San Francisco is known for so many different things to so many different people. For travelers, it is the home base of fascinating sites like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. For millennials, it’s where the Full House Tanner family lived. For members of the LGBTQIA+ community, it was a safe haven where one could be their truest selves. But what some may not know is that it is a haven for vampires, too.
Well, at least it definitely is for one self-proclaimed vampiress. Kitty Burns-Nasarow is a self-claimed vampire who has led vampire tours of San Francisco for 21 years. Donning a Mina Harker costume from Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the beloved city tour guide takes macabre-obsessed tourists on a spooky jaunt around the Nob Hill section of the city, which is evidently a vampiric hotspot.
“I always tell people that the tour is about 85% true history,” Burns once told The San Francisco Standard, continuing the interview in her vampiric alter ego, Harker. “The other 15%, you’re just going to have to take my word for it.”
Related: Legendary rock star hotel set to close after 40 years
Why is Nob Hill considered a haven for vampires?
For the SF tour guide, the area oozes a historic French Gothic vibe, with notable sites on the tour that help validate that statement:
The InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel
But mostly, according to Harker, it’s due to the secret subterranean tunnels that allow vampires to stealthily move across the city. Harker also spins yarns that the stops on her tour are often “historically” linked to the vampiric community.
For instance, the Nob Hill Cafe was once named Feeding After Dark and was a place mortals would congregate, unaware they were on the menu come nighttime.
“The bartender would pull the lever, and the floor beneath the person in the bathroom would open up, and they would fall down into the tunnel below,” Harker explained. “That’s how we got our meals.”
San Francisco’s historically foggy climate is also a welcome shield that vampire populations appreciate. According to Harker, the sun doesn’t kill them but produces a horrific allergy, which is why she travels covered up and often carries an umbrella.
Typically, the tour runs about once a month and meets at California & Taylor Street across from Grace Cathedral. She charges $30 in advance for the premium experience.
Related: There’s a vampire museum in PA that’ll convince you vampires are real
The real vampire capital of the U.S.
While San Francisco may be a vamp’s home away from home, many sincerely believe vampires hide in New Orleans, Louisiana. This stunning city, known for its boisterous celebrations, has long been considered a hub for the paranormal, with many crediting it as the voodoo-practicing capital of America.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the city was a major port for trade and immigration. Stories trace back to Jacques St. Germain, a wealthy, elegant, and mysterious figure in the early 1900s. He was every bit the socialite, hosting extravagant parties and wining and dining beautiful women. But many believed the stories he told — which detailed events from nearly 100 years prior — were far too exact to be coincidental.
After his arrival, he claimed to be a descendant of the Comte de St. Germain, a friend and servant to King Louis XV. His resemblance to the nobleman was uncanny, and guests began noticing that portraits of the Comte didn’t seem to show him aging past 40 — the same age St. Germain appeared to be when he arrived. People began to believe he had somehow rendered himself immortal and ageless.
Related: You can actually tour Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania, Romania
Things came to a head when a woman, believed to be a prostitute, leapt from St. Germain’s balcony. She allegedly said she did so to escape him after he had bitten her neck. Authorities instructed St. Germain to report to the police station the following morning, only to discover that he had fled, leaving most of his belongings behind. Legend has it that police discovered corked wine bottles filled with human blood in his abandoned home.
Since then, New Orleans has embraced these eerie legends as part of its folklore and tourism, with dozens of spooky tours that many say are well worth taking.
This story was originally published by TravelHost on Dec 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the Attractions section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.