San Francisco · GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE TOURS
Underneath it on a boat, across it on a bike, or past it in a GoCar. The 15 below come with prices, starting piers and a note on which ones still work when the fog sits on the towers.
From Fisherman’s Wharf, Red and White Fleet’s one-hour cruise follows San Francisco’s waterfront, passes Alcatraz and sails beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. An audio guide in 16 languages adds background on the sights, while an onboard bar sells drinks and snacks. Bring a camera and a warm layer: the bay can feel chilly, even in summer.
“Great hour to spend on the water and see all the sights”
Board Red and White Fleet’s one-hour cruise at Pier 43 1/2 in Fisherman’s Wharf. You’ll pass Alcatraz, Angel Island and Sausalito, then sail beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, with multilingual recorded narration and indoor and outdoor seating. The open ticket lets you choose a departure time, and the boat has restrooms and a seasonal snack bar.
“Got what I wanted seeing all of San Francisco bridges and Alcatraz island up close. I would have liked to hear the recorded tour a little better but maybe I was just sitting in the wrong place. Highly recommend”
Spend about six hours exploring San Francisco and the nearby coast with a local guide, stops at the Golden Gate Bridge and Muir Woods, and free time in Sausalito. Water and a snack are included; Muir Woods admission and lunch are extra. Choose the Alcatraz option at booking if you want to visit the island.
“great tour with all the best scenes of san francisco .. tour guide per was great… loved all the stops muir woods nice and lunch in sausalito was nice”
Ride from Fisherman’s Wharf past Aquatic Park, the Palace of Fine Arts, and Crissy Field, then cross the Golden Gate Bridge with a local guide. Spend free time in Sausalito, and choose an e-bike upgrade if you want help on the hills. Your bike, helmet, lock, and map are included for the day; the ferry back costs extra.
“Brilliant experience that met all our expectations and more Our guide Mia was really knowledgeable and made the tour very special”
Start at Fisherman’s Wharf for a guided ride past the Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field and the Presidio, then cross the Golden Gate Bridge and roll downhill to Sausalito. Guides such as Orla, Marcus and Bill have led tours with plenty of local history and photo stops. Choose a regular bike or e-bike, explore Sausalito, then ferry back for an extra fee or keep riding.
“We went for our anniversary adventure in San Francisco. One of the highlights is to have a bike tour with Blazing Saddle Bike Tours. Marcus and Toyla were exceptional tour guides. They were informative, accommodating and kind. They allowed us to see the beauty of San Francisco and Sausalito . During the tour they made us feel safe at all times. Thank you Marcus and Toyla for making our memories worth every minute of it.”
Pick up a hybrid, mountain, tandem, kids’ or electric bike near Fisherman’s Wharf for up to 24 hours. After a bike fitting and safety briefing, use the supplied map to ride past Fort Mason, the Presidio and Fort Point, then cross the Golden Gate Bridge toward Sausalito. Go at your own pace; a guide and ferry fare are not included.
“Great experience start to finish. The staff were friendly and efficient. We rode across the GGB and took the ferry back to SF. It was a great way to see Sausalito and SF.”
Ride from Fisherman’s Wharf to Sausalito on a guided bike tour past Crissy Field, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Choose a regular or electric bike, hear city stories from guides such as Ryan, Adam, or Ginger, then explore Sausalito before arranging your own return.
“Fantastic! Even made a last minute change to accommodate Star Wars fans!”
Join Adventure Cat Sailing Charters at Pier 39 for a 90-minute Bay sail past Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge. Take in the San Francisco skyline, watch for sea lions, and choose between a sheltered viewing spot or the trampoline nets close to the water. The crew may invite you to try the helm. Snacks and drinks are for sale on board.
“The views are incredible from the catamaran! Our guides were very nice and helpful and even pointed out whales to us. Great experience.”
Take a two-hour GoCar loop from Fisherman’s Wharf through the Marina, Presidio and Golden Gate Bridge area, then return via Palace of Fine Arts and Lombard Street. The talking GPS shares city stories in several languages, and you set the pace for photo stops. It costs $169 per vehicle for up to two people. You must be 21 or older to drive.
“Great couples idea, good scenery and stopping points along the tour.”
Pick up a regular or electric bike at Bay City Bike Rentals and Tours, 501 Bay St, then follow a map toward the waterfront, Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, or Golden Gate Park. Choose a two-hour or full-day rental. A helmet, lock, map, and roadside assistance are included; ferry tickets and seasonal Sausalito bike drop-off cost extra.
“Great experience all except for the ferry back. Boat was full and didn’t get on. Had to wait for an extra one that was laid on and that dropped us a further mile away from the expected point”
Visit Muir Woods, stop for Golden Gate Bridge photos, then take the ferry to Alcatraz for the Cellhouse audio tour. The $99 package includes Alcatraz admission and transport to the woods, but not Muir Woods’ $15 entry fee. Your schedule is assigned, and guide James has earned praise for his city commentary.
“This was an absolutely amazing trip. Our tour guide James was fantastic. Going early to Muir Woods made our trip magical. It gave us a chance to really experience the nature around us before the big crowds came in. We had a delicious breakfast at Sausalito and still had time to enjoy the view in the town. We did a quick stop to take a couple of picture at the Golden Gate Bridge and ended our trip at Alcatraz. I can't recommend this tour enough!”
Spend about two hours on Alcatraz with an official ferry ticket and a self-guided cell-house audio tour on your phone. Then walk from Pier 33 to Fisherman’s Wharf for a separate one-hour cruise beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz. Your Alcatraz time slot is assigned, and both activities are scheduled for the same day.
Take a self-guided ride on a high-quality pedal-assist e-bike, with a helmet, lock, map, and roadside assistance included. Choose two hours for a shorter outing or a full day to explore at a slower pace. You can ride toward the Golden Gate Bridge and waterfront, then decide how far to go. Riders must be at least 13.
“Thank you for the 5 stars! We're so glad you had an amazing experience!”
Visit Alcatraz with a ferry ticket and a 45-minute cellhouse audio tour, then ride a minibus from Fisherman’s Wharf for a Golden Gate Bridge photo stop. The operator assigns your tour order and times. Drivers such as James have earned praise for sharing San Francisco stories, but live narration is not guaranteed.
“The Alcatraz tour was nice. The views were amazing from above. I enjoyed the audible tour learning the history and guiding us through the prison. I wish the group sizes were smaller so you can get a better experience. Everyone was trying to record and take pictures and stumbling over one another. The Golden Gate Bridge was better since everyone was spread out and not on top of one another.”
Seaplane Adventures takes you on an approximately 30-minute flight from Sausalito over the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, San Francisco and Marin County. Your pilot points out sights along the way, and every passenger gets a window seat. The plane holds no more than six people. City transportation may be available on request, so confirm arrangements before you go.
“It was a great tour, we had done the ground tour of San Francisco and this tour just brought it all together. I would highly recommend it.”
An island, a bridge, a valley or a plate of dim sum.
