Pier 39 Tours and Tickets

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:

• San Francisco: Golden Gate Bay Cruise (60 Minutes)

• San Francisco Bay Sunset Catamaran Cruise

• Skip The Bus: San Francisco By Luxury Van Tour

• San Francisco Bay Sailing Cruise

• North Beach Tour With Alcatraz Plus Cruise and SkyStar Options

It’s free to visit Pier 39 on your own, but there are lots of affordable tours that can enhance the experience, whether you’re cruising by on a sailboat or exploring San Francisco landmarks. Bay cruises start at US$39, while private tours are available for US$58 and up.

Yes, Pier 39 is worth visiting. Not only does the pier offer lots of family-friendly options for food and entertainment, it has sweeping views across the San Francisco Bay, so it's a great place to photograph the waterfront. There's also a resident population of sea lions at Pier 39, with dedicated viewing areas.

Per one customer who booked the Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39 Food Tour - Includes Full Meal, 3 hrs, "I was so excited to be a tourist in my own city and learn about some hidden gems at the Wharf. My favorite part of the tour was stopping by a family-owned seafood market and looking at the fresh Dungeness crab and then going to a local honey retailer to sample local nectar—truly a can't miss! You should definitely bring your stretchy pants for this one—absolute blast!"

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.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting Pier 39. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in San Francisco:

• Alcatraz

• Golden Gate Bridge

• Golden Gate Park

• San Francisco Bay

• Bay Bridge

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in San Francisco.