Welcome to the GPS-enabled offline driving tour of San Francisco, California by Action Tour Guide! Call 619-236-1242 for recorded information or to leave a voice message. All individual tours come with lifetime validity. In case you get hungry while driving around, The Mission District also has some of the best authentic local restaurants in the city. How to get to Lombard Street if youre not driving: take the Powell-Hyde cable car. Be sure to also check out our free, guided walking tours of San Francisco. Chinatown is like a piece of China on the steep slopes of San Francisco. The preceding steps require good internet/wifi access. Now we could get back to the hills, to Pacific Heights: From the harbor its an easy drive to our next San Francisco destination. From San Francisco: Highway 1 Self-Drive Audio Tour in English. This is the end stop where two cable car lines, the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde lines turn back, so just set yourself in the queue and wait for the next cable car to come. No worries! CONGRATULATIONS!You are about to embark on an adventure filled self-guided tour of the neighborhoods of Mrida. The exclusive neighborhood on Pacific Heights. It should say Powell-Hyde (it has a brown sign). How many people know what San Francisco is like? The ultimate audio tour of San Francisco, this self-guided, app-based driving tour covers the city's most iconic attractionsfrom the Painted Ladies of Steiner Street to the Golden Gate Bridge. Begin this self-guided tour at the Ferry Building, near downtown's Financial District (or you can shorten it by starting at Fisherman's Wharf), before taking in San Francisco's picturesque waterfront and the infamous Alcatraz, just across the bay. More California posts that might also interest you: Your email address will not be published. 2 hours. Make a stop here to take some photos, or simply drive by so you can tell your friends you saw them! North Beach: This district is also called Little Italy. The curves enable driving down but the turns are too sharp for any longer cars and buses. And as you can imagine, there are a lot of interesting sites to see in the neighborhood. See the top attractions such as Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square and the Hyde Street Pier. 5 Travel to Point Reyes National Seashore. Follow the turn-by-turn directions and enjoy the fun storytelling as you approach the next location. A graduate of the University of Maryland and University of Southern California, he has been leading tours for Free Tours by Foot since 2015. free, guided walking tours of San Francisco, free, fully guided Chinatown walking tour, self-guided tour of the Golden Gate Bridge, GPS-enabled audio tour of the Golden Gate Bridge, free walking tour of the Golden Gate Bridge, GPS-enabled audio tour of the Financial District, free walking tour of Downtown San Francisco, GPS-enabled audio tour of the Castro District. How to Tell if Youre on the Scenic Drive. For first-time visitors discovering the lay of the land or those who can't leave until they've seen it all, the 49-Mile scenic drive is a fantastic way to get acquainted with all of San Francisco. Or, if you are in the mood for ice cream, the Bi-Rite Creamery salted caramelice cream is worth waiting in line for. 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! Should You Go on a Driving Tour of San Francisco? The Japantown District also offers a free self-guided walking tour. To get the best views of the painted ladies come here in the evening and look at them from the Alamo Square Park. Take one of these to learn more about its famous residents, controversial stories and Italian roots. Open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily. After driving down from the freeway we got into a deep gorge with super high skyscrapers on both sides. Explore all that SF has to offer with this ultimate self-guided experience! You know that San Francisco is famous for its hills, right? From tasting delicious food to feeling the hippy love, to exploring the haunted past of San Francisco, theres something there for everyone. No worries! Next we'll see two iconic symbols of San Francisco's Chinatown: the Chinatown Mural and the Old Chinese Telephone Exchange. San Francisco: D Drive carefully! 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. 17-Mile Drive entrance fee. An audio guide, map, and tour book all in one! Please arrange for a vehicle before you take the tour. Electric Tour Company Guided Walking . (A) Caltrain Station - aka, the OG San Francisco Station. Discover San Francisco at your own pace on a self-guided tour available on your smartphone, Choose to pause the tour, spend more time at a location or skip a stop, See the Great Seal of California, learn about its symbols and origins, Cross the Golden Gate Bridge - the most iconic sight in San Francisco, Drive on Lombard street, claimed to be 'the crookedest street in the world, The tour has a fixed price for groups from 1-5 people, you are requested to pay the full price regardless of the number of participants, Note, this is a self-guided driving tour : You will need to arrange your own means of transportation, 24 hours before your tour starts - you will receive an email or text from the tour operator with a link to the app and a unique password to access the tour - within the app, App is available for iOS and Android/Web users on the Apple App Store or Google Play, From there, you can start your self-guided tour at anytime (recommended during daylight hours), simply follow the audio instructions and the route, With the app, you can pause the tour, spend more time at a location or skip a stop, while having all the best information about each stop at your fingertips, Bring a fully charged phone and headphones, Unfortunately, this experience is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. Then well guide you all around, making sure you see everything this historic place has to offer! Temporary new starting point address: Alamo Square Park, Steiner St, San Francisco. This picturesque, winding road has been another Hollywood staple for ages, but experiencing it for yourself is a whole different ball game. As one of San Franciscos oldest neighborhoods, the Mission District is full of rich ethnic history. Closed Christmas and Thanksgiving Day. Email, phone, and chat support are available if needed. TOURS All Destinations Hawaii. We are a program of the San Francisco Public Library. Learn the fascinating history of this city from the water. You can read about San Francisco sights in my previous blog post San Francisco Sightseeing. >> Find additional self-guided tours plus some multi-day itineraries. Blacksmithing Youth Classes. $ 65 $ 50. Copyright 2009-2023 by SFTourismTips.com. Not far away from Haight Ashbury comes the place where we will end our San Francisco sightseeing tour for today. On this San Francisco tour, drive down the very steep and crooked Lombard Street, and around neighborhoods such as the Mission. Like Pacific Heights and Nob Hill, Haight Ashbury consists of large Victorian houses but thats the only similarity. City Guides, founded in 1978, is an independent 501c3 non-profit organization with more than 300 trained volunteers who lead FREE historical and architectural walking tours in San Francisco for over 35,000 locals and visitors each year. This 3-hour guided tour takes you to bike across GGB and then explore Sausalito's waterfront. Self-Guided Driving & Walking ToursAn audio guide, map, and tour book all in one! 2022 Outdoor Activities in San Francisco: Check out reviews and photos of the San Francisco City Self-Guided Audio Tour Through Golden Gate Bridge. Each stop offers a little information about what happened at that location. The residential area of Pacific Heights is on the next hill in order and offers great views to the city and the bay area. Miami This is a self-guided experience and not an entrance ticket. You can download a (free, printable) up-to-date version of the San Francisco 49 Mile Drive Map to follow the whole drive. . San Francisco sightseeing: driving down Lombard Street. From there, head east along Haight Street . Parking, however, may cause problems, but we found good solutions for that which I will share. Plus, meet Claude the alligator, hang out with the African penguin colony and the 38,000 other live animals. Want to work with us? n audio guide, map, and tour book all in one app! On the front, you will see the full walking route. Book your Aquarium of the Bay Tickets now and learn about the 200 species and over 28,000 animals native to the San Francisco Bay and California coast. 1 Your California: San Francisco to Point Reyes tour begins. You will find there are no definitive lines between these Colonias and Fraccionamientos. Market Street rather looks like a European high street. Stop and take some photos. About Us. 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. Haight-Ashbury was once the favorite hang-out spot of The Grateful Dead, the famous rock band from the 1970s. To make driving easier, the most curved section of Lombard Street was made a one-way street (only down), and there is a strict speed limit (5 mph, 8km/hour). Northern California Self Drive Motorcycle Tour . Points of Interest along the San Francisco:-. Stroll along the Rainbow Walk of Fame, check out Harvey Milk's old camera shop, and learn more about the history of this district at the GLBT Museum. Definitely recommended! 4 Muir Beach to Muir Woods and Mill Valley. From here, we can explore the wonders of the nearby Ferry Building or make our way to Fisherman's Wharf for a glimpse of the infamous Alcatraz! With TourCentric, youll arrive as a tourist and leave as a local. Guide Name: Chinatown Walking Tour Guide Location: USA San Francisco (See other walking tours in San Francisco) Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing) # of Attractions: 8 Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s) Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles Author: doris Sight(s) Featured in This Guide: On my self-guided walking tour, you will see where history was made for the LGBTQ community. This tour covers some of the most interesting sites in the historic Chinatown district of San Francisco. 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. The Mission District. We offer Escorted Motorcoach Tours, Self Drive Tours, Cruises and Vacation Packages in North America. You will also find some of the best Mexican, Cuban and other cuisines from both South and Central America. Included with your San Francisco tour is a complimentary bonus tour of the Golden Gate Bridge. It's a great way to learn all about this important SF District. The self guided treks are 3.8 miles long and take you through several SF neighborhoods including Union Square, Chinatown, North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf. This post presents a driving route in the Golden Gate area on the westside of San Francisco. Haight-Ashbury. The best of San Francisco isn't found in the typical tourist destinations. With its famous golden doors, beautiful stained glass windows, and gorgeous icons, youll be amazed. English. Philadelphia So we did all our San Francisco sightseeing by car, but you can use public transport as well to get to the same places. Between Carmel and Monterey, 17 Mile Drive affords dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean and Del Monte Forest along the Monterey Peninsula. 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. Perfect for photographers, the bridge offers stunning views of the city, even if the evening fog has already rolled in. Our San Francisco exploration begins at one of the city's most iconic stops: the Painted Ladies! San Francisco sightseeing: Market Street in photos, Cable car turning at the Powell Street cable car turntable. Dont have the time or money to book one of our guided tours? This is where you come for some of the most gorgeous views of the city. You just need to buy a day ticket at a kiosk (something like USD 20) and having that you are free to use buses, streetcars and old San Francisco cable cars for a day. Frommer's also has a second audio tour that covers the San Francisco Waterfront. Subscribe to our newsletter belowcoupon code on the next screen. Haight Ashbury is one of the places that made San Francisco world famous and represents for the people of that time the real old San Francisco Yet its good to know that today Haight Ashbury is an area with severe crime and drug problems. Next, youll climb Telegraph Hill to look at the famous Coits Tower and some truly unbeatable city views. Not only that, but you can also create your own walk with the attractions that interest you most and even set your hotel as . California Street is so steep that it was almost too exiting for us to drive behind a cable car, stopping each time it stopped and starting uphill again each time it started. 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. From the Powell Street turnaround at Market Street near Union Square, take the Powell-Hyde Line. There are only really 7 stops on this self-guided tour of the Golden Gate Bridge, and you can expect the whole tour to take around 1 - 1 hours. Join us for a walk along the streets . Northern California Guided Motorcycle Tour. After that walk through Chinatown, which has some of the best food in the city, making it the perfect spot . We went to places tourist didnt go. Nob Hill looks like a wealthy area, which it is. All tours are valid for a lifetime. Chinatown: Stroll down the colorful streets of Chinatown and see its historic temples, top dim sum restaurants, and amazing street art. The signs have a seagull featured on the top left corner. $ 45 $ 34. Taking a self-guided walking tour around San Francisco is a great way to get to know our amazing city. If you decide to add a few stops along the way, these cards will help you easily get back to your original route. I want them all PLUS general travel tips. View All . Market Street is the main street that cuts through Downtown San Francisco, running from the Ferry Buildingto thePowell Street Cable Car Turntable. Recommend! This is a self-guided experience and not an entrance ticket. This map is interactive. Without a doubt, one of the most enchanting things about this magical city is the neighborhoods. If you want to travel, simply pay the conductor. If so, then these self-guided walking tours of San Francisco are just for you! After the booking, you will receive an email with a link to the Action Tour Guide app and a unique password to access the tour within the app. GoCar GPS Guided Tours: Best self-guided tour of San Francisco even for locals - See 1,140 traveler reviews, 219 candid photos, and great deals for San This self guided walking tour of NYC The Ultimate Self-Guided Walking Tour of San Francisco: we've made a printable map of the self-guided Walking Tour of The San Francisco Museum and Historical Society offers two self guided walks of the Barbary Coast Trail in San Francisco. As we drive towards Chinatown, we'll pass a strange sight: a huge, glass pyramid. Gold Rush to Golden Gate: Self Guided Tour of San Francisco. Miami, Orlando, Kennedy Space Center and more American National Parks 20 Day Self Drive Tour Explore San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Yellowstone National Park, The Rocky . Fisherman's Wharf: Walk around one of our most popular districts. Twin Peaks are also typically less crowded than the Coit Tower, which is always a plus. These beautiful, colorful homes exemplify Friscos funky culture and are a great way to start your journey. We also cover this part of the city in a fully guided free walking tour of Downtown San Francisco. Then youll swing by the City Hall, which you might feel like you recognize because you probably do! This tour is valid forever - from the moment of booking. Below are links to a few that might be helpful, and look for more on Google. But the main thing here are the sea lions: Here they are, San Francisco sea lions, basking on the docks. 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). . Got a late start? 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 Telegraph Hill! You cant come to San Francisco and not set foot on the Golden Gate Bridge! The point of a scenic drive is that you get to see a lot of things from the comfortable seat of your car. Spend more time at Twin Peaks, visit the Coit Tower, and take time to explore all the hilly, historical neighborhoods of SF. Chicago The new cable car line provided easy access to the hill. As the ground convulses, buildings disintegrate and fires are ignited. What all nature lovers come here for is the Pier 39 with colonies of barking Californian sea lions. It stops at the top of the curved block and you can walk down the stairs and see the cars. If you want to keep in touch, follow Routes and Trips. Zion; Bryce; Capitol Reef; Arches . You dont want to miss out on seeing the Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill. Wine Tasting in Napa or Sonoma: If you love trying different wines, then a trip to either Napa or Sonoma is only an hour away. Most tour companies spend between 1.5 to 2 hours in the forest. Take a deep dive into everything Haight-Ashbury and the Castro District have to offer. Youll turn next onto Stockton Street and get a good look at something else you wont see every day: cable cars. After some years the movement faded and the area decayed, but Haight Ashbury still retains much of its hippie atmosphere. Benefits Over Live Guides and Group Tours: Pick up right where you left off and continue your search for things to do, This information is provided by our partners. And now, the Map Not all of the scenic drive is actually very scenic. 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. Streets like this would never work in Europe where a lot of cars still have manual gears. Summer of Love in Height Ashbury, San Francisco. Required fields are marked *. Over 50 points of interest in San Francisco! Here's just a small sampling of what you'll see when you pilot your rental car around on my best damn driving tour of San Francisco: San Francisco as viewed from the East Bay. Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. This self-guided tour allows you to explore San Franciscos historic wonders with maximum flexibility and value. Add to cart. Alamo Square has nice sets of Victorian houses, one of which is the famous postcard row that probably is the most photographed spot in all San Francisco. The app was super easy to use, and the content was really fun! It started when wealthy families started building their houses up on the hill after the cable car line was opened. Carmel and Steinbeck's Cannery Row in Monterey. Some of the best hotels near San Francisco City Hall include Hotel Whitcomb, Renoir Hotel, and the Hayes Valley Inn. Haight Ashbury has another kind of history. However, even if you dont intend it, you will sometimes find yourself on this drive when youre in the city without even realizing it. 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. Nob Hill and the next hill, Russian Hill, have splendid views to the city and to the bay area: A San Francisco city tour on Russian Hill. This way, you always know what SF attraction you are visiting next. Entrance ticket to San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). We'll learn all about this building's strange history as we pass. With TourCentric, you'll be completely immersed in the stories, sights, and sounds of San Francisco. Book today! Charleston 2 San Francisco to Sausalito. In the evening when the sun shines on the painted ladies from the west it makes them shine. We designed our self-guided walking tour of San Francisco to include several examples of that quirky San Francisco charm. Go City | San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass. Starting Point Address (Southbound) - SF to LA: PG6H+8F Lakeshore, San Francisco, CA, USA. The trail is marked with gold medallions embedded within the sidewalks. Looking at them you could imagine being in China. You definitely have to include Pier 39 in your San Francisco sightseeing program. Despite that they look really cute, social and intelligent. By 17 Mile Day Trips. This one hour and sixteen minute tour can be done at your own pace. San Francisco highlights self-guided 3-hour driving tour, Sorry, we couldn't find any reviews based on your filters. Choose to skip a stop and have all the best information about each stop at your fingertips. All of these tours take you on a specific walking route through the city. 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). Although we dont have a self-guided tour yet, we do provide a GPS-enabled audio tour of the Castro District. It also has a map showing you where your next stop will be. Our Fave Spots, Zero Ads. Read more. Learn More. English. Tour access for the full car, not per person, GPS-connected audio to automatically play as you approach a landmark or location, Additional media content in-app, including photos and images, New York Self Drive Tour-PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, San Francisco: An Expert Local Travel Guide, Public Transit Tours Waiver and Terms & Conditions, Purchase the San Francisco Self Drive Tour (only one purchase is necessary per car), Connect your device to your car speakers and listen to the stories as you follow the route indicated. Recommended: Purchase one tour per vehicle. Travel has always been my passion and work and with this Routes and Trips Travel Guide I want to inspire you to travel the world. Read reviews, compare customer ratings, see screenshots and learn more about San Francisco Audio Tour Guide. All rights reserved. You start at the Japan Center Malls where you will find a plaque outlining the walk. And why not? Be sure to check your email before you begin to download the Action Tour Guide app, enter your unique password, and access your tour. 7h. For example, you could easily drive past Tessie Walls infamous brothel without knowing about it! That way it will only take more time and you will have to examine San Francisco bus and cable car maps and timetables. Simply put, Action Tour Guide is an audio guide, map, and tour book all in one app! Simply download the free TourCentric app, purchase your San . We still want you to have a great time here, so weve prepared these free self-guided tours that you can do on your own. This was the main entry point to the city until two bridges, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge, were opened. This is a great time to visit California! Pacific Heights surprised us: all streets are lined with old-style Victorian homes. Then, stop at Pier 39 to see the seal lion colony and the two-level carousel at the end of the pier. The sea lions settled here after the 1989 earthquake when they had to escape from somewhere else and since that they have increased in number. That is why these two adjoining neighborhoods are another must-see for your driving tour. This is not at all like the typical guided tour. 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. Stop off wherever you want for as long as you want, and then get started again at your leisure! This district is widely considered the home of the gay rights movement in the United States. A self guided driving tour we did with our friends.. read more. Oahu; Big Island; Maui; Kauai; Utah. Explore the most photographed area of San Francisco, seen on the award-winning show Full House, the Painted Ladies are the iconic Victorian homes sitting on Alamo Square. We'll climb to the top of Coit Tower and get a great look at San Francisco from above. The streets here are so quiet and leafy that you couldnt imagine this is in a huge metropolis. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. No extra fees are applied to this booking. In particular there are certain areas of the city that are not very car-friendly, such as pedestrian-rich. Yet the Painted Ladies are not the only houses like that in the big city, there are Victorian houses all over San Francisco. Cable car conductors also sell day passes. Simplify your planning process to this neighborhood by taking a guided tour. 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. Hop in your car and enjoy this self-guided audio tour along the Pacific Coast Highway. On weekdays the Financial District is hectic but on weekends theres simply nobody. The GoCar takes you to spectacular places few visitors get to see. (B) PIER 39 - see giant sea lions snoring on the docks. There are a total of 19 stops to visit, and they are all in the same general location, so it shouldn't take longer than 1 - 2 hours to complete. He knew a ton of history which we loved and we were able to see a ton. If your time in San Francisco is limited, taking a driving tour of the city could be a good option for you. Join us! We are a GPS-enabled app-based tour that narrates information based on your location right on your phone. Mission: The Mission is home to our largest concentration of street art and murals. You can listen to the audio on your iPhone, iPad, Kindle or any other MP3 player. However, the people who live in them will surely assist you with the boundaries and the colorful . As we drive, we'll learn all about how this city was founded and why it grew. Segway Tours Looking for fun things to do with friends? This is based on an audio guide I did . A main street facade in Chinatown San Francisco. Just remember to bring a jacket it gets windy up there! You will also find others that offer either audio or a map to get you from point to point. Limantour Beach to Olema. There are options for guided tours at $25 per person, and camping fees vary by campground. Fisherman's Wharf walking tour & Alcatraz visit. 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. . This means only a small number of sea lions stay here throughout the year. Nashville This may very well be one of the last drive-up movie theaters! The thing I love about these walks is that all 50 are printed on their own cards. You can find new. 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. New York City Friendly & very informative. Note, this is a self-guided driving tour : You will need to arrange your own means of transportation; The tour works offline which means you do not need your phone network to enjoy the tour. Self-Guided Driving Tour. Our self-guided tour of Chinatown includes a map that you can . 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. Tour purchase is per vehicle (not per person), GPS-connected audio plays as you approach the next location. Andrew H 10/26/2019. $85.00. Probably the most comprehensive tour of San Francisco is the 49-mile Scenic Drive . Or you could opt to stop frequently and make this a whole day tour of San Francisco. As we drive, we'll learn about another iconic San Francisco feature: the cable car! Should You Go on a Driving Tour of San Francisco? Castro: This colorful district is one you do not want to miss. Optional Barbary Coast Trail. 2022Outdoor Activities in San Francisco. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, having grown up in the area, and pointed out not only historical places, but beautiful murals, homes and fun nooks and crannies (like hidden stairways to streets) that we never would have seen on our own. Not bad, both tourists and locals like this. No expiration The tour comes with lifetime validity! 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. Pick back up tomorrow when youre refreshed! Our post on walking the Golden Gate Bridge also includes several additional details about where to enjoy the best views of this landmark and things to do in the area. You will only notice when walking through its neighborhoods. 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 Telegraph Hill! 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. Visit Tours-USA.com. Visit the fascinating San Francisco Modern Museum of Art, including seven floors of galleries and exhibits, three dining options, two museum stores, and more!