Top San Francisco Culture

Harken back to San Francisco’s days as a Gold Rush boomtown on a 2-hour walking tour of the Financial District, once known as the rowdy Barbary Coast of California. Hear tales of buried ships, fortune hunters, and Wild West saloons as you explore the city’s former waterfront, and learn how it transformed into the business hub of modern-day San Francisco.

Hop on a ‘70s-era VW bus and get to know the hippie past and hipster vibe that make up San Francisco today. Starting and ending at Fisherman’s Wharf, this 2-hour sightseeing tour takes you around the city, including Chinatown, North Beach, the Castro, the Mission, downtown and more. See the homes of The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, while listening to ‘60s classics. So settle into a neon-blue seat and dig your shoes into groovy shag carpet. Each bus accommodates up to just six people.

Uncover the scandalous, high-society history of San Francisco's most illustrious hill on a walking tour of Nob Hill. Hear the stories behind the grand hotels and stately mansions built by the city's powerful 19th-century business tycoons and politicians, and learn how the advent of the cable car and the disastrous 1906 earthquake shaped one of the city’s most affluent neighborhoods.

Explore the LGBT history of the Castro on foot during this walking tour. Follow your informative local guide through the famous neighborhood while learning about the local landmarks and historical sites. Be inspired by the rich, diverse history of this iconic district and its continuing role as an epicenter of LGBT activism and events.

Enjoy an insider overview of San Francisco on this excursion that includes a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge to the Muir Woods National Monument. You are driven around the city in a small group to see its diverse neighborhoods and geography, stopping several times for breathtaking photo ops of famous sites and memorable stories. This local-led tour visits culturally significant neighborhoods like Chinatown and the Haight-Ashbury, as well as the large homes of Pacific Heights. After crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, guests will visit the towering redwood trees of Muir Woods and the beautiful waterfront town of Sausalito for lunch (own expense).

Dive deep into one of San Francisco’s most historic neighborhoods on this Chinatown walking tour. From paper lanterns to medicinal herbs to a fortune cookie factory, explore both popular and lesser-known gems in this bustling district with an in-the-know guide. See sights including a Buddhist temple, and upgrade, if you wish, to include a 9-course lunch of dim sum for an even more memorable experience.

Spend the day exploring San Francisco’s vibrant neighborhoods on a small-group tour. Walk the bustling streets of Chinatown and North Beach and feel the groove on Haight Street. Leave the urban grid behind and relax under the towering redwood trees in Muir Woods National Monument, then stop in Sausalito for free time to admire waterfront views, peruse upscale boutiques, and have lunch (own expense).

Enjoy San Francisco’s main highlights without worrying about the logistics on this 2-for-1 tour. Start your day at one of the most notorious prisons, Alcatraz, and take a self-guided audio tour. Then enjoy a sightseeing tour of city neighborhoods including Chinatown, North Beach to see landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Painted Ladies.

Stroll through North Beach and Chinatown, two of San Francisco's most vibrant neighborhoods on this food and walking tour. Discover the spots only locals know for dim sum, coffee, and other treats while you learn about the history and culture of these diverse districts from your knowledgeable guide. Samples make up enough for a meal so come hungry!

Experience some of the Bay Area’s top attractions on this Alcatraz and Muir Woods tour that also includes a stop in Sausalito. At Muir Woods National Monument, stare in wonder at the coastal redwoods, some of the tallest trees on Earth. Soak up the charm of seaside Sausalito, and experience Alcatraz in one of two ways—admission to the prison, which includes the ferry ride to Alcatraz Island and the audio tour.

Step aboard a vintage Volkswagen bus for a San Francisco city tour. Travel down streets a typical tour bus can't access while your guide fills you in on the history of the City by the Bay, from the Gold Rush to Silicon Valley. Get views of landmarks such as Twin Peaks, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Painted Ladies as you travel through distinct city districts.

Explore San Francisco in the company of a professional photographer on this private tour. Choose a custom route through the city that is tailored to your interests. As you stroll, your photographer-guide will capture candid moments of you on your vacation. After the tour, all your images are available to download.

Stroll the narrow streets and back alleys of San Francisco's Chinatown on this walking tour with a small group. Stop by shops selling authentic Chinese crafts and pottery, as well as hard-to-find herbs and produce. A variety of tastings add up to a full lunch, including tea, fortune cookies, dim sum, and other treats. Listen to guided commentary and ask plenty of questions as you explore.

Combine three of the Bay Area's top attractions—Alcatraz Island, Muir Woods, and Sausalito—in a single tour from San Francisco. Enjoy comfortable transportation in a luxury tour van, which includes a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge, allowing you to focus on the scenery instead of driving and directions. Your Alcatraz admission includes the ferry ride and the audio tour, and independent travelers will love the free time to explore both Muir Woods and Sausalito.

Experience the distinctive architecture, history and culture of San Francisco’s Chinatown with a 3-hour guided walking tour through this thriving, colorful community. Explore Chinatown alongside a knowledgeable guide, visit an exclusive teashop that specializes in fine Chinese teas and browse traditional remedies at a Chinese herbal shop. Learn how the neighborhood was founded and built then get a glimpse inside the area’s elaborate Taoist and Buddhist temples. Stay after the tour for an optional meal, and enjoy a sumptuous dim sum tasting menu followed by an entrée, side dish and dessert.

Explore two of San Francisco's most distinctive neighborhoods side-by-side on a walking tour of Chinatown and Union Square. Learn the fascinating history behind the oldest Chinatown in the United States, and be immersed in the city’s contrasting cultures as you stroll alongside cable cars through Union Square’s chic hotels, architectural landmarks, and luxury boutiques.

Riding across the Golden Gate Bridge in a tour van leaves you free to take in the epic views instead of focusing on the driving. This small-group tour takes you from downtown San Francisco to Muir Woods and Sausalito—two of Marin's top attractions—in a single day. You'll have free time to explore both sites, making this organized option a great choice for independent travelers.

Being a tourist can be exhausting. Throw in some of San Francisco's infamous hills, constant consultation of guide books, and the lure of tourist traps, and you might want to return to your lodgings in haste. However, this San Francisco sightseeing experience includes a hotel pickup and a coach tour that allows the city to unfold before you from atop your air-conditioned perch. It's a great way to keep your eyes on the real jewels of the city by the bay.

If you’re going to do a sightseeing tour of San Francisco by bus, make it a memorable one. Book a 1970s-era Volkswagen bus for your private party of six and wind through the city’s top attractions with a personalized guide on a 4-hour tour. Travel into streets that larger vehicles cannot pass through as you explore Chinatown, North Beach, the Castro, the Mission, downtown and more. See the homes of The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, while listening to ‘60s classics. Hotel transport included.

Brush up on your vampire lore and local history on this 1.5-hour walking tour of San Francisco’s Nob Hill District. Suitable for all ages, a vampire guide will lead the way as you stop at Grace Cathedral, the Nob Hill Café, the Fairmont Hotel and the Mark Hopkins. Learn the neighborhood’s secrets and some favorite vampire tales as you go. This walk is wheelchair friendly and includes snacks to keep you fueled.

Explore San Francisco on a small-group full-day tour that covers top attractions including Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz. Get great views of the San Francisco Bay Area during the short ferry ride to Alcatraz Island, where you then take a self-guided audio tour of the infamous prison. Return to shore for your bus tour of destinations such as Nob Hill, the Haight-Ashbury, the Castro, the Mission, and Golden Gate Park. Includes hotel pickup and drop-off in San Francisco.

San Francisco Ghosts Walking Tour is the best choice for newcomers to learn more about San Francisco's rich history. Our guides will safely conduct you around the darkened streets, unfolding tales of mystery, terror, and tragedy. You will have plenty of opportunities to see with your own eyes the otherworldly power of the Golden City.

Set out for Alcatraz Island in the morning, before the crowds arrive, on this early-access tour. Ride the ferry from Pier 33 and then embark on the award-winning audio tour that tells the tales from inside the prison. After returning to the wharf, use your included credit to purchase lunch at select food vendors.

Take away the stress and uncertainty from booking an Alcatraz tour with this package that includes Alcatraz ferry tickets and a 90 min tour of Chinatown. Get practical tips from your guide on visiting Alcatraz then follow them through the heart of the largest Chinese community in the Western World. This is the perfect way to spend half a day in San Francisco enjoying some of its quintessential experiences with the help of a local who is on hand both to guide you and sort out logistics.