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. (A) Caltrain Station - aka, the OG San Francisco Station. According to an article on the history of the drive, a few of the annoyances you may encounter during the drive include: If you do the drive from start to finish with just a few stops at the major attractions it should take you three to four hours to complete the drive. If you dont spend too much time taking photos and waiting in bathroom lines, you could visit all 7 sites we talk about in this article in under 3 hours. Despite that they look really cute, social and intelligent. This tour covers some of the most interesting sites in the historic Chinatown district of San Francisco. We'll exit SF's Chinatown through the Dragon's Gate. Simplify your planning process to this neighborhood by taking a guided tour. Friendly & very informative. The original hands-on paranormal investigation tour. Stop and take some photos. You can get a free, printable, detailed map of the San Francisco 49 Mile Drive right here for your trip. The residential area of Pacific Heights is on the next hill in order and offers great views to the city and the bay area. you could eat at a different NYC spot once a day for 22.7 years and .Central Park Bike Tour. Great exercise- best way to see SF. Summer of Love in Height Ashbury, San Francisco. Many of their idols like Jimi Hendrix were living here at that time and rock music was heard and hippie art seen in all places. Fisherman's Wharf walking tour & Alcatraz visit. We have put together a list of 7 must-see sites for San Francisco visitors. My tours offer you a step-by-step route to make it easy to get around. Haight-Ashbury. The onsite gallery hosts monthly exhibitions, as well as permanent work by current and past members. With an automatic car its easier. We learnt tons about SF. 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. From tasting delicious food to feeling the hippy love, to exploring the haunted past of San Francisco, theres something there for everyone. This San Francisco city tour begins with the Painted Ladies, one of the citys top attractions. Amsterdam SIGN UPFOR OUR EMAIL TO RECEIVE YOUR FREESAN FRANCISCO PLANNING GUIDE. I've used these in other cities too and they are great. A large part of San Franciscos charm is in the little quirky details. Looking at them you could imagine being in China. 2023 Routes and Trips. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Not only that, but you can also create your own walk with the attractions that interest you most and even set your hotel as . Drive to the summit of Russian Hill and you will find the street said to be the crookedest street in the world: Lombard Street is the steepest street in San Francisco. Your tour will conclude here, but that isnt where the fun ends! FREE TOURS BY FOOT IS THE ORIGINAL PAY-WHAT-YOU-LIKE WALKING TOUR. 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. Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Northern California Self Drive Motorcycle Tour . 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 tour takes you along to visit many of San Francisco's must-see places while you are in control behind the wheel of our own vehicle. Stop to enjoy the view, take pics, eat, walk, etc! It started when wealthy families started building their houses up on the hill after the cable car line was opened. For example, you could easily drive past Tessie Walls infamous brothel without knowing about it! Beach Street garages had very reasonable parking rates and they had flat rates for the whole day on a Saturday. 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. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative result from a recent antigen or molecular test may be required, please check the local requirements before your visit. Free cancellation. It should say Powell-Hyde (it has a brown sign). 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 still has an appeal and is well worth visiting when you are exploring San Francisco by car. Traffic. San Francisco by car: driving down the eight turns of Lombard Street. As distances are long in San Francisco, driving is by far the best way to explore the city. Be sure to check your email before you begin to download the Action Tour Guide app, enter your unique password, and access your tour. Spend more time at Twin Peaks, visit the Coit Tower, and take time to explore all the hilly, historical neighborhoods of SF. We designed our self-guided walking tour of San Francisco to include several examples of that quirky San Francisco charm. The person I travel with is my husband and photographer Clas: Come and join the trip! The sun heats the air and the seals have their dear friends and neighbors around them :). You will also find others that offer either audio or a map to get you from point to point. 07:40am: Departure from Post Street pickup location Charleston 2 departure locations in San Francisco to choose from: 478 Post St. SF (Union Square Area) - Departs at 7:40 AM. These include the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the Transamerica Building. Alcatraz tickets with 2-day hop-on hop-off San Francisco bus pass. We'll learn all about this building's strange history as we pass. Opening hours: Fri 12:00am-11:59pm. 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). In case you get hungry while driving around, The Mission District also has some of the best authentic local restaurants in the city. San Francisco by car: the old Ferry Building. Then, stop at Pier 39 to see the seal lion colony and the two-level carousel at the end of the pier. Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and visit the Golden Gate Park, home to museums and attractions including the Academy of Sciences, the DeYoung Museum, and the friendly Bison. Alternatively, you may also want to consider taking our free, fully guided Chinatown walking tour. In-Vehicle GPS and Audio Commentary. And even if you do have more time to spend in the city (or even if you live there) its worth it to take the drive at least once to see all that San Francisco is known for, discovering a few of the gems that people sometimes miss like Mission Dolores. You will then walk from each historical marker to the next as you learn all about the oldest Japantown in the US. 5 Travel to Point Reyes National Seashore. Also, if youre looking for more ideas on how you could spend your time here, be sure to read our helpful guideThings to Do in San Franciscofor some suggestions. This means you only have to bring along the ones you plan on using that day. The new cable car line provided easy access to the hill. And why not? This means only a small number of sea lions stay here throughout the year. Theres a lot of history behind this area of San Francisco, and many notable buildings and sites to experience. The great thing about this drive is that it takes you through so much of the city that nearly any hotel youre staying in within city limits is going to be close to a portion of the drive. These steps require good data/wifi. 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). As we make our way to the waterfront, we'll dive into San Francisco's maritime history and it's (literal) gold-digging past. California sea lions are noisy, they bark and they smell. Most tour companies spend between 1.5 to 2 hours in the forest. Our app deals help you to save on trips so you can travel more and manage it all on the go. Go City | San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass. Of course fog can obscure the views youre seeking from the drive. Youll turn next onto Stockton Street and get a good look at something else you wont see every day: cable cars. Mooncakes are their specialty, filled with a light melon or rich-tasting lotus-seed paste. This tour covers 14 stops in total, and almost all of them can be seen along Columbus Avenue as you walk North toward Fishermans Wharf. 17-Mile Drive entrance fee. San Francisco itself has much to offer the first-time visitor. Or, if you are in the mood for ice cream, the Bi-Rite Creamery salted caramelice cream is worth waiting in line for. If you come to San Francisco, you might join one of Britt's tours of the city. In particular there are certain areas of the city that are not very car-friendly, such as pedestrian-rich. This SF self-drive tour route is circular so you can opt to begin wherever is most convenient. Visit the fascinating San Francisco Modern Museum of Art, including seven floors of galleries and exhibits, three dining options, two museum stores, and more! You can start and end anywhere along the way. Our self-guided tour of Chinatown includes a map that you can . For those who like to sit and relax, packages can be customized to include private city tours or even private road . Both days were fantastic and the natural beauty of the hilly metropolis surprised us. Street corner after street corner. Apparently, reservations are required . On this San Francisco tour, drive down the very steep and crooked Lombard Street, and around neighborhoods such as the Mission. That way it will only take more time and you will have to examine San Francisco bus and cable car maps and timetables. San Francisco spreads out over 47 miles, so it's best to stick to one area at a time on your self-guided tour. However, the people who live in them will surely assist you with the boundaries and the colorful . However, you should know what youre getting into before you tackle the task of doing the entire drive. 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 . Check availability. These beautiful, colorful homes exemplify Friscos funky culture and are a great way to start your journey. . Streets like this would never work in Europe where a lot of cars still have manual gears. At that time the business people were miners that came here to weigh their gold and get a quote on it. These experiences are best for self-guided tours & rentals in San Francisco: 4-Hour Slingshot Rental; Golden Gate Bridge Bike Rental with Sausalito Ferry Return; Golden . Expedia, Inc. is not responsible for content on external Web sites. Youll have access to the tour for 72 hours and can start and stop as often as you want. 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! Haight Ashbury got its name from the corner of its two major streets, Haight and Ashbury. This is a walk through the past and future of San Francisco. With TourCentric, you'll be completely immersed in the stories, sights, and sounds of San Francisco. North Beach: This district is also called Little Italy. Fog. On my self-guided walking tour, you will see where history was made for the LGBTQ community. >> Learn more about things to see and do in Japantown. CONGRATULATIONS!You are about to embark on an adventure filled self-guided tour of the neighborhoods of Mrida. You will also find some of the best Mexican, Cuban and other cuisines from both South and Central America. 7 Sites to Visit on a Driving Tour of San Francisco. Welcome to the GPS-enabled offline driving tour of San Francisco, California by Action Tour Guide! He has traveled to over 30 countries, and has never found a place he loves as much as this one! You definitely have to include Pier 39 in your San Francisco sightseeing program. Looking upwards you will see how high these earthquake protected buildings are! +1 646 4611355. As we continue driving, we'll dive into what makes SF the city that it is: it's past, it's present, and the promise of it's future. Simply download our app and enter your unique password. Here you will find some of the best at night from scary ghost walks to night cruises around the bay. Its like this, and will be. There was a lot more to see than we had thought, coming from Europe and being fist time visitors. My tours are one full day in each district. Your virtual audio guide will share interesting . Book now from $8! Each one covers many of the top attractions and points out the hidden gems you would have missed by walking the neighborhood on your own. 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. Founded as a "sketch club" for female artists in 1887, San Francisco Women Artists (SFWA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and expanding women in the arts. Chinatown: This is one of the most visited neighborhoods in SF, since there is so much to see and do. Local insider narration and special guest interviews. Should You Go on a Driving Tour of San Francisco? This is where most department stores are, making the San Francisco Market Street one of the main shopping streets of the city. Online information on parking in San Francisco, Another provider of parking information in San Francisco. Like Pacific Heights and Nob Hill, Haight Ashbury consists of large Victorian houses but thats the only similarity. He gave us lots of fun facts along the way and the whole experience was very interesting. We'll climb to the top of Coit Tower and get a great look at San Francisco from above. Be sure to also check out our free, guided walking tours of San Francisco. Opening hours: Fri 12:00am-11:59pm. This is not at all like the typical guided tour. San Francisco sightseeing: Market Street in photos, Cable car turning at the Powell Street cable car turntable. 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. Opened in 1924, Eastern is the United States' oldest Chinese bakery. Points of Interest along the San Francisco:-. We also cover this part of the city in a fully guided free walking tour of Downtown San Francisco. However, in some way we did manage to get up California Street (and all other streets)! We definitely came away with much more of an appreciation for Castro and the Mission (love Dolores Park!) The start of your scenic drive celebrates San Diego as a seaport city as our massive bay is filled with aircraft carriers, cruise ships, historic sailboats and private yachts. Take one of these to learn more about its famous residents, controversial stories and Italian roots. Next, our SF tour brings us to the famous Lombard Street. The SF self-drive tour follows a circular route through the city, so you can start at any point along the way. Simply put, Action Tour Guide is an audio guide, map, and tour book all in one app! This post presents a driving route in the Golden Gate area on the westside of San Francisco. You can take a ferry to Sausalito and Tiburon north ofthe bay, or to Oakland and Vallejo in the east. San Francisco: D Perfect for photographers, the bridge offers stunning views of the city, even if the evening fog has already rolled in. While a lot of people are happy just to see this beautiful bridge or even cross the historic structure, there is a lot more to see in the area which we cover on our self-guided tour. San Francisco by car: Pacific Heights building style. 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. He knew a ton of history which we loved and we were able to see a ton. We also offer a free walking tour of the Golden Gate Bridge which is fully guided, ensuring you wont get lost as you walk around the attraction. 2022Outdoor Activities in San Francisco. The curves enable driving down but the turns are too sharp for any longer cars and buses. 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. Lombard Street was so steep that it needed eight turns to make it drivable: San Francisco by car: driving down the eight turns of Lombard Street. Open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily. This one hour and sixteen minute tour can be done at your own pace. There is a parking garage on Lombard Street if you're driving in, 2 mins from the shop. $ 65 $ 50. Copyright 2009-2023 by SFTourismTips.com. The preceding steps require good internet/wifi access. As noted below, some companies (such as Skyline Sightseeing . Despite the bridges theres still a lot of ferry traffic on the bay. Starting Point Address (Northbound) - LA to SF: 81-99 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Join us for a walk along the streets . 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. Finally something like 100 000 hippies from all over the States and abroad gathered in Haight and the nearby parks of Panhandle and Golden Gate. That post is about driving around Central San Francisco, but now: time for the Golden Gate area . Explore California Academy of Sciences entrance tickets. Thanks! No worries! And this little car can go where the tour buses can't. Best of all, the sightseeing adventure happens at your pace. You can download a (free, printable) up-to-date version of the San Francisco 49 Mile Drive Map to follow the whole drive. Cable car conductors also sell day passes. You can read about San Francisco sights in my previous blog post San Francisco Sightseeing. As we get back to the tour and continue driving, we'll learn all about the city's rapid real estate growth and the housing crisis it currently faces. The curves enable driving down but the turns are too sharp for any longer cars and buses. Segway Tours Looking for fun things to do with friends? All rights reserved. Fantastic how people keep up their traditions! over San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and north into misty coast redwood forests. More California posts that might also interest you: Your email address will not be published. Closed Christmas and Thanksgiving Day. Driving down Lombard Street was great fun and we had to do it twice, and then walk one more time. It's like having a local show you around. Currently, we only offer a GPS-enabled audio tour of the Financial District, and as the name implies, it includes a map which uses GPS to help you find each stop. If you are confident in your driving skills, you can even try navigating your way down Lombard Street, which is one of the windiest streets in the world. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. >> Find additional self-guided tours plus some multi-day itineraries. San Francisco has water on three sides so you can imagine how useful the bridges were and still are. Definitely recommended! With TourCentric, youll arrive as a tourist and leave as a local. You can also cycle this route very easily (there are numerous bike rental shops in the area). Alcatraz, the historic prison island of San Francisco. How to Tell if Youre on the Scenic Drive. Then take Washington Street towards the next park in the west, Alta Plaza. Drive carefully! That way youll still get to see the real San Francisco, even if youre not able to join us. Stop at Eastern Bakery: 720 Grant Avenue. If you are only going to be in the area for a day or two, then an unique way to fit them all in is to take San Franciscos 49-Mile scenic drive. (B) PIER 39 - see giant sea lions snoring on the docks. How to get to Lombard Street if youre not driving: take the Powell-Hyde cable car. Here, youll get the inside scoop on how Hollywood uses this building as a stand-in for Washington, D.C.s Capitol building in all sorts of films. Night Adventures: Do you love seeing a city at night? It is full of bright-colored homes, mosaic glass artwork, sex toy stores, and all the rainbow references you could ever ask for. Paris This is where you come for some of the most gorgeous views of the city. We spent a sunny Saturday driving around Central San Francisco and on Sunday we explored the Golden Gate area. Download San Francisco Audio Tour Guide and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Brooklyn Bike Tour. Review of: Golden Gate Bridge Bike Rental - Near the Golden Gate Bridge! As we drive past, we'll admire these striking buildings and learn about how they came to be painted in such vivid colors. The Mission District. Make a stop here to take some photos, or simply drive by so you can tell your friends you saw them! Dive into the hippest, most exciting city in the country, Hear the wild, unexpected history of San Fran, Take in phenomenal views from atop Telegraph Hill, Cross the Golden Gate Bridge with a bonus tour. This trail connects important historical sites throughout the streets of SF. Are you interested in exploring the city of San Francisco without a large group around you? I've created one for each of our most popular districts. The San Francisco Museum and Historical Society offers two self guided walks of the Barbary Coast Trail in San Francisco. 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! Checkout Lombard Street, claimed to be 'the crookedest street in the world', containing 8 hairpin turns. It is located about 20 miles (30 km) northeast of San Francisco , and approximately a half-hour drive (without traffic) from 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. About Us. Fishermans Wharf is known for its seafood restaurants (that exist in all price classes), cafes, shops, museums and other typical tourist attractions. An audio guide, map, and tour book all in one! In all, we have prepared 12 self-guided walks for you to explore San Francisco, which cover everything from charming streets and neighborhoods to the most famous architectural achievements, street art and shopping areas. Easy to tell that this is an exclusive neighborhood. You cant come to San Francisco and not set foot on the Golden Gate Bridge! Sturgis Tour "The . 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 Telegr. Then youll swing by the City Hall, which you might feel like you recognize because you probably do! 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. I wanted to package my love of San Francisco into a Self-Guided Free Walking Tour and this is the result. San Francisco is a technology hub without rival, and the upcoming Uber and Twitter headquarters prove it! My tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. They are much easier to use than an audio tour if there is more than one person in your group. I've used these many times. If youre not driving, use the steps for walkers that exist on both sides. Take a deep dive into everything Haight-Ashbury and the Castro District have to offer. Self-Guided Tours View Floor Plans. But the whole experience was amazing and well worth the trip from San Francisco! Check out our favorite local recommendations listed in the app and stop for a bite. POIPU AND KOLOA DRIVING TOUR $29.99. Just be aware of this. Each of the following companies offers tours to Muir Woods. HOLLYWOOD AND VINE TOUR. On the front, you will see the full walking route. Recommend! This is Grant Avenue, the Chinatowns main street. We include a few details about each tour to give you an idea of what to expect on each outing. In the evening when the sun shines on the painted ladies from the west it makes them shine. Twin Peaks are also typically less crowded than the Coit Tower, which is always a plus. North Beach: There is a lot of history in the North Beach district. 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.