The tour departs from Fisherman's Wharf, following the San Francisco waterfront until the entrance to the Golden Gate Bridge bike's path. These houses called the Painted Ladies can be seen on San Francisco postcards. It is full of bright-colored homes, mosaic glass artwork, sex toy stores, and all the rainbow references you could ever ask for. Our San Francisco self drive tour offers you complete flexibility and convenience. California sea lions are noisy, they bark and they smell. Finally, finish your self-guided tour at the beautiful, historic, San Francisco Presidio (ideally with an ice-cream). The audio tour's auto-play feature tells you the stories behind the attractions as you experience them. Stop off wherever you want for as long as you want, and then get started again at your leisure! Most stops along the tour have animated videos allowing you to visualize what you cannot see, such as snapshots from different centuries or interior rooms. Simply put, Action Tour Guide is an audio guide, map, and tour book all in one app! Zip around on a Segway tour. No worries! In the 1960s the traditional middle-class residential area suddenly became the hotspot of the Flower Power generation. No worries! POIPU AND KOLOA DRIVING TOUR $29.99. Book now from $8! And our professional guides will help you find each of the most notable landmarks in the neighborhood. You can find new. Street corner after street corner. Follow the turn-by-turn directions and enjoy the fun storytelling as you approach the next location. SELF GUIDED AUDIO TOURS HAWAII. However, in some way we did manage to get up California Street (and all other streets)! The exclusive neighborhood on Pacific Heights. Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page. There are only really 7 stops on this self-guided tour of the Golden Gate Bridge, and you can expect the whole tour to take around 1 - 1 hours. Start your self-guided tour at San Francisco City Hall. This comprehensive self-guided San Francisco City Tour covers everything from the Painted Ladies to the Golden Gate Bridge. There are also ferries to the historic Alcatraz Island, leaving from another terminal further north. After that, buckle your seatbelts because youre heading down Lombard Street, aka the most crooked street in the world! Our post on walking the Golden Gate Bridge also includes several additional details about where to enjoy the best views of this landmark and things to do in the area. In addition to accommodations, our packages include information on suggested optional itineraries with stops along the way. We'll then be able to jump out of the car for an optional walk around this bustling neighborhood, exploring it's vast selection of foods, drinks, and desserts. 6 Your California: San Francisco to Point Reyes tour concludes. Cable car conductors also sell day passes. This San Francisco city tour begins with the Painted Ladies, one of the citys top attractions. However, if you are planning to start and finish the drive at the traditional spot, near San Francisco City Hall, then youll want to get a hotel close to that point. $ 45 $ 34. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Refund Policy. He knew a ton of history which we loved and we were able to see a ton. Sturgis Tour "The . Tour access for the full car, not per person, GPS-connected audio to automatically play as you approach a landmark or location, Additional media content in-app, including photos and images, New York Self Drive Tour-PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, San Francisco: An Expert Local Travel Guide, Public Transit Tours Waiver and Terms & Conditions, Purchase the San Francisco Self Drive Tour (only one purchase is necessary per car), Connect your device to your car speakers and listen to the stories as you follow the route indicated. Take in the open space - and famous St Francis Hotel - before heading down Maiden Lane, SF's old red-light district (now full of designer boutiques). 2 San Francisco to Sausalito. Fantastic how people keep up their traditions! To start exploring the Victorian quarters, first drive around Lafayette Park that has rows of pretty Victorians on all four sides. . Stop to enjoy the view, take pics, eat, walk, etc! After driving a long while up and down the incrediblysteep hills (yes, they are steep) we left the car for a few hours in a parking garage (Beach Street close to Pier 39 on the map) and explored the Fishermans Wharf area by foot. Looking at them you could imagine being in China. Save up to 55% and visit San Francisco's top attractions. Book your San Francisco bay cruise service now and discover Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. Our San Francisco exploration begins at one of the city's most iconic stops: the Painted Ladies! There is a parking garage on Lombard Street if you're driving in, 2 mins from the shop. This comprehensive self-guided San Francisco City Tour covers everything from the Painted Ladies to the Golden Gate Bridge. But the main thing here are the sea lions: Here they are, San Francisco sea lions, basking on the docks. Looking upwards you will see how high these earthquake protected buildings are! from. Alternatives include taking a tour bus that goes along most of the route or renting a bicycle and doing it on bike, which takes approximately six hours but eliminates some of the difficulties of having to drive in the city. (C) Ghirardelli Square - a landmark public . No self-respecting local would be caught dead at Pier 39 (except to visit the resident seals), or the "visitor's center" at the Golden Gate Bridge, or Alcatraz ( many of us have never bothered to tour Alcatraz). Haight Ashbury got its name from the corner of its two major streets, Haight and Ashbury. San Francisco by car: driving down the eight turns of Lombard Street. Chinatown is pretty close to Fishermans Wharf and North Beach, so you may want to consider taking multiple self-guided tours on the same day if youve got enough time and energy. Go City | San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass. Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before the experience begins. Liked Haight Ashbury the most. From there, youll hear about the citys unique history and how it became one of the most progressive cities around. However, a driving tour may not be for everyone. GPS-activated audio app that plays on your phone. My Boyfriend and I booked an all Day SF tour with Christofer and had an amazing time! See the top attractions such as Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square and the Hyde Street Pier. As distances are long in San Francisco, driving is by far the best way to explore the city. Easy to tell that this is an exclusive neighborhood. Visit the fascinating San Francisco Modern Museum of Art, including seven floors of galleries and exhibits, three dining options, two museum stores, and more! The San Francisco Museum and Historical Society offers two self guided walks of the Barbary Coast Trail in San Francisco. All of these self-guided tours are designed to be easy to do using the San Francisco Metroor BART (for more information on navigating this sometimes confusing city read our articleHow to Use Transit in San Francisco). This is one of the most popular neighborhoods in San Francisco, and its not difficult to see why with all of its family-friendly attractions and activities. Between Carmel and Monterey, 17 Mile Drive affords dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean and Del Monte Forest along the Monterey Peninsula. From here, we can explore the wonders of the nearby Ferry Building or make our way to Fisherman's Wharf for a glimpse of the infamous Alcatraz! It should say Powell-Hyde (it has a brown sign). Damien was the best! From there, head east along Haight Street . With TourCentric, you'll be completely immersed in the stories, sights, and sounds of San Francisco. Berlin You will also find some of the best Mexican, Cuban and other cuisines from both South and Central America. Nashville Prague Paris Hit the road whenever youre ready, stop as often as youd like, and just enjoy the journey! Although we dont have a self-guided tour yet, we do provide a GPS-enabled audio tour of the Castro District. You may also want to consider our GPS-enabled audio tour of the Golden Gate Bridge, which includes GPS guidance to help you find each stop. Check them out below! Boston Wine Tasting in Napa or Sonoma: If you love trying different wines, then a trip to either Napa or Sonoma is only an hour away. Send us your resume, All Rights Reserved 2023 Real San Francisco Tours | Sitemap. Despite that they look really cute, social and intelligent. Its easy to find parking space and have an urban walk in the deep shady canyons protected from all sunshine. Everyone can listen at the same time! This will finally bring us to the Embarcadero. This is where you come for some of the most gorgeous views of the city. No need to worry about driving in Central San Francisco. You will also find others that offer either audio or a map to get you from point to point. Review of: Golden Gate Bridge Bike Rental - Near the Golden Gate Bridge! San Francisco City Hall, Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl, San Francisco, California 94102, U.S. You cant come to San Francisco and not set foot on the Golden Gate Bridge! Tour along Highway 1 by the towns of Santa Cruz and Capitola. I found the one in the picture on the left in the North Beach neighborhood. All of these leave from San Francisco and ease the burden of trying to get to and from wine country on your own. Copyright 2009-2023 by SFTourismTips.com. Book this sunset cruise now for a relaxing and romantic tour of the San Francisco Bay. The 49-Mile Scenic Drive map also is available from the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau Visitor Information Center on the lower level of Hallidie Plaza at Market and Powell streets (near the cable car turnaround). Subscribe to our newsletter below. After that walk through Chinatown, which has some of the best food in the city, making it the perfect spot . Definitely recommended! New York City If you have decided that taking a stroll through San Franciscos most charming neighborhoods sounds like a good plan, weve got you covered with our Walking Tours of San Francisco. . Visit its top attractions, see where the Beat Generation spent their days and nights and taste some of the best goodies in the district. The tour shouldnt take longer than 1 - 1 hours to finish. The Castro District is a great place to visit on a driving tour, as it offers a little bit of everything that makes San Francisco the charming, quirky city that it is. Alamo Square Park, Steiner St, San Francisco, Tour of California Self-Guided Driving Bundle. The signs have a seagull featured on the top left corner. You can take a ferry to Sausalito and Tiburon north ofthe bay, or to Oakland and Vallejo in the east. Its full of shabby-chic vintage stores, tattoo parlors, and beautiful Victorian houses for you to check out. The city has a lot of it and it is not always predictable. Are you interested in exploring the city of San Francisco without a large group around you? There are a total of 19 stops to visit, and they are all in the same general location, so it shouldn't take longer than 1 - 2 hours to complete. Opening hours: Fri 12:00am-11:59pm. This is a walk through the past and future of San Francisco. After the booking, you will receive an email with a link to the Action Tour Guide app and a unique password to access the tour within the app. Buy now, travel whenevercoupon code on the next screen. There are options for guided tours at $25 per person, and camping fees vary by campground. As the ground convulses, buildings disintegrate and fires are ignited. Should You Go on a Driving Tour of San Francisco? There was a lot more to see than we had thought, coming from Europe and being fist time visitors. Taking a driving tour of San Francisco (SF) can be a great way to explore the city if you are short on time or dont feel like hiking up one of SFs famous hills. Lowest price guarantee Reserve now & pay laterFree cancellation. Mooncakes are their specialty, filled with a light melon or rich-tasting lotus-seed paste. San Francisco: D I wanted to package my love of San Francisco into a Self-Guided Free Walking Tour and this is the result. The curves enable driving down but the turns are too sharp for any longer cars and buses. You'll also stop by many places that were frequented by famous locals from San Francisco's past. A self guided driving tour we did with our friends.. read more. Washington DC. This San Francisco city tour begins with the Painted Ladies, one of the citys top attractions. During your walking tour, you will learn more about 20 of San Francisco's top attractions. San Francisco spreads out over 47 miles, so it's best to stick to one area at a time on your self-guided tour. Or, if you are in the mood for ice cream, the Bi-Rite Creamery salted caramelice cream is worth waiting in line for. Includes. The new cable car line provided easy access to the hill. Haight Ashbury is one of the places that made San Francisco world famous and represents for the people of that time the real old San Francisco Yet its good to know that today Haight Ashbury is an area with severe crime and drug problems. Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Take in the open space - and famous St Francis Hotel - before heading down Maiden Lane, SF's old red-light district (now full of designer boutiques). Park and explore wherever you wish. London We learnt tons about SF. Dont have the time or money to book one of our guided tours? Explore all that San Francisco has to offer, from the twists and turns of Lombard Street, through the bustling streets of Chinatown, and to the top of Telegraph Hill! They were designed by an artist who won a competition held by San Franciscos Downtown Association in 1955 and have marked the scenic drive ever since. This website uses cookies to improve your browsingexperience and analyze the use of the website. 3h. Its super easy, yet its best to visit on a Saturday or Sunday when there is less traffic. This self-guided tour starts by first visiting the Rosie the Riveter Visitor Education Center in Richmond, CA. Its a great place to watch street performers, see some of the citys most intricate vintage murals, and just soak in the atmosphere. Chinatown: This is one of the most visited neighborhoods in SF, since there is so much to see and do. Theres a lot of history behind this area of San Francisco, and many notable buildings and sites to experience. If you decide to add a few stops along the way, these cards will help you easily get back to your original route. Haight Ashbury has another kind of history. Save even more - get up to 25% on select hotels when you book on the app. In addition to this outing, you can also take our free guided walking tour of The Castro. 49 Miles of Pure San Francisco. So we did all our San Francisco sightseeing by car, but you can use public transport as well to get to the same places. Our tour continues to Carmel by the sea, where ample time is given to walk through this charming town dotted with lovely shops and beautiful architecture. Begin this self-guided tour in the heart of San Francisco. As noted below, some companies (such as Skyline Sightseeing . This drive introduces you to large swaths of San Franciscos history while allowing you to enjoy some great scenic views and hit up the highlights of the city. Guide Name: Chinatown Walking Tour Guide Location: USA San Francisco (See other walking tours in San Francisco) Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing) # of Attractions: 8 Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s) Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles Author: doris Sight(s) Featured in This Guide: Simply download the free TourCentric app, purchase your San Francisco self guided tour, and start anywhere along the route whenever youre ready! This SF self-drive tour route is circular so you can opt to begin wherever is most convenient. For your hotel stay, we also offer a free map of San Franciscos downtown area and central neighborhoods. And as you can imagine, there are a lot of interesting sites to see in the neighborhood. Optional Barbary Coast Trail. from. The tourist area of San Franciscos Fishermans Wharf. 2 hours. This is the end stop where two cable car lines, the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde lines turn back, so just set yourself in the queue and wait for the next cable car to come. The Financial District of San Francisco has changed a lot since the Gold Rush when this place already was a base for trade functions. Lying in the sun side by side and diving into the waters when they get hungry. Explore all that San Francisco has to offer, from the twists and turns of Lombard Street, through the bustling streets of Chinatown, and to the top of Telegraph Hill! Contact Me | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Site Map | Advertising Disclaimer. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. On my self-guided walking tour, you will see where history was made for the LGBTQ community. The preceding steps require good internet/wifi access. Learn More. This tour starts at Union Square, visits Chinatown, Grace Cathedral, the Cable Car Barn and Museum, North Beach (the Little Italy part of San Francisco), Lombard Street, Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. We still want you to have a great time here, so weve prepared these free self-guided tours that you can do on your own. For those who like to sit and relax, packages can be customized to include private city tours or even private road . Youll turn next onto Stockton Street and get a good look at something else you wont see every day: cable cars. The Full San Francisco Walking Tour Self-Guided Route Details Full Walking Tour Part 1 - Knob Hill to Fisherman's Wharf (3 miles, 1:05) This San Francisco walk starts at the Powell Street Station, more or less at the top of Knob Hill.Time permitting, you would consider crossing Market Street to see the museums and check out Folsom Street.Instead, you pop over to take some iconic shots of . This is based on an audio guide I did . Our North Beach tour is close to stops in both Chinatown and Fishermans Wharf, so it might make sense to enjoy more than one outing at the same time. On weekdays the Financial District is hectic but on weekends theres simply nobody. Next, travel through the famous 17-Mile Drive and see Pebble Beach Golf Course. Want to work with us? Now selling 4-5 bed, 3-4 bath homes starting at $786990. Visit the lavish Castro Theater building while you are there, or stop for the most delicious chocolate chip cookie you will ever have at the Hot Cookie Bakery. Next we'll see two iconic symbols of San Francisco's Chinatown: the Chinatown Mural and the Old Chinese Telephone Exchange. Our tour of Fishermans Wharf covers 13 stops and includes 8 great restaurants or foods you may want to enjoy while youre in the area. It started when wealthy families started building their houses up on the hill after the cable car line was opened. We went to places tourist didnt go. I've used these many times. Alcatraz tickets with 2-day hop-on hop-off San Francisco bus pass. Then, stop at Pier 39 to see the seal lion colony and the two-level carousel at the end of the pier. 3 hours. Past members include luminaries like Imogen Cunningham and Ruth Asawa. This post provides a list of free self-guided tours of San Francisco that you can enjoy anytime, day or night, every day of the week. Wil and Erin at Ride Free organised our whole trip along route 66 then the coast road to San Francisco. While youre up there, youll learn to identify some of the most famous structures which make up Friscos skyline. As we drive, we'll learn all about the impact of Chinese and Asian immigrants on San Francisco. At last, youll reach the beautiful waterfront, home to some of the best food and drink in Frisco, not to mention astonishing views of the bay! To make driving easier, the most curved section of Lombard Street was made a one-way street (only down), and there is a strict speed limit (5 mph, 8km/hour). Friendly & very informative. Expand All. Totally 14 000 Victorians have been saved in the city after all earthquakes and fires that have destroyed a lot of the city, time after time. English. It is located about 20 miles (30 km) northeast of San Francisco , and approximately a half-hour drive (without traffic) from San Francisco. Apparently, reservations are required . The residential area of Pacific Heights is on the next hill in order and offers great views to the city and the bay area. Ferry cruises to the bay also start here. You can start and end anywhere along the way. $ 65 $ 50. San Francisco has water on three sides so you can imagine how useful the bridges were and still are. It's a totally weird and unique San Francisco thing ( here's a list of a bunch of other weird San Francisco quirks). Changing travel date? Benefits Over Live Guides and Group Tours: Pick up right where you left off and continue your search for things to do, This information is provided by our partners. Do you love venturing out on your own? Don't worry about other people - With the app, you can pause the tour, and check out the locations as long as you want. Andrew H 10/26/2019. Make a stop here to take some photos, or simply drive by so you can tell your friends you saw them! 5 Travel to Point Reyes National Seashore. Starting Point Address (Southbound) - SF to LA: PG6H+8F Lakeshore, San Francisco, CA, USA. You can spot some of San Franciscos most famous landmarks from here. Join us for a walk along the streets . Lombard Street twists down past green bushes and flower beds. Brooklyn Bike Tour. Be sure to check your email before you begin to download the Action Tour Guide app, enter your unique password, and access your tour. However, Nob Hill was rebuilt and today its a place where upper class families and urban professionals like to live. San Francisco Sightseeing: A Driving Tour, Coastal Drive from San Francisco to Monterey, Drive in Central Bali: Batuan, Goa Gajah, Mount Batur, Yarra River Walk through Central Melbourne, How to Make a Bus Trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Sightseeing in Melbourne on Foot and Circle Tram, Italy by Train and Car: Rome, Florence and Tuscany, Wicklow Mountains Scenic Drive from Dublin, Madeira by Car: Santana Day Trip from Funchal, Las Palmas Mountain Trip: Gran Canarias Scenic North. . To open in Google Maps click the icon in the top right corner. We include a few details about each tour to give you an idea of what to expect on each outing. Bring your walking shoes we started at 10 am and finished at 6 pm, I highly recommend you do this tour. Market Street is the main street that cuts through Downtown San Francisco, running from the Ferry Buildingto thePowell Street Cable Car Turntable. Just be aware of this. 17-Mile Drive entrance fee. Our self-guided San Francisco walking tour is 6 miles long and spans 8 unique San Francisco neighborhoods: You will find there are no definitive lines between these Colonias and Fraccionamientos. You will only notice when walking through its neighborhoods. 2. After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Action Tour Guide app, enter your unique password, and access your tour. Oahu; Big Island; Maui; Kauai; Utah. Our guide Damien was so very knowledgeable about the area and history of SF. Big Island Tour Bundle. It's like having a local show you around. Make Memories & See the city in one of our self-guided San Diego tours! Locals call it the blast from the past, and for good reasons. A self guided driving tour we did with our friends.. read more Andrew H 10/26/2019. Not bad, both tourists and locals like this. It stops at the top of the curved block and you can walk down the stairs and see the cars. The number of Pier 39 sea lions varies along the year, the record number of seals present at the same time being 1700. However, you should know what youre getting into before you tackle the task of doing the entire drive. Got a soft spot for the hippie-dippie days of the 1960s? Like Pacific Heights and Nob Hill, Haight Ashbury consists of large Victorian houses but thats the only similarity. Email, phone, and chat support are available if needed. Changing travel date? Our self-guided tour of Chinatown includes a map that you can use to pinpoint the location of each individual stop, making it easy to explore at your own leisure without getting lost. This means you only have to bring along the ones you plan on using that day. Most tour companies spend between 1.5 to 2 hours in the forest. Alternatively, you may also want to consider taking our free, fully guided Chinatown walking tour. Expedia, Inc. is not responsible for content on external Web sites. If your time in San Francisco is limited, taking a driving tour of the city could be a good option for you. 2022Outdoor Activities in San Francisco. That way it will only take more time and you will have to examine San Francisco bus and cable car maps and timetables. Take your time driving through Monterey Bay, artsy Carmel and more. One of the major highlights in San Franciscos history was the Golden Gate International Exposition held at Treasure Island in 1939 to celebrate the building of both the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge, which had each only recently been completed at the time. Get your Go City San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass, save up to 50% and take advantage of unlimited access to 25+ top attractions and a downloadable guide. This is Grant Avenue, the Chinatowns main street. Northern California Guided Motorcycle Tour. Visit the top attractions, including: the Ferry Building, Coit Tower, Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, Alcatraz, Palace of Fine Arts, Presidio, and the Golden Gate Bridge. . Next, we'll head up one of SF's famous hills: Theres a phenomenal view of the bay and of the city skyline once youre up there. We also cover this part of the city in a fully guided free walking tour of Downtown San Francisco. Alamo Square has nice sets of Victorian houses, one of which is the famous postcard row that probably is the most photographed spot in all San Francisco. Self-Guided Driving Tour. From the Powell Street cable car end stop you can take the cable car and travel to the Chinatown, Nob Hill and all the way to the other side of the hill where the Fishermans Wharf is. This website does not sell any personal information. All rights reserved. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 7 Sites to Visit on a Driving Tour of San Francisco, Alternatives to a San Francisco Driving Tour. To make driving easier, the most curved section of Lombard Street was made a one-way street (only down), and there is a strict speed limit (5 mph, 8km/hour). Download Hawaii's highest-rated travel apps + now introducing self-guided tours in Utah! If you have ever watched Full House, you will know what we are talking about. You start at the Japan Center Malls where you will find a plaque outlining the walk. This tour is also available as a PDF that you can download onto your smartphone, allowing you to save some money on data or even avoid using data at all! Some of the key attractions on the drive that can easily be enjoyed without getting out of the car include: Here are some of the attractions that the 49-Mile scenic drive will take you past but which may be worth getting out of the car and exploring in more depth: The 49-Mile scenic drive is a great experience and a terrific way to see a lot of what the city has to offer.