Golden Gate Park: Our most recommended tours and activities

San Francisco: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour

1. San Francisco: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour

Experience the best that the City by the Bay has to offer with the Big Bus San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off tour! This fully narrated tour takes you to all of the city's must-see landmarks and iconic attractions, providing a comprehensive and immersive experience of San Francisco. Hop aboard the bus and prepare to be captivated by the beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge, a true San Francisco icon. As you cross the bridge, take in the breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island, and the surrounding hills. This is a photo-opportunity not to be missed! As the tour continues, venture into the heart of the city and visit Union Square, the bustling shopping district. Here, you'll find an array of designer boutiques, high-end department stores, and trendy restaurants. Union Square is also home to the famous cable car turnaround, where you'll see the iconic cable cars in action. The tour also takes you through the historic Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, the birthplace of the hippie movement. As you walk through the streets, you'll be transported back to the 1960s, with colorful Victorian houses, vintage clothing stores, and murals celebrating the Summer of Love. No trip to San Francisco is complete without a visit to Fisherman’s Wharf. Take in the sights and sounds of this famous waterfront district, where you can sample fresh seafood, browse local shops, and watch the sea lions basking in the sun. From here, you can also catch a ferry to Alcatraz Island or take a cruise around the bay. With the Big Bus tour, you have the flexibility to hop on and off at any of the 20 stops along the route, allowing you to explore the city at your own pace. And with buses running every 10-15 minutes, you won’t have to wait long to continue your adventure. So whether you want to spend more time shopping in Union Square or exploring the Golden Gate Park, the Big Bus tour has got you covered. Take a break from the city with a half-day guided bus tour to Muir Woods. See the redwoods up close and personal, cross the Golden Gate Bridge, and explore the seaside town of Sausalito on the way back.

San Francisco: Alcatraz Ticket with 2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

2. San Francisco: Alcatraz Ticket with 2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

See the best of San Francisco with this combined hop-on-hop-off ticket and Alcatraz Island visit. Explore the island of Alcatraz and enjoy 2 days of sightseeing with insightful and historic commentary. Tour the famous prison that has played a role in jailhouse folklore and the historic evolution of the West Coast. Learn more about the 14 unsuccessful escape attempts by over 30 prisoners and their fates on the included audio tour. Your 2 Day Big Bus hop-on-hop-off pass is a great way to see the sights of San Francisco. Enjoy Big Bus' professional and engaging digital audio commentary in 10 languages. Your 2-day ticket includes 2 full days of unlimited hop-on-hop-off. Explore one of San Francisco's most fascinating neighborhoods on a fun and informative walking tour of Chinatown. The tours are offered daily, and you can ask an agent for locations and time schedules. Also included is your choice of a half day bike rental or general admission to the USS Pampanito WWII submarine. Top Sights along the tour include: - North Beach - Chinatown - Embarcadero Center - Fisherman’s Wharf - Ferry Building - Union Square - Redemption Center - Civic Center - Alamo Square - Haight Ashbury - Golden Gate Bridge - Golden Gate Park - Palace of Fine Arts - Marina - Lombard Street - Pier 35 - Pier 39

San Francisco: California Academy of Sciences Entry Ticket

3. San Francisco: California Academy of Sciences Entry Ticket

Discover the California Academy of Sciences located in the heart of Golden Gate Park where you can experience the only place on Earth with an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest, and natural history museum all in one day. With hands-on exhibitions, shows, and public programs, you’re in for an action-packed science adventure. Plunge into the world’s deepest living indoor coral reef, home to nearly 60,000 live animals, representing more than 1,000 unique species. Meet the newest African penguin chicks, Pogo and Ozzie, and the rest of the colony of playful penguins in African Hall. Then pay a visit to the iconic alligator with albinism, Claude. Catch the latest immersive show in the 75-foot planetarium, taking you on a spectacular journey to the far reaches of the universe, featuring different themes at varying times throughout the day. Step inside a lush, four-story rainforest teeming with life – from free-flying birds to exotic reptiles, amphibians, and more. Investigate hundreds of specimens and dabble in hands-on activities for children and adults alike in the Naturalist Center. The adventure continues outside with unique rooftop views on the 2.5 acre living roof. Then, take an opportunity to activate your child’s curiosity about the natural world in our outdoor nature play and exploration space, Wander Woods.

San Francisco: Golden Gate Helicopter Adventure

4. San Francisco: Golden Gate Helicopter Adventure

Soar over San Francisco in a helicopter and take in the breathtaking views. Admire the Golden Gate Bridge and the Golden Gate National Reserve with tour narration from your pilot; there is no better way to enjoy the dramatic and ever-evolving San Francisco skyline. Meet your pilot at the heliport in the lovely bayside village of Sausalito. Before you step foot on a helicopter, your pilot will share a short introduction to helicopter flying and basic safety instructions. Jump in the helicopter, fasten your seatbelt, and enjoy the head rush as the aircraft takes off. Fly along the coast over the Golden Gate National Reserve past Baker Beach and the Pt. Bonita Lighthouse, over to Ocean Beach and Golden Gate Park, then right over the legendary Golden Gate Bridge. Make sure to spot the Crissy Field, Downtown San Francisco, Oracle Park, and the infamous Alcatraz Island prison. Come face-to-face with the historic Angel Island – the Immigrant Gateway to the West before you take a smooth landing at the heliport next to Sausalito’s Richardson Bay. Leave the heliport feeling on top of the world and full of endorphins. Seeing everything in a 360-view and feeling weightlessness in the sky will leave long-lasting memories, guaranteeing you will want another ride.

San Francisco: 3-Hour Early Bird GoCar Tour

5. San Francisco: 3-Hour Early Bird GoCar Tour

If you want to experience the sites most visitors never see then fold up your map, put away the guidebook and jump into a GoCar. Zip all over town in one of San Francisco's iconic yellow cars with the help of GPS-guided tour technology. Your clever talking car navigates and shows you the way – but that’s not all. As you enjoy the drive, it takes you to all the best sites, recommends restaurants, cracks jokes and tells the stories that bring a destination to life. The early bird special is a unique offer for those willing to wake up before the crowds begin to congregate. Start your tour at Fisherman's Wharf. Your GoCar allows you the freedom to choose your own route - simply follow one of the provided maps or make your own itinerary as the patented GPS-driven tour guide follows along with your route and keeps pace along the way.  Wind down the world-renown Lombard Street, the most crooked street on the west coast. Explore the city's most famous parks like the Presidio, Crissy Field, and Golden Gate Park, the site of the famous Summer of Love. Snap incredible photos of the Pacific Ocean along Highway 1 and Ocean Beach. Park underneath the Golden Gate Bridge and cross on foot and navigate away from the crowded tour buses beneath the China Town Gate. See the sites, enjoy the Californian sun and choose your own adventure as you explore the city on your own terms.

San Francisco: Go City All-Inclusive Pass 30+ Attractions

6. San Francisco: Go City All-Inclusive Pass 30+ Attractions

The San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass is an all-access sightseeing pass that offers the ultimate in convenience, cost savings, and flexibility for visitors to the Bay Area. Customers choose 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7-day passes at a low, pre-paid price. Use the pass to gain access to any and all of the 30+ included attractions, saving up to 50%* off compared to full retail admissions. The California Academy of Sciences, Aquarium of the Bay, Exploratorium, bay cruises, theme parks and rides, bike rental, and much more are all included! See below for the complete list. The free digital guide helps you decide what to do, where to go, and how to get there. With the San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass, you’ll spend your time in the Bay Area collecting memories instead of credit card receipts. Attractions and activities included with the San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass: Tours, Cruises & Activities • Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off San Francisco: 1-day Classic Tour • Escape from the Rock - Cruise around Alcatraz • San Francisco Bay Cruise • Scenic Golden Gate Bridge Bike Tour • Go Car San Francisco 30-min Rental •All-Day Comfort Bike Rental by Blazing Saddles • Fisherman's Wharf Walking Tour • Murder, Mayhem and Music: True Crime Tales from the Haight • Ultimate LGBTQ+ Castro District Walking Tour • 2-Hour eBike Rental from Unlimited Biking • Men or Women’s Comfort Hybrid Rentals 4-Hours from Unlimited Biking • Mission District Foodie Walking Tour • Painted Lady Walking Tour • Hands-on Ghost Hunting Tour of Chinatown • Golden Gate Park 24 Hour Rollerblade Rentals by Unlimited Biking Museums and Places of Interest • Aquarium of the Bay • Exploratorium • Madame Tussauds • California Academy of Sciences • The Walt Disney Family Museum • Six Flags Discovery Kingdom • The Flyer at PIER 39 & 7D Ride Experience – Anytime Combo Ticket • California's Great America • San Francisco Zoo & Gardens • San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) • Legoland Discovery Center • de Young Museum and Legion of Honor • USS Pampanito • Asian Art Museum • USS Hornet Museum • The Contemporary Jewish Museum • The Beat Museum Attractions and tours are subject to change. Check your included digital guide for an up-to-date attraction line-up including opening times and instructions on how to access each attraction with your pass before you go. *Savings based on itineraries on Go City website.

San Francisco: Sky Star Wheel Experience

7. San Francisco: Sky Star Wheel Experience

Installed in 2020 as part of Golden Gate Park’s 150th anniversary celebration, SkyStar is an experience not to be missed. Standing 150 feet tall in Golden Gate Park's Music Concourse, SkyStar Wheel boasts sprawling views from downtown San Francisco to the Pacific Ocean. The SkyStar Observation Wheel offers 36 gondolas that can host up to 6 guests per gondola. And if you feel you want to elevate your date night, or a night out with friends, enjoy the VIP experience option! Skip the line when you take an extended flight of 20 minutes in the VIP gondola with leather seats and hardwood floors. A VIP flight fits up to 5 people and it is the ultimate private experience. The SkyStar Observation Wheel was previously installed in Louisville, Kentucky; Norfolk, Virginia; and Cincinnati, Ohio. This is the first time an observation wheel of this scale has operated in San Francisco since Golden Gate Park hosted the Midwinter International Exposition of 1894, where the first Wheel stood at 120 feet tall.

San Francisco: Electric Bike Day Rental

8. San Francisco: Electric Bike Day Rental

See San Francisco in an ecologically conscious way, while comfortably negotiating the city’s famous hills with your electric bike. With your all-day rental bike, cruise along the car and pedestrian-free waterfront of San Francisco Bay and ride along the city’s bike paths. Enjoy a brand new fleet of bikes that provide an active way to experience San Francisco. Take the less-traveled routes through the city on a self-guided tour. Feel the e-Moto battery kick in as you pedal, propelling you towards your destination. The electric bikes have a range of 16-20 miles on a full charge and feature a full-comfort seat, hand shifters, and brakes. Bike through Golden Gate Park and along the coast, through the Headlands, into Muir Woods, or to Mt. Tam. Take a ride across the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausalito. From the bridge, take in the views of the bay, the ocean, and the San Francisco skyline.

San Francisco Movie Sights City Tour

9. San Francisco Movie Sights City Tour

Experience the best of San Francisco on this fun and unique tour. The 3-hour adventure features clips from over 50 of the most famous movies ever filmed in San Francisco. Actors-turned-guides lead you on an interactive tour of the city, as they match clips with locations right outside the bus and share their wealth of San Francisco and cinema knowledge. You’ll see even more of San Francisco on this tour than you would on a normal city tour. See the key neighborhoods: Fisherman’s Wharf, North Beach, Nob Hill, Union Square, Alamo Square/Painted Ladies, City Hall, Haight-Ashbury, Golden Gate Park, The Presidio, Golden Gate Bridge, and Pacific Heights. This activity is also fun and interesting for kids. The route includes locations from The Princess Diaries, Full House, Dr. Doolittle, George of the Jungle, Hulk, and X-Men 3. Locations include: • The house where Robin Williams' family lived in Mrs. Doubtfire • Various locations from the famous chase scene in Bullitt • The park where the Tanner Family enjoyed a picnic during the opening credits of Full House • The building where Christian Slater questioned Tom Cruise in Interview with the Vampire • The high school attended by Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries • The damaged park steps from the car chase in What's Up Doc?

San Francisco: Golden Gate Park Segway Tour

10. San Francisco: Golden Gate Park Segway Tour

Experience Golden Gate Park as you glide on the new Segway i2 with lean-to-steer technology. Enjoy a guided tour narrated through a compact single earbud sound system as you follow a combination of designated trails, bike paths, and low-speed, light-traffic streets. Discover more of Golden Gate Park in less time on a modern Segway. Receive hands-on training with an instructor. Go thorugh a skills practice session, a rider courtesy instruction, and review the Golden Gate Park rules of the road.  Set off to see the sights of Golden Gate Park on an 8-mile (13 kilometers) route through the eastern part of Golden Gate Park, which covers both the famous landmarks and as well as some hidden and less-explored areas. Roll past local institutions like the De Young Museum, the California Academy of Sciences, the Music Concourse and Temple of Music. Take in the sculpted landscapes of the Japanese Tea Garden, the Conservatory of Flowers, the Lily Pond, and the Fern Grotto. View a large stone Celtic cross sculpture at the Storybook Cross, and let the the Historic Carousel awaken your nostalgia. Cruise by the San Francisco Botanical Gardens, the Lawn Bowling Courts, the National Aids Memorial, and the Shakespeare Garden. Admire views of Stow Lake and Strawberry Hill, the Rose, Rhododendron and Dahlia Gardens, Redwood Grove and the Pioneer Log Cabin. Feel good about discovering this landmark in an eco-friendly way. 

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What people are saying about Golden Gate Park

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 2,698 reviews

My mom & I had only 2 days in SFO & love to binge watch TV. Obviously, we booked this tour & it was great! We got more out of it than we expected. There was a TV screen inside the van & we always saw a short clip of the movie, then drove by where the scene was filmed. I was very impressed by the amount of movies shown since I did my own quick Google research and found only about 10 movies Now, we’ve got a whole to-binge-list with movies shot in a place we’ve already been to. Bryan, our guide, is a kind person who answered a lot of our questions & made stops to take pictures when we wanted to. We saw all big sights of SFO! Can recommend it 100% ☺️ The only thing I just want to mention in order for everyone to have a good time: my mom has kind of a sensitive belly when e.g. being in a plane, boat or in this case a vehicle with a lot of movies on the screen and the typical roads of SFO. So just in case, you are also having some troubles, might bring a motion sickness medicine with you.

Easy to navigate. The big bus stop made collection super simple. The audio tour at Alcatraz is really well put together, booking in advance is a must. Recommend packing extra layers for the night tour if you plan to sit on top of the bus, the wind chill is next level. Overall a great experience - highly recommend.

Get your guide tickets worked well. We enjoyed the planitorim shows, rain forest and many other exhibits. Worth the price, family enjoyed it, kid is happy. Parking is 33$(max) but very convenient.

Everyone was so helpful when we left something on the bus, and returned it to us. Thanks!

We loved it. It was a perfect afternoon with our 9 and 11 year old kids.