Top San Francisco Crime Tours

Uncover a fascinating side to San Francisco that many miss out on with a walking tour of the city that covers both true crime and the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. Discover what made the area so dangerous in the 1960s and 70s, and hear tales of former residents, including Charles Manson, Jim Jones, and Janis Joplin. Designed by a sixth-generation San Franciscan, the tour is full of anecdotes you won't hear elsewhere, plus, insider knowledge you'd otherwise miss.

Get to know San Francisco’s dark and seedy history on this small group tour of crime and scandal. In the company of a guide, stroll through the city’s neighborhoods and hear stories about scandals of the past. Visit China Town, Maiden Lane, and more and stop in the oldest bar in San Francisco.

To make your stay complete in San Francisco, this package includes two essential activities in a single pack. A visit of the most famous prison in the world, discovering its history and walking into the footsteps of Al Capone. Don’t miss the 45-minute audio tour that will immerse you in the atmosphere of the federal penitentiary which brought together the most dangerous criminals of the time. You can then enjoy a one-hour boat cruise in San Francisco Bay which will offer you an exceptional view of the city and its hills, but also other sightseeings such as going underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. Please note, free for children 4 years old and younger and don't need to have a ticket.

Make the most of your limited time in San Francisco, and combine a guided morning bus tour with a visit to Alcatraz. Enjoy a fully narrated sightseeing adventure through iconic neighborhoods such as Haight-Ashbury, Chinatown, and North Beach, with stops at the Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Bridge, Land’s End, and Twin Peaks. Then, skip the ticket line for your official Alcatraz Island ferry and tour, including a self-guided audio experience.

Open-Top Double-Decker Bus Adventure: Hop on and off all day long with our lively hop-on-hop-off service! Buses roll up every 30 minutes, ready to whisk you away on a 2-hour whirlwind tour if you choose to stay on for the full loop. Cruise past iconic landmarks and charming neighborhoods while soaking in breathtaking panoramic views and entertaining commentary. Feel free to explore at your own pace—jump off whenever a spot catches your eye, then hop back on to keep the adventure rolling! Alcatraz Island Experience: Step into a gripping self-guided audio tour packed with intriguing stories from former inmates and guards. Sail across the shimmering waters to Alcatraz aboard a ferry offering unbeatable views of San Francisco’s sparkling skyline. Your adventure’s starting point changes depending on whether you dive into the bus tour or Alcatraz first—so get ready for a day packed with excitement and surprises!

This is the official Alcatraz prison tour that gives you access to the Alcatraz Island and you will be able to explore the prison freely with a 45-minutes award-winning audio tour that is available in different languages! You can stay on the island as long as you'd like, and return with any ferry back to San Francisco! Everything you need to visit Alcatraz is included: round trip ferry rides, entry ticket, and the audio tour, and all taxes and fees. As a bonus, a one hour bike rental voucher from a local bike shop is also included if biking across the Golden Gate Bridge sounds exited to you!

See Alcatraz Island and learn the history of “The Rock” with a 3-hour ferry and audio tour of the island and prison. Then check out San Francisco’s Aquarium of the Bay and get up close and personal with our underwater neighbors! On day 2, you'll head to Muir Woods and Sausalito and you’ll wander through ancient groves of coastal redwoods at the Muir Woods National Monument and take a leisurely walk along the historic flower-lined sidewalks of Sausalito. If you’ve never seen an old-growth redwood forest, prepare for a full sensory experience.

Embark on an exhilarating journey through history with our Alcatraz Highlights Tour! Step foot on the infamous island that once contained America's most notorious criminals and immerse yourself in the captivating tales of Alcatraz. Witness the chilling cells that housed Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly, as you explore the imposing cell blocks. Be captivated by the echoes of the past as you wander through the eerie corridors, and soak in the stunning panoramic views of the San Francisco skyline. Don't miss your chance to uncover the mysteries and legends of America's most infamous prison on our Alcatraz Highlights Tour - a thrilling adventure you won't ever forget! Don't worry about other people, this tour is completely tailored to you with the App! With our app, you can pause the tour, and check out the locations as long as you want! You can skip a stop you don't like, and you have all the best information about each stop at your fingertips.

Uncover San Francisco’s haunted history on this thrilling ghost-hunting tour, complete with your own EMF detector. Explore eerie alleys, historic neighborhoods, and infamous sites like Gold Rush cemeteries and Chinatown’s old red-light district, while hearing chilling tales of paranormal activity, murders, and mysterious deaths. Perfect for thrill-seekers, this tour blends ghost stories with true crime and the city’s darker past.

Discover San Francisco from a whole new perspective with a scenic bay cruise — the perfect way to explore the city’s iconic sights while enjoying fresh air and panoramic views. As the boat glides across the water, passengers are treated to unforgettable moments, from sailing beneath the towering Golden Gate Bridge to circling the historic Alcatraz Island, once home to some of America’s most notorious inmates. Along the way, take in lively waterfront scenes like the bustling Pier 39, where sea lions lounge in the sun and the city buzzes with energy. The cruise offers sweeping views of the bay itself, with sailboats, bridges, and the San Francisco skyline stretching out in every direction. Whether by day or at sunset, this relaxing ride delivers stunning photo ops, fascinating history, and a unique look at one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Ideal for travelers of all ages, this bay cruise is a can’t-miss highlight of any San Francisco visit.

Join your expert, local guide at Chinatown's Dragon Gate to explore two of San Francisco’s oldest and most culture-rich neighborhoods – Chinatown and North Beach (Little Italy). Hear unique stories that feature the rise of North America's oldest Chinatown in the Gold Rush, the ingenuity of Chinatown’s madams and struggles of its gang history, the Beatniks' free-lovism that challenged 1950s American ideals, and the controversial club where Carol Doda inspired the adult entertainment world on this casual walk around the neighborhood. See some of the famous local watering holes, art spaces, and places of great rebellion that still stand today. Only the adventurous – those who wanted to forge their own path and weren’t burdened by cultural norms – went west. This anything-goes spirit is the thing that shaped San Francisco, and we'll immerse ourselves in it on this ~1.5 mile mostly flat walk. This tour is ideal for those wanting more than typical tourist sights and has adult themes.

Experience some of the Bay Area’s most fascinating sights on this day and night tour. See giant Redwoods at Muir Woods, visit the seaside town of Sausalito, and relax on a scenic ferry ride (optional, at your own expense) to San Francisco. Then head back out in the evening for a special nighttime tour of Alcatraz Island and tour the prison. This tour offers visitors a unique look at the Bay Area’s culture and history.

Pack some of the best spots in California all into two days with this Alcatraz and Yosemite tour package. On your first day, take a boat from Pier 33 to Alcatraz Island, and then go on a self-guided tour of the historic prison. Afterward, spend some time at the Aquarium by the Bay at the edge of Pier 39. On your second day, head off for Yosemite, and follow your guide around the Yosemite Valley. Break off on your own for about three hours, and explore Yosemite National Park however you’d like.

The ultimate San Francisco Bay tour with visits to both the Alcatraz Island prison and the Golden Gate Bridge! This tour gets you to both inside the Alcatraz Island and around it for the ultimate views of the world famous prison site. As an added bonus, we have included a voucher of a 60-minutes Golden Gate Bridge Bay Cruise that will take you under the Golden Gate Bridge and around the Alcatraz Island so you can get to see both the best of San Francisco's attraction sites! What's better? You will have the flexibility to do the Bay Cruise at any available time on any day! Note: The time you choose during booking is the Alcatraz tour departure time. The official Alcatraz tour is self-guided with an audio tour and it usually lasts about 2-3 hours. You can take any returning ferry (runs every 30 minutes) back to the Pier once finished.

Embark on an exhilarating journey through history with our Alcatraz Highlights Tour! Step foot on the infamous island that once contained America's most notorious criminals and immerse yourself in the captivating tales of Alcatraz. Witness the chilling cells that housed Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly, as you explore the imposing cell blocks. Be captivated by the echoes of the past as you wander through the eerie corridors, and soak in the stunning panoramic views of the San Francisco skyline. Don't miss your chance to uncover the mysteries and legends of America's most infamous prison on our Alcatraz Highlights Tour - a thrilling adventure you won't ever forget! Don't worry about other people, this tour is completely tailored to you with the Pintours App! With our app, you can pause the tour, and check out the locations as long as you want! You can skip a stop you don't like, and you have all the best information about each stop at your fingertips.

Combine a walking tour of San Francisco's historic waterfront with the top tastes of the city on this private adventure. In just a few hours, learn about the area's maritime past, spot sea lions bathing in their natural habitat, visit a hidden fisherman's chapel, and much more. As you explore with your guide, sample San Francisco's culinary gems, from the fresh flavors of Fisherman’s Wharf to the sweet delights of Ghirardelli Square. Leave with your appetite thoroughly satisfied and plenty of local recommendations.

Wind your way through the historic heart of San Francisco, tracing the "ghost" of the original 1849 waterline and the chaotic birth of a global metropolis. Starting where the bay once met the shore at the Transamerica Redwood Park, this tour takes trekkers through the preserved brick alleys of Jackson Square, the lawless echoes of the Barbary Coast, and the cultural crossroads of Portsmouth Square and North Beach. We’ll stop at several famous points of interest and hidden markers, including the site of the First U.S. Mint, Old St. Mary’s Cathedral, Portsmouth Square, and Hotaling Place. You’ll learn about the legendary figures who defined early SF—from the eccentric Emperor Norton and his faithful dogs to the "Demon in the Belfry" and the rebellious Beatniks of Columbus Avenue. Along the way, we’ll point out the best secret photo ops, like the perfectly framed "urban canyon" view of the Transamerica Pyramid.