Portland: Haunted Pub Walking Tour & 5 Beer Tastings

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/7

Duration2h 30m

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Portland’s haunted past comes alive with ghost tales and local brews

You’ll walk through Portland’s Old Town with a local guide who knows every strange story and shadowy corner. Taste five different local beers as you hear about ghosts like Nina and the infamous Shanghai Tunnels. It’s part history lesson, part pub crawl — with enough weirdness to leave you glancing over your shoulder on the way home.

2h 30m

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

Li was already waiting for us outside the old Merchant Hotel, grinning like he knew a secret. He shook my hand (cold, maybe just the Portland drizzle) and asked if we’d ever heard of Nina — “Portland’s most famous ghost, or so they say.” I tried to pronounce her name in Mandarin and Li burst out laughing, which broke the ice fast. The city felt different at dusk — lamplight bouncing off wet pavement, the smell of hops drifting from somewhere nearby. I didn’t expect to start a haunted pub tour with laughter but there you go.

We ducked into our first bar — honestly, I can’t remember the name because I was too busy trying to keep up with Li’s stories about sailors getting shanghaied right under these floors. He pointed at a trapdoor by the bar and said, “That’s where they disappeared.” The bartender slid over our first beer sample (malty, kind of smoky?) and winked when she caught me glancing at the floorboards. There was this weird mix of warmth inside and that chill you get when someone talks about ghosts like they’re still around.

The walking part wasn’t tough — Old Town is compact — but every corner seemed to have its own rumor. Li told us about opium dens and brothels, but also how people now just come here for pizza or late-night donuts. At one stop, someone in our group tried to ask about the Shanghai Tunnels and Li just said quietly, “We stay above ground.” That stuck with me more than any jump-scare story could. I liked how he didn’t force anything spooky; it was more like letting us peek behind Portland’s curtain for a couple hours. The last beer tasted almost floral — or maybe that was just relief that nothing had grabbed my ankles all night.

What’s included

Your evening includes five 5-ounce samples of local beer at various pubs along with stories from your local guide as you explore Old Town on foot. All tastings and guiding are included; just bring your curiosity (and maybe an umbrella).

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by BeerQuest Walking Tours