San Francisco · SAN FRANCISCO HOP-ON HOP-OFF BUS TOURS

The 15 Best Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours in San Francisco

24 tours  ·  from $46

One ticket, a fixed loop and the hills done for you. The 15 below compare route coverage, how long each pass runs for and whether the bridge crossing or a night loop is included.

Big Bus SF: Hop-on Hop-off Tour with 17 Stops and Sunset Option - Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, and the waterfront
Evening Experiences, San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, San Francisco Sunset Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Big Bus SF: Hop-on Hop-off Tour with 17 Stops and Sunset Option

1.Big Bus SF: Hop-on Hop-off Tour with 17 Stops and Sunset Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 4,539 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $56Our pick

Ride San Francisco’s open-top Big Bus along a 17-stop route linking Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Union Square, Golden Gate Park, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Use the 24 or 48-hour pass to hop off, then add a sunset tour, digital Chinatown walk, aquarium visit, or half-day wine trip.

“These buses are always great in major cities throughout the U.S. I use them o get around when I first get to city to get the lay of the land. They are perfect.”

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San Francisco: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour with 17 Stops - Starting at Jefferson Street near Fisherman’s Wharf
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San Francisco: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour with 17 Stops

2.Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour with 17 Stops

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,600 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $56

Use a 24 or 48-hour Big Bus ticket to tour San Francisco by open-top bus, with stops near Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Alamo Square, Haight-Ashbury, Golden Gate Park, the bridge, and Lombard Street. Digital commentary is offered in seven languages, with optional sunset, Chinatown, aquarium, and wine-tour extras.

“The night tour was awesome! Our driver was very knowledgeable and helpful! He even gave us candy! We have always been happy with the Big Bus tours and you did not disappoint!”

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San Francisco: Alcatraz Island & 48-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Tour - What the Big Bus route shows you
Alcatraz Tours, San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

San Francisco: Alcatraz Island & 48-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

3.Alcatraz Island & 48-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,245 reviews · 2 days · from $120

Visit Alcatraz with its excellent Cell House audio guide, then use a 48-hour Big Bus pass to explore San Francisco. You’ll also get Aquarium by the Bay, a Chinatown walking tour, and a panoramic sunset ride covering the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square, and more.

“What an incredible day! Alcatraz was fascinating, eery, bleak but well worth a visit! The ferry there and back was very well organised with regular boats back and forth. Really worth the money including the 2 day hop on and off bus instead of Ubers and has earphones to learn about all the landmarks. Glad I booked this and even better that the weather was incredible!”

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San Francisco: Hop-On Hop-Off Deluxe Bus Tour with 20 Stops - Choosing your starting point near Union Square
San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

San Francisco: Hop-On Hop-Off Deluxe Bus Tour with 20 Stops

4.Hop-On Hop-Off Deluxe Bus Tour with 20 Stops

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 659 reviews · 8 hours - 2 days · from $55

See San Francisco from a double-decker bus with live commentary from guides such as Jamal, Kirk, Chino, and Willie. The 20-stop route links Union Square, Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury, and more. Hop on for 8 hours or up to 2 days.

“Excellent tour and Willie the driver just “did what he does”. He made the trip fun and his commentary was great to listen to. Great to see someone actually care about the job he does.”

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San Francisco: Alcatraz Island & Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour - The recorded commentary is better than background noise
Alcatraz Tours, San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

San Francisco: Alcatraz Island & Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour

5.Alcatraz Island & Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 647 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $120

Visit Alcatraz by ferry, hear the Cell House audio tour, and use a 48-hour open-top bus pass to explore San Francisco. You can board at 15 stops, cross the Golden Gate Bridge, visit Aquarium by the Bay, walk Chinatown with a digital guide, and join a panoramic sunset bus tour.

“Amazing experience! Alcatraz was an incredible experience, the narrated tour was fantastic, educational and entertaining. The hop on hop off bus was great, just layer up if you’re sitting up top to go across the Golden Gate Bridge. We almost froze! Highly recommend”

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Big Bus San Francisco: Sightseeing Sunset Tour by Open-Top Bus - Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, and the Financial District
Evening Experiences, San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, San Francisco Sunset Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Big Bus San Francisco: Sightseeing Sunset Tour by Open-Top Bus

6.Big Bus San Francisco: Sightseeing Sunset Tour by Open-Top Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 339 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $45Best value

Start at Fisherman’s Wharf at 6:30 pm for a 90-minute open-top ride through Chinatown, the Financial District, Embarcadero, and Treasure Island. Digital commentary replaces a live guide. Arrive early for an upper-deck seat, and bring a warm jacket because the Bay Bridge crossing can be very cold.

“Lovely experience, a bit chilly on top, but all good fun, a little pricey but it’s worth it for the experience”

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San Francisco: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Ferry & Alcatraz Tour - The open-top bus covers San Francisco’s long, hilly spread
Alcatraz Tours, San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

San Francisco: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Ferry & Alcatraz Tour

7.Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Ferry & Alcatraz Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 324 reviews · 2 days · from $159

Use a flexible 2-day bus pass to reach San Francisco’s main sights, cross the Golden Gate Bridge, and join a set-time ferry to Alcatraz. You’ll get bus commentary in six languages and an award-winning prison audio tour in eight, with a night tour option adding another view of the city.

“The open top bus was a great way to see and learn about the city with the amazing tour guides who made the experience interesting! Alcatraz was amazing and I would highly recommend this tour.”

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San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off Deluxe Tour 20 Stops 1 to 2 days - Start at Union Square, or board wherever it suits you
2-Day Experiences, San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off Deluxe Tour 20 Stops 1 to 2 days

8.San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off Deluxe Tour 20 Stops 1 to 2 days

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 320 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $55

See San Francisco by open-top double-decker bus on a 1 or 2-day pass covering Union Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury, and more. English-speaking guides, multilingual audio, and Wi-Fi are included, though service quality can vary.

“Great introduction to the city. If you're going to sit on top, which is the best way to see everything, be prepared for it to be windy, ESPECIALLY when going across the Golden Gate Bridge. This time of year, dress warmly. Narrative was quite informative. Don't need ear buds, it comes over a speaker.”

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San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Open Top Bus Tour (Essential) 24Hour - Start with one complete two-hour loop
San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Open Top Bus Tour (Essential) 24Hour

9.San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Open Top Bus Tour (Essential) 24Hour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 191 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $78

Use a 24-hour open-top bus pass to circle San Francisco, cross the Golden Gate Bridge, and stop near Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square, Haight-Ashbury, Alamo Square, Lombard Street, and more. Audio commentary is offered in English, with buses leaving about every 30 minutes.

“For me a great guide for visiting San Francisco for the first time. Informative and friendly. With free walking tour of China Town.”

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San Francisco Double Decker Bus Night Tour - Leaving Fisherman’s Wharf for the city center
Evening Experiences, San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, San Francisco Night Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

San Francisco Double Decker Bus Night Tour

10.San Francisco Double Decker Bus Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 95 reviews · 1 hour · from $52

Depart Fisherman’s Wharf at 6:30 PM for a 60 to 90-minute open-top bus ride through Chinatown, Nob Hill, the Embarcadero, and the Financial District. Cross the Bay Bridge to Treasure Island for skyline photos, with audio in several languages and an English-speaking driver.

“The driver was excellent and so was the audio. I couldn't fault either. the driver gave us excellent opportunities to see sights and take photos. I would highly recommend this trip. An amazing way to see San Francisco at night.”

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San Francisco: Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional Night Tour - Fisherman’s Wharf and the northern waterfront
Evening Experiences, San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, San Francisco Night Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

San Francisco: Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional Night Tour

11.Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 94 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $69

Use unlimited hop-on hop-off buses for one or two days, stopping at Union Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Add the 60 to 90-minute evening tour for city lights, Bay Bridge views, and Treasure Island when weather and traffic allow.

“Die Nachtfahrt findet um 18.00 Uhr abends statt und endet 22.00 Uhr , da ist es alles andere aber keine Nacht!!!Auch noch kein Sonnenuntergang ,dies Tour kann man sich sparen . R-R Hardt”

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SF: Golden Gate Cruise & Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour (Save 15%) - From Pier 41 to Chinatown and North Beach
Cruises & Boat Tours, San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

SF: Golden Gate Cruise & Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour (Save 15%)

12.Golden Gate Cruise & Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour (Save 15%)

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 86 reviews · 1 day · from $99

Pair a one-hour Golden Gate Bay cruise with a 24-hour Big Bus pass. Ride past North Beach, Haight-Ashbury, Golden Gate Park, and the Presidio, then sail beneath the bridge toward Sausalito and Alcatraz. Digital commentary is offered in seven languages, with a Chinatown walking tour included.

“The very long wait we had to get on the bus at the beginning of the tour. My husband is disabled and can’t walk or stand for long periods of time, there was nowhere he could sit and wait, so that was a serious issue for us as he was in a lot of pain. We asked the staff and they said there was nothing they could do. The rest of the tour was fantastic and the driver amazing.”

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2 Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour Plus Night Tour - Jefferson Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, and the Embarcadero
2-Day Experiences, Evening Experiences, San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, San Francisco Night Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

2 Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour Plus Night Tour

13.2 Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour Plus Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 81 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $85

Use a 48-hour San Francisco bus pass to reach Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Lombard Street, Golden Gate Park, and more. Add a live-guided night tour, a Chinatown walking tour, and a two-hour bike rental. English commentary is available, with multilingual audio on the city routes.

“Everything was great. Staff very friendly. In the sum better than expected. Good value for money. The only downside is that they run only one circuit so you cannot really make changes to the order you visit the city. The last bus ran at 17:30, later than advertised. That saved our day, thank you.”

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San Francisco Pass: Save up to 50% - Includes Big Bus Tours - Bay cruises: the pass’s strongest scenic value
San Francisco Attraction Passes, San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

San Francisco Pass: Save up to 50% – Includes Big Bus Tours

14.San Francisco Pass: Save up to 50% – Includes Big Bus Tours

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 75 reviews · 1 to 5 days (approx.) · from $104

Use your mobile San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass for 1 to 5 days and visit 25+ attractions, including Big Bus, bay cruises, the California Academy of Sciences, museums, bike rental, and more. Check the Go City app before you go, since reservations, hours, and included activities can change.

“Lots of varied activities to do during our stay in San Francisco. Highly recommend this card. Muir Woods and Wine country trip was awesome.”

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San Francisco Bay Cruise & Double Decker Night Tour - The one-hour San Francisco Bay cruise
Cruises & Boat Tours, Evening Experiences, San Francisco Bay Cruises, San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, San Francisco Night Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

San Francisco Bay Cruise & Double Decker Night Tour

15.San Francisco Bay Cruise & Double Decker Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 52 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $85

Start at Fisherman’s Wharf with a one-hour San Francisco Bay cruise, then take a 60 to 90-minute double-decker night tour. Audio commentary comes in several languages, and guides such as Don, Maria, Faith, and Sparkle have earned warm praise for their city knowledge and humor.

“the frequency of bus is not enough they come every hour to the stops you spend most of your time waiting...”

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