San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge & 2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Ride the Golden Gate Bridge & Explore San Francisco Over Two Days at Your Own Pace

You board at Fisherman's Wharf and control your own pace across two days, hopping on and off to see the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Chinatown, and the Civic Center. A live-narrated night tour on the Bay Bridge and a bonus Chinatown walk are included, along with 2 hours of bike rental. The ticket is valid for both days, so you can spread your sightseeing out or pack it in: whatever works for your schedule.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore San Francisco city highlights

• Start at Fisherman's Wharf
• Ride across Golden Gate Bridge
• Walk at North Vista Point
• Visit Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center
• Explore the Presidio
• Tour Golden Gate Park stops
• See California Academy of Sciences
• Visit De Young Museum
• Walk Japanese Tea Garden
• Explore Botanical Gardens
• Drive through Haight Ashbury
• View Civic Center landmarks
• Stop at Union Square
• Visit Chinatown and North Beach
• See Lombard Street
• Return to Fisherman's Wharf
• Stop at Pier 39 sea lions

Day 2: Sausalito and night city tour

• Depart North Vista Point to Sausalito
• Stroll and shop in Sausalito
• Enjoy lunch by waterfront
• Return via Golden Gate Bridge
• Stop at South Vista Point views
• See San Francisco Bay panorama
• Transfer back to North Vista Point
• Join San Francisco Night Tour
• View vibrant neighborhoods
• Cross Bay Bridge to Treasure Island
• Return along waterfront to Pier 39
• End at Fisherman's Wharf

The experience

Hands grip the rail as the bus pulls away from Fisherman's Wharf, and you're already moving through one of the most recognizable waterfronts in the world. That's how the 2-day hop-on hop-off tour starts: no waiting, no setup, just the city rolling past the windows. The bus heads straight toward the Golden Gate Bridge, and you can either stay seated for the full 2-hour loop to see all the major sites, or step off whenever something catches your eye. Fisherman's Wharf, the Embarcadero, Union Square, the Civic Center with its grand City Hall and Opera House. They're all stops you control.

What makes this different from a standard city tour is the flexibility built in. You get a 2-day ticket, which means you can hop on and off as many times as you want across both days. Want to spend an hour in Golden Gate Park exploring the Japanese Tea Garden or the de Young Museum? Get off. Ready to move on? The next bus comes around and you're back on. The route takes you through Haight-Ashbury, past the crooked Lombard Street in North Beach, and if you're up for it, there's a separate Sausalito tour that branches off from North Vista Point: a charming Marin County town where you can walk around, eat lunch by the water, and catch views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the other side on the way back.

The night tour is where the city shifts. A 90-minute live narrated ride on an open-top double-decker bus shows you San Francisco after dark, moving through the vibrant neighborhoods and crossing the Bay Bridge out to Treasure Island. The guide is speaking in real time, pointing things out, and you're seeing the skyline lit up: Alcatraz Island, the bay, the whole thing. It's a different energy than the daytime loop, and it's included in your ticket.

Your package also throws in a bonus Chinatown walking tour and 2 hours of bike rental, so if you want to pedal through Golden Gate Park or explore the waterfront on two wheels, that's already covered. The buses run first come, first serve, so timing matters a bit, but with two full days and the ability to hop off whenever, you're not locked into a rigid schedule. Bring comfortable shoes. You'll be walking between stops, and San Francisco's hills don't forgive.

What’s included

• 2-day hop-on hop-off bus tour with unlimited boarding across both days.
• San Francisco Night Tour (90 minutes, live narrated, crossing the Bay Bridge to Treasure Island).
• bonus Chinatown walking tour.
• 2-hour bike rental.
• English-speaking live guide or multilingual audio commentary.
• access to all major stops including Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, Civic Center, Haight-Ashbury, North Beach, and the Sausalito tour option.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in EnglishNo fixed time

Guide in EnglishNo fixed time

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “99 Jefferson Street (at the corner of Mason St.)”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by CS Global SF, dba Skyline Sightseeing

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see San Francisco's main landmarks without renting a car or planning separate transport: the two-day ticket and hop-on flexibility mean you set the pace, and the night tour plus bike rental give you variety without extra bookings.

Traveler reviews

3.46★★★★★★★★★★

81 verified traveler reviews

5 ★32

4 ★13

3 ★11

2 ★10

1 ★15

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

Can I get off the bus and rejoin it later with the same ticket?

Yes. The 2-day ticket lets you hop on and off as many times as you like across both days. Buses run regularly on the same routes.

How long does the full loop take if I stay on the bus the whole time?

About 2 hours for the official city tour route covering all major sites.

Is the night tour included in the ticket?

Yes. The San Francisco Night Tour is included, along with the Chinatown walking tour and 2-hour bike rental.

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour departs from and returns to Fisherman's Wharf, which is also where Pier 39 and the sea lions are located.

Can I take the Sausalito tour as part of this ticket?

Yes. The Sausalito tour branches off from North Vista Point and brings you back to rejoin the main city tour. It includes stops in charming Sausalito and views of the Golden Gate Bridge from South Vista Point.

Is there a guide on the bus?

Yes. You get either an English-speaking live guide or multilingual audio commentary, depending on the tour segment.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the buses.