Portland: Underground Shanghai Tunnel Tour with Beer Tasting

Beneath Portland’s Old Town lies a cramped world of dirt floors, low pipes, narrow stairs, and unsettling stories. This 1.5-hour Shanghai Tunnel tour takes you below the city, explains how sailors were said to have been moved toward ships on the river, and brings you back upstairs for beer at historic Old Town Pizza.

I like the way the experience joins Portland history with ghost stories instead of making the entire tour a haunted-house act. I also like the tidy finish: a special tasting followed by a full pint of craft beer in the same old building. The main drawback is clear: the tunnels are tight and uneven, and much of the network is closed off, so this is not a long underground expedition or a good choice for anyone with mobility limits.

Key points to know before you book

• The tour begins at Old Town Pizza & Brewing, in the former Merchant Hotel, and ends there with beer.
• Doug, Natasha, Natascha, and other guides have been praised for strong storytelling, clear speaking, and lively Q&A.
• The history matters as much as the ghosts, with stories about Portland’s rough past, sailors, and Nina, the tunnel’s resident ghost.
• Expect stairs, low pipes, narrow doorways, crouching, and uneven dirt floors, not a smooth museum visit.
• The $44 price includes the guide, tasting, and one full pint, which makes the post-tour drink part of the value.
• Guests ages 13 to 20 can attend only the noon, 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. tours. Later departures are for guests age 21 and older.

Starting under Old Town Pizza

Your meeting point is easy to identify: enter Old Town Pizza & Brewing and tell the staff you are there for the tour. If you arrive before business hours, knock on the door.

The setting does some of the work before the guide says a word. The restaurant occupies the lobby of the former Merchant Hotel, a fitting place to begin a walk into Portland’s less polished past. You can eat there before or after the tour, and one visitor specifically recommended trying the pizza.

Arrive 10 minutes early. This is not a tour where you can casually catch up with the group. The company warns that late arrivals may find the group already underground, with no refund. Same-day cancellations and changes are also not allowed, so treat your booking time as firm.

The experience usually runs in the afternoon and evening, with some earlier departures. Check the exact time carefully if you are bringing someone under 21. Ages 13 to 20 are allowed only at noon, 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. tours. Some later departures are strictly for adults age 21 and older.

What the 1.5-hour route is really like

The tour takes you below Portland through sections of the Shanghai Tunnels. These passages are tied to stories of sailors being transported toward ships docked on the river, along with the city’s old vice, danger, and rough waterfront character.

Your guide provides the meaning behind the cramped spaces. Doug has been praised for his storytelling, while Natasha and Natascha have been singled out for keeping the group engaged and handling questions well. A guide identified as Kaitlyn was also praised for making the troubled side of Portland’s past interesting.

The best guides appear to balance three ingredients:

• Portland’s social and waterfront history
• Stories about the tunnels and their former use
• Paranormal material, including Nina, the resident ghost

That balance is important. If you want a pure ghost hunt, parts of the tour may feel too historical. If you prefer local history and are not especially interested in ghosts, the format should still give you plenty to think about. One of the strongest features is that the paranormal material adds atmosphere without swallowing the rest of the story.

Expect to walk, climb, duck, and squeeze through sections of an old building. The route includes narrow stairs and doorways, pipes between the ceiling and floor, obstacles that require you to crouch, and uneven dirt floors. Comfortable shoes are essential. Leave high heels at your hotel.

The tunnels are atmospheric, but do not expect miles of passages

The name Shanghai Tunnels can create an image of a vast underground maze. The actual visit is more limited. Much of the tunnel network is closed off, and one review made a useful point: you do not spend the entire tour running through open tunnels.

That is not necessarily a weakness. The accessible areas still provide the physical sense of the place, with low clearances, old surfaces, cramped passageways, and a few memorable features such as an old cell and a creepy picture. You get enough space to understand the setting, but not an enormous underground attraction built for crowds.

I would set your expectations this way: you are visiting a preserved and atmospheric section of Portland’s underground past, guided by stories. You are not signing up for a long-distance caving trip.

The restricted access also makes the guide more important. The historical context and storytelling fill in what you cannot see. A good guide helps you picture how the connected passages once related to the buildings and riverfront above.

History first, ghost stories second

The tour’s strongest appeal is its mixture of fact, local lore, and suspense. Your guide tells you about Portland’s darker past and the stories attached to the tunnels, then introduces Nina, the ghost said to reside in the area.

The paranormal side is handled as part of the atmosphere rather than the only reason to visit. That makes the experience a good compromise for couples or friends with different interests. Someone who enjoys ghosts can listen for every unsettling detail, while someone more interested in Portland can focus on the city’s past and the tunnel’s reported uses.

You should also keep a sensible distance between documented history and supernatural storytelling. The tour presents ghost lore as part of the experience, not as a science lesson. Go in ready for suspense and local legend, and you will understand the format.

The storytelling style can vary by guide, but the most praised elements are consistent: clear delivery, fun facts, good pacing, and a willingness to answer questions. The tour has received an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5 from 102 ratings, with especially strong comments about Doug, Natasha, and Natascha.

The beer tasting makes the ending feel complete

After the underground portion, you return to Old Town Pizza & Brewing for a special tasting of award-winning Portland beer. The package also includes one full pint.

This is more than a small add-on. A guided walk through cramped underground spaces is a focused experience, and sitting down afterward gives you time to talk about what you just heard. The beer turns the tour into a compact evening activity rather than a 90-minute attraction that ends abruptly on the sidewalk.

The setting helps, too. You finish in the same building where you started, in the lobby of the former Merchant Hotel. You do not need to arrange transport to a separate brewery or hunt for a nearby bar.

The included drink also improves the value of the $44 price. You are paying for a guide, access to the tour, a special tasting, and one pint. If you would have bought a beer after a history walk anyway, the package makes practical sense. If you do not drink, much of the price is still tied to the guided underground visit, so the value will depend on how much you want the tunnel and ghost-story portion.

The tasting is not a full brewery tour or a long food-and-drink session. Think of it as a pleasant conclusion. You can also order food at Old Town Pizza if you want to extend the visit.

Is $44 a fair price?

For Portland, $44 is a moderate price for a 1.5-hour guided attraction that includes beer. The included pint matters because it gives the experience a clear second half, rather than charging you for a short walk and leaving the rest to your own budget.

I see the value in three parts:

The guide: The story is the heart of the tour. Doug and Natasha have been praised for making the material lively, and strong narration gives meaning to spaces that might otherwise look like old basements.

The setting: You are not simply hearing a lecture in a restaurant. You walk through sections of the old underground passages, deal with the low ceilings and dirt floors, and see features such as the old cell.

The finish: The tasting and full pint provide a built-in social ending in a historic location.

The price is less appealing if you expect a large, fully open tunnel system or a long paranormal investigation. Since much of the network is closed, the experience relies on atmosphere and storytelling more than sheer scale.

Who should take this tour?

I would recommend it most strongly to adults and older teens who enjoy a blend of local history, ghost lore, and an easy drink afterward. It works particularly well for a Portland evening when you want an activity with a strong sense of place, but do not want to commit to a long walking tour.

It is also a good choice for a mixed-interest group. A paranormal fan can enjoy Nina and the spooky setting, while a history-minded companion can focus on Portland’s waterfront past. The tour does not appear to depend entirely on jump scares or theatrical effects.

You should think twice if you dislike tight spaces, uneven ground, or stairs. The operator specifically says the tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. The low pipes and need to duck under obstacles can be uncomfortable, even for people without a formal mobility issue.

Children under 13 are not allowed. Ages 13 to 20 are restricted to the noon, 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. departures. Later tours are for adults age 21 and older, and some are 21-plus only.

Practical tips for a smoother visit

Wear comfortable shoes with a secure sole. The old floors are uneven, and high heels would be a poor match for stairs, dirt, and low obstacles.

Bring a passport or other accepted ID card. You should also be ready to sign the required waiver.

Arrive early, not exactly at the start time. The group goes underground, and late arrivals cannot count on being admitted or refunded. The no-refund rule for late guests is especially important because the entrance may look quiet after the group has left.

If you want food, consider arriving with enough time to eat at Old Town Pizza before the tour, or stay afterward. The restaurant is part of the setting and gives you a convenient place to continue the evening.

When choosing a departure, think about your group’s ages before booking. A 13 to 20-year-old cannot simply join a later tour, even if accompanied by adults. Select one of the permitted early times.

Finally, bring a curious attitude. Some stories are historical, some are local lore, and some concern paranormal activity. The tour works best when you enjoy all three without demanding that every part be treated the same way.

How this compares with other Portland activities

This experience is more focused than a general city walking tour. You are not covering Portland’s major sights or getting a broad overview of the city. Instead, you spend 90 minutes in one building and its underground spaces, with a guide filling in the darker details.

It is also different from a standalone ghost tour. The beer tasting and full pint give it a relaxed social finish, while the history of the tunnels keeps it from being only a search for haunted moments.

Compared with a waterfall trip, river cruise, or city sightseeing tour, this is a short urban activity that fits easily into a day of Portland exploring. You do not need a vehicle, a full afternoon, or special outdoor gear. The tradeoff is that the setting is tight and enclosed, and the underground portion is limited.

That makes it a useful pick for a rainy day or an evening when you want something unusual close to central Portland. Just do not choose it as a substitute for seeing the wider city.

Should you book the Portland Shanghai Tunnel tour?

Book it if you want local history with a spooky edge, appreciate a good storyteller, and like the idea of ending with Portland craft beer. The guides, especially Doug and Natasha, have earned strong praise for clear narration, engaging delivery, and good questions-and-answers.

Skip it if you need step-free access, dislike confined spaces, or expect a huge open network of tunnels. The route is short, sections are closed, and the physical conditions are part of the challenge.

For the right visitor, $44 is a fair package: a guided underground walk, Portland stories, ghost lore, a tasting, and a full pint in the same historic building. I would choose it for an evening with friends, a date built around unusual local history, or a Portland itinerary that needs one memorable, slightly strange stop.

FAQ

How long is the Portland Shanghai Tunnel tour?

The tour lasts 1.5 hours and usually operates in the afternoon and evening.

What does the $44 price include?

The price includes the guided tour, a special beer tasting, and one full pint of beer at Old Town Pizza & Brewing.

Where does the tour meet?

Meet inside Old Town Pizza & Brewing and announce that you are there for the tour. If it is before business hours, knock on the door.

Can teenagers join the tour?

Guests ages 13 to 20 may attend only the noon, 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. departures. Later tours are for guests age 21 and older. Children under 13 are not permitted.

Is the tour suitable for someone with mobility problems?

No. The tour includes stairs, narrow doorways, low pipes, obstacles that require crouching, and uneven dirt floors. It is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

What happens if I arrive late?

Late guests may miss the tour because the group will already be underground, and no refund is provided for late arrivals. Arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled start.