How to See Alcatraz Island When You Visit San Francisco
A prison isn’t usually a tourist destination, but Alcatraz Island in San Francisco is a major exception. Touring the historic former penitentiary is…
All SF Tours
No Badge
No Badge
2 Reviews
Fisherman’s Wharf Walking Tour
SF’s famous waterfront, plus the Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito
$29 per adult
-
Local experts
Personal stories and insider travel tips -
Top-rated
Thousands of reviews averaging 4.9 stars -
Worry-free booking
Flexible scheduling and refunds
$29 per adult
$29 per adult
-
Local experts
Personal stories and insider travel tips -
Top-rated
Thousands of reviews averaging 4.9 stars -
Worry-free booking
Flexible scheduling and refunds
Highlights
- Learn about San Francisco's coming-of-age with stories from the Gold Rush, earthquakes, and cable car history.
- Discover the city’s best treats like Ghirardelli chocolate, sourdough, and Dungeness crab.
- Explore Pier 39 with its shopping, entertainment, and adorable sea lions.
- Upgrade your ticket with a bay cruise for up-close views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Take a roundtrip ferry to Sausalito to see the quaint shops, eateries, and houseboats with our optional upgrade.
What you'll do
Meet your guide at the north end of Fisherman’s Wharf and start your experience by taking in the amazing views of the bay, Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz.
Hear how San Francisco transformed from a sleepy village to a booming port city when gold fever swept the nation in 1849, and learn the origin ... Read more
Meet your guide at the north end of Fisherman’s Wharf and start your experience by taking in the amazing views of the bay, Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz.
Hear how San Francisco transformed from a sleepy village to a booming port city when gold fever swept the nation in 1849, and learn the origin story of Ghirardelli Square. As we stroll along the fog-lined waterfront, check out the stalls selling specialties like crab and clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls.
We’ll walk part of the historic Barbary Coast trail. Then we head to Pier 39 to see the historic ships and the colony of sea lions that has taken over the docks. Continuing along the Embarcadero Promenade, you’ll hear about the infamous Alcatraz, too, and how it’s much more than just a prison.
If you’ve chosen the Golden Gate Bay Cruise upgrade, your guide will show you how to find your boat, where you’ll set sail to enjoy closeup views of the Golden Gate Bridge and stunning panoramas of the SF skyline.
If you opted for the Sausalito upgrade, you’ll head to the ferry instead. Your self-guided visit to Sausalito offers the chance to explore this colorful city across the bay, built by artist squatters in the 1940s but popular today for its picturesque houseboats, shops, and restaurants. Don’t forget to snap photos of the Golden Gate Bridge and skyline on the ferry ride there and back, included with your upgrade.
Itinerary
-
Aquatic Park
With views of ships, the San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz
-
Ghirardelli Square
Home to the famous former factory run by Italian chocolatier Domenico Ghirardelli
-
Waterfront
Where vendors sell SF staples like Dungeness crab and clam chowder bread bowls
-
Part of the Barbary Coast Trail
A 19th-century red-light district turned scenic trail
-
Pier 39
Sea lions sunbathing on the docks and historic ships in the harbor
-
Embarcadero Promenade
Once a traditional maritime port, now filled with restaurants, amusement piers, and art deco streetcars
-
Optional upgrade: Golden Gate Bay Cruise
Featuring skyline views, history, and more on the San Francisco Bay
-
Optional upgrade: Sausalito
Roundtrip ferry ride to a World War II ship hub turned into picturesque art enclave
Make this tour private
Book this tour for just your group, starting from $49 per adult.
Book private tourPlan your trip
Golden Gate Bay Cruise upgrade
This upgrade includes a bay cruise with spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge, skyline, and more. Your guide will help you find your boat.
Sausalito upgrade
This upgrade includes roundtrip ferry tickets from Fisherman’s Wharf to Sausalito. Enjoy views of the Golden Gate Bridge, skyline and more on the ferry ride.
Accessibility
This tour is accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.
Refund policy
We offer a 100% refund up to 24 hours before the start time.
Reviews
Dara is a fantastic tour guide. She showed us all around Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. She gave us a lot of information on the history of the city. She's friendly and knowledgeable.
Kim
Professionalism, Punctuality, Quality, Value
Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Dara, with such a friendly atmosphere we had a fantastic start! The tour was extremely insightful, and Dara provided us with targeted information and recommendations!
Dara has such a down-to-earth personality and is a highly motivated guide, being from the city, she was able to add a warm and nostalgic feel to just about everything we learned. Many thanks again and I would highly recommend Dara’s tours!
— Emily
Meeting point
Already booked your tour? Visit our pre-tour welcome page for more about how to connect with your guide plus tips for your trip.
Aquatic Park, 700 Beach Street
FAQs
How much walking is there?
Our tour of Fisherman’s Wharf includes a mile of walking at a moderate pace. If mobility is an issue, please arrange for a private tour.
What can we do in Sausalito?
If you choose our Sausalito upgrade, there’s so much to do in this city across the bay. Admire the colorful houseboats while strolling along the waterfront. Enjoy lunch or browse the trendy shops. When you’re ready, take the ferry back to Fisherman’s Wharf. The ferry ride is another great opportunity to take photos of the bay and skyline. The ride is about 25 minutes each way, and we recommend allowing about two hours to explore Sausalito.
Can we do both upgrades?
Sure! But you’ll want to do them on different days. Plan to do the Golden Gate Bay Cruise or the ferry to Sausalito right after your Fisherman’s Wharf tour. Then save your ticket for the other upgrade for another day. Your guide can share tips for how to coordinate your visits — don’t hesitate to ask.
Will we see Alcatraz?
Your guide will talk about Alcatraz on the tour as we view it from a distance, but if you’d like to visit the island and tour this historic landmark, we recommend our Fisherman’s Wharf Walking Tour with Alcatraz Ticket.
What is the rescheduling policy?
We understand plans change. You can always change your tour 24 hours or more before you tour. We offer a 100% refund up to 24 hours prior to your tour start time. Within 24 hours of your tour, we would have incurred hard costs and therefore cannot allow rescheduling or cancellation without costs.
What if it rains?
Our tours run rain or shine, so please check the local forecast to plan. In rare cases when we have to cancel for extreme weather, we’ll offer you the chance to reschedule or give a full refund.
Are gratuities included?
Tips are always appreciated but never expected. They’re a great way to tell your guide they did an awesome job and show your appreciation.
SF travel guides
How Fisherman’s Wharf Became Famous — And What To See Today
Every major city has a designated “tourist zone” that visitors love but locals tend to avoid, and in San Francisco, it’s Fisherman’s Wharf…