The San Francisco Dungeon

I had complimentary tickets so me and my cousins went for fun. I think theres 6 different theme rooms. They interact with they audience a lot to make them part of the show. It wasn’t too scary especially then you know they can’t touch you. They use a lot of different kinds of effects and props. The scariest was the last one. Only wish pictures were allowed.

Loved this place! Was disappointed they didn’t have the boat ride running when we went but all the actors and actresses were up to par, kept you laughing til the end. They do pick on the customers especially the scared or uniquely dressed or at the front of the group. There are some acts that can be scary for little ones and they like to turn the lights off to keep you jumping when they do come back on. Def recommended for a good time!

Oh my gosh did we love this! We got our tickets on special so it was only $ 32 to get in which was nice! The entire experience was awesome, I wish we could’ve went further into the boat ride, but we will save that for the next time we come here! Of course it’s a tourist attraction, but live here or not I would definitely recommend coming here at least once, very cool!

This was awesome. I took the family as a surprise for New Year’s Eve instead of the craziness and they loved it!!! It could’ve been a bit longer for the price but it was still fun.

This place was okay. There were too many people in my tour group, which made for a really cramped experience. Think of the environment as a haunted house. Except you can’t go at your own pace and it’s being dragged on for an hour. On top of that, I didn’t like that at the beginning, the actor made a snide comment about where I was standing. Instead of telling me exactly where to go, he muttered something as he was walking away. I stood to the side as much as I could, touching shoulders with another guest.
Well, I guess that wasn’t the right spot either! I was harassed by an angry tourist dad who decided to set a good example for his kids by talking down to me like I was some idiot and directed me to go somewhere else. Keep in mind we were already SHOULDER TO SHOULDER. I couldn’t go anywhere else! The actor totally saw this and didn’t do anything. Needless to say, my experience was infuriating and uncomfortable because they didn’t decide to kick this knuckle head out.
I added one star because the acting WAS good, the dungeon is legit and I enjoyed the stories. Also, my best revenge came when one of the actresses screamed in angry tourist dad’s wife’s face. Good times!

Really high production value and an overall great time! It’s such an unusual thing to do in the city, and I’m glad we played tourist for a day and went for it. We all had pretty low expectations and ended up being very impressed.

My brother and I survived the SF Dungeon! We bought a package with the 7D zombie shoot. As a shy girl I was scared of a lot more than just the dungeon and was called many times to play along with the actors! Even though I was nervous about playing along… I HAD A BLAST! At one point I ended up dancing in a court room chanting «im betty and i’m sweaty» ;)
If you’re into good acting, spooky stories, and getting interactive with the actors and storyline I think you should definitely enter the SF Dungeon and have a horrific time!
I wish I could meet the actors at the end and tell them how awesome they were but that might kill the mood.
** tip-​go in a big group!!! I went with a group of four and wish more people were there to laugh and scream with ;)

I went with my «little brother» a few weeks back and had a good experience here. Unfortunately we just missed the previous show so had to wait over an hour for the next one to begin. It was an entertaining experience to walk through and some of the «acts» were really good. Other ones were just ok but it’s a different experience than the typical things you can do in Fisherman’s Wharf.

This place was a blast. It’s a great mix of humor, history, entertainment, and of course a bit of horror. They did a great job creating the scenes and the actors were awesome. Totally worth an hour of time.
Quick tip, locals get tixs for $ 16 so if you live in SF or surrounding counties, be sure to get the local discount.

I’ve never experienced something like this, where it was a walk through attraction with live actors and audience participation. I was overwhelmed with satisfaction as it was spooky, suspenseful, humorous, tense, well-​paced, and entertaining. It’s always a treat to see live acting, the actors were amazing; my favorite was Ms. Pigget and her saloon. The walk took us about an hour, but don’t worry, there are rooms where you can sit down so you’re not on your feet the whole time! Take advantage of the promotion where after 5pm, it’s only $ 10!

I only checked out The SF Dungeon because Unilocal Elite organized a free event here. If you love cheesy rides at Disneyland or touristy attractions then this is meant for you. If you’re over the age of 16, this really should not apply to you. I would rather walk around the pier and Ghirardelli Square then be trapped underground listening to «historical» stories.
The experience itself is an hour long guided tour of a maze of themed sets. I have to give the actors props for staying committed to their characters. The sets also had a few hidden «surprises» and fun scares that I won’t reveal. I almost feel bad leaving such a lukewarm review because whoever created the experience definitely put a lot of thought and care into it… ultimately it was good for what is was, just not my cup of tea.

At $ 26 per adult, this has to be the best bang for your buck tourist attraction in Fishermans Wharf. The show that these actors put on during their «historic walkthrough of SF» was very entertaining for both children and adults (perhaps 7 and older since there are some parts of the show that might be too scary for younger children).
Definitely a place to check out when you’re in the Fisherman’s Wharf and looking for a good show.
*Note: Bundle up your ticket with other museums!

My boyfriend and I purchased the combo tickets (Madame Tussauds and The San Francisco Dungeon). I honestly wish I had just saved my money and not wasted $ 36 for both.
I really wanted to like this attraction, but I was nervous the whole time. I’m a sissy when it comes to scary stuff like this, so I had no idea what to expect, but I try to keep an open mind.
There were about 7 or 8 rooms total and by the middle of the show I was getting hungry and I wanted it to be over already. It is pretty scary. There were a few parts that I found amusing and the history was interesting. One actor did mess up his lines, but it was no big deal.
So why one star? I found the scene in the courtroom very off-​putting. Right as her scene was about to end, I was just standing in the back with my boyfriend minding my own business and who did the actress randomly pick to approach the bench? Me.
Now I understand that this show requires audience participation, and I didn’t mind at first. However, all that the judge lady asked me for was my name and then made a snarky comment before telling me to shoo. I heard one audience member go, «Aww!» My response was, «Whatever, it’s fine.» I went back to where I was standing and my boyfriend whispered to me, «What was that about?» After that happened, I really wish I had told the actress portraying Mad Meade to back off and pick someone else.
After pondering on this for a while, I realized why the actress picked me and it is because of my height. I’m a pretty short person and I do look young for my age. I know that she was just playing a part, but I’ll be honest, I didn’t find it funny. It was actually offensive and a waste of time. Don’t select someone from the audience if they’re only going to be standing at the bench for 15 seconds or less. Also, you really shouldn’t assume that someone is a child just because of their height. Be more careful and pick on someone your own size next time. I don’t care if you’re acting or not, that’s no excuse to make a person feel bad.
Because of my unsettling experience here, I won’t be returning to The San Francisco Dungeon.

We went here because we got free tickets from the big bus tours, it was a saturday night and the place wasn’t packed. We had to wait for other people to show up because you go in in groups of about 15 people.
At first I thought it was a haunted maze but it wasn’t it was more of a show. Each one was different from the other one (some good, bad or meh). I imagined that had I been drunk I would have given this 4 stars, so my advice is go drunk with friends!
Also, I don’t think this would be an appropriate place for anyone under 10 years old. There were some kids in the group before us and I don’t know if they got through it without crying.
Overall, a solid place to go to if you want something different but it will probably be way more fun after a few drinks. It’s not a must see though.
Also, in the beginning they said «history lesson» which maybe why you would think it’s appropriate for kids but neither is correct.

This was such a fun tour and yes it has it has its share of cheesy jokes but I think it all depends on the crowd you’re with. The actors do a wonderful job of telling some San Francisco history in a fun and «scary way». Our group had many good laughs and many screams! The tour is also interactive as you might get called upon to volunteer with different acts. Both my husband and I got called upon and it was just hilarious.
I love that the photos they take I’m the beginning are presented to you at the end in a scrapbook manner and also serves as a board game. I definitely recommend this for anyone (except maybe little kids) I felt like there were some crude jokes and humor.
The only reason for the 4 stars is because I think there was suppose to be another part to this tour that we didn’t get (the boat ride). So I didn’t feel like I got to experience the entire tour. Another thing is that there was a glitch in one of the acts and the special effects were exposed and the lights stayed on.
Ladies if you go to the rest room I hope you’re not alone I’m there. I’m pretty sure the stall doors have some special effects because when I left the stall the door reopened slightly and slammed back to the frame… it was kinda creepy but I loved the humor on the doors.

The only reason we went through the San Francisco Dungeon is because it was included in our Big Bus Tour purchase. That being said, I would have been upset if we paid for these tickets separately.
You walk downstairs to begin the tour. You go through 5 or 6 different rooms each having 1 or 2 actors. Reading some of the other reviews there was a boat ride. We did not experience that and I’m not sure why. Each of the actors takes you through some of the history of S.F. It is interesting to learn but the acting is somewhat cheesy and boring. They try to scare the guests in various ways throughout the tour. I think it’s better for children than adults.
Maybe it was just me but I wasn’t impressed.

This place was AMAZING!!!
The San Francisco Dungeon is in the touristy part of SF, about a block from Pier 39. If you’re into the creepy, yet mysterious, past of San Francisco then this is the place to go! Regular admission is $ 26 per person for adults, but the time that I went with my boyfriend a part of the Dungeon was closed (the boat part), so we got in for $ 16 each. The tour was about 45 minutes long.
The SF Dungeon has about six different rooms, each equiped with 1 – 2 different actors. Each room will portray a part of SF from the 1800’s — The Gold Rush, China Town, Black Plague, Saloons, Alcatraz, the Law and how Doctor’s worked. Each actor was very much into their role and appeared to have a lot of fun while playing their part. They would tell a story about how each played a part in the history of SF. They would mix creepy, yet educational, into the scenes. They do a good job with the light affects to try to get some scares out of you. Pretty awesome.
If you are in the area and have some time to kill, give this place a shot! Totally worth in and so much fun! I should also point out that the actors will pick on each person that is a part of the tour. I got picked on a handful of times, but it was so fun and I got a good laugh out of it! This is also probably not for children under the age of 13 since I think it’ll be too scary for them.
Cheers!

It’s really fun and interactive. You can get a really great group price. They have shows constantly running. I got really lucky and found some pretty cheap parking in a structure, however, you may be better off taking public transportation since it’s location doesn’t have any free, private parking. It’s SF, what do you expect: P
The show is pretty funny at times and does have its share of surprises. i don’t want to spoil it or anything, but go with friends, especially scaredy cats cause they are amusing on their own. I don’t think it’s something I would go BACK TO unless I have kids or a friend of mines really wants to go, but doesn’t want to go alone. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot. It was not too scary, but it had its moments for sure.

During my brief time in San Francisco 2015-​April, I had heard of the SF Dungeon but didn’t have a good look at their brochure and didn’t really look into them. I think I was initially biased by Storyeum (
), the failed attempt in Gastown to have a live-​action museum many years back. But whereas Storyeum felt like moving from one educational vignette to another, the ad copy for SF Dungeon seemed to emphasize entertainment.
Especially as I was unlikely to return to San Francisco any time soon, I gave it a shot and signed up. And I still didn’t look too closely at their brochures to ensure I wasn’t prepared for anything (what’s the point of a horror experience if you know what’s coming?). No boat ride that day due to technical difficulties, so I even got a $ 10 discount from the already cheap price of $ 26! — And this is cheap considering the facility, the FX that needs to be run during your trip, plus all the live actors involved.
It looked like a rather quiet attraction (i.e., no one going to it) and I was told it required a minimum of four persons (oops) so there was some worry that there wouldn’t be enough persons to start the «ride». But fortunately a family of six (?) came back after having bought their tickets, and we were off!
The overall experience was, as hoped, heavy on entertainment, light on education. You do learn about San Francisco history, but the bits are generally very cleverly woven into the dialogue so it generally didn’t feel like you were being lectured by a funnily-​dressed professor.
When it was all over, and the lady in the gift shop asked me how it was, the first words out of my mouth were, «That was f — ing awesome.»
I think one of the problems with The San Francisco Dungeon is that the name is very misleading. You don’t go into a «dungeon» per se, but instead stop at 11 locations touching on the dark sides of San Francisco — so stop and open the brochure, which talks about the Gold Rush, dubious courts of law, shifty saloons, China Town, and even ending in Alcatraz.
For a mere $ 26, you get funnelled through these interesting sights in surprisingly good use of darkness, and are entertained by numerous live actors, along with many interactive scenes over the course of about one hour.
The use of darkness here can’t be emphasized enough. Unless you have somehow had a lot of total-​darkness experiences, being effectively utterly blind is a novel experience for a lot of people. Somehow, the actors navigate it very well and that contributes immensely to the experience.
As for the scariness of the show, they are not exaggerating when they advertise, «being scared has never been so much fun!».
The toughest part of SF Dungeon is going alone. You are really counting on the other persons in the party to help make the time more interactive and fun. If they are duds… well, it won’t be as much fun. I was fortunate that the other persons in our expedition did extend inclusiveness toward me, and I tried to reciprocate and enhance everyone’s experience.
It is not really kid friendly, though precocious pre-​teens might do okay. It is more likely that young children who may or may not obey actor instructions will end up disrupting or even worse causing harm to the actors — remember that they sometimes have to move about quickly and in complete darkness, so kids wandering around at the wrong time can be disaster.
Unless you really can’t come back another day, do NOT go if they are having technical difficulties and any part of the show is out of commission. Once you go through it, you’ll know all about what’s coming and it won’t be surprising and fun the second time around. Make sure your first time is the best and all they have to offer.
Before you go in, they take some pictures of you in specific poses in front of a screen. When you come out, those pictures will have been compiled in a souvenir book that you can purchase — for more than the price of individual admission! It summarizes your trip into a souvenir, and can be pretty pricey if you had gone alone. For groups, the price per person becomes much lower so consider picking it up. There’s also no time pressure if you just want to look through it first in the gift store.

I came here with my BFF, using a coupon from my Entertainment Book. I researched the Dungeon online before we went in person, and it sounded great. It’s basically theatre and a haunted house combined, telling small stories about the darker side of San Francisco. Here’s a tip: Don’t bring any kids to this under 12. I think it’s way too scary for them. Also, if you have someone who has a serious fear factor with the dark, gets scared easily or has a problem with their senses getting tricked, think hard before going to this show.
We were in a group of about 30 people. It’s poorly lit the entire time. The actors tell you up front they are trying to scare you the whole time, but they will never touch you and ask that you don’t touch them. You are moved from room to room as stories are told with some great theatre props, dark humor which sometimes borderlines on blue comedy, and stage tricks that scared the crap out of us. A few times, they picked someone to «volunteer.»
I don’t want to ruin the surprise for anyone, so I won’t give any details beyond this.
We had a very good time. Even though I did scream bloody murder at one point and my BFF and I were really holding on to each other for dear life in the pitch black darkness on a boat during one show, I would go again. The actors all did an amazing job, especially those in the last act.

Ouvert cet été dans le quartier touristique de Fisherman Wharf’s sur le même principe que celui de Londres, c’est une visite guidée par petits groupes d’un dizaine de personnes à travers différents scènes de l’histoire de San Francisco le tout à la sauce horreur.
J’ai eu une offre sur Groupon où j’ai payé deux entrées pour le prix d’une
La visite dure une bonne heure, certaines pièces comme le tribunal la salle de torture sont identiques au Dongeon de Londres mais ça reste sympa à faire.
Ce n’est pas gore, c’est une visite sympa à faire pour changer un peu si vous aimez ce genre d’ambiance.