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Discounted Sightseeing City Tour San Francisco

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Alcatraz Tour Ticket Available!

Book Now! Alcatraz tickets can sell out weeks in advance!

100% confirmed Alcatraz ticket. Don't miss the chance to see the world famous prison island in San Francisco!

Bike the Golden Gate Bridge and Return by Ferry!

Bike rentals near the golden gate bridge 20% online discount.

Only 20 minutes and up to the beginning of the Golden Gate Bridge on a flat bike path near the waterfront with stunning views of the San Francisco Bay! 

#1 San Francisco Bus Tour - Hop on Hop off - $5 Off E-Ticket

Hop on, hop off and enjoy the flexibility as you discover and explore golden gate bridge, fisherman's wharf, haight ashbury, chinatown and so much more.

SAVE $5 on San Francisco Sightseeing Tours!

Essential ticket (1-day hop on hop off): $73

Night Tour (1.5 hour Bay Bridge & Treasure Island): $49

Explorer ticket (2-day hop on hop off): $85

The best city tour San Francisco! 

San Francisco Tours - Top Things to Do

Bike rentals for the golden gate bridge, cruise around the alcatraz & under the golden gate bridge.

Bike across the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausalito and ferry back to San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf! One of the world's most famous bike rides! Book discounted San Francisco tours and sightseeing tours at SF.TOURS.

Our best selling cruise in San Francisco! This 1-hour tour takes you around Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge with the view of the San Francisco Bay. Includes audio tour in 16 languages. Drinks and snacks are available for purchase onboard.

Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour - San Francisco City Tour

See the most iconic San Francisco sightseeing tours sites – the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Union Square, Civic Center, Fisherman's Wharf, and a lot more! City tour San Francisco tours. Hop on Hop off ticket valid for 1 day or 2 days

California Sunset Cruise

San francisco tour packages.

On this relaxed, 1.5 hour cruise, you’ll  enjoy spectacular sunset views. It’s a paradise on the Bay, complete  with all the comforts that come standard when you cruise with Red and  White. Come as you are, as this sunset cruise of San Francisco is a  casual, relaxed affair. Sightseeing tours in San Francisco on cruises! 

San Francisco Night Tour

This 1hr tour of San Francisco includes the best of the city by night. The tour includes the Financial District, Chinatown, North Beach and Embarcadero. Departing from Fisherman's Wharf this tour covers the major attractions of San Francisco by night.

Explore San Francisco on your own pace! Pick 3, 4 or 5 choices from over 20 San Francisco tours and attractions for your own individual itinerary. Sightseeing tours, city tour San Francisco

Top San Francisco Tours & Activities

Half-day san francisco city tour.

This 3.5-hour sightseeing tour/bus tour covers some of the most famous San Francisco tours sights like: Civic Center, Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Park, Golden Gate Bridge, and Twin Peaks. Complimentary door-to-door hotel shuttle service from most San Francisco hotels.

Muir Woods + Sausalito Tour

Venture north over the Golden Gate Bridge to an isolated canyon filled with ancient coastal redwood trees. Enjoy a scenic drive through the quaint seaside town of Sausalito – a Mediterranean-like village harbored across the San Francisco Bay. San Francisco tours, Sightseeing tours.

Escape From The Rock Cruise

Sightseeing tours - Cruise under both the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge in one spectacular cruise along San Francisco’s entire urban skyline, accompanied by our headphone audio in 16 languages. 90-minutes San Francisco tours depart daily. 

Aquarium of the Bay

Sausalito tour (hop on hop off).

Discover what lies beneath the waves of San Francisco Bay. Journey through crystal clear tunnels filled with 20,000 aquatic animals. Touch sharks, rays and sea stars. Learn how to support conservation of the bay  and marine environments. One of the best San Francisco tours for children!

This 60-minute Hop On Hop Off tour includes crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and a visit to the picturesque town of Sausalito. Buy San Francisco tours & attraction tickets at sf.tours!

Napa/Sonoma Wine Tour

Unwind and soak up the stunning scenery as we journey north into Napa and Sonoma Valley, two of the most prized wine regions of Northern California. During your venture, enjoy wine tasting and exclusive estate tours of three of our most favored wineries! city tour San Francisco, Sightseeing Tours

Best Value San Francisco Sightseeing Tours

Open-top hop-on hop-off bus tour - choose from 1-day or 2-day.

With this 2.5 hour city tour San Francisco (1-day pass valid from 9 am - 5 pm) you get the best views of San Francisco's Downtown, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Golden Gate Park from the top of an open top Double Decker Bus. Be sure to bring your camera as there will be plenty of photo opportunities along the way, and simply enjoy the live commentary from our entertaining tour guides while seeing all major sites of San Francisco! Buy San Francisco tours and sightseeing tours tickets now at sftourcompany.com!

San Francisco Bay Cruises

The San Francisco Bay Cruise is one of our most popular water sightseeing tours in San  Francisco. You'll get close to Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge for some amazing sights and photo opportunities.

Bike the Golden Gate Bridge

Bike across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, a beautiful waterfront town, and have the option to return by ferry! Save up to 20% with online reservation! San Francisco Bike Rentals near Golden Gate Bridge.

San Francisco Tours & Activities | SFTourCompany.com

San francisco tours & activities | bike the bridge bike rentals.

We believe traveling should be fun and carefree, so we offer a large selection of San Francisco tours with the most competitive prices. We personally handpick some of the most popular San Francisco tours that will be fun and enjoyable for all ages. Our San Francisco tour selections include the world famous Alcatraz tour, open-top double decker city bus tours,  cruises around the San Francisco Bay, bicycle rental activities, and other daily tours such as Napa wine tour, Yosemite National Park tour, and Monterey/Carmel tour. Here at San Francisco Tours & Activities,  we ensure you to find a memorable experience for a lifetime in our beloved city – San Francisco. Book San Francisco tours and attractions online at sftourcompany.com /San Francisco Tour Company!

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16 best san francisco tours (alcatraz, wineries & more).

Explore SF's top sights and hidden gems on these traveler-approved tours.

The Best San Francisco Tours

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See San Francisco's famous bridges with this dual bridge cruise from Red and White Fleet.

Whether by air, by bike, by boat, by bus or even by vintage Volkswagen, there are so many different ways to take in the beauty of San Francisco and experience its top attractions . To help you decide which method is right for you, U.S. News compiled 16 of the city's top tours, considering traveler sentiment and expert opinion. Foodies, history buffs, adventurers and everyone in between will find a tour on this list.

Red and White Fleet – Bridge 2 Bridge Cruise

Price: Adults from $48; kids from $36 Duration: 1.5 hours

Take in San Francisco's two most famous bridges on this 90-minute boat trip through San Francisco Bay. In addition to sailing beneath both the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge , tourgoers will see Alcatraz Island, Palace of Fine Arts and the city skyline, among other landmarks. Red and White Fleet provides an audio guide available in 16 different languages that details the city's history. Reviewers say they enjoy the views, the helpful commentary, and the clean and comfortable boats. They recommend wearing layers – especially on evening tours – because it gets chilly on the water.

Tours run daily, year-round. You can hop on a boat in the morning and the afternoon, but exact times vary by day and time of year. Cruises depart from Fisherman's Wharf . Tickets start at $48 for adults and $36 for youths ages 5 to 17. Children 4 and younger can ride for free, but require a ticket. Short on time? Red and White Fleet also offers an hourlong Golden Gate Bay Cruise, among other tours.

View & Book Tickets: Option 1 | Option 2

Vantigo – San Francisco City Tours

Price: Adults from $95; kids from $65 Duration: 3 hours

Instead of a traditional tour bus, Vantigo transports up to seven passengers in a vintage Volkswagen van to see all the city has to offer. The three-hour tour highlights 15 points of interest, with plenty of opportunities for photos and views of Haight-Ashbury, North Beach, Twin Peaks and more. Reviewers love the Volkswagen, which they say is roomy and comfortable, and describe the guides as fun and informative.

Tours generally leave Thursday through Saturday and Monday once or twice daily. You can board at either Fisherman's Wharf or Union Square . Tickets start at $95 per adult or $65 per child ages 5 to 11. Children 4 and younger are not permitted on public tours. Combo tours to Alcatraz are also available, as are brewery tours.

Seaplane Adventures – Alcatraz & City Sites Seaplane Tour

Price: From $239 Duration: 20 minutes

After you've walked the city streets and sailed the bay's waters, your next step should be an air tour. On this 15- to 20-minute flight from Seaplane Adventures, you'll fly over downtown and above Alcatraz and Angel Island before landing in Sausalito's Richardson Bay. Reviewers describe the trip as amazing and one of the best activities they did while visiting San Francisco.

Tickets start at $239 per person and tours depart Friday through Monday in the afternoon. Seaplane Adventures conducts several other air tours, including a 45-minute Greater Bay Area Tour.

View & Book Tickets: Seaplane Adventures

San Francisco Love Tours – The Love Tour

Price: From $85 Duration: 2 hours

Drive through the city in a classic Volkswagen hippie bus during this two-hour tour. As you drive around to sites like Lombard Street and Golden Gate Park , you'll hear all about San Francisco history and listen to music. You'll also make two stops for photos to capture the Golden Gate Bridge and the city skyline. Reviewers rave about the knowledgeable guides and the nostalgic music choices.

Tours, which start and end near Fisherman's Wharf, are generally available daily at 8:30 and 11 a.m. as well as 2 and 5 p.m. The van can accommodate up to seven passengers. Tickets start at $85 per person. Children 4 and younger are only permitted on private tours. The company also runs a night tour.

Eat your way through North Beach with Local Tastes of the City Tours.

Local Tastes of the City Tours – Tastes of Little Italy: North Beach San Francisco Food Tour

Price: Adults from $74; kids from $25 Duration: 3 hours

According to reviewers, this tour is a must for food and history lovers thanks to experienced guides who are engaging storytellers. Along the three-hour tour, you'll explore up to 10 blocks of North Beach (or "Little Italy"). Samples of the neighborhood's best pizza, pastries, coffee, chocolates and more are all included in the cost of the tour. Travelers say the portions are generous and recommend arriving to the tour hungry.

Tours are generally offered daily at 10:30 a.m. with an additional 2:30 p.m. tour available on select days. Tickets cost approximately $75 for adults, $50 for youths ages 8 to 13 and $25 for children ages 2 to 7; infants 1 and younger can tag along for free. Still hungry? Consider the company's Chinatown tours.

Big Bus San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Price: Adults from $65; kids from $55 Duration: 2 hours

If you're looking for a convenient way to visit the city's top attractions in one day, this hop-on, hop-off tour may be just the ticket. Big Bus lets riders disembark at any of its stops, explore the area and catch another bus when they're ready. Big Bus operates every 30 minutes and visits more than 20 locations, including Presidio Park , Chinatown, the Embarcadero and even includes a ride over the Golden Gate Bridge. The entire tour lasts a little more than two hours, if you don't choose to disembark. All buses have open tops and prerecorded commentary available in 10 languages. Reviewers enjoy the educational commentary and the opportunity to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge in the open-top bus, but many warn that buses get crowded quickly.

If you buy your tickets online, pricing starts at approximately $65 per adult and $55 per child ages 3 to 12 for the classic one-day ticket. Big Bus San Francisco also offers night tours of the city, as well as upgraded tickets that include free bike rentals, passes to the U.S.S. Pampanito or tours of Muir Woods.

Electric Tour Company – Official Golden Gate Park Segway Tour

Price: Adults from $89; kids from $68 Duration: 2.5 hours

Riding a Segway can be a fun and expedient way to see a number of top attractions in a short amount of time. The Electric Tour Company offers you a chance to see dozens of sights in the iconic Golden Gate Park in the span of 2 1/2 hours, visiting the Conservatory of Flowers, the Shakespeare Garden, the California Academy of Sciences and Stow Lake along the way. The tour begins with a 30-minute training for first-time riders. All riders must be at least 12 years old and weigh between 100 and 275 pounds. Reviewers praise their guides, who they say are helpful and descriptive, and say the Segways as easy to ride.

Tours are offered daily at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. year-round. From June to August, there are additional 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. tours Friday to Sunday. Tickets start at $89 per adult and $68 per youth ages 12 to 17. The company also runs private San Francisco tours.

View & Book Tickets

Gray Line San Francisco – Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour

Price: Adults from $96; kids from $75 Duration: 5 hours

This roughly five-hour excursion from Gray Line San Francisco takes you to Muir Woods National Monument to see its beautiful redwood trees up close. After exploring the forest, the tour continues to Sausalito, a charming town across the bay full of waterfront dining, shopping and art galleries. To enjoy more time in Sausalito, you can opt to return to the city by ferry for an additional cost. Reviewers say the tour bus is comfortable (though some note recent issues with the air conditioning) and describe the driver as engaging and knowledgeable. Many recommend this tour if you do not want to navigate the traffic and parking headaches at Muir Woods.

Ticket prices start at $96 for adults and $75 for children ages 5 to 11 and include admission to Muir Woods National Monument. Gray Line offers a variety of day trips from San Francisco, including trips to Sonoma , Napa Valley and Monterey .

View & Book Tickets: Option 1  | Option 2

Bay City Bike Rentals and Tours – Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito

Price: Adults from $65; kids from $45 Duration: 2 to 3 hours

See San Francisco by bike on this tour that guides you from Fisherman's Wharf to Sausalito. The trip takes two to three hours and covers 8 miles. After making your way along the waterfront, you'll pedal across the Golden Gate Bridge, stopping for photo-ops along the way. At the conclusion of the tour, you can either bike your way back to the city or opt to take the ferry from Sausalito to San Francisco for an additional fee. Tourgoers say guides are friendly and informative and the sights are beautiful.

Tours are open to all ages. Ticket prices start at $65 for adults and $45 for children 11 and younger. From March through October, tours are available daily at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.; tours are available daily at 10 a.m. the rest of the year. The company also offers a Streets of San Francisco Electric Bike Tour, among other options.

Courtesy of San Francisco Whale Tours

See magnificent whales and the classic Golden Gate Bridge as you tour the San Francisco Bay with San Francisco Whale Tours.

San Francisco Whale Tours – Golden Gate Whale Watch

Price: From $120 Duration: 2.5 hours

Head into San Francisco Bay to catch sight of some of the many whales that pass through its waters with San Francisco Whale Tours. On the 2 1/2-hour cruise, riders may see humpback or gray whales, harbor seals, dolphins, porpoises and seabirds. You'll also get a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The tour does not include food, though you can bring your own, and you should bring warm clothes, including jackets, hats and gloves. Many tourists report seeing both gray and humpback whales and describe the crew as very friendly.

Tickets start at $120 per person. The company offers its Golden Gate Whale Watch once or twice daily from spring through early fall.

View & Book Tickets: San Francisco Whale Tours

Extranomical Tours – Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Tour

Price: Adults from $209; kids from $187 Duration: 15 hours

Once you've gotten your fill of the city, trek to California's incomparable natural wonders with a day trip to Yosemite National Park . On the approximately 15-hour tour, you'll stop at Tuolumne Meadows to see the 2,000-year-old giant sequoia trees, then hit top stops like El Capitan , Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Fall . Buses, which pick up from most hotels , are equipped with tour guides who provide commentary along the way. Tourgoers appreciate the information provided by the guides and rave about the scenery.

The trip departs every day of the year. Tickets start at $209 for adults and $187 for children 11 and younger if purchased online. Tickets do not include meals, but do cover the park entrance fee. Extranomical Tours offers a variety of city tours, as well as excursions to wine country and Monterey.

San Francisco Movie Tours – San Francisco Movie Sets & Locations Tour

Price: Adults from $67; kids from $44 Duration: 3 hours

Many movies and TV shows have been filmed in San Francisco, and this tour highlights all the top filming locations. Knowledgeable guides lead the interactive tour, which takes you to filming locations for productions such as "The Princess Diaries," "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Ant-Man." Throughout the three-hour trip, you'll see clips on big screens with surround sound of each movie or show as you arrive. Tourgoers describe it as a fun way to see the city and say guides are entertaining.

Tickets begin at $67 for adults, $44 for children ages 5 to 17 and $57 for seniors. Tours are generally offered daily at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., though availability may vary by month. San Francisco Movie Tours also leads a "Dirty Harry" tour, among others.

View & Book Tickets: Viator

The Haunt Ghost Tours – San Francisco Ghost Tour

Price: From $49 Duration: 90 minutes

According to reviewers, The Haunt Ghost Tours' outing is full of intriguing and spooky information told by engaging guides. The nighttime walking tour, which lasts up to 90 minutes, unveils the darker side of San Francisco history, including stories about Chinatown's history, while you hunt for spirits along the way with EMF meters – devices used to measure electromagnetic fields.

Tours meet nightly (exact times depend on the season) in the Jackson Square Historic District. Trips traverse less than a mile of downtown. Tickets start at $49 per person; if you want to use one of the company's EMF meters, you'll pay a bit more. Though the tour covers topics like hauntings and ghosts, the company says it is family-friendly and kids 4 and older require a ticket. The company also operates ghost tours in Los Angeles and Temecula.

Dylan's Famous Tour includes time in Muir Woods.

Dylan's Tours – Dylan's Famous Tour with Muir Woods

Price: Adults from $99; kids from $79 Duration: 5 hours

If you're hoping to see the best of the Bay Area in one day, consider this approximately five-hour excursion. You'll travel by minibus to some of San Francisco's most iconic neighborhoods and landmarks, including Chinatown, the Palace of Fine Arts and Billionaire's Row. From there, you'll spend more than an hour in Muir Woods before visiting Sausalito for lunch. The tour ends exploring more of San Francisco. (Note: The afternoon tour does not stop in Sausalito). The tour starts and ends at Fisherman's Wharf and includes multiple photo stops. Reviewers describe tour guides as insightful and funny, and say the bus is very clean.

The tour departs daily at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets start at $99 for adults and $79 for children 12 and younger. Know that if you choose the 8 a.m. departure, you'll have a slightly higher fee because of the extra stop in Sausalito.

View & Book Tickets: Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3

Adventure Cat Sailing Charters – San Francisco Bay Sail

Price: Adults from $60; kids from $30 Duration: 90 minutes

To feel a bay breeze and see San Francisco from a new perspective, climb aboard Adventure Cat's sailing catamaran. The 90-minute cruise allows you to see the sights from inside the protected cabin or outside on a netted deck trampoline where you can feel the waves crashing beneath your feet. While you can't bring drinks on board, soda, beer and wine are available for purchase in the cabin bar. The company also provides an audio tour, which offers listeners information about key attractions as they sail by. Reviewers describe the cruise as fantastic, with many lauding the tour as their top experience in San Francisco. Others appreciate the excellent service provided by the crew.

Prices start at $60 for adults and $30 for kids ages 6 to 12; kids 5 and younger ride for free. Know that Thursday to Sunday sails have a slightly higher fee per person. Sails operate daily, but times vary by the season. The company also offers sunset sails and Alcatraz combo tickets.

GoCar San Francisco

Price: From $286 Duration: 7 hours

Explore the city at your own pace with this GPS-guided car that provides directions and historical and cultural commentary as you follow the designated sightseeing route or branch off on detours, stopping for photo-ops or breaks as you please. The full-day option takes you to the Painted Ladies, Legion of Honor, the Marina District and more. A maximum of two people can fit inside the three-wheeled car and you must be at least 21 years old to drive it. Reviewers describe riding in the car as lots of fun and a great way to see the city.

The seven-hour rental starts at $286 and there are multiple pickup times each day. A variety of routes and rental times are available.

You may also be interested in:

• The Best San Francisco Bus Tours
• The Best San Francisco Walking Tours
• The Best San Francisco Boat Tours
• The Best San Francisco Wine Tours
• The Best Hotels in San Francisco

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Visit SeriousTours.com - Worldwide Attractions, Tours, Experiences, Sightseeing

San Francisco Tours

Premium san francisco tour.

Walking Tour of San Francisco with Ferry Cruise & Sausalito experiences

35+ Attraction, Downhill Walking Tour Itinerary:

• Start at: The Ferry Building (Meet outside)
• Grace Cathedral
• Fairmont Historic Hotel
• Cable Car Barn Museum & Powerhouse (Tour inside)
• 1906 Earthquake Exhibition
• Chinatown (Full guided walk)
• Fortune Cookie Factory
• Transamerica Pyramid
• Ferry Building (Tour inside)
• Ferry Cruise to Sausalito (Walking tour customers)
• Sausalito (Time for exploring, Lunch)
• Ferry Cruise Back to San Francisco (25 minutes)
• Tour Ends at: The Ferry Building

Tour Benefits:

• Experienced, Knowledgeable Tour Guide.
• Only Downhill walks. No Uphill.
• Golden Gate Bridge included (see from Ferry Cruise).
• Ferry Cruise to/from Sausalito.
• See Alcatraz close up from Ferry Cruise.
• Visit Sausalito (small Mediterranean town with great SF views).
• Ferry Cruise offers outside and inside seating.
• Ride the famous Cable Car (fee not included).

Customers of this Tour Like/Want:

• More outdoor experiences.
• Unique, creative tour stops.
• Ferry / Bay Cruise.
• To avoid the crowds.
• Freedom of a walking tour.
• No uphill walking.

Ferry Cruise to/from Sausalito included in itinerary:

Take a 25-minute ferry cruise from The San Francisco Ferry Building to and from Sausalito on this tour. The sausalito ferry goes right by Alcatraz and the boat often slows down so you can get great views of Alcatraz Island. You will also get water views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Timing & Pricing

• Start Time: Daily at 9am
• Tour Duration: 5 hours
• Start location: The Ferry Building (Meet out in front)
• Available: 7 days a week
• Tour Type: Downhill walking Tour of San Francisco with Ferry Cruise & Sausalito experiences

Available San Francisco Tours:

Premium San Francisco Walking Tour

Muir Woods Tours

Muir woods tour.

This Muir Woods Tour is the only Redwood Tour that uses a Separate Tour Guide from Driver and stays longest in Muir Woods (90 minutes). This tour is also unique in that it goes to Marin Headlands (see below) to see the most majestic views of the Golden Gate Bridge (a very rare stop). You will also go to Sausalito, Muir Beach Overlook and a 25-minute Ferry/Bay Cruise. More tour details »

• Start at : The Ferry Building
• Muir Woods National Park (90 minutes)
• Sausalito (approximately 1 hour)
• Ferry/Bay Cruise (25 minutes)
• End at : The Ferry Building

Tour Benefits

• Includes Muir Woods Entry Ticket!
• Separate Tour Guide from Bus Driver. This benefit is crucial for a Muir Woods Tour – where guiding is prohibited in the park. Our Tour Guide will get to offer you face-to-face interaction so you can ask all of the questions before and after our stop in Muir Woods. This is better than looking at the back of your bus driver’s head on other tours.
• More Tour Stops are offered on this Muir Woods tour than any other comparable tour. It’s not just a Muir Woods tour! We also stop at Sausalito and include a ferry cruise.
• Ferry/Bay Cruise. Includes Ferry Cruise ticket costs! Get back from Muir Woods to San Francisco with a Ferry/Bay Cruise that goes right by Alcatraz Island (stones throw away). We are only tour operator that includes this ferry cruise in the itinerary!

Muir Woods 2018!

Available Muir Woods Tours and Combo Tours

• Muir Woods Tour Book Tour More Tour Details

Alcatraz Tours

Alcatraz Penitentiary was truly "The Rock," where America sent the worst of the worst criminals from 1934-1966.

Public enemies like Scarface Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, Creepy Karpis, and the Birdman (Robert Stroud) all learned this first hand. People on the outside have always been fascinated with Alcatraz. Visitors peered at Alcatraz through telescopes when the prisoners were there, and ever since it was opened to tours, thousands of visitors have come every year.

San Francisco Comprehensive Shuttle Tours can get Alcatraz Tickets sometimes even at last minute, and we can arrange these for guests who buy our 5 our Premium City Tour (9am).

Morning Combo Tour

• Start at : Alcatraz Landing (Arrive at 8:30am) Pier 33
• 9am Sailing to Alcatraz
• Alcatraz (2+ Hours)
• Walk or F-line Train from Pier 33 to Ferry Building
• Board Shuttle Bus at 2pm
• Fisherman's Wharf
• Nob Hill (Guided Walk)
• Cable Car Museum
• Lombard Street (Guided Downhill Walk)
• Golden Gate Bridge (20 minute stop)
• Palace of Fine Arts
• Tour ends at Ferry Building or Fisherman's Wharf

Afternoon Combo Tour

• Start from: The Ferry Building (9am)
• Sausalito (time for lunch, shopping and exploring)
• Golden Gate Bridge
• Chinatown (Guided Walk)
• Ferry/Bay Cruise Included
• Walk or F-line Train to Pier 33
• Alcatraz Ferry from Pier 33 - departs at: 3:20pm or 3:50pm (tickets included in price)
• Alcatraz (2 hours)

* This tour has a 25-minute Ferry/Bay Cruise

• Award winning audio tour of the Alcatraz cell house, featuring interviews with former guards and former prisoners
• Possibility of meeting an actual Alcatraz guard or ex-prisoner, who are often on the island to talk to visitors
• Learn about the 1962 escape that was featured in the movie Escape from Alcatraz. Decide for yourself if they really made it or not!
• Man-eating sharks? Dungeons? Executions? Learn for yourself what was real and what is only legend
• Step inside an actual Alcatraz prison cell to have your photograph taken, including their famous "Hole", which was reserved only for the very worst criminals
• Incredible views of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge from Alcatraz Island
• Beautiful gardens that were planted by prisoners and are now being restored by volunteers
• Large colonies of nesting seabirds such as gulls, cormorants, and night herons

Available Alcatraz Tours and Combo Tours

Alcatraz Island Tickets

Yosemite by Motorcoach Tour

See yosemite in 1 day by motorcoach.

Safest Yosemite Tour Around. More Free Time in Yosemite. Expert Separate Tour Guide (not a bus driver guide). Lowest Cost Tour. Comfortable Bus. Sightseeing Stops in Valley Floor. More Free Time in Yosemite!

13.5 Hours Tour Itinerary

• Start at: The Ferry Building (San Francisco 7:00am)
• Bus Ride to Yosemite (2 Hours)
• Break for Breakfast (cost not included)
• Bus Ride to Yosemite (1.5 Hours)
• Arrive Yosemite National Park
• See: Half Dome
• Bridal Veil Falls
• Sentinel Bridge
• Tunnel View
• Yosemite Falls
• Free Time in Valley Floor (2 Hours )
• Bus Ride Back (4 Hours)
• DROP OFF AT: San Francisco Area Hotels*: (10:30pm ) — Fisherman's Wharf – Financial District – Union Square

* If they prefer, customers can also be dropped off at a Taxi stand to get to their hotel.

Safest Yosemite Tour Around

Our Driver does not drive more than 7 hours per day compared to other companies work their drivers 12 to 14 hours and require naps.

You will have one Driver the way up to Yosemite Valley and then a new, well-rested driver, who stayed-over the night before, will be your driver on the way home.

Other Tour Benefits

• More Free Time in Yosemite.
• Expert Separate Tour Guide (not a bus driver guide).
• Lowest Cost Tour. No need for Driver and Guide OT. We pass savings to you.
• Comfortable Bus.
• No Third Party Tour Company! Many Tour operators are running the same itinerary and passing you off to a brand you didn't book with.

Tour Details

• 16 Potential Tour Stops
• See the Entire City in a full day
• Get off the shuttle at any of 16 stops, catch the next shuttle
• We use 16 Passenger Sprinters, 30 Passenger Shuttles - - much smaller, more intimate than 70 passenger Huge Hopper Buses in SF
• Our 16 Passenger Sprinters are really small; our 30 Passenger Shuttles are decked out with wood-flooring and phone charging stations
• Temperature Controlled inside (Winter or Summer benefits)
• You can actually hear the PA announcer (Tour Guide) on this tour (big benefit)

Available Yosemite Tours

Yosemite Tour

Robert Mondavi Tour

Napa experience tour w/ robert mondavi winery.

Only the Wine Country Tour Shuttle visits the great Robert Mondavi winery for guests traveling from San Francisco. Just like the Wine Country Tour Shuttles regular tour, this tour boasts: Ferry/Bay Cruise, 4 winery stops and a picnic lunch in Napa Valley. The difference with this tour is that Robert Mondavi winery is a guaranteed stop.

• Shuttle to Napa Valley  (over the Golden Gate Bridge)
• Domain Chandon Winery - Napa Valley
• Bouchon Pastry & Coffee Shop
• Robert Mondavi Winery - Napa Valley
• V. Sattui Winery - Winery of the year
• Picnic Lunch in Napa Valley
• St. Clair Brown Brewery & Winery w/ Winery Tour
• Break at OxBow Market
• Ferry/Bay Cruise to San Francisco
• Ends at : The Ferry Building

Available Tours

Napa Tour from San Francisco with Premium Wineries and Flexible Itinerary

Combo Tour of Napa and Sonoma

Premium Napa Tours from Napa Valley

Private Tours

San francisco private tours.

You actually save money (in most cases) with a San Francisco Private Tour. Medium to larger sized groups actually enjoy the benefits of a lower price per person for tours of all types when they come in larger numbers.

Further, with private tours of San Francisco you really do get first class treatment ranging from 1) A before tour discussion with your tour guide is customary 2) San Francisco hotel pickup and drop-off 3) change the itinerary anyway you wish 4) Include lunch in the overall price of the tour. Basically, whatever you want is our command with a private tour.

Tour Highlights

Choose your own tour times, Change the itinerary!, Free San Francisco Hotel Pickup and Drop-off, Free Refreshments (bottled-water), Bathrooms on board available upon request for buses, Separate Tour Guide from Driver.

Available Private Tours an Combo Tours

Private San Francisco City Tour

Private Alcatraz Island Tickets

Private Muir Woods Tour

Private Napa Valley Wine Country Tour

Private Monetery / Carmel Tours

Must See & Do in San Francisco

Take the san francisco city tour.

Look for SF city tours that offer more stops and visit more than the most known landmarks in San Francisco. We recommend the SF Premium City Tour with Ferry!

Visit the Wine Country - Don't drive your first time!

We don't recommend drinking and driving thus, we don't recommend renting a car to go to Napa or Sonoma. Go on a bus tour from San Francisco that visits great wineries and has lots of variety during the tour.

Don't Miss The Redwoods - Go to Muir Woods!

So many people come to San Francisco and fail to visit the Giant California Sequioa Coastal Redwoods at Muir Woods National Park. We highly recommend this even over Alcatraz Island. Find a bus tour that uses smaller shuttles and visits other surrounding areas in Marin along with Muir Woods.

Go to Yosemite by Train instead of Car or Bus

The Yosemite Park Train Tour from San Francisco or Sacramento rocks! It's the coolest way to get to Yosemite. We highly consider you investigate the train tour versus a regular old bus tour to Yosemite.

Buy your Alcatraz Tickets Early

You need to book all Alcatraz tour combos at least 2 weeks in advance. Alcatraz tickets need to be sold as a tour combo. Be weary of anyone selling tickets solely and not combined.

Best San Francisco Tours

Planning a trip to san francisco.

Check out our list of the best San Francisco tours that all offer a unique and fun way to see all of San Francisco in a day!

There are over 300 different companies offering various selections of San Francisco tours. You’ll find a variety of bus tours, bike tours, tours to Yosemite from San Francisco and more. But there are only a handful that provide a truly “All In One Day” tour like Dylan’s minibus tours of San Francisco .

This is our list of the best tours in and around San Francisco:

• San Francisco City Tours
• Tours to Muir Woods National Monument of Redwoods
• Tours to Alcatraz Island
• Tours of Golden Gate Bridge & Golden Gate Park
• Tours to Yosemite from San Francisco
• Tours to Wine Country from San Francisco

So, how do you choose the best San Francisco tour with so many options?

Based on our experience it comes down to seeing the best parts of San Francisco in a single day. That is why we created the top rated tour —  our Famous San Francisco to Muir Woods Tour .

If you’re looking for the top San Francisco tour options, we’ve got you covered with this list! We think each of these adventures provides excellent insight into the city and surrounding sites.

Most Popular Tours

Tours of San Francisco AND Muir Woods

On the San Francisco to Muir Woods tour , you’ll explore the most iconic city sites such as Fisherman’s Wharf, North Beach, Palace of Fine Arts, and of course, the Golden Gate Bridge.

You’ll also travel to some of the lesser-known destinations throughout the city. From the Presidio, the former military base which is now a gorgeous park and home to Chrissy Field, George Lucas’ Lucasfilm headquarters, and the Walt Disney Museum, the mansions on Billionaires Row and the charming coastal town of Sausalito (available only on the 8:00 AM tour). Along the way, you’ll be treated to stories about the neighborhoods, diversity, and geography of the Bay Area.

After touring the city, you’ll be transported to Muir Woods just outside of the city to hike among the magnificent redwoods. You’ll have over an hour to hike the trails, listen to a Ranger Talk, or wander through the gift shop. There’s a lot to see and do in Muir Woods, so make sure to read our blog on Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Muir Woods in preparing for your visit to the national monument.

This San Francisco tour and visit to Muir Woods is a great way to see all of San Francisco in a day! You’ll also be sure to get some amazing recommendations for restaurants and other things to do in San Francisco during your visit to the Bay Area.

Explore San Francisco, Muir Woods and Alcatraz Island

Dylan’s is the only Bay Area tour company offering San Francisco, Muir Woods, and Alcatraz in one day! If you want to experience some more action-packed excursions from San Francisco, this is the best tour for you.

Visit famous sites in San Francisco, along the way learn all about the city’s history and culture. There will be plenty of opportunities to hop on and hop off the bus, take photos, and even wander around a bit. Head out of the city to Muir Woods to hike among the redwoods. Enjoy lunch, explore Pier 39’s shops and San Francisco’s infamous sea lions.  

You’ll be dropped you off at Pier 33, the Alcatraz departure point. Dylan’s takes care of Alcatraz reservations ahead of time, so you can board the ferry for the Official Alcatraz Day Tour of the island with no hassles or waiting in line. 

During your tour of Alcatraz you’ll be able to wander the notorious penitentiary grounds, listen to the famous audio tour and take in the history of the island. For Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Alcatraz read our blog and prepare yourself for what to expect.

While this full day city tour with Muir Woods and Alcatraz makes for a long day, it’s the only one of the many San Francisco tours that offer both of these national park sites in one day. So, if you want to do some major city sightseeing in the US, this is a great option.

Bike the Golden Gate Bridge

There might be a lot of tour companies offering San Francisco bike rentals to ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. Still, there’s only one San Francisco tour company which allows you to enjoy Sausalito, Muir Woods, and riding the Golden Gate Bridge all in one day!

Our Bike the Bridge and Shuttle to Muir Woods is the only combo tour of its kind: explore San Francisco’s top landmarks, walk among the Giant Redwoods of Muir Woods National Monument, enjoy a break for lunch in the charming coastal town of Sausalito, and enjoy an e-bike rental to bike the Golden Gate Bridge and explore the city.

Cruise the Golden Gate Bridge on an e-bike and experience the breathtaking views of San Francisco’s skyline from the other side. While cruising through the city, be sure to hop off your bike as often as you want to take photos of the Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the Golden Gate Bridge. 

If a Ride to the Woods isn’t your ideal tour itinerary, check out Ride the City . This San Francisco bike tour includes a guided loop through the city to the top sites and lunch in the colorful Haight-Ashbury neighborhood.

With the e-bikes, you’ll effortlessly climb San Francisco’s hills as you learn the fascinating history of Fisherman’s Wharf and enjoy stunning views of the Bay as you approach the Golden Gate Bridge. You’ll bike through the peninsula’s most iconic neighborhoods, see the National Historic Monument of Aquatic Park, and explore such scenic locations as the Roman and Greek inspired Palace of Fine Arts.

Visiting Yosemite National Park from San Francisco

If you didn’t think that you could see Yosemite from San Francisco in one day , let us prove you wrong!

Yosemite is known for world-renowned views of towering mountains, flourishing animal life, and awe-inspiring natural phenomena everywhere you look. Just a few short hours out of San Francisco, it is possible to visit Yosemite from San Francisco in a single day!

This is the perfect San Francisco tour for adventurers who want to check this national park tour off their bucket lists. During this full-day experience, you can hike to the Giant Sequoias (conditions permitting), take in stunning views of Half-Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls, and still have time to explore the valley floor. All while making it back to your San Francisco beds that night!

Visiting Wine Country from San Francisco

This one is for the wine enthusiasts out there!

With famous Napa and Sonoma wineries a short shuttle away from the city, experiencing the wine country is a must-do for any wine lovers visiting San Francisco.

Some popular wineries you might tour in wine country include Peter Cellars , Nicholson Ranch , and Starmont Winery & Vineyards . If you’re visiting in late summer or early fall, you’ll be greeted by lush, beautiful views of full vines and bursting grapes ready for harvest. At some of the wineries, you may be treated to a detailed description of the winemaking process.

Planning Your San Francisco Trip

Best time to visit san francisco.

Believe it or not, the best time to visit San Francisco is from September to November. The temperature in the city is best during the fall and the crowds are a lot less than in the summer. Summer is the peak of tourism for San Francisco, tourists hope for beautiful weather and a lot of sun, but this can be very disappointing. During summer, the average temperature is usually not higher than 60℉, and there is a lot of chilly fog accompanied by sea winds, which makes the summer not the best time to be in the city. The room rates also rise in summer since it is peak season, so be sure to book your hotel reservations months in advance if you want to visit the city during summertime. 

During spring, San Francisco has mild temperatures and a lack of rain which makes it a good season to travel to the Bay Area. San Francisco is famous because of its fluctuating climate so be sure to bring layers in case the weather changes quickly. In winter, we also recommend bringing a lot of layers since it can feel frigid. 

What To Bring

As mentioned before it is very important to pack a lot of layers when visiting San Francisco. The temperatures in the city can change very quickly, and every neighborhood has its own climate some days. These are called microclimates — yes, these are REAL.

If you are planning on doing a few hikes during your trip make sure to bring the right clothes and equipment. Prepare yourself by reading blogs about hiking to make sure you know what to expect. 

San Francisco Neighborhoods To Visit

San Francisco has a lot of different and unique neighborhoods. This makes it a bit hard to find out what the best places are to visit when you only have a short amount of time in the city. We created a top 10 of our most favorite neighborhoods to make it easier for you to choose!

On the Dylan’s Famous Tour with Muir Woods you will visit the majority of these neighborhoods. 

Fisherman’s Wharf

This is probably the most crowded and touristy area of San Francisco. The famous Pier 39 is located in Fisherman’s Wharf as well as most of the major hotels and souvenir shops. Definitely a must-see!

Chinatown attracts more visitors a year than the Golden Gate Bridge, it is a unique neighborhood which is definitely one of our favorite places in the city!

North Beach 

This is where our bike shop is located. 🙂 Make sure to walk around Little Italy and to eat at one of the great restaurants. 

Telegraph Hill

Telegraph Hill is located between Fisherman’s Wharf and North Beach. Make sure to visit Coit Tower for an incredible view of the city and the Bay.

Lombard Street

The famously twisting Lombard Street is a must-see when visiting San Francisco. Enjoy going down the eight hairpin turns on a unique ride of the city’s ‘crookedest street.’

The Mission

This neighborhood is famous for its colorful murals. The Mission is home to a lot of great restaurants, and on a sunny day you can hang out in Dolores park where you can enjoy a view of the city. 

The Castro 

This is San Francisco’s vibrant gay neighborhood, you can wander through the streets while enjoying the rainbow-flag clad streets. A big movie fan? Make sure to stop at the beautiful Castro Theater to catch a movie!

Haight-Ashbury 

The “Summer of Love” took place in this vibrant and unique neighborhood. You can stroll through the street and discover the funky shops and little stores. Your trip to haight street is not complete without a stop at Amoeba Music. 

Pacific Heights 

Visit this neighborhood to spot the most expensive houses, Victorian homes, and impressive views in the city. This is also considered by many to have the best weather in the city thanks to the microclimates!

Financial District

The Financial District is known for the prominent skyscrapers, but there is a lot more to do. Discover the Ferry Building, City Hall and Union Square, all of it is easy to do in only one day!

The Presidio

Presidio is great for hikes, and if you rent a bike , you can bike all the way to the Golden Gate bridge through this big park. Traveling with kids? Pay a visit to the Disney Family Museum in the old barracks. 

Book Your Tour of San Francisco Today

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The Best Tours of San Francisco

See the best of the bay area from the golden gate bridge to wine country.

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Chinatown Local Food Tour in San Francisco

Taste your way around Chinatown’s lively streets, markets, and hidden gems with a local foodie guid

North Beach Local Food Tour in San Francisco

Join a passionate local guide to explore culinary traditions in San Francisco's vibrant Little Italy

Yosemite in a Day Tour from San Francisco

See the redwoods, Bridalveil and Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, Half Dome and more on an epic day trip!

San Francisco in a Day Tour with Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz

Spend the day exploring the Presidio, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury, and more with a fun guide

San Francisco in a Half Day by Electric Bike

Ride through the city highlights from Golden Gate Park to Mission District and the Painted Ladies

Redwoods, California Coast & Sausalito Day Trip from San Francisco

Leave the city behind to explore ancient forests and picturesque towns on the Pacific Coast Highway

Marin Seaplane Tour with Muir Woods, Sausalito, and Picnic Lunch

Spend a morning among towering redwoods then fly over San Francisco Bay on the ultimate VIP day trip

The Great Wine Tour of Sonoma from San Francisco

Get the real California wine experience with tastings and tours at three boutique Sonoma vineyards

Redwoods and Wine Country Day Trip from San Francisco

Gaze in awe at 300-foot, 1,000-year-old redwoods and sip wines in Russian River Valley in just a day

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Rome in a day tour with colosseum and vatican museums.

Explore the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and more!

Ultimate Palace of Versailles Tour from Paris

Breeze past the lines for the palace and gardens with a friendly English speaking guide

Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel

Skip the line and gain direct access to the Raphael Rooms, Creation of Man, and St. Peter's Basilica

Venice in a Day Tour with Gondola Ride

Visit St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, Rialto Bridge, and hidden areas of Venice

Florence in a Day Combo Tour with David and Uffizi

Explore Accademia Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, Florence Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, and so much more

Paris in a Day Tour with Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Seine River Cruise

See the Mona Lisa, Sacre-Coeur, and Moulin Rouge with organized transportation and an expert guide

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tickets

Skip the line and gain quicker access to the Vatican so you can explore at your leisure

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The best San Francisco tours

Get to know the real Fog City on brewery crawls, art excursions, culinary walks and more of the best San Francisco tours

Though San Franciscans would rather cheer for the Dodgers than get caught riding one of those double-decker buses, it’s still fun to play tourist on one of the best San Francisco tours every now and then. Happily, there’s no shortage of offbeat excursions to quench the local thirst for discovery, from boozy trips to the best San Francisco breweries to strolls through the mural-covered Mission District . There are plenty of options for first-time visitors to the City by the Bay, too: You can get the lay of the land on a bike ride through Golden Gate Park or a walking tour of all the best San Francisco attractions .

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Best San Francisco tours

1.  City Guides

What started out more than 30 years ago as a request from the mayor for librarian-led tours of City Hall has evolved into a nonprofit operation with more than 200 volunteers who lead some 50 different walking tours all over San Francisco—entirely for free (though donations are gladly accepted). Guides are local history buffs who live to share their knowledge and wax poetic about their city. Tours cover every niche, nook and cranny of S.F.—from Russian Hill stairways and Alfred Hitchcock film locations to Chinatown tongs and gangs and the 1906 earthquake and fire.  Free

Photograph: Courtesy Creative Commons/Flickr/ Roger

2.  Precita Eyes Murals Tour

With more than 200 murals canvasing its walls and back alleys, the Mission District is the city’s mecca for political, cultural and just downright beautiful street art. Since it was established in 1977, the Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center has worked with local artists to create and preserve many of the stunning works. On the third Saturday of every month, founder and director Susan Cervantes leads guided mural walks through the Mission. Learn how the art reflects the changing cultural and physical landscape and tells the story of the nabe's Hispanic heritage. $20

3.  Gourmet Walks

Given the city’s rep as a food mecca, it’s no surprise that there are a glut of “eat your way through…” tours in SF. Gourmet Walks stands out by having a great grasp on what people want, focusing on hip neighborhoods, of-the-moment dishes (think salted caramel ice cream, artisan salumi and fresh-baked breads), and of course, chocolate. Local cooks and culinary aficionados lead tasting tours of Hayes Valley , Russian Hill and Alamo Square that offer plenty of samples, plus meet-and-greets with chefs, cheesemongers, bakers and chocolatiers. $55–$90

4.  AT&T Park Tours

Regardless of where your team loyalties lie, few can argue about the fabulousness of AT&T Park, which in 2000 kicked off the transformation of South Beach from an abandoned warehouse wasteland into a bonafide five-star neighborhood. Behind-the-scenes tours of the park are offered all year, giving fans a chance to sit in the dugout, visit the clubhouse and press box, soak up the spectacular Bay views and walk on the field where the Giants have taken three World Series victory laps in the last six years. $22 adults, $17 seniors, $12 kids 12 and under

Photograph: Courtesy Creative Commons/Flickr/ Shawn Clover

5.  Teas, Temples and Beatniks Tour

This walking tour pairs up two of the city’s most visited neighborhoods: Chinatown and North Beach. Start at Chinatown Gate, then venture further into the ‘hood to taste mooncakes at a local bakery, have your fortune told at the oldest Chinese temple in the country and taste freshly made fortune cookies at the factory. Then you’ll head into North Beach to see former hangouts of Beat poets like Jack Kerouac and look up Coit Tower. $66

Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/ Giuseppe Milo

6.  The Castro Historical Walking Tour

Though San Franciscans have lived in the Castro for decades, it didn’t become the thriving LGBTQ community it is today until after World War II, when discharged LGBTQ servicemen settled in the neighborhood. Since then, the Castro has become a hotbed for social and political activism and a symbol of acceptance and diversity for people around the world. Discover the nabe’s history on a walking tour that visits cultural and historic landmarks like the Rainbow Honor Walk, Harvey Milk's residence and the Castro Theater. $25

7.  SF on Tap Tours

Hop heads can quench their thirst for suds on an SF on Tap brewery tour. Guided walking tours take drinkers to three local breweries and craft beer bars in Haight-Ashbury , SoMa or North Beach , where you'll sip complimentary beers as you learn about the city's beer history. Each tour is capped at 12 people, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to pepper your guide with questions about his favorite local brews.  $79

8.  San Francisco Urban Hike

Thanks to the city’s hilly terrain, walking in San Francisco might as well be considered hiking—just in an urban jungle instead of, well, a natural one. Ascend some of S.F.’s steepest hills on this three-hour tour that requires you to wear hiking boots. You’ll climb Kite Hill, ride the Seward Street Slides, discover a hidden eucalyptus forest and summit Twin Peaks. The sweeping views of the city are worth the perspiration. $49

9.  Historic Sausalito Houseboat Tour

After World War II ended, the once-bustling shipbuilding operation in Richardson Bay shut down, leaving tons of wood and scrap metal behind. Enterprising locals took the opportunity (and free materials) to build an entire community of floating houseboats in the harbor. Today, Sausalito is still home to more than 200 houseboats—everything from rough-and-tumble shantys to million-dollar properties. Explore the waterfront community that inspired Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” on this walking tour. $58.83

Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/ Jay Sterling Austin

10.  San Francisco Love Tour

Channel the spirit of peace and love that once enveloped San Francisco on this ‘60s-themed bus tour. Instead of a charter coach, the tour uses a vintage Volkswagen van decked out with neon blue seats, shag carpets and beaded curtains to set the scene. You’ll cruise all over town to landmarks like Lombard Street and Golden Gate Park, plus the former homes of counter-culture icons like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. $48

11.  Golden Gate Park Self-Guided Bike Tour

Though 13 million people visit San Francisco’s verdant oasis every year, few of them explore all of the park’s 1,017 acres. Instead of hoofing it, hop on a bike to cover more ground in less time. Cycle to the Conservatory of Flowers, National AIDS Memorial Grove, Beach Chalet, Lloyd Lake, Japanese Tea Garden and other lauded landmarks at your own pace. $32

12.  Barbary Coast Trail

If you’re not a tour kind of person, but you still want to find out the backstory of San Francisco’s wild and scandalous Gold Rush past, take yourself down to the Barbary Coast Trail. The walking path was created in 1998 by local historian Daniel Bacon in conjunction with the San Francisco Historical Society. Bacon worked tirelessly for years to install more than 170 bronze Barbary Coast Trail medallions in the sidewalk that trace a 3.8-mile path through the history of gold diggers, shanghai dens, railroad barons and ship graveyards. The best part is you can do as little or as much as you want and you don’t need to go in order. Pick up a printed pocket guide, a Walking San Francisco on the Barbary Coast Trail book or download an audio tour. For the full experience, you can also book Bacon for a guided tour ($25 a person, $400 minimum).

Photograph: Courtesy Creative Commons/Flickr/ San Francisco Maritime NHP

Looking for more tours in San Francisco?

The best San Francisco bus tours

• Things to do
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If you don’t want to rely on Ubers, taxis or an unfamiliar public transportation system to get around San Francisco, bus tours might just be your best bet

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Tour the San Francisco Area in Style

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Book a Tour of San Francisco in Style!

Must See, in San Francisco, CA, can take you on a very private and comfortable tour around the best spots in the San Francisco and Bay areas. We operate a Mercedes Sprinter Van, which will seat up to 14 people. This is our van of choice due to the large windows, so you’re sure not to miss any sights! It has four rows of seating, so no matter how many people are in your group, we can accommodate. We have several tours available as well as bundled tours. You can tour in a group, or we do have private tours available for a much more personal tour. Give Must See a call today at +1 (415) 885-9866 to learn more.

Knowledgeable Tour Guides

Our guides know the city! We can give tips and pointers on anything in and around the San Francisco Bay Area. You will learn some history and learn about local attractions, including restaurants, the best places to stay, and what places to avoid. You’ll be entertained while having a great time visiting Alcatraz, Sausalito, Muir Woods, and more.

BOOK A TOUR TODAY

MUIR WOODS AND SAUSALITO TOUR

Explore the amazing Redwoods Forest across the Golden Gate Bridge and The Mediterranean City Sausalito.

Alcatraz with Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour

Tour Alcatraz, Muir Woods, and a Sausalito tour for a great experience of many of the area’s best attractions.

Alcatraz with Bay Cruise

Visit one of the most famous prisons in the world with America’s most ruthless criminals, including Al Capone.

Explore the amazing Sequoia Semperviren Forest across the Golden Gate Bridge and The Mediterranean City Sausalito.

Google Reviews

I’m not usually the tour type, but this was one of the best tours we have ever done! Unexpected stop at the palace of fine arts, stop at the Golden Gate Bridge for some fun photos, breathtaking Muir woods, awesome lunch on the water and Alcatraz was awesome! What a cool first day in San Francisco! Faycal was fantastic!! Would highly recommend! – Julie B.

We had a blast with the tours to Muir Woods and Sausalito. The tour guide was great and knowledgeable. He went above and beyond to make everything perfect for my spouse birthday. Highly recommend! – Google Reviewer

This was an excellent tour, the staff was prompt and courteous. It was the highlight of our trip to San Francisco! – Becky C.

Booked a tour with Must See, very professional knowledgeable guide. Arrived at pickup location on time, very personable and welcoming. Safe, clean, comfortable Sprinter. The driver is a people person and passionate about being an awesome guide and host. Lots of great information, generous amount of time, lots of fun! Everything was perfect! – Steve F.

Facebook Reviews

This was an excellent tour with a fantastic guide who was very knowledgeable with an excellent sense of humour which allowed for a very laid back atmosphere from the moment you step on to the bus. Highly recommended! – Steff S.

This is a very good tour Robert was entertaining and very informative – Bob L.

Great tour. Clean, friendly, timely. Booking was great with Faycal and with 2 days notice they were able to pick us up near our hotel. Dustin was our tour guide and he was very informative and funny and a great driver. Considerate of a guest with motion sickness issues so that we all had a great time. Muir Woods redwoods were amazing and we managed to eat at Scomas at our Sausalito stop which was

excellent. Even got to stop at Palace of Fine Arts for a quick photo op! Ferry to Alcatraz was easy from our drop off and breezy cool ride. There are many options to get back from Alcatraz. Uber is easy. (We took a rickshaw back to near Ghirardelli Square, Highly recommend.) Bring warm jacket for Muir Woods and ferry! - Cindy D.

Very informative. I had a great time. – Chris M.

Our tour guide was so pleasant and knowledgeable of the San Francisco area. He was on time at all points of our tour and very very helpful. We did Alcatraz & Muir woods and loved everything about our day. Our guide also gave us lots of pointers for the rest of our stay in the area and sights we might want to see while here. You can’t go wrong with any tours thru this company!! 10 rating here! – Theresa L.

Awesome tour of Golden Gate, Muir Woods and Sausalito. Fayçal had a lot of information to share with our small group and we had a great day! I’d recommend Must See Tours when you visit San Francisco. – Tania C.

I booked the Muir Woods & Sausalito tour from the hostel the day before.

Fayçal the tour guide picked us up at 9am from the reception with his fancy and very comfy van. His friendly character and outgoing personality put everyone at ease and the 4 solo travellers that we are could connect quite quickly! We first drove to Muir Woods, an absolute highlight in SF. The redwoods are majestic and it’s hard to believe that this national monument is only 1/2 hr drive from downtown!  The tour ended at around 1:30pm in Sausalitos where we got to enjoy the unique atmosphere around the house boats.

I highly recommend Must See Tours if you want to explore the outskirts of SF with a great tour guide! Fayçal also provides you with tips to get around the city at a cheaper price, places to eat etc. - Jul S.

We had a great experience with Must See today! Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods, Sausalito, Palace of Fine Arts and Lombard Street, all beautiful places that our kind guide showed us!

Thank you so much and we recommend it to everyone, it's worth the cost! - Alex and Marie

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Contact us today.

Must See, in San Francisco, CA, can be reached at +1 (415) 885-9866 . Call us today or book your tour online.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Phone: +1 (415) 885-9866

Address: 488 Post st, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA

Email: [email protected]

PAYMENT OPTIONS

BUSINESS HOURS

OUR LOCATION

Top Tours in San Francisco, CA

San francisco tours.

• Sightseeing Tours
• Wine Tours & Tastings
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco

2. Small-Group Tour: SF, Muir Woods, Sausalito w/ Optional Alcatraz

3. Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Full-Day Tour from San Francisco

4. Big Bus San Francisco: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour

5. Muir Woods & Sausalito Half-Day Tour (Return by Bus or Ferry from Sausalito)

6. Muir Woods, Golden Gate Bridge + Sausalito with Optional Alcatraz

7. Official Alcatraz Island Prison Tour and San Francisco Bay Cruise

8. San Francisco Love Tour

9. 2hr - SUNSET Sailing Experience on San Francisco Bay

10. Straight to the Gate Access: Golden Gate Bay Cruise

11. San Francisco: Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoia Day Tour

12. Small-Group Wine Country Tour from San Francisco with Tastings

13. Chinatown and North Beach Walking Tour

14. Straight to the Gate Access: San Francisco Bay Sunset Cruise

15. San Francisco Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

16. Muir Woods and Sausalito Small-Group Tour

17. Alcatraz Island Tour Packages

18. San Francisco Bay Sunset Catamaran Cruise

19. Small Group: The Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour

20. Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive: Full Day Tour from SF

21. Painted Ladies San Francisco City Tour

22. Muir Woods with Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour

23. Skip The Bus: San Francisco By Luxury Van Tour

24. The 7D Ride Experience and The Flyer A flying theater Combo

25. San Francisco Super Saver: Muir Woods & Wine Country w/ optional Gourmet Lunch

26. Inside Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge Bay Cruise

27. 1-Day San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Open Top Bus Tour

28. Full-Day San Francisco Tour by Cable Car & Foot

29. 2-Hour Sunset Sail on the San Francisco Bay

30. Small-Group Yosemite Day Tour from San Francisco

What travellers are saying.

• Nick M 1 contribution 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing Tour, Highly Recommend Tour was amazing, Phil was our Tour guide and he was perfect. Well informed about the whole park and could answer any question people on the tour had. He made sure we got to all the best photo spots for each site. The 4 hour drive each way went pretty quickly and was well worth it for such an incredible experience. Read more Review of: Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco Written 29 April 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
• Stefan H 1 contribution 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesome trip, awesome guide Awesome Tour, awesome guide. Of course we had good weather, which allowed us to experience the whole trip with the best comditins. The guide was great in giving information about the steps we had and organised the time effectively that we did not have to rush through anything. My recommendation: start your vacation with this trip and get all the local insights for restaurants/ bars / areas to visit / areas to avoid from your guide, they are happy to do so. Read more Review of: Small Group Tour: SF, Muir Woods, Sausalito w/ Optional Alcatraz Written 28 April 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

• Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco
• Small Group Tour: SF, Muir Woods, Sausalito w/ Optional Alcatraz
• Straight to the Gate Access: Golden Gate Bay Cruise
• Muir Woods & Sausalito Half-Day Tour (Return by Bus or Ferry from Sausalito)
• Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Full-Day Tour from San Francisco
• San Francisco City Guides
• SF Excursions
• Electric Tour Company Segway Tours
• San Francisco Movie Tours
• Painted Ladies Tour Company
• Vantigo Tours
• Dandyhorse San Francisco Bike Tours
• L'Esprit San Francisco
• Best Bay Area Tours
• Local Tastes of the City Tours
• San Francisco Native Tours
• San Francisco Love Tours
• San Francisco Segway Tours
• White Wolf Private Tours
• San Francisco Sailing Company
• San Francisco Fire Engine Tours & Adventures
• Segway SF Bay

Bay Magic Tours

Bay Magic Tours is a full-service Destination Management and Receptive Tour Company specializing in showcasing the best of Northern California to meeting and convention attendees, association groups and leisure groups from across the country and around the world. We pride ourselves in creating highly specialized customer service-driven programs including customized tours, team-building activities and memorable off-site events that are sure to be a highlight of any group’s visit to our amazing area.

Over 20 years of transportation, tourism and hospitality industry experience. Our local expertise and relationships with the area’s best transportation providers, specialty venues, top hotels, destination restaurants, wineries and other attractions and services enable us to offer our clients quality and attention to detail that is second to none!

Our Services

Full-service Receptive Tour Operator offering private tours, transportation and tour guide arrangements, custom tour itineraries and more…serving groups from all over the USA and the world. Specializing in detailed, custom itineraries and exclusive tour programs for incentive groups, tour groups, families, schools and educational organizations, and special interest groups of all kinds and sizes.

Transportation Management, Staffing, Tours, Off-Site Events, Activities, Teambuilding, Spouse Programs. For over 15 years we have been San Francisco, Silicon Valley, East Bay and Wine Country experts. Serving national and state associations, corporations and meeting and conference groups of all kinds. Highly detailed arrangements and programs for meetings and events from 10 to 1000 attendees.

Fully-Escorted motorcoach tours in California, the West Coast and the Southwestern USA. Featuring the best destinations, attractions and highlights! Top-quality transportation, accommodations, dining and attractions, plus professionally certified, experienced tour guides. We have extensive experience providing tours for some of Northern California’s finest seniors’ communities and assisted-living facilities.

Testimonials

Thank you so very much for the wonderful tour!…The reunion was a hit and many people cited the tour as the highlight of the trip. Thank you again for providing us with two friendly and knowledgeable people. My family speaks very highly of both of them.

Video from a Recent Bay Magic Seniors Tour

Proudly affiliated with the following organizations

A Taste of SF Tours, Inc. is dedicated to providing a genuine fun educational experience for its guests with small groups, which provides an opportunity to visit small and cozy boutique wineries, explore the city sights, visit the impressive Muir Woods National Monument, and San Francisco suburbs like Sausalito, and make stops that are just not available to large groups.

You can immerse yourself in Silicon Valley, Monterey & Carmel, shop in Livermore, and many more. 

You, as a guest, also can have more individual attention.

By the way, with us, you can custom-tailor any private tour or charter for yourself, your friends, and your family.

We know that your time is essential, and we would like to provide a fun and memorable experience for you as our guest. 

That is always a challenge for us; our experienced guides make it happen. 

That is why we are doing what we do because we love it.

A Taste of SF Tours, Inc

Top Tours in San Francisco, CA

San francisco tours.

• Sightseeing Tours
• Wine Tours & Tastings
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco

2. Small-Group Tour: SF, Muir Woods, Sausalito w/ Optional Alcatraz

3. Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Full-Day Tour from San Francisco

4. Big Bus San Francisco: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour

5. Muir Woods & Sausalito Half-Day Tour (Return by Bus or Ferry from Sausalito)

6. Muir Woods, Golden Gate Bridge + Sausalito with Optional Alcatraz

7. Official Alcatraz Island Prison Tour and San Francisco Bay Cruise

8. San Francisco Love Tour

9. Straight to the Gate Access: Golden Gate Bay Cruise

10. Alcatraz Sausalito Express: 2Hours in Sausalito with Lunch Option

11. San Francisco: Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoia Day Tour

12. Small-Group Wine Country Tour from San Francisco with Tastings

13. Chinatown and North Beach Walking Tour

14. Straight to the Gate Access: San Francisco Bay Sunset Cruise

15. San Francisco Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

16. Muir Woods and Sausalito Small-Group Tour

17. Alcatraz Island Tour Packages

18. San Francisco Bay Sunset Catamaran Cruise

19. Small Group: The Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour

20. Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive: Full Day Tour from SF

21. Painted Ladies San Francisco City Tour

22. Muir Woods with Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour

23. Self Guided Chinatown Tour: Food, History and Culture

24. Skip The Bus: San Francisco By Luxury Van Tour

25. San Francisco Super Saver: Muir Woods & Wine Country w/ optional Gourmet Lunch

26. Inside Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge Bay Cruise

27. 1-Day San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Open Top Bus Tour

28. Full-Day San Francisco Tour by Cable Car & Foot

29. 2-Hour Sunset Sail on the San Francisco Bay

30. Small-Group Yosemite Day Tour from San Francisco

What travellers are saying.

• Nick M 1 contribution 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing Tour, Highly Recommend Tour was amazing, Phil was our Tour guide and he was perfect. Well informed about the whole park and could answer any question people on the tour had. He made sure we got to all the best photo spots for each site. The 4 hour drive each way went pretty quickly and was well worth it for such an incredible experience. Read more Review of: Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco Written April 29, 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
• Stefan H 1 contribution 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesome trip, awesome guide Awesome Tour, awesome guide. Of course we had good weather, which allowed us to experience the whole trip with the best comditins. The guide was great in giving information about the steps we had and organised the time effectively that we did not have to rush through anything. My recommendation: start your vacation with this trip and get all the local insights for restaurants/ bars / areas to visit / areas to avoid from your guide, they are happy to do so. Read more Review of: Small Group Tour: SF, Muir Woods, Sausalito w/ Optional Alcatraz Written April 28, 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

• Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco
• Small Group Tour: SF, Muir Woods, Sausalito w/ Optional Alcatraz
• Straight to the Gate Access: Golden Gate Bay Cruise
• Muir Woods & Sausalito Half-Day Tour (Return by Bus or Ferry from Sausalito)
• Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Full-Day Tour from San Francisco
• San Francisco City Guides
• SF Excursions
• Electric Tour Company Segway Tours
• San Francisco Movie Tours
• Painted Ladies Tour Company
• Vantigo Tours
• Dandyhorse San Francisco Bike Tours
• L'Esprit San Francisco
• Best Bay Area Tours
• Local Tastes of the City Tours
• San Francisco Native Tours
• San Francisco Love Tours
• San Francisco Segway Tours
• White Wolf Private Tours
• San Francisco Sailing Company
• San Francisco Fire Engine Tours & Adventures
• Segway SF Bay

• San Francisco

Travel Guide

• Things to Do
• Best Hotels
• Things to See
• Best Restaurants
• Best Nightlife
• Planning a Trip
• Organized Tours

Walking Tours

• Active Pursuits
• Spectator Sports
• Suggested Itineraries

Organized Tours in San Francisco

The 49-Mile Scene Drive

This self-guided drive is an easy way to orient yourself and to grasp the beauty of San Francisco and its extraordinary location. Beginning in the city, it follows a rough circle around the bay and passes virtually all the best-known sights, from Chinatown to the Golden Gate Bridge, Ocean Beach, Seal Rocks, Golden Gate Park, and Twin Peaks. Originally designed for the benefit of visitors to San Francisco’s 1939 and 1940 Golden Gate International Exposition, the route is marked by blue-and-white sea gull signs. Although it makes an excellent half-day tour, this 49-mile-long mini-excursion can easily take longer if you decide, for example, to stop to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge or to have tea in Golden Gate Park’s Japanese Tea Garden.

If you are in the area, the San Francisco Visitor Information Center ( www.sftravel.com ), at Powell and Market streets, distributes free route maps, which are handy since a few of the Scenic Drive marker signs are missing. Otherwise, you can download a great PDF map from their website. Try to avoid the downtown area during the weekday rush hours from 7 to 9am and 4 to 6pm.

San Francisco Segway Tours

Segways are those weird-looking upright scooters you’ve probably seen on TV. The two-wheeled “human transporter” is an ingenious electric-powered transportation device that uses gyroscopes to emulate human balance. Riding a Segway is fairly intuitive: lean forward, go forward; lean back, go back; stand upright, stop. Regardless, don’t worry, there’s a free 45-minute training session before you get on your way. The San Francisco Electric Tour Company offers Segway-powered narrated 2-hour tours—choose from Wharf and Waterfront, Golden Gate Park, Chinatown at Night tours, and more. There’s even a Hills & Crooked Streets tour for advanced riders. For $75, it’s not a bad deal, and it’s the closest you may ever come to being a celebrity (everyone checks you out). Just FYI, you must be at least 12 years old, weigh between 100 and 250 lb., and can’t be pregnant to join the tour. No heels, sandals, or flip-flops. For more information, log onto https://electrictourcompany.com/ or call tel.  415/474-3130 . (There are many other companies offering Segway tours, but this one consistently gets the best reviews.)

Do not miss the opportunity to take one of the 80-plus absolutely free walking tours offered in rotation by San Francisco City Guides (tel. 415/557-4266; www.sfcityguides.org ), a simply terrific volunteer organization that runs up to a dozen tours a day, from 10am to 2pm, all around town. You don’t need to make a reservation; just show up at the place and time listed online on its home page, where the weekly schedule is kept up-to-date by the group’s single paid employee. Tours are free, but at the end your guide, who will be someone who loves and studies the city and wants to share that love, will pass around an envelope and hope for a few bucks. Some of the cooler tours include a walk through the historic Palace Hotel; City Scapes and Public places, on which you’ll discover hidden rooftop gardens and little-known financial museums downtown; a retelling of the history of the Mission Dolores neighborhood, one of the city’s most historic; and Gold Rush City, which takes in the stomping grounds of the original ‘49ers. Most of the city’s great attractions, from Coit Tower to Fisherman’s Wharf, will have a tour dedicated to their explication. Tours are probably the city’s best bargain, and they’re an inviting way to see some windswept places you may not want to go to alone, including along the walkway of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Fort Mason complex. Some 21,000 people a year take advantage of this terrific service, and frugal city buffs could easily fill their vacations with two or three a day.

Cruisin’ the Castro (tel. 415/255-1821; www.cruisinthecastro.com ; $30 adults, $25 children 5–12) is an informative historical tour of San Francisco’s most famous gay quarter, concentrating on the contribution of the gay community to the city’s political maturity, growth, and beauty. This fun and easy walking tour is for all ages, highlighting gay and lesbian history from 1849 to present. Stops include America’s only Pink Triangle Park and Memorial, the original site of the AIDS Quilt Name Project, Harvey Milk’s residence and photo shop, the Castro Theatre, and the Human Rights Campaign and Action Center. Tours run Monday through Saturday from 10am to noon and meet at the Rainbow Flag at the Harvey Milk Plaza on the corner of Castro and Market streets above the Castro Muni station. Reservations are required.

The Haight-Ashbury Flower Power Walking Tour (tel. 415/863-1621; www.haightashburytour.com ; $20, free for kids 9 and under) explores hippie haunts with Pam and Bruce Brennan (aka “Hippy Gourmet”). You’ll revisit the Grateful Dead’s crash pad, Janis Joplin’s house, and other reminders of the Summer of Love in 2 1/2 short hours. Tours begin at 10:30am on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and Fridays at 11am. Reservations are advised and you can buy tickets online.

To explore the less-touristy side, and get the hidden nooks and crannies of Chinatown, sign up with Wok Wiz Chinatown Walking Tours & Cooking Center, 250 King St., Ste. 268 (tel. 650/355-9657; www.wokwiz.com ). Founded in 1984 by the late author and cooking instructor Shirley Fong-Torres, its guides today are all Chinatown natives, who speak fluent Cantonese, and are intimately acquainted with the neighborhood’s history, folklore, culture, and food. Tours run daily from 10am to 1pm and include a seven-course dim sum lunch (a Chinese meal made up of many small plates of food). There’s also a less expensive tour that does not include lunch. Since groups are generally held to a maximum of 15, reservations are essential. The tour (with lunch) costs $50 for adults and $35 for ages 6 to 10; without lunch, it’s $35 and $25, respectively. Tickets can be purchased online. Wok Wiz also operates an I Can’t Believe I Ate My Way Through Chinatown tour, which starts with breakfast, moves to a wok shop, and stops for various nibbles at a vegetarian restaurant, dim sum place, and a marketplace, before taking a break for a sumptuous authentic Cantonese luncheon. It’s offered Saturdays, takes 3 1/2 hours, and costs $90 per person ($50 for children 6–10), food included. The city mourns the loss of Shirley, who passed away in 2011.

Finally, for a tour of the areas where tour busses are forbidden, try Jay Gifford’s Victorian Homes Historical Walking Tour (tel. 415/252-9485; www.victorianhomewalk.com ). As you might guess, the tour concentrates on architecture though Jay, a witty raconteur and San Francisco resident for more than 2 decades, also goes deeply into the city’s history—particularly the periods just before and after the great earthquake and fire of 1906. You’ll stroll through Japantown, Pacific Heights, and Cow Hollow. In the process, you’ll see more than 200 meticulously restored Victorians, including the sites where “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Party of Five” were filmed. Tours run daily at 11am rain or shine; cost is $25 per person (cash only).

Several Fisherman’s Wharf companies compete for biking business, and frankly, there doesn’t seem to be much difference between the ones listed below, either in price or quality of the rental equipment. They are Bay City Bike Rentals ( baycitybike.com ; tel.  415/346-2453 ), San Francisco Bike Rentals ( bikerentalsanfrancisco.com ; tel.  415/922-4537 ) and Wheel Fun ( wheelfunrentals.com ; tel. 415/770-1978 ). Along with rentals, the first two offer identical guided bike tours over the Golden Gate Bridge and down into Sausalito. The guided portion of the tour ends in Sausalito, and you are then free to ride more, eat lunch, browse the shops, and take the ferry back at your leisure. ( Note: The $11 ferry ride back to Pier 39 is not included in the price, but the two companies can sell you the ticket if you want one—or you can ride back!). Tours start at 10am and take about 3 hours; helmets, locks, maps, and a safety training class are all included. On the other hand, Wheel Fun offers a GPS-guided audio bike tour along the same route, with the added bonus that you can drop off your bike at the Sausalito Bike Return and ride the ferry back, unencumbered.

One of the best ways to look at San Francisco is from a boat bobbing on the bay, where you can take in views of the skyline and the dramatic topography. There are several cruises to choose from. Regardless of which you take, dress in warm layers; it can be freezing cold on the bay.

Blue & Gold Fleet , Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf ( blueandgoldfleet.com ; tel.  415/705-8203 ), offers a range of options including a 60-minute tour of the bay that traces the historic waterfront; a 90-minute cruise around Alcatraz Island; and a “guaranteed to get soaked” bay adventure on the flame-covered RocketBoat. Prices for tours range from $31 for an adult on one of the cruises to $42 for a combo ticket of a cruise plus the RocketBoat. Ferries are available to Sausalito, Tiburon, and Angel Island for $20 to $24 roundtrip (adults), $11 to $15 (kids and seniors), and free for ages 5 and under.

The Red & White Fleet, established in 1892, departs daily from Pier 43 1/2 ( redandwhite.com ; tel.  415/673-2900 ), offering a variety of bay cruise options including the 90-minute Bridge 2 Bridge ($40 adults, $28 kids 5–17, free 4 and under), 2-hour California Sunset Cruise ($68 adults, $46 kids 5–17, free 4 and under), and Golden Gate tour ($32 adults, $22 kids 5–17, free 4 and under).

San Francisco’s public transportation system can be hard to master for newbies, so these Hop On/Hop Off tours fill a niche, especially for those looking to see just the major sites. A number of different combinations are offered by a number of different companies, but none is significantly better than the others. So before you book think about what you want to see: Do you want a funky old trolley or an open double-decker bus? A tour that crosses the Golden Gate Bridge and visits Sausalito? Look, too, at how many stops are en route and how often the busses start. In the off-season, that might be just twice a day, making a hop-on, hop-off tour more of a "stay on," so study the bus schedules before booking. Companies to compare include Big Bus Tours ( www.bigbustours.com ), City Sightseeing San Francisco ( www.city-sightseeing.us ), and the San Francisco Sightseeing Company/Gray Line ( www.sanfranciscosightseeing.com ). Prices vary depending on the tour. Tip: A second day of hopping on and off can often be added for only a few more dollars, though many people find 1 day on these buses is more than enough.

San Francisco Seaplane Tours ( seaplane.com ; tel.  415/332-4843 ), the Bay Area’s only seaplane tour company, is a perfect choice for thrill-seekers. For more than 60 years, this locally owned outfit has provided its customers bird’s-eye views of the city, flying directly over San Francisco at an altitude of about 1,500 feet. Sights you’ll see during the narrated excursions include the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, Alcatraz, Tiburon, and Sausalito. Half the fun, however, is taking off and landing on the water, which is surprisingly smooth. Trips depart from Mill Valley; the company offers complimentary shuttle pickup at Pier 39. Prices range from $149 per person for the 20-minute SF City Sites Tour to $289 for the 60-minute Norcal Coastal Tour. There’s also the 40-minute Sunset Champagne Tour, which includes a bottle of bubbly and a cozy backseat for two. Children’s rates are typically about $20 less, and cameras are most welcome.

Equally thrilling (and perhaps more so if you’ve never been in a helicopter) is a tour of San Francisco and the bay via San Francisco Helicopters . The Vista package ($195 ages 13 and up, $150 ages 2–12) includes free shuttle pickup from your hotel or Pier 39, and a 20-minute tour that takes you over the city, past the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, and Alcatraz Island. After takeoff, the pilot gives a narrated tour and answers questions while the background music adds a bit of a Disney-ride quality to the experience. Tip: The view from the front seat is the best, so you may have to yell “shotgun!” as soon as you spot your ride. Picnic lunch and sunset dinner packages are available as well. For more information or reservations, visit sfhelicopters.com or call tel.  650/635-4500 .

A Whale of a Tale

Not many people outside of California know about the Farallon Islands, nor do many people get to visit up close. The entire Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary is off-limits to civilians, so visitors must gaze from the deck of a fishing or whale-watching boat if they want a peek firsthand.

SF Bay Whale Watching , a veteran eco-tourism company offers trips (starting at $125) out to the desolate outcropping of rock off the coast of San Francisco that is home to birds, sea lions, seals, dolphins, and the ever-present great white shark. Typically on the search for migrating gray, humpback, or blue whales, expeditions leave from Pier 39 at 8am sharp and pass underneath the majestic Golden Gate Bridge on the 27-mile trip out to the islands. A crew of trained naturalists accompany each voyage, and will stop at the first sign of water spouts on the 5- to 6-hour trips.

For more information on the different tours offered, call tel. 415/331-6267 or visit www.sfbaywhalewatching.com .

GoCar Tours of San Francisco

If the thought of walking up and down San Francisco's brutally steep streets has you sweating already, consider renting a talking GoCar   ★  instead. The tiny yellow three-wheeled convertible cars are easy and fun to drive and they're cleverly guided by a talking GPS, which means that the car always knows where you are, even if you don’t. The most popular computer-guided tour is a 2-hour loop around the Fisherman's Wharf area, out to the Marina District, through Golden Gate Park, and down Lombard Street, the "crookedest street in the world." As you drive, the talking car tells you where to turn and what landmarks you’re passing. Even if you stop to check something out, as soon as you turn your GoCar back on, the tour picks up where it left off. Or you can just cruise around wherever you want (but not across the Golden Gate Bridge). There’s a lockable trunk for your things, and the small size makes parking a breeze. Keep in mind, this isn’t a Ferrari—two adults on a long, steep hill may involve one of you walking (or pushing). You can rent a GoCar for 1 hour (standard GoCar: $58; Sport GoCar: $68), or for as long as you want (every hour after the first is $44/hr., prorated in 15-min. increments. If you have the car for 5 hours, you’ll be charged the day rate of $200!). You’ll have to wear a helmet, and you must be a licensed driver at least 18 years old. GoCar has two rental locations: at Fisherman’s Wharf (431 Beach St.), and Union Square (321 Mason St.). For more information call tel. 800/91-GOCAR (46227) or 415/441-5695, or log onto their website at www.gocartours.com .

Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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Painted ladies tour company.

A unique way to take in all of the sights of San Francisco in fully restored vintage Volkswagen buses.

Well worth it!

“Thank you so much for the amazing tour of San Francisco yesterday! As a Bay Area native, I saw things that even I had never seen before and learned so much about SF.”

Best SF tour ever!

“The best tour you can have in San Francisco! It was my first time in Sanfo and absolutely had wonderful memories in the city because of this trip. 

What a find!

“Fabulous tour this afternoon getting to know beautiful San Francisco. Our guide was awesome & navigated with ease whilst imparting a fact-filled commentary as well as personal anecdotes. I could do it all again.”

We are a proud finalist in the Arival TourReview Spotlight Awards!

Wine country tour, san francisco city tour, private tour, taco tequila tour.

Painted Ladies Tour Company is a small family business, so Josh and his team take great pride in making sure guests feel well taken care of and have an awesome experience. Josh’s wife, Virgine, runs our front office to answer any questions or emails you might have prior to booking.

Painted Ladies Tour Company is fully licensed through the California Public Utilities Commission PSG 39255 as a Charter and Sightseeing company.

Our vintage buses have been thoroughly restored and updated with modern amenities to provide a safe and unique opportunity to see the sights of San Francisco. Because of our smaller group sizes, our buses can go many places that larger tour buses have been banned from or just cannot access, including Alamo Square (Painted Ladies), Lombard Street, and even those narrow alleys with beautiful murals in the Mission!

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Discover San Francisco in Style with GoRide GPS Tours and The Electric Tour Company

Book your Electric Scooter rental today and discover the city in a whole new way! The best way to explore the city is with GoRide GPS Tours and The Electric Tour Company.

Fully Narrated Rentals by GoRide GPS Tours & Electric Tour Company

GoRide GPS Tours and The Electric Tour Company are two cutting-edge companies that have combined forces to bring you the ultimate electric scooter experience. GoRide provides tour narration technology, while The Electric Tour Company operates the rental location. 

GoRide is a leader in GPS technology and has a passion for creating memorable experiences for customers. They have combined their expertise in technology and storytelling to bring you a unique way to explore cities.

The Electric Tour Company is a team of experienced tour operators, passionate about sustainability and providing a fun and eco-friendly way to see the city. 

Together, GoRide Tours and The Electric Tour Company provide a seamless experience that is both fun and educational. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, their tours offer a unique way to explore San Francisco and beyond. The GPS-guided tour routes take you to the city’s most famous landmarks and hidden gems.

At GoRide Tours and The Electric Tour Company , customer satisfaction is their top priority. Their goal is to ensure that each customer has a memorable and enjoyable experience, and they strive to make each fun electric scooter rental a highlight of their trip.

What happened to the Segway Tours? 

We started Segway Tours in 2004 – one of the 1st Segway tour companies in the world.  After 19 amazing and successful years, it was time for a change.  We had a blast with our many guests from around the world.

If you want to purchase a Segway at a great price check out our or San Francisco Electric Tour Company Ebay store .

Check out our GPS-guided Electric scooters. An amazing guided and narrated tour experience to the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Check out our other fun sightseeing tours in San Francisco

San francisco jeep tours.

San Francisco Jeep Private Group Sightseeing Tours

• Explore San Francisco in an open-top Jeep .
• Private City Tours
• Muir Giant Redwoods
• San Francisco Night Tours.

Lucky Tuk Tuk Private Group Tours

Explore San Francisco in a three-wheel eco-friendly electric Tuk Tuk.

• Private Group City Tour
• Evening San Francisco Lights Tours
• with your own driver/guide.

Partnered for Sustainable Fun Electric Powerd Tours

The Electric Tour Company is a provider of eco-friendly and innovative tours in San Francisco. Their fleet of Electric Scooters and Electric Tuk Tuks allows visitors to explore the city uniquely and sustainably.

With a variety of tour options, ranging from self-guided to fully narrated, The Electric Tour Company offers a fun and educational experience for all ages. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, join The Electric Tour Company and discover the beauty of San Francisco in a new and exciting way!

GoCar Tours and GoRide Tours offer unique ways to explore San Francisco, allowing visitors to rent GPS-guided, talking cars and scooters that take them on a customized tour of the city.

The vehicles are equipped with fun and informative narration, making it an entertaining and educational experience. With GoCar Tours , you’ll see all the must-see sights of San Francisco, as well as some hidden gems, all while having a fun and hassle-free adventure. Book your GoCar tour today and experience San Francisco in a whole new way!

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