Whether by air, by bike, by boat, by bus or even by vintage Volkswagen, there are so many different ways to take in the beauty of San Francisco and experience its top attractions. To help you decide which method is right for you, U.S. News compiled the city’s top tours, considering traveler sentiment and expert opinion. Foodies, history buffs, adventurers and everyone in between will find a tour on this list.
This half-day minibus excursion takes you from Fisherman’s Wharf to Muir Woods and back, and includes a lively tour of some of San Francisco’s most iconic neighborhoods and landmarks. Throughout the ride, our guide – a passionate San Francisco native – shared fun and surprising facts and pointed out interesting sights as we wound through North Beach, Pacific Heights, Chinatown and Alamo Square. After a dramatic photo-op at Fort Point (the waves can make a big spray!), we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and drove to Muir Woods, where we spent almost 90 minutes strolling through the trees. After a lunch break in the town of Sausalito, we headed back over the bridge, making a quick stop to admire the Palace of Fine Arts before ending back at Fisherman’s Wharf.
Tours operate daily at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Know that if you choose the 8 or 10 a.m. departure, you’ll have a slightly higher fee because of the extra stop in Sausalito (the 8 a.m. tour) or the Ferry Building Marketplace (the 10 a.m. tour). Dylan’s Tours offers a variety of minibus tours, including a foodie tour and a daylong Sonoma and Napa wine tour.
Why we love it:
- Our guide kept us entertained with fascinating historical anecdotes about the Bay Area; he even used visual aids and played music to bring the stories to life.
- In Muir Woods, our guide explained the different paths we could explore, then left us on our own so everyone could go at their own pace and as far as they wanted.
- The organization and timing of the entire tour was flawless – there were plenty of stops for photo-ops and our guide was very clear and respectful of everyone’s questions and needs. He even had water and energy bars for us.
- Sausalito is a lovely spot for lunch and there’s enough time for a snack and stroll through town or a waterfront meal at The Spinnaker – just ask for your check when you order!