USA · SAN FRANCISCO TOURS

Best San Francisco Tours: 15 Worth Booking

48 tours  ·  from $37

Every trip has one open day too few. These 15 san francisco tours justify the slot, priced and timed so the decision takes minutes instead of an evening.

Muir Woods and Sausalito (Return by Bus or Ferry) - Entering Muir Woods after the winding Marin drive
California Tours, Ferry Rides, Muir Woods Tours, San Francisco Tours, Tour Reviews

Muir Woods and Sausalito (Return by Bus or Ferry)

1.Muir Woods and Sausalito (Return by Bus or Ferry)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,098 reviews · 5 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $91Our pick

Spend 5 to 8 hours visiting Muir Woods and Sausalito from San Francisco by air-conditioned coach. You get 90 minutes among coastal redwoods, a Golden Gate Bridge viewpoint, and one hour in Sausalito. Guides such as Don, Jerry, George, and Judith add local stories. Choose a bus or ferry return, or upgrade to a bike ride.

“We were supposed to have a tour going to Muir Woods and Sausalito. We were SUPPOSED to have 90 minutes in Muir Woods and 60 minutes in Sausalito. Not until after we were in the bus and driving away were we told we would be taking a 2 hour drive (one way) to spend 60 minutes in Armstrong Park. (Muir Woods is about a 50 minute drive). Nobody was told this until we were already underway. Everyone thought we would be eating around 1:30 in Sausalito. Nobody had food and there was no food or water at Armstrong park. We were all very hungry. We arrived in Sausalito and had…”

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Big Bus SF: Hop-on Hop-off Tour with 17 Stops and Sunset Option - Recorded commentary and the open-top deck
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Big Bus SF: Hop-on Hop-off Tour with 17 Stops and Sunset Option

2.Big Bus SF: Hop-on Hop-off Tour with 17 Stops and Sunset Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 4,539 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $56

See San Francisco without renting a car on a 24 or 48-hour open-top bus pass covering 17 stops from Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 to Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury, Union Square, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Use the app for live bus tracking, listen to recorded commentary with supplied earbuds, and add a sunset tour, Chinatown walk, wine tour, or Aquarium of the Bay admission.

“Awesome views of San Franscisco, audio was not working on left side of bus, safe driver, learned a lot about the city.”

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Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Full-Day Tour from San Francisco - Roche Winery and the friendly first pour
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Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Full-Day Tour from San Francisco

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,455 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $165

Spend 8 to 9 hours crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and visiting three Napa or Sonoma wineries from San Francisco. You may taste at Roche, Artesa, Madonna, Jacuzzi, BR Cohn, or Robledo, with the lineup subject to availability. Guides such as Don, Debbie, Rick, and Thomas add history and wine-country context. Lunch in Sonoma Plaza is on your own.

“Have u tried gray line tours ..runs all the time ...bus tours ..tried all of them ..positive delightful ..hope to go again”

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Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco - Tunnel View delivers Yosemite’s grand introduction
1-Day Tours, California Tours, San Francisco Tours, Tour Reviews

Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,671 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $239Top rated

Leave San Francisco before sunrise for a 14-hour minibus trip to Yosemite. You’ll walk through Tuolumne Grove, stop at Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and El Capitan, with free time in Yosemite Valley. Guides such as Derek, Trevor, Kurt, and Steven add park stories, climbing films, and photo help.

“Kurttttt ! Don’t know how he does it on such a long day but great tour guide who goes above and beyond. Just be and on time and he’ll handle the rest. 10/10 !”

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San Francisco: Golden Gate Bay Cruise - Finding the Red and White Fleet at Pier 43 1/2
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San Francisco: Golden Gate Bay Cruise

5.Golden Gate Bay Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3,644 reviews · 1 hour · from $38Best value

Cruise from Fisherman’s Wharf beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz Island on Red and White Fleet’s one-hour bay tour. You get recorded commentary in 16 languages, indoor and outdoor seating, an onboard bar, restrooms, and frequent departures. Bring a camera and an extra layer.

“For a tourist that is only in town for a few days, but wants the highlights tour and a very good description of the city and its history, this is the one for you. The tour was nice, breezy, and had incredible views.”

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San Francisco: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour with 17 Stops - Fisherman’s Wharf and the waterfront start
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San Francisco: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour with 17 Stops

6.Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour with 17 Stops

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,600 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $56

Ride an open-top Big Bus through San Francisco’s key districts, from Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown to Alamo Square, Haight-Ashbury, Golden Gate Park, and across the Golden Gate Bridge. Your ticket lasts 24 or 48 hours, with multilingual audio, app-based bus tracking, and optional extras such as a sunset tour, Aquarium by the Bay, or a Napa Valley wine trip.

“Timing was pretty good around 30 mins. That was the main concern”

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Yosemite Highlights & Giant Sequoias Day Tour from San Francisco - The 5:20 a.m. start and the long ride east
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Yosemite Highlights & Giant Sequoias Day Tour from San Francisco

7.Yosemite Highlights & Giant Sequoias Day Tour from San Francisco

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,455 reviews · 14 to 15 hours (approx.) · from $219

Leave San Francisco before dawn for Yosemite with an English-speaking guide such as Glenda, Gino, Rob, or Andy. See Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, and Valley View, then hike to Tuolumne Grove when conditions allow. Hotel pickup, WiFi, park entry for U.S. residents, and audio guides are included.

“Gino was really through with the whole itinerary and navigated it perfectly. He made good stop......”

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San Francisco Super Saver: Muir Woods & Wine Country w/ optional Gourmet Lunch - Morning pickup and the Golden Gate crossing
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San Francisco Super Saver: Muir Woods & Wine Country w/ optional Gourmet Lunch

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,352 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $179

Leave San Francisco early for Muir Woods, then visit three Napa or Sonoma wineries with tastings included. Guides such as Mark, Dustin, Ben, and Alberto add local history and humor. You can eat independently at Sonoma Plaza or upgrade to a three-course wine-pairing lunch. Hotel pickup, WiFi, and Golden Gate photo stops are included.

“Our driver/guide was full of knowledge and very funny! Lots of belly laughs! I certainly left there full of fascinating facts!”

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San Francisco Love Tour - Haight-Ashbury and San Francisco’s music past
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San Francisco Love Tour

9.San Francisco Love Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,830 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $85

You’ll ride a ’70s-era VW bus from Fisherman’s Wharf through Haight-Ashbury, Chinatown, North Beach, the Castro, the Mission, and Golden Gate Park. Guides such as Cyrus, Ky, Kyle, and Tara bring local stories, music, humor, and personalized tips. Expect a small-group tour, two photo stops, and about two hours on the road.

“This was a fabulous tour filled with history, architecture, information about various neighborhoods woven with a generous amount of humor while riding in the VW bus! Cyrus was probably the best tour guide I’ve ever met! His love and understanding of the city were evident.”

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San Francisco: Alcatraz Ticket, Ferry, & Self-Guided App - Pier 33 and the ferry across San Francisco Bay
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San Francisco: Alcatraz Ticket, Ferry, & Self-Guided App

10.Alcatraz Ticket, Ferry, & Self-Guided App

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,460 reviews · 3 hours · from $79

Take the ferry from Pier 33 to Alcatraz, then follow a self-guided app tour through the cell blocks, including areas linked to Al Capone and George Machine Gun Kelly. Plan on about three hours, but you may stay longer and return on a later ferry. The route includes steep sections, though transport is available for visitors who need help with the hill.

“this trip was very well organised you arrive at your allocated time which avoided unnecessary ques. the ferry was fast and there was plenty of seating. the audio tour was great and you got plenty of time to explore. There is transport laid on for customers unable to climb the hill”

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San Francisco: Alcatraz Island & 48-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Tour - Riding Big Bus for 48 hours
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San Francisco: Alcatraz Island & 48-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

11.Alcatraz Island & 48-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,245 reviews · 2 days · from $120

Spend two days seeing San Francisco at your own pace. Visit Alcatraz by ferry with the excellent Cell House audio guide, ride Big Bus routes across the Golden Gate Bridge, join Doug’s Chinatown walk, and take a one-hour panoramic sunset tour. Redeem your voucher at 99 Jefferson Street before the Alcatraz date.

“Only in San Francisco for a sort time so using the Hop on Hop off tour seemed the perfect way to see everything, the tour didn't disappoint, got to go all over San Francisco and Alcatraz, absolutely amazing”

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Combo Tour: Alcatraz Island and San Francisco Grand City Tour - A broad look at San Francisco from the coach
Alcatraz Tours, California Tours, City Tours, San Francisco Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Combo Tour: Alcatraz Island and San Francisco Grand City Tour

12.Combo Tour: Alcatraz Island and San Francisco Grand City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 2,228 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $149

Spend about 6.5 hours seeing San Francisco by coach and visiting Alcatraz Island. Expect stops at the Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Bridge, Lands End, and Twin Peaks, followed by a ferry ride and Cellhouse audio tour. Guides such as Michelle add local stories, but city stops can feel brief.

“It was a great tour! I would recommend it to friends and family. Will probably take it again myself.”

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Painted Ladies San Francisco City Tour - The Painted Ladies and the Alamo Square pause
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Painted Ladies San Francisco City Tour

13.Painted Ladies San Francisco City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,081 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $82

Ride through San Francisco in a vintage Volkswagen bus with a guide such as Jim, Jack, Caio, or Kial. In two hours, you’ll pass Chinatown, North Beach, Haight-Ashbury, Pacific Heights, and more, with photo stops at the Palace of Fine Arts, Painted Ladies, and Golden Gate Bridge.

“Super accommodating, worked well with an infant in lap. Jack was an amazing guide, would recommend it for everyone. Be sure to request Jack as your guide!”

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San Francisco: California Sunset Cruise (2-hours) - Pier 43 1/2 and the start of the cruise
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San Francisco: California Sunset Cruise (2-hours)

14.California Sunset Cruise (2-hours)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,949 reviews · from $58

Spend two hours on a casual Red and White Fleet cruise from Pier 43 1/2. You will pass Alcatraz, Angel Island, Sausalito, Tiburon, and the Marin Headlands before sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge. Choose indoor or outdoor seating, buy drinks and snacks aboard, and dress warmly for the wind.

“Excellent service and staff friendly. Really enjoyed the cruise - got some lovely photos. Perfect evening for the cruise. Little stop offs with information provided about the area. Thoroughly enjoyed.”

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San Francisco City Lights Cruise (2-hours) - The Golden Gate Bridge is the main event
Boat Tours in San Francisco, California Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, San Francisco Tours, Tour Reviews

San Francisco City Lights Cruise (2-hours)

15.San Francisco City Lights Cruise (2-hours)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,879 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $58

Sail from Pier 43 1/2 with Red and White Fleet for about two hours of San Francisco Bay views. You’ll pass Alcatraz, Coit Tower, Salesforce Tower, Yerba Buena Island, Treasure Island, and both major bridges. Summer departures may include sunset; winter trips focus on illuminated city views. The cruise is casual, non-narrated, and has an onboard bar.

“Nice cruise! 🚢✨ Great vibes with family and, super friendly staff. Seeing the Golden Gate Bridge 🌉 was beautiful! 🌍💙”

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