San Francisco city tours
The best San Francisco hop‑on hop‑off tours
1- and 2-day hop‑on tickets, night and sunset buses, a vintage VW bus and a guided half-day tour: here is how to pick a San Francisco city tour, with honest advice on waiting for the bus, what the ticket really covers, and whether you get a live guide or a recording.
See our 8 picks
The best hop‑on hop‑off tour in San Francisco for most people is the 17-stop sightseeing bus. A 1-day ticket costs from €50. For a live guide instead of a recording, pick the 20-stop bus, from €44.
Our 8 picks for San Francisco city tours
Four hop-on hop-off tickets, two evening buses and two guided tours.
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from €50 per person Our top pick 1–2 days 4.6 (4,147) reviews on GetYourGuide
17-stop hop‑on hop‑off bus, 1 or 2 days
A 24- or 48-hour ticket for an open-top bus that starts at 99 Jefferson Street by Fisherman's Wharf. The commentary is digital, in seven languages. You can add a sunset tour, a bay cruise or a Chinatown walk.
Best for First-time visitors who want the classic loop
Check availability: 17-stop hop‑on hop‑off bus, 1 or 2 days on GetYourGuide -
from €44 per person 8 hours–2 days 4.0 (958) reviews on GetYourGuide
20-stop hop‑on hop‑off bus with a live guide
A double-decker loop with 20 stops and no fixed start: you get on at any stop. A live guide talks in English, and an app covers 12 more languages. Bring headphones for the app.
Best for Visitors who want a live guide on board
Check availability: 20-stop hop‑on hop‑off bus with a live guide on GetYourGuide -
from €47 per person 2 days 3.8 (60) reviews on GetYourGuide
20-stop hop‑on hop‑off bus, 2 days
The same 20-stop loop with a live guide, for two days. Wi-Fi is on board. It is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Best for Visitors who want to spread the sights over two days
Check availability: 20-stop hop‑on hop‑off bus, 2 days on GetYourGuide -
from €59 per person 1–2 days 4.5 (96) reviews on GetYourGuide
Hop‑on hop‑off bus with an optional night tour
A 1- or 2-day ticket for more than 16 stops, with audio in six languages. Choose the option with the night tour to see the lit-up city as well.
Best for Visitors who want day and night on one ticket
Check availability: Hop‑on hop‑off bus with an optional night tour on GetYourGuide -
from €40 per person 1 hour 4.1 (111) reviews on GetYourGuide
Sunset tour by open-top bus
A 1-hour open-top ride past Nob Hill, Union Square and Grace Cathedral. You cross the Bay Bridge for skyline views from Treasure Island. Earbuds are included.
Best for Couples and anyone short on time
Check availability: Sunset tour by open-top bus on GetYourGuide -
from €47 per person 1 hour 4.3 (97) reviews on GetYourGuide
Night tour by double-decker bus
A 60- to 90-minute night ride from 99 Jefferson Street over the lit-up Bay Bridge. There is a photo stop at Treasure Island when the weather allows.
Best for Night owls and photographers
Check availability: Night tour by double-decker bus on GetYourGuide -
from €76 per person 2 hours 4.9 (854) reviews on GetYourGuide
Small-group tour by vintage VW bus
A 2-hour ride for up to 8 people in an old VW bus. It passes the Painted Ladies, Lombard Street, the Mrs. Doubtfire house and the Golden Gate Bridge. Water and snacks are included.
Best for Couples and friends who want a fun, small group
Check availability: Small-group tour by vintage VW bus on GetYourGuide -
from €70 per person 3.5 hours 4.7 (51) reviews on GetYourGuide
Guided half-day city tour with hotel pickup
A 3.5-hour tour by van with a live guide. It drives through Haight-Ashbury, the Castro, Chinatown and the Marina, and stops for the sea lions at Pier 39. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.
Best for Visitors who want to be picked up and shown around
Check availability: Guided half-day city tour with hotel pickup on GetYourGuide
San Francisco city tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Pickup | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17-stop hop‑on hop‑off bus, 1 or 2 days | €50 per person | 1–2 days | Meet on site | First-time visitors who want the classic loop | The most-booked city tour here: 4.6 from more than 4,100 reviews. |
| 20-stop hop‑on hop‑off bus with a live guide | €44 per person | 8 hours–2 days | Pickup included | Visitors who want a live guide on board | The cheapest full-day ticket, and one of the few with a live guide. |
| 20-stop hop‑on hop‑off bus, 2 days | €47 per person | 2 days | Pickup included | Visitors who want to spread the sights over two days | Two full days for only a few euros more than one. |
| Hop‑on hop‑off bus with an optional night tour | €59 per person | 1–2 days | Meet on site | Visitors who want day and night on one ticket | The only hop-on ticket that bundles a night tour. |
| Sunset tour by open-top bus | €40 per person | 1 hour | Meet on site | Couples and anyone short on time | The cheapest bus here, and a good first evening. |
| Night tour by double-decker bus | €47 per person | 1 hour | Meet on site | Night owls and photographers | The longest of the night buses, with a photo stop. |
| Small-group tour by vintage VW bus | €76 per person | 2 hours | Meet on site | Couples and friends who want a fun, small group | The best-rated city tour here: 4.9 from more than 850 reviews. |
| Guided half-day city tour with hotel pickup | €70 per person | 3.5 hours | Pickup included | Visitors who want to be picked up and shown around | The only pick with hotel pickup in the price. |
17-stop hop‑on hop‑off bus, 1 or 2 days
€50 per person1–2 days 4.6 (4,147)
More details
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- First-time visitors who want the classic loop
- Why we picked it
- The most-booked city tour here: 4.6 from more than 4,100 reviews.
20-stop hop‑on hop‑off bus with a live guide
€44 per person8 hours–2 days 4.0 (958)
More details
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want a live guide on board
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest full-day ticket, and one of the few with a live guide.
20-stop hop‑on hop‑off bus, 2 days
€47 per person2 days 3.8 (60)
More details
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want to spread the sights over two days
- Why we picked it
- Two full days for only a few euros more than one.
Hop‑on hop‑off bus with an optional night tour
€59 per person1–2 days 4.5 (96)
More details
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want day and night on one ticket
- Why we picked it
- The only hop-on ticket that bundles a night tour.
€40 per person1 hour 4.1 (111)
More details
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- Couples and anyone short on time
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest bus here, and a good first evening.
Night tour by double-decker bus
€47 per person1 hour 4.3 (97)
More details
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- Night owls and photographers
- Why we picked it
- The longest of the night buses, with a photo stop.
Small-group tour by vintage VW bus
€76 per person2 hours 4.9 (854)
More details
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- Couples and friends who want a fun, small group
- Why we picked it
- The best-rated city tour here: 4.9 from more than 850 reviews.
Guided half-day city tour with hotel pickup
€70 per person3.5 hours 4.7 (51)
More details
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want to be picked up and shown around
- Why we picked it
- The only pick with hotel pickup in the price.
Group size is stated for one tour only: Small-group tour by vintage VW bus, up to 8. All 8 offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Is a bus tour of San Francisco worth it?
Yes, a bus tour of San Francisco is worth it on a first visit. The city is hilly, and the bus gets you up the hills without the walk. You see the main sights in one day.
It is less worth it if you only want one or two places. Then a single ride on Muni is cheaper.
Want a few sights at your own pace? A 1-day Muni Visitor Passport costs $15 and covers the city buses, streetcars and cable cars all day.
On a tight budget? Our list of free things to do in San Francisco shows what you can see without a ticket.
Compare the hop‑on hop‑off bus tickets
Three companies run hop-on hop-off buses here, and their tickets differ in three ways. Look at the number of stops, the number of days and the type of guide.
- 17 stops, 1 or 2 days: from €50. Digital commentary in seven languages. Add-ons: sunset tour, bay cruise or Chinatown walk.
- 20 stops, 1 day: from €44. Live guide in English, app in more languages.
- 20 stops, 2 days: from €47. The same bus for two days.
- 16+ stops, with night tour option: from €59. Audio in six languages.
Guides on San Francisco tours and sights
- San Francisco cable car tours
- Exploratorium tickets
- San Francisco ghost tours
- San Francisco movie locations tour
- Oracle Park ballpark tour
- SFMOMA tickets
- San Francisco with kids
- Romantic things to do in San Francisco
- San Francisco at night
- Rainy day and indoor things to do in San Francisco
- San Francisco in winter
What a hop‑on hop‑off ticket includes and costs
A ticket covers the bus loop for the hours or days you pick. You can get on and off as often as you like. Food, drinks and tips are not included.
Read the add-ons with care. On the 17-stop bus, the sunset tour, bay cruise and Chinatown walk come only with the option that names them. The night tour on the 16-stop ticket is also an option. Every pick here can be cancelled up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund.
Live guide or recorded commentary?
The 20-stop buses have a live guide on board who speaks English. The 17-stop bus and the evening buses use recorded commentary. For other languages on the 20-stop bus, bring your phone and your own headphones.
Routes and sightseeing stops
The buses loop past the big sights. Here is what each line names on its booking page:
- 17-stop bus: starts at 99 Jefferson Street by Fisherman's Wharf, stops near the Wharf museums, and goes to the Golden Gate Bridge. You can cross the bridge by bus or on foot.
- 20-stop bus: a loop of 20 sightseeing stops with no fixed start, so you can get on at the stop nearest your hotel.
- 16+ stops, with night tour option: more than 16 stops by day, plus a night tour of the lit-up city if you pick that option.
How often the buses run
The booking pages give no timetable, so plan for some waiting at busy stops. The 17-stop bus has an app with live bus tracking. Check it before you leave a sight.
Night and sunset bus tours
Yes, there are night tours, and most are sold on their own. The 1-hour sunset bus and the 60- to 90-minute night bus both cross the Bay Bridge to Treasure Island. On hop-on tickets, the 17-stop bus can add a sunset tour, and the 16-stop bus can add a night tour.
The booking pages give no fixed departure time for the sunset and night buses. Pick a time when you book.
Bring a warm layer. The top deck is open, and evenings by the bay get cold.
Small-group and guided city tours
If you want a guide who talks with you, take a small-group tour. The vintage VW bus takes up to 8 people for 2 hours. The half-day tour picks you up at your hotel and takes 3.5 hours.
Neither one is a private tour. For a private trip, ask the company on the booking page if you can book the whole bus.
Which city tour should you book?
Pick by what matters most to you. If you would rather plan it yourself, our San Francisco itinerary guide lays out the days.
- First visit, one day: the 17-stop bus.
- You want a live guide: the 20-stop bus.
- Day and night on one ticket: the 16-stop bus with the night option.
- Only one evening: the sunset bus or the night bus.
- Small group and fun: the vintage VW bus.
- No transport of your own: the half-day tour with hotel pickup.
Tips for San Francisco city tours
Start early
Get on the first bus of the day. You get more time at each stop and shorter lines.
Bring headphones
On the 20-stop bus, other languages come through an app. You need your own phone and headphones.
Pack a jacket
The top deck is open and windy, even on a sunny day.
Check the cancellation line
Every pick can be cancelled up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund on GetYourGuide. Check the cut-off on the booking page before you pay.
San Francisco city tours: questions and answers
What is the best hop‑on hop‑off bus tour in San Francisco?
How much does a hop‑on hop‑off bus tour cost in San Francisco?
Is a hop‑on hop‑off bus worth it in San Francisco?
Does San Francisco have trolley buses?
How do you pay for the city bus in San Francisco?
Is there a free walking tour in San Francisco?
More San Francisco city tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
Live prices and availability from GetYourGuide load here.
Facts checked on 23 October 2026 against: SFMTA: fares · SFMTA: Muni.
Written by the Things to Do in San Francisco editorial team.