23 activities in San Francisco, United States Of America

This city comes to life when the sun goes down. Beautiful light displays are everywhere you look: store-fronts, artwork, street performances and the city itself.

The Night Loop is definitely the safest, best and most enjoyable way to see the city's brightest neighbourhoods as you sit back and listen to the entertaining running commentary of our knowledgeable tour guides.

Some of the attractions we will visit include Chinatown – beginning at the dragon-crested gate at Grant Avenue and Bush Street. With over 1.5 million people of Chinese descent, this is the oldest Chinatown neighbourhoods in the United States and one of the largest outside Asia. The Financial District area is marked by a cluster of high-rise towers that lie between Grant Avenue and Union Square. Bay Bridge, the toll bridge, spans San Francisco Bay and links Oakland and San Francisco. Embarcadero is an eastern waterfront of the Port of San Francisco and sits atop an engineered seawall. It is lined with restaurants, businesses, and the Ferry Building. Union Square is home to some of San Francisco's nicest up-scale shopping and popular nightlife. We will also visit Alamo Square, home to the Painted Ladies of Postcard Row, North Beach, and Fisherman's Wharf.

Duration
Approx. 90 mins

Start/opening time
6:30pm. Additional departures at 7pm.

Languages
English.

Experience the magic of San Francisco as the sun dips below the horizon on our scenic 1-hour Sunset Tour, designed to showcase the city in its most breathtaking light. This panoramic journey offers unbeatable photo opportunities of the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge, the city skyline, and other iconic landmarks bathed in the warm glow of sunset.

Your adventure begins at Fisherman’s Wharf, one of San Francisco’s most vibrant waterfront neighborhoods. From there, the tour ascends the steep streets of historic Nob Hill, where you’ll enjoy a close-up view of the striking Grace Cathedral, a beloved architectural gem with its stained-glass windows and Gothic design.

Next, we make our way across the majestic Bay Bridge, offering sweeping views of the water and skyline before arriving at Treasure Island. Here, you’ll have time to take in and photograph the postcard-perfect panorama of San Francisco’s skyline silhouetted against the setting sun — truly one of the most picturesque views in the entire Bay Area.

As we return to the city, the tour continues along the scenic Embarcadero, where you’ll be treated to shimmering views of the Port of San Francisco and its beautifully illuminated Ferry Building. The glittering city lights reflecting on the bay provide a perfect finale to this unforgettable evening experience.

Whether you're a local rediscovering your city or a visitor seeing San Francisco for the first time, this sunset tour offers a relaxed and visually stunning way to enjoy the city's beauty after hours.

Languages

The commentary is available in English only.

Important information

The Sunset Tour departs from Stop #1 (Big Bus Tours Visitors' Center) at 6.30pm. Please arrive 20-30 minutes before your preferred tour as seats are subject to availability. 

For an hour and half, you’ll be treated to fantastic views of Alcatraz Island, the city skyline, the Golden Gate bridge and the Pacific Ocean. If adventure is your style, try out our deck trampolines (be warned, you may get wet!). Super-safe for families and kids - the netting allows you the exhilarating feeling of having the waves rush under your feet, and are also comfortable for just lounging in the sun. Want a break from the wind? Come inside our protected cabin, have a seat and continue to enjoy the sights of the sky and water. Soda, beer and wine are available for purchase at the cabin bar.

Our sailing catamarans give a uniquely stable and quiet ride without the noise of engines, you’ll be amazed at the speed wind in your sails can give you! Pick up an audio tour (available in 7 languages) with a helpful navigation guide providing information about San Francisco’s landmarks as you sail past them. Our captain and crew are always happy to snap a photo or answer your questions about San Francisco or our catamarans, you’ll quickly learn our passion for sailing!

Choose from a 24 or 48 hour pass to suit your time in this characterful city, and with unlimited hop on – hop off use you can explore all the major sights of San Francisco at your own pace.

The 1 Day Hop on Hop off Plus pass combines two different tours in one ticket. It gives you the opportunity to explore Downtown San Francisco, the world famous Golden Gate Bridge and the Golden Gate Park. See the main downtown sights stopping at Fisherman's Wharf, the Ferry Building, Union Square, Chinatown and North Beach. Then on the Golden Gate Loop you'll see many of San Francisco's famous sites including St. Mary's Cathedral, San Francisco's Japan Town, Civic Center (including the incredible City Hall, Opera House Asian Art Museum), Alamo Square with the famous Painted Ladies, Japanese Tea Gardens, Haight & Ashbury district, California Academy of Sciences, the De Young Museum and many many more!

The 2 Day Hop on Hop off pass combines three diverse tours in one incredible ticket. It gives you the opportunity to explore all of the above as well as the Golden Gate Bridge & Sausalito tour and Night Loop. On the Golden Gate Sausalito Loop, you'll learn all about the incredible history of the Golden Gate Bridge before stopping at Sausalito, the Presidio and the Palace of Fine Arts. Make the most of your evening in San Francisco and on the 90 minute Night Loop you can experience the best views of the city by night: an enjoyable way to see the city's brightest neighbourhoods.

Start/opening times
The Sausalito tour runs from 9am-5pm every 30 mins.
The San Francisco Night Tour sets off at 6:30pm / 7pm.

Languages
English

Sail under both the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and the colossal San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in one spectacular cruise along San Francisco’s entire urban skyline, accompanied by a fascinating headphone audio commentary with 12 language choices.

Explore San Francisco's history and landmarks, as well as its unique architecture, natural history, and native American Culture on this exciting 90-minute cruise. Along the way, you'll see some of San Francisco's most stunning landmarks including Alcatraz Island, Coit Tower, the Ferry Building, Transamerica Pyramid, the Palace of Fine Arts, and many more. Learn all about this city’s unique natural history, architecture, and Native American culture. You will also find out about the building of both bridges, the geology of San Francisco Bay and the earthquakes that have shaken the Bay Area and require special seismic considerations in the designing of new structures.

You'll sail along the San Francisco waterfront, around Alcatraz, past AT&T Park, and around Treasure Island but sailing under both of San Francisco’s incredible bridges twice will surely be the highlight of your journey. This unique cruise is a great add-on to any land tour and allows you to see San Francisco's waterfront in its entirety.


Start/opening time
Spring: 12:30pm, 2.15pm and 4.15pm.
Summer: 12:30pm, 2:15pm, 4:00pm and 5:45pm.
Fall: 12:30pm, 2.15pm and 4:15pm.
Winter: 12:00pm and 4:15pm.

Languages
English.

Tour the city from the Bay to the Ocean, with photo stops at key locations. Enjoy great views and visit famous attractions, including the Golden Gate Bridge. Stopping at Twin Peaks will give you a breathtaking 360-degree view of the city from 1000 feet above sea level.

Traveling through the Golden Gate Park we’ll point out seasonal flower displays, look for bison grazing, and ride past windmills overlooking the Pacific. Learn about San Francisco’s early settlements, from Native Americans to Spanish missionaries and the frenzied days of the gold rush as you drive through the once infamous Barbary Coast. Then, see San Francisco’s iconic Victorian Homes as we take you through the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood.

End the tour back at San Francisco's beautiful waterfront and take in the superb vistas of Alcatraz Island and San Francisco Bay on this comprehensive half-day guided tour.

Stops with photo opportunities at:
Golden Gate Bridge
Palace of Fine Arts
Twin Peaks
Land’s End Ocean Beach (Sutro Baths)
Mission San Francisco de Asis (Mission district)

Languages
English.

Hop on board a Big Bus Sightseeing Tour of the ‘City by the Bay’ and experience the best views of its distinctive landmarks and delve into its fascinating history. You can explore San Francisco’s famous landmarks; from the Golden Gate Bridge to Fisherman’s wharf. This really is the best way to discover all that San Francisco has to offer.

Our unique city tour stops at 16 key points of interest all around spectacular San Francisco. Experience the diverse culture, beautiful parks, stunning architecture and picturesque views atop an open-air bus. Hop on or Hop off at your leisure to create your own customized journey around the city.

SAN FRANCISCO CITY HOP-ON HOP-OFF TOUR
Explore San Francisco’s famous landmarks on a Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour. Sit back and enjoy the ride as you cruise through the city on an open-top bus and learn about San Francisco's unique history. You have the choice of personal recorded commentary, available in 10 languages, or an entertaining live commentary.

This is the best way to discover all that San Francisco has to offer. Our unique city tour has 20 stops for guests to hop-on or hop-off the bus to visit attractions and points of interest. From Fisherman’s Wharf to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, immerse yourself in San Francisco’s diverse culture, beautiful parks, stunning architecture, and picturesque views.

Night Tour*
Enjoy the city's sights by night. Beginning at Fisherman's Wharf, our Night Tour of San Francisco climbs historic Nob Hill for a magnificent close up of Grace Cathedral. The tour then makes its way across the Bay Bridge to Treasure Island for picturesque views of the city skyline. Back in the city, the tour concludes along the Embarcadero for stunning views of the glittering lights on the Port of San Francisco.
- Tour begins at Stop #1 (Fisherman's Visitor Center) and operates daily at 6:30pm.

Classic Ticket
Includes access to all of the tours described above for one day.

Premium Ticket
Includes 1-day unlimited hop on hop off around San Francisco, cross Golden gate Bridge, buy one hour get one-hour free Bike Rental and Night Tour.

Deluxe Ticket
Includes 2-days unlimited hop on hop off around San Francisco, buy one hour get one hour free Bike Rental, Night Tour,

Night Tour*
Includes 1-hour night tour only
*The night tour is not a Hop on Hop off service.

Languages
Audioguide available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Korean, Mandarin, Japanese and Cantonese

Important note - Restrictions may apply
Please note that the Night Tour is not a Hop On Hop off tour but a panoramic bus tour.