In a nutshell
- We’re rounding up 6 of the best San Francisco tours — from bay cruises to food tours — so you can find the perfect fit for your trip.
- A boat cruise through San Francisco Bay is the classic choice — Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the skyline all in one go.
- Also hugely popular: a combo tour to Alcatraz Island — explore the prison and then cruise the bay at sunset.
- Want to explore San Francisco’s coolest neighborhoods? The Mission District walking tour is the one for you — street art, tacos, and local history included.
Boat Tour of San Francisco Bay
A boat tour of San Francisco Bay is the ultimate classic when you visit San Francisco.
You can check off several highlights in one go: views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the entire San Francisco skyline.
It all starts at Pier 39 in Fisherman’s Wharf. With your ticket, you can skip the line and head straight on board. If you arrive a little early, you’ll have time to check out the sea lions at the pier.
During the cruise, there’s an audio commentary that fills you in on the most important details about the sights.
Book a 1-hour Bay Area boat tour
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Hop-on Hop-off San Francisco Bus Tour
A hop-on hop-off bus tour is perfect if you want to explore the city at your own pace but still want a little structure to your San Francisco sightseeing.
The bus stops at a total of 20 stations throughout the city, including many of San Francisco’s top attractions such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, and the Painted Ladies.
You can hop off at any stop and spend as much time as you like. Buses run approximately every 10 minutes and you can board at any stop. Tickets are available for either 24 or 48 hours.
Book a hop-on hop-off bus ticket
Food Tour through Chinatown
Chinatown is one of the most popular places to visit in San Francisco. What makes this tour special is that you’re not just wandering through the alleyways — you’re really getting under the skin of the culture.
You’ll visit a Chinese tea shop, watch how fortune cookies are made by hand, and sample different kinds of dim sum. Come with a bit of an appetite, because there’s plenty to snack on.
And it’s not all about food — a temple visit is also on the itinerary.
Bike Tour through San Francisco
San Francisco is seriously one of those cities that’s perfect for exploring by bike. On this tour, you rent a bike for 24 hours and explore at your own pace.
Just tell the staff on-site how far you want to ride and what you’re interested in, and they’ll put together a custom route for you. You’ll also get a map and a handy guidebook with info on the highlights.
Our tip: The most scenic ride is, of course, over the Golden Gate Bridge to the Marin Headlands. And you can totally handle it even if you’re not a hardcore cyclist.
Alcatraz Tour with Boat Cruise
If you have a bit more time, we really recommend combining your boat tour with a visit to the prison island of Alcatraz. Some of the most notorious criminals of their era were held here, including mob boss Al Capone.
You can explore the original cells and learn all about the spectacular escape attempts. The audio guide takes you through the prison for about one hour.
Afterward, you’ll continue on to the boat cruise around San Francisco Bay. We’d suggest timing your day so that you take the boat tour at sunset — that’s when the views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the waterfront are at their most stunning.
If you’d rather take the boat tour on a completely different day, that works too — it’s totally flexible.
Book the Alcatraz + boat cruise combo tour
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Walking Tour through the Hipster Neighborhood of the Mission District
The Mission District is one of our favorite neighborhoods in San Francisco. It’s hip, international, and alternative — you’ll find cool thrift stores, shops selling vinyl records and used books, and plenty of great cafés.
On this walking tour, you’ll check out street art, stroll through Mission Dolores Park, and learn all about the diverse cultures and history of the Mission District.
Along the way, there’s a stop at Café de Olla for great coffee and cake. But save a little room, because afterward you’ll be sampling the local cuisine with tortillas, quesadillas, and tacos.
