Ghost Stories From the Courthouse Steps to San Antonio's Bars
A 21-and-over walk by Alamo Plaza that trades ghost stories for drinks you buy in three or four downtown bars.
Ghost City Tours runs this walk every night at 8:00 PM, for adults only. A guide leads the group about a mile through downtown San Antonio, telling ghost stories and local history along the way, and stops at three or four bars where you can buy a drink. The Alamo is one of the story stops, seen from the plaza.
The night starts at the federal courthouse on East Houston Street, steps from the Alamo. The listing has it finishing at the St. Anthony Hotel.
Everyone on the booking has to be 21 or older, and the listing says a valid ID is required. Bring a government-issued photo ID: the guide checks it before the walk starts, and bar staff check it again at each stop. The operator names a driver's license, passport or state ID.
San Antonio Haunted Pub Crawl – Ghosts, Drinks & Historic BarsTwo-hour guided pub crawl through downtown San Antonio, adults 21+ with photo ID, 8:00 PM start, drinks and tips not included.www.viator.comMeet at the Federal Courthouse on East Houston Street
The meeting point is the Hipolito F. Garcia Federal Building and United States Courthouse, 615 E. Houston Street. The booking page spells the name "Hibolito," so search the street address. The tower of the Emily Morgan hotel rises right beside it.
The operator asks for arrival 10 to 15 minutes early to check in and have IDs verified. Its own page also warns that parking nearby is very hard to find and suggests a rideshare or a pedicab. Some reviews from 2022 and 2023 describe meeting near the Menger Hotel. The courthouse is the current spot on both the booking page and the operator's site, and a September 2026 reviewer found the guide waiting there.
Three or Four Bars, and the Line-Up Changes
The booking page lists five stops: a drink at Pat O'Brien's on Alamo Plaza, a story in front of the Alamo, a drink at Oro inside the Emily Morgan, then two more bars, with the last one tied to the St. Anthony Hotel. The operator's own page features the Emily Morgan, the Menger and the St. Anthony hotels plus the Alamo. It also says the crawl visits three or four bars and that not every stop is guaranteed every night.
Reviews bear that out. One posted on January 1, 2026 describes a wine bar in place of the Alamo and Pat O'Brien's, one from February 2026 counts two stops, and one from August 2026 says the group was too big to finish the full crawl. Go for the stories and the company, and treat any named bar as a maybe.
What the Ticket Covers, and What You Pay at the Bar
The ticket covers the guide. Drinks are bought on your own at each stop, and the listing leaves gratuities out as well, so bring a card for the bars and something extra for the tip. Food is not part of the price.
The listing alone sells up to 30 seats on a departure, and a March 2026 reviewer said a group of 30 meant waiting at the bars while people bought and finished drinks. Pets stay home. The operator welcomes service animals but no other animals on this crawl.
About a Mile on Foot, Rain or Shine
The operator puts the walk at about a mile, at a leisurely pace, with chances to sit along the way. It runs rain or shine, so check the forecast and bring a jacket or umbrella if rain is likely. Some of the storytelling happens on the sidewalk between bars, and reviews from March and August 2026 say a big group made the guide hard to hear.
The booking page marks this walk as wheelchair accessible, while the operator's own page for the crawl says it is not. Plan around the operator's answer.
📍 Meet at the Hipolito F. Garcia Federal Building and United States Courthouse, 615 E. Houston Street, San Antonio, 10 to 15 minutes before 8:00 PM.
- 8:00 PM start every night, about two hours
- Adults 21+ only, government-issued photo ID checked
- Booking closes two hours before the start; confirmation is instant
- Full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours ahead, none after that
The listing's last stop is the St. Anthony Hotel, across from Travis Park, so the night ends in the middle of downtown with a drink close at hand.