We loved it as it had been our first time visiting. Next we'll see two iconic symbols of San Francisco's Chinatown: the Chinatown Mural and the Old Chinese Telephone Exchange. Lying in the sun side by side and diving into the waters when they get hungry. Ferry cruises to the bay also start here. Not far away from Haight Ashbury comes the place where we will end our San Francisco sightseeing tour for today. 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. 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! Our San Francisco self drive tour offers you complete flexibility and convenience. Past members include luminaries like Imogen Cunningham and Ruth Asawa. Drive carefully! Or, if you are in the mood for ice cream, the Bi-Rite Creamery salted caramelice cream is worth waiting in line for. I found the one in the picture on the left in the North Beach neighborhood. 5648 Ebbshore St, Sacramento, CA 95835. This post provides a list of free self-guided tours of San Francisco that you can enjoy anytime, day or night, every day of the week. If you have ever watched Full House, you will know what we are talking about. Each stop offers a little information about what happened at that location. As we make our way to the waterfront, we'll dive into San Francisco's maritime history and it's (literal) gold-digging past. Book a self-guided driving tour of San Francisco with route and audio instructions on your smartphone via an app. San Francisco by car: driving down the eight turns of Lombard Street. You can buy these together or separately through Amazon. My Boyfriend and I booked an all Day SF tour with Christofer and had an amazing time! And very soon we got used to driving up and down San Francisco hills. In addition to this outing, you can also take our free guided walking tour of The Castro. Required fields are marked *. No problem! 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). This is where most department stores are, making the San Francisco Market Street one of the main shopping streets of the city. 07:40am: Departure from Post Street pickup location You start at the Japan Center Malls where you will find a plaque outlining the walk. We also offer a new favorite spots map of San Franciscos downtown core. You can listen to the audio on your iPhone, iPad, Kindle or any other MP3 player. And as you can imagine, there are a lot of interesting sites to see in the neighborhood. Without a doubt, one of the most enchanting things about this magical city is the neighborhoods. Its a great place to watch street performers, see some of the citys most intricate vintage murals, and just soak in the atmosphere. 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. Subscribe to our newsletter below. Join us for a walk along the streets . This post presents a driving route in the Golden Gate area on the westside of San Francisco. No expiration The tour comes with lifetime validity! It should say Powell-Hyde (it has a brown sign). 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. Our guide Damien was so very knowledgeable about the area and history of SF. As we drive, we'll learn all about how this city was founded and why it grew. Discover several notable landmarks and attractions on this free self-guided tour of the North Beach neighborhood in San Francisco. The SF self-drive tour follows a circular route through the city, so you can start at any point along the way. Starting Point Address (Southbound) - SF to LA: PG6H+8F Lakeshore, San Francisco, CA, USA. These pretty Victorian houses together with bay views from the 44 hills make San Francisco what it is. I wanted to package my love of San Francisco into a Self-Guided Free Walking Tour and this is the result. This tour has been developed by local guides, curated by creative writers, and narrated by professional voice artists. Scenic 49 Mile Drive - San Francisco. With the bonus tour, youll get up close and personal with that famous landmark and even drive across it for some killer views! A large part of San Franciscos charm is in the little quirky details. It is the perfect way to learn more about the history of San Francisco at a time and pace that works for you! View All Reviews. London San Francisco sightseeing: driving down Lombard Street. Know more. 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! We provide customizable self guided driving vacations throughout United States, including car rentals, GPS, and hotel accommodations. Be sure to also check out our free, guided walking tours of San Francisco. As we drive towards Chinatown, we'll pass a strange sight: a huge, glass pyramid. You can find new. We are a program of the San Francisco Public Library. Fishermans Wharf was and still is a fishing harbor, but its new main focus has changed from fishing industry to tourism industry. Our Fave Spots, Zero Ads. 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. 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. The point of a scenic drive is that you get to see a lot of things from the comfortable seat of your car. Our self-guided tour of Chinatown includes a map that you can use to pinpoint the location of each individual stop, making it easy to explore at your own leisure without getting lost. You will then walk from each historical marker to the next as you learn all about the oldest Japantown in the US. Double Bottom Assembly, Kaiser Shipyards, Richmond CA [RORI 1039_b] . Nob Hill, the highest summit of central San Francisco, is our next destination. Hop in your car and enjoy this self-guided audio tour along the Pacific Coast Highway. Then take Washington Street towards the next park in the west, Alta Plaza. By 17 Mile Day Trips. 2 hours. Our Self Drive Motorcycle Tours provide a route, daily itinerary, motorcycle, and booked or not booked lodging. As we drive past, we'll admire these striking buildings and learn about how they came to be painted in such vivid colors. Next, we'll head up one of SF's famous hills: Theres a phenomenal view of the bay and of the city skyline once youre up there. In the 1960s the traditional middle-class residential area suddenly became the hotspot of the Flower Power generation. All rights reserved. Take your time driving through Monterey Bay, artsy Carmel and more. If you want to keep in touch, follow Routes and Trips. A San Francisco self-guided tour is a must-do on your tour of California, so be sure to visit our website for more information. This district is widely considered the home of the gay rights movement in the United States. 2022Outdoor Activities in San Francisco. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You only need to book one tour per vehicle, not per person. Get your Go City San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass, save up to 50% and take advantage of unlimited access to 25+ top attractions and a downloadable guide. 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. Know about new tour launches, get exclusive access to sales and much more. 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. 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 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. Limantour Beach to Olema. After that walk through Chinatown, which has some of the best food in the city, making it the perfect spot for lunch. 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. 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. You will only notice when walking through its neighborhoods. I had the most amazing time, as a solo traveller doing a small group tour is perfect. It will let you visit a wide variety of tourist destinations in a short amount of time and without walking up a single hill! Not only that, but you can also create your own walk with the attractions that interest you most and even set your hotel as . Segway Tours Looking for fun things to do with friends? If your time in San Francisco is limited, taking a driving tour of the city could be a good option for you. The story tellers were entertaining and I looked forward to hearing them talk about the next sight. Transport by luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi and restroom. Visit the lavish Castro Theater building while you are there, or stop for the most delicious chocolate chip cookie you will ever have at the Hot Cookie Bakery. Classic Car Tours. Then well guide you all around, making sure you see everything this historic place has to offer! 7 Sites to Visit on a Driving Tour of San Francisco. How to Tell if Youre on the Scenic Drive. San Francisco itself has much to offer the first-time visitor. These houses called the Painted Ladies can be seen on San Francisco postcards. $ 65 $ 50. 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. This is not at all like the typical guided tour. For those who like to sit and relax, packages can be customized to include private city tours or even private road . This map is interactive. This is a self-guided experience and not an entrance ticket. My tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. The heyday of the Haight was the 1967 Summer of Love when thousands or young California dreamers flocked to the place and filled all quarters. Since most of the locations on our self-guided tour of Fishermans Wharf are located alongside the water, you can expect this outing to take around 1 - 1 hours. Sail around Alcatraz and learn about this infamous island on the Escape the Rock boat tour! Mission: The Mission is home to our largest concentration of street art and murals. The sun heats the air and the seals have their dear friends and neighbors around them :). Recommend! Youll turn next onto Stockton Street and get a good look at something else you wont see every day: cable cars. 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. Both days were fantastic and the natural beauty of the hilly metropolis surprised us. Download San Francisco Audio Tour Guide and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Looking upwards you will see how high these earthquake protected buildings are! Hit the road whenever youre ready, stop as often as youd like, and just enjoy the journey! However, the people who live in them will surely assist you with the boundaries and the colorful . You cant visit San Francisco without flashing back to the hippie-dippie days of the 1960s. 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. 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. Starting Point Address (Northbound) - LA to SF: 81-99 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Here, youll get the inside scoop on how Hollywood uses this building as a stand-in for Washington, D.C.s Capitol building in all sorts of films. San Francisco City Hall, Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl, San Francisco, California 94102, U.S. This comprehensive self-guided San Francisco City Tour covers everything from the Painted Ladies to the Golden Gate Bridge. Interested in seeing as many gorgeous views of the city as possible? Included with your San Francisco tour is a complimentary bonus tour of the Golden Gate Bridge. On especially foggy days you may not even be able to see key attractions like Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Transamerica Pyramid. Most San Francisco seals travel south in summer to give birth to their pups and to be back here for winter. No need to worry about driving in Central San Francisco. This 3-hour guided tour takes you to bike across GGB and then explore Sausalito's waterfront. Most tour companies spend between 1.5 to 2 hours in the forest. Along the way, your guide will share tidbits about SF's history and its landmarks. Make a stop here to take some photos, or simply drive by so you can tell your friends you saw them! 2 departure locations in San Francisco to choose from: 478 Post St. SF (Union Square Area) - Departs at 7:40 AM. If you are craving a burrito, be sure to visit La Taqueria or Papalote. Recommended: Purchase one tour per vehicle. Friendly & very informative. 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. The monthly rental costs for a parking spot can be anywhere from . Our drive through San Francisco brings us past a magnificent marble building: the San Francisco City Hall! And now, the Map 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. This means you only have to bring along the ones you plan on using that day. Lisbon 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. San Francisco: D It stops at the top of the curved block and you can walk down the stairs and see the cars. DIY Muir Woods Tour Cost. Even when the Americans insist on driving up and down the steep 44 San Francisco hills, one street turned out too steep even to them. 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. Alamo Square Park, Steiner St, San Francisco, Tour of California Self-Guided Driving Bundle. I want them all PLUS general travel tips. Subscribe to our newsletter belowcoupon code on the next screen. Review of: Golden Gate Bridge Bike Rental - Near the Golden Gate Bridge! We'll learn all about this building's strange history as we pass. View All . Free cancellation. This website does not sell any personal information. >> Learn more about things to see and do in Japantown. The curves enable driving down but the turns are too sharp for any longer cars and buses. 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 . Night Adventures: Do you love seeing a city at night? Changing travel date? Here you can see our San Francisco driving itinerary marked on a Google map. You can also cycle this route very easily (there are numerous bike rental shops in the area). Simply put, Action Tour Guide is an audio guide, map, and tour book all in one app! Note, this is a self-guided driving tour : You will need to arrange your own means of transportation; $14.99. There are options for guided tours at $25 per person, and camping fees vary by campground. The tour shouldnt take longer than 1 - 1 hours to finish. 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. 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.