San Francisco Grand City Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Fisherman's Wharf
- Chinatown
- Palace of Fine Arts
- Twin Peaks
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Comprehensive city tour
- Professional guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Pass by: Departing the heart of Union square, the coach makes its way to the Golden Gate Bridge. On your way to the Golden Gate Bridge, travelers will see: Union Square: Theatres, shopping, hotels
Pass by: We make our way north on Van Ness Avenue. Famous for being used as a firebreak, by the US Army during the 1906 earthquake and fire.
Pass by: Two affluent neighborhoods, attracting young professionals. Chic fashion boutiques, Pilates studios, juice shops, beauty salons. Many fine dining restaurants ranging from French Bistros to American Fusion Cuisine.
Designed by Bernard Maybeck for the 1915 Worlds Fair. This 162-foot high open rotunda appears as a Greek-Roman inspired fictional ruin. Disembark bus and explore the structure and lagoon.
Stop at the Golden Gate Bridge to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of this iconic landmark. Capture memorable photos of this engineering marvel and enjoy the fresh coastal breeze.
Pass by: Former U.S. Army military fort,1500-acre park. Home to; Baker Beach, hiking, historic buildings house the Walt Disney Family Museum, eateries, homes, and businesses like Lucasfilm, with its Yoda Fountain.
Beautiful coastal stop at Ocean Beach with rugged cliffs, cypress forest, and views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Pacific Ocean, Sutro Bath ruins, and the Cliff House.
Pass by: Entering Golden Gate Park from the west we pass by one of two Dutch Windmills. Journeying through the park the driver will point out all the points of interest; Bison Paddock, Japanese Tea Gardens, California Academy of Science, Conservatory of Flowers.
Pass by: Travelers will see where the Hippie movement began during the Summer of Love. Unusual stores, unique dining and live entertainment.
Two identical peaks give this attraction its name. One of the highest peaks in the city, you will have breathtaking 360 degree views of the entire city
Pass by: Descending down towards Market Street, we enter the Castro District. All are welcome and safe in this LGBT community!
Pass by: This major thoroughfare in San Francisco. We drive east from the Castro towards the Ferry Building and the downtown Financial District.
Pass by: Among the skyscrapers that dominate the skyline (Transamerica Pyramid, Salesforce Tower), there is a wealth of tech business and Fortune 500 companies.
Pass by: Passing under the "Dragon Gates" of Chinatown, traveler's enter a bustling district of commerce bursting with color.
Pass by: Don't blink your eyes, the transition from Chinatown to North Beach is seamless. This quick transition brings us the sights and aromas of San Francisco's "Little Italy".
First drop-off location On the northern waterfront, is the cities most visited and busiest tourist areas. Souvenir shops, stalls selling crab and clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls, appear at every turn.
Union Square: Final drop-off location
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for weather conditions.
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Tour is not wheelchair accessible; consider mobility needs.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for city exploration.
- Bring a light jacket, as coastal weather can be cool.
- Have a camera ready to capture stunning city views.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Stroller Accessible
- Service Animals Allowed
- Easy Public Transport
- Infants Required On Laps
Good to know
- Please bring your paper or electronic voucher with you on the day of your tour to be redeemed upon pickup or check in at one of our tour offices.
- If you choose the option that includes the Aquarium of the Bay Admission, please visit their site for Aquarium of the Bay hours.
- If you choose the option that includes the Bay Cruise Adventure, please visit the Blue & Gold site for the seasonal schedule.
- If you choose the option that includes the 4h Bike Rental: Bike reservation is not mandatory but we always recommend a reservation in order to hold you bikes and streamline the pick up process. Contact for booking confirmation at specific time.
- Stops with Photo opportunities at: Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, Twin Peaks, Land’s End Ocean Beach (Sutro Baths) & Mission San Francisco de Asis (Mission district)
Traveler reviews
Unexpected poor experience this time leaving a bad aftertaste.
The tour was curtailed and modified due to the Marathon. Cutting out a proper visit to Golden gate bridge and park and some other points was a big disappointment. If we were informed of this at the time of booking, we would have chosen a different date to get the full experience. We felt cheated because neither Viator or the tour operator informed us of the restrictions and changes at the time of booking. There was also a change in the pickup spot and we paid for the Uber to get to the new spot in time. Overall this was the worst Viator experience of our many Viator purchases over the years, at least 4 of which were SFO city tours. Giving 3 stars as the other points were still ok. This had experience was entirely preventable if Viator and the tour operator were diligent and better customer oriented.
Excellent
An excellent day tour experience with Gray Line. The service was professional and very well organized from start to finish. The bus was extremely comfortable, and the guide was exceptionally knowledgeable, attentive, and engaging throughout the entire excursion. Everything exceeded my expectations, and I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a high-quality experience. Thank you very much for such a memorable day.
We took this tour as S.F....
We took this tour as S.F. natives and learned new things on this tour based on the tour guides interesting history its bits and enjoyed it immensely!
The tour is good but a...
The tour is good but a bit disorganised. Meeting point there were 2 buses and we did not know which one was ours. San Francisco weather is very foggy and clouded in the mornings until midday, so many of the places we went we were not able to see a lot. I would have loved to see more of the beautiful houses and less of the hills outside. The guide was good but a bit repetitive. I would have started with a bit of history about San Francisco. The minibus was not the perfect one for sightseeing, as it was difficult to see many things the guide pointed out to.
Michele was a great tour...
Michele was a great tour guide and was very knowledgeable about the city’s history. Tour is pretty much as advertised and we had sufficient time at each stop for pictures and bathroom breaks. Great value for the price and worthy of a fair tip at the end.