Top San Francisco On the Water

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.

Set sail from Fisherman’s Wharf for an exhilarating 2.5-hour whale watching cruise aboard a state-of-the-art hybrid electric vessel. Encounter majestic Gray, Humpback, and Blue Whales, alongside seals, sea lions, and seabirds, all while enjoying stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands. With a live naturalist guide providing expert commentary on marine wildlife and ecology, this tour offers a unique educational experience for all ages. Accessible to families, children under 4 cruise free, and youth discounts are available. Enjoy the comfort of panoramic views indoors and outdoors, complemented by a full cash bar serving drinks and snacks.

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 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.

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.

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.

This 90-minute cruise set to music will take you from PIER 39 and passes by San Francisco icons, such as 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. If the timing doesn't work, select from one of our other amazing cruise options available during the day! Don’t miss this breathtaking experience from the best seats on the Bay!

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.

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.

Explore the serenity of Muir Woods and the charm of Sausalito on this unique tour that combines nature and adventure. Begin with a scenic drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, make a stop at on the Northern side of the bridge to take pictures, then continur to Muir Woods National Monument, home to towering redwoods over 250 feet tall. Take your time (1 h 20min) wandering among these majestic trees before heading to Sausalito (1 hour), a picturesque waterfront village filled with cafes and galleries. The day culminates in an exhilarating 30-minute RocketBoat ride across San Francisco Bay, where you’ll zoom past sea lions and under the Bay Bridge while enjoying the thrill of speed. - Scenic drive across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge - Explore Muir Woods at your own pace with entry included - Relax in charming Sausalito before the adrenaline rush - Experience a high-speed RocketBoat ride on the bay

The ballpark season has arrived! Tuesday Night Lights trips are the perfect way to welcome summer on the San Francisco Bay and root for the home team! Depart from Pier39, take a relaxing sail along the city-front, and settle into McCovey Cove for a spectacular 90 minutes of baseball action viewed from the water, including the large-screen monitor on the outside of the park! Tickets include a branded trucker hat in black/orange team colors, charcuterie apps, one free drink ticket and guaranteed fun!

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.

For experienced paddlers: Get a view of the San Francisco Bay like no other! Join us at Crane Cove Park to launch and paddle along the central waterfront. Depending on the currents we'll either head North past the Chase Center, past Pier 54 for view of the skyline, or south to Pier 70 for another vantage. We'll likely encounter wildlife and will certainly have an adventure.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A hands-on coastal experience awaits with the Bay Area Guided Crab Snaring Trip. This 3.5-hour adventure teaches you the art of catching Dungeness and rock crabs using top-rated Durasnare gear while soaking up the stunning Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Enjoy personalized instruction from experienced guides, who ensure you learn to rig, bait, and cast a crab snare like a pro. The excitement doesn’t stop at catching; savor a full catch-and-cook experience where your catch is cleaned and prepared for you right on-site or for you to take home. Perfect for beginners and seasoned anglers alike, this trip offers a memorable day on the water. No fishing license or experience is required. All equipment will be provided with the purchase of this trip.

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.

Combine a walking tour of North Beach with ferry access to Alcatraz Island on this San Francisco combo tour. Visit Washington Square Park, Saints Peter and Paul Church, and enjoy views of Lombard Street and the Golden Gate Bridge. See sea lions at Pier 39 before boarding your included Alcatraz cruise with audio guide. Optional upgrades include a Blue & Gold bay cruise or SkyStar Wheel ride for panoramic city views.

Sail around the San Francisco Bay and view the city’s iconic sights while enjoying a buffet lunch on this yacht cruise from downtown. Only from the water can you see the city’s skyline and pass right under the Golden Gate Bridge. Load up on both meat and vegetarian entrees, salads, and sweets during your scenic cruise.