Top San Francisco Walking Tours

Discover the famed architecture of San Francisco on an architecture walking tour with a guide. See the Painted Ladies and other Victorian gems as you learn about the Queen Anne style and more. Plus, pass by homes where celebrities such as Robin Williams and Francis Ford Coppola have lived and homes you may recognize from movies like "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "The Princess Diaries."

Get to know San Francisco a little better on this full day tour of the city. This tour is well-suited to travelers who want to get the lay of the land before digging deeper: with your guide by your side, spinning stories and letting you know all about the history of the city, tour neighborhoods, stop at famous landmarks and enjoy pristine photo opportunities of highlights like Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge and the sea lion hangout at Pier 39.

Dive deep into one of San Francisco’s most historic neighborhoods on this Chinatown walking tour. From paper lanterns to medicinal herbs to a fortune cookie factory, explore both popular and lesser-known gems in this bustling district with an in-the-know guide. See sights including a Buddhist temple, and upgrade, if you wish, to include a 9-course lunch of dim sum for an even more memorable experience.

Uncover the scandalous, high-society history of San Francisco's most illustrious hill on a walking tour of Nob Hill. Hear the stories behind the grand hotels and stately mansions built by the city's powerful 19th-century business tycoons and politicians, and learn how the advent of the cable car and the disastrous 1906 earthquake shaped one of the city’s most affluent neighborhoods.

Riding across the Golden Gate Bridge in a tour van leaves you free to take in the epic views instead of focusing on the driving. This tour takes you from downtown San Francisco to Muir Woods and Sausalito—two of Marin's top attractions—in a single day. You'll have free time to explore both sites, making this organized option a great choice for independent travelers.

Brave San Francisco’s dark and ghostly past during this walking tour of haunted San Francisco. After meeting at the city’s famous Union Square (after dark, of course), a local guide escorts you down haunted alleys, through mysterious hotels, and around historic street corners. Stand where the Zodiac Killer met his final victim, learn of paranormal activity following mysterious deaths, visit the site of Tessie Wall’s storied brothel, hear about Gold Rush–era hauntings, and how the Black Plague ravaged the city twice. Your tour ends back near Union Square. This tour is not recommended for children under 10.

If you fancy yourself a foodie or culture enthusiast, don’t miss this walking tour of San Francisco’s Little Italy—the neighborhood of North Beach. Voted one of the 15 best foodie tours in the USA by U.S. News, join an insider guide and experience a slice of the top things to do in North Beach, such as tasting coffee and witnessing bread being freshly made. Soak up the lively atmosphere of one of the city’s most popular districts as you learn about its cafes and bakeries and see landmarks like Saints Peter and Paul Church.

There’s no doubt about it: San Francisco is a gorgeous city, and this small-group walking tour highlights some of its most spectacular scenery. Beginning at the Golden Gate Bridge, where you take in sweeping views of San Francisco Bay and the city’s dramatic skyline, embark on a walking tour of SF’s western edge. This slow-paced hike follows the Pacific coastline, meandering through Baker Beach and past the mansions of Sea Cliff as you make your way toward the Sutro Baths at Land’s End. Limited to 12 participants for a more personalized experience.

Stroll through North Beach and Chinatown, two of San Francisco's most vibrant neighborhoods, by night on this food and walking tour. Discover the spots only locals know for dim sum, coffee, and other treats while you learn about the history and culture of these diverse districts from your knowledgeable guide. Samples make up enough for a meal so come hungry!

The Mission district in San Francisco has famously inspired its own style of burrito, but leave room for more than rice and beans on this culinary walking tour. Sample classic dishes from bakery-style cookies to San Francisco clam chowder, and learn about the neighborhood with your guide between bites.

On this 1-hour tour, we'll walk to 5 picture-perfect spots around the Golden Gate Bridge while I entertain you with fun stories about the most famous bridge in the world, the 1848 California Gold Rush, San Francisco, and much more.

Stroll the narrow streets and back alleys of San Francisco's Chinatown on this walking tour with a small group. Stop by shops selling authentic Chinese crafts and pottery, as well as hard-to-find herbs and produce. A variety of tastings add up to a full lunch, including tea, fortune cookies, dim sum, and other treats. Listen to guided commentary and ask plenty of questions as you explore.

San Francisco attracts eager visitors from across the world, but the city’s walking tours can lack a certain excitement. On this tour, challenge your friends and family on an engaging treasure hunt through the city. Bring your problem-solving skills to the fore, follow a series of mysterious clues with your guide, and see San Francisco in a fun and active way—with a whole host of games and surprises along the way.

Explore the LGBT history of the Castro on foot during this walking tour. Follow your informative local guide through the famous neighborhood while learning about the local landmarks and historical sites. Be inspired by the rich, diverse history of this iconic district and its continuing role as an epicenter of LGBT activism and events.

Explore two of San Francisco's most distinctive neighborhoods side-by-side on a walking tour of Chinatown and Union Square. Learn the fascinating history behind the oldest Chinatown in the United States, and be immersed in the city’s contrasting cultures as you stroll alongside cable cars through Union Square’s chic hotels, architectural landmarks, and luxury boutiques.

Experience this Italian-influenced North Beach neighborhood a four-course progressive dining experience. With an intimate group of 12 people or less, follow your food-loving guide to many of the neighborhood's iconic restaurants starting with appetizers followed by an entree and finishing with dessert - all while exploring the neighborhood through your belly and your eyes. Enjoy experience-enhancing alcohol pairings (if alcohol-pairing option is selected) while tasting fare at some of the most popular spots as well as some hidden gems. Tastings may be selected from wood-oven pizza, to arancini, to cioppino (a seafood stew invented by San Francisco’s Italian fisherman), to handmade traditional cannoli, to California gelato. Hear gourmet gossip about some of the establishments' owners and learn about North Beach's history, from the Gold Rush to modern day.

So many adventures to have in San Francisco with so few funds. If the pocketbook is feeling a touch light then consider these invigorating smartphone-guided scavenger hunts. The three-hour events force adventurers to solve clues and navigate the city streets; plus all the SF scenery you can absorb during the journey. Pricing is per individual but teams must book together to be in same adventure.

San Francisco's Hayes Valley neighborhood has undergone a dramatic renewal over the last 20 years. Now a trendy destination with abundant restaurants, Hayes Valley is the perfect setting for a 3-hour gourmet food tour. Walk with a guide and small group to the neighborhood's specialty retail shops and foodie hangouts such as a speakeasy for a much-needed break. With seven tastings on this walking tour, you won't go hungry nor will your waistline take a hit. Just be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

Walk through San Francisco's Mission District on a tour focused on the street art, murals, and graffiti there. With an artist and activist guide in the lead, you'll find pieces of art that the average tourist would probably miss, and learn about the history and artist behind each one. You'll find places that you may want to return later in your trip and have the chance to ask questions of your guide.

Chocolate and San Francisco is a heavenly match. And this experience introduces locals and visitors alike to the history and contemporary chocolate culture of the city. On this 3-hour tasting tour, you'll wander the streets that make San Francisco so special, try the finest offerings from renowned chocolatiers and, of course, gain first-hand knowledge of the health benefits of chocolate. Sample away!

Peek behind the scenes at the California Academy of Sciences with VIP tickets to the Thursday NightLife—an adults-only event that proves museums aren’t just for kids. Sip cocktails and nibble hors d'oeuvres at a private reception, then go inside “The Vault” to see glittering gemstones and prehistoric treasures not on view to the general public. You’ll also take a walk on the wild side with express entry to the Osher Rainforest dome and get starry-eyed during a planetarium show.

If you're looking to see the sights on San Francisco's waterfront—but you don't have hours to tour the city—this quick walking tour is the perfect fit. Follow your guide to top attractions including Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, and Ghirardelli Square. History fans enjoy a quick look at the cable cars, and the USS Pampanito, a WWII submarine. To make the most of your day, upgrade with Alcatraz tickets to see San Francisco's infamous former prison.

Take a San Francisco half-day tour to pack in the city’s top sights in a convenient way that leaves you with plenty of time to spare so you can enjoy the city however you wish. With a driver-guide, travel the city by bus, stopping at major attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge and Twin Peaks and neighborhoods like North Beach and Chinatown. Plus, you can upgrade to include a San Francisco Bay cruise, a half-day bike rental, or admission to Aquarium of the Bay.

Explore Alcatraz and sip some of San Francisco's tasty craft brews on this full-day combination tour. Visit Alcatraz, the city's infamous prison, to learn about the fascinating criminal history contained there. After returning to the mainland, follow your guide to local bars in the Fisherman's Wharf, Mission District, or SoMa neighborhoods (depends on the day) and taste some of the city's locally produced craft beers.