Top San Francisco Sightseeing Cruises

Explore one of California's most iconic settings from the beauty of San Francisco Bay. This narrated Golden Gate Bay cruise journeys alongside Alcatraz and Angel Island State Park, past the shores of Sausalito and beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. You can choose to view the sights from inside your boat or out on deck.

Admire San Francisco and its surrounding sights from the water on a San Francisco Bay sailing cruise. Onboard a catamaran, sail past the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, legendary Alcatraz Island, and the hamlet of Sausalito. Take advantage of great photo ops while you soak up the sea breeze during this scenic tour.

On this San Francisco bridge cruise, get an up-close look at the city’s two engineering marvels—the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge—as you travel across San Francisco Bay. See major city sights like Alcatraz, Coit Tower, and the Ferry Building, and listen to recorded commentary about the city's legendary architecture while you glide under both bridges.

Take a relaxing afternoon sailing cruise aboard a traditional sailboat on the San Francisco Bay. Cruise past landmarks such as Alcatraz Island, Angel Island, the Sausalito waterfront, and Golden Gate Bridge, and see the San Francisco skyline on your way back to Pier 39. Includes two drinks, and personalized attention from the crew and captain.

Enjoy a relaxing outing on San Francisco Bay with a cruise. Take in panoramic views of the city skyline, marvel at Alcatraz Island, and journey beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. Choose to sit indoors or savor cool bay breezes from an outdoor deck and experience San Francisco in a whole new way from the water. You can even learn about the sights that you're seeing from a free audio tour—available on any personal wifi-enabled device. This ticket allows you to skip the box office line and go straight to the gate.

Sail across San Francisco Bay at twilight to admire the city skyline as it begins to light up for the night. With an experienced captain at the helm, you’ll glide past Alcatraz Island and cruise underneath the Golden Gate Bridge.

Come aboard the Privateer for a beautiful sailing journey along the San Francisco Bay where you can enjoy sightseeing at the most beautiful time of day—sunset. Coast along as you spot out Alcatraz, the Sausalito shoreline, and the Golden Gate bridge, all with a drink of choice in your hand.  

Learn stories behind the Bay Area's most notorious former federal penitentiary on a fascinating 'Escape from the Rock' cruise. Board a boat for a journey through the bay while listening to audio recordings (available in several languages) from ex-prisoners and guards about daily life on 'The Rock.' Learn about the Birdman of Alcatraz and the infamous 1962 'Alcatraz Escape,' and come to know why Alcatraz instilled fear into the hearts of even the worst-of-the-worst criminals. Tours are accessible on any of your own wifi-enabled iPads, smartphones or other devices. This ticket allows you to skip the box office line and go straight to the gate.

Spend an evening on the San Francisco Bay during this dinner cruise, including a 3-course gourmet meal of fresh, local ingredients prepared on board. After dinner, dance to the DJ's music or enjoy the nighttime views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the city skyline from the exterior deck.

Wander through an ancient coastal redwood forest and explore the artistic bayside enclave of Sausalito on this half-day tour from San Francisco. Travel across the Golden Gate Bridge to visit Muir Woods, home to some of the oldest and tallest trees on Earth. Then, soak up stellar views of the San Francisco skyline and browse art galleries along the Sausalito waterfront. At the end of your tour choose between getting dropped off at either of the two departure points or taking the Sausalito ferry back to San Francisco (Pier 41).

Visit charming Sausalito, cruise across San Francisco Bay and stare up in wonder at the redwood trees of Muir Woods on this combo tour from San Francisco—the perfect day out in the Bay Area. Experience the Golden Gate Bridge from both above and below as you drive across it and glide under it, and learn about some of California’s oldest and tallest natural wonders, the coastal redwoods. In Sausalito, you can stroll along the waterfront or shop in the galleries and boutiques.

Explore San Francisco and Alcatraz on this 2-in-1 tour. Hop aboard a ferry for a scenic ride to Alcatraz and enjoy the award-winning audio walking tour. Plus, enjoy a coach tour with a knowledgeable local guide. Learn about the City by the Bay through visits to top attractions such as Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, the Presidio, and the Palace of Fine Arts.

Bypass the line and head directly to the gate with your prebooked tickets. This sunset cruise takes you across San Francisco Bay with outstanding views of the city skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Bay Bridge, and Alcatraz Island. Relax while background music sets the tone. Watch the sunset or select a twilight cruise during winter months.

See San Francisco’s top attractions from the water on this 1.5-hour tour by rigid inflatable boat. Your guide will provide gear to keep you dry and warm as you take off from Pier 39. Pass the infamous prison of Alcatraz, Coit Tower, the Presidio and glide under the Golden Gate Bridge while your captain provides insightful narration. Numbers are limited to 12 people to keep this small-group tour as intimate as possible.

Make the most of a day in San Francisco with this triple combo tour that starts with a morning visit to Muir Woods to enjoy the majestic giant redwoods before most of the crowds arrive. Along the way, stop at the Golden Gate Bridge for photos and a walk on the iconic rusty-orange span. Finish with a cruise across the San Francisco Bay for the famous Cell Block tour at Alcatraz prison — one of San Francisco's most in-demand tours.

Go sailing on the San Francisco Bay on a spectacular sailboat cruise from Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf. Head to the Golden Gate Bridge for sweeping views of the Marin Headlands, Tiburon and Sausalito, then glide across the bay, passing Angel Island, Alcatraz Island, The Presidio, Crissy Field, Ghirardelli Square, and the Bay Bridge. You can enjoy two complimentary glasses of sparkling wine, beer or soda, and ask your captain and crew any questions you may have along the way.

Combine some of the San Francisco area's top sights—Alcatraz, Muir Woods, and Sausalito—in a single day tour. Traveling in a luxury bus, you'll be able to focus on the sights while someone else drives and provides insightful commentary. Explore Muir Woods and Sausalito independently, then hop a boat for a cruise around Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay.

Experience the San Francisco Bay on a 2-hour sailing tour aboard a boat that competed in the America’s Cup, one of the world’s most prestigious sailing competitions. Depart from a convenient location on Pier 39 for this family-friendly sailboat tour, which offers sweeping views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, the city skyline, and more.

Inside Alcatraz with an assigned time same day visit to Muir Woods, Golden Gate, and Sausalito. This one day excursion gets you three iconic attractions on our family style road trip! Enjoy a hybrid of light driver narration and TV narration of the Golden Gate Bridge and famous Alcatraz Escapes! We have even included an assigned $12.50 Brunch Credit to enjoy!. Guests will experience 70 minutes in the park full of red woods then return to Sausalito with an organized 30 minute stop connection. After Sausalito Guests will be given a $12.50 food credit to IHOP for lunch in Fisherman's Wharf. Tour ends in Fisherman's Wharf. Alcatraz is often the last portion and is in late afternoon slots. However, some days events may be reversed with Alcatraz in morning followed by brunch and Muir Woods/Sausalito in in late afternoon. We will notify guests of the order. $15 Woods entry not included. We reserve the right to designate what bus we operate or to switch order of operations.

This one day excursion gets you two iconic attractions combining Muir Woods visit with a Same Day stop to the Golden Gate Bridge in a laid back hassle free way. Tour departs on a mini bus with max 40 guests with an assigned time. Guest may also upgrade to smaller group options. Enjoy a hybrid of light driver narration and informative fort history! Relax with TV narration on the way of Golden Gate Bridge being built and famous Alcatraz Escapes! This tour departs Fisherman's Wharf on a 70 minute assigned time default large bus or additional fee smaller group van to see Muir Woods. After we will experience the Golden Gate Bridge with ample time to see the bridge. This excursion will end at start point. Some days events may have an assigned morning departure as early as 6:45am or late as 5pm. We reserve the right to choose vehicles for the day. Options for guests to upgrade to our Road Trip Experience with Driver James.

Discover top sights along San Francisco's iconic waterfront during this time-saver guided tour. Learn about the evolution of the picturesque waterfront city, from the gold rush frenzy to the advent of the cable-car. Highlights include the sea lions on Pier 39, stunning views overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, and a stop at the historic Old Del Monte Fruit Cannery. Upgrade to include a sightseeing cruise along the water.

Get acquainted with the City by the Bay during this 3.5-hour San Francisco tour, including a 1.5-hour cruise around Alcatraz Island. First make your way through the city’s most popular neighborhoods, and see main attractions, such as Fisherman’s Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge. Then, hit the water on a cruise around Alcatraz Island, and learn about the history and the former inmates of the notorious penitentiary.

If you have limited time in San Francisco, check off the city's must-see attractions in one day with this combo sightseeing and Alcatraz tour. Take in the sights on a 2-hour bus tour, from Chinatown and Haight-Ashbury to Golden Gate Park and Fisherman's Wharf. You'll also cruise across the San Francisco Bay for a tour of Alcatraz Island that takes you inside historic cell blocks that once held notorious gangsters and criminals — no advance ticket needed.

Maximize your time in San Francisco with this Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary admission and bike rental package. No need to worry about booking ferry tickets—they’re included to Alcatraz Island and back. Once you’re there, enjoy an audio tour around the former Alcatraz Prison site and its cell blocks. A one-day bike rental is also included—the perfect way to get fit, cover lots of ground, and see the Golden Gate Bridge.