"The service made our sightseeing day much easier. We enjoyed comfortable seats, excellent city views, and convenient stops that allowed us to explore attractions without unnecessary travel."
San Francisco City Tour & Escape from the Rock Bay Cruise
Overview
Take part in a bus tour of the city paired with a boat tour that allows you to approach the "Rock." Listen to intriguing narratives about the history of Alcatraz Island and gain insight into the notorious inmates who attempted to flee. You will circle the island two times, experiencing it from all viewpoints alongside the beautiful city skyline.
About the activity
Free Cancellation
Mobile Voucher
Family Friendly
Instant Confirmation
Live Guide
English
Highlights
- Breathtaking vistas of Alcatraz and the Pacific Ocean.
- Escape from the Rock cruise around Alcatraz Island.
- A skilled and knowledgeable guide will narrate a guided bus tour of San Francisco.
- Take pictures of famous San Francisco sites including Golden Gate Park, Twin Peaks, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Transport on a luxurious coach with air conditioning.
Itinerary
Enjoy an approximately four-hour fully guided tour of San Francisco, designed to showcase the city’s most iconic sights. At each featured stop, you’ll have the opportunity to step off the bus, explore, and capture memorable photos. Along the way, engaging narration brings San Francisco to life, offering fresh insight into its history, culture, and character.
Travel from the Bay to the Ocean, with photo stops at key landmarks and famous attractions, including the Golden Gate Bridge. A highlight of the tour is a stop at Twin Peaks, where you’ll enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of the city from 1,000 feet above sea level. For an even more complete experience, you can upgrade your tour to include a San Francisco Bay Cruise or a visit to the Aquarium of the Bay, giving you a unique perspective of the city from both land and sea.
As you journey through Golden Gate Park, your guide will point out seasonal flower displays, search for bison grazing in the park, and pass historic windmills overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Learn about San Francisco’s early beginnings—from Native American settlements and Spanish missionaries to the dramatic Gold Rush era—while driving through the once-infamous Barbary Coast. Continue through the legendary Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, where you’ll admire San Francisco’s iconic Victorian Homes.
Didn’t get tickets for Alcatraz? No problem. The tour concludes at San Francisco’s beautiful waterfront, where you’ll enjoy spectacular views of Alcatraz Island and San Francisco Bay before boarding a boat at Pier 39 for the Escape from the Rock Cruise, operated by Blue & Gold Fleet.
This narrated cruise takes you up close to the infamous prison island, circling Alcatraz twice so you can see it from every angle, along with sweeping views of the San Francisco skyline. Keep an eye on the water—you may even spot harbor porpoises, which have recently returned to the Bay.
This combined city and cruise experience is the perfect way to see San Francisco by land and sea.
What's Included
What's Included
- A guided bus tour of San Francisco, narrated by a local expert and professional guide.
- Photo opportunities at famous San Francisco landmarks, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, Twin Peaks, and Golden Gate Park.
- Transportation is provided by an air-conditioned luxury coach.
- A boat tour around Alcatraz Island and the Bay (please be aware that this cruise does not dock at Alcatraz Island).
- The Escape from the Rock cruise in the afternoon (departure times may vary and are seasonal; please check the Blue & Gold Fleet website for the latest schedule).
Schedule
- Departure #1: 08:40 AM - Union Square (Downtown) - 478 Post St. San Francisco, CA 94102.
- Departure #2: 09:00 AM - Fisherman's Wharf - 2805 Leavenworth St., San Francisco, CA 94133.
- Duration: Approx. 4 hours City Tour (AM) and 1.5 hours Escape from the Rock Cruise (PM).
- End Point: Drop-off at Pier 41. This concludes your bus transportation for the day. After the Escape from the Rock cruise, you will need to find your way back to your hotel.
Redemption Info
- You may present your mobile or printed voucher at the designated meeting location:
- Departure #1: 08:40 AM - Union Square (Downtown) - 478 Post St. San Francisco, CA 94102
- Departure #2: 09:00 AM - Fisherman's Wharf - 2805 Leavenworth St., San Francisco, CA 94133
- In the event of a lost voucher or ticket, the company shall not be responsible for any refunds.
- The ticket or voucher remains valid for the travel date you select.
Know Before You Go
- Mobile & printed vouchers accepted.
- All buses are equipped with air conditioning.
- The dimensions of the buses will be determined by the number of passengers.
- The Escape from the Rock cruise does not dock or disembark on Alcatraz Island.
- Drop-off at Pier 41. This concludes your bus transportation for the day. After the Escape from the Rock cruise, you will need to find your way back to your hotel.
- Hotel pick-up is not provided for this tour.
- Please select the meeting point that is closest to your location. Make sure to choose the departure location that is nearest to you and arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. Departure #1 - 08:40 AM - Union Square (Downtown) - 478 Post St. San Francisco, CA 94102. Departure #2 - 9:00 AM - Fisherman's Wharf - 2805 Leavenworth St., San Francisco, CA 94133.
- You can reach us at tours@graylineofsanfrancisco.com or 1 (415) 353-5310 between 6:00 am to 6:00 pm local time (PST)
Cancellation Policy
- To get the full refund, you must cancel your booking at least 24 hours before the activity/tour start time.
- If you cancel your booking less than 24 hours before the activity/ tour start time, you will not get any refund.
- Modifications/ changes are allowed at least 24 hours before the activity/ tour start time. You must contact us through email.
- The activity/tour's local start time determines the cut-off times.
Disclaimer
- There may be unexpected changes in the route or timetable due to traffic, public holidays, weather conditions, cruise ship arrivals, or other unanticipated situations. During major events, summer vacations, and weekends, the city will be quite busy. We will do everything we can to provide a smooth and consistent service! In such cases, no reimbursement is allowed.
- Tours run regardless of the weather. Weather-related refunds will not be issued unless the service is discontinued due to inclement weather.
- The service provider preserves the right to amend or cancel the itinerary due to city events or force majeure.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can easily book tours and activities through our website. Simply browse our destinations, select your preferred tour, choose your date and number of participants, and complete the secure online payment process. You'll receive a confirmation email with your booking voucher immediately after purchase.
After booking, you'll receive a voucher via email. For hop-on-hop-off tours, exchange your voucher with the bus driver or staff at any designated stop to receive your physical ticket. For other activities, present your voucher (digital or printed) at the meeting point specified in your booking confirmation. Keep your ticket safe throughout the tour validity period.
We accept all major credit/debit cards. You can pay with a VISA debit or credit card, a MasterCard debit or credit card, Maestro, Visa Electron or American Express card.
Please note: We are based in the United Kingdom. Depending on your bank, an international transaction fee may apply. For more details about potential charges, please contact your card provider directly.
Yes. Your payment is absolutely safe with us. All transactions are protected with SSL encryption and processed securely. With our secure online payment system, your information is encrypted and protected against fraud. We use industry-standard SSL (Secure Socket Layer) protocols to safeguard data transfer, and all personal information is stored in secure environments not accessible to the public.
You will receive a confirmation email with your booking voucher immediately after purchase. If you do not receive it within a few minutes, please check your spam/junk folder.If any activity requires manual confirmation from the supplier/ tour operator, your booking will be confirmed within 24 hours.
Still haven’t received it? Contact us at booking@activity-crest.com and our team will be happy to assist you.
Your reference number will be displayed on the confirmation page after you complete your booking and in the confirmation email you receive once your tour is confirmed. All booking reference numbers begin with “ACTXXXX”.
If you don't receive your confirmation email within 30 minutes of booking, please check your spam/junk folder first. If it's not there, contact our customer support at booking@activity-crest.com with your payment details and booking information. We'll resend your confirmation and voucher immediately.
Yes. You can modify your booking after purchase. Modifications depend on the specific tour's terms and conditions. Some bookings allow date changes up to 24-48 hours before the tour, while others may have stricter policies. Contact us at booking@activity-crest.com as soon as possible if you need to modify your booking. Please note that changes may be subject to availability and additional fees.
Please bring a printed copy of your ticket voucher. Some local suppliers also accept vouchers shown on a mobile device (check the activity page for details). A valid photo ID is required for the traveler named on the ticket. For certain activities, a valid ID for each participant may be required – this will be clearly stated on your ticket.
Our cancellation policy varies by tours. Most tours offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. For specific cancellation terms and refund conditions, please check the individual tour page before booking. To cancel your booking, contact us at booking@activity-crest.com with your booking reference number.
Customer Reviews
4.5
based on 2,226 reviews
Rating Distribution
"The entire tour was enjoyable from beginning to end. Beautiful views, helpful commentary, and convenient stops made it easy to experience the city without feeling rushed."
"We loved seeing the city from the upper deck. The route covered many interesting areas, and the freedom to hop off whenever we wanted was extremely useful."
"This tour was a convenient way to explore popular attractions. We enjoyed informative commentary, comfortable transportation, and the flexibility to spend extra time at places we liked."
"The hop on hop off service made exploring the city straightforward. We saw several landmarks, enjoyed great views, and appreciated being able to continue our journey whenever convenient."
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