Stanford and Silicon Valley
The best Silicon Valley and Stanford tours
Stanford’s own campus visits, a self-guided walk by Caltrain, and a private Silicon Valley tour with hotel pickup: here is how to see Stanford and the tech towns, with honest advice on the price of the private tour, who the official campus tours are for, and how to get there by train.
See our pick
The official Stanford University tours are for students who plan to apply, so plan to see the campus on your own. You can walk it for free, mostly on weekends and holidays. Or book the private Silicon Valley tour from San Francisco, from €464 for up to 4 people, with hotel pickup.
Our pick for Silicon Valley
One private tour with hotel pickup. The price is for the whole group of up to 4.
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from €464 per group up to 4 Our top pick 6 hours 4.8 (236) reviews on GetYourGuide
Private Silicon Valley tour from San Francisco
A 6-hour private tour for up to 4 people, with hotel pickup. It visits the Apple Visitor Center and the Google headquarters, and tells the story of the tech giants. It also stops at Stanford University (pictured).
Best for Tech fans and small groups
Check availability: Private Silicon Valley tour from San Francisco on GetYourGuide
The Silicon Valley tour at a glance
- From
- €464 per group up to 4
- Duration
- 6 hours
- Group size
- Private, up to 4
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Free cancellation
- Yes, 24 h
- Why we picked it
- The only Silicon Valley tour with pickup in the city: 4.8 from over 230 reviews.
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.
Can you visit Stanford as a tourist?
Yes. Stanford welcomes self-guided visits on most weekends and holidays. Start at the Visitor Center, 295 Galvez Street, open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The official campus tours run on weekdays and need you to register. They are for students who plan to apply, not for general sightseeing.
Free things to see on campus
The Cantor Arts Center has a free outdoor sculpture walk. You do not need a reservation.
Silicon Valley tour from San Francisco
The private tour is the easy way to see the tech sites in one day. It takes 6 hours and picks you up at your hotel. The listing names three stops:
- Apple Visitor Center: where the story of Apple is told.
- Google headquarters: the home of the search giant.
- Stanford University: the campus and its Main Quad.
What the price covers
It costs from €464 for the whole group of up to 4. That covers hotel pickup and drop-off, your guide and bottled water. Tips are extra. For one or two people that is a lot; for a group of four it is fairer.
Getting to Stanford by Caltrain
Caltrain is the cheap way to Stanford. Take it from 4th and King Street to Palo Alto. A one-way ticket costs $8.50, and a day pass costs $17.
Local trains take about 50 minutes; express trains take about 40. At midday on weekdays a train runs about every 30 minutes.
Stanford is one of the easier day trips from San Francisco, because you need no car.
Tips for Stanford and Silicon Valley
Go on a weekend
Self-guided visits are welcome on most weekends and holidays.
Share the private tour
The price is per group of up to 4, so it is fairer with friends or family.
Book free cancellation
The tour can be cancelled up to 24 hours before for a full refund.
Tap Clipper on Caltrain
Pay with Clipper or at the ticket machine before you board.
Stanford and Silicon Valley: questions and answers
Can you visit Stanford as a tourist?
How do you get from San Francisco to Stanford?
Can you visit Apple Park or Google?
More San Francisco tours, live
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More day trips on your own
Facts checked on 23 October 2026 against: Stanford Visitor Center · Stanford: campus visit · Cantor Arts Center: outdoor sculpture walk · Caltrain: fares · Caltrain: San Francisco station · Caltrain: weekday schedule.
Written by the Things to Do in San Francisco editorial team.