Which San Francisco Bus Tour Is Best?

This post compares the different San Francisco bus tours available, including hop-on-hop-off tours, themed tours, combination packages and more.

Disclosure: While we think you should take one of our free walking tours, we understand this isn't optimal for everyone. Therefore, we have put together a list of the best bus tours in the city.

Our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.

HOP-ON, HOP-OFF SAN FRANCISCO BUS TOURS

If you’re looking for a bus tour that will allow you to jump off and explore a specific area in the San Francisco area, then a hop-on-hop-off tour may be your best bet.

These buses stop at locations along set routes. You hop off where you like and explore the area on your own, and work great in tandem with our pay-what-you-like guided walking tours.

Two companies in San Francisco run hop-on, hop-off bus tours: Skyline Sightseeing and Big Bus.

Both offer one-day single route tickets as well as multi-day tickets.

Multi-day tickets get you the most for your money as they include free additions, such as bike tours, walking tours, and discount coupons.

Both also offer night tours, which can be a stand-alone purchase but are usually included in multi-day tickets at no additional cost.

They also offer combo packages that include both multiple-day hop-on-hop-off bus service and entrance to major attractions, such as Alcatraz Island.

Expect to pay anywhere from $35+ per adult and $25+ per child for stand-alone routes to $70+ per adult and $55+ per child for multiple-day tickets.

Competition is fierce and tour offerings and prices in this segment change frequently, so be sure to double-check what is currently on offer with each company.

We have listed the companies in the order that we feel offer the best combination of reviews, options, and prices.

BIG BUS TOURS

Big Bus offers 2 and 3-day passes on its hop-on-hop-off bus tours, with 25 stops (see the route map) in the city.

Their tours are a great way to experience San Francisco in a short amount of time.

Big Bus also offers a free app, that you could use to find bus stops and schedules

Big Bus's Most Popular Tours

This company usually offers a 10% discount on most of their tickets when you purchase them online. The prices below are before said discount is applied.

Classic Ticket

24 hours of hop-on, hop-off service in San Francisco
Bike rental - buy 1 hour, get 1 free with Blazing Saddles
Included for free with the purchase of the Go San Francisco tourist pass.

Prices:

$59 for Adult
$49 for Children (ages 5-15)

Premium Ticket

24 hours of hop-on, hop-off service in San Francisco
Panoramic Open-Top Night Tour
Bike rental - buy 1 hour, get 1 free with Blazing Saddles

Prices:

$67 Adult
$59 Child (5-15 years)

Deluxe Ticket

48 hours of hop-on, hop-off service in San Francisco
Panoramic Open-Top Night Tour
Free Blazing Saddles bike rental OR USS Pampanito tickets

Prices:

$79 Adult
$69 Child (5-15 years)

Panoramic Open-Top Night Tour

1-hour tour of the city's top sights such as Golden Gate Bridge, Embarcadero, Nob Hill, and more. Includes a Courtesy Shuttle back to Union Square

Prices:

$49 Adult
$39 Child (5-15 years)
Includes courtesy shuttle back to hotels
Included with both Premium and Deluxe tickets.

Note: Big Bus also offers an Alcatraz Ticket Package. See below for more information.

Click here for larger map.

TIP: Go City sells two tourist attraction discount passes (the Go City All-Inclusive Pass and the Explorer Pass) that include a 1-day Downtown Loop ticket for free (with the purchase of the pass).

These passes can save you between 20% - 50%, depending on which pass you choose. Learn more here.

Reviews of Big Bus

Big Bus has just over a 4 out of 5-stars rating on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide (read the reviews).

It’s safe to say that Big Bus Tours offers a reliable service. Most guests report that their buses are safe and their guides are very knowledgeable.

Some reviewers have had a negative experience, but there are no frequently reported complaints.

In order to avoid any problems, make sure to get on the bus early and pick the stops you are most interested in before leaving.

SKYLINE SIGHTSEEING TOURS (formerly City Sightseeing)

You probably have seen a Skyline Sightseeing bus before. They are orange, open-top double-decker vehicles found all over San Francisco.

In addition to all their offerings at great prices, they have a convenient live bus tracker app so you can check when the next bus will be arriving.

Skyline Sightseeing offers 1-Day and 2-Day tickets. They also offer a stand-alone night tour as well as an Alcatraz Ticket Package.

Below the route map, we list their most popular tours that get you a lot for your money. They have many other options, so look at their website to see what is best for you.

Skyline Sightseeing's Most Popular Tours

1-Day Hop-On-Hop-Off Tour

Unlimited access to the City Tour Hop-on, hop-off tour for 24 hours
Discount on a bike rental

Prices when purchased online:

$53.99 for Adults
$44.99 for Children (ages 5-11)
More info or to purchase.

For $8 more you can buy the Premium 1-Day Hop-On-Hop-Off Tour which offers the same as above, as well as the Night Tour.

2 Day Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour

Unlimited access to the City Tour Hop-on, hop-off tour for 48 hours
Night Bus Tour
One hour free bike rental with the purchase of an hour

Prices when purchased online:

$73.99 for Adults
$64.99 for Children (ages 5-11)
More info or to purchase.

BUS ROUTES

Click here to see a larger map

City Tour (Red Route):

Loop duration - 2.5 hours long
Hop-On Hop-Off at any of the stops along the route
Departs daily between 9 am- 5 pm every 15-20 mins
Departs from 99 Jefferson St (corner of Mason Street)

SF Night Tour (Blue Route):

Loop duration - 1.5 hours
The night tour is not a hop on hop off
Departs 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm year-round
Departs from 99 Jefferson St (corner of Mason Street).

Reviews of Skyline Sightseeing

Skyline Sightseeing also has an overall 4 out of 5 stars rating on TripAdvisor. Although there are some common complaints, they are few and far between.

Some reviewers said that buses can be late and also that it is sometimes hard to find them again once you’ve jumped off.

Skyline Sightseeing added a live bus tracker app that should prevent that problem from occurring.

Many hop-on-hop-off buses have a similar appearance, and this service is no different. As long as you remember which bus tour you’re on, there shouldn’t be a problem.

Most positive reviews came during the summer months, indicating that this certainly a good time to consider this option.

SAN FRANCISCO CITY TOURS

Unlike hop-on-hop-off bus tours, these full-service tours take you on a guided journey of the city making some stops for photo opportunities.

Some of these tours take you to one or two destinations in and around the city, while others will have several stops.

DYLAN'S TOURS

One of the most popular tour companies in the city, Dylan’s Tours offers several different combo tours which include an exploration of the city and surrounding areas such as Sausalito, Alcatraz, and Muir Woods.

Most of their services are offered via minibus, but they also have electric tuk-tuk tours and bike tours you can take in and around San Francisco.

Depending on which tour you choose, you can expect to see sights in North Beach, the Mission, the Castro, Pacific Heights, and more.

The local guides and small group size really set these tours apart.

San Francisco, Sausalito, and Muir Woods Tour

$129 Adults | $69 Children
Additional $15 entry fee for Muir Woods for guests 16 years or older.
Departs daily at 9:30 am
Duration: 5 hours
Purchase tickets or learn more.

San Francisco, Muir Woods and Alcatraz Tour

$175 Adults | $119 Children
Additional $15 entry fee for Muir Woods for guests 16 years or older.
Departs daily at 8 am
Duration: 9 hours
Purchase tickets or learn more.

Reviews of Dylan's Tours

There’s a reason why Dylan’s Tours is ranked as the #1 Outdoor Activity in San Francisco (read the reviews).

Guests report back with very positive reviews, saying that the tour is an “awesome way to see the sights.” A few negative reviews can be found, but not many.

The intimacy of the tour, as well as the high quality of the guides, is repeatedly praised by visitors who traveled with Dylan’s Tours.

TOWER TOURS

Tower Tours offers a wide range of trips throughout the Bay Area and beyond.

You can take a trip through San Francisco, head up north to California Wine Country, take a boat to Alcatraz, or even go far inland to explore Yosemite!

One really convenient feature bonus is that Tower Tours offers free pick-up from most San Francisco hotels.

See their full list of San Francisco tours. We recommend that you start with their Grand City Tour.

Their tours are not technically hop-on, hop-off tours since the buses don't stop at all the main attractions.

However, on some tours (such as their trips to Muir Woods or Yosemite Valley), you can get off the bus to walk around for a while, experience the outdoors, and snap some pictures.

Prices:

Grand City Tour

$60 for Adults (Age 12 - 59)
$40 Child (Age 5 - 11)
Free for kids under 5.
Tour departures: 8:40 am (April to October) and 2 pm (November to March)
Duration is 4 hours.
More info and to book.

Reviews of Tower Tours

Tower Tours have received a 4 out of 5-stars rating on TripAdvisor for their high-quality service.

As with many other highly rated services on this list, most of the complaints from customers are too random to even be worthy of mention.

Most reviewers had a blast on this bus tour, so chances are that you’ll have a good time as well!

Tower Tours also offers combo packages and tours outside of San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO LOVE TOURS

For those who didn't experience San Fran's Summer of Love in 1967, San Francisco Love Tours takes you on a ride to the past.

This 2-hour tour brings you back to the era of when Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead were playing in the Bay area.

Learn about beatniks like Alan Ginsburg and Jack Kerouac who sipped drinks at Vesuvio Cafe across the street from City Lights Bookstore.

Price:

$85 per person (regardless of age).
Purchase tickets here.

Reviews of the Magic Bus Tour

The Magic Bus is one of the highest-rated tours on this list. They have received an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars on both TripAdvisor and Viator.

There are very few negative reviews, and those that are negative typically complain that it simply wasn’t the kind of tour they would enjoy.

This really is an eclectic option, so make sure you’re actually interested in the concept of traveling back to the ’60s before you get your tickets.

For those of you who lived through those interesting times, this is a fantastic way to relive your experiences.

Alternatively, if you just want to take a trip back in time, sign up and enjoy the ride!

Lucky Tuk Tuk Tours

If you’re looking for a unique tour of the city, these outings are an interesting alternative to other San Francisco bus tours.

A Tuk Tuk is essentially a modified electric motorcycle that has been extended to provide seating for up to 5 people (on average). Think of it as a modern rickshaw!

These zippy vehicles can get around the city with ease, and thanks to their size you can rest assured that each Tuk Tuk tour will include more personalized attention from your guide/driver.

Each tour includes multiple opportunities to jump off and take a close look at important landmarks in the city, so they’re actually very similar to a hop-on-hop-off service.

The Lucky Tuk Tuk Tour company offers two tours either as public or private outings in San Francisco.

You can expect to see sites such as Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Park, Haight Ashbury, Alamo Square, the Painted Ladies, Union Square, North Beach, Chinatown, Lombard Street and more on their city tours.

Private VIP San Francisco Tuk Tuk Tour

Tickets (Jun - Aug): $320 per Tuk Tuk
- Per Person Average: $64
Tickets (Sept-May): $320 per Tuk Tuk
- Per Person Average: $64
Availability: Daily at 9 am, 1 pm
Duration: 2 hours
Purchase tickets or learn more.

SAN FRANCISCO SHUTTLE TOURS

When it comes to full-service bus tours, few are as good of a value as San Francisco Shuttle Tours.

This company prides itself on offering premium shuttles to many major landmarks and locations in the Bay area.

Although this is not a hop-on-hop-off tour, the bus stops at various locations such as The Palace of Fine Arts, The Grace Cathedral, and Lombard Street.

Each stop lasts for between 10 and 30 minutes, giving you plenty of time to explore the area with the help of a guide.

In addition to their city shuttles, they also offer trips to Wine Country, the Muir Woods, Alcatraz and Yosemite.

This is a great option for anyone who wants an excellent guided tour of the San Francisco area.

Tickets:

5-Hour Premium City Tour
- $199 per person
- Includes a Ferry Bay Cruise
- Only private tours are available as of September 2022
- Purchase tickets or learn more.

Reviews of San Francisco Shuttle Tours

San Francisco Shuttle Tours has a 4 ½ out of 5 stars rating on TripAdvisor.

Of the negative reviews that exist, most of them take issue with scheduling problems.

Aside from these complaints, it would appear that most of the other concerns about this service are too random to represent enough of a pattern that it would be worth mentioning.

Most guests absolutely adored their Shuttle Tour, and it’s safe to say that this is one of the higher-rated bus tours in San Francisco.