Portland’s underworld has a beer plan. I like that this tour gives you exclusive access to the Shanghai Tunnels, then brings the night above ground again with Old Town’s award-winning beer. Add in ghost stories about Nina and a dark slice of Portland history, and you get a very Portland mix of spooky and practical.

One thing to consider: expect lots of stairs and tight spaces. The experience runs through an old building with narrow stairs/doorways, duck-under obstacles, and uneven floors, so wear sturdy shoes and don’t plan on bringing mobility gear.

Key Things You’ll Notice on the Shanghai Tunnels Tour

• Exclusive underground access under Old Town, not just a walk-and-point kind of stop
• Ghost Nina stories tied to the tunnels and Portland’s harsher past
• Beer tastings plus a full pint from Old Town Pizza & Brewing to cap the tour
• Small groups (max 15), which helps you actually hear the guide in the tunnels
• Unfiltered historical topics including sexual content, drug use, trafficking, violence, and death
• Terrain that favors the able-bodied: stairs, pipe passage areas, and tight clearances

Meeting Old Town: Where the Tour Starts and How It Feels

The tour meets at Old Town Pizza & Brewing at 226 NW Davis St in Portland’s city center. It’s an easy setup because the underground experience begins right at a real neighborhood hangout, not at some random street corner.

I like this start because you can get your bearings fast. You’re also in a place where you can grab food if you want to arrive hungry, and it helps with the “downstairs, then beer” rhythm later.

Timing matters here. The tour runs about 1 hour 30 minutes, so you’ll want to be on time enough to check in and get grouped before going under.

Entering the Shanghai Tunnels: What Underground Access Really Means

Once you meet your guide and group, you head beneath Portland’s streets to explore passageways that historically connected local businesses to the Willamette River. What you’re looking at is part tunnel, part old underground infrastructure—passages that feel more like working spaces than movie sets.

This isn’t just a guided story in a basement. You actively move through the tunnels and old rooms, which is a big part of why people tend to remember the tour.

One detail to plan around: the route includes climbing up and down stairs, and you’ll also navigate around pipes between ceiling and floor. That means you’ll be adjusting your posture often, not just walking in a straight line.

Nina the Ghost and the Story Style You Should Expect

The haunted hook centers on Nina, the resident ghost the tour talks about during the walk. The guide blends the chilling side with real historical context—Portland’s darker episodes, including serious crimes and violence—so the spooky part lands as part of the narrative, not as a full horror show.

I’ve found that ghost tours usually land in one of two modes: either it’s mostly jump-scares and theatrical moments, or it’s storytelling that uses the haunting as a framing device. This one leans toward story plus history, with Nina as a recurring element.

Guides matter a lot here. The tour has been led by people like Skippy (and sometimes spelled Skipper), Natasha, Doug, and Kaitlin, and the best experiences seem to come from guides who can hold both tones—dark history and light banter—at the same time. If you’re hoping for a heavy dose of ghost activity over history facts, you might find the emphasis varies by guide.

The Dark History Part: Why It’s Worth Your Time (and Who Should Rethink)

This tour includes historic mention of sexual content, drug use, human trafficking, violence, and death. That’s not a minor detail, and you should treat it as a heads-up, not a footnote.

What I like about including these topics is that it keeps the tour grounded. You’re not just chasing spooky vibes; you’re learning how the underground spaces were tied to real survival, labor, and crime in the 1800s era of Portland’s waterfront world.

Still, it’s a good idea to decide ahead of time if this subject matter fits your comfort level. If you prefer light, purely theatrical haunting, this may feel heavy.

The Stops Inside: How the Tunnel Route Shapes Your Experience

Even though the tour is sold as a Shanghai Tunnels experience, the underground route is still limited to specific areas. You’re not wandering an entire underground network for ages. Instead, you move through a set of tunnel spaces tied to the Old Town property and its surrounding underground passages.

That has two practical effects.

First, it keeps the tour tight and focused. You’ll get a complete hour-and-a-half arc instead of being stuck in one long corridor.

Second, it means expectations should match reality: if you’re imagining an endless maze, you may find it more like a curated walk through the parts that are accessible and usable.

You’ll also spend real time getting close to the physical details. One of the memorable bits is how the spaces force you to notice the infrastructure—pipes, low clearances, and the texture of old underground surfaces—because you can’t avoid them.

The Pipe and Stair Challenge: Comfort, Safety, and What to Wear

The tour explicitly warns about uneven dirt floors, narrow stairs and doorways, and obstacles you must duck under. Add in maneuvering between pipes in ceiling-to-floor spaces, and you get a clear picture: this is not an easy stroll.

I’d treat comfortable footwear as non-negotiable. Closed-toe shoes with grip are your friend, and sneakers are often the smart move.

If you have mobility issues, this is likely not the right fit. Even without a medical condition, the stair-and-claustrophobic feel can be tiring, especially if you don’t like tight spaces.

Also, the tour is small—max 15 people—so you’ll feel the group’s pace. That can be good for atmosphere, but it also means you should keep yourself physically ready to follow instructions quickly.

Old Town Brewery Finish: Tastings, Pint, and the End-of-Tour Mood

After resurfacing, the tour shifts from underground storytelling to beer. You get three tasters and one full pint of Old Town’s award-winning beer to end the experience.

This is a smart value move. Many tours give you a single drink, and you still pay extra. Here, the beer is part of the package, so you’re not scrambling to find a place after you’re already in Old Town.

People also talk up the food connection with Old Town Pizza & Brewing. If you’re hungry, plan to eat either before the tour (when the restaurant is open) or after you finish. One practical caution: the timing of restaurant service can affect whether you get a sit-down slice right after your tour.

The tasting itself is meant as a sampler, not a massive pour. You’ll have enough to feel like you did something fun without turning the rest of your night into a write-off.

Price and Value: Is $48 for Portland Worth It?

At $48 per person, you’re paying for a guided underground experience plus beer. For Portland, that price lands in the “special evening” category, not everyday activity territory.

Here’s what makes it feel like good value if it matches your interests:

• You get exclusive access to the tunnels, not just street-level history.
• You get three tastings and a full pint, so the beer isn’t an add-on.
• The tour includes a full 90-minute storytelling arc, with a small group size (max 15) so it doesn’t feel overcrowded.

Here’s when it might feel less like a deal:

• If you’re mainly chasing haunting effects, not history, the narrative balance may not match your expectations.
• If you want a huge tunnel system, the accessible walk may feel shorter than what you pictured.

The best way to judge fit is to ask yourself: do you like Portland’s real-life gritty past, and do you want beer as part of the payoff? If yes, $48 likely feels fair.

Who This Tour Fits Best (and Who Might Skip It)

This experience is a great match for adults 21+ (with exceptions for the 2pm & 3pm tour that allow teenagers). It’s also not for kids under 12, and there are no babies or infants allowed.

It fits best if you:

• enjoy haunted stories with a history backbone
• like beer tastings as a final treat
• can handle stairs, low clearances, and tight passage areas
• want a small-group night activity in central Portland

I’d consider skipping if you:

• have mobility limitations that make stairs and duck-under spaces hard
• prefer ghost stories without serious historical topics
• want a big, sprawling underground maze instead of a focused route through accessible areas

Booking Tips That Save You Time

This tour is offered in English, and you’ll get a confirmation at booking. It runs with a maximum of 15 travelers, which is one reason it can book up.

On average, it’s booked about 12 days in advance, so if you’re traveling around a busy period, I’d plan ahead. Also note that it requires good weather, and cancellations due to poor weather may offer another date or a full refund.

If your schedule is tight, take the no-refunds-for-late-arrivals-and-same-day-cancellations rule seriously. Showing up late can cost you the experience, so aim to arrive early enough to check in.

Should You Book the Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnels Tour?

Book it if you want a one-of-a-kind Portland night that blends underground tunnels, Nina ghost storytelling, and a real ending with Old Town beer tastings plus a pint. I think it’s especially good for a date-night vibe, a history-curious evening, or anyone who likes spooky with substance.

Skip it if you need step-free accessibility, you dislike tight spaces, or you’re only looking for more supernatural action than history. And if the topics listed in the adult content warning sound like a tough fit, choose a different tour that matches your comfort level.

If you’re on the fence, go with your instincts: this is a walking, stair-included, small-group underground experience where the beer is part of the deal—and the haunting is tied directly to the place.

FAQ

How long is the Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnel Tour?

The tour is about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Old Town Pizza & Brewing, 226 NW Davis St, Portland, OR 97209.

What is included in the ticket price?

You get the Portland Underground Shanghai Tunnels tour, exclusive tunnel access, historic storytelling (including Nina), and 3 beer tastings plus 1 pint of Old Town’s award-winning beer.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

Do you need to be 21+ to attend?

Yes, you must be 21+ for all tours other than the 2pm and 3pm tour, which allow teenagers.

Are kids allowed?

No babies, infants, or kids under 12 are allowed. Some tours are 21+ only.

Is the tour easy for people with mobility issues?

No. The tour notes an old building with narrow stairs and doorways, duck-under obstacles, and uneven dirt floors. Comfortable footwear is recommended, and it involves climbing stairs and navigating tight spaces.

How many people are in a group?

The tour has a maximum of 15 travelers.

What if weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered another date or a full refund.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. No refunds apply for late arrivals or same-day cancellations.