Top San Francisco How to Get Around

Experience the perfect way to discover and explore the vibrant City by the Bay with a convenient hop-on hop-off bus tour. This flexible sightseeing option allows you to travel at your own pace, stopping at all of San Francisco’s must-see landmarks and attractions. The bus route covers all major points of interest, including the breathtaking Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Union Square, Lombard Street, and the historic cable car lines. With frequent stops at these popular destinations, you have the freedom to hop off wherever you want to explore further, take photos, shop, or enjoy local dining. When you’re ready, simply hop back on the next bus to continue your adventure. Each bus is equipped with informative commentary, sharing fascinating stories and history about San Francisco’s landmarks, neighborhoods, and culture—enhancing your sightseeing experience. The tour offers the convenience of a single ticket that grants you unlimited rides for a full day..

This small-group tour takes you from downtown San Francisco to Muir Woods and Sausalito—two of Marin's top attractions—in a single day. Riding across the Golden Gate Bridge in a tour van leaves you free to take in the epic views instead of focusing on the driving. You'll have free time to explore both sites, making this organized option a great choice for independent travelers.

See San Francisco’s most famous waterfront landmarks from the water on a bay cruise that combines iconic views with onboard flexibility. Sail beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, pass Alcatraz Island, and take in panoramic views of the city skyline while listening to stories and insights through an app-based audio guide. With skip-the-line boarding and indoor and outdoor viewing areas, it’s an easy way to experience the bay from a different perspective.

Ride a double-decker sightseeing bus to San Francisco's most famous landmarks with a hop-on hop-off bus pass valid for 24, 48, or 72 hours. Visit big-name attractions such as Pier 39, the Palace of Fine Arts, and Union Square. Explore at your own pace, hopping off at any of the stops along two routes. Upgrade to the 48-hour tour for a digital Chinatown walking tour and a panoramic sunset tour, or the 72-hour tour, which also includes a bay cruise.

This is a great pick for first-time visitors to San Francisco or travelers with limited time. Ride a double-decker bus with Wi-Fi and hop off at any of 20 stops including Union Square, North Beach, Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, the Civic Center, and Golden Gate Park. Buses operate daily from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with the last departure at 4:00 PM.

Ride a GoCar all over San Francisco as it navigates for you and provides a guided tour. Take as long as you like to explore the city with a storytelling car as your guide. Learn all about the city as you visit spots such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Warf, Golden Gate Park, and much more.

Check off San Francisco’s most important sights without navigating the city’s steep streets on your own. This combined city highlights and Alcatraz tour includes a sightseeing tour in an open-air van with admission to the legendary island prison, which you can explore at your own pace with an audio tour.

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.

Visiting Alcatraz is a top activity for many San Francisco visitors, and tickets routinely sell out. Avoid disappointment by prebooking your cruise ticket and explore the island with the included audio tour. Choose from day or night cruise times, and enjoy a free appetizer at select North Beach restaurants with entrée purchase.

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.

Discover two of San Francisco’s most iconic neighborhoods without the guesswork of deciding where to eat or what to see. This small-group food tour combines cultural insights with generous tastings, helping you experience the traditions, flavors, and stories behind Chinatown and North Beach.

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.

Get a unique perspective on San Francisco—and capture photos of the city as it's all aglow—on this sunset tour by open-top, double-decker bus. See highlight neighborhoods such as Fisherman's Wharf, Embarcadero, Chinatown and the Financial District, and spot key city landmarks including the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Along the way, listen to on-board digital commentary to learn the stories behind the sights.

Explore two of the Bay Area’s top destinations, Muir Woods and Sausalito, on a half-day tour from San Francisco. Drive across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods National Monument, where you have time to walk among towering old-growth redwood trees. Next, head to Sausalito for a stroll along the picturesque waterfront. Opt to remain on your own in Sausalito or return on the bus.

Getting from San Francisco to Muir Woods can be a real challenge without a car. Instead, enjoy a hassle-free way to travel with this round-trip shuttle service. Following morning or afternoon pickup at Fisherman’s Wharf, cross the Golden Gate Bridge and head to the woods, all while your driver shares insider facts and tips. Upon arrival (admission tickets own expense), enjoy free time to explore independently before returning to the city.

Enjoy educational sightseeing and delicious tastings in one tour with the help of your guide. Explore San Francisco’s Chinatown, Little Italy, and North Beach, sampling coffee, dumplings, gelato, and a few surprises as you go. Learn all about the area’s history while you walk, from the California Gold Rush to the Godfather.

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. This tour is an open ticket . The cruises start at 11:00am and end at 6:00pm. You can go any time that works with your schedule. Just show up 20 minutes before the departure.

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 journey around San Francisco's top sights in a retro way with this small-group tour by vintage Volkswagen bus, decorated with long eyelashes so you can't miss your tour vehicle. You'll pass by neighborhoods like Chinatown, Union Square, Pacific Heights, North Beach, Haight-Ashbury, the Marina, and Hayes Valley, plus see the Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Civic Center, and more.

Hop aboard a vintage Volkswagen bus for a San Francisco city tour to remember. Travel down streets a typical tour bus can't access while your guide fills you in on the history of the City by the Bay, from the Gold Rush to Silicon Valley. Get views of landmarks such as Twin Peaks, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Painted Ladies as you travel through distinct city districts, and see more of the city than you could if exploring independently.

San Francisco's rollicking, rags-to-riches history has left plenty of haunted happenings in its wake, so explore the city's more sinister side on a walking ghost tour. Visit some of San Francisco's most historic and allegedly haunted locations on and around Nob Hill, once the epicenter of San Francisco high society. Learn trivia and hidden history that you won't find in any guidebook on this ghoulishly fun, after-dark adventure.

Spare yourself the headache of car rental and navigation with round-trip bus transit from San Francisco to Muir Woods. Listen to live commentary during the drive, then explore the park on your own. Next, stop by the scenic seaside town of Sausalito, and stroll independently. Afterwards, relax during your return journey through the Marin Headlands. Upgrade to add on a hop-on hop-off bus tour and enjoy a self-guided Chinatown walking tour.

Skip the stress of planning routes, reservations, and transportation for a day in Wine Country. This private driver-guided experience lets you customize your winery visits while enjoying a relaxed, seamless journey between stops. With expert planning support and door-to-door service, you can focus on the tastings and scenery instead of the logistics.