Transamerica Pyramid Tours and Tickets

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

• San Francisco Movie Sights City Tour

• Ghost Hunt in SF Chinatown with a Professional Investigator

• Skip The Bus: San Francisco By Luxury Van Tour

• San Francisco Bridge-to-Bridge Cruise (90 Minutes)

• San Francisco E-Bike Tour: City Highlights

It’s free to visit the Transamerica Pyramid and see it from the outside, but since it’s an office building, visitors generally can’t go inside. Many people admire the landmark during sightseeing tours. Self-guided audio tours start at US$9, half-day walking tours are available for US$39, and e-bike tours start at US$115.

Yes, the Transamerica Pyramid is worth visiting, especially if you're interested in discovering interesting architecture in San Francisco; the striking triangular skyscraper is a popular photo stop. To see it alongside other major sights, many visitors join driving, e-bike, or private tuk-tuk tours. Movie-themed tours and ghost tours also offer unique ways to spot the building and hear some of its stories, too.

Per one customer who booked the Skip The Bus: San Francisco By Luxury Van Tour, "This was a great introductory tour of the city. The tour guide knew background information for each tour stop. There were plenty of stops for photos and he even offered a personalized snack from local vendors in the city. Lastly, he recommended other places based on my personal interests. I highly recommend it!"

Built in 1974, the Transamerica Building was the tallest west of the Mississippi and San Francisco’s tallest by far. There was resistance in the city to building it since, at the time, buildings of that height weren’t allowed. But it was built, and the city is proud of the architectural feat.

No, unfortunately, visitors cannot visit the Transamerica Building. It’s privately owned, so the public is not allowed in. Visitors can, however, see the view from the 48th floor in the visitor center, which is better than nothing. The observation deck was closed after 9/11.

Thoughtful design went into San Francisco’s Transamerica Building, including how to keep its over 3,000 windows gleaming. They are designed to pivot so they can be washed on the inside, too. Transamerica Bank was founded on innovation, and that ideal spread to the Transamerica Building.

Plenty of San Francisco tours visit the Transamerica Building for photo ops and some historical commentary. Walking tours, hop-on, hop-off bus tours, ghost-hunting tours, and luxury private van tours can all stop here. Just decide which type of tour works with your group.

SHVO and Deutsche Finance America bought the Transamerica Building in 2020 for US$650 million. It has been sold to different owners over the years since it was initially built in 1974. It’s a piece of architecture that many San Franciscans are pretty proud of.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting the Transamerica Pyramid. 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.