Top San Francisco Outdoor Activities

This small-group tour takes you from downtown San Francisco to Muir Woods and Sausalito—two of Marin's top attractions—in a single day. Riding across the Golden Gate Bridge in a tour van leaves you free to take in the epic views instead of focusing on the driving. You'll have free time to explore both sites, making this organized option a great choice for independent travelers.

Explore two of the Bay Area’s top destinations, Muir Woods and Sausalito, on a half-day tour from San Francisco. Drive across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods National Monument, where you have time to walk among towering old-growth redwood trees. Next, head to Sausalito for a stroll along the picturesque waterfront. Opt to remain on your own in Sausalito or return on the bus.

Bypass the line and head directly to the gate with your prebooked tickets for this San Francisco Bay sightseeing cruise. This sunset cruise takes you across the bay with outstanding views of the city skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Bay Bridge, and Alcatraz Island. Relax while background music sets the tone. Watch the sunset or select a city lights cruise during winter months.

Sail across San Francisco Bay at twilight to admire the skyline as it begins to light up for the night, and enjoy a perspective on the skyline that few other visitors get to see. With an experienced captain at the helm, you’ll glide past Alcatraz Island and cruise underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. As you go, you can also enjoy one complimentary beverage to accompany your sightseeing, or purchase additional drinks from the onboard bar.

Visit two of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most popular destinations without the hassle of driving, parking, or securing reservations on your own. Travel across the Golden Gate Bridge to explore the towering redwoods of Muir Woods, then spend time in Sausalito, known for its waterfront views, art galleries, and laid-back charm. Return to San Francisco by coach or choose the flexibility of a ferry ride across the bay.

Known for its steep granite cliffs, waterfalls, towering sequoia groves, and diversity of wildlife, Yosemite National Park is something you don’t want to miss. On this small group day trip, you can leave the logistics to a tour guide so all you have to do is enjoy the great outdoors. You have both guided sightseeing and free time, ensuring you see the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s major attractions, like Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Yosemite Valley, with the chance to explore more of the park however you wish.

Give yourself the best chance of spotting whales off San Francisco’s coast with a whale-watching cruise from Fisherman’s Wharf. Benefit from your naturalist guide's insights into marine wildlife while the crew members make use of their local knowledge to lead you toward gray, humpback, and blue whales, as well as seals, sea lions, and seabirds.

See San Francisco’s most famous waterfront landmarks from the water on a bay cruise that combines iconic views with onboard flexibility. Sail beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, pass Alcatraz Island, and take in panoramic views of the city skyline while listening to stories and insights through an app-based audio guide. With skip-the-line boarding and indoor and outdoor viewing areas, it’s an easy way to experience the bay from a different perspective.

Experience Yosemite National Park without the challenge of a long drive from San Francisco or the hassle of planning a day’s sightseeing on your own. Travel by coach to some of the park’s most iconic viewpoints, including Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Valley, with time to explore independently. It’s an easy way to combine guided sightseeing with the freedom to experience Yosemite at your own pace.

Ride from San Francisco to Sausalito on a guided half-day bike tour that includes lunch and all-day bike rental. Follow your guide along the Bay Trail bike path from Fisherman's Wharf to Sausalito, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and stopping regularly for photos. Have a choice of dishes at a waterfront restaurant with a package that includes 3-hour bike tour, restaurant voucher, and all-day bike rental.

Guarantee your seat aboard the Privateer, your sailboat, when you prebook a scenic cruise along the San Francisco Bay. As you set off on the water, you'll enjoy sightseeing at the most beautiful time of day—sunset. Coast along and look out for local landmarks like Alcatraz, the Sausalito shoreline, and the Golden Gate Bridge, all with two drinks of your choice in your hand.

See the best of San Francisco in one day on this guided tour that includes all transportation and admission to Alcatraz. Visit multiple locations in the city, including Chinatown, Presidio, Fisherman's Wharf, and Haight-Ashbury, with plenty of stops for photo ops. Cross the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and enjoy a hike through the beautiful redwood trees in Muir Woods. If you've upgraded, take the ferry to Alcatraz Island, where you can explore with an award-winning audio-guided tour of the former federal prison.

See a side of San Francisco that many visitors overlook—and soak up the city’s local feel—on this small-group walking tour. Pick between morning and afternoon start times, and meet your guide in the Inner Sunset neighborhood. Over the course of 2 miles (3 kilometers), you’ll enjoy a leisurely stroll as you ascend hidden staircases, explore secret gardens, and soak up the city’s picturesque views well off the tourist track.

Visit Yosemite National Park without the hassle of planning a long day of driving or coordinating park logistics from San Francisco. Traveling in a small group, you'll journey through California’s Central Valley before exploring Yosemite Valley’s most famous sights, including Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls. A stop among giant sequoias adds another iconic California landscape to the experience.

An interactive adventure, this tour is time-efficient and takes you on a sailing adventure on the San Francisco Bay. Hop aboard a private yacht with a USCG licensed captain. Sail beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, cruise along the San Francisco waterfront, and marvel at Alcatraz and Angel Islands up close. Take the helm for a hands-on sailing experience and capture scenic views, encounter local wildlife, and create memories.

Take a ride in San Francisco's first waterfront observation wheel for magnificent aerial views of San Francisco Bay. Fully enclosed to protect you from the elements, each pod can hold up to six people and every one is private to your group—so you won't have to contend with strangers when getting the best viewing spot.

This small-group tour is an easy way to tick off some of San Francisco’s dispersed highlights. See Muir Woods, Sausalito, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Battery Spencer in a day—without having to figure out bus timetables or plan logistics. Instead, head off in a spacious van, and enjoy a tour that combines guided segments with free time for independent exploring.

Ride a GoCar all over San Francisco as it navigates for you and provides a guided tour. Take as long as you like to explore the city with a storytelling car as your guide. Learn all about the city as you visit spots such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Warf, Golden Gate Park, and much more.

Discover the rugged beauty of the Sierra Nevada and Yosemite National Park on this full-day tour from San Francisco. Enjoy early park entry and comfortable hotel pickup from major San Francisco hotels. Spot supersized natural wonders such as Half Dome, El Capitan, Bridalveil Falls, and sequoia groves, and spend several hours exploring the park’s wonders on your own. Non-U.S. residents aged 16 and older pay an additional park entry fee.

California’s Muir Woods National Monument and its towering old-growth redwood trees sit just north of San Francisco. With this tour, save an estimated two hours searching for parking or waiting at the visitor center’s long lines, and explore the protected area at your own pace. This leaves enough time for your quick stop at the Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point, plus free time in Sausalito.

Explore one of California's most iconic settings from the beauty of San Francisco Bay. This narrated Golden Gate Bay cruise journeys alongside Alcatraz and Angel Island State Park, past the shores of Sausalito and beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. You can choose to view the sights from inside your boat or out on deck.

Check off several towns and landmarks along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway, all without the stress of driving or having to hire a car, with this full-day small-group tour from San Francisco. Take in the coastal views, and enjoy free time in Monterey and Carmel-by-the Sea, along with scenic stops at 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, Bird Rock Vista Point, and more.

Experience Muir Woods National Monument and the quaint waterfront town of Sausalito on a half-day tour. Travel across the Golden Gate Bridge on a guided day trip that includes pickup in a convenient location in downtown San Francisco, transportation, and National Park entrance fees. Enjoy free time among the ancient redwoods, then explore Sausalito at your own pace before returning to San Francisco by vehicle or by ferry (separate expense).