Top San Francisco Water Tours

A cruise on the San Francisco Bay offers a unique perspective of the city's iconic landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. Glide across the waters and soak in stunning views while learning about the rich history of the area from onboard commentary. This experience is perfect for those looking to capture unforgettable photos and enjoy a leisurely day on the water. Whether you're a local or visiting for the first time, the Bay Cruise promises a memorable outing amidst the beauty of San Francisco's waterfront.

See all of San Francisco's top sights and attractions in one hassle-free way with this combination sightseeing package. With a 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus pass, you have the flexibility to explore the city at your own pace, including highlights such as Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, the Golden Gate Bridge, and more. This package also includes ferry admission tickets to Alcatraz Island, the Aquarium by the Bay, and a panoramic sunset tour.

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.

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.

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.

See the best of San Francisco in one day on this guided tour that includes all transportation and admission to Alcatraz. Visit multiple locations in the city, including Chinatown, Presidio, Fisherman's Wharf, and Haight-Ashbury, with plenty of stops for photo ops. Cross the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and enjoy a hike through the beautiful redwood trees in Muir Woods. If you've upgraded, take the ferry to Alcatraz Island, where you can explore with an award-winning audio-guided tour of the former federal prison.

Experience visiting an unforgettable experience that combines history, mystery and incredible views. It is a bucket list San Francisco experience.This tour guarantees admission to Alcatraz Island. Secure this experience because it often times sells out weeks in advance.You will also receive the free appetizer of the day at the iconic Mona Lisa Restaurant and Steps of Rome Trattoria with an entree purchase.

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.

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.

See San Francisco from a whole new perspective with a unique blend of open-air sightseeing and a visit to one of its most legendary landmarks. The Lombard Leap + Alcatraz Tour begins with a fully guided open-air 90 Min city tour, offering unobstructed views of the city’s neighborhoods, hills, and famous streets. Cruise through areas like North Beach, Chinatown, Russian Hill, and Nob Hill while passing filming locations from Bullitt, The Rock, and Mrs. Doubtfire. Enjoy the thrill of descending Lombard Street and stop for photos at Coit Tower, the Palace of Fine Arts, and scenic viewpoints overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. After the city tour, board the official ferry to Alcatraz Island and explore the former prison at your own pace using the included award-winning audio tour. This experience combines iconic sights, movie history, and legendary stories into one unforgettable day.

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.

Unlock the best of San Francisco, without breaking the bank, with this convenient package. Bundle your Alcatraz excursion with a bike rental to cruise the atmospheric streets and landmarks, a guided bus tour across the legendary Golden Gate Bridge, or a relaxing Bay cruise to see the sights from the water. Then, take the ferry to Alcatraz with your prepaid ticket—a great way to avoid waiting in sold-out lines—and tour "the Rock" at your own pace with your included audio tour.

Step aboard an official Alcatraz City Cruises ferry and journey to the legendary Alcatraz Island! Explore its storied past as a Civil War fort, military prison, and infamous federal penitentiary through captivating exhibits and outdoor spaces. Wander landmarks like Eagle Plaza and the Recreation Yard, and uncover powerful stories from the 1969 Occupation of Alcatraz by Indians of All Tribes. Complete your visit with the award‑winning Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour and the thought‑provoking exhibit The Big Lockup: Mass Incarceration in the United States.

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.

Two Great Activities in One Day! Join us for a narrated and scenic drive from SF across Golden Gate Bridge! Stop at the Bridge to take pictures! Explore beauty of Richardson Bay, Marin County, Mount Tamalpais and Giant Coastal Redwoods at Muir Woods! Appreciate astonishing views from Sausalito's picturesque waterfront! Visit local Art Galleries and souvenir shops and eat in one of many seafood restaurants! After visiting Muir Woods & Sausalito, our driver/guide will bring you to Fisherman's Wharf by 1 PM, giving you time to walk around or have lunch before the Cruise. The Bay Cruise starts at 2:45 4:15 5:30 and you can choose your preferred time while booking. During the 60-minute cruise by The Blue & Gold Fleet, you will sail underneath the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, past the famous PIER 39 sea lions, around mysterious Alcatraz and along SF waterfront, revealing the city’s skyline. The boats have both indoor and outdoor seating with full narration describing major landmarks.

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.

Combine three of the Bay Area's top attractions—Alcatraz Island, Muir Woods, and Sausalito—in a single tour from San Francisco. Enjoy comfortable transportation in a luxury small-group tour van, including a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge, so you can focus on the scenery instead of driving. Your Alcatraz admission includes the ferry ride and audio tour, with free time to explore Muir Woods and Sausalito at your own pace.

Join a boutique, small-group tour led by an experienced San Francisco local to explore top highlights around the city. Enjoy luxury transportation in a black Mercedes Sprinter van. You'll cross the iconic Golden Gate Bride and stop for a photo. Next, wander among ancient Redwood trees in Muir Woods for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Then, visit the charming town of Sausalito, with 1 hour to explore its shops, cafes, and galleries. Next, join an exclusive nighttime tour of Alcatraz, starting with a narrated ferry ride on a unique "around the island" route. Experience Alcatraz's evening ambiance, admire the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset, see cell door demonstrations, and hear captivating inmate stories. Use the multilingual audio guide to explore Alcatraz's history and escape attempts. Participate in activities led by expert historians, featuring unique exhibits. This tour offers a distinctive experience for a limited number of visitors each evening. Not available Sundays and Mondays.

This walking tour is a convenient way to see the sights on San Francisco's waterfront in just a few hours. Follow your guide to top attractions including Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, and Ghirardelli Square. History fans can enjoy a quick look at the cable cars, and the USS Pampanito, a WWII submarine. This package also includes Alcatraz Island tickets, with an optional upgrade to ride the SkyStar Ferris wheel.

This is it! The one and only Alcatraz Night Tour from Alcatraz City Cruises. As compared to the Day Tour, it may feel a little bit creepier (haunted?) while having less crowds, added ranger or docent-led tours, and extra narration on the outbound ferry. Plus, you will take a separate high quality excursion with spectacular views along San Francisco Bay. This can be done before or after Alcatraz, with daily departures; no reservations required. First, select a date from the evening schedule. You get the Alcatraz prison tour, complete with headset audio (available in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish). Considering how often the Alcatraz Night Tour sells out at the Pier 33 Box Office, this package is often a great way to get a ticket to Alcatraz and make memories going all along the San Francisco waterfront and out under the Golden Gate Bridge and back.

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.

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.