San Francisco: Golden Gate Bay Cruise (60 Minutes)
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
San Francisco, USA
+12
- 1 hour (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge and by Alcatraz Island
- Admire Sausalito, the Marin Headlands, Angel Island, and more
- Comfortable indoor and outdoor seating (plus seasonal snack bar)
- Open ticket gives you the flexibility to choose any departure time
What's Included
- One-hour cruise
- Multilingual personal audio-guide in 16 languages
- "Straight to the gate" access
- Restrooms: Access to clean and convenient restrooms during your cruise.
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks. There is a full service bar onboard to purchase drinks and snacks.
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- San Francisco Cruises (Red and White Fleet)Pier 43 1/2, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
Please enter in Google Maps: "Red and White Fleet" or "Pier 43 1/2, San Francisco" for exact location and directions. Pier 43 ½ ticket booth (corner of Taylor Street and the Embarcadero) Please come to our location 20-30 minutes prior to the departure time.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Your Golden Gate Bay cruise departs from Pier 43 1/2 in the heart of San Francisco's popular Fisherman's Wharf, home to many of the city's seafood restaurants. As the boat makes its way out into San Francisco Bay, you'll have great views of the San Francisco skyline, as well as the bustling North Beach neighborhood and the waterfront Maritime National Park.
Over the next hour you will cruise the waters of San Francisco Bay on a guided tour, meandering west along Fort Mason and past the Marina District — which took a hard hit in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake — en route to the Golden Gate Bridge. Make sure and look up when sailing beneath the bridge's massive 4,200-foot (1,260-meter) span: it's a photo-worthy view that few people get to see.
Turning around in the waters where the Pacific Ocean meets the bay, you'll return east past the Marin Headlines and the harbor town of Sausalito, a favorite day getaway spot for San Francisco visitors. Continue alongside Angel Island State Park, often called 'The Ellis Island of the West,' and then cruise past the Alcatraz Island, home to the legendary former federal prison.
Heading back toward Fisherman's Wharf, soak up great views of the impressive San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and Coit Tower, a tall and slim concrete monument named for the eccentric Lillie Hitchcock Coit, an early 20th century-patron for the city's firefighters. Fisherman Wharf's famous sea lions will undoubtedly be barking their welcomes as your cruise returns to port.
Tickets are flexible, so the departure time and date of this round-trip day cruise are up to you, and are valid up to one year from the original booking date. All cruise vessels include indoor and outdoor seating, public restrooms, and a seasonal snack bar. Audio narration is available in multiple languages.
Over the next hour you will cruise the waters of San Francisco Bay on a guided tour, meandering west along Fort Mason and past the Marina District — which took a hard hit in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake — en route to the Golden Gate Bridge. Make sure and look up when sailing beneath the bridge's massive 4,200-foot (1,260-meter) span: it's a photo-worthy view that few people get to see.
Turning around in the waters where the Pacific Ocean meets the bay, you'll return east past the Marin Headlines and the harbor town of Sausalito, a favorite day getaway spot for San Francisco visitors. Continue alongside Angel Island State Park, often called 'The Ellis Island of the West,' and then cruise past the Alcatraz Island, home to the legendary former federal prison.
Heading back toward Fisherman's Wharf, soak up great views of the impressive San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and Coit Tower, a tall and slim concrete monument named for the eccentric Lillie Hitchcock Coit, an early 20th century-patron for the city's firefighters. Fisherman Wharf's famous sea lions will undoubtedly be barking their welcomes as your cruise returns to port.
Tickets are flexible, so the departure time and date of this round-trip day cruise are up to you, and are valid up to one year from the original booking date. All cruise vessels include indoor and outdoor seating, public restrooms, and a seasonal snack bar. Audio narration is available in multiple languages.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (Pass By)
Fort Mason, the Great Meadow (Pass By)
Marina District (Pass By)
Golden Gate Bridge (Pass By)
Marin Headlands (Pass By)
Angel Island State Park (Pass By)
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (Pass By)
Pier 39 (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Boat crew are trained to provide first aid and CPR support, and first aid kits are readily available on all vessels
- The main deck of each vessel are fully wheelchair accessible
- All cruise vessels offer indoor and outdoor seating, restrooms, and seasonal snack bar service.
- Vessels operate on biodiesel - a renewable energy source.
- The award-winning audio narration is available in English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Thai, Mandarin, Hindi, Korean, Japanese, Italian, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic, Bahasa Indonesian and Vietnamese.
- Please come to our location 15-20 minutes prior to the departure time.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 400 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 1,749 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
Cassandra_9, Aug 2026
It was great really enjoyed it. The views are wonderful and we were able to see the Golden Gate Bridge up close
Sarah_A, Aug 2026
Very fun! My partner was nervous about being in the water but the captain gave us a really smooth ride. The narration was automated but had a lot of interesting information and was pretty well in sync with the scenery. Would recommend.
Sejal_V, Aug 2026
Great experience of Golden Gate Bridge on a boat. Very windy and chilly, so be prepared. Clouds lifted as we crossed under it. Amazing views of the city.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We are so happy you had a great time while on board! It is always a good idea to bundle up. We hope you got to snap some pics and make some memories!
Paul_O, Aug 2026
Experience was fine
Recorded sightseeing audio was a bit off on timing with landmarks during cruise
Staff was friendly
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience. We will make note about the timing of the audio. We hope you enjoyed the views and your time on board.
ManfreyaSarah_G, Aug 2026
It's an enjoyable experience with good service, providing interesting information and a clean environment.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We are so glad you enjoyed your experience! We hope you had a memorable time on board!
Ali_A, Aug 2026
Amazing, not crowded, cruiseshop was clean. Route was awesome, under the bridge and very close from Al Catraz prison.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We are so glad you enjoyed! It is always a special experience to be so close to Alcatraz and the Bridge. We hope you enjoyed your time in SF overall!
Sandra_C, Aug 2026
The weather was great for the cruise ,,, lots of information on the cruise ,,, staff was great the whole experience was great!!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We are so glad you had a great time! This is what we strive for! We hope you got to see some amazing views while on board.
Taran_V, Aug 2026
The ferry was very good and worth the price!! Especially because of the under 18 discount. There is a luggage room here to store your luggage so don’t book a locker with bounce like I did!! But the bounce lockers are convenient if you neeed something like that.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience! We are so glad you enjoyed and hope you got to snap some great pics!
Michael_Y, Jul 2026
This is a great way to get an overview of the SF Bay, its history and a real ocean experience. The cruise narration was very informative and engaging, which will give you ideas on where you would like to visit in the Bay Area. The boat goes under and around the Golden Gate Bridge and a close-up cruise-by Alcatraz Island. It can be pretty windy and cool on deck so bring something to cover you up.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We are so happy you had a good time on board, and we were happy to have you! The tour is a great way to learn more about the spots in the Bay you would like to visit! We hope you enjoyed exploring the Bay overall!
Aamir_K, Jul 2026
Whale watching is a hit or miss. Spend your money wisely.
Waste of money trip and what else should I say
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi Aamir, we are sorry you feel this way. The whale watching cruise you were on board for did see some whales, so we consider that to be a hit. Hopefully you enjoyed your time in the city.
Laura_R, Jul 2026
It was great. I had a really good time with my parents and my niece, and it was such a nice opportunity to spend quality time together, make memories, laugh, and simply enjoy each other’s company. If you want to experience the top of the boat, definitely bring layers because the wind is very strong, and something to tie your hair back!.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
This is the goal! To bring people together to see the beautiful views of San Francisco. These words mean so much to us and we hope we have the opportunity to see you on board again in the future.
Amanda_B, Jul 2026
The boat was roomy and comfortable. The info was interesting. The views were amazing. The narration was easy to understand and simple.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We are so glad you enjoyed the narration and saw some incredible views. We hope you enjoyed your time in SF overall!
John_G, Jul 2026
Great and quick way to see the highlights of the Bay and learn some city history. Can be a little hectic if you’re a smaller group and get overrun by larger groups moving around while the tour is ongoing.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We are so glad you enjoyed your time on board!
Paul_X, Jul 2026
Top deck is cold and windy. So bring a windbreaker with a hoodie. Caps, hats, and even phones can fly off that’s if unless you are planning to stay in the lower decks. Staff was nice and informative.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you taking the time to leave a review! It is always a good idea to bundle up and beware of the wind. We hope you enjoyed your time on board!
Hal_B, Jul 2026
Perfect way to see San Francisco from the bay. Pleasantly surprised by the wind surfers and seals.
Don’t forget your jacket.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We are so glad we were able to have you on board! It is always fun to see the wind surfers and the sea life during the cruise!
yolanda_f, Jul 2026
I'm so glad we decided to do the cruise! There would never be enough time to see all the places we saw via the cruise.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We are so glad to have had you on board! Our Golden Gate Bay Cruise is the best way to see the iconic city landmarks on a time crunch! We are so glad you enjoyed!
Mary_H, Jul 2026
Very windy which necessitated staying inside for most of the trip. Wind noise made it difficult to hear narrative about the tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for leaving your feedback, Mary. It can definitely be chilly when out on the water, and we are sorry to hear the day you cruised with us was on the windier side. But we hope you got to see some amazing views.
Mariah_A, Jul 2026
On time as scheduled, very helpful staff. Everyday is a new and exciting experience and the family are always excited and looking forward to seeing more.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
We are so glad you enjoyed your time on board and hope to welcome you back in the future!
Gricelda_H, Jul 2026
It has been quite some time since Ive done a cruise. I wanted to give my granddaughter a treat cuz we both love the ocean. It was a great experience for her and I. We cant wait to do more cruises.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
We are so glad you chose us to welcome you back out on the water! We hope you and your granddaughter were able to take some great pictures and make some memories!
Marvin_P, Jul 2026
This is a nice experience for the price. The staff was friendly. The narration during the ride is very informative. I wish they had mentioned if you are outside versus inside you need headphones.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Marvin! We are so glad you enjoyed your time on board. Guests are always able to use the audio guides throughout the cruise!
Chelsea_S, Jul 2026
This is my second time taking this boat tour under the Golden Gate Bridge and going around Alkatraz. This time was different because my 7 year old and I did it alone. We had so much fun and learned so much about the island and about the bridge and San Francisco. We will be doing this boat tour every time we visit San Francisco. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Wow. To hear you plan to do this every time you visit means more than you know! We are so happy you have enjoyed your experiences with us and look forward to welcoming you back!
Andrea_R, Jul 2026
Fun boat ride! Get to go past Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge! Really enjoyed the commentary, but wish we would've gotten the handheld one instead of the one over the speaker, since we couldn't always hear due to the wind. Great priced for what you get!!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! We are so glad you had fun. You can certainly always ask for a handheld guide!
Emily_G, Jun 2026
Easy and fun! A great break from the hustle and bustle. It was my husband’s first time in the city. He was so excited about this and it exceeded expectations.
Cindee_K, Jun 2026
Please prepare for a warm coat. Its very windy. If you experience motion sickness, be ready for it. Fun to ride.
Michael_M, Jun 2026
Very informational would recommend this excursion to anyone will return to this business in the future
Sara_F, Jun 2026
The bay tour was wonderful. Learned some history about San Francisco. Waiting in line for our scheduled time was not long. Remember to wear sunscreen.
Devin_D, Jun 2026
This was the perfect little hour cruise! Well worth the money it cost. We made the decision to do it last minute and we did not regret it!
Linda_T, Jun 2026
Very informative. You got to see and learn about the city, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz. The stories/history. All without having to go to those places, which I didn’t but wanted to see and learn.
LaRhonda_M, Jun 2026
Started on time and got great views of the city. The captain was very knowledgeable and made sure we got the best views. Would book again!
Gregory_C, Jun 2026
Nice cruise overall! It’s about an hour long, which felt like the perfect amount of time to see the bay without it dragging on. The only downside was that the tour guide is an automated recording—we usually prefer a live guide for a more personal touch. Still, a really enjoyable experience!
From $39.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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