Top San Francisco Sightseeing Cruises

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.

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.

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 in panoramic views of the San Francisco skyline and Alcatraz Island, and sail beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, on a relaxing San Francisco Bay cruise. Sit indoors or savor cool bay breezes from an outdoor deck and experience San Francisco in a new way. This ticket allows you to skip the line and go straight to the gate. Access an audio guide via your smartphone or other device.

Take a relaxing afternoon small-group 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. Includes two drinks, and personalized attention from the crew and captain.

Come aboard the Privateer, your sailboat for the evening, for a a scenic small-group 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 choice in your hand.

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.

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.

Two popular San Francisco activities in one! The first tour includes the world famous Alcatraz Island Prison Tour. The tour also includes a 45-minutes audio tour in different languages. You can stay on the Alcatraz Island as long as you like, and catch any returning ferry back to the wharf. The second part of this tour package includes the use of a bicycle to bike across the Golden Gate Bridge and/or anywhere you'd like to explore (self-guided). Each bike rental includes a helmet and a lock. The second activity can be done on the same day or on a different day.

Visit charming Sausalito, cruise across San Francisco Bay, and stare up in wonder at the redwood trees of Muir Woods on this combo tour from San Francisco—the perfect day out in the Bay Area. Experience the Golden Gate Bridge from both above and below, and learn about some of California’s oldest and tallest natural wonders, the coastal redwoods. In Sausalito, you can stroll along the waterfront or shop in the galleries and boutiques.

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.

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.

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.

Take a different kind of bay cruise aboard the Wine Therapy, a classic yacht that's stocked with the best California wine selection of any boat on the San Francisco Bay. Stay comfortable even in chilly weather inside a heated cabin with large windows for viewing bay highlights like Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge. Unlike on other, larger cruises, you'll have a chance to interact with the friendly captain and crew during the voyage.

Step aboard a rare piece of San Francisco’s working history on The Golden Gate, a 1928 Monterey fishing boat captained by born-and-raised San Franciscan, Captain Sal Alioto. Passed down through generations of his Sicilian-American family, this vessel offers an intimate journey along the city’s iconic northern waterfront. Departing from the small wharf behind Tarantino’s at Fisherman’s Wharf, you'll drift through Aquatic Park, past historic ships at Hyde Street Pier, and take in sweeping views of Fort Mason, the Marina Green, and Crissy Field. Sail by the St. Francis Yacht Club and the Wave Organ, with its eerie music if the tide is right. Spot the Palace of Fine Arts inland and Alcatraz on the horizon before reaching the tour’s grand finale - the Golden Gate Bridge - seen from a perspective few ever experience. This soulful cruise blends personal storytelling with breathtaking views, offering a unique connection to the Bay’s rich maritime legacy.

Save time and money and explore both San Francisco and Alcatraz on this 2-in-1 tour. Enjoy a coach tour with a knowledgeable local guide. Learn about the City by the Bay through visits to top attractions such as Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, the Presidio, and the Palace of Fine Arts. Then, hop aboard a ferry for a scenic ride to Alcatraz and explore with the award-winning audio walking tour.

This 90-minute cruise set to music will take you from PIER 39 and past two San Francisco icons, the famous California Sea Lions and the Golden Gate Bridge. As the sun sets on the San Francisco Bay and the lights come up in the city, you'll continue to take in the many sights while you go by Angel Island, Sausalito, Tiburon, and the world famous Alcatraz Island. There is no better seat on the Bay to see one of the most beautiful cities in the world turn on its lights. Don’t miss this breathtaking experience from the best seats on the Bay!

Wander through an ancient coastal redwood forest and explore the artistic enclave of Sausalito on this combo tour from San Francisco. Travel across the Golden Gate Bridge to visit Muir Woods, home to some of the oldest and tallest trees on Earth. Then, soak up stellar views of the San Francisco skyline and browse art galleries along the Sausalito waterfront before returning by bus or Sausalito ferry.

Combine two top Bay Area attractions in just five hours with this express tour to Muir Woods and the Golden Gate Bridge. Stroll through towering coastal redwood trees at Muir Woods before enjoying time to walk the Golden Gate Bridge and take photos from the San Francisco side of the bridge. Upgrade to include time in Sausalito for a more complete experience.

Visit iconic landmarks with a local guide as you discover hidden gems along the waterfront. Hear captivating stories about San Francisco's dramatic boom and bust history. Learn about the Gold Rush and how Cable Cars were invented. See our playful colony of sea lions and famous rolling fog. Along the way you'll sample delicious treats like Ghirardelli Chocolate and Boudin's Sourdough, all while your guide shares fascinating tales of the city's colorful past. You can enjoy this walking tour on its own, or choose to upgrade with a Golden Gate Bay Cruise for even more adventure! Our Golden Gate Bay Cruise is truly like none other. Let Captain Sal Alioto regale you with stories only a 3rd-generation local could share as you take in stunning views of the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges on his historic Monterey Clipper. Bay Cruise only available for ages 7 and older. Walking tour is open to all ages. Come join us!

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.

See three of the Bay Area’s major sights and enjoy brunch on a family-style road trip. Depart from your San Francisco accommodation and head out to Alcatraz, Muir Woods (entrance fee extra), and Sausalito. Learn about the area from your driver and TV narration onboard. Travel in a private van and by ferry from Sausalito.

Learn the stories behind the Bay Area's most notorious former federal penitentiary on a fascinating “Escape from the Rock” cruise around Alcatraz. Listen to audio recordings via your own device, with stories from ex-prisoners and guards about daily life on “The Rock.” Admire views of other San Francisco Bay highlights—including the Golden Gate Bridge—en route. This admission ticket allows you to skip the line and go straight to the gate.