Los Angeles: Hollywood Ghost Tour & Haunted Landmarks Walk

Summary

Walk Hollywood’s haunted mile hearing real ghost stories as neon flickers and old movie legends linger

You’ll wander Hollywood’s haunted mile with a local guide, stopping outside legendary spots like El Capitan Theatre and Roosevelt Hotel as real ghost stories unfold in the night air. Feel LA’s strange energy as you catch whiffs of popcorn and listen for whispers among neon lights — it’s equal parts eerie and oddly moving.

What’s the experience like?

We started out just off Hollywood Boulevard, feet already buzzing from the city’s leftover heat and that weird electric feeling you get around all the old theaters. Our guide, Marcus, had this way of talking — not dramatic, but like he’d actually seen some of this stuff himself. First stop was El Capitan Theatre. I swear, even with all the lights and traffic noise, there was something heavy in the air. Marcus pointed at a balcony where people have heard whispers (I didn’t hear anything except a siren in the distance, but still — it got under my skin).

The walk isn’t long — maybe a mile? But every few steps we’d pause at places like the Roosevelt Hotel or that magician’s club (Magic Castle). You could smell popcorn from somewhere, mixed with old concrete and car exhaust. At the Chinese Theatre, someone in our group tried to match their hands to an old movie star’s print; she laughed when her hand was way too small for John Wayne’s. Marcus told us about guests seeing shadows move behind the curtains there, and honestly, I kept glancing over my shoulder after that.

I didn’t expect to feel much — figured it’d be campy — but outside Hollywood High School, with its weird echoey silence at night, I got goosebumps. Maybe it was just the breeze or maybe thinking about all those stories of students seeing figures by the windows. The whole thing felt less like a show and more like being let in on secrets people usually keep quiet about.

By the time we reached that lookout point above Hollywood, you could see all these neon signs flickering below us and it hit me how many layers this city has. Ghosts or no ghosts, you end up walking away thinking about who used to walk these same streets — and who might still be hanging around.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore haunted Hollywood landmarks

• Visit El Capitan Theatre
• Explore TCL Chinese Theatre
• Tour Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
• See Magic Castle
• Visit Hollywood VIP Hotel
• View from Hollywood lookout
• Explore Hollywood First National Building
• Visit Hollywood High School

Top questions

How long is the Los Angeles ghost tour?

The tour covers about one mile of walking through central Hollywood.

Does the tour go inside any buildings?

No, you won’t enter buildings; stories are shared outside each haunted site.

Is this ghost tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces on this tour are wheelchair accessible.

Are children allowed on this Los Angeles ghost tour?

Infants and small children can join; strollers are welcome on the route.

What time do tours run?

The tours run nightly year-round in Los Angeles.

Who leads these ghost tours?

The tours are led by professional local guides experienced in LA history and paranormal tales.

What landmarks are included on this ghost walk?

You’ll visit spots like El Capitan Theatre, TCL Chinese Theatre, Roosevelt Hotel, Magic Castle, Hollywood VIP Hotel, First National Building, and Hollywood High School.

Is public transportation nearby for this tour?

Yes, public transportation options are available close to the starting point.

What’s included

Your evening includes a guided walk through Hollywood’s most haunted landmarks with expertly researched true stories of LA’s paranormal past; your guide shares documented accounts at each stop along an accessible route — no need to worry about stairs or tricky sidewalks here.