San Antonio: Ghost & Murder Walking Tour with Alamo & River Walk

The Alamo and San Antonio's Deadliest Stories, Told by Someone Who Knows Them

You walk through six stops (Spanish Governor's Palace, San Fernando Cathedral, Main Plaza's true crime site, a theater district venue, the River Walk, and the Alamo), while a professional guide connects the ghosts to the actual history. The tour moves continuously, covers both hauntings and real crime, and ends with local tavern tips. No need to arrange your own route or research the stories beforehand.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Spanish Governor's Palace10m
2. San Fernando Cathedral10m
3. San Antonio River Walkpassing by

San Antonio ghost and murder tour

• Visit Spanish Governor's Palace
• Explore San Fernando Cathedral
• Hear true crime shootout story
• Discover theater district hauntings
• Pause on San Antonio River Walk bridge
• Learn about the Alamo battle
• Listen to ghost stories at hotels

The experience

The tour is already moving when you arrive. Your guide is already mid-sentence about the Spanish Governor's Palace (the one with photographic evidence of a ghost from 1868), and you're standing in front of a building that looks ordinary until someone tells you what happened there. That's the rhythm of this San Antonio ghost and murder walking tour: you don't get a preamble, you get the story, and the story is attached to the place you're looking at. The guide knows the difference between a ghost story and a true crime case, and they're not mixing them up for effect.

You'll move through the oldest continually operating cathedral in America, San Fernando Cathedral on Main Plaza, where the history and the hauntings are tangled together so tight you can't separate them. Then comes the part most people don't expect: the real shootout. Ben Thompson and King Fisher, a gunslinger and a notorious figure, faced off right here, and your guide walks you through what actually happened, not the legend. After that, the theater district stop, where the stories shift to tragic accidents and ballerinas who never left. The pacing doesn't let you catch your breath, which is the point.

The River Walk crossing is where things slow down for a moment. You're on a bridge, the water is below, and your guide pauses to talk about how this place fits into everything you've already heard. It's not a rest stop. It's a pivot. Then you're at the Alamo, and here the tour does something most ghost tours don't: it gives you the true crime version of the most famous battle in Texas history. Not the sanitized version. The one with stakes. After that, the hotels around the plaza (the Menger and Emily Morgan), where guests have reported things that don't have easy explanations. Your guide finishes with tavern recommendations, which is a nice touch because by then you'll want a drink.

The whole thing is narrated by someone who's done this enough times to know which details stick and which ones don't. Wheelchair accessible, stroller-friendly, and designed so you're moving the whole time: no standing around waiting for the next thing. If you're the kind of person who wants to know what actually happened in a place before you decide whether to believe the ghost story, this is the tour that does that work for you.

What’s included

Your tour includes a fully narrated professional guide who leads you through six historic and haunted San Antonio landmarks: the Spanish Governor's Palace (with photographic ghost evidence from 1868), San Fernando Cathedral (the oldest continually operating cathedral in America), Main Plaza (site of a famous true crime shootout), a theater district venue with tragic stories, the San Antonio River Walk, and the Alamo. The guide provides both ghost stories and historical context, and finishes with recommendations for nearby taverns.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 19:00, 20:00, 21:30 and 22:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (7 to 10 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

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

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Walking Tours of San Antonio

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the real history behind San Antonio's most famous haunted sites without having to research the stories or plan the route yourself. The guide handles both the narrative and the logistics, so you just show up and listen.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 10 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time does the tour start?

Start time is not listed in the tour details. Check the booking page or contact the provider for departure times.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are also wheelchair accessible.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.

What's included in the tour?

A fully narrated professional guide who takes you through six haunted and historic sites in San Antonio.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

Can I use public transportation to get to the tour?

Yes. Public transportation options are available nearby.

What are the main stops on the San Antonio ghost tour?

Spanish Governor's Palace, San Fernando Cathedral, Main Plaza (true crime site), a theater district venue, San Antonio River Walk, and the Alamo.

Is this tour about ghosts or true crime?

Both. The tour covers ghost stories and hauntings alongside real crime events, including a famous shootout involving gunslinger Ben Thompson and King Fisher.