Santa Barbara Ghost Tour: 12-15 Haunted Stories & History

Walk the most haunted building in California and hear the spirits that stayed behind

A 2-hour guided ghost tour through Santa Barbara's most haunted sites, led by an experienced guide who shares 12–15 stories of local hauntings researched by Professor Julie Ann Brown. The tour covers El Cuartel, the Chapel, the historical museum, and El Paseo, with photos and videos of ghost sightings captured by past guests. Children are welcome from age 1, and the tour is free for kids under a certain age.

Step-by-step itinerary

Santa Barbara ghost history and mystery tour

• Hear haunted building history tales
• Visit El Cuartel and the Chapel
• Explore historical museum with spirits
• Walk around El Paseo haunted area

The experience

The tour starts with the most haunted building in California, where the guide walks you through its history and the spirits known to linger there. From there, you move to El Cuartel and the Chapel: both sites with documented hauntings tied to Spanish colonial and Chumash history. The historical museum is where Chumash visiting spirits and a Spanish-era lady have been reported, and the guide shares the research and eyewitness accounts that connect these stories to the places you're standing in.

You'll spend time walking through El Paseo, the historical visiting area of Santa Barbara known for paranormal activity. The guide brings photos and videos recorded by guests on previous tours: actual documentation of sightings rather than speculation. The 2-hour route is walkable at a steady pace, and the guide is experienced in delivering the stories in a way that holds the history and the mystery together without turning it into theater.

Children are welcome from age 1, and kids under a certain age go free, so families can join without the full ticket cost. The tour operates in English and moves through public areas of Santa Barbara, so you don't need a car to get there: public transportation options are available nearby. The guide keeps the group at a comfortable distance and the pace allows you to absorb both the stories and the locations where they took place.

What’s included

• Experienced guide leading the tour.
• 12–15 ghost stories and historical accounts researched by Professor Julie Ann Brown.
• photos and videos of guest-captured hauntings.
• access to all four haunted sites (the most haunted building in California, El Cuartel, the Chapel, and El Paseo).

Before you book

Days and timesFriday and SaturdayDeparts at 18:00

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

GroupUp to 15

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Santa Barbara Ghost Tours

Is this one for you?The tour starts in central Santa Barbara with public transit nearby, so you don't need a car to join. It's built for visitors staying downtown or arriving without their own transport. Children go free, which makes it an affordable way for families to explore the city's haunted history together.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

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 are the main haunted sites we visit on the Santa Barbara ghost tour?

The tour covers the most haunted building in California, El Cuartel, the Chapel, the historical museum (where Chumash spirits and a Spanish-era lady have been reported), and El Paseo, the historical area of Santa Barbara known for paranormal activity.

How long does the ghost tour take and what's the walking pace like?

The tour runs 2 hours and involves walking around the haunted sites at a steady pace. It's suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

Does the guide show evidence of the hauntings, or is it just stories?

The guide shares photos and videos of ghost sightings captured by guests on previous tours, along with the historical research and stories curated by Professor Julie Ann Brown. You'll see actual documentation of reported paranormal activity at each site.

How do I get to the tour if I don't have a car?

Public transportation options are available near the tour route in Santa Barbara, so you can reach the starting point without driving. The guide will let you know the exact meeting location when you book.