San Francisco is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, as each year upwards of 15 million visitors come to see the city’s spectacular landscapes and quirky neighborhoods. It seems obvious to say that the city has a lot of tours to accommodate all of these visitors and practically every type of organized tour imaginable can be booked, whether it’s something as simple as a food tour or something more exotic like a “seafood foraging adventure.” In this article, however, we’ll take a look at the city’s top three tour offerings.
The Streets of San Francisco Bike Tours is the city’s top tour operator and has a long history of satisfied clients. Its bicycle tours take visitors around the city, all the while doing their best to avoid the city’s famously steep hills. The “Heart of the City Tour” takes visitors on a 9-mile, 3-hour cycle across city-center neighborhoods like The Mission and Lower Haight, otherwise a full day of riding can be found on the “7×7 Tour,” which sees visitors make a loop from Downtown to the Presidio and all the way to Golden Gate Park. Before you think it’s all cycling, however, the tours also take the time to stop in the neighborhoods it visits for local eats.
The Real S.F. Tour is the city’s second most popular offering and it prides itself on showcasing the “real” San Francisco to visitors. Lasting eight hours, this tour sees travelers move around San Francisco both on foot and using public transportation like the city’s famed Cable Cars. Guests rave about the tour guide Genie, who both entertains and informs with fun historical facts and a true local’s perspective on the city.
Finally, the third most popular way to see the city is with the Electric Tour Company and its Segway tours. For those who have never rode a Segway before, it’s super easy and a lot of fun! There are several tour routes to choose from, with the company offering fully-guided tours of Chinatown, the waterfront, North Beach and Golden Gate Park. No group is larger than 10 guests and each rider has a small radio and earbud so that they can hear the tour leader narrate the city sights. Families will especially appreciate the tours, which are also good for retirees as they don’t involve any walking!
