Tours and Tickets to Experience Pier 39

There are plenty of ways to experience Pier 39. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Nearly Private San Francisco Tour Including Sausalito
• Fisherman’s Wharf Tour with Alcatraz and SkyStar Wheel
• 2 or 3 Hour Private Group San Francisco City Tour Open-air Jeep
• San Francisco: Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour
• Fisherman's Wharf Walking Tour

Pier 39 in San Francisco is a public attraction and doesn't have an entrance fee. You can explore the area for free, including the sea lion viewing decks. That said, guided walking tours of Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf can help you get oriented and have fun along the way, and start at about US$35.

Pier 39 is known for being one of San Francisco’s most popular tourist attractions. There are several acres of shops, restaurants, a video arcade, and much more built on a pier. You’ll find tourists from all over the world enjoying oysters and clam chowder and local sea lions sunning themselves.

Grab a meal and do some browsing for a half-day experience, or stay longer, sipping on drinks into the night, watching the street performers. The area is great for the entire family, so if the kids like arcade games, you can whittle away a few hours here and then grab some lunch or dinner.

Several types of San Francisco tours stop by Pier 39. Both private and group tours run here, so it depends on what you’re interested in. Tours often combine boat rides to Alcatraz, a ride under the Golden Gate Bridge, and possibly a stop at Fisherman’s Wharf or Muir Woods.

All times of year are good for visiting Pier 39, but just make sure to bring warm clothes if you’re visiting outside of the summer months. This is a touristy spot, so if you want fewer crowds, skip the weekends or peak holiday periods. But do know you’ll run into some tourists all year long.

Make your way to San Francisco, and then you can access one of California's only areas with reliable public transport. You can take MUNI’s historic trolley car or one of several buses, which will take you close to Pier 39. There are also ride-share options, too.

Yes, it sure is fun at night. The street performers take the stage when the sun goes down, and the lights come on. Watch the acrobats, then head to one of the many bars for live music and drinks. Make sure your cameras are ready to snap photos of San Francisco at night, too.