San Francisco SkyStar Wheel - Private Gondolas

Badge of Excellence

San Francisco, USA

High interest

Booked 10+ times today.

30 minutes (approx.)

Why travelers loved this

4.4

· Juan_l ·

Nov 2025

Great way to see the wharf and spend time with family. This was a nice stop after grabbing lunch on Mission st.

· Christa_P ·

May 2026

We purchased through a third party vendor and the person we had to get the tickets through wasn’t very helpful when we got up to the window. So, for those of you like us who didn’t know this, you will find the information they need in your email. Besides that we had a wonderful ride!! Absolutely gorgeous view of the bay and the city.

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Overview

Take a ride in San Francisco's first waterfront observation wheel for magnificent aerial views of San Francisco Bay. Fully enclosed to protect you from the elements, each pod can hold up to six people and every one is private to your group—so you won't have to contend with strangers when getting the best viewing spot.

Prebooking your admission ticket guarantees your entry
Enjoy scenic views of San Francisco Bay
Ride with just your party (of up to six people) for a private experience
An activity you can enjoy no matter the weather

What's Included

All Fees and Taxes

Meeting and Pickup

Operating hours

06/10/2024 - 07/04/2027
Monday - Sunday : 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Departure Point

SkyStar Wheel Fisherman’s Wharf, 2860 Taylor Street Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, CA 94111

Ticket Redemption Point

Jefferson St & Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA

What To Expect

SkyStar Wheel Fisherman’s Wharf

Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.4

based on 30 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

We purchased through a...

Christa_P, May 2026

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for such a great review, Christa. Sorry you had a hassle at the ticket office. We’ll speak with staff. Happy you were able to ride and see the City and the Bay from atop the Wheel.

Very short and nothing special

Rebeca_H, Apr 2026

Very short but nice and enjoyable, it’s good if it is your very first time there. The wheel goes very slow.

Response from Host, May 2026

Hi Rebecca, thank you for your review of the SkyStar Wheel. We’re happy you enjoyed the experience. With one loading round and three revolutions without stopping, we’ve found the best way to make sure the Wheel, and the incredible views of the city and the bay, can be enjoyed by the highest number of people. We hope to see you again.

Check the weather

Jay_L, Apr 2026

It was awesome to ride around but the rain got us. Other then that tho it was a nice ride and they sell ponchos.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for the great review, Jay, even though you caught a bit of rain. We hope to see you again.

Do it at night!

Amanda_T, Mar 2026

This was ok. Nice view of city and wharf. Probably better at night. Staff were great and really helpful.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for taking a spin on the SkyStar Wheel, and for mentioning our hardworking staff. Please let us know what we can do to get a 5 star review next time!

Great view

Darlene_F, Jan 2026

Pretty neat ride. I would suggest going at night. More city lights to see. And it was a little warm in the gondola

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thanks for your 5-Star review Darlene! Yes, the evening lights of the city coming on is a great way to see the magic of San Francisco. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Hope to see you again soon!

Overpaid

Jimmy_Z, Dec 2025

Great experience with the Wheel itself! But didn't know that San Francisco residents (which I am) only need to pay $15 (or $17?), so I overpaid at Viater, which was $19.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Hi Jimmy. Thanks for the 5-Stars! We’re so happy that you enjoyed your SkyStar experience. Yes, we do give a nice discount for SF residents at the box office window, but are unable to offer that on the sites like Viator because we need proof of residency in person. We hope to see you again soon!

Skystar wheel

Denise_C, Dec 2025

Sky view gondola is super ..how many times could u go. .break a record ..each weekend in sf ..lucky place

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thanks Denise!!! Hope to see you again soon.

Fun day in the city

Juan_l, Nov 2025

Great way to see the wharf and spend time with family. This was a nice stop after grabbing lunch on Mission st.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Juan, thanks for the great 5-Star review! We're happy to hear you got to spend time with the family enjoying the views.

Fun tourist attraction

TIM_S, Oct 2025

It's a fun tourist attraction which gives you a quick view of Pier 39, Fisherman's wharf, Embarcadero and the city skyline

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thanks for the 5-Star review, Tim! The unique views of the City and the Bay from SkyStar on the waterfront are such a great way to experience San Francisco. We hope to see you again soon!

We purchased our tickets...

Diane_O, Jul 2025

We purchased our tickets in advance. You can't reserve a time slot, just show up with your e-ticket or print it out. The whole experience went well. You are seated according to how many are in your party. Regardless, the wait wasn't long. Wait times will vary. In spite of it being a crystal clear day with views all the way to both bridges, the lines weren't long. The views were great. I messaged the venue ahead of time to inquire about time reservations. Todd responded immediately and even suggested the best time for photo ops. Thanks Todd!

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you Diane! I'm so happy to hear you made it to the Wheel and had such a great time. This is what our hardworking staff loves to hear the most... people like you enjoying the views atop San Francisco first waterfront Ferris Wheel.

Don’t waste your money

Stephen_D, Apr 2025

Honestly a waste of money. We went at night and the glass was filthy dirty so all you could see was the reflection of hand prints. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Response from Host, Apr 2025

We are very sorry you had less than an exceptional experience. We clean each gondola every single day, inside and out. So maybe some guests had put hand prints on the windows at some point during the day. Most people have a wonderful experience riding the Wheel at night, and looking at the lights of the city and the Bridges. We hope you will consider removing this negative review, and come try SkyStar again. A great time to ride is at twilight, when there is still light in the sky and the city lights start coming on.

Windy and Shaky.

Daniela_H, Aug 2024

If you are afraid of heights, don’t go on this. If you are afraid of the car shaking, do not go on this on extremely windy days. I went on night time on Tuesday, August 7th, windows seemed blurry and/or foggy so you couldn’t really see. I saw Alcatraz light house being used so that was amazing! The doors slammed as they closed, but they do give you a countdown on when it does close. Our car shock with the windy, that’s how you know the wind gusts were strong! Yes, you were able to hear the wind too. Scary!

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Thank you for the thoughtful review Daniela. I'm sorry that it was a windy day when you rode the wheel. We only operate until the wind is blowing too hard, and then we shut the wheel down for the comfort of our guests. We hope to see you again soon!

We loved it; I thought they would only give us a tour, but in the end, I think it was 6 or 7.

Lizeth_G, Jun 2026

If you are afraid of heights, believe me, you will overcome it here; the ride is calm and very relaxing. We loved it.

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Response from Host, Jun 2026

Gracias, Lizeth. Yes, the wheel feels so smooth and safe, that many people who have a fear of heights are surprised by how safe they feel in the SkyStar Wheel. Thank you for your great review!