Looking upwards you will see how high these earthquake protected buildings are! 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. >> Learn more about things to see and do in Japantown. I've used these many times. This one hour and sixteen minute tour can be done at your own pace. Email, phone, and chat support are available if needed. Self-Guided Tours View Floor Plans. Just remember to bring a jacket it gets windy up there! 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. Haight-Ashbury. San Francisco has water on three sides so you can imagine how useful the bridges were and still are. We have put together a list of 7 must-see sites for San Francisco visitors. And as you can imagine, there are a lot of interesting sites to see in the neighborhood. Download Hawaii's highest-rated travel apps + now introducing self-guided tours in Utah! Philadelphia With TourCentric, youll arrive as a tourist and leave as a local. You dont want to miss out on seeing the Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill. No problem! Not only that, but you can also create your own walk with the attractions that interest you most and even set your hotel as . You can experience ourdrivingandwalking tours at your own pace and literally at any time of the day! These houses called the Painted Ladies can be seen on San Francisco postcards. 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. This is a self-guided experience and not an entrance ticket. Save up to 55% and visit San Francisco's top attractions. As we drive towards Chinatown, we'll pass a strange sight: a huge, glass pyramid. If so, then these self-guided walking tours of San Francisco are just for you! . The tour shouldnt take longer than 1 - 1 hours to finish. You will then walk from each historical marker to the next as you learn all about the oldest Japantown in the US. 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). 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. Discover the highlights of San Francisco at your own pace, on a self-guided driving tour available on your smartphone. Your tour will conclude here, but that isnt where the fun ends! Fisherman's Wharf: Walk around one of our most popular districts. 49 Miles of 100% San Francisco. Our San Francisco exploration begins at one of the city's most iconic stops: the Painted Ladies! 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. 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 could eat at a different NYC spot once a day for 22.7 years and .Central Park Bike 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. Welcome to the GPS-enabled offline driving tour of San Francisco, California by Action Tour Guide! We include a few details about each tour to give you an idea of what to expect on each outing. No need to worry about driving in Central San Francisco. Here you will find some of the best at night from scary ghost walks to night cruises around the bay. Then take Washington Street towards the next park in the west, Alta Plaza. On weekdays the Financial District is hectic but on weekends theres simply nobody. Want to go back in time to the 1920's and 30's and the Golden Age of Hollywood? Discover several notable landmarks and attractions on this free self-guided tour of the North Beach neighborhood in San Francisco. Did you find apk for android? Enjoy Santa Barbara's quintessential downtown and then continue down to Ventura and Malibu. Checkout Lombard Street, claimed to be 'the crookedest street in the world', containing 8 hairpin turns. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. See reviews and photos of the San Francisco City Self-Guided Audio Tour Through Golden Gate Bridge. 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. SAN FRANCISCO TO LA SELF DRIVE MOTORCYCLE TOUR. 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. Youll get to know their history and why these quirky little cars are still used today. This was the main entry point to the city until two bridges, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge, were opened. Non-refundable. 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. Recommended: Purchase one tour per vehicle. For your hotel stay, we also offer a free map of San Franciscos downtown area and central neighborhoods. Travel down the West Side Greenway and over the Brooklyn Bridge. You can tell that youre on it because the attractions along the drive are marked with blue and white signs that tell you youre on 49 Mile Scenic Drive. Interested in creating custom self-guided tours for your customers? 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. I could start and stop the tour whenever I wanted to break and resume. Discover the hidden treasures of Central Park during this 2 hour guided tour. Without a doubt, one of the most enchanting things about this magical city is the neighborhoods. Then its on to Chinatown and Manilatown, where youll hear about both historic districts long, embattled history. >> Find additional self-guided tours plus some multi-day itineraries. If youre not driving, use the steps for walkers that exist on both sides. View All . Northern California Self Drive Motorcycle Tour . 5 Travel to Point Reyes National Seashore. Visit its top attractions, see where the Beat Generation spent their days and nights and taste some of the best goodies in the district. It started when wealthy families started building their houses up on the hill after the cable car line was opened. 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. Book your Alcatraz tickets to explore the infamous prison and enjoy two days of hop-on hop-off access to all of San Francisco. You will not need to change the booking if your travel plans change. Visit the fascinating San Francisco Modern Museum of Art, including seven floors of galleries and exhibits, three dining options, two museum stores, and more! This will finally bring us to the Embarcadero. The trail is marked with gold medallions embedded within the sidewalks. Copyright 2009-2023 by SFTourismTips.com. We'll learn all about this building's strange history as we pass. Looking at them you could imagine being in China. Opening hours: Fri 12:00am-11:59pm. Its a great place to watch street performers, see some of the citys most intricate vintage murals, and just soak in the atmosphere. Stop at Eastern Bakery: 720 Grant Avenue. This 3-hour guided tour takes you to bike across GGB and then explore Sausalito's waterfront. Hit the road whenever you're ready, stop as often as you'd like, and just enjoy the journey! Our next San Francisco sight: the hippie suburb Haight Ashbury. San Francisco by car: driving itinerary on the map. Starting Point Address (Northbound) - LA to SF: 81-99 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401. It is the perfect way to learn more about the history of San Francisco at a time and pace that works for you! I wanted to package my love of San Francisco into a Self-Guided Free Walking Tour and this is the result. Golden Gate Bridge in 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. However, even if you dont intend it, you will sometimes find yourself on this drive when youre in the city without even realizing it. Haight Ashbury has another kind of history. This website does not sell any personal information. San francisco driving tour | Actiontourguide.com San francisco driving tour Actiontourguide [email protected] 32 Mallard Cove Barrington Rode Island 02806 1 (508) 506 1844 United States. Liked Haight Ashbury the most. If youre planning to bike across the Golden Gate Bridge, this could be an interesting addition to that activity. . Book your Explore California Academy of Sciences entrance tickets to explore its top sites (and hidden ones too): aquarium, rainforest, planetarium, and Natural History Museum all in one day. After that go through vibrant Fisherman's Wharf, pass Fort Mason and the Palace of Fine Arts, before enjoying some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, in Crissy Field. 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! Book a self-guided driving tour of San Francisco with route and audio instructions on your smartphone via an app. No worries! Be sure to check your email before you begin to download the Action Tour Guide app, enter your unique password, and access your tour. If you are craving a burrito, be sure to visit La Taqueria or Papalote. POIPU AND KOLOA DRIVING TOUR $29.99. 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). Our San Francisco self drive tour offers you complete flexibility and convenience. Of course fog can obscure the views youre seeking from the drive. From San Francisco: Highway 1 Self-Drive Audio Tour in English. The original hands-on paranormal investigation tour. Since 2012. The busy season falls around October through May, and entrance fees are $30 for a 7-day vehicle permit or $15 per person on foot. With its famous golden doors, beautiful stained glass windows, and gorgeous icons, youll be amazed. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Optional Barbary Coast Trail. Self-Guided Driving & Walking ToursAn audio guide, map, and tour book all in one! 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. 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 . San Francisco itself has much to offer the first-time visitor. After youve seen enough of Pacific Heights, turn south to see a totally different neighborhood. Lowest price guarantee Reserve now & pay laterFree cancellation. It also has a map showing you where your next stop will be. The Financial District of San Francisco has changed a lot since the Gold Rush when this place already was a base for trade functions. Zion; Bryce; Capitol Reef; Arches . As noted below, some companies (such as Skyline Sightseeing . From Lombard Street its a short drive down to the North Shore of San Francisco and to Fishermans Wharf. My Boyfriend and I booked an all Day SF tour with Christofer and had an amazing time! He took into consideration our interests & made it very enjoyable. Take one of these to learn more about its famous residents, controversial stories and Italian roots. They were designed by an artist who won a competition held by San Franciscos Downtown Association in 1955 and have marked the scenic drive ever since. This tour starts at Union Square, visits Chinatown, Grace Cathedral, the Cable Car Barn and Museum, North Beach (the Little Italy part of San Francisco), Lombard Street, Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. Then well guide you all around, making sure you see everything this historic place has to offer! tours at your own pace and literally at any time of the day! This district is widely considered the home of the gay rights movement in the United States. It's a day of gorgeous art and tasty treats. The Action Tour Guide app functions as a guide, an audio tour, and a map all in one. Lisbon No expiration The tour comes with lifetime validity! Fishermans Wharf was and still is a fishing harbor, but its new main focus has changed from fishing industry to tourism industry. 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. This is Grant Avenue, the Chinatowns main street. The onsite gallery hosts monthly exhibitions, as well as permanent work by current and past members. 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. From there, youll hear about the citys unique history and how it became one of the most progressive cities around. We are a GPS-enabled app-based tour that narrates information based on your location right on your phone. San Francisco is a technology hub without rival, and the upcoming Uber and Twitter headquarters prove it! 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. Sturgis Tour "The . This trail connects important historical sites throughout the streets of SF. Rome 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. Chinatown: Stroll down the colorful streets of Chinatown and see its historic temples, top dim sum restaurants, and amazing street art. 3. Night Adventures: Do you love seeing a city at night? 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. 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The trail is marked with gold medallions embedded within the sidewalks. 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 . After some years the movement faded and the area decayed, but Haight Ashbury still retains much of its hippie atmosphere. We'll climb to the top of Coit Tower and get a great look at San Francisco from above. Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page. Damien was the best! Each stop offers a little information about what happened at that location. Plus, meet Claude the alligator, hang out with the African penguin colony and the 38,000 other live animals. $ 65 $ 50. On the front, you will see the full walking route. 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. Big Island Tour Bundle. San Francisco by car: Pacific Heights building style. If you're looking to explore some of San Francisco's most famous neighborhoods by pounding the pavement, try this self-guided itinerary from local authors Kristine Poggioli and Carolyn Eidson. Feeling hungry? Activated by your GPS location, you'll hear about gold rush founders such as the scandalous Samuel . Double Bottom Assembly, Kaiser Shipyards, Richmond CA [RORI 1039_b] . You cant visit San Francisco without flashing back to the hippie-dippie days of the 1960s. Should You Go on a Driving Tour of San Francisco? There are options for guided tours at $25 per person, and camping fees vary by campground. This tour doesnt include entrance to attractions along the route. The residential area of Pacific Heights is on the next hill in order and offers great views to the city and the bay area. Wil and Erin at Ride Free organised our whole trip along route 66 then the coast road to San Francisco. Parking, however, may cause problems, but we found good solutions for that which I will share. We spent a sunny Saturday driving around Central San Francisco and on Sunday we explored the Golden Gate area. It's all up to you! Dubai We designed our self-guided walking tour of San Francisco to include several examples of that quirky San Francisco charm. What all nature lovers come here for is the Pier 39 with colonies of barking Californian sea lions. 1. Buy now, travel whenevercoupon code on the next screen. We provide a map with each stop listed on our self-guided tour of North Beach to ensure that you wont get lost and itll be easy to spot each attraction. Send us your resume, All Rights Reserved 2023 Real San Francisco Tours | Sitemap. Got a soft spot for the hippie-dippie days of the 1960s? Stop and take some photos. We experienced different methods of transport (avoiding those big hills!) 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. This trail connects important historical sites throughout the streets of SF. I had the most amazing time, as a solo traveller doing a small group tour is perfect. 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. Enjoy an immersive walk with amazing views and riveting stories of San Francisco and visit the notorious Alcatraz prison during this guided tour! Gold Rush to Golden Gate: Self Guided Tour of San Francisco. 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. Includes. Subscribe to new Routes and Trips posts directly to your email: Hi, my name is Liisa. Not bad, both tourists and locals like this. Some of the key attractions on the drive that can easily be enjoyed without getting out of the car include: Here are some of the attractions that the 49-Mile scenic drive will take you past but which may be worth getting out of the car and exploring in more depth: The 49-Mile scenic drive is a great experience and a terrific way to see a lot of what the city has to offer. Start this self-guided tour at the stunning Pantages Theater, before taking a stroll back through Hollywood history (via Amoeba Music Store) to some of the oldest studios in Los Angeles, where film-making began here. 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. Despite the bridges theres still a lot of ferry traffic on the bay. Both days were fantastic and the natural beauty of the hilly metropolis surprised us. After that, buckle your seatbelts because youre heading down Lombard Street, aka the most crooked street in the world! Youll have access to the tour for 72 hours and can start and stop as often as you want. And why not? Wil and Erin at Ride Free organised our whole trip along route 66 then the coast road to San Francisco. Tour purchase is per vehicle (not per person), GPS-connected audio plays as you approach the next location. Learn how your comment data is processed. You will find there are no definitive lines between these Colonias and Fraccionamientos. Download San Francisco Audio Tour Guide and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Cable car conductors also sell day passes. During your walking tour, you will learn more about 20 of San Francisco's top attractions. I've created one for each of our most popular districts. A self guided driving tour we did with our friends.. read more Andrew H 10/26/2019. San Francisco Aquarium of the Bay tickets. Are you ready to turn your phone into a personal tour guide? 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: Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 7 Sites to Visit on a Driving Tour of San Francisco. The sun heats the air and the seals have their dear friends and neighbors around them :). How many people know what San Francisco is like? Should You Go on a Driving Tour of San Francisco? Despite that they look really cute, social and intelligent. What follows is 1 of 17 walks from their book, "Walking San Francisco's 49 Mile Scenic Drive", edited and condensed for our website. Haight-Ashbury: See the spots where the Summer of Love captured the nation, grab some vintage threads and check out some of this districts interesting murals. Simply put, Action Tour Guide is an audio guide, map, and tour book all in one app! Next visit the historic birthplace of San Francisco, then see the burial site of one of the hundred odd ships on which the Financial District is built. From the Powell Street cable car end stop you can take the cable car and travel to the Chinatown, Nob Hill and all the way to the other side of the hill where the Fishermans Wharf is. It's also where Pebble Beach Golf Club is located, a legendary course that has attracted the likes of Teddy Roosevelt and Sir Winston Churchill. There was a lot more to see than we had thought, coming from Europe and being fist time visitors. Alamo Square is the home of the Painted Ladies: the beautiful Victorian-era homes of the 1870s. 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 To get to the end of the pier where the sea lions are you will need to walk all the way through the tourist zone, souvenir shops and carousels. From tasting delicious food to feeling the hippy love, to exploring the haunted past of San Francisco, theres something there for everyone. 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. It has three Michelin stars (the highest rating) and the James Beard Award for outstanding restaurant. Next, youll head into the citys tech quarter, where youll spot big-name HQs like Uber and Twitter and get a crash course in how Frisco became the go-to spot for the most cutting-edge tech produced anywhere. As the ground convulses, buildings disintegrate and fires are ignited. So we started with downtown San Francisco. 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. Alcatraz, the historic prison island of San Francisco. Opening hours: Fri 12:00am-11:59pm. 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. Make Memories & See the city in one of our self-guided San Diego tours! Did a wonderful tour with these guys while I was in San Francisco on business. You will also find others that offer either audio or a map to get you from point to point. Lying in the sun side by side and diving into the waters when they get hungry. You only need to book one tour per vehicle, not per person. 7 Sites to Visit on a Driving Tour of San Francisco, Alternatives to a San Francisco Driving Tour. The painted ladies at the top of San Francisco hills. I've used these in other cities too and they are great. The streets here are so quiet and leafy that you couldnt imagine this is in a huge metropolis. He knew a ton of history which we loved and we were able to see a ton. The tour departs from Fisherman's Wharf, following the San Francisco waterfront until the entrance to the Golden Gate Bridge bike's path. On this San Francisco tour, drive down the very steep and crooked Lombard Street, and around neighborhoods such as the Mission. With TourCentric, youll be completely immersed in the stories, sights, and sounds of San Francisco. 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. It's like having a local show you around. You will also see where some of the most famous people of the 60s lived including the Grateful Dead and Charles Manson. Boston You can take a ferry to Sausalito and Tiburon north ofthe bay, or to Oakland and Vallejo in the east. From there, head east along Haight Street . 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. This tour has been developed by local guides, curated by creative writers, and narrated by professional voice artists. This San Francisco city tour begins with the Painted Ladies, one of the citys top attractions. . 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! Haight Ashbury got its name from the corner of its two major streets, Haight and Ashbury. The curves enable driving down but the turns are too sharp for any longer cars and buses. Recommended by 97% of travelers. This is where most department stores are, making the San Francisco Market Street one of the main shopping streets of the city. With an automatic car its easier. Well worth the price and what I also liked about the tour was how easy it was. 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! This is a great time to visit California! It stops at the top of the curved block and you can walk down the stairs and see the cars. Get The Map. Paris 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. The point of a scenic drive is that you get to see a lot of things from the comfortable seat of your car. $14.99. In particular there are certain areas of the city that are not very car-friendly, such as pedestrian-rich. Drive carefully! Streets like this would never work in Europe where a lot of cars still have manual gears.