Under Portland, the tunnels never really went silent. This Shanghai Tunnels experience pairs exclusive underground access with chilling stories about the resident ghost Nina, and I like how it keeps things moving with a strong 90-minute pace plus Old Town award-winning beer at the end. The one thing to consider is the physical setup: expect real stairs and tight, bumpy tunnel spaces, which won’t feel good for everyone.

You start at Old Town Pizza & Brewing in the Old Town area of Portland, then head below street level for a guided walk through passageways that once linked local businesses to the Willamette River. With a maximum group size of 15, it feels more like an in-the-loop tour than a big cattle line.

One more heads-up: the tour includes historic mention of sexual content, drug use, human trafficking, violence, and death, so it’s best if you’re comfortable with dark subject matter. Also plan for narrow stairs, doorways, and obstacles to duck under—bring comfortable footwear.

Key highlights that make this tour worth your time

• Exclusive access to the Shanghai Tunnels, not just a story told from the sidewalk
• Nina the resident ghost paired with the tunnels’ real Portland past
• Small groups (up to 15) for better pacing and easier guide interaction
• Beer included: three tastings plus one full pint at Old Town
• Bonus context like crimping and shanghaiing, tied to maritime history in the 1800s
• Not all scares, not all history: the balance depends on your guide’s style

Portland Underground Shanghai Tunnels: what you’re actually signing up for

This tour is built around a very specific kind of Portland weird: the underground network people used to move goods and people between businesses and the Willamette River. You’re not just getting a ghost walk. You’re getting a walk through the infrastructure of the past, with haunted stories layered on top—especially the legend of Nina.

The format matters. It’s about 90 minutes total, and the tour is physically hands-on: you’ll climb stairs, maneuver through tunnel sections, and move around pipes and tight areas. That’s part of the charm for many people. It also means the experience is less about dramatic theater and more about your feet, your footing, and your guide’s storytelling.

If you’re the type who likes a little real-world atmosphere—old passageways, damp-stone vibes, the sensation of being beneath a city—you’ll probably enjoy this more than a typical “haunted history” slideshow.

Meeting at Old Town Pizza & Brewing: start point, food timing, and the vibe

You meet at Old Town Pizza & Brewing, 226 NW Davis St, Portland, OR 97209. The tour ends back at the same meeting point, so you’re basically doing an out-and-back loop: underground first, brewery moment last.

This matters for two reasons:

1) The food can set the tone. A lot of people like to arrive hungry. The Old Town location is part of the experience, and you’ll likely have an easier time if you handle pizza before the underground portion starts.

2) Timing can affect what you can grab afterward. The brewery/restaurant is where your tasting happens, and if you’re booking later in the day, you’ll want to plan on getting any extra pizza time done before you head back out.

You’ll also be using a mobile ticket, and the tour is offered in English. It’s a small-group format, so arrive a few minutes early and don’t treat it like a “meet at some point near there” situation.

The 90-minute underground walk: stairs, pipes, and what to expect on the route

Once you’re underground, the experience gets very practical very fast. The tour isn’t described as a smooth museum hallway. It’s more like moving through an old working space—historic passageways with narrow stairs and tight clearances.

Here’s what that means in plain terms:

• You’ll go up and down stairs. Even if you’re reasonably fit, expect it to slow you down a bit.
• You’ll navigate around pipes between ceiling and floor in certain sections.
• The building is old, so there are narrow doorways, spots where you’ll likely need to duck, and uneven dirt floors.

Comfortable footwear isn’t a style suggestion here. Close-toed, grippy shoes are the smart move. If you wear high heels, flip-flops, or anything that’s easy to slip in, you’ll feel it quickly once you’re moving through tight spaces.

Also, keep your expectations aligned with the description: this is an underground tour through the Shanghai Tunnels area connected to Old Town’s buildings. People who want a long “systems of tunnels for miles” adventure may find it feels more like a guided route through key sections than a sprawling, hours-long maze.

Nina the ghost and the dark Portland stories: how the haunting is presented

The haunting element centers on Nina, described as the resident ghost. You’ll hear stories that mix eerie encounters with the darker side of Portland’s past.

What I like about this approach is that it doesn’t feel random. The ghost stories are tied to the setting—historic tunnels, maritime-era Portland, and what used to happen to people moving through these spaces. The tour also includes mention of serious topics: historic sexual content, drug use, human trafficking, violence, and death.

That doesn’t mean the tone is constant horror-movie screaming. Many people report the guides keep the mood engaging while still respecting the subject matter. You may find the ghost talk is either heavy or lighter depending on the guide’s style. Some guides lean more into the paranormal vibes, while others emphasize the facts of the tunnels and the people connected to them.

Either way, if you come for “spooky only,” you might feel slightly underfed on the haunting. If you come for “Portland’s underworld meets Nina,” you’re more likely to feel satisfied.

The history layer you’ll actually remember: shanghaiing, crimping, and ship-era Portland

This tour’s real strength is the history you get while you’re underground. It’s not vague. You learn how the underground passageways connected businesses to the Willamette River, and you get stories tied to what was going on in Portland during the 1800s.

Two specific topics come up strongly in the tour conversation:

• Shanghaiing: people being forced into service for sea captains
• Crimping: a practice tied to sailing industry back in the 1800s

You may also hear about how captives were treated, because the tour’s dark material is part of the package. That’s why the adult-content note exists. It’s not a casual “boo” ghost story—this is a guided walkthrough of a real era where coercion and violence were part of maritime life.

If you’re a “tell me the story and show me why it matters” kind of traveler, this history component is usually the part that sticks.

Beer tasting and a full pint: why the brewery finish is more than an add-on

After you resurface, you get beer tastings and a full pint of Old Town’s beer. The tour includes three tastings and one pint, described as Old Town’s award-winning beer.

This matters because it gives the tour structure a clear ending. Underground, you’re moving through shadow and tight spaces. At the end, you’re in a warmer, brighter environment with a social finish.

A couple practical notes for value and expectations:

• The tasting is included, but the pour sizes are not described in detail beyond the included tastings. If you’re expecting huge samples, adjust your expectations. The full pint is the main “real beer” part of the deal.
• The beer selection can feel like a fun sampler, and even when people wished for more ghost content, many still called the beer portion a highlight.

Also, the tour is hosted at Old Town Pizza & Brewing, so you’re in the right place to keep the night going with food and conversation after the tour ends back where you started.

Guide style is the difference between great and just fine

One of the most consistent themes is that the guide matters. You’ll see guide names like Skippy, Natasha, Doug, and Kaitlin associated with strong experiences. When a guide balances history, pacing, and the Nina stories, the tour feels like a smooth night plan: eerie, informative, and not a drag.

But style can shift the feel. Some people end up wanting more ghost focus. Others want more specific tunnel history and less theatrics. A few mention moments where the experience felt more like a history lesson than a haunting performance, while others feel the opposite.

My advice: read the tour description like it tells the truth. This is a tunnel tour with haunted stories, not a pure paranormal show. If you’re okay with a heavier history backbone, you’ll probably be happiest with almost any guide.

Price and value: what $48 buys you in Portland terms

At $48 per person for roughly 1.5 hours, you’re paying for three things at once:

1) Exclusive access to the Shanghai Tunnels area under Old Town’s streets

2) A guided walk that includes the ghost Nina stories and darker Portland history

3) Beer included: three tastings plus a pint

Where this becomes good value is the combination. A standalone history tour without the beer could be more expensive in the same category elsewhere. Here, you’re getting both guided underground time and a real brewery finish without needing extra reservations.

The only reason the price might feel less perfect is if you’re paying mainly for ghosts and you end up wanting more Nina-style scares. Then the history weight can feel like the “main course,” not a garnish. Still, even in cases where people wanted more ghost content, many still found the underground setting and storytelling worth it.

Who should book this, and who should skip it

This tour fits best if you want:

• A small-group underground experience under Portland streets
• Dark, true-crime-adjacent history delivered as a story
• A light beer payoff at the end
• A walk that feels atmospheric, not staged

You should probably skip or think twice if:

• You have mobility limitations. The tour description flags stairs, narrow spaces, uneven floors, and obstacles to duck under.
• You hate confined areas. Navigating around pipes and low-clearance sections is part of the deal.
• You want a ghost tour with heavy paranormal focus only. Nina is included, but the tour also spends significant time on what happened in the tunnels and why.

Age matters too. This is an adult-oriented tour on most departures: 21+ is required for all tours other than the 2pm and 3pm slots. No babies, infants, or kids under 12 are allowed.

Quick practical tips before you go

• Wear close-toed, grippy shoes. This is not a day for fashion footwear.
• Dress for cool, underground conditions. You’ll likely be colder underground than you expect.
• Plan your food timing. If you want pizza as part of the evening, grab it before the tour is underway.
• Be mentally ready for dark topics. Historic mention includes human trafficking and violence.

Should you book the Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnels tour?

If you’re looking for something authentically Portland—underground tunnels, Nina ghost stories, and a brewery finish—this is a strong pick. The value is helped by the included beer, and the experience tends to land best when you’re open to a mix of history + haunting, not one or the other.

Book it if you’re comfortable with stairs and narrow spaces and you enjoy guides who can turn grim maritime-era stories into something you can actually picture. Skip it if mobility issues are a concern or if you want a pure, paranormal-heavy show instead of a tunnel walk with haunted framing.

FAQ

How long is the Portland Underground Shanghai Tunnels tour?

It’s about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Where do I meet for the tour?

You meet at Old Town Pizza & Brewing at 226 NW Davis St, Portland, OR 97209, and the tour ends back at the same meeting point.

What’s included in the price?

Your ticket includes the guided Portland Underground Shanghai Tunnels tour, three beer tastings, and one pint of Old Town’s award-winning beer.

Is this tour kid-friendly?

No babies, infants, or kids under 12 are allowed. Most tours require participants to be 21+, with the 2pm and 3pm tours being exceptions where minors can be present.

Is it really a ghost tour?

You’ll hear stories about the resident ghost Nina as part of the experience, but it also focuses heavily on the tunnels and Portland’s darker past.

What kind of physical activity should I expect?

The tour notes a moderate physical fitness level. It involves climbing up and down stairs and navigating through tunnels, including moving around pipes. The setting includes narrow stairs and doorways, plus obstacles to duck under and uneven dirt floors.

Is there a maximum group size?

Yes. The tour has a maximum of 15 travelers.

What happens if the weather is bad?

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

What’s the cancellation refund policy if I’m late or cancel same-day?

There are no refunds for late guests or same-day cancellations. For other cancellations, you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.