Haunted Pub Tour Portland: Ghost Stories & Beer Samples

Portland's Dark Side: Gangsters, Ghosts and the Sailors Who Vanished

The Haunted Pub Tour is a 2.5-hour walking tour through Portland's Old Town and historic waterfront where you hear stories of Shanghai Tunnels, kidnappings and the gangsters whose ghosts still haunt the city, with 5 beer samples from local breweries woven through the stops. The tour stays above ground, is led by a local historian, and maxes out at 20 people per group. Minimum age is 21.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Portland's haunted history

• Visit local landmark and beer fountain
• Hear stories of opium smuggling and kidnappings
• See iconic Voodoo Doughnuts sign
• Walk through Historic Old Town District

The experience

Start at a local landmark and first public artwork in Portland, then move into the stories that shaped the city's reputation. In the early 1900s, unsuspecting sailors were abducted through the notorious Shanghai Tunnels and forced onto ships: a practice so widespread that the ghosts of those victims are said to linger in the district today. Your guide, a local historian and ghost hunter, walks you through the waterfront where opium smuggling, brothels and kidnapping operations once ran openly, and explains why their dark legacy still echoes through the streets.

The tour hits the iconic sign next to Voodoo Doughnuts that embodies Portland's embrace of the weird, then moves into the Historic Old Town District: alive with restaurants and nightlife now, but a den of opium dens, brothels and underground speakeasies a century ago. You'll stop at the famous Merchant Hotel, home to Nina, Portland's most famous ghost, and hear the stories of how notorious local gangsters managed to kidnap thousands of people off the streets. The 50:50 split between wicked history and hauntings keeps the tone mildly spooky rather than intense, so you get the dark facts without the jump scares.

Five local beer samples, 5 ounces each, are distributed across the stops, so you're tasting from the breweries that have made this neighborhood what it is today. The whole walk takes 2.5 hours and stays above ground, so you're hearing the stories of the tunnels without descending into them. Groups stay under 20 people, which means your guide can actually hear questions and the crowd doesn't overwhelm the narrow streets of Old Town.

What’s included

• 5 local beer samples (5 ounces each).
• live guide who is a local historian and ghost hunter.
• walking route through Portland's Old Town District and historic waterfront.

Information

Lasts 2h 30m, runs Friday at 19:00, from US$ 45 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesFridayDeparts at 19:00Another day? ›

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Book up to5h before

AgesAdult (21 and older) · Under 21: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by BeerQuest Walking Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want Portland's real criminal history and ghost stories told by someone who knows the city's dark past, rather than a generic haunted house experience. The 2.5-hour walk and moderate fitness requirement mean it suits travelers who are comfortable on their feet and interested in the wicked side of the city's story, not a casual stroll, but not an endurance test either.

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Top questions

What exactly happened in the Shanghai Tunnels and why are they part of this tour if we stay above ground?

The Shanghai Tunnels were the underground network where sailors were held before being forced onto ships during the early 1900s kidnapping operations. The tour stays above ground but tells the full story of how the tunnels connected to the waterfront and Old Town establishments where victims were abducted, so you understand the geography and the history without going below street level.

How spooky is this tour? Will there be jump scares or is it more historical storytelling?

The Haunted Pub Tour is rated mildly spooky and splits evenly between wicked history and ghost stories, so it's more about the real crimes and the legends that grew from them than sudden frights. Your guide is a local historian, so the focus is on what actually happened and why people believe the ghosts are still there.

Where exactly do we walk and what neighborhoods are included?

The tour covers Portland's Old Town District and the historic waterfront, hitting landmarks like the fountain near a local brewery, the iconic sign next to Voodoo Doughnuts, and the famous Merchant Hotel where Portland's most famous ghost, Nina, is said to haunt. You'll walk through the streets where opium dens, brothels and speakeasies once operated.

Are the 5 beer samples included in the price, and do I have to drink them all?

Yes, 5 local beer samples of 5 ounces each are included in the tour price and distributed across the stops. You're not required to drink all of them. You can skip any sample you don't want.

What's the minimum age and is this tour physically demanding?

The minimum age is 21 years old. The tour is a 2.5-hour walk through Old Town, so you should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. It's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. The route is wheelchair accessible in some areas, and public transportation options are available nearby if you need a break.