Yvette M
Yelp
I went to San Francisco with my boyfriend and he booked the ghost and crime tour for the Saturday night. It was a really interesting blend of true crime, history and some seriously scary ghost stories. In other words perfect entertainment for the night. The tour stopped in a historical bar midway through the tour for a quick cocktail and then ended at the oldest pub in the city. It was our first night in SF and the guide was really helpful with recommendations for the rest of our stay. We’d definitely give it 5 out of 5!
John Julien
This was a great tour and Jamie was a fantastic guide! We were able to see so many parts of the city, learn its history, and feel comfortable navigating its many neighborhoods. Whether you’re visiting for a day or a week, I can’t recommend this tour enough. Thanks Jamie!
Gina Ziegler
TripAdvisor
What an awesome way to see San Francisco. Jamie our tour guide was born and raised in the city and was an amazing, interesting source of knowledge and made the tour so fun from riding the trolley car, easy walking, beautiful sites and excellent food and treats. I highly recommend this tour. And I must say, a great value. THANK YOU JAMIE, you made San Francisco so memorable!
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
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.
Self Guided 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.
Self Guided SF 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.
CIVIC CENTER & ALAMO SQUARE TOUR
Begin this self-guided tour in the Civic Center, at San Francisco's magnificent City Hall. Take in the theaters, concert halls and other government buildings (and the farmers market if it's Sunday) and go inside City Hall (open Monday-Friday).
After that walk through Hayes Valley, which has some of lovely cafes, bars and restaurants, making it the perfect spot for lunch. Next visit one of the most famous spots in San Francisco, Alamo Square, with its postcard row of Victorian houses.
After that head through the Fillmore District to Japantown (another good spot for lunch), before heading to the Polk Gulch and the California Street Cable Car Line. You can take this over Nob Hill to the Embarcadero.
Starting Points for Self Guided Tours
This map is interactive. To open in Google Maps click the icon in the top right corner.
Self Guided Bike Tours
If you're looking for self guided tours that you can do on two wheels, check our article on bicycling in SF. We give details on six easy, fun and interesting routes that you can take around San Francisco and the Bay Area.
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