The 5 Sightseeing Bus Tours in San Francisco That Earn the Fare

1.Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour with 17 Stops

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,600 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $56Our pick

Use a 24 or 48-hour Big Bus pass to tour San Francisco by open-top double-decker, with stops near Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Alamo Square, Haight-Ashbury, Golden Gate Park, the bridge, and Lombard Street. Digital commentary comes in several languages, and selected tickets add a sunset ride, Aquarium of the Bay, Chinatown walk, or Napa Valley tour.

“I was a little confused at first but booked and was satisfied in the end. Coming from NY for a 5 day dream vacation of SF and Alcatraz this was a great first day introduction to the city.. especially being right outside of our hotel.. Zephyr. We were there first in line and got great seats and photos from the open top front and was even more surprised that we went over the Golden Gate.. I was not expecting that.. we got off on the other side, took a break, pictures and rode back to our starting place outside the hotel.. a little pricey at $120+ for two of us…”

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2.Alcatraz Island & Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 647 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $120

Pair Alcatraz’s cell-house audio tour and ferry ride with two days on Big Bus San Francisco. See North Beach, Chinatown, Haight-Ashbury, the Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, Pier 39, and more. Extras include Aquarium by the Bay, a Chinatown audio walk, and a sunset bus tour. Alcatraz time is assigned in advance.

“Alcatraz trip was excellent! Bus tours was great too and convenient to see all the sights and get off and on throughout two days!”

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3.Small-Group City Tour by Vintage VW Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 549 reviews · 2 hours · from $85Top rated

Ride through San Francisco in a restored vintage Volkswagen bus with a guide such as Jim, Jack, Lily, or Caio. In two hours, you’ll see the Painted Ladies, Lombard Street, Haight-Ashbury, the Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Bridge views, and movie houses, with water, snacks, music, and photo stops along the way.

“A+ - fun trip, knowledgeable driver who shared lots of interesting tidbits”

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4.Big Bus San Francisco: Sightseeing Sunset Tour by Open-Top Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 339 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $45Best value

Start at 6:30 pm near Fisherman’s Wharf and ride through Chinatown, the Financial District, the Embarcadero, Presidio, and Treasure Island. The open-top bus offers broad night views, while digital commentary explains the city. Seats are first come, first served, and the tour returns to its starting point after about 90 minutes.

“Very informative commentary, and lots of great sites we wouldve missed if we tried to explore alone. The driver was also very friendly and funny.”

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5.Sightseeing Sunset Tour by Open-Top Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 105 reviews · 1 hour · from $45

Spend one hour on an open-top Big Bus touring San Francisco from Fisherman’s Wharf through Polk Street and Nob Hill, across the Bay Bridge to Treasure Island, and back along the Embarcadero. English digital commentary, earbuds, and striking skyline views are included. Bring warm layers.

“It was awesome, the weather was not so good but the guides had ponchos for the rain but other than that it was an amazing way to see the city.”

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