San Francisco Bay: 90-Min Sailing Tour & Golden Gate Views

Ninety minutes on a real sailboat, passing under the Golden Gate without a tour bus in sight

You board a traditional 16-person sailboat at Pier 39 and spend 90 minutes under sail, passing the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Angel Island, and the Bay Bridge while the crew handles the boat and you handle a beer or wine. No crowds, no narration you didn't ask for, no schedule that fights the wind. You're back at the pier by late afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each4 stops

1. Golden Gate Bridgepassing by
2. San Francisco BayEntry included1h 30m
3. Bay Bridgepassing by
4. Angel Island State Parkpassing by

San Francisco Bay 90-minute sailing tour

• Board the Privateer sailboat
• Sail past Angel Island
• Pass by Sausalito
• View Golden Gate Bridge from deck
• Sail past San Francisco skyline
• Return to Pier 39

The experience

Most people see the Golden Gate Bridge from a viewpoint or a car window. You'll see it from the deck of the Privateer, a double-masted sailboat that holds up to 16 passengers: small enough that you're not jostled around by crowds, big enough that the crew knows what they're doing. The boat leaves Pier 39 and heads straight into San Francisco Bay, and within the first twenty minutes you're close enough to the bridge that you can feel the scale of it, the way the cables catch the light, the way the whole thing seems to shift as you move beneath it.

The Privateer is teak-decked and bronze-fitted, the kind of boat that looks like it belongs in a maritime museum but is actually out here doing the thing it was built for. The crew is friendly and skilled. They'll explain what's happening with the sails, point out where Alcatraz sits in the distance, and hand you a beer or wine without making it feel like a transaction. You'll pass Sausalito on one side, watch the Bay Bridge recede on the other, and sail past Angel Island State Park. The whole 90-minute San Francisco Bay sailing tour moves at the pace of actual wind and water, not a schedule, which means some days you're gliding and some days you're working the sails a little harder. Either way, it's nothing like the crowded ferry routes.

Dress in layers. It's colder out on the water than you'd expect, even on a sunny afternoon. Bring a valid ID if you're planning to drink. The boat departs from Pier 39, and the crew will tell you exactly where to meet them. Weather can cancel the tour if conditions turn unsafe, but that's rare in the Bay. If you've got small kids, they can come along. Infants need to sit on a lap. By the time you're back at the pier, you'll have seen more of the actual geography of San Francisco than most people do in a week.

What’s included

Your 90-minute sail includes the full experience on the Privateer: beer and wine are provided, and the crew handles all the sailing while you take in views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Angel Island State Park, the Bay Bridge, and the San Francisco skyline on the return to Pier 39.

Options for this experience

31 options

12pm winter sailGuide in English · Available from 10 Feb 2027Two drinks are included

1:45pm sail septemberGuide in English · Available from 7 Sep 2027Two drinks are included

12:30 spring sailGuide in English · Available from 10 Feb 2027Two drinks are included

See 28 more options

1:45 winter sailGuide in English · Available from 25 Jan 2027Two drinks are included

11:30 sail nov-janGuide in English · 11:30Includes two drinks

1pm fall sailGuide in English · Available from 14 Oct 2027Includes two drinks

Sail at 11:15 am in fallGuide in English · Available from 1 Nov 2027Includes two drinks

Sailing at 10:45 am in AugustGuide in English · Available from 9 Aug 2027Two drinks included: includes 2 complimentary beers, wine, soda, or bottled water

Sail at 11:15 during summer timeGuide in English · Available from 11 May 2027Two drinks are included

1:15pm sail nov-janGuide in English · 13:15Two drinks are included

Sail at 2:45 during fall seasonGuide in English · Available from 14 Oct 2027Two drinks are included

Sail at 3:15 pm during fall seasonGuide in English · Available from 20 Sep 2027Two drinks are included

Sail at 1:15 pm during fall seasonGuide in English · Available from 20 Sep 2027Two drinks are included

Sail at 11:30 during fall seasonGuide in English · Available from 20 Sep 2027Two drinks are included

3:45pm sail septemberGuide in English · Available from 7 Sep 2027Two drinks are included

12pm sail septemberGuide in English · Available from 7 Sep 2027Two drinks are included

Sail at 2:15 during spring seasonGuide in English · Available from 10 Feb 2027Two drinks are included

4:15 sail augustGuide in English · Available from 9 Aug 2027Two drinks are included

2:15 sail AugustGuide in English · Available from 9 Aug 2027Two drinks are included

12:30pm sail AugustGuide in English · Available from 9 Aug 2027Two drinks are included

Sail at 4:45 pm during summer seasonGuide in English · Available from 11 May 2027Two drinks are included

Sail at 2:45 during summer seasonGuide in English · Available from 11 May 2027Two drinks are included

4:15pm sailGuide in English · Available from 9 Apr 2027Two drinks are included

2:15 sailGuide in English · Available from 9 Apr 2027Two drinks are included

12:30 sailGuide in English · Available from 9 Apr 2027Two drinks are included

10:45 am sailGuide in English · Available from 9 Apr 2027Two drinks are included

3:45 sailGuide in English · Available from 14 Mar 2027Two drinks are included

1:45 pm sailGuide in English · Available from 14 Mar 2027Two drinks are included

12pm spring sailGuide in English · Available from 14 Mar 2027Two drinks are included

3:45 sail springGuide in English · Available from 14 Mar 2027Two drinks are included

Sail at 11 am in springGuide in English · Available from 10 Feb 2027Two drinks are included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 1h 30m, runs every day at 11:30 and 13:15, from US$ 99 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:30 and 13:15Another time? ›

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (under 13)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by The San Francisco Sailing Company

Is this one for you?Right for anyone who wants to see the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay from the water without the noise and crowds of a large tour boat: the 16-person limit and traditional sailboat pace are what make that possible.

Traveler reviews

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406 verified traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 13).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's included in the 90-minute sailing tour?

The sail itself, plus beer and wine. Food is not included, but you can bring your own snacks.

How many people are on the boat?

The Privateer holds up to 28 passengers normally, but is limited to 16 for this tour so you get more space and attention from the crew.

Do I need sailing experience?

No. The crew handles the boat. You just show up and enjoy the ride.

What if the weather is bad?

Tours are cancelled only in hard rain or unsafe conditions. The crew makes the final call on the day of your tour.

Do I need to bring ID?

Only if you plan to drink alcohol. You'll need a valid government-issued 21+ ID.

Where does the boat depart from?

Pier 39 in San Francisco.

What should I wear?

Layers and close-toed shoes. It's colder on the water than on land, even on sunny days.