Looking for group tours in San Francisco? There are plenty of options for you to choose from.
You can take a classic walking tour of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks, experience old-school local food joints on a food crawl, and even go back in time to the days of free love and tie-dye T-shirts while exploring the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood.
This article will help you make the most of the group tour experience, as well as suggest some must-see locations for first-time San Francisco visitors.
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Types of Group Tours in San Francisco
There are many different types of group tours in San Francisco.
You can bike, bus, or walk – the choice is yours.
If you don’t feel like hanging out with 20 strangers all day, you can book one of the semi-private small group tours offered by many tour companies.
You can also take a themed approach to group tours.
Instead of trying to find a group tour that includes every single important landmark, pick an area of interest (e.g. the hippie culture of the 1960s) and explore it more deeply.
Whichever way you choose to go, we recommend exploring San Francisco on foot.
Most of San Francisco’s charm lies in the little details you don’t notice when sitting on a tour bus.
Either way, make sure you include at least one of the following activities in your group tour!
5 Ways to Make the Most Out of San Francisco Group Tours
1. Walk over the Golden Gate Bridge
You can’t visit San Francisco without checking out the Golden Gate Bridge (all 1.7 miles of it).
This is said to be one of the most photographed locations on earth, so get your camera ready!
2. Check out the sea lions at Pier 39
Located in Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39 is home to San Francisco’s famous sea lions and a festive waterfront marketplace.
This location also offers plenty of fun sea-food options (walk-away crab cocktails, anyone?) and is only a short walk from Madame Tussauds and other famous San Francisco attractions.
3. Explore Haight-Ashbury
Known as the cornerstone of San Francisco’s hippie culture, the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood is full of 1960s nostalgia.
If you are a fan of rock music, you can also check out the former residences of the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin.
4. Walk through Chinatown
San Francisco’s Chinatown is home to the largest Chinese community outside of Asia, and the oldest Chinatown in North America.
It’s full of exotic shops, excellent restaurants, temples, food markets, and even a few small museums. Definitely worth a visit!
5. Get spooky at Alcatraz
Did you know that San Francisco is home to one of the most famous former prisons in the world, Alcatraz?
Some of the most notorious criminals have been incarcerated here, and no one has ever managed to escape.
It is considered one of the most haunted places in the United States, and for good reason. If ghost hunting is your thing, don’t miss this one when planning your tour!
The Haunt Experience
Alcatraz is not the only haunted place in San Francisco (SF) – far from it.
If traditional group tours are not your thing, check out our Haunted San Francisco Ghost Tour.
Full of macabre stories about cold-blooded murderers, ruthless cult leaders, and angry spirits, it is bound to make your visit to San Francisco a little more memorable.
Ready to discover a different side of San Francisco?