Top San Francisco On the Water

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.

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.

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.

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.

Head out onto the San Francisco Bay for an approximately 2-hour sail, where you watch a beautiful sunset with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. This is an intimate group with a maximum of six, so you have plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the views. Sip on bottled water, soda, and enjoy chips while you sail. The tour is offered in English and Spanish to accommodate more guests.

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.

Enjoy a self-guided adventure on the calm waters of San Francisco Bay with a single kayak rental from Redwood Water Sports. Perfect for paddling enthusiasts, this rental includes a paddle and personal flotation device (PFD). Paddle at your leisure and soak in the beautiful scenery right from our onsite location. Ideal for solo explorers or those looking to unwind on the water. - Rent a kayak for just $40 for the first hour, $10 for each additional hour, or $80 for a full day. - Includes paddle and PFD for a complete kayaking experience. - Conveniently located at 487 Seaport Ct, Redwood City. - Explore the bay at your own pace with flexible rental options.

Glide across San Francisco Bay with unlimited mimosas and Champagne on this weekend brunch cruise. Perfect for both locals and visitors, this boat trip offers a new perspective on the city. Sail under the Golden Gate Bridge, pass Alcatraz Island, and see the city skyline from the deck. As you float along, enjoy a generous, fresh buffet and onboard music to keep the mood festive.

Experience Alcatraz from the water while uncovering the stories that made “The Rock” one of America’s most infamous prisons. Rather than simply viewing the island from afar, hear firsthand accounts from former guards and inmates through a smartphone audio guide as you cruise around Alcatraz. Along the way, enjoy views of San Francisco Bay landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, with skip-the-line boarding for a seamless experience.

Enjoy a different perspective and admire San Francisco and its surrounding sights from the water on a San Francisco Bay sailing cruise. Onboard a catamaran, sail past the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, legendary Alcatraz Island, and the hamlet of Sausalito. Take advantage of great photo ops while you soak up the sea breeze during this scenic tour.

On this San Francisco bridge cruise, get an up-close look at the city’s two engineering marvels—the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge—as you travel across San Francisco Bay. See major city sights such as Alcatraz, Coit Tower, and the Ferry Building, and listen to recorded commentary about the city's legendary architecture while you glide under both bridges.

Learn to surf in Pacifica, a picturesque town on the California coast just south of San Francisco. Your expert instructor covers all basics so that you can begin to catch some waves. Learn how to read the ocean, paddle out, pop up, balance and ride the waves, along with the etiquette of the surf world. Start practicing on the beach and in shallow waters before heading further out, with the assistance of your instructor available throughout your 3-hour lesson. Choose a morning or mid-day lesson that suits your schedule, with all necessary equipment provided.

We take you to jail! This official ticket is all you need to visit the famous Alcatraz Island Prison! You will get to experience the island with a 45-minutes award winning audio tour in the language of your choice, and enjoy the unique scene the Alcatraz Island has to offer. A 15-minutes short docent tour is also included once you are on the island. Round trip ferry rides to the Alcatraz Island are also included with no additional charge. As a bonus, a 1-hour free bike rental voucher is included with your package so you may explore biking to the Golden Gate Bridge at your own pace. The voucher can be used on the same day before or after the Alcatraz tour. Must buy at least 1-hour to redeem the 1-hour free bike rental.

Experience San Francisco the easy way, and that takes the stress out of planning with this hassle-free guided tour. Skip securing hard-to-get Muir Woods parking or juggling multiple reservations—this tour has got it all covered. Explore the city’s neighborhoods, snap photos at the Golden Gate Bridge, and stroll beneath towering redwoods. Upgrade to the full-day tour and enjoy free time in Sausalito and an extended tour of the city.

Enjoy two quintessential experiences when you visit Alcatraz Island and cruise the San Francisco Bay—and make exploring simple—with this convenient tour package. First, depart from Pier 33 to Alcatraz Island; after a ranger talk, you can explore at your own pace with an audio guide. Upon returning to the mainland, hop aboard your next cruise from Pier 39 and look forward to getting up close and personal with the Golden Gate Bridge.

Escape the hustle of the city and enjoy 1-hour kayak trip along the peaceful waters near San Francisco’s South Beach Harbor and Mission Creek. On this guided, small-group tour, learn about the area and how to maneuver a kayak. Then after some practice time, explore the route along McCovey Cove and Mission Creek next to AT&T Park. No paddling experience is required and beginners are always welcome. Instruction and all the necessary gear — a single or double kayak, life jacket and paddle — are included.

This convenient package gives you access to two separate essential San Francisco experiences—a visit to Alcatraz Island, and a sightseeing cruise. Instead of waiting in long ticket lines, this time-saving option helps you explore San Francisco more efficiently. Take a ferry to Alcatraz Island where you can go inside the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary and enjoy an audio guide. A San Francisco Bay cruise is also included with views of Pier 39's sea lions, the waterfront area, and the city's skyline. Please note, children 4 years old and younger do not need purchased tickets.

Take a relaxing afternoon sailing cruise aboard a traditional sailboat on the San Francisco Bay. Cruise past landmarks such as Alcatraz Island, Angel Island, the Sausalito waterfront, and Golden Gate Bridge, and see the San Francisco skyline on your way back to Pier 39. As an added bonus, enjoy two included beverages, from wine to soft drinks.

Experience the ultimate "past and present" prison journey with the only tour that connects two of America’s most legendary correctional facilities. Your adventure begins at the infamous Alcatraz Island, where you will use our premium self-guided app to walk the haunting cell blocks of "The Rock" and hear the chilling stories of its most notorious inmates at your own pace. After returning to the mainland, the journey continues with a narrated voyage north toward the imposing walls of San Quentin State Prison, California’s oldest and most notorious active facility. Accompanied by a live expert guide, you’ll cruise past the high-security fortress while hearing gripping commentary on modern prison life, famous inmates, and the evolution of American justice.

Boats that usually take groups out on the San Francisco Bay can be super crowded and it can even be hard to see the views. This San Francisco Bay Private Sailboat Cruise takes just you and your group out on the water, so you never have to worry about missing out on seeing something. See popular spots like Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge or customize your time on the bay.

Cruise the San Francisco Bay in a fun and friendly setting that's more personalized than larger ships. See the Golden Gate Bridge from the water and around Alcatraz Island, taking in sunset views from a 360-degree walkway around the boat. During the voyage, chat with a captain and crew and sip from the largest selection of California wines of any bay cruise.

Have dinner with panoramic city views on a San Francisco Bay supper club cruise. Spend time on the water with the twinkling city skyline as your backdrop. Take in the views and enjoy the sea breeze on the exterior decks, cut loose on the dance floor with a DJ spinning top 40 hits, and enjoy a buffet dinner with classic American and international dishes on the menu.