Santa Monica: Ghosts and Phantoms of the Pier Walking Tour

Santa Monica’s famous pier takes on a darker mood after sunset, when this one-hour walk links beach-town history with tales of missing people, restless stars, and strange encounters. You’ll visit spots connected with the Georgian Hotel, Chez Jay, the carousel, and other corners near the waterfront.

I like the compact one-hour route, which fits neatly into an evening, and the way the tour mixes local stories with familiar names such as Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, and Marilyn Monroe. The lantern-carrying guide also gives you an easy way to find the group beneath the pier sign.

The main drawback is that $24 is a fair but not tiny price for a short walking tour, and the route covers more than a mile. The stories may suit adults and older children best, while anyone seeking a serious investigation of paranormal claims may find the tone more entertaining than scientific.

Key points to know before you go

• The meeting point is under the Santa Monica Pier sign, where Ocean Avenue meets Colorado Avenue at the foot of Colorado Avenue.
• The one-hour walk returns to the same spot, making it simple to pair with dinner, the pier, or an evening along the beach.
• The Georgian Hotel and Chez Jay anchor the storytelling, with accounts tied to old Hollywood and local hauntings.
• The route includes the mysterious disappearance of Celine Borde, along with tales of a shadow on the carousel.
• The extended option adds three haunted locations, including the Pacific Wheel and a story involving Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy.
• You should arrive 15 minutes early, wear comfortable shoes, and dress for changing coastal weather.

Starting under the Santa Monica Pier sign

The tour begins beneath the large Santa Monica Pier sign at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue. This is at the foot of Colorado Avenue, not somewhere deep inside the pier, so you can get your bearings before the group sets off.

Look for a guide wearing a US Ghost Adventures shirt and carrying a lantern. That lantern matters in practical terms. The area around the pier can be busy, especially near popular evening hours, and a visible guide is easier to spot than a person standing alone with a phone.

Arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start. The tour uses a live English-speaking guide, and the entire activity finishes back at the meeting point. You do not need to arrange a ride between stops, but you should plan your way to Santa Monica in advance because transportation is not included.

The pier sign is also a useful place to meet if different people in your party are arriving from separate directions. Once the walk begins, you will be moving through public areas near the beach, hotels, bars, bridges, and amusement attractions.

Why the one-hour format works

A one-hour tour gives you a quick introduction to Santa Monica’s spooky side without taking over your evening. I like this length for a first visit, especially if you also want time for the pier, the Pacific Wheel, dinner, or a sunset stroll.

The short format does mean the guide must keep the pace moving. You should expect a sequence of stories and stops rather than long periods at each location. The value comes from the connections between them: Santa Monica’s beach setting, local legends, old entertainment culture, and stories about people who may still be present after dark.

The tour is built around history as well as ghosts. You will hear about Santa Monica’s links to the gold rush and the Day of the Dead, then move into tales of haunted buildings and famous personalities. That mix keeps the walk from feeling like a string of unrelated jump scares.

Because the route covers more than a mile, comfortable shoes are important. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, but it is also not suitable for people with mobility impairments and is not recommended for anyone unable to walk more than a mile. Those details do not fit neatly together, so if you rely on a wheelchair or have limited walking ability, confirm the route conditions before booking.

The Georgian Hotel and Santa Monica’s old stories

The Georgian Hotel is one of the tour’s main story stops. Here, the guide shares first-hand accounts of paranormal activity connected with the hotel, giving the walk a more personal tone than a basic list of dates and building names.

Hotels make effective settings for ghost stories because they connect public history with private rooms and long-vanished visitors. On this tour, the Georgian becomes part of a wider look at Santa Monica as a place where old entertainment culture and beach-town life overlap.

You should listen for the difference between documented local history and reported supernatural events. The tour presents both as part of the experience, but it does not turn the walk into a formal research investigation. I would treat the stories as folklore and oral history, while enjoying the atmosphere they create around the building.

If you prefer tours with a strong sense of place, this stop should appeal. You are not only hearing about a ghost in an abstract setting. You are standing near a real Santa Monica landmark and hearing why it has become part of the town’s haunted identity.

Chez Jay and the ghosts of Old Hollywood

The stop outside Chez Jay shifts the focus toward Hollywood figures. Stories connected with Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, and Marlon Brando give the tour a playful celebrity angle, while the bar’s place in Santa Monica’s nightlife adds a more grounded setting.

I like this section because it gives the supernatural tales a recognizable human cast. Even if you are not convinced that famous spirits return, you can still enjoy the idea of old Hollywood lingering around a familiar local meeting place.

The tour does not promise access inside every location. Much of the experience takes place outside, so expect to hear the stories while standing on the public route rather than sitting down for a meal or entering a private room. That is worth knowing if you imagine a pub crawl or an indoor hotel tour.

The old Hollywood material also helps break up the darker stories. The walk is not presented as pure horror. It has humor, celebrity lore, and a touch of theatrical performance, which may make it more comfortable for people who enjoy spooky themes but do not want an intense fright experience.

Celine Borde and the mystery at the center

One of the tour’s more distinctive stories concerns the mysterious disappearance of Celine Borde. This gives the walk a clear mystery thread, rather than relying only on ghost sightings and celebrity names.

A disappearance story changes the mood. Instead of simply asking if a spirit appeared in a room, you are left considering what happened to a person and why the story remains tied to Santa Monica. The guide uses this account as part of the town’s darker side, adding suspense to the route.

The available details do not establish a final explanation, so you should expect an unresolved tale. That can be a strength if you enjoy open-ended mysteries. It can also frustrate you if you want a firm historical answer at every stop.

The guide’s presentation matters here. The tour includes well-researched history and local ghost stories, so you can expect an organized narrative rather than random rumors. Still, the supernatural parts belong to the world of legend and reported experience. Keep a healthy distance between atmosphere and proof.

The carousel, bridges, and amusement rides

The tour includes a ghostly carousel story involving a mysterious shadow. That is a fitting setting for Santa Monica, where the pier’s rides and lights create a very different mood during the day than they do after sunset.

You may find this part especially enjoyable if you like the contrast between ordinary amusement attractions and eerie storytelling. A carousel is meant to be cheerful, yet the story gives it a strange after-hours character. The same idea applies to the bridges and other parts of the route, where familiar public spaces take on a new feel once the guide points out their darker associations.

The experience is a walking tour, not a ride package. The phrase ghostly carousel ride refers to the story told along the route, and the tour information does not include admission to amusement attractions. Plan on listening and walking rather than expecting tickets for the carousel or other rides.

That distinction helps you budget. The $24 price covers the guided one-hour experience, but not transportation, food, amusement rides, or a tip for the guide.

Sunset views and rooftop spirits

The timing can add a lot to the mood. The tour invites you to scan the skyline for rooftop spirits as the sun drops behind the water, placing the stories against Santa Monica’s evening light.

This is one of the more appealing parts of the route for me because it uses the setting without pretending the view itself proves anything paranormal. The ocean, rooftops, and pier lights create a strong backdrop, while the guide gives you a reason to look up and notice parts of town you might otherwise pass.

Sunset times change during the year, and starting times depend on availability. Check the schedule when booking if this view is important to you. A tour that begins too early may have more daylight, while a later start may offer a darker setting. The tour runs rain or shine, so bring weather-appropriate clothing rather than counting on perfect skies.

Do not expect silence around the pier. This is a popular public area, and the experience takes place outdoors. The guide has to work with the normal sounds and activity of Santa Monica, which can sometimes reduce the eerie effect. In exchange, you get a real town at night rather than a staged attraction.

The optional extended route and Pacific Wheel story

An extended tour option adds three more haunted locations. The most unusual extra stop is the Pacific Wheel, where the ghost of Marilyn Monroe has reportedly been spotted on a date with John F. Kennedy.

This story pushes the experience further into celebrity folklore. It is likely to appeal to you if the Old Hollywood section is your main reason for booking. It may feel less convincing if you prefer local history without famous names attached.

The longer option also changes the value calculation. The standard tour is one hour and costs $24 per person. The supplied information does not state the extended option’s price or exact duration, so check those details before selecting it. You should also confirm what the three added locations involve, since the basic route and the extended route are not identical.

I would choose the extended version only if you want more time with the stories and do not mind a longer walk. For a first visit or a tight evening schedule, the standard route gives you the main themes without committing to extra stops.

What the price includes, and what it does not

At $24 per person, the tour is reasonably priced for a guided local walk, especially if you value the guide’s storytelling and the convenience of a fixed route. You are paying for an English-speaking host, researched historical context, local ghost stories, and an hour of organized sightseeing.

The price is less attractive if you measure value by the number of attractions entered. This is an outdoor walking experience, not an admission bundle. Transportation, tips, food, drinks, and amusement rides are not included.

I would compare it with the cost of an evening activity in Santa Monica. If you already plan to visit the pier, the tour can give that familiar spot a fresh angle. If you are mainly looking for rides or ocean views, you can get those without booking a ghost tour.

A tip is not included. Since the guide controls the pace, explains the stories, and helps the group locate each stop, you may want to budget for one if the presentation adds to your evening.

Who will enjoy this walk most

This tour fits you best if you enjoy local legends, celebrity stories, and short guided walks with a theatrical edge. It works well for couples, friends, and families with older children who can handle a little mystery without expecting a haunted-house scare.

It is also a good choice for someone who has already seen Santa Monica’s main sights. The pier and oceanfront are familiar, but the guide gives you a different reason to pause at hotels, bars, bridges, and rides.

You may want to skip it if you dislike paranormal storytelling, need frequent rest stops, or want a fully indoor activity. The tour takes place rain or shine, covers more than a mile, and does not promise that every story has a provable explanation.

Smoking, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed on the tour, and video recording is not permitted. Bring identification, comfortable shoes, and clothing suited to the weather. A passport or ID card is listed among the recommended items.

Should you book the Santa Monica ghost walk?

Book it if you want a short, story-led evening activity that combines Santa Monica landmarks with haunted folklore. The Georgian Hotel, Chez Jay, the carousel, Celine Borde’s disappearance, and the Old Hollywood tales give the route more variety than a simple ghost-story stroll.

Skip it if you want a serious paranormal investigation, guaranteed access inside buildings, or a ride-heavy pier experience. At $24, the tour offers fair value for an hour of guided storytelling, but its success depends on your interest in atmosphere and local legends.

The safest choice is the standard tour if you have limited time. Choose the extended option only after checking its added cost and duration. Arrive early, find the guide with the lantern, wear good shoes, and let Santa Monica’s familiar sights look a little less ordinary for one evening.

FAQ

Where does the Santa Monica ghost tour begin?

The tour begins under the Santa Monica Pier sign at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue, at the foot of Colorado Avenue.

Where does the tour end?

The walk ends back at the Santa Monica Pier sign, where the group began.

How long does the tour last?

The standard haunted walking tour lasts one hour. Starting times depend on availability.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is conducted in English by a live guide.

What should I bring?

Bring a passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, and clothing suited to the weather.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.