Things to do in San Francisco
Hop on Hop Off San Francisco10 optionsSan Fran Boat Tour21 optionsMuir Woods Tours20 optionsSan Francisco Bay Boat Tours16 optionsSan Fran Wine Tour14 optionsFood Tour San Francisco27 optionsSan Francisco Airport Shuttle32 optionsSunset Cruise San Francisco6 optionsGolden Gate Park Tours32 optionsSan Francisco Walking Tour50 optionsSan Francisco City Tour12 optionsGhost Tour San Francisco5 options
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San Francisco: GoCar GPS Tour & Golden Gate BridgeYou drive a GPS-guided three-wheel car through San Francisco's main landmarks—Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street, Ocean Beach, and more—at your own pace, with the car narrating stories and history as you go. You stop when you want, take detours if you want, and control how long you spend at each spot. Includes gas, helmet, and map; you need a valid driver's license and must be 21 or older to rent.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see San Francisco's main sights without being herded through a group tour or figuring out public transit—the GoCar's self-guided format and narration mean you get the stories and the freedom to move at your own pace, stop where you want, and explore side streets without losing the thread of the city's history.
San Francisco Mission District Food Tour & Murals WalkWalk through San Francisco’s Mission District tasting burritos, cookies, Italian subs, clam chowder, and locally made ice cream with a small group and local guide. You’ll see vibrant murals up close and hear stories behind them as you go. Expect laughter, unexpected flavors, and maybe even a new perspective on what makes this neighborhood so layered.
San Francisco: Small Group City Tour by Luxury VanYou’ll ride through San Francisco’s neighborhoods in a small group luxury van—snacks in hand—with a local guide who actually knows people here. Expect photo stops at the Golden Gate Bridge, Painted Ladies, Chinatown’s bustling streets and some places you wouldn’t find alone. It’s less about checking boxes and more about feeling the city move around you.
San Francisco: VW Bus Tour & 14 Districts with Golden Gate BridgeYou ride in a vintage VW bus through 14 San Francisco neighborhoods, stopping for photos at the Golden Gate Bridge, Painted Ladies, Twin Peaks, and other landmarks while a local guide explains the city's Gold Rush history, 1960s counterculture, and how earthquakes shaped the streets. Bottled water is included, and the small-group format means the van can navigate narrow lanes and quieter districts that larger buses skip. Plan for four to five hours and bring cash for a tip.Is it for me?Choose this tour if you want to see the main San Francisco landmarks and neighborhoods in one afternoon without renting a car or figuring out public transit—the small VW bus does the navigating and the guide handles the history, leaving you to take photos and absorb the city.
San Francisco, Muir Woods & Sausalito Day Trip with AlcatrazYou’ll feel San Francisco wake up as you roll through North Beach and Chinatown, then breathe deep beneath ancient redwoods in Muir Woods before relaxing over lunch by Sausalito’s waterfront. With stories from your local guide and time to explore at your own pace, this day trip lets you soak up city energy and coastal calm — all without worrying about logistics or parking headaches.
San Francisco Chinatown Walking Tour: Food Markets & AlleysThis two-hour walking tour of San Francisco's Chinatown starts at Old St. Mary's Cathedral and moves through both popular landmarks and off-the-beaten-path locations with a live English-speaking guide. You'll walk the Stockton Street food markets, sample fortune cookies at the factory, visit a traditional herbal pharmacy stocked with ginseng and dried goods, and explore Waverly Place's secluded alley and Buddhist temple. The tour operates rain or shine and suits all fitness levels; a minimum of two people is required to confirm.Is it for me?This is a walking tour over two hours through a neighborhood with hills and crowded streets, so a comfortable pace and sturdy shoes matter — but the route suits all fitness levels and doesn't demand early starts or strenuous climbs. It's built for people who want to understand how Chinatown actually works, not just photograph the landmarks.
Golden Gate Bridge Bike Tour: Fisherman's Wharf to SausalitoYou arrive at Fisherman's Wharf, get fitted on your choice of bike, and ride with a guide through the Presidio and across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito—about 2.5 to 3 hours of pedaling with bay views the entire way. Your rental stays valid for 24 hours, so you can explore Sausalito on your own time and return by ferry or bike whenever you're done. Helmet, lock, and map are included; just bring a credit card for the deposit.Is it for me?Right for anyone wanting to cross the Golden Gate Bridge without a car and have time to linger in Sausalito—the 24-hour rental means you're not rushed to return, and the guide handles the first 2.5 to 3 hours so you learn the route before exploring on your own.
San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge Bike Tour to SausalitoYou ride an electric bike from Fisherman's Wharf across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito on flat, protected paths with a local guide for three hours. The tour includes the bike, helmet, and map; you skip the hills entirely and get to choose how you return—by bike, ferry, or bike drop service. No fitness level required, though the ride isn't recommended for people with serious heart conditions.Is it for me?Book this if you want to cross the Golden Gate Bridge without renting a car or navigating transit, and prefer a guided route that avoids hills—the electric bikes and flat paths are what make the whole span doable in one morning.
Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour from San Francisco: 2 Wineries & LunchYou get picked up from Fisherman's Wharf, drive through the Bay Area with a photo stop at the Golden Gate Bridge, taste wines at two Napa and Sonoma wineries with a guide explaining the process, then spend an extended lunch break in historic Sonoma Square where you can eat, shop, or add another tasting at your own expense. Transportation and tasting fees are included; the whole day is built around not rushing the wine or the food.Is it for me?Book this if you want to taste wine at quality wineries without arranging your own transportation or managing the timing between Napa and Sonoma — the small group size and fixed itinerary handle the logistics, leaving you free to focus on the wine and the food.
San Francisco: Bridge-to-Bridge Bay Cruise with Audio GuideYou’ll sail right beneath both Golden Gate and Bay Bridge on this San Francisco cruise, with live audio commentary in your language and ever-changing views of Alcatraz, Treasure Island, and city landmarks. There’s space to sit inside or out — grab a drink or bring your own lunch — and let yourself get swept up in that wild Bay wind.
San Francisco Chinatown: Walking Tour, Food & Tea TastingYou walk through San Francisco Chinatown's hidden alleys and markets with a local guide, tasting dim sum, BBQ pork buns, and fortune cookies made by hand at the Golden Gate Factory since 1962. You'll explore Stockton Street's bustling produce markets, walk through Waverly Place's temple alley, and end with a traditional tea tasting that explains the history behind what you're drinking. Everything—food, tea, and entry fees—is included in the three-hour tour.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Chinatown that locals actually navigate—the markets, the alleys, the small shops—rather than the version visible from a tour bus, and you'd rather not spend time figuring out where to eat or what things are called.
San Francisco: Alcatraz, Ferry & 72-Hour Hop-on Hop-off BusYou get guaranteed timed entry to Alcatraz Island with the award-winning audio tour, a 72-hour hop-on hop-off Big Bus pass covering seventeen stops across San Francisco, entry to the Aquarium by the Bay, a sunset city tour, and a Chinatown walking tour. The Big Bus app tracks buses in real time and stores all your tickets, so you activate everything on your phone and move through the city at your own pace. Check in at the Visitor Center before 9am on your tour date to collect your Alcatraz ticket.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see Alcatraz and explore San Francisco neighborhoods without renting a car or planning a detailed itinerary — the timed Alcatraz entry and the 48-hour bus pass mean you've got structure where it matters and freedom everywhere else.
San Francisco Bay Sailing: Golden Gate Bridge & Alcatraz CruiseYou board at Pier 39 and spend 90 minutes on a catamaran sailing past the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the San Francisco skyline. Choose between a covered cabin with windows or open deck nets for the ride. The on-board bar serves drinks, audio guides are available in eight languages, and the boat is stable enough for all fitness levels. Bring a jacket and soft shoes; boarding involves a few stairs.Is it for me?Book this if you want the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz from the water without arranging a private boat or spending hours on a guided tour — the fixed 1.5-hour window gets you the main views and back to the city in time for lunch or an afternoon elsewhere.
San Francisco: Muir Woods & Sausalito Morning Tour Small GroupYou get picked up from your hotel and driven across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods, where you walk among the tallest trees in the world with a guide who explains how the forest actually works. After that, you're taken to Sausalito's waterfront for an hour to walk and rest. The whole thing takes four to five hours, includes park entry and transport, and keeps groups under fifteen people so it doesn't feel crowded.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see the Golden Gate Bridge, walk among giant redwoods, and end at a bay-view waterfront without arranging three separate trips—the fixed itinerary and included transport handle all of that, and the small group size means you're not following a crowd.
San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge Bike Rental & Self-Guided TourYou pick up a bike at Fisherman's Wharf, choose your route from a map, and ride on your own schedule — no guide, no group, no fixed itinerary. The rental includes a helmet, lock, and gear; you can ride the Golden Gate Bridge, explore Sausalito, pedal through the Presidio, or head into Golden Gate Park. Ferry service from Sausalito or Tiburon lets you return by water if you want. You have 24 hours and a phone number if you need help.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants to see San Francisco's waterfront and the Golden Gate Bridge without joining a group or following a fixed schedule — the 24-hour window and phone support mean you set the pace and the route, and you're never stranded if something goes wrong.
California Academy of Sciences: Aquarium, Planetarium & RainforestYou get instant-access admission to four museums in one building: an aquarium with 60,000 animals including a record-breaking coral reef, a planetarium with included show reservations, a four-story rainforest dome, and natural history galleries. No separate ticket redemption — just scan at the entrance and start exploring. Plan for at least half a day to see everything without rushing.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants to see multiple world-class exhibits in one day without buying separate tickets or navigating different buildings — the instant-access entry and included planetarium passes mean you walk in and start exploring immediately, which is what makes four museums fit into a single visit.
San Francisco: Muir Woods & Sausalito with Golden Gate BridgeYou ride across the Golden Gate Bridge in a guided mini-bus, spend 1.5 hours hiking among ancient redwoods at Muir Woods with entrance already covered, then drive through the town of Sausalito before finishing at Fisherman's Wharf with free time for lunch. The tour operates in all weather and suits most fitness levels, with wheelchair accessibility available if you notify the operator at booking.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Muir Woods without arranging your own transport or paying a separate entrance fee — the fixed itinerary and included ticket remove two decisions from your day, leaving you free to focus on the walk itself.
San Francisco: Castro LGBTQ Walking Tour & Local StoriesYou’ll walk San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood with a local guide who knows every story behind the rainbow flags. Hear about Harvey Milk at his original camera shop, learn how the rainbow flag was created, and visit over 20 historic LGBTQ sites. Expect real conversation, laughter, and moments that might stick with you long after you leave.
Napa Sonoma Wine Tour: Small Group, 5 WineriesA full-day wine tour from San Francisco visits Napa and Sonoma wineries with tastings at Artesa and Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, plus scenic overlooks at Treasure Island and Battery Spencer and free time in Sonoma Plaza. The group stays under twelve, an English-speaking guide leads the day, and all winery admission and tastings are included. Pickup is arranged in advance from your San Francisco location, and the tour returns by 5:30 PM.Is it for me?Most wine tours from San Francisco either skip the city views or rush through Sonoma; this one bookends the vineyards with the Golden Gate and Bay Bridge, gives you two hours to eat and wander Sonoma Plaza on your own terms, and keeps the group small enough that the guide knows everyone's name by the second tasting.
17-Mile Drive & Monterey tour from San Francisco: Small groupA full-day small-group tour from San Francisco traces the Pacific Coast Highway to Monterey, the 17-Mile Drive and Carmel-by-the-Sea, with a live English-speaking guide, entry to Pigeon Point Lighthouse, the 17-Mile Drive attractions and two hours at Cannery Row and Carmel Plaza. You travel in a comfortable vehicle with other travelers, stops are set, and all park admission is included—the route and timing are arranged so the day holds together without building it yourself.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want the Pacific Coast Highway and all three coastal towns—Monterey, the 17-Mile Drive and Carmel—in a single day without driving yourself or arranging the stops. The guide handles the route and timing, all park entry is included upfront, and the two-hour windows at Cannery Row and Carmel Plaza give you freedom to spend time on what interests you instead of moving through on a fixed schedule.
