Sightsee780139

TripAdvisor

Such an interesting deep dive into the Castro and Mission neighborhoods, for which we had an incredibly sunny warm summer day. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, having grown up in the area, and pointed out not only historical places, but beautiful murals, homes and fun nooks and crannies (like hidden stairways to streets) that we never would have seen on our own. We definitely came away with much more of an appreciation for Castro and the Mission (love Dolores Park!) and will seek out other neighborhoods on our next trip!

Gillian_D

Viator

I had the most amazing time, as a solo traveller doing a small group tour is perfect. My tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. He gave us lots of fun facts along the way and the whole experience was very interesting. Bring your walking shoes we started at 10 am and finished at 6 pm, I highly recommend you do this tour. We went to places tourist didn’t go.

Jamie Sarkozi

Google

My Boyfriend and I booked an all Day SF tour with Christofer and had an amazing time! He knew a ton of history which we loved and we were able to see a ton. We loved it as it had been our first time visiting. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to be shown around the city.

Edgar Wallace

Google

Did a wonderful tour with these guys while I was in San Francisco on business. I’d also done a tour with the sister company in Los Angeles several years ago. Kevin, who was the guide, was great and it was so nice to be outside. We learnt tons about SF. Definitely recommended!

juju1961

TripAdvisor

Our guide Damien was so very knowledgeable about the area and history of SF. We experienced different methods of transport (avoiding those big hills!) and areas we would not otherwise have known about.

Margie S

Viator

Damien was the best! Friendly & very informative. He took into consideration our interests & made it very enjoyable. Great exercise- best way to see SF. Liked Haight Ashbury the most.

Self Guided Tours

self-guided san francisco tours

Don’t have the time or money to book one of our guided tours? No problem! We still want you to have a great time here, so we’ve prepared these free self-guided tours that you can do on your own. That way you’ll still get to see the real San Francisco, even if you’re not able to join us.

All of these self-guided tours are designed to be easy to do using the San Francisco Metro (MUNI) or BART. For more information on navigating this sometimes confusing city read our article How to Use Transit in San Francisco.

Also, if you’re looking for more ideas on how you could spend your time here, be sure to read our helpful guide Things to Do in San Francisco for some suggestions.

Tours

SAN FRANCISCO WATERFRONT TOUR

Begin this self-guided tour at the Ferry Building, near downtown's Financial District (or you can shorten it by starting at Fisherman's Wharf), before taking in San Francisco's picturesque waterfront and the infamous Alcatraz, just across the bay.

After that go through vibrant Fisherman's Wharf, pass Fort Mason and the Palace of Fine Arts, before enjoying some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, in Crissy Field.

Finally, finish your self-guided tour at the beautiful, historic, San Francisco Presidio (ideally with an ice-cream). You can also cycle this route very easily (there are numerous bike rental shops in the area).

DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO TOUR

Begin this self-guided tour in the heart of San Francisco. Take in the open space - and famous St Francis Hotel - before heading down Maiden Lane, SF's old red-light district (now full of designer boutiques).

After that walk through Chinatown, which has some of the best food in the city, making it the perfect spot for lunch. Next visit the historic birthplace of San Francisco, then see the burial site of one of the hundred odd ships on which the Financial District is built.

Finish your self-guided tour at the beautiful Ferry Building, ideally with an ice-cream, or beer, as you take in the city skyline and Bay.

Starting Points for Self Guided Tours

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