With so many can’t-miss San Francisco attractions, it can feel overwhelming to try and see it all. That’s where organized bus tours come in. They can help you see everything you want in a short amount of time – without having to navigate the city’s traffic and hills yourself. Consulting both expert opinion and traveler sentiment, U.S. News selected the top San Francisco bus tours. Whether you’re interested in a comprehensive hop-on, hop-off experience or a more intimate tour by minibus, you’re likely to find an option that suits your itinerary.
Gray Line San Francisco – Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour from San Francisco
Price: Adults from $96; kids from $75
Duration: 5 hours
Cross a few items off your San Francisco bucket list on this bus trip, which travels across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods National Monument. From there, the tour heads to the Mediterranean-style town of Sausalito, where you’re given free time to explore its shops, art galleries and waterfront restaurants. Travelers have the option to board the bus back to the city or extend their time in Sausalito and hop on a return ferry to San Francisco at their leisure (note that the ferry fee is not included in the base ticket price). Throughout the journey, guides share stories and provide cultural context – a point of praise for visitors. Another highlight for reviewers? The comfortable buses and variety of photo-ops.
Tours are offered daily at 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tickets include the entrance fee to Muir Woods National Monument, and kids 4 and younger tour for free. Gray Line offers a variety of bus tours in the Bay Area, including trips to Yosemite National Park and Napa Valley.
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Big Bus San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off Tour
Price: Adults from $69; kids from $59
Duration: 2.5 hours
Big Bus San Francisco offers an easy way for travelers to get an overview of the city within a day. Tourgoers can hop off the bus when they want to explore and catch the next Big Bus (which comes about every 15 minutes) when they’re ready to move on. The tour features nearly 20 stops at key attractions, such as Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown and Haight-Ashbury, as well as a ride over the Golden Gate Bridge. Without hopping off, the tour lasts around 2.5 hours. Buses are equipped with free Wi-Fi, an open-air deck and prerecorded commentary in 10 languages. Many reviewers say this is a great tour for first-time visitors as it hits all the top sights. However, a few express disappointment in the lack of an onboard guide, as there is little opportunity to ask questions.
Day tours run daily between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.; a sunset tour is offered at 6:30 p.m. Visitors can also upgrade their tickets to include extras like a night tour and entrance to Alcatraz, among other perks.
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San Francisco Love Tours – The Love Tour
Price: From $85
Duration: 2 hours
With space for just seven guests, this San Francisco bus tour promises a more personal experience than the typical coach bus can provide. During the ride, you’ll drive around the city in the company’s vintage Volkswagen bus, making two stops to snap photos of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city skyline. Along the way, your guide will share tidbits of San Francisco’s history. Reviewers describe the tour as fun and informative and praise the music chosen by the guides. Travelers also appreciate that the vehicle’s size allows access to areas of the city unreachable by larger tour buses.
Tours depart daily at 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Children 4 and younger are only permitted when booking a private tour, and you must bring your own car seat. For a different perspective of the city, consider the company’s nighttime tour.
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Dylan’s Tours – Dylan’s Famous Tour with Muir Woods and Alcatraz
Price: Adults from $189; kids from $129
Duration: 9.5 hours
If you’re looking for a San Francisco bus tour that promises an intimate, small-group experience, consider this full-day excursion. You’ll travel around the city by minibus stopping at must-see locations like Pacific Heights and the Golden Gate Bridge for photos. Then, you’ll head to Muir Woods, where you’ll enjoy more than an hour to explore. After a lunch break in Sausalito, you’ll depart for the ferry to Alcatraz. Reviewers rave about the locations visited, and they also describe the guides as entertaining, knowledgeable and personable.
Tours are offered daily at 8 a.m. Tickets include entrance to Alcatraz, but not Muir Woods. The company offers a version of this tour that does not include Alcatraz, as well as general city tours and food-themed outings.
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Painted Ladies Tour Company – San Francisco City Tour
Price: Adults from $85; kids from $65
Duration: 2 hours
Sightsee your way around San Francisco in style with the Painted Ladies Tour Company, which offers city tours in vintage Volkswagen buses. Because of the vehicle’s size, groups are small – a highlight, according to reviewers. You’ll have two photo stops and see Lombard Street, Chinatown, the Palace of Fine Arts and the Golden Gate Bridge, among many other sights. Tourgoers describe the experience as fun thanks to the unique buses, and they rave about the detailed and personable guides.
Tours operate daily beginning at 8:30 a.m., with multiple morning and afternoon departures from Union Square or Fisherman’s Wharf. Complimentary water and snacks are provided for all tours; free white wine and beer is available for afternoon tours. If you’re hoping to explore outside of the city, consider the company’s Wine Country Tour, which travels to Sonoma to visit three wineries.
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