San Jose Ghost Tour: The Scythe, Sacrifice, & Silhouette
Overview
Available languages
1 hour
Mobile ticket
Embark on a spine-chilling journey through San Jose's eerie streets with our walking ghost tour, where history and hauntings collide!
Led by an expert local guide, you'll explore haunted and historic locations brimming with ghostly tales.
As you stroll through the city, be prepared to encounter thrilling accounts of spectral apparitions that have marked iconic sites.
From the haunted grounds of San Jose State University to the enigmatic Winchester Mystery House, each stop unveils the dark secrets and restless spirits lurking in the shadows. Traverse a mile of haunted terrain and uncover the disturbing history of this once-bloody metropolis. Locations like the Sainte Claire Hotel and Park Avenue echo with tales of death and devastation.
Although entry into private buildings isn't allowed, you'll be surrounded by the ghosts of San Jose’s past.
Gather your courage and prepare for an evening of spooky tales and encounters that will make you question what lies beyond the living.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Local Guide
Chilling Stories
Gratuity
What To Expect
San Jose State University, established in 1857 as the first higher education institution in the West, initially focused on training teachers. Among its historic buildings, Hoover Hall stands out for its eerie reputation, with reports of paranormal activities and ghostly occurrences adding a haunting layer to its storied past.
Winchester Mystery House
The Winchester Mystery House is a sprawling mansion built by Sarah Winchester, whose unusual construction and eerie design have captivated visitors from around the world. Believed to be cursed, Sarah Winchester's home is renowned for its labyrinthine layout and numerous reports of ghostly apparitions, drawing those intrigued by its mysterious and haunting allure.
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San Jose Ghost Tour: The Scythe, Sacrifice, & Silhouette
Reviews
20 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Wasted my money.
lsydneyfisheri,
Oct 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00I booked a tour for October 16th and spent thirty minutes walking around trying to find the tour group. I used Google Maps on my phone, and when I reached the address listed on my ticket, no one was there. The tour guide finally called me, but wasn't able to offer much assistance. When I called the phone number that I used to purchase the ticket, the representative argued with me about the address and said I could send an email to management and request a refund. DO BETTER with your meeting point instructions. This was a big disappointment for me since I traveled across the country to visit San Jose and was looking forward to an evening of haunted history. Eventually, I gave up and went back to my hotel after missing most of the tour and being unable to find the meeting point. A REFUND should be honored!
Wonderful and spooky experience!
jr3187873,
Oct 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sydney was amazing! She told really fun stories that i didn't know. She was really nice and informative.
Worst Ghost Adventures tour
sathyanarayananm2024,
Dec 26, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00The tour was very short. This is the worst ghost tour i have done. We had to pay $50 for two people and the guide forgot some of the characters and incidents which did not make the tour an interesting experience. Not worth the money!
Great fun!
361mecheles,
Nov 12, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jesse was an amazing tour guide! Very informative and had some really funny anecdotes. There was so much history I hadn't known about San Jose, that he really brought to life. I highly recommend this tour!
Was a good experience just didn’t go to one stop that was advertised a bit disappointed
L2287MQstevea,
Nov 3, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Everything was great but it was advertised we Were going to go to Winchester mansion and we didn’t I was looking forward to that stop
great tour
Angelgirl4life16,
Oct 31, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00I like it. The hotel we stayed at turned out to be haunted and was one of the sights on the ghost tour. It was appropriate for kids, but it was a lot of walking. We learned lots about the history and culture of San Jose.
Fantastic spooky walking tour
Anna F,
Oct 16, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a fabulous time on the tour! Loved our guide and learned a lot! Highly recommend!!! Perfect for the Halloween spooky season!
Fun City ghost tour!
A1781TWkathleenh,
Oct 15, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our San Jose, CA city ghost tour was a good walk. Our tour guide, Lexi, always had a smile on her face and was willing to answer any questions that we had! Now whenever I go into certain buildings, I will be aware of the ghosts that may be there!
Very awesome experience:)
C4942MDjohnnyv,
Oct 13, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide was amazing! I had just visited the Winchester house earlier that day and had some additional questions she really took the time to thoughtfully answer. She kept the tour on time, interesting and everyone engaged. I was very nervous about coming solo but I enjoyed my time thoroughly and I’m so glad I did! Come to Pasadena next!
Disappointed
954tarhatab,
Oct 10, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00I’ve been to other ghost tours and this simply felt like I was just getting a walking history of crazy death stories in San Jose. I’d say that a third of the stories were of places in San Jose we were not standing at, such as the Winchester Mystery House and stories from the Rose Garden area and Santa Cruz. What made this tour less interesting and far less enjoyable was that we didn’t get to go inside any establishments in order to feel connected with any stories or spirits, compared to other ghost tours where we were able to go inside haunted hotels, establishments, etc. We were either listening to a story that took place elsewhere, standing in front of the building, or standing across the street. Additionally, I purchased a paranormal magnetic field meter for the tour and the guide didn’t explain what it was or how to interpret it until 20 minutes into the 1 hour tour. I was like, “what am I supposed to do with this?” She could have used this prop as part of her story telling to make us feel more engaged, but didn’t. It almost felt like she memorized a script and had no connection to the stories, except for the fact she has her masters in criminal justice, which she liked repeating to us and was loosely relating her criminal justice major to the crimes that took place in San Jose. In other ghost tours, guides told more personal stories of their interactions with spirits, went into more detail about how it felt…I felt like I could have gotten the same, or perhaps an even better ghost tour of San Jose by watching a YouTube documentary on my couch. Lastly, if the guide is supposedly into spirits and paranormal activity, don’t wear a ridiculous witch hat and hold a battery operated candelabra and tell us you got it at Target. The guide talked about indigenous natives who were killed and terrible things that happened to minorities and how there are cultural components that explain why their spirits remain. The guide could have taken this opportunity to use indigenous items, like incense or sage or palo santo to add to the story telling and richness of the cultures behind it. Instead, she chose to explain that she went out and bought a candelabra “because it was cheap and ya know, it does the trick.”
From $32.00
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Operated by San Jose Ghosts