Best Walking Tours in San Francisco

Discover the beauty of San Francisco on foot with our curated walking tours. Whether you're visiting for the first time or looking to uncover hidden gems, exploring San Francisco by walking lets you experience its culture, history, and landmarks up close.

Top Walking Tours in San Francisco

San Francisco Ghost Tours: Gold and Ghouls Tour  in San Francisco

San Francisco , California

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (260 reviews)
Free Cancellation

From $ 26.00

Duration: 1 hours (approx.)

Embark on a spine-tingling journey through San Francisco's shadowy streets with our captivating walking ghost tour, where history and hauntings intertwine! Guided by an expert local storyteller, this tour takes you to some of the city's most iconic and eerie locations in the historic district. As you stroll through fog-laden streets, hear chilling tales of spirits lingering in places like the Sutter Building and the Fairmont Hotel, where echoes of the past resonate. This mile-long trek reveals San Francisco's tumultuous history, from the Gold Rush's promise to the tragedies that scarred the city. Encounter stories of the California Street Wandering Bride and the Pacific-Union Club, once the opulent Flood mansion. While entry into private buildings isn't allowed, standing on haunted ground will send shivers down your spine. Each tale uncovers the darker side of San Francisco, offering ghostly encounters and historical insights that will both entertain and enlighten you!

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Hidden Stairways of San Francisco in San Francisco

San Francisco , California

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (229 reviews)
Free Cancellation

From $ 35.00

Duration: 2 hours (approx.)

Please note: this walk is not at all strenuous. Obviously there's some stairs but this is done at a leisurely pace and suitable for almost everyone. This breathtaking 2 mile walking tour of San Francisco's hidden stairways is the #1 rated Airbnb Experience in the Bay Area. See gorgeous mosaic tiled steps and hear the stories behind them, then take in stunning 360° views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park and downtown San Francisco. You'll also discover beautiful neighborhoods and gardens that tourists rarely see...you might even go home with a succulent! I'll provide commentary, context and some history along the way. Generally SF is dry May-October. There can be fog in the summertime, mostly in the morning. Temps rarely above 70F (21C) or below 50F (10C). Rain may cancel. Instagram account to see more photos: @hiddenstairssf #hiddenstairssf Message me if you have questions!

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San Francisco Ghost Hunt Walking Tour in San Francisco

San Francisco , California

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (172 reviews)
Free Cancellation

From $ 30.00

 

Established in 1998, this is San Francisco's first and original haunted history walking tour, led by international performer and local favorite – Christian Cagigal. You will thrill to this lantern-lit adventure through San Francisco's ghostly past and see its most notorious haunted places. You will walk one mile on tree-lined streets in a safe residential area with fine Victorian architecture. There is one moderate hill, the pace is easy, and the views are spectacular. You'll enjoy 90 minutes of history and fun!  Highlights include: Poltergeists at the Chambers Mansion, the corpse in a barrel of rum at the Atherton Mansion, the ghost bride of California Street, the powerful woman who supported the Underground Railroad in San Francisco, and more. Your guide: Christian Cagigal is a Bay Area native and a lecturer of haunted history. He's performed across the globe as a magician and storyteller, and is a featured performer at the famous Magic Castle in Hollywood.

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Behind-the-Scenes Ballpark Tour of Oracle Park in San Francisco

San Francisco , California

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (138 reviews)
Free Cancellation

From $ 35.00

Duration: 1 hours (approx.)

Called "Baseball's Perfect Address", 24 Willie Mays Plaza has been home to the San Francisco Giants since 2000 and instantly became an icon in a city of icons. Nestled at the edge of downtown and upon a waterfront perch along the San Francisco Bay, this one-of-a-kind ballpark is the City's largest professional sports venue. Oracle Park has been awarded LEED sustainability certification and has played host to numerous Major League Baseball Postseason wins as well as sold-out concerts, soccer matches, football games and many other special events. On the behind-the-scenes ballpark tour, you'll take in sweeping views of downtown San Francisco and the Bay from inside the ballpark, and go places only the players go such as: The Giants' Dugout, and Field. Tours last approximately 1.5 hours and run daily at 10:30 am and 12:30 pm with additional tour times available in June, July, August and September. Great for all ages and a fun must see visit while in San Francisco! No backpacks allowed.

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Take a Walk with a Storyteller! The Surreal San Francisco Tour. in San Francisco

San Francisco , California

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (103 reviews)
Free Cancellation

From $ 32.00

Duration: 2 hours (approx.)

- Explore the city with San Francisco's most hilarious, imaginative and EXCITING storyteller! - Enjoy original FOLKLORE and FAIRYTALES told by Clyde Always: a professional storyteller, published poet and decade-long resident of the City by the Bay. Hear about witches & wisemen, hobos & hipster-emperors. Bring your imagination! - Get to know these three famous neighborhoods: the Mission, the Castro and the Duboce Triangle. - Get insider knowledge of the best eateries, parks, shops and more. See beautiful street-art, landmarks and architecture. Experience the City like a local. - BEWARE! Some of the information presented will be highly UNBELIEVABLE. Have fun sorting the fact from the fiction. -A 2.2 mile (3.5 km) walk with no hills. One public restroom along the way. - Please note: this tour is NOT for the whole family. Script includes profanity and you might see a nudist or two. - Guaranteed to entertain, enliven and uplift. An experience you'll always remember.

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Fisherman's Wharf Walking Tour in San Francisco

San Francisco , California

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (73 reviews)
Likely to Sell Out Free Cancellation

From $ 39.00

Duration: 1 hours (approx.)

Walk along the world-famous Fisherman's Wharf as your local tour guide shares some of the fascinating history about the area and how SF became the global destination it is today. This popular walking tour offers plenty of opportunities to fill your camera roll and make memories. We start at Aquatic Park, where you'll see stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. From here, head to Ghirardelli Square where your tour guide will share the origin story of the famous Italian chocolatier. Craving something sweet? Buy some of those delicious chocolate squares to snack on as you stroll the waterfront and part of the historic Barbary Coast Trail. Keep snapping pictures at the Wharf's most picturesque piers like Pier 39 that's overrun with adorable sea lions and the Embarcadero Promenade that's known for its art deco streetcars. But arguably the best picture you'll get is from 150 feet above the city with your optional ticket to the SkyStar observation wheel.

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Emperor Norton's Fantastic San Francisco Time Machine in San Francisco

San Francisco , California

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (67 reviews)
Free Cancellation

From $ 30.00

Duration: 2 hours (approx.)

Be informed and entertained on this one-of-a-kind 3-hour walking tour of downtown San Francisco, led by an impersonator of the late Emperor Norton. Self-proclaimed as the Emperor of the US, this 19th-century character comes to life as your guide leads you back to the past. Step into a time machine of sorts and learn about the Barbary Coast, the 1906 earthquake, and historic landmarks surrounding Union Square.

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Walk with Spirits: A Haunted Pub Crawl in San Francisco in San Francisco

San Francisco , California

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (48 reviews)
Free Cancellation

From $ 37.40

Duration: 2 hours (approx.)

This bar hop plus ghost tour takes you through the most historic haunts of Gold Rush era San Francisco. We start in the only part of downtown to survive the 1906 Earthquake and Fire - Jackson Square, then cross the infamous “Devil’s Acre,” and end in the legendary Chinatown. There you'll meet the ghosts of desperate miners, forlorn women, and shanghaied sailors... plus a serial killer or two. And unlike a standard ghost tour, we’ll actually enter into four haunted locations where, if you choose, you might sip on that other kind of spirit.  Don't see a date that suits you? Message us for info on private groups. 21+ Drinks not included

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Blue Painted Lady House Tour - Interior Guided Tour by Owner in San Francisco

San Francisco , California

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (34 reviews)
Free Cancellation

From $ 35.00

Duration: 1 hours (approx.)

The Painted Ladies are known worldwide from photos, guidebooks, film and TV shows such as "Full House". For locals, they are a cherished symbol of our city and our history. These are all private homes and are rarely open for viewing. The blue painted lady is one of the most original and preserved of the seven homes in this row. The interior reflects almost 174 years of this family's history in the city. It is not a recreation of an 1890s home, nor is it the tour meant as an inspiration for home décor or design. We hope guests find the period furnishings and paintings harmonious and the stories engaging.

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San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl  in San Francisco

San Francisco , California

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (27 reviews)
Free Cancellation

From $ 29.00

Duration: 2 hours (approx.)

Come on our Haunted Pub Crawl tour presented by US Ghost Adventures! On select nights, come have a few sips of local spirits while hearing about the city's local haunted Spirits and wandering the haunted streets of San Francisco. Join us on the new Spirits of the Barbary Coast Haunted Pub Crawl and visit the Golden Gate City's historic haunts and ghostly pubs to enjoy booze and boo's at some of its most infamous paranormal and tipsy hotspots. This tour will hit 4 of San Francisco's best bars and pubs, and some of its most haunted location between bar stops. *Drinks not included in price

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Sand Castles: The Remarkable Story of the San Francisco Embarcadero in San Francisco

San Francisco , California

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (13 reviews)
Free Cancellation

From $ 9.99

 

Take in San Francisco's historic waterfront with a tale of its creation, and looming demise with this walking tour along the Embarcadero. • Find out how rising seas and increasing storm surges are predicted to flood streets, and the infrastructure above and below, and what the future might look like • Hear from producer Claire Schoen who creates award-winning stories in sound for radio and podcasts • Do it all in 90 minutes or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish • Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it • Use the virtual tour option at home Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and a unique code listed under “Before You Go”. Then simply install the VoiceMap app and enter your code. The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, just pop in your headphones and tap start. VoiceMap has automatic GPS playback, with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.

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San Francisco Haight Ashbury Hippie Exploration Game in San Francisco

San Francisco , California

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (12 reviews)
Free Cancellation

From $ 8.13

 

Play a city game where you will follow clues around Haight Ashbury, the iconic San Francisco neighborhood, and the epicenter of the 1967 “Summer of Love” cultural phenomenon. Visit the locations in which music legends like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and The Grateful Dead performed free concerts. Ready to discover a city of peace and love? + See the homes of music legends Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and The Grateful Dead + Visit the Panhandle and Golden Gate Park, the location of many peaceful demonstrations like the revolutionary Human Be-In + Discover the impact that hippie subculture had on the art, music and social landscape of America Discover San Francisco’s fascinating history and attractions while you solve clues around the Haight Ashbury, the neighborhood famous for the hippie movement in the United States. Are you ready to be immersed in the world of peace, love, and rock ‘n’ roll?

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Downtown San Francisco Private 2-Hour Walking Tour in San Francisco

San Francisco , California

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (12 reviews)
Free Cancellation

From $ 15.00

Duration: 2 hours (approx.)

Come and discover all the secrets that San Francisco has to offer. We will walk all over the beautiful city, and see some beautiful sites like Union Square, Chinatown, and the Financial District. We are very excited to take you on this journey! Don't worry about other people, this tour is completely tailored to you with the Pintours App! With our app, you can pause the tour, and check out the locations as long as you want! You can skip a stop you don't like, and you have all the best information about each stop at your fingertips.

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Food, History, and Resistance: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in San Francisco

San Francisco , California

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (10 reviews)

From $ 11.99

 

Explore San Francisco's historic Japantown at your own pace on this self-guided audio tour. Japanese-American local Kristin Eriko Posner will guide you through the neighborhood, sharing little-known stories on how history shaped the food, culture, and landscape of the oldest Japantown in the U.S. This geo-tagged audio tour is best between 10:30am - 3:30pm on Wednesday-Saturdays, when all of the businesses on the tour are open. However, it can be taken at any time, on any day. Most stops are open until 6pm. The tour is ready whenever you are and the audio plays automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smartphone's GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline.

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Castro District LGBTQ+ Historic Tour in San Francisco

San Francisco , California

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (9 reviews)
Free Cancellation

From $ 39.00

Duration: 1 hours (approx.)

The Castro District in San Francisco is known for its rich LGBTQ+ history and vibrant culture. It might be small, but it really packs a punch! It was where Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in North America, lived and owned a camera shop. It is also home to many national landmarks, like one of the last historic movie palaces from the 1920's, The Castro Theater. And Queer Arts Featured, a gallery taking the culture of the neighborhood into a new era. With your experienced, local guide you'll not only see the sights but learn the rich history of America's first 'gayborhood.' Learn how local businesses, still standing today, helped solidify the Castro's place as a gay Mecca. Or the role the US military played in forming the neighborhood. Or why did they switch GLBT to LGBT? And what do the different colors of the rainbow flag represent? Find out the answers to these questions and much, MUCH more on my Castro District Historic Walking Tour!

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Local Tips for San Francisco

Guided vs. Self-Guided Walking Tours

A guided walking tour offers expert insights, historical context, and often includes skip-the-line access to major landmarks. If you prefer flexibility, a self-guided route lets you explore San Francisco at your own pace using maps and mobile apps. Combining both options is ideal for a complete experience.

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