Albuquerque Ghost Tour: Old Town's Haunted History

Walk the haunted streets of Old Town and hear the stories the buildings hold

Albuquerque Desert Shadows Rising Ghost Tour is a one-hour walking ghost tour through Old Town Albuquerque led by a live guide in English. You'll pass the American International Rattlesnake Museum, San Felipe de Neri Church, and the Bottger Mansion while learning about the gruesome deaths, illicit activities, and financial disasters that have marked this historic district. The tour covers roughly a mile and includes an EMF detector to use as you walk.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Old Town Albuquerque8m
2. San Felipe de Neri Church9m

Explore haunted Old Town Albuquerque

• Start at Old Town Albuquerque
• Pass by American International Rattlesnake Museum
• Visit San Felipe de Neri Church
• Walk past the Covered Wagon saloon
• Pass by Bottger Mansion site
• See hidden chapel in plaza

The experience

Old Town Albuquerque started as a 10-block settlement of adobe buildings in the 1700s, and the ghost tour traces that original footprint. You'll walk past San Felipe de Neri Church, which has stood as a place of worship since 1706, and the American International Rattlesnake Museum, one of the oldest buildings in New Mexico and occupied by the same family for over 200 years. The Bottger Mansion, built in the early 1900s, sits on land where a 40-room adobe house once stood. The guide will explain what happened there and why locals say the property is haunted.

The route also passes the Covered Wagon, built in 1880 by Manuel Springer, who originally opened a saloon called The Mint. Several saloons operated freely in Old Town for decades, and the guide connects those buildings to the darker chapters of Albuquerque's past. You'll carry an EMF detector as you walk, a tool used to sense electromagnetic activity that some believe indicates ghostly presence. The tour is a mile-long path, and stops may shift depending on the season and what's accessible on the day you go.

A live guide leads the entire hour, sharing the specific stories tied to each location: the deaths, the financial ruin, the activities that left their mark on the neighborhood. This is not a museum visit or a drive-by. You're on foot in the actual streets and plazas where these events took place, standing in front of the buildings as the guide talks about them.

What’s included

• One-hour walking tour through Old Town Albuquerque with a live guide in English.
• EMF detector to carry as you walk.
• stops at San Felipe de Neri Church, the American International Rattlesnake Museum, the Bottger Mansion, and other historic sites in the neighborhood.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 19:00 and 20:00

Book up to6h before

GroupUp to 40 · max 5 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Albuquerque Ghosts

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to hear the specific dark histories tied to Old Town's oldest buildings and churches without arranging a guide or transportation yourself. The live guide handles the storytelling and the route, so you just show up and walk.

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Top questions

What is the American International Rattlesnake Museum, and why does the tour pass it?

The American International Rattlesnake Museum is one of the oldest buildings in all of New Mexico, and it was occupied by the same family for over 200 years. The tour passes by it as part of the walk through Old Town's historic structures.

How long is the ghost tour, and how far do we walk?

The tour lasts one hour and covers roughly a mile through Old Town Albuquerque's haunted neighborhoods and historic streets.

What is San Felipe de Neri Church, and when was it built?

San Felipe de Neri Church has been a prominent place of worship in Albuquerque since 1706. It was originally named St. Francis Xavier before being changed to St. Philip Neri, or "Felipe" in Spanish.

What is an EMF detector, and how is it used on this tour?

An EMF detector is included with the tour and measures electromagnetic activity. You'll carry it as you walk, and some believe it can sense the presence of ghosts or paranormal activity in the locations you visit.

Can I do this tour if I use a wheelchair or have mobility concerns?

The tour is wheelchair accessible, and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Service animals are allowed. However, it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health.