San Francisco Bay Sunset & City Lights Cruise
Badge of Excellence
San Francisco, USA
+8
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
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Overview
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.
- Soak up views of the skyline, Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge from the water
- Sail below the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge for unique perspectives
- Save time and bypass tickets lines by prebooking
- Onboard amenities include restroom and cozy bar for refreshments
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
There's no audio narration, making this a more relaxing cruise experience.
What's Included
- 2- hour sunset cruise (summer months) or city lights cruise (winter months) of San Francisco Bay
- "Straight to the gate" access
- Restrooms: Access to clean and convenient restrooms during your cruise.
- Gratuities
- Full bar is available 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 departure.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Make your way to the pier at Fisherman's Wharf in time for your chosen departure time (depending on the season). Listen to relaxing background music and watch the sights pass by on San Francisco Bay.
All cruise vessels operate on bio-diesel — a renewable energy source — and offer heated indoor spaces or outdoor viewing decks. There is no assigned seating or formal dress required during this casual, relaxing evening cruise.
Sunset Bay Cruise: If you embark during late March through early November, you’ll watch the sun setting over the the Pacific Ocean as you cruise toward the Marin Headlands and past the Golden Gate Bridge. Glide past Alcatraz, Angel Island and the San Francisco Bay Bridge.. On your return to Fisherman's Wharf you'll see many more notable sights, including the Presidio, the Marina District and Fort Mason.
City Lights Cruise: In the winter, the cruise makes the most of San Francisco’s spectacular city lights on a twilight tour. After the sun sets over the horizon, you'll glide past San Francisco's modern skyscrapers, historic landmarks, the infamous Alcatraz Island and both the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge. Enjoy the illuminated skyline — an unmissable San Francisco view.
All cruise vessels operate on bio-diesel — a renewable energy source — and offer heated indoor spaces or outdoor viewing decks. There is no assigned seating or formal dress required during this casual, relaxing evening cruise.
Sunset Bay Cruise: If you embark during late March through early November, you’ll watch the sun setting over the the Pacific Ocean as you cruise toward the Marin Headlands and past the Golden Gate Bridge. Glide past Alcatraz, Angel Island and the San Francisco Bay Bridge.. On your return to Fisherman's Wharf you'll see many more notable sights, including the Presidio, the Marina District and Fort Mason.
City Lights Cruise: In the winter, the cruise makes the most of San Francisco’s spectacular city lights on a twilight tour. After the sun sets over the horizon, you'll glide past San Francisco's modern skyscrapers, historic landmarks, the infamous Alcatraz Island and both the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge. Enjoy the illuminated skyline — an unmissable San Francisco view.
1
San Francisco Cruises (known locally as Red and White Fleet)
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Golden Gate Bridge (Pass By)
San Francisco Bay (Pass By)
Marina District (Pass By)
Fort Mason Center (Pass By)
Coit Tower (Pass By)
Salesforce Tower (Pass By)
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (Pass By)
Yerba Buena Island (Pass By)
Treasure Island (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
- Please come to our location 15 minutes prior to the departure time.
- This cruise is not narrated. If you would like to learn more about San Francisco, we suggest taking one of our narrated cruises such as the Golden Gate Bay Cruise or the San Francisco Bridge to Bridge Cruise.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 300 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Steve_L
We booked the sunset cruise last minute. What a beautiful way to end our trip. The views were outstanding. Going under Golden Gate Bridge was definitely a highlight. Staff were very friendly. A variety of drinks and snacks were available too.
Reviews
4,5
based on 2 061 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
Jeanette_M, Jul 2026
Different than the bridge to bridge trip so see more of angel island and other places. Beautiful views, sunset, and lights
Douglas_M, Jul 2026
Everything was great. From boarding to exiting. Weather was fantastic, of course fog made sunset a little difficult. But it is the bay. Drinks were good and people were friendly.
Jose_Z, Jul 2026
Great experience, smooth ride great sunset , no fog , staff was great . Couldn't have picked a better day .
Neill_W, Jul 2026
Half day tour through all parts of the city, short stops in all the major picture locations, just enough time for all the major snaps, great stories and tales from our guide. Highly recommend for half a tour of the city.
joe_l, Jul 2026
We loved it. The trip was well-organized and educational. Even twin 16-year-olds were impressed and had a great time.
Juan_T, Jul 2026
this tour was very well prepared, just be at the pier on time if you want to be at the top of the ferry. Amazing views of the Golden Gate and we passed within fifteen yards of Alcatraz from the back of the island, the part you cant see from the city.
David_H, Jul 2026
There are open and enclosed areas on the boat. The open areas have a much better view, but there will be times when you might feel pretty cold because of the wind. Dress in layers if you plan to be outside for more than just a few minutes.
If you sit inside on the second floor, you get a pretty good view out the windows, but remember there are chairs right outside the windows so someone might sit in your view.
The day we went was pretty busy, so the scenic angles were a little crowded at times, but people were pretty polite about it. The tour line also said to get there 40 minutes in advance, which was when people started lining up, but the boat didn’t board until 4 minutes before departure time
The bay is pretty choppy, especially when you get out past the bridge, but you won’t notice it until they cut the engines to just watch the sunset for a bit. If you get seasick, then you may want to prepare yourself before they cut the engines. For most people, that is a good time to go out on the deck and get some fresh air.
The views are better than I expected, so if you really enjoy good views, this will be your favorite part of the trip.
The boat’s announcement system gave some details about what we were seeing, and it was much appreciated. The locals might know the names of the various islands, but I did not.
Brad_B, Jul 2026
You get close to the bridge golden gate and all the other sights along the way fun trip the view of SF pulling of the dock was remarkable!
Yasmin_H, Jul 2026
Well worth it! Great views and commentary on the sites. Also nice music with the surroundings. I would do this again!
Brandon_F, Jul 2026
It was a great experience and would definitely recommend it to anyone. You get to experience the bay from a whole new perspective. The views are amazing. I would definitely recommend dressing for it. It’s wind and much cooler than I had anticipated.
Angelina_D, Jul 2026
Beautiful! Ride was gorgeous! The staff was friendly too! Great snacks and drinks! Very friendly crew!
Jenny_F, Jul 2026
Great tour of the Bay. We got to see around different islands and got great pics of the Golden Gate Bridge. The sunset was a beautiful shade of pink that night as well.
9wtbkfz49s, Jul 2026
I mean yea it was good but it’s not a night view they come back at 8:40 and it’s not even dark and none of the city lights turn on until 9:20 not really worth it I would go for the day time cruise instead and it’s cheaper.
Alexandra_A, Jul 2026
Great views and information ! Was really cool to go under the Golden Gate Bridge !! We sat on the top and it was wonderful!
Shauna_B, Jul 2026
Excellent! You can move throughout 3 floors, and if u get too cold there is indoor seating with views as well!! Bartenders were super friendly & there was a nice restroom!! Ten out of ten-highly recommend!!
Gerardo_R, Jul 2026
I was nice, was exactly what we were expecting a cool night and and a great sight of the areas through the ride on the ship.
William_R, Jul 2026
Sunset cruise leaves 19h00 from Pier 43. Close up Alacatraz, Angel Island, Tiburon, Belvedere and Sausalito. Highlight under Golden Gate Bridge at sunset canceled due to a boating accident investigation underway by the US Coast Guard.
Gregg_Y, Jul 2026
Boarding is very easy, get there early for prime seating. Also bring a light jacket or sweatshirt for cool weather.
Jaylene_M, Jul 2026
Such a pleasant experience! Was so so beautiful (& chilly)! Solo traveled from AZ! A must do, you won’t regret it!
Faaris_A, Jul 2026
Comfortable ride on the water. It became breathtaking at sunset just as we got close to the Golden Gate Bridge. The rainbow style hue of the sky is worth the calm ride. You do ride near the Alcatraz which seems a heaven for the birds. Definitely recommended.
Lisa_H, Jul 2026
My cousin is in a wheelchair and the staff was so friendly and attentive to us. We saw a whale and a flock of pelicans. Wonderful views of the landscapes around the bay. Of course, we were close up to Alcatraz island.
Antonia_A, Jul 2026
It will be very cold and windy as well. My only error was not bringing a thicker jacket , hat beanie, or scarf of some sort. Other than it was a really fun experience.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
It can be chilly while on board, so it is best to bundle up! But we hope you saw some great views and enjoyed yourself!
Kyle_M, Jul 2026
The only thing that would've made this tour absolutely perfect was if it were about 20 degrees warmer. I didn't expect San Francisco to be in the 50s in July, but here we are. The views were spectacular however and the drinks were flowing.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
So happy you enjoyed your time on board and the views! We wish every day was sunny and gorgeous here but especially being out on the water it can get a bit chilly. We are so grateful you chose to spend an evening with us, and we hope to see you back soon!
Tonya_C, Jul 2026
It was windy and cold in July! Dress warm and comfortable! Also, eat before the cruise…. Only light snacks offered
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your feedback, Tonya! We always recommended to bundle up as it can be chilly out on the water. Guests are also able to bring food on board with them! We hope you were able to see some amazing views.
Andrea_A, Jul 2026
This was a great experience. I was getting in with my infant and toddler and was a little worried at first but it’s so spacious my family and I had no issues. Also, the fact we were able to get up and go out to see the waves or stay inside (where our seat was) made it such a great experience especially since I didn’t have to worry about my baby being in the cold air for the whole ride. Oh and the coffee was so good! No watered down at all it was excellent for a wife/mother like myself
Response from Host, Jul 2026
This is so great to hear! We love having families on board and are so glad you and your kids had a good time. We hope you got to take some pictures and see an amazing sunset.
MariaR_M, Jul 2026
It was fun, organized and scenery was breathtaking. Snacks were good and the coffee and hot chocolate topped it off
Response from Host, Jul 2026
So happy you enjoyed your time on board, we are so glad you chose to cruise with us!
Daniel_M, Jul 2026
We couldn't hear the narration of the history which was really a shame we wanted to learn. Maybe making a app available where people could listen to it on their phones would have been nice. Other than that it was really really cool
Maybe windshield wipers so that you could take pictures through a more dry window.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us! Instead of having to use phone storage to download an app, guests are always welcome to ask for a handheld audio guide they can listen to the narration on instead of the speakers! Thank you for the suggestion about the windows as we are always looking for ways to improve the guest experience.
Sergio_S, Jul 2026
Parking is terrible.we should up an hour in advance and still couldn't get parking close enough to the pier we had to park 4 blocks away which delayed us from being on time. We got there at 7:01pm and we were not allowed on the ship even though it didn't leave till 7:05pm. Then I'm told there's no refunds so I see this as a major rip off. I lost $170 booking a trip that never happened for our anniversary. I wouldn't recommend this trip to anyone. Staff was not helpful either
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Sergio, thank you for sharing your experience. Traffic is something that cannot always be predicted as we mentioned to you when you arrived, we would be able to reschedule you for any time this year. We hope we are able to find a time for you to experience the cruise with us this year.
Jacob_H, Jun 2026
Had a wonderful experience. The boat had snacks and drinks for purchase and going under the bridge was phenomenal. Bring a coat/ jacket as it gets cold. Went by the nearby towns like Sausalito and Tiburon. Perfect music for the occasion. Went to Alcatraz and Angel Island. Will definitely return so if you’re on the fence with this trip, do it. You will have a grand time!
Laura_C, Jun 2026
It is the most beautiful experience best view good customer service in the snack bar good drinks my whole family was so happy
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San Francisco Bay Sunset & City Lights Cruise
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