• Westin St. Francis (hotel) - The tour kicks off with the Fatty Arbuckle affair, Hollywood’s inaugural sex scandal, which took place in San Francisco. This story is not only intriguing but its impact is still evident today in various ways.

If the hotel is open, guests have the option to enjoy a drink at the elegant bar in the lobby.

• Union Square - Uncover a scandalous tale about the statue located at the heart of Union Square.
• Maiden Lane - Discover how this charming pedestrian street was once the center of San Francisco’s red-light district.
• Chinatown - San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest in the U.S., where Chinese immigrants faced significant discrimination. Criminal activities such as opium dens, gangs, and murders were rampant. Explore the stories of notable figures and crimes as you stroll through the streets.
• Comstock Saloon - One of San Francisco’s oldest bars, dating back to the Barbary Coast era. A 10-15 minute stop for a drink is typical—rest assured, you won’t be shanghaied!
• Columbus Avenue - Among the few structures that survived the Great Fire were the Hotaling warehouses. Was it because the whiskey inside was too valuable to lose?
• Portsmouth Square - Discover how the Gold Rush shaped San Francisco. In its early days, this area was the Wild West, rife with murder, robbery, kidnapping, and lynchings.
• Jackson Square - Once known as the Barbary Coast, this neighborhood was infamous for its danger, with robbery, assault, and shanghaiing being common (but not anymore, rest assured :-).
• The Old Ship Saloon - The oldest bar in San Francisco, built atop a Gold Rush ship abandoned by its crew in 1849. It’s the ideal spot to conclude the tour.

• $1 donation to Climate Cents for every guest
• Professional Tour Guide

• Gratuities not included, because voluntary. Please allow 15-20% if you enjoy the tour.
• Drinks are not included.

On our Notorious SF: Ghost & Crime tour we visit the sites of Hollywood scandals, red light areas, opium dens, gang violence, Gold Rush era lynchings & kidnappings – & enjoy cocktails in one or two historic bars.

We start with the Fatty Arbuckle affair, the original sex scandal that changed the public’s perception of celebrity forever (& lead to the ‘morality clause’ in contracts). Then we stroll down Maiden Lane, which is lined with designer shops now, but 100 years ago was the city’s main red light district.

After that we visit Chinatown, an area of opium dens and gambling hellholes in days gone by. Next you’ll learn about Gold Rush era SF. Then we dive down to the Barbary Coast, with its brothels & dance halls, often used to Shanghai unwary sailors (which is where the term originated).

We end the tour at the oldest bar in San Francisco, the Old Ship Saloon. Join our Notorious SF: Scandal & Crime tour & be haunted by these ghastly ghosts from San Francisco’s past for weeks.

• Aim to get to the meeting point 10-15 minutes early. If you’re late you may miss the tour.
• Not recommended for children under 15 years old (adult content).
• By making a booking for this tour you agree to be bound by Real San Francisco Tours terms of service.
• We can go into two different bars for cocktails on this tour, each for 15 minutes. You do have to be over 21 y.o. to order an alcoholic drink – but you don’t have to be over 21 y.o. to do this tour.
• Please check dates/times carefully BEFORE making a booking.
• This is a walking tour and we move at a reasonable pace. Please book a private tour if you have mobility issues.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.