On these trips, you may discover the best attractions and little-known gems of San Francisco.
There are so many ways to see San Francisco’s beauty and top attractions, whether by plane, bike, boat, bus, or even by vintage Volkswagen. U.S. News selected 19 of the city’s greatest tours, taking into account feedback from visitors and industry experts, to assist you in choosing the approach that is best for you. This list includes tours for everyone, including history buffs, explorers, and foodies.
Bridge 2 Bridge Cruise with the Red and White Fleet
On this 90-minute boat ride over San Francisco Bay, see the two most iconic bridges in San Francisco. Visitors will also see Alcatraz, Treasure Island, and the city skyline in addition to cruising beneath the Bay and Golden Gate bridges. The history of the city is covered in an audio guide offered by Red and White Fleet that is available in 16 different languages. Reviewers rave about the beautiful scenery, the insightful discussion, and the immaculate and comfy boats. Thursday through Sunday at 11:30 a.m., 6:30 p.m., or 7 p.m., depending on the day, tours are offered. Fisherman’s Wharf is where cruises depart from. Adult tickets start at $48 while children’s prices range from $36 to $48. Children under the age of four ride free with a ticket, though. Lacking time? In addition to other trips, Red and White Fleet also provides an hour-long Golden Gate Bay Cruise.
San Francisco City Tours via Vantigo
Vantigo takes up to seven travelers in a classic Volkswagen van instead of a conventional tour bus to take in everything that the city has to offer. The three-hour tour includes vistas of Haight-Ashbury, the Golden Gate Bridge, Twin Peaks, and other sights, as well as lots of photo opportunities at 15 different locations of interest. Reviewers laud the Volkswagen for being large and comfy, and they praise the guides for being entertaining and educational. At various intervals throughout the day, tours depart from Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf. Tickets are $65 for adults and $45 for children aged 5 to 11 at the door. Public tours are not available to children under the age of four. Brewery tours and combo tours to Alcatraz are also offered.
San Francisco City Sites Tour by Seaplane
The next thing you should do after exploring the city’s streets and the bay’s waterways is take an aerial tour. You will take off from Sausalito, a lovely village across the Golden Gate Bridge, and soar over downtown before passing over Alcatraz and Angel Island before returning to Sausalito. Reviewers cite the excursion as one of their favorite things to do while in San Francisco and call it spectacular. Ticket prices range from $179 for adults to $155 for children ages 3 to 11. A 45-minute Greater Bay Area Tour is one of the numerous flight trips offered by Seaplane Adventures.
Mission District Food Tour by Avital Food Tours
With Avital’s Mission District culinary tour, you can explore one of San Francisco’s most well-known areas while eating. The three-hour trip provides a glimpse into the Mission District’s gastronomic past, which includes information on its Mexican cuisine and vibrant paintings. Enjoy four courses—two appetizers, an entree, and a dessert—at four local eateries along the way. Each tour offers a different set of tastings, which could include salted caramel ice cream, cheese, tacos, churros, burritos, or quesadillas. Reviewers laud the trip as entertaining, brisk, and enlightening. There can only be eight individuals on a tour. The cost of a ticket is $99 per person. For an extra $26 per person, foodies over the age of 21 can enhance their tour to include three alcohol pairings. Although there is no discount for children, they are welcome on the tour, and Avital suggests that older kids are better suited for its outings. Sunday tours start at 10 a.m. The business additionally provides tours of North Beach.
The Love Tour offered by San Francisco Love Tours
On this two-hour trip, travel around 15 neighborhoods aboard a vintage Volkswagen hippie bus. You’ll learn about San Francisco history as you go to locations like Lombard Street and Haight-Ashbury while listening to music. Additionally, you’ll stop twice so that you may take pictures of the city skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge. The experienced tour guides and the vintage music selections have received wonderful reviews. Daily tours are typically offered at 8:30 and 11 a.m., as well as at 2 and 5 p.m., with a start and end location at Fisherman’s Wharf. The van has room for up to six people. The cost of a ticket is $69 per person. Only privately guided tours are open to children under the age of 4.
North Beach/Little Italy Walking Food Tour, offered by Local Tastes of the City Tours
Thanks to knowledgeable interpreters who are captivating storytellers, this tour is a must for gastronomy and history enthusiasts, claim the reviews. You will travel seven to eight blocks of North Beach throughout the course of the three hours (or “Little Italy”). The price of the tour includes samples of the greatest pizza, pastries, coffee, chocolates, and other treats in the area. According to travelers, the meals are ample, therefore they advise going on the tour hungry. On some days, a second tour at noon is also available in addition to the regular daily tour time of 10:30 a.m. Tickets are roughly $70 for adults, $40 for adolescents between the ages of 12 and 16 and $15 for kids between the ages of 2 and 11; infants under 1 are admitted free of charge. Still famished? Take the Chinatown tours offered by the business.
San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Big Bus
This hop-on, hop-off trip may be the ideal solution if you’re seeking for a simple way to see the best sights of the city in a single day. At any of its stops, Big Bus allows passengers to exit, tour the area, and then board another bus when they’re ready. Big Bus travels to more than 20 destinations every 30 minutes, including Presidio Park, Chinatown, the Embarcadero, and even crosses the Golden Gate Bridge. If you decide not to get off the boat, the tour lasts a little over two hours. Every bus has an open top, Wi-Fi, and prerecorded commentary in 10 different languages. Reviewers like the informative commentary and the chance to cross the Golden Gate Bridge in an open-top bus, but several express concern about how rapidly buses fill up. Prices for the standard one-day ticket start at about $50 for adults and $45 for children ages 3 to 12 if you purchase them online. In addition to regular tickets, Big Bus San Francisco provides premium tickets that come with free bike rentals and tours of Muir Woods.
Segway tours offered by the Electric Tour Company in Golden Gate Park
A fun and quick method to explore a variety of popular places quickly is to ride a Segway. In just over two and a half hours, The Electric Tour Company will take you on a tour of the famous Golden Gate Park, stopping at places like the Spreckels Temple of Music, the Shakespeare Garden, the California Academy of Sciences, and the Conservatory of Flowers. For novice riders, the tour starts with a 30-minute training session. Each rider must weigh between 100 and 250 pounds and be at least 12 years old. Reviewers laud their guides, describing them as informative and helpful, and claim that riding a Segway is simple. Tours are given daily from June through August at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., with a third tour at 3 p.m. on the weekends. Tours can be scheduled on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. throughout the remainder of the year. Tickets start at $79 for adults and $65 for children 12 to 17 years of age. There are additional tours of the park available on bikes and electric scooters.
San Francisco’s Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour with Gray Line
You can travel to Muir Woods National Monument for a four to six-hour expedition to witness the magnificent redwood trees up close. The tour continues to Sausalito, a lovely town across the bay with waterfront eating, shopping, and art galleries, after touring the woodland. You can choose to pay more to take the ferry back to Sausalito and stay there for longer. The tour bus is pleasant, according to reviews, and the driver is regarded as personable and informed. If you don’t want to deal with the traffic and parking hassles at Muir Woods, many people suggest taking this tour. Muir Woods National Monument admittance is included in the entry fee of $89 for adults and $59 for kids aged 5 to 11. From San Francisco, Gray Line offers a range of daytrips, including excursions to Sonoma, the Napa Valley, and Monterey.
Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito with Bay City Bike Rentals and Tours
This tour takes you from Fisherman’s Wharf to Sausalito and allows you to see San Francisco by bicycle. The 8-mile journey takes two to three hours. You will pedal across the Golden Gate Bridge after traveling along the waterfront and stopping for pictures along the route. Following the trip, you have a choice of biking back to the city or, for an extra cost, taking the ferry from Sausalito to San Francisco. Visitors agree that the scenery are stunning and that the tour guides are helpful and courteous. All ages are welcome on the tours. For adults, tickets start at $55, while costs for kids vary. Tours are offered daily at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. from March through October; daily at 10 a.m. from November through February. In addition to other possibilities, the business also provides a Streets of San Francisco Electric Bike Tour.
Golden Gate Whale Watch and San Francisco Whale Tours
With San Francisco Whale Tours, enter San Francisco Bay to see some of the numerous whales that ply its waters. Riders may encounter humpback whales, harbor seals, dolphins, porpoises, and seagulls during the 2 1/2-hour voyage. Additionally, you’ll see the Golden Gate Bridge. Food is not provided on the tour, but you are welcome to bring your own. You should also pack warm clothing, such as coats, caps, and gloves. Many visitors claim to have seen both gray and humpback whales and praise the crew for their friendliness. The cost of a ticket is $120 per person. From March through October, the business runs its Golden Gate Whale Watch every Thursday through Sunday between noon and 3 p.m.
Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Tour: Extraordinary Tours
After you’ve had your fill of the city, take a day trip to Yosemite National Park to explore California’s extraordinary natural beauties. On the roughly 15-hour tour, you’ll visit popular sites like El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and Bridalveil Fall before stopping at Tuolumne Meadows to admire the 2,000-year-old gigantic sequoia trees. Most hotels are served by buses, which have tour guides on board who offer commentary as they travel. Visitors laud the scenery and the information the tour guides deliver. Every day of the year, the excursion leaves. If purchased online, tickets start at $179 for adults and $165 for kids 11 and under. Meals are not included in the tickets, but they do cover the park entrance price. Numerous city tours are available from Extranomical Tours, in addition to trips to Monterey and wine region.
San Francisco Movie Tours – City Tour of San Francisco’s Movie Sights
This tour showcases all the best filming locations from the numerous movies and TV shows that have been filmed in San Francisco. The interactive tour, which takes you to the filming locations for shows including “Full House,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” and “Ant-Man,” is led by actors who have transitioned into tour guides. You will watch trailers for each film or television program as you arrive on large screens with surround sound during the three-hour journey. Participants believe the tours are a good opportunity to see the city and that the guides are entertaining. Tickets are about $60 for adults, $35 for kids between the ages of 5 and 17, and $50 for seniors. Daily tours are typically provided at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2 p.m., though availability may change depending on the month. Among its other tours, San Francisco Movie Tours also runs a “Dirty Harry” tour.
Haunted San Francisco Ghost Tour offered by Wild SF Walking Tours
Reviewers have praised Wild SF’s Haunted San Francisco Ghost Tour for being packed with interesting and terrifying facts delivered by affable tour leaders. The 90-minute midnight walking tour explores the darkest aspects of San Francisco’s past, including tales of serial killers, the ancient red-light district, haunted hotels, and more. A little more than half a mile of downtown San Francisco is covered during tours that start at Union Square. All actors with at than four years of tour-leading experience serve as guides. The cost of a ticket is $33 per person. This excursion is suggested by Wild SF for people ages 10 and up. If you still want more supernatural experiences, think about joining the company’s ghost hunting trip.
Dylan’s Tours: The Known Tour of Muir Woods
Consider this six-hour trip if you want to explore the finest of the Bay Area in a single day. Before stopping for a snack in the quaint village of Sausalito, you’ll travel by minibus to some of San Francisco’s most famous districts and attractions, including North Beach, Chinatown, Pacific Heights, and the Painted Ladies. You’ll spend more than an hour at Muir Woods after that. The tour includes numerous photo stops and departs and arrives at Fisherman’s Wharf. Reviewers gush over the intelligent and humorous tour instructors and the immaculate condition of the bus. Tickets for the daily 8:30 a.m. tour cost about $99 for adults and $69 for kids under 12 years old. Alcatraz and electric bike trips can also be combined.
Vista Grande Helicopter Tour with San Francisco Helicopters
On this 30-minute helicopter trip, take get a bird’s-eye view of San Francisco. As you fly, the pilot will narrate as you pass famous landmarks like Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, and Sausalito to the soundtrack of music that has been specially arranged for the voyage. The flight is hailed by tourists as stunning, a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and among the best helicopter excursions they’ve ever experienced. Three times per day, the excursion leaves. Tickets cost $280 for adults and $210 for kids between the ages of 2 and 12. In addition to a number of other alternatives, the company also offers helicopter excursions of the wine region.
San Francisco Bay Sailing Adventure Cat Sailing Charters
Climb onto the sailing catamaran of Adventure Cat to experience the bay breeze and see San Francisco from a different angle. During the 90-minute ride, you have the option of viewing the surroundings inside the secluded cabin or from outdoors on a netted deck trampoline where you can hear the waves smashing. While you cannot bring drinks on board, the cabin bar does sell appetizers, beer, and wine. The business also offers an audio tour that informs listeners about important landmarks as they pass them. Many reviewers rate the tour as their greatest San Francisco experience, praising the ship as amazing. Others are grateful for the crew’s superior service. Prices for adults begin at $60, while those for children aged 6 to 12 start at $30. Children under 5 ride for free. The business also sells combo tickets for Alcatraz and sunset sails.
Alcatraz excursion and Ferry Building food tour are offered by Edible Excursions.
On this special day trip, combine two of the city’s most recognizable sights. The day begins with a tour of the best vendors at the Ferry Building Marketplace, which includes artisan cheese, bread, and chocolate tastes. Next, there is a voyage to Alcatraz, where visitors can explore the former prison on their own. Before boarding the ferry for the return trip, visitors are free to linger at Alcatraz for as long as they’d like. The culinary element of the tour, which the participants describe as both excellent and educational, surprised them by being enjoyable. Starting at $165 per person, tickets also include admission to Alcatraz. Four days a week there are tours available. Would you rather check out a different part of the city? Tours are available through Edible Excursions via places including the Mission District and Japantown.
San Francisco GoCar
With this GPS-guided automobile, you can tour the city at your own leisure while receiving directions, historical context, and cultural commentary. You may stick to the planned itinerary or veer off on side trips, stopping whenever you want for breaks or photo opportunities. The three-wheeled vehicle can fit no more than two persons and requires a driver to be at least 21 years old. However, they caution that the experience might become expensive if you keep the car for longer than the allocated period. Reviewers describe riding in the automobile as loads of fun and a fantastic way to see the city. Rentals for one hour begin at $65 although there are several routes and rental lengths available (the car features commentary on more than 500 attractions and points of interest).