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Tours in San Francisco |
Walking Tours
A good public transport system has made walking more a pleasure than a necessity and yet there is a walking tour for every taste. For those interested in discovering the gay community and environs, Cruisin' The Castro (tel: (415) 255 1821; website: www.cruisinthecastro.com) is a three-hour tour that includes lunch. Tours depart from the Rainbow Flag, corner of Castro Street and Market Street, 1000-1300.
The Foot! (tel: (415) 793 5378; website: www.foottours.com) tours explore some of the city's most famous areas (including Nob Hill, Union Square, Chinatown and North Beach) and are led by professional comedians. The 2 ½-hour Haight Ashbury Flower Power Walking Tour (tel: (415) 863 1621) takes the nostalgic visitor not only back to the 1960s and the famed Summer of Love but also further back to the Haight that was a Victorian resort destination. Tours depart from the northeast corner of Stanyan Street and Waller Street, Tuesday and Saturday at 0930. Reservations are recommended for all walking tours.
Local Tastes of the City Tours (tel: (415) 665 0480 or 1 888 358 8687; website: www.localtastesofthecitytours.com) savours the best of San Francisco's culinary traditions. Three-hour walking tours experience a behind-the-scenes look at local bakeries, cafes, restaurants, and the places where locals shop. Sample fresh bread, pastries, chocolates, truffles, coffees, dim sum, seafood and olive oils, or watch artisans at work. Tours explore North Beach, Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, Golden Gate Park or the Haight-Ashbury area.
Bus Tours
Gray Line (tel: (415) 434 8687; website: www.graylinesanfrancisco.com) offers a 'Deluxe City Highlights' three-to-four-hour tour, which takes in many key sites, including the Golden Gate Park and the bridge. Reservations are required. There is a free shuttle pick-up service. Tower Tours (tel: 1 888 657 4520; website: www.towertours.net) offers a similar three-to-four-hour tour, which includes a hotel pick-up shuttle service, with three daily departures. Both companies also have trips to Alcatraz, Marin Country and the Wine Country.
Other Tours
Bike the Bridge with Blazing Saddles Bike Rental & Tours (tel: (415) 202 8888; website: www.blazingsaddles.com). The most popular ride passes the Presidio, crosses the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, takes the Bay Trail through magnificent Redwoods to Tiburon, then takes the ferry back to San Francisco. Allow 2 ½ hours for the 16-mile (23km) ride.
A boat tour of the Bay is a must, providing perhaps the best panorama of the city and a unique view of the Golden Gate Bridge. A number of tour operators offer departures from Fisherman's Wharf. Blue and Gold Fleet (tel: (415) 773 1188 or 705 5555 for tickets; website: www.blueandgoldfleet.com) runs a daily narrated cruise, with regular departures from Pier 39. Tours last around one hour.
Electric Time Car Rentals (tel: (415) 674 8800; website: www.etcars.com) is the most novel way to drive the streets of San Francisco, in GPS self-guided tours. Colourful two and four-seater bubble-like electric cars, with street speeds of up to 40kmh (25mph), quietly cruise the hilly streets of the city on a choice of three different routes. An audio GPS narrates facts about historic sites while guiding the driver where to turn. Rentals depart from Fisherman's Wharf.
Fire Engine Tours & Adventures (tel: (415) 333 7077; website: www.fireenginetours.com) Invigorate in the ocean breeze while driving across the Golden Gate Bridge on San Francisco's world famous Fire Engine tour. The beautifully restored 1955 Big Red Shiny Mack Fire Engine is owned by Robert and Marilyn Katzman, who reside in the old firehouse at Fisherman's Wharf. The 75-minute tours leave from The Cannery at Fisherman's Wharf. Charters are available for private groups.
San Francisco Seaplane Tours (tel: (415) 332 4843 or 1 888 732 7526; website: www.seaplane.com) depart daily from Sausalito, with complimentary shuttle service available from Pier 39. There is also a sunset tour with champagne which lasts 40 minutes.
The Urban Safari (tel: (415) 282 5555 or 1 866 697 2327; website: www.theurbansafari.com) is not just another city tour. Travel off the beaten track in Daniel Oppenheim's zebra-striped Land Rover, complete with safari jackets and pith helmets, for four hours of adventure and fun with this avant-garde explorer. Trek through the urban jungle to famous movie sites, crooked streets, farmer's markets and world-renowned chocolatiers. Learn secrets of this beautiful City by the Bay, embark on a spiritual safari, or custom-design your own.
A good public transport system has made walking more a pleasure than a necessity and yet there is a walking tour for every taste. For those interested in discovering the gay community and environs, Cruisin' The Castro (tel: (415) 255 1821; website: www.cruisinthecastro.com) is a three-hour tour that includes lunch. Tours depart from the Rainbow Flag, corner of Castro Street and Market Street, 1000-1300.
The Foot! (tel: (415) 793 5378; website: www.foottours.com) tours explore some of the city's most famous areas (including Nob Hill, Union Square, Chinatown and North Beach) and are led by professional comedians. The 2 ½-hour Haight Ashbury Flower Power Walking Tour (tel: (415) 863 1621) takes the nostalgic visitor not only back to the 1960s and the famed Summer of Love but also further back to the Haight that was a Victorian resort destination. Tours depart from the northeast corner of Stanyan Street and Waller Street, Tuesday and Saturday at 0930. Reservations are recommended for all walking tours.
Local Tastes of the City Tours (tel: (415) 665 0480 or 1 888 358 8687; website: www.localtastesofthecitytours.com) savours the best of San Francisco's culinary traditions. Three-hour walking tours experience a behind-the-scenes look at local bakeries, cafes, restaurants, and the places where locals shop. Sample fresh bread, pastries, chocolates, truffles, coffees, dim sum, seafood and olive oils, or watch artisans at work. Tours explore North Beach, Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, Golden Gate Park or the Haight-Ashbury area.
Bus Tours
Gray Line (tel: (415) 434 8687; website: www.graylinesanfrancisco.com) offers a 'Deluxe City Highlights' three-to-four-hour tour, which takes in many key sites, including the Golden Gate Park and the bridge. Reservations are required. There is a free shuttle pick-up service. Tower Tours (tel: 1 888 657 4520; website: www.towertours.net) offers a similar three-to-four-hour tour, which includes a hotel pick-up shuttle service, with three daily departures. Both companies also have trips to Alcatraz, Marin Country and the Wine Country.
Other Tours
Bike the Bridge with Blazing Saddles Bike Rental & Tours (tel: (415) 202 8888; website: www.blazingsaddles.com). The most popular ride passes the Presidio, crosses the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, takes the Bay Trail through magnificent Redwoods to Tiburon, then takes the ferry back to San Francisco. Allow 2 ½ hours for the 16-mile (23km) ride.
A boat tour of the Bay is a must, providing perhaps the best panorama of the city and a unique view of the Golden Gate Bridge. A number of tour operators offer departures from Fisherman's Wharf. Blue and Gold Fleet (tel: (415) 773 1188 or 705 5555 for tickets; website: www.blueandgoldfleet.com) runs a daily narrated cruise, with regular departures from Pier 39. Tours last around one hour.
Electric Time Car Rentals (tel: (415) 674 8800; website: www.etcars.com) is the most novel way to drive the streets of San Francisco, in GPS self-guided tours. Colourful two and four-seater bubble-like electric cars, with street speeds of up to 40kmh (25mph), quietly cruise the hilly streets of the city on a choice of three different routes. An audio GPS narrates facts about historic sites while guiding the driver where to turn. Rentals depart from Fisherman's Wharf.
Fire Engine Tours & Adventures (tel: (415) 333 7077; website: www.fireenginetours.com) Invigorate in the ocean breeze while driving across the Golden Gate Bridge on San Francisco's world famous Fire Engine tour. The beautifully restored 1955 Big Red Shiny Mack Fire Engine is owned by Robert and Marilyn Katzman, who reside in the old firehouse at Fisherman's Wharf. The 75-minute tours leave from The Cannery at Fisherman's Wharf. Charters are available for private groups.
San Francisco Seaplane Tours (tel: (415) 332 4843 or 1 888 732 7526; website: www.seaplane.com) depart daily from Sausalito, with complimentary shuttle service available from Pier 39. There is also a sunset tour with champagne which lasts 40 minutes.
The Urban Safari (tel: (415) 282 5555 or 1 866 697 2327; website: www.theurbansafari.com) is not just another city tour. Travel off the beaten track in Daniel Oppenheim's zebra-striped Land Rover, complete with safari jackets and pith helmets, for four hours of adventure and fun with this avant-garde explorer. Trek through the urban jungle to famous movie sites, crooked streets, farmer's markets and world-renowned chocolatiers. Learn secrets of this beautiful City by the Bay, embark on a spiritual safari, or custom-design your own.
View Our Airport Guides for San Francisco:
San Francisco International Airport
Oakland International Airport
