San Francisco · TOUR REVIEWS

The 15 Best Tours in San Francisco

533 tours  ·  from $8

Four days or a long weekend, the problem is the same: a small city with a very large day-trip belt hanging off it. The 15 below are the ones that earn the slot, priced and timed, with the full catalogue underneath when you want to go deeper.

Muir Woods and Sausalito (Return by Bus or Ferry) - Ninety minutes beneath the coastal redwoods
Muir Woods Tours, Sausalito Tours, Tour Reviews

Muir Woods and Sausalito (Return by Bus or Ferry)

1.Muir Woods and Sausalito (Return by Bus or Ferry)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,098 reviews · 5 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $91Our pick

Visit Muir Woods for 90 minutes among ancient coastal redwoods, then spend an hour in Sausalito. Gray Line guides such as Don, George, Jerry, and Judith provide commentary, while selected options add a bike ride or ferry return. Expect a compact, well-paced outing with limited free time.

“Our tour guide Judith from Germany was fabulous! We loved the hike in Muir Woods, it was beautiful. Sausalito is a fun little village with lots of shops and dining. The bus ride over and back the Golden Gate Bridge had fantastic views and we stopped for photos too. We were going to ride bikes that portion got canceled. However, when we saw how strong the winds were on the bridge and the bikers having a difficult time we were glad we were on the bus! I would recommend electric bikes if you’re going to do that.”

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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

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

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

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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Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Full-Day Tour from San Francisco - Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge
California Wine Country Tours, Full-Day, Napa Valley Wine Tours, Sonoma Wine Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wine Tours

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

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,455 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $165

Ride from San Francisco to Napa and Sonoma in an air-conditioned coach, stopping at three wineries such as Roche, Artesa, Madonna, Jacuzzi, or BR Cohn. You get tastings, a Sonoma Plaza lunch break, guide commentary, and Golden Gate photo stops.

“Loved this wine tour Debi was a great tour guide and the wineries were excellent. The tours at each winery were very informative.”

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Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco - Tuolumne Grove: your first walk among giant sequoias
1-Day Tours, Tour Reviews, Yosemite National Park Tours

Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,671 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $239Top rated

Leave San Francisco before sunrise for a 14-hour minibus trip to Yosemite. Walk among giant sequoias, see Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and El Capitan, then return with hotel drop-off. Guides such as Derek, Trevor, Kurt, and Steven add stories, videos, and practical help.

“Great experience. Wonderful guide. Easy way to see a lot of great spots in the valley. By far a great tour”

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San Francisco: Golden Gate Bay Cruise - North Beach, Aquatic Park, and the Historic Piers
Cruises & Boat Tours, San Francisco Bay Cruises, Tour Reviews

San Francisco: Golden Gate Bay Cruise

5.Golden Gate Bay Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3,644 reviews · 1 hour · from $38Best value

From Pier 43 1/2, Red and White Fleet takes you past the waterfront, under the Golden Gate Bridge, and around Alcatraz Island. A prerecorded guide is available in 16 languages, with indoor and outdoor seating, a bar, restrooms, and sunset departures.

“The scenery was nice. The audio was a bit faulty with the limited amount they had. The bar was nice and the staff was very friendly and easy to talk too while waiting for my drinks.”

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

San Francisco: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour with 17 Stops

6.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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Yosemite Highlights & Giant Sequoias Day Tour from San Francisco - Leaving San Francisco before sunrise
Tour Reviews, Tours, Yosemite National Park Tours

Yosemite Highlights & Giant Sequoias Day Tour from San Francisco

7.Yosemite Highlights & Giant Sequoias Day Tour from San Francisco

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,455 reviews · 14 to 15 hours (approx.) · from $219

Leave San Francisco before sunrise for Yosemite with an English-speaking guide such as Glenda, Gino, or Andy. You’ll see Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, and Tuolumne Grove, with about five hours in the park and hotel pickup included.

“Overall this was a fantastic experience, although it is a long one. We got to see plenty of views of the valley. I would note that if you are looking to see a lot of big trees - you would be disappointed with this one, I suggest looking at others. Glenda - our tour guide was excellent. She made for a very enjoyable experience.”

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San Francisco Super Saver: Muir Woods & Wine Country w/ optional Gourmet Lunch - Muir Woods: magnificent trees, limited walking time
California Wine Country Tours, Lunch Experiences, Muir Woods Tours, Tour Reviews, Wine Tours

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

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,352 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $179

Start with a peaceful hour among coastal redwoods, then visit three wineries in Napa and Sonoma with tastings included. Guides such as Mark, Dustin, Ben, and Alberto add local history and humor. Choose your own Sonoma lunch or upgrade to a seated three-course food and wine pairing.

“Lots of good talking about the places we visit. The Tour Guide was an angel specially for me because knee problems”

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San Francisco Love Tour - Haight-Ashbury and the city’s musical past
Tour Reviews, Tours

San Francisco Love Tour

9.San Francisco Love Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,830 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $85

Ride a 1970s VW bus from Fisherman’s Wharf through Haight-Ashbury, Chinatown, North Beach, the Castro, Mission District, and Golden Gate Park. Guides such as Cyrus, Ky, and Tara mix city history, music, jokes, and photo stops at the Golden Gate Bridge. Expect a small group and a lively two-hour tour.

“This was a fabulous tour filled with history, architecture, information about various neighborhoods woven with a generous amount of humor while riding in the VW bus! Cyrus was probably the best tour guide I’ve ever met! His love and understanding of the city were evident.”

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San Francisco: Alcatraz Ticket, Ferry, & Self-Guided App - The ferry crossing and the first view of Alcatraz
Alcatraz Tours, Guided, San Francisco Self-Guided Audio Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews

San Francisco: Alcatraz Ticket, Ferry, & Self-Guided App

10.Alcatraz Ticket, Ferry, & Self-Guided App

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,460 reviews · 3 hours · from $79

Meet at Pier 33 for a ferry ride to Alcatraz Island, then explore the cellhouse, former cells, island grounds, and San Francisco views at your own pace. Your $79 ticket includes the official ferry, island admission, and a self-guided app tour. A National Park Service cellhouse audio tour may also be available on site.

“was really informative loved the self guide tour could take your time and absorb the info”

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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

11.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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Combo Tour: Alcatraz Island and San Francisco Grand City Tour - A broad city tour before the ferry
Alcatraz Tours, City Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Combo Tour: Alcatraz Island and San Francisco Grand City Tour

12.Combo Tour: Alcatraz Island and San Francisco Grand City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 2,228 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $149

Begin with a guided San Francisco coach tour covering the Golden Gate Bridge, Twin Peaks, Lands End, Chinatown, North Beach, and more. Afterward, take the ferry from Pier 33 to Alcatraz for the Cellhouse audio tour. Guides such as Michelle may lead the city portion, but assignments vary.

“Everything about Alkatraz was good n the Golden Gate though the rain.Also the tour guide did a great job n was very friendly n accommodative.”

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Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive: Full Day Tour from SF - Pigeon Point Lighthouse: a quick coastal opener
Full-Day, Monterey Day Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours

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

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 2,187 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $125

Ride from central San Francisco to Pigeon Point, Monterey, Pebble Beach, 17-Mile Drive, and Carmel-by-the-Sea. You get a professional guide, several photo stops, two hours in Monterey, and one hour in Carmel. Guides such as George, Thomas, Don, and Tom are known for lively local commentary.

“Our tour guide went out of their way to take us to additional stops or spent a little more time at the stops that were planned. We really got our money’s worth. It was absolutely beautiful. We chose to go to the aquarium in Monterey which was great. The food and shopping were also top notch. We loved everything about this tour!”

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Painted Ladies San Francisco City Tour - Palace of Fine Arts: five minutes beneath the dome
City Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Painted Ladies San Francisco City Tour

14.Painted Ladies San Francisco City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,081 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $82

Ride through San Francisco in a vintage Volkswagen bus with a local guide such as Jim, Jack, or Caio. In two hours, you’ll see Chinatown, Haight-Ashbury, Pacific Heights, the Marina, and more, with photo stops at the Palace of Fine Arts, Painted Ladies, and Golden Gate Bridge.

“Caio had a wealth of knowledge of a wide range of San Francisco information and was able to personalize the tour for everyone in the group, from children to people in their 70s. His personable nature absolutely made the tour...would absolutely recommend!”

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San Francisco: California Sunset Cruise (2-hours) - Golden Gate Bridge views from every angle
Cruises & Boat Tours, Evening Experiences, San Francisco Sunset Tours, Tour Reviews

San Francisco: California Sunset Cruise (2-hours)

15.California Sunset Cruise (2-hours)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,949 reviews · from $58

Board the Red and White Fleet at Pier 43 1/2 for a two-hour evening cruise past Alcatraz, Angel Island, Sausalito, Tiburon, and under the Golden Gate Bridge. Enjoy indoor or outdoor seating, a cash bar, snacks for purchase, and a changing mix of sunset and city-light views.

“Amazing experience. It was breathtaking. This was definitely one of the main highlights of my trip. Thank you !”

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