List of San Francisco City Tours

Trying to see everything there is to see in San Francisco can be challenging. Even though it's a relatively small city, there is a lot going on and a lot to see. Tours are a great way to pack it all in during a condensed amount of time.

Going by bus can be a great option for visitors who want to see the sights from a comfortable seat. Some bus tours will allow customers to get off and on the bus, whereas other tours have specific themes to engage visitors.

Hop-On Hop-Off - Move at your own pace as this red, double-decker bus guides you through the city and lets you off at points of interests to explore. Pick the bus back up at any of its many meeting points throughout San Francisco to rest your legs and hear the tour guide talk about the sights. Cost is about $30 per person.

Magic Bus Tour - Hop aboard this psychedelic bus while you travel back in time to the 1960s and the San Francisco culture of that time. The tour includes the City Lights bookstore and the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. This 90-minute tour costs about $50 per person.

Grand City Tour - Relax on a luxury coach and see all the best sights on this tour. You'll visit Chinatown, Coit Tower, Golden Gate Park, Nob Hill, Fisherman's Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge, plus many other sights. This tour lasts about three-and-a-half hours and costs about $50 per person.

San Francisco is a fantastic town to walk around in. Every block has something to see. Taking the time to stroll through the concrete jungle, visit the parks and marvel at the architecture is a great way to enjoy the city.

San Francisco Architecture - Discover some of San Francisco's most famous buildings and hidden treasures. Visit rooftop gardens and little-known spots with a story to tell. The tour lasts two hours and costs $40 per person.

San Francisco is surrounded by both the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Take advantage of all that water by getting on a boat and seeing the city from afar. There are many boating options, from ferry boats to private sailboat charters.

Escape from the Rock - Visit Alcatraz Island by boat, and circle underneath the Golden Gate Bridge and around the island where the former prison still stands. This tour shares stories about the most famous inmates of Alcatraz, such as Al Capone and Billy Cook the Killer. The tour lasts 90 minutes and costs $35 per person.

Sunset Sail - Climb aboard a sailboat and see the City by the Bay from the Bay itself. The tour sails by Alcatraz island and near the Golden Gate Bridge. It includes hors d'oeuvres and two drinks per person. The cruise lasts 1.5 hours and costs about $50 per person.

Bridge to Bridge - The Red and White Fleet will take you across the San Francisco Bay sailing underneath thee famous Golden Gate and Bay bridges. You'll see famous attractions, such as Alcatraz island and Coit Tower, as the guide tells you about the the city's history, culture and architecture. The tour lasts 90 minutes and costs just under $40 per person.

Adventure Cat Bay Sail - Board this 65-foot catamaran and enjoy cruising around the Bay seeing Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean. Tours are 90 minutes long and cost about $35 per person. The boat does not sail Dec. 2 to March 1.

Don't let all those hills scare you away from biking or taking a Segway to see the sights of San Francisco. There are plenty of flat areas, and you can see a lot of the city on two wheels. GoCars are also a different and fun way to spend a few hours speeding around town.

Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito by Bike - Ride across the majestic Golden Gate Bridge and down into the old fishing town of Sausalito, which is just north of the bridge. Sausalito boasts many boutiques and restaurants, as well as a stunning view of the city from across the Bay. The tour includes a guide for three hours, plus an all-day bike rental and a ferry ticket returning you to the city. Cost begins around $35 per person.

Heart of the City Bike Tour - Cruise through famous neighborhoods and see the sights on two wheels, as your guide gives you the history and quirks of each district. This tour lasts between three and three-and-a-half hours and costs about $65 per person.

San Francisco Segway - Hop on a Segway and see highlights of the city led by a knowledgeable guide. Visit Fishmerman's Wharf and Ghirardelli Square, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the fishing industry. The tour includes training and alternate routes for advanced riders. It lasts for two-and-a-half hours and costs about $70 per person.

GoCar Tour of the City - This two-seater tiny car has a GPS tour guide that will take you to all the great sights. You'll see Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury and many more significant destination points. The tour is two hours and costs about $90 per car.

If height is your thing, board a helicopter or a seaplane, and see the city from way up in the sky. Most flights are short, but they offer breathtaking views of the Bay Area.

Vista Grande - See San Francisco and beyond from the sky. This helicopter tour will take you high above the skyscrapers and famous bridges to give you a bird's-eye view of one of America's most beautiful cities and surroundings. The flight lasts 30 minutes and costs about $225 per person.

Lunch in Sausalito - Take flight on a helicopter and land in this quaint bayside town north of the Golden Gate Bridge for lunch. The tour includes an open-ended ferry ticket to return to the City. The flight lasts about 20 minutes costs $345 per person.

Sunset Champagne Tour - Climb aboard a seaplane and soar over San Francisco watching the sun set over the Bay and the Pacific Ocean while sipping a glass of champagne. This is a 40-minute tour and costs about $240 per person.

San Francisco Golden Gate Seaplane Tour - See the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and parts of San Francisco by air on this tour. You will get to see picturesque towns north of the City, as well as breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. You can even upgrade to a champagne flight. The flight lasts approximately half an hour costs about $180.

Now that you've got a bevy of information at your fingertips, you'll be able to have a great vacation in San Francisco and see all the sights you desire. Remember that San Francisco weather can be fickle, so dress in layers, especially if you will be heading to the coast or taking a boat tour. It can get chilly, even in the summer. They don't call it the Foggy City for nothing. There is so much to do and see in San Francisco, you will be sure to have a great time no matter what tour you choose.