San Francisco Highlights Tour

Overview

Make the Most of Your Time in The City

How do you get to know a city, especially if time is tight? Let an SF native show you the way!

This exceptionally well-crafted tour is designed to provide the maximum number of attractions in the least amount of time - perfect for those who are in town for a short stay!

Avoid the crowds that can tie up the most popular sites, by using alternate, little-known routes, and by having a much more intimate or semi-private tour experience (we're limited to 14 guests, but 6-8 is the usual count).

In addition to the tour itself, you'll be provided with genuinely useful recommendations, helpful tips, and suggestions to really improve the quality of your time in the City.

On the way, you'll be treated to an informative and entertaining narrative by your guide, an SF native / professional actor, who has performed at Shakespeare's Globe, London.

Some hotel pick-up/drop-offs can be pre-arranged at no extra cost.

City: San Francisco

Sun 23 Feb

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $69.99

Make a reservation

Sun 23 Feb

Starting at $69.99

Make a reservation

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What's Included

WiFi on board

Bottled water

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
COVID-19 vaccination required for guides

What To Expect

Fisherman’s Wharf

The tour begins and ends at Fisherman's Wharf, an iconic and vastly entertaining neighborhood, with a rich history, and a great spot to grab lunch after the tour!

Pier 39

Almost immediately, we take a turn around Pier 39, the second most popular attraction in California, and home to the City's loudest residents - the sea lions!

Ghirardelli Square

Almost immediately, we take a turn around Pier 39, the second most popular attraction in California, and home to the City's loudest residents - the sea lions!

Pacific Heights

As we make our way towards the Golden Gate Bridge, we take a quick swing through Pacific Heights, home to some of the biggest mansions, the best views, and a home made famous by a nanny named Mrs.Doubtfire.

Yoda fountain

Upon entering the Presidio, we are treated to a brief photo stop at the statue of legendary Jedi Master Yoda, which is located at the Letterman Digital Arts Center (Lucasfilm): our guide has a lot to say about this - he worked there for years!

Golden Gate Bridge

Once we cross the most-photographed bridge in the world, guests will have the opportunity to stretch their legs, and take some photos of the world class views!

Golden Gate Park

Running literally, half the length of San Francisco, Golden Gate Park is a world unto itself. Completely man-made, the Park is home to literally dozens of points of interest, but for the purposes of a Highlights Tour, we will focus on just a few.

California Academy of Sciences

Originally built in the 1890's, the renovated building featuring a living roof, and recycled denim insulation is the world's first "Double Platinum" winner for environmentally friendly structures. The interior of the museum, however, is what really sets it apart: it is among the largest museums of natural history in the world, housing over 46 million specimens, and would require a separate tour to really do it justice.

de Young Museum

Sitting directly across the way from the Academy of Sciences, is the copper-clad de Young Museum, renowned both for its collections, and visiting shows. This museum is also a great way to spend an afternoon in the City.

Japanese Tea Garden

The Japanese Tea Garden is holdover from the 1894 Midwinter Exposition, and has a unique history, well worth the retelling. Local legend also locates it the most likely birthplace of that uniquely American contribution to world cuisine: The Fortune Cookie (yes, you read that correctly!).

Haight-Ashbury

Following a trip through Golden Gate Park, we step back in time to the Summer of Love, as we roll down Haight St. Famous for it's time as 'birthplace of the Hippies" in 1967 -The Haight is still a vibrant and thriving community, with coffee shops, boutiques, live music and more, to entertain both visitors and locals alike.

Painted Ladies

First introduced to a generation who grew up watching the tv show, "Full House", these iconic houses, also known as the "seven Sisters", are perhaps San Francisco's most well known buildings - they have been photographed more than any other structures in the City (The Bridge excepted) and really convey the colorful spirit that says "San Francisco". We take a quick 15 minute photo/restroom break here.

San Francisco City Hall

Generally Civic buildings are only of interest to architects, however, SF's City Hall is a different species entirely -originally built after the 1906 earthquake & fire levelled the City - this structure has withstood it all: riots, earthquakes, assassinations, and even James Bond? Hear how, as we check out the Civic Center area.

Nob Hill

From City Hall, we go "Where Little Cable cars Climb Halfway to the Stars" and visit the statue of Tony Bennet in front of the Fairmont Hotel, where he first sang "I left My Heart in San Francisco" in 1961. Among other things to see, from atop Nob Hill are the City's own faux medieval masterpiece, Grace Cathedral, and the Mark Hopkins Hotel (the view from the penthouse lounge, The Top of The Mark, is likely the single best dinner view in the entire city).

Chinatown

This attraction is a personal favorite, and is truly worthy of an entire day's exploration :San Francisco's Chinatown. In addition to being the oldest, and most densely populated neighborhood in the City, is also the very *first* Chinatown in the world. Following the destruction of the original in 1906, the community decide to rebuild, but in a manner that would draw visitors into the area - they added "pagoda" style roofs, and incorporated traditional designs, and suddenly San Francisco had it's very first visitor attraction, and Chinese communities in cities around the world followed suit. As we drive through the area, we will see both the "public" side of Chinatown, as well as the more intimate "local side" Truly a highlight of the City.

North Beach

San Francisco's colorful Italian neighborhood is sometimes referred to as "Little Italy" which is incorrect - the locals all know it simply as North Beach: home to cafes, trattorias, and ristorantes. It's a great place for a fantastic dinner on a Friday or Saturday night.

Lombard Street

Our final point of interest is one of the City's most popular: the famous "Crookedest Street in the World". In addition to being generally very crowded, Lombard is closed to most tour vehicles, but there is some very good news - the bottom of the crooked section is a mere seven minutes walk from the pick-up/drop-off point, and we are happy to offer this spot up as an alternate drop-off, for those who wish to explore the 8 hairpin turns on their own!

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Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (28)

Christopher_R

Nov 2022

Awesome guide very informative and patient.great view great history Very exciting great tour guide would go back

Keith_M

Nov 2022

Paul's stories and personable nature made this a very comprehensive and outrageously enjoyable tour of the neighborhoods and primary attractions/sights of San Francisco. He loves the city and is honest about its contradictions, changes every decade and little hidden gems across all the neighborhoods. We live in the North Bay and will book Paul again very soon the next time we have guests from out of town ... he knows so much and the time flew by ... if you want to book someone who is kind, courteous and infinitely knowledgeable, Paul is your guy.

Thomas_M

Nov 2022

Our tour guide, Paul, was wonderful. Very insightful. We learned about the history of San Francisco as well as seeing a lot of the highlights. Paul was very friendly and accommodating!