9.00: Complimentary pick-up

Complimentary pick-up in downtown San Francisco, North Beach, in the Fisherman’s Wharf, in the Marina District and in the Presidio area.
This half-day San Francisco guided tour is totally private and will be tailor-made to suit your preferences, pace, and interests. You can visit most of the famous monuments and iconic places listed in this new and detailed trip itinerary, all at your pace. You’ll also see and explore hidden gems unknown to most visitors and gain access to unique places and neighborhoods where large vehicles are banned.
Your private local and expert tour guide will customize your trip itinerary to suit your preference and needs. You can add any place or attraction you want to see in San Francisco or skip any of those listed. You can stop anywhere and at any time to visit a monument or site, to take a walk, go on a hike or simply stop to photographs your favorite places. There is nothing to print out and no prior arrangement is required. Simply let your personal tour guide know what you wish to see or skip, and they will take it from there! you don’t want to worry about any of that, you can leave the itinerary, the driving, planning to us. You’ll be in good hands, and you won’t be disappointed.

Drive down on Lombard Street – San Francisco’s Crookedest Street

Visit the picturesque Russian Hill and drive through the world-famous Lombard Street that winds down eight hairpin turns among picturesque flower beds and gorgeous homes adorned with bougainvillea, hydrangeas, and other beautiful flowers and trees. As you go, keep an eye out for the wild red and green parrots that hang out among the greenery. Lombard is one of the most crooked streets in the world and large vehicles such as buses and vans are banned. The good news is our SUV tour will allow you to drive right through it! You’ll also enjoy a guided tour and photo stop there. Plus, your knowledgeable tour guide won’t just provide the top fun facts about this landmark – they’re also your personal photographer and will assist you with taking some classic happy snaps !

Visit Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower

Telegraph Hill is famous for its iconic Coit Tower and historic murals. Ascend all the way up to discover a spectacular vantage point on one of the city’s highest open-air observation decks.
Telegraph Hill and its Pioneer Park offer visitors superb views of Alcatraz Island, the Treasure Island, San Francisco Bay Bridge, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Coit Tower is an Art Deco-style and an iconic monument on the “City by the Bay” – locally, it’s perceived as reminiscent of a fire hose nozzle, built in honor of San Francisco firefighters.

Let your tour guide show you the historic murals inside Coit Tower, with scenes depicting California residents from the Gold Rush era to The Great Depression. You may choose to climb the around 400 steep stairs all the way up to Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill. The neighborhood prohibits large vehicles, but our SUV tour means we can take you as close as a vehicle can get.

Visit Alamo Square Park and picture the ‘Painted Ladies

Alamo Square is a beautiful hilltop park with views of the city and the famous Painted Ladies, a line of beautiful Victorian homes facing Alamo Square. This scene has been immortalized in guidebooks, postcards, and even in movie and TV series including the opening scene of Full House, where the family is seen picnicking in Alamo Square Park.
*** The streets surrounding Alamos Square have been ruled off-limits to large vehicles and are now banned to van and tour buses. However, our private tours by SUV will take you right through the Square and around this iconic neighborhood without walking or hiking

Pacific Heights – Elegance and Extravagance

Let your passionate local tour leader guide you through the famous Pacific Heights, locally known as the “Billionaire’s Row”. Pacific Heights is prestigious neighborhood and is defined by San Francisco’s most expensive and luxurious mansions. These are the homes of celebrities, entrepreneurs, senators, politicians, and artists. Pacific Heights is one of the nation’s most expensive listings for reals estate, with some mansions going for over 50 million dollars!
This affluent neighborhood also offers panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, the Palace of Fine Arts, Alcatraz, and the Presidio. First developed in the 1870s, with the construction of small Victorian homes, after the 1906 earthquake, many were replaced with larger period homes in a variety of architectural styles such as Mission Revival, Edwardian, and French Château. Some of San Francisco’s wealthiest notables live in the gorgeous mansions that grace Pacific Avenue and Broadway in particular, and you can catch an exclusive glimpse of their homes on your drive through this refined area.

Another highlight of this tour are the many international consulates located on the tour route. Plus, Pacific Heights’ scenic hills and gorgeous views make it the perfect setting for famous movies, including Mrs. Doubtfire among others, so you might catch some familiar locations.

Grace Cathedral – Nob Hill

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco— those little cable cars that climb halfway to the stars…” sang Tony Bennett for the first time in 1962 at the Fairmont Hotel at Nob Hill in San Francisco. It quickly became an emblem of the city and perhaps Bennett’s most popular song. Today, there is an eight-foot-tall bronze statue of Bennett outside the Fairmont Hotel that to commemorate this tune that is so much a part of the city.

Once home to the mansions of the notorious railroad barons, Nob Hill still retains its character as a wealthy and upscale neighborhood. This luxurious plaza is home to the charming Huntington Park, which is surrounded by famous historic landmarks. It is also a luxury destination in San Francisco, and as such is surrounded by upscale hotels including The Scarlet Huntington Hotel, The Fairmont, Mark Hopkins, and the Ritz Carlton.
Grace Cathedral, which borders Huntington Park, is the focal point of Nob Hill where the cable car line runs. Completed in 1964, this Neo-Gothic Style cathedral is known for its 44-bell carillon and labyrinth, modeled after that of France’s The Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres.

Union Square – The Heart of San Francisco’s Shopping District

San Francisco Union Square Plaza was once used for rallies to support the Union Army during the Civil War. Union Square is surrounded by numerous popular attractions, upscale department stores and boutiques, theaters, restaurants, and San Francisco’s best hotels. It serves as the center of the main cable car line, plus it’s just a short stroll to the Moscone Center, Nob Hill, and Chinatown. Right in the middle of Union Square stands column an 85-foot column. This memorable landmark is decorated with a 9-foot statue of Nike, Goddess of Victory holding a trident. The work of sculpturist Robert Ingersoll Aitken, the monument was completed in 1903 and commemorates Admiral George Dewey’s victory in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish American War.

Chinatown – the largest Chinatown outside of Asia

This tour gives you the inside word on San Francisco Chinatown’s hidden secretes. As the oldest Chinatown in America – and the largest in the world outside Asia – it offers an unmissable experience for visitors and locals alike.
There’s just so much to see and do, from shopping and dining to checking out monuments or a temple. Even simply driving in and around Chinatown or walking through this historic neighborhood will be a thrill. Your private tour guide will guide through Chinatown’s famous sites and many treasures, such as The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, where you can learn how they’ve baked fortune-stuffed cookies since way back in 1962!

Explore memorable landmarks as we drive you through Chinatown, including The Dragon Gate, a 1969 gift from the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the style of a traditional Chinese pailou. You’ll also spot beautiful murals and replica statues of the famous terracotta Chinese warriors.
Early “Hoisanese” and “Zhongshanese” Chinese immigrants from the Guangdong province of Southern China used Chinatown as their port of entry after their arduous journey across the Pacific Ocean in the Gold Rush era. In addition to being the largest Chinatown outside of Asia, San Francisco’s was the first Chinatown in North America. Visitors from all around the globe come daily to check out its colorful stores, delicious dim sum, magnificent temples, and authentic tea houses – and you should, too!

San Francisco Financial District

San Francisco’s Financial District is the city’s business hub. Many Fortune 500 companies such as law firms, insurance companies, banks, real estate firms, and other financial institutions and corporations have made this area the location for their headquarters. It’s no surprise, therefore, that San Francisco’s Montgomery Street block is now known as ‘the Wall Street West”.

The area hasn’t always been about corporate high-flyers, though. During the Gold Rush, a large area around Montgomery Street was referred to as “The Barbary Coast.” This was a red-light neighborhood where gambling, looting, sex work, and vigilante groups abounded. The 1906 earthquake left much of this area in ruins and rising from the rubble came a modern entertainment district, Jackson Square. Today, this historic district is home to high-end art galleries and design firms.
If you look at a photo of the City’s skyline, you can’t miss the striking, spire-topped Transamerica Pyramid building and Salesforce Tower, once known as the Transbay Tower. This 1,070-foot office skyscraper is situated in the South of Market district of downtown San Francisco and is the city’s highest skyscraper. Another feature of the Financial District are the top elegant hotels and restaurants that line the streets. There are too many happy-hour hot spots to count, plus plenty of options for the perfect romantic dinner, including the classic Tadich Grill, which is the city’s oldest restaurant.

North Beach and Washington Square ‘Little Italy’

San Francisco’s “Little Italy” is located in North Beach and is a well-known destination for both visitors and locals due to the fascinating heritage on offer there.Italian immigrants settled in the neighborhood as it recovered from the 1906 earthquake, creating a community that still thrives today. You’ve probably heard of baseball legend Joe DiMaggio who grew up in the neighborhood – in fact, he even went back to his roots and resided there with his wife Marilyn Monroe in the 1950s. Other prominent residents have included former San Francisco mayor and politician Joseph Alioto and numerous other members of that famous family.

A cosmopolitan and lively neighborhood, North Beach boasts a great nightlife, an ever-growing art scene, plus an array of artisan food markets and record stores. Given its cultural heritage, you might have guessed that “Little Italy” is also a major culinary destination for authentic Italian cuisines. Its unique atmosphere and bohemian independent coffee houses draw people from across the city and beyond. At night, the music bars, night clubs and breweries come to life, some of which have been around for more than a century!

Located on Washington Square, you’ll find the St. Peter and Paul Church. If the sight looks familiar, you might remember it from photos taken of Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio after their civil ceremony at San Francisco City Hall in 1954.

The neighborhood’s charming Italian character comes to the forefront during Columbus Day celebrations, when the Italian restaurants, cafes, and bakeries along Columbus Avenue and Washington Square take part in San Francisco’s Italian Heritage Parade annually. It’s the best time to hang out in North Beach!

“Little Italy” was once a cultural giant within the nation, and it retains this special element today. There’s no other place in California like it and it has become an icon, particularly of the literary movement known as the Beat Generation. That 1950s subculture was flourished in the neighborhood’s cafes and bars, and today the area is with San Francisco’s own cultural Renaissance. The writers and personalities of the Beat Generation – including Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Neal Cassady and Gregory Corso – resided in North Beach at one time or another. Poet and activist Jack Hirschman, as well as Beath poet and performance artist Bob Kaufman, plus writer and publisher A. D. Winans were also key parts of this famed literary scene.

So, want to get a taste of Italian culture and cuisine? Let your tour guide take you to the many highlights of this historic neighborhood. Best of all, you don’t need to hike around the city all day to enjoy its unique neighborhoods. Instead, join our full-day, private custom and guided tour and get best of each district of San Francisco, including Chinatown and North Beach, in this one-of-a-kind experience.

Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf

If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco, the Fisherman’s Wharf area is surely on your list. It’s the city’s most popular tourist destination, attracting millions of domestic and international tourists each year. They love to experience its famous attractions, museums, aquarium, and especially see the most popular sight of all — the sea lions! The wharf hosts a variety of restaurants, bars, and shops plus an enjoyable variety of street entertainers. Other beloved attractions include the Musée Mécanique (featured in the movie The Princess Diaries), the Wax Museum and, of course, Ripley’s Believe-It-Or-Not.

Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District

The Palace of Fine Arts is a stunning masterpiece that mirrors Roman and Greek classic architecture. Bernard Maybeck, its designer, was a well-known architect in the Arts and Crafts Movement of the early 20th century. Construction was completed in 1915 in time for the Panama-Pacific Exposition. Due to the theatrical and striking it creates, the Palace of Fine Arts has been used as a backdrop in numerous movies including The Rock, Vertigo, and The Bachelor. Take a stroll by the lagoon, and you may catch couples taking their vows or taking some snaps of their big day at this stunning San Francisco attraction.

San Francisco Historic Presidio

Situated at the entry to San Francisco Bay, the Presidio was established as a Spanish military outpost in 1776. As such, that makes this historic sight the birthplace of the city of San Francisco! Just 10 minutes from downtown San Francisco, this amazing urban national park is home to many wonders of nature, plus an alluring sense of history in its museums. It also features public parks, some of California’s best beaches (and that’s saying something!), and too many restaurants, boutiques, art and former military installations and coffee shops to mention.

To name just a few of the many sights and attractions on offer, you can check out: Inspiration Point Lookout, the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center, Baker Beach and Marshall’s Beach, Walt Disney Family Museum and Café (plus the Yoda Fountain at LucasFilm), the San Francisco National Cemetery, Fort Point, Battery Spencer and its scenic overlook, Civil War Parade Ground Main Post, Crissy Field, Inspiration Point Overlook near the Presidio Heights, and Presidio Golf Course.

In addition to all of that, simply wandering around the Presidio will allow you to stumble across unexpected springs in miles of hiking trail, all while taking in astonishing scenic overlooks. Plus, you may even get to see some wildlife, including coyotes!

*The Inn at the Presidio Main Post is a great option if you desire a peaceful hotel, away from the commotion of the city.

The Golden Gate Bridge – Gateway to the Golden State

When you think of California, an image that quickly springs to mind will be the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The thin, 1.7-mile-long bridge is the number one attraction in the Golden State. As the most photographed bridge in the world, it simply can’t be missed. Beyond the photo opportunities, you’ll be astonished by the wonderful and variable views from the many overlooks and
vista points that surround this one-of-a-kind structure.

When it was finished in May 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge had the longest suspension bridge span in the world. It goes all the way from the mouth of San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. Sure, the name is a bit misleading, as it is by no means “gold.” Instead, it sports an instantly-recognizable ‘international orange’ color, selected deliberately to work with the bridge’s natural environment – not to mention to help it stand out in San Francisco’s famous fog! Our tour will bring you to Fort Point, Crissy Field, or Baker Beach, for the very best views of the bridge. (Due to time restraints, we don’t drive across the Golden Gate Bridge on the half-day tour, but this is included in our full-day San Francisco custom tour).

The Beautiful Homes of Sea Cliff

Sea Cliff is an exclusive neighborhood located between the Presidio and Lands’ End. in 1913, it features parks and overlooks with excellent views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Baker Beach, and Marin headlands.
Due to these attractive drawcards, it has become one of San Francisco’s most elite residential neighborhoods. Large, luxury mansions of a very high value fill the area, such as Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s $30 million oceanside mansion. Dorsey’s purchase places him alongside other prominent current and past residents including Jefferson Airplane guitarist Paul Kantner, actor Cheech Marin, actor Robin Williams, actress Sharon Stone, Gap founder Donald Fisher, and Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett. This Mediterranean-style neighborhood has panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge, China Beach and Baker Beach. As part of our tour, a short walk on the beach is optional. To maintain the exclusive standards of this neighborhood, tour buses and vans are prohibited, but you’re in luck, because our SUVs are permitted!
Baker Beach is located between Sea Cliff and the Golden Gate Bridge. Baker Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the San Francisco Bay Area and California. This golden beach is an awesome spot for sunbathing , playing , swimming, and picnicking. Many visitors bring food to eat and spread a blanket on the sandy golden beach to relax. Baker Beach also has a nice picnic area in a cypress and eucalyptus grove behind the beach. You’ll enjoy amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge – it never gets old! – along with stunning vistas of the Pacific Ocean scenic views, Bonita Light House, Sea Cliff fancy mansions, Marin Headlands, and Lands’ End Forest.

The Legion of Honor and Land’s End

The California Palace of the Legion of Honor is one of San Francisco’s fine arts museums. In its classic French style, the museum is located attractively on the cliffs at Land’s End. Interestingly, the building is a replica of the French Pavilion built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Expo. Completed in 1924, it acts as a memorial to the Californian soldiers who died in WWI.
The museum houses a representative range of European art and sculpture, most of which is French. Highlights include Rodin’s ‘The Thinker’ and ‘Joan of Arc.’ Land’s End, on which the Legion of Honor is built, is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area located on San Francisco’s rocky coastline. This wild stretch of water is the final resting place of many shipwrecks from bygone eras and the coast itself has been victim to many landslides.

Next, drive through Lincoln Park and the golf course on the way to Ocean Beach. The 18-hole Lincoln Park Golf Course was established in San Francisco in 1902. You’ll drive by the San Francisco VA Medical Center, also called the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center or the SFVAMC, is a Veterans Affairs medical center.Next, you’ll visit Fort Miley perched on the edge of the Lands’ End of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco’s Outer Richmond District, just up the hill from the Sutro Bath ruins and L. From the lookout at Fort Miles, you can enjoy sweeping views of San Francisco Beaches, the Golden Gate Bridge , Marin Hidden Lands and Point Bonita Lighthouse! (a secret jewel of the Bay Area).In addition to the fabulous ocean views, Fort Miley Military Reservation offers visitors historical information. There is a shipwreck near the overlook telling the story of the USS San Francisco and its contribution to the South Pacific front. You can see the USS San Francisco shipwreck and learn more about its story in WWII.
Lands End Lookout Visitor Center – Lands’ End is a park in San Francisco within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It is a rocky and windswept shoreline at the mouth of the Golden Gate, situated between the Sutro District and Lincoln Park and abutting Fort Miley Military Reservation. There are beautiful trails at Lands’ End near the visitor center which offer a cliff-top walk through a thick forest of cypress trees and open grass field with wildflowers and spectacular views of the ocean. You can take a short walk or hike to enjoy beautiful views of the historic Sutro Baths and the heart shaped rock way out in the distance, on this wild and rocky northwestern corner of San Francisco. This is a popular place for hikers, nature flowers and an ideal spot to watch the sunset.

Ocean Beach and the Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant.

Ocean Beach is a long beach spanning the entire Sunset District of San Francisco from Lands’ End to the Golden Gate Park. While Baker Beach and China Beach offer the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Ocean Beach boosts awesome views of the Pacific Ocean and the Golden Gate Park and its beautiful windmills.

There is an iconic restaurant on Ocean Beach called, the Beach Chalet which provides a sweeping view across the sandy beach, dunes, and the Pacific Ocean. The Beach Chalet brewery and restaurant offers quality seafood, modern American cuisine, and handcrafted ales, served with a panoramic view of Ocean Beach and the Golden Gate Park. This newly remodeled 1925 Spanish Revival Building is an ideal option for your lunch break.

The Golden Gate Park Attractions and Things to See

If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, the Golden Gate Park is the place to be.
This natural setting is a haven for recreation and nature lovers and those just looking for some peace of mind. It’s filled with world-class attractions, such as California’s finest museums, gardens, concert space, playgrounds, lakes, picnic spaces, a carousel, windmill, waterfalls, and wildlife – and that’s just getting started!

It all began in 1870 when California’s first state engineer, William H. Hall, assisted by a Scottish landscape gardener named John McLaren, began planning the Golden Gate Park project. Inspired by Frederick Law Olmsted, creator of the famous Central Park in New York, the pair set about the epic task of converting large sand dunes into a green parkland. Covering 1,013 acres, the Park has a rectangle shape similar to that of Central Park, but remarkably, it’s larger. Around 13 million visitors enjoy Golden Gate Park each year, making it the third-most visited city park in the United States behind Ney York City’s Central Park and Chicago’s Lincoln Park.

Some of the key attractions in Golden Gate Park include the Conservatory of Flowers, the De Young Museum, the Japanese Tea Garden, Queen Wilhelmina Garden and Dutch Windmill, Buffalo Paddock, the Rose Garden, California Academy of Sciences, the Arboretum, Golden Gate Archery Range, Stow Lake with its waterfalls, pagodas, and boat house, the Polo Fields, and the Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant. Walking and biking trails abound, surrounded by ponds and manmade lakes and waterfalls situated along JFK Drive. Our San Francisco full-day private SUV tour is the way to go to enjoy more time in Golden Gate Park. With this tour, you can visit the Japanese Tea Garden or rent a boat on Stow Lake (note that entrance/rental fees are required at some attractions and are not included in your tour price).

The Japanese Tea Garden

The Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco is “temple of peace.” This enchanting and tranquil setting is a welcome escape for visitors after the chaos and noise of the city center. The calm atmosphere makes it a place to find peace and enjoy quiet moments away from today’s digital world.

Take in the amazing pagodas, beautiful architecture and astounding landscape and art, all carefully designed and crafter for maximum effect.

This Japanese Tea Garden is found in the heart of the Golden Gate Park between San Francisco Botanical Garden and California Academy of Sciences. Constructed as part of a massive World’s Fair at the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894, it is the oldest Japanese garden in the United States. When the World’s Fair was over, Makoto Hagiwara, a Japanese immigrant and gardener, suggested to the Park’s creator John McLaren (who created the Golden Gate Park) that the exhibit be made into a permanent park.
Take a lovely stroll through a wide array trees and flowers, traversing green paths connected by charming wooden bridges over the water. In need of refreshment? You can also enjoy a Japanese herbal tea at the old teahouse.
*Entrance fees apply and are not included in the tour price.

Twin Peaks and Sutro Tower

Want a spectacular 360-degree unobstructed scenic view of San Francisco? The top of Twin Peaks summit is where you need to go, and your personal tour guide can drive you there!
The Twin Peaks comprise two prominent hills (peaks) with an elevation of about 925 feet. On clear days, thus spectacular overlook offers 360° far-reaching views of San Francisco Bay Area and the Pacific Ocean. In fact, on such days you can enjoy those same views throughout the drive up, overlooking the entire San Francisco Bay.
While there, you can check out Sutro Tower, a three-legged 977 ft (298 m) tall TV and radio lattice tower that’s located on top of the mountain.

Haight-Ashbury – The Hippie Capital of America

Have you heard this catchy tune by the California singer Scott McKenzie: “If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair…”? This popular 1967 song was one of the main anthems of the Summer of Love era, which centered on the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood in San Francisco.
A city within the city, named after the intersection of Haight and Ashbury streets, Haight-Ashbury is conveniently located close to the famous Golden Gate Park. Renowned as the birthplace of America’s counter-culture, its fame reached its peak as a bohemian enclave during the infamous Summer of Love.
Let us show you all the hidden stories and secrets of the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood – a diverse, unique blend of hippie culture. Check out all the big Summer of Love landmarks including Jimi Hendrix’s house, Janis Joplin’s and Jerry Garcia’s / The Grateful Dead’s house, which is the most famous residence of the ’60s.
Other sights on the tour include the old Amoeba Music Record Store, plus some of the finest Victorian Houses in the city near Buena Vista Park. Ask your tour guide about The Red Victorian, Psychedelic History Museum, the Panhandle, and other landmarks in Haight-Ashbury.

Looking for suggestions on where to shop in the Haight-Ashbury? We’ve got you covered with all the tips on what to look for while you’re browsing and where to stop for a quick bite or a drink. Let your private tour guide fill you in on the best retro and vintage boutiques and clothing shops featuring an scarves, jewelry, trendy t-shirts, and an epic collection of rock and roll tees, including everything from Grateful Dead to Led Zeppelin.
For some the Summer of Love never truly ended, and the area is still a gathering place for many present-day hippies. The neighborhood has retained its reputation as the place to be go for vintage clothing, fun costumes, smoke shops, chill cafés and restaurants, tattoos, and body piercing, as well as murals reflecting the glorious days of the counter-culture era.

City Hall – The Civic Center

The City Hall of San Francisco is the focal point of the Civic Center District. Situated between Market Street, Van Ness, and Larkin, this dynamic neighborhood’s key attraction is City Hall. With your personal tour guide, check out the building’s European baroque dome, which is the fifth largest in the world. In fact, it’s 14 inches higher than the dome in Washington, D.C.! The city hall rotunda makes the perfect venue for special civic and public events – you’ll see why when you visit.
On the second floor is the mayor’s office, where bronze busts of former Mayor George Moscone and his successor Dianne Feinstein can be found, a poignant reminder of the assassinations of mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk in 1978.
You may have spotted this landmark in classic movies such as The Rock, Dirty Harry, and James Bond 007. On January 14, 1954, Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe were married there. While in the Civic Center area, make sure you check out the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco Public Library, Davies Symphony Hall, the Opera House, the Veteran’s War Memorial Building (where the United Nations Peace Treaty was signed in 1945), and the California State Building.

Oakland Bay Bridge and the Ferry Building

Once the gateway to City by the Bay, the Ferry Building on San Francisco’s Embarcadero is a terminal for ferries that travel across the San Francisco Bay. It has now become a must-see destination for foodies due to its marketplace of food stalls, wine bars, breweries, and high-end restaurants found on the Embarcadero where Market Street and the financial district meets the bay.
The area around the Ferry Building Marketplace is home to some of San Francisco’s best attractions, such as the cable car line on California street, the Exploratorium – a science museum like none you’ve ever visited before, Pier 31 where you can hop on a ferry to Alcatraz Island, and a little further on, the bustling PIER 39, which is where you’ll find the Aquarium of the Bay, a carousel, plus some of the city’s most beloved residents: the sea lions in the Fisherman’s Wharf area.

The second part of your Alcatraz and San Francisco combo excursion will take you to the renowned, historical island. After your San Francisco 4-hour guided tour, we’ll transport you to the Alcatraz ferry terminal, the start and end point of your Alcatraz round ferry trip. “Alcatraz City Cruises and Vessels” is the only ferry company and the official concessioner to Alcatraz National Park Service, so it’s the only place to get tickets and transportation to Alcatraz Island.

Don’t worry about Alcatraz tickets and ferry reservations – this is all included in your tour package price. We will drive you to Alcatraz after your 4-hour city private tour and organize your Alcatraz and ferry tickets for you. There is no food service on Alcatraz, but don’t worry, as we’ll allow you plenty of time to eat or buy something to eat before departure.
The trip over to Alcatraz Island takes 15 minutes each way. This travel time is included in the suggested duration of the trip, which takes 2 to 3 hours to complete depending on your pace of exploration.

After you disembark the ferry in the port of the island of Alcatraz, you will be given an orientation tour and tips to make the best of your Alcatraz experience. Once on the island, you can stay as long as you want until the last ferry, which changes seasonally. The ferry schedule is posted and updated when you board the ferry, which runs approximately every thirty to forty minutes to and from Alcatraz.

Alcatraz Park. Rangers, staff, and volunteers run a range of programs that allow visitors to explore all the fascinating aspects of Alcatraz Island and prison. When you arrive at the dock, check out the ranger programs so you won’t miss any of the popular programs available on the island.
Please be aware that the walk from the Alcatraz Island dock to the cellhouse is like walking up a 13-story building (about 1/4 mile). If you need to, take your time, rest, and see many points of interest as you go. Visitors unable to make the climb up Alcatraz’s roads to reach the main entrance of Alcatraz Prison can make use of the S.E.A.T. Tram, an accessible shuttle that runs about twice an hour from the Alcatraz Island dock to the cellhouse. Tram service is on a first come, first served basis.

The self-guiding Alcatraz Cellhouse Audio Tour is provided in many languages including English and is included with ferry tickets in the tour price. Stroll through the halls where famous inmates like Birdman, Al Capone, and Machine Gun Kelly were imprisoned and check out the solitary cells where Robert Stroud and the Birdman of Alcatraz spent most of their sentences.
As per our website, we do not drop you off back at your home or hotel in San Francisco after the Alcatraz tour. This is necessary to keep the cost down and save you overtime hours fees. Tour guides are not allowed to carry out guided tours on Alcatraz as the audio-guided tour is of great quality and included in this tour package.

After visiting Alcatraz, you will return to Pier 33 by ferry. Hang around for a while and explore Fisherman’s Wharf, home to the city’s best hotels and top attractions, museums, and seafood restaurants. You may want to consider staying at a hotel near Fisherman’s Wharf for convenience. If not, you can take a historic cable car ride to get back to your hotel in downtown San Francisco.
The pickup time at your hotel and drop off at Alcatraz ferry terminal will depend on Alcatraz ticket availability. Alcatraz tickets sell out weeks and months in advance, so don’t delay!

What to do after your Alcatraz tour and where to eat?

Pier 39 situated along the historic San Francisco waterfront of the Fisherman’s Wharf area, 3 blocks only from Pier 33(Alcatraz ferry and cruises terminal). Pier 39 is the first-choice place to enjoy dining and fun activities after your ferry boat tour. Pier 39 is also associated with a thriving culinary scene. You can’t leave without partaking in some waterfront dining and indulging in the freshest and most delicious seafood dishes. With 11 full-service restaurants and other cafes, you can enjoy everything from clam chowder, Italian, and burgers to shrimp, salads, pizza, beer, or wine tastings. While you’re there, visit other boutiques, candy stores, and much more.
There are other dining options nearby including the Franciscan Crab Restaurant and Steak House. This long-standing seafood specialist boasts huge windows and nautical decor that complements the waterside setting. It’s located near Boudin Bakery, the famed bakery that has been making sourdough bread since the gold rush era. Check it out to enjoy the local flavor and history baked into every single loaf.
For more information about dining and fun places to see at Fisherman’s Wharf, here’s their official website: https://www.fishermanswharf.org/eat-drink/

What makes Fisherman’s Wharf special and where to stay?

If you have no particular interest or business need for staying in San Francisco’s downtown (Union Square or in the Financial District), Fisherman’s Wharf is a great option. Spend a couple of days or a week away from the busy Union Square and all the construction going on in the downtown area. There is a wide variety of hotels to select from around Fisherman’s Wharf, plus it’s a super convenient place to stay because it’s walking distance to countless attractions. Best of all, this delightful neighborhood includes the ferry terminal for Alcatraz and bay cruise boats. Many of the best things to see and do in the city are located near Fisherman’s Wharf, including a cable car ride, the San Francisco Maritime Museum, the Cannery Shopping Center, Musée Mécanique, the Wax Museum, the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum, Ghirardelli Square shops, too many restaurants to count, and the famous Ghirardelli chocolate factory. You can also visit art galleries or have an Irish coffee at Buena Vista café near the Cable Car terminal. The possibilities are endless!

Where to stay? Among the top Fisherman’s Wharf hotels, you might consider the Argonaut Hotel, Courtyard by Marriott, San Francisco Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf, Fairmont Heritage Place Ghirardelli Square, Holiday Inn Express, Hotel Caza, Riu, Hotel Zephyr, Hyatt Centric Fisherman’s Wharf, or Kimpton Alton Hotel. For more information about San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf hotels, head to their website: https://www.fishermanswharf.org/hotels/