
via Tripadvisor
Couples Things To Do
Jon was incredible! Decided to do a quick getaway with my significant other and this was the perfect cherry on top to end our vacation. Thank you for the incredible mix of knowledge and spookiness. #keepJon
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that Jon made your getaway extra special with the perfect mix of knowledge and spookiness. We’ll be sure to pass along your shoutout—#keepJon indeed! We can’t wait to have you back for another adventure.
via Tripadvisor
Gaslamp Ghoulies
We had a great time on the Specters and Sinners Tour in the Gaslamp Quarter during our visit to San Diego. Our guide, Jon, knew all the hot spots to hit and had some fun gadgets that let us know when a spirit was near. He was very engaging and our two teenagers were entertained the whole time. We learned so much and found some new great places to come back and visit next time we're in town! Thank you, Jon!
Response from the operator: Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so glad to hear that Jon made the Specters and Sinners Tour fun and engaging for the whole family. It’s great that your teens enjoyed the experience and that you discovered some new spots to explore on your next visit. We’ll be sure to pass along your thanks to Jon—he’ll be thrilled! We can’t wait to have you back in San Diego for another adventure.
via Tripadvisor
Ghosts, brothels, bars and cat toys
Jon was an excellent guide! Full of knowledge and great ghost hunting tips! He made the 90 minute tour feel like 30. We learned a lot and now we have a huge list of sites we wish to visit
Response from the operator: Thank you for joining us on the tour! We hope you had a great time learning about the ghosts and hauntings in San Diego!
via Tripadvisor
Great tour!
John was amazing! He was very knowledgeable and so nice! I hope to come back and have another tour with him. Good stuff :))
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 13
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 70
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Specters and Sinners Walking Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for San Diego.
How much does Specters and Sinners Walking Tour cost?
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Prices start at $35 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in San Diego usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Specters and Sinners Walking Tour take?
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Plan for about 1.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in San Diego is not rushed.
Is Specters and Sinners Walking Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 70 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 38 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in San Diego, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Specters and Sinners Walking Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Specters and Sinners Walking Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Specters and Sinners Walking Tour?
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Around 13 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in San Diego can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in San Diego and add a light layer if any part of the 1.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Specters and Sinners Walking Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central San Diego within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in San Diego?
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San Diego is an outdoor-first city: whale watching from December through April, La Jolla kayak and snorkel runs year round, harbour cruises and the USS Midway, plus Balboa Park museums when the marine layer sits low. We rank water operators on group ratios and gear quality, which is where the cheap La Jolla trips fall down. On Outty we rank every San Diego experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include USS Midway Museum Admission: Valid Any Date, Taste of Little Italy in San Diego, San Diego Whale Watching Cruise. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit San Diego?
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March to May and September to November, either side of the June overcast. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in San Diego?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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