Top San Francisco Historical Tours - page 5

Explore San Francisco's historic Japantown at your own pace on this self-guided audio tour. Japanese-American local Kristin Eriko Posner will guide you through the neighborhood, sharing little-known stories on how history shaped the food, culture, and landscape of the oldest Japantown in the U.S. This geo-tagged audio tour is best between 10:30am - 3:30pm on Wednesday-Saturdays, when all of the businesses on the tour are open. However, it can be taken at any time, on any day. Most stops are open until 6pm. The tour is ready whenever you are and the audio plays automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smartphone's GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline.

Skip rigid itineraries and explore San Francisco in a way that matches your interests. This private walking tour is fully tailored to you, combining local insight with a flexible route that can include food, culture, and iconic sights. Enjoy a more personal, immersive experience where you set the pace and focus on what matters most.

Visit two of San Francisco’s best attractions in one day (or on your own timeline) and get guaranteed entry to popular attraction, Alcatraz. First, select your Alcatraz tour date, and see America’s most notorious prison with an included audio guide to add context. Then, enjoy a cruise anytime that suits your schedule (departing from a separate location), and get incredible views of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Experience the eerie ambiance of Alcatraz Island at night with an audio-guided tour, including a San Francisco Bay sightseeing cruise at your convenience. Board the ferry for an exclusive night tour with live narration and a unique "around the island" route. See the Golden Gate Bridge silhouette at sunset, join a cell door demonstration, and hear captivating stories of former residents. Use an informative audio guide to explore Alcatraz's haunting history in multiple languages. Visit exhibits detailing the island's compelling past. Also, enjoy an audio-narrated Bay sightseeing cruise on a comfortable boat with indoor and outdoor seating, passing landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge. Please note: If you plan to take both tours on the same day, you must take the Bay Cruise before your Alcatraz tour. Otherwise, the Bay Cruise may be taken any other time or day according to the schedule. The Alcatraz Night tour is not available Sundays and Mondays.

There's truly no better way to explore the many highlights and hidden gems of Golden Gate Park than with your own personal local meteorologist and guide. We'll visit some of the park's most iconic spots but also uncover hidden gems like the Monarch Bear Grove, candelabra redwood trees and Summer of Love sights that will be new discoveries for even the most experienced local. From some of the park's most quiet and peaceful corners to it's energetic and bustling heart, this is a truly unique San Francisco experience!

Filoli is an unforgettable estate experience just outside San Francisco. Wander through 16 acres of vibrant formal gardens, explore a grand 54,000-sqft Georgian mansion, and discover miles of scenic nature trails where Dambo's giant Troll, Rose Wonders will be nestled in Filoli's Natural Lands. Originally built in 1917, Filoli offers a rare blend of cultivated beauty and wild landscape, now amplified by this incredible outdoor exhibition. It’s a perfect day out for all ages—where families can reconnect, kids can explore, and friends can roam. Enjoy a Garden Pop™ or sip a curated cocktail from one of Filoli’s seasonal pop-up bars. This historical California landscape bridges art, nature, and sustainability.

This is not an admission ticket to Muir Woods. Hike among towering redwoods with this self-guided driving/walking tour of Muir Woods National Monument. This tour begins on the road to Muir Woods, featuring scenic views of Mount Tamalpais and Redwood Canyon. Then, hike a breathtaking trail through these ancient trees. Discover the origins of the national monument along the way, as well as legends of the Miwok and secrets of the forest foliage. This easy 2-mile hike is the best way to experience this incredible park. (NOTE: Be sure to make a parking reservation in advance.) After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, & enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

Explore San Francisco in style during this private, customizable tour in a mini-coop convertible. Enjoy open-air views of the stunning city as you follow a bespoke itinerary of your choice of must-see attractions or under-the-radar local hotspots. Tours include door-to-door pickup and drop-off and personalized recommendations from your guide.

Experience one of San Francisco’s most iconic landmarks with an official Alcatraz Island ticket included in your booking. Explore the infamous former prison at your own pace with the award-winning audio tour included. For an even more unforgettable day, an e-bike is a fantastic way to explore the city's iconic sights while while avoiding the strain of the steep hills. You can start riding the e-bike as early as 9:00am and then experience Alcatraz later in the afternoon.

Dive into San Francisco’s foodie scene at the Ferry Building before making the trip to Alcatraz for a self-guided audio tour. Join your local guide and small group for a tasting tour of the farmer’s market and sample artisan cheese, chocolates, freshly baked bread, and much more. Then enjoy an enlightening deep dive into the history of San Francisco’s infamous maximum-security prison with the award-winning 'Cellhouse Audio Tour.'

This is it! The one and only Alcatraz Night Tour from Alcatraz City Cruises. As compared to the Day Tour, it may feel a little bit creepier (haunted?) while having less crowds, added ranger or docent-led tours, and extra narration on the outbound ferry. Plus, you will take a separate high quality excursion with spectacular views along San Francisco Bay. This can be done before or after Alcatraz, with daily departures; no reservations required. First, select a date from the evening schedule. You get the Alcatraz prison tour, complete with headset audio (available in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish). Considering how often the Alcatraz Night Tour sells out at the Pier 33 Box Office, this package is often a great way to get a ticket to Alcatraz and make memories going all along the San Francisco waterfront and out under the Golden Gate Bridge and back.

Explore San Francisco with this 2-day combo: a guided bike tour plus admission to Alcatraz Island. Venture to the infamous prison in the afternoon to hear audio commentary about former inmates like Al Capone. On the day after Alcatraz, cycle along the waterfront from Fisherman’s Wharf and ride over the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausalito via the car-free national park bike path. Your tour includes a full-day bonus bike rental.

Two most popular destinations in one day! Join us for a narrated and scenic drive from San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge! Stop at the Bridge to take pictures! Explore the beauty of Richardson Bay, Marin County, Mount Tamalpais and Giant Coastal Redwoods at Muir Woods! Appreciate the astonishing views from Sausalito's picturesque waterfront! Visit local Art Galleries, Souvenir Shops and eat in one of many seafood restaurants! After visiting Muir Woods & Sausalito, our driver/guide will bring you to Pier 33, Alcatraz landing. A headset with an Audio guide is included. You will catch the Ferry to Alcatraz and spend your time there. After the tour, the Ferry will bring you back to Pier 33.

See the sights of San Francisco Bay from above on an air tour from the Hayward airport. As you fly through the sky on a 3-passenger plane with an experienced pilot, look down on attractions like Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and downtown San Francisco.

Without renting a car, it’s nearly impossible to drive the California coast from San Francisco to Big Sur in one day. This private tour provides a great solution—not only do you travel in the comfort of a private vehicle, but you also have the flexibility to visit each stop at your own pace. Create your own itinerary, or follow the recommendations of a guide as you explore Carmel, Monterey, Big Sur, and more.

This experience blends hands-on mixology, local history, and iconic Bay Area views into one memorable San Francisco outing. Hosted inside a historic 1930s Art Deco distillery on Treasure Island, guests enjoy sweeping views of the Bay while learning the craft behind classic whiskey cocktails. During the class, guests shake and stir three iconic drinks — the Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, and Paper Plane, while discovering how different whiskeys shape flavor, balance, and aroma. One of the moments guests love most is tasting the first cocktail they’ve made themselves. Even those who say they “don’t usually drink whiskey” are often surprised by how approachable and delicious it can be. Getting here is easy, including a scenic six-minute ferry ride from the San Francisco Ferry Building. Gold Bar Whiskey is the Official Whiskey of the San Francisco 49ers.

Experience San Francisco in classic style on a comprehensive, four-hour, private, tour in a vintage Volkswagen van. Hit all the main sights, visiting 14 districts including Chinatown, North Beach, Fisherman’s Wharf, and the Financial District, and stop for photos and tales of local lore at the Palace of Fine Arts, Sutro Baths, and a great Golden Gate Bridge viewpoint. Avoid tourist traps and skip the hassles of driving and navigating on this private tour.

Alcatraz Island is one of San Francisco’s most visited landmarks, known for its notorious federal prison. This combo tour package is ideal for travelers who want to visit Alcatraz and enjoy sightseeing in San Francisco at their own pace. Use your round-trip ferry tickets to visit Alcatraz, then make the most of a full-day bike rental in San Francisco to be used on the same or following day. Also included is a lunch voucher for a Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant.

While walking tours are helpful for getting oriented, they rely on guides and don’t encourage off-script exploration. With this interactive “gold gush” game, play the role of a 19th-century fortune-seeker as you solve clues and try to strike it rich. Explore the Financial District city from Chinatown to the Embarcadero and Union Square without a guide, map, or GPS.

Explore California's Best with Shaka Guide's California Audio Tour Bundle! Discover Lake Tahoe's clear waters, Joshua Tree's otherworldly landscapes, Yosemite's majestic beauty, Death Valley's unique geology, and many more! With our GPS audio tours, you're guided to hidden gems and iconic sights. Explore at your own pace and let the journey begin! Whether you're traversing the serene landscapes of Lake Tahoe, exploring the unique desert terrain of Joshua Tree, marveling at the stark beauty of Death Valley, or admiring the majestic peaks and waterfalls of Yosemite, Shaka Guide ensures a rich and informative journey. Book your California adventure today! *Download the Shaka Guide app to access your purchased tours.*

Peek behind the scenes at the California Academy of Sciences with VIP tickets to the Thursday NightLife—an adults-only event that proves museums aren’t just for kids. Sip cocktails and nibble hors d'oeuvres at a private reception, then go inside “The Vault” to see glittering gemstones and prehistoric treasures not on view to the general public. You’ll also take a walk on the wild side with express entry to the Osher Rainforest dome and get starry-eyed during a planetarium show.

Come Ride San Francisco's Summer of Love guided eBike tour. This is an extra special tour on brand new, well-maintained e-bikes. We offer the only tour focusing on SF's rich music and cultural history of Haight Ashbury, Golden Gate Park, Ocean Beach, Sutro Baths, and stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge. We take you on a safe and memorable ride through the 60's Summer of Love past the Grateful Dead & Janis Joplin houses, along the Panhandle where Jimi Hendrix played his 2nd show in the US and then through the world famous Golden Gate park.

Come Ride San Francisco's Best Guided eBike Tour. This is an extra special tour on brand new, well maintained ebikes. We offer the only tour focusing on SF's rich music and cultural history of Haight Ashbury, Golden Gate Park, Ocean Beach, Sutro Baths, and stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge. We take you on a safe and memorable ride through the 60's Summer of Love past the Grateful Dead & Janis Joplin houses, along the Panhandle where Jimi Hendrix played his 2nd show in the US and then through the world famous Golden Gate park.

“There is nothing like this anywhere!“ Step into San Francisco's Ultimate Weird House, dubbed "the most unusual house in the city, if not the universe" by the San Francisco Chronicle. Embark on a psychedelic odyssey through nine curious installations, where Alice in Wonderland meets 1001 Arabian Nights in a whirlwind of art and imagination. This "connectatorium," offers a globetrotting, time-traveling journey of self-discovery unlike any other experience in the city. Expect an adventure filled with sensory overload and surprises behind every magical door. Are you ready to look inside?