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The best San Francisco tours

Get to know the real Fog City on brewery crawls, art excursions, culinary walks and more of the best San Francisco tours

Though San Franciscans would rather cheer for the Dodgers than get caught riding one of those double-decker buses, it’s still fun to play tourist on one of the best San Francisco tours every now and then. Happily, there’s no shortage of offbeat excursions to quench the local thirst for discovery, from boozy trips to the best San Francisco breweries to strolls through the mural-covered Mission District . There are plenty of options for first-time visitors to the City by the Bay, too: You can get the lay of the land on a bike ride through Golden Gate Park or a walking tour of all the best San Francisco attractions .

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Best San Francisco tours

1.  City Guides

What started out more than 30 years ago as a request from the mayor for librarian-led tours of City Hall has evolved into a nonprofit operation with more than 200 volunteers who lead some 50 different walking tours all over San Francisco—entirely for free (though donations are gladly accepted). Guides are local history buffs who live to share their knowledge and wax poetic about their city. Tours cover every niche, nook and cranny of S.F.—from Russian Hill stairways and Alfred Hitchcock film locations to Chinatown tongs and gangs and the 1906 earthquake and fire.  Free

Photograph: Courtesy Creative Commons/Flickr/ Roger

2.  Precita Eyes Murals Tour

With more than 200 murals canvasing its walls and back alleys, the Mission District is the city’s mecca for political, cultural and just downright beautiful street art. Since it was established in 1977, the Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center has worked with local artists to create and preserve many of the stunning works. On the third Saturday of every month, founder and director Susan Cervantes leads guided mural walks through the Mission. Learn how the art reflects the changing cultural and physical landscape and tells the story of the nabe's Hispanic heritage. $20

3.  Gourmet Walks

Given the city’s rep as a food mecca, it’s no surprise that there are a glut of “eat your way through…” tours in SF. Gourmet Walks stands out by having a great grasp on what people want, focusing on hip neighborhoods, of-the-moment dishes (think salted caramel ice cream, artisan salumi and fresh-baked breads), and of course, chocolate. Local cooks and culinary aficionados lead tasting tours of Hayes Valley , Russian Hill and Alamo Square that offer plenty of samples, plus meet-and-greets with chefs, cheesemongers, bakers and chocolatiers. $55–$90

4.  AT&T Park Tours

Regardless of where your team loyalties lie, few can argue about the fabulousness of AT&T Park, which in 2000 kicked off the transformation of South Beach from an abandoned warehouse wasteland into a bonafide five-star neighborhood. Behind-the-scenes tours of the park are offered all year, giving fans a chance to sit in the dugout, visit the clubhouse and press box, soak up the spectacular Bay views and walk on the field where the Giants have taken three World Series victory laps in the last six years. $22 adults, $17 seniors, $12 kids 12 and under

Photograph: Courtesy Creative Commons/Flickr/ Shawn Clover

5.  Teas, Temples and Beatniks Tour

This walking tour pairs up two of the city’s most visited neighborhoods: Chinatown and North Beach. Start at Chinatown Gate, then venture further into the ‘hood to taste mooncakes at a local bakery, have your fortune told at the oldest Chinese temple in the country and taste freshly made fortune cookies at the factory. Then you’ll head into North Beach to see former hangouts of Beat poets like Jack Kerouac and look up Coit Tower. $66

Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/ Giuseppe Milo

6.  The Castro Historical Walking Tour

Though San Franciscans have lived in the Castro for decades, it didn’t become the thriving LGBTQ community it is today until after World War II, when discharged LGBTQ servicemen settled in the neighborhood. Since then, the Castro has become a hotbed for social and political activism and a symbol of acceptance and diversity for people around the world. Discover the nabe’s history on a walking tour that visits cultural and historic landmarks like the Rainbow Honor Walk, Harvey Milk's residence and the Castro Theater. $25

7.  SF on Tap Tours

Hop heads can quench their thirst for suds on an SF on Tap brewery tour. Guided walking tours take drinkers to three local breweries and craft beer bars in Haight-Ashbury , SoMa or North Beach , where you'll sip complimentary beers as you learn about the city's beer history. Each tour is capped at 12 people, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to pepper your guide with questions about his favorite local brews.  $79

8.  San Francisco Urban Hike

Thanks to the city’s hilly terrain, walking in San Francisco might as well be considered hiking—just in an urban jungle instead of, well, a natural one. Ascend some of S.F.’s steepest hills on this three-hour tour that requires you to wear hiking boots. You’ll climb Kite Hill, ride the Seward Street Slides, discover a hidden eucalyptus forest and summit Twin Peaks. The sweeping views of the city are worth the perspiration. $49

9.  Historic Sausalito Houseboat Tour

After World War II ended, the once-bustling shipbuilding operation in Richardson Bay shut down, leaving tons of wood and scrap metal behind. Enterprising locals took the opportunity (and free materials) to build an entire community of floating houseboats in the harbor. Today, Sausalito is still home to more than 200 houseboats—everything from rough-and-tumble shantys to million-dollar properties. Explore the waterfront community that inspired Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” on this walking tour. $58.83

Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/ Jay Sterling Austin

10.  San Francisco Love Tour

Channel the spirit of peace and love that once enveloped San Francisco on this ‘60s-themed bus tour. Instead of a charter coach, the tour uses a vintage Volkswagen van decked out with neon blue seats, shag carpets and beaded curtains to set the scene. You’ll cruise all over town to landmarks like Lombard Street and Golden Gate Park, plus the former homes of counter-culture icons like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. $48

11.  Golden Gate Park Self-Guided Bike Tour

Though 13 million people visit San Francisco’s verdant oasis every year, few of them explore all of the park’s 1,017 acres. Instead of hoofing it, hop on a bike to cover more ground in less time. Cycle to the Conservatory of Flowers, National AIDS Memorial Grove, Beach Chalet, Lloyd Lake, Japanese Tea Garden and other lauded landmarks at your own pace. $32

12.  Barbary Coast Trail

If you’re not a tour kind of person, but you still want to find out the backstory of San Francisco’s wild and scandalous Gold Rush past, take yourself down to the Barbary Coast Trail. The walking path was created in 1998 by local historian Daniel Bacon in conjunction with the San Francisco Historical Society. Bacon worked tirelessly for years to install more than 170 bronze Barbary Coast Trail medallions in the sidewalk that trace a 3.8-mile path through the history of gold diggers, shanghai dens, railroad barons and ship graveyards. The best part is you can do as little or as much as you want and you don’t need to go in order. Pick up a printed pocket guide, a Walking San Francisco on the Barbary Coast Trail book or download an audio tour. For the full experience, you can also book Bacon for a guided tour ($25 a person, $400 minimum).

Photograph: Courtesy Creative Commons/Flickr/ San Francisco Maritime NHP

Looking for more tours in San Francisco?

The best San Francisco bus tours

• Things to do
• Walks and tours

If you don’t want to rely on Ubers, taxis or an unfamiliar public transportation system to get around San Francisco, bus tours might just be your best bet

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Top Tours in San Francisco, CA

San francisco tours.

• Sightseeing Tours
• Wine Tours & Tastings
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco

2. Official Alcatraz Island Prison Tour and San Francisco Bay Cruise

3. Big Bus San Francisco: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour

4. Small-Group Tour: SF, Muir Woods, Sausalito w/ Optional Alcatraz

5. Muir Woods & Sausalito Half-Day Tour (Return by Bus or Ferry from Sausalito)

6. Muir Woods, Golden Gate Bridge + Sausalito with Optional Alcatraz

7. San Francisco: Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoia Day Tour

8. Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Full-Day Tour from San Francisco

9. San Francisco Love Tour

10. The 7D Ride Experience and The Flyer A flying theater Combo

11. Straight to the Gate Access: San Francisco Bay Sunset Cruise

12. Straight to the Gate Access: Golden Gate Bay Cruise

13. San Francisco Bay Sunset Catamaran Cruise

14. Painted Ladies San Francisco City Tour

15. Chinatown and North Beach Walking Tour

16. Small-Group Wine Country Tour from San Francisco with Tastings

17. San Francisco Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

18. Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive: Full Day Tour from SF

19. San Francisco Bay Sailing Cruise

20. Official Alcatraz Tour with Golden Gate Bridge Bay Cruise

21. San Francisco Super Saver: Muir Woods & Wine Country w/ optional Gourmet Lunch

22. Muir Woods and Sausalito Small-Group Tour

23. Little Italy and North Beach Walking Tour in San Francisco

24. Skip The Bus: San Francisco By Luxury Van Tour

25. Small-Group Yosemite Day Tour from San Francisco

26. Alcatraz Island Tour Package

27. 2-Hour Sunset Sail on the San Francisco Bay

28. Small Group: Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour from San Francisco

29. Muir Woods with Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour

30. Inside Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge Bay Cruise

What travellers are saying.

The Best Tours of San Francisco

There’s so much to see in San Francisco we created a tour that includes all the sites. During our San Francisco in a Day Tour, you will see the unique quirks of the Haight-Ashbury, Castro, and Mission neighborhoods. Your tour guide will take you through the extensive histories of Presidio Park, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Twin Peaks. The tour ends with a stop at Alcatraz and a ferry ride to Fisherman's Wharf to see everyone’s favorite residents – the seals. Elevate your taste buds in America’s oldest Chinatown. Enjoy tea, dumplings, and fortune cookies while learning about the extensive history of the most populated area of the West. If pizza is more your thing, the North Beach Food Tour will feel like one big hug. Family-run businesses will welcome you in with wine, food, and stories of the past. Just because you’re staying in the city, doesn’t mean you have a miss out on a chance to experience the soaring Redwoods or picturesque Yosemite. Our day trips give you a chance to see the 300-feet-tall Redwoods and sip on incredible wine all in one day.

See the Best of the Bay Area from the Golden Gate Bridge to Wine Country

9 Tours Found

Price - Lowest First

Price - Highest First

Most reviewed

Most Popular

Chinatown Local Food Tour in San Francisco

Taste your way around Chinatown’s lively streets, markets, and hidden gems with a local foodie guid

North Beach Local Food Tour in San Francisco

Join a passionate local guide to explore culinary traditions in San Francisco's vibrant Little Italy

Yosemite in a Day Tour from San Francisco

See the redwoods, Bridalveil and Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, Half Dome and more on an epic day trip!

San Francisco in a Day Tour with Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz

Spend the day exploring the Presidio, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury, and more with a fun guide

San Francisco in a Half Day by Electric Bike

Ride through the city highlights from Golden Gate Park to Mission District and the Painted Ladies

Redwoods, California Coast & Sausalito Day Trip from San Francisco

Leave the city behind to explore ancient forests and picturesque towns on the Pacific Coast Highway

Marin Seaplane Tour with Muir Woods, Sausalito, and Picnic Lunch

Spend a morning among towering redwoods then fly over San Francisco Bay on the ultimate VIP day trip

The Great Wine Tour of Sonoma from San Francisco

Get the real California wine experience with tastings and tours at three boutique Sonoma vineyards

Redwoods and Wine Country Day Trip from San Francisco

Gaze in awe at 300-foot, 1,000-year-old redwoods and sip wines in Russian River Valley in just a day

OUR BEST SELLING TOURS AT A GLANCE

Most Popular Tours

Rome in a day tour with colosseum and vatican museums.

Explore the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and more!

Ultimate Palace of Versailles Tour from Paris

Breeze past the lines for the palace and gardens with a friendly English speaking guide

Special Access Colosseum Arena Floor Tour through the Gladiator's Gate

Walk in the footsteps of gladiators on the Colosseum floor and see the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Half-Day Tour with Gondola Ride

Explore St. Mark's Square's most iconic attractions with skip-the-line tickets and an expert guide

Secrets of the Louvre Museum Tour with Mona Lisa

Get to know Venus de Milo, Liberty Leading the People, and Napoleon's Coronation like never before

Privileged Entrance Colosseum Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Skip the line at the Colosseum, plus Arch of Titus, Temple of Julius Caesar, and more!

Rome Catacombs Tour and Capuchin Crypts with Transportation

Skip the line and explore a creepy underground world of Roman tombs and crypts with an expert guide

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THE 10 BEST San Francisco Tours & Excursions

Tours in san francisco.

• Sightseeing Tours
• Wine Tours & Tastings
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco

2. Official Alcatraz Island Prison Tour and San Francisco Bay Cruise

3. Big Bus San Francisco: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour

4. Small-Group Tour: SF, Muir Woods, Sausalito w/ Optional Alcatraz

5. Muir Woods & Sausalito Half-Day Tour (Return by Bus or Ferry from Sausalito)

6. Muir Woods, Golden Gate Bridge + Sausalito with Optional Alcatraz

7. San Francisco: Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoia Day Tour

8. Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Full-Day Tour from San Francisco

9. San Francisco Love Tour

10. Official Alcatraz Night Tour and San Francisco Bay Cruise

11. Straight to the Gate Access: San Francisco Bay Sunset Cruise

12. Straight to the Gate Access: Golden Gate Bay Cruise

13. San Francisco Bay Sunset Catamaran Cruise

14. Painted Ladies San Francisco City Tour

15. Chinatown and North Beach Walking Tour

16. Small-Group Wine Country Tour from San Francisco with Tastings

17. San Francisco Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

18. Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive: Full Day Tour from SF

19. San Francisco Bay Sailing Cruise

20. San Francisco Super Saver: Muir Woods & Wine Country w/ optional Gourmet Lunch

21. Muir Woods and Sausalito Small-Group Tour

22. Little Italy and North Beach Walking Tour in San Francisco

23. Skip The Bus: San Francisco By Luxury Van Tour

24. San Francisco Private City Tour (Walking, Private Bus, Shuttle)

25. Small-Group Yosemite Day Tour from San Francisco

26. Alcatraz Island Tour Package

27. 2-Hour Sunset Sail on the San Francisco Bay

28. Small Group: Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour from San Francisco

29. Muir Woods with Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour

30. Inside Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge Bay Cruise

What travellers are saying.

Top Tours in San Francisco, CA

San francisco tours.

• Sightseeing Tours
• Wine Tours & Tastings
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco

2. Official Alcatraz Island Prison Tour and San Francisco Bay Cruise

3. Big Bus San Francisco: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour

4. Small-Group Tour: SF, Muir Woods, Sausalito w/ Optional Alcatraz

5. Muir Woods & Sausalito Half-Day Tour (Return by Bus or Ferry from Sausalito)

6. Muir Woods, Golden Gate Bridge + Sausalito with Optional Alcatraz

7. San Francisco: Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoia Day Tour

8. Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Full-Day Tour from San Francisco

9. San Francisco Love Tour

10. Family Experience Gregangelo Museum Admission Ticket

11. Straight to the Gate Access: San Francisco Bay Sunset Cruise

12. Straight to the Gate Access: Golden Gate Bay Cruise

13. San Francisco Bay Sunset Catamaran Cruise

14. Painted Ladies San Francisco City Tour

15. Chinatown and North Beach Walking Tour

16. Small-Group Wine Country Tour from San Francisco with Tastings

17. San Francisco Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

18. Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive: Full Day Tour from SF

19. San Francisco Bay Sailing Cruise

20. San Francisco Super Saver: Muir Woods & Wine Country w/ optional Gourmet Lunch

21. The 7D Ride Experience and The Flyer A flying theater Combo

22. Muir Woods and Sausalito Small-Group Tour

23. Little Italy and North Beach Walking Tour in San Francisco

24. Skip The Bus: San Francisco By Luxury Van Tour

25. Small-Group Yosemite Day Tour from San Francisco

26. Alcatraz Island Tour Package

27. 2-Hour Sunset Sail on the San Francisco Bay

28. Small Group: Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour from San Francisco

29. Muir Woods with Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour

30. Inside Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge Bay Cruise

What travellers are saying.