Whether you choose a double decker bus, a harbor ferry, an authentic streetcar or your own two feet, there are plenty of tours for a traveler exploring San Francisco to partake in. A city with a rich history, San Francisco has an innumerable amount of sights to see and experience - perhaps so much so that it will likely seem somewhat overwhelming if you've never visited the city and now find yourself there, looking for something to do.
Like many cities in North America (and the rest of the world) that have a significant year round population of tourists, San Francisco can be enjoyed with a bit of informed guidance by way of an organized tour. Now, it should be made clear that here is no one single tour that will satisfy your curiosity and can cover all of the history, sights, culture and culinary delights - the city is simply too big for a "one and done" type of tour. Some tour groups and packages will offer one day tours, but if you do choose to partake in one of these realize that you are likely missing out on some fairly significant places. An easy way to plan your exploration itinerary is to make a list of the things you are interested in seeing and then seeing which tours will encompass the most of your desired attractions.
The list of popular and known attractions is rather expansive; here are some of the more popular and culturally significant ones:
Alcatraz Bay
Sausalito
The Golden Gate Bridge
Lombard Street
Golden Gate Park
Nob Hill
Palace of Fine Arts
Fisherman's Wharf
Muir Woods
Napa Valley (one hour away)
Museum Of Modern Art
Mission Dolores
At&T Park (Major League Baseball Stadium)
Coit Tower
While there are tours that will likely encompass more than a few things listed above, you'd likely need to take in a few different tours to see them all - a trolley tour would of course not enable you to see Napa Valley.
Walking is, as always, the most popular method of experiencing a tour of San Francisco. There are numerous walking tours available for the physically able and adventurous, depending on which district , location or historical site you are most interested in - there should be a walking tour available to take you just about anywhere within the city. If getting up close and personal is what you're interested in then a walking tour or perhaps a bus tour with on/off privileges would likely suit you best. Another great idea that adds an extra element to the walking tours are walking tours that incorporate food as part of the itinerary - you get some of the great San Francisco culinary delights and you're walking in between stops so you won't feel guilty about any of the things you eat along the way! North Beach, Little Italy, the world renowned Chinatown - all have just as much wonderful food as they do history and culture.
A Trolley based tour will likely cover more locations than walking, but the up close and personal element is reduced. These tours are perfect for people who want to see many things in a short space of time as opposed to getting right up close and experiencing them in a more intimate manner. The trolley tours will provide one experience that most other tours cannot - the exhilaration of riding an open trolley car up and down San Francisco's many hills.
Double decker buses are another way to traverse quite a bit of city life. Some of the buses will be open topped as well - try and think of it as a double decker convertible! Because buses do not generally travel at high speeds and there is much ground to cover in San Francisco, many of these tours will be two days in total. Usually, you'll receive a pass for both days upon paying and some of these tours have a "Hop on, hop off" policy which makes it very easy to just jump off and explore when you see something that interests you.
Ferry and Harbor tours are another option for those looking to see the city from the outside. Often times, the beauty of the landscape is lost when you're inside of it, what better way to appreciate the natural and architectural beauty of the city than from a leisurely boat ride in and around the harbor? In addition to seeing San Francisco from the ocean, you'll also see many of the surrounding locations such as Alameda, Oakland and Alcatraz. One great thing about boat and ferry tours is that you can see the Golden Gate Bridge from an entirely new perspective - as you cruise under it.
Regardless of what you want to see and how you want to get there, there is likely a tour and a transportation method to suit anyone's needs. San Francisco's culture, history, and natural beauty await!
Like many cities in North America (and the rest of the world) that have a significant year round population of tourists, San Francisco can be enjoyed with a bit of informed guidance by way of an organized tour. Now, it should be made clear that here is no one single tour that will satisfy your curiosity and can cover all of the history, sights, culture and culinary delights - the city is simply too big for a "one and done" type of tour. Some tour groups and packages will offer one day tours, but if you do choose to partake in one of these realize that you are likely missing out on some fairly significant places. An easy way to plan your exploration itinerary is to make a list of the things you are interested in seeing and then seeing which tours will encompass the most of your desired attractions.
The list of popular and known attractions is rather expansive; here are some of the more popular and culturally significant ones:
Alcatraz Bay
Sausalito
The Golden Gate Bridge
Lombard Street
Golden Gate Park
Nob Hill
Palace of Fine Arts
Fisherman's Wharf
Muir Woods
Napa Valley (one hour away)
Museum Of Modern Art
Mission Dolores
At&T Park (Major League Baseball Stadium)
Coit Tower
While there are tours that will likely encompass more than a few things listed above, you'd likely need to take in a few different tours to see them all - a trolley tour would of course not enable you to see Napa Valley.
Walking is, as always, the most popular method of experiencing a tour of San Francisco. There are numerous walking tours available for the physically able and adventurous, depending on which district , location or historical site you are most interested in - there should be a walking tour available to take you just about anywhere within the city. If getting up close and personal is what you're interested in then a walking tour or perhaps a bus tour with on/off privileges would likely suit you best. Another great idea that adds an extra element to the walking tours are walking tours that incorporate food as part of the itinerary - you get some of the great San Francisco culinary delights and you're walking in between stops so you won't feel guilty about any of the things you eat along the way! North Beach, Little Italy, the world renowned Chinatown - all have just as much wonderful food as they do history and culture.
A Trolley based tour will likely cover more locations than walking, but the up close and personal element is reduced. These tours are perfect for people who want to see many things in a short space of time as opposed to getting right up close and experiencing them in a more intimate manner. The trolley tours will provide one experience that most other tours cannot - the exhilaration of riding an open trolley car up and down San Francisco's many hills.
Double decker buses are another way to traverse quite a bit of city life. Some of the buses will be open topped as well - try and think of it as a double decker convertible! Because buses do not generally travel at high speeds and there is much ground to cover in San Francisco, many of these tours will be two days in total. Usually, you'll receive a pass for both days upon paying and some of these tours have a "Hop on, hop off" policy which makes it very easy to just jump off and explore when you see something that interests you.
Ferry and Harbor tours are another option for those looking to see the city from the outside. Often times, the beauty of the landscape is lost when you're inside of it, what better way to appreciate the natural and architectural beauty of the city than from a leisurely boat ride in and around the harbor? In addition to seeing San Francisco from the ocean, you'll also see many of the surrounding locations such as Alameda, Oakland and Alcatraz. One great thing about boat and ferry tours is that you can see the Golden Gate Bridge from an entirely new perspective - as you cruise under it.
Regardless of what you want to see and how you want to get there, there is likely a tour and a transportation method to suit anyone's needs. San Francisco's culture, history, and natural beauty await!
About the Author:
If you're looking for fun in San Francisco enjoy our unique san francisco tours! You'll see historic san francisco chinatown and savour a whole host of wonderful foods, treats and freshly roasted coffee!