Despite living in California for about 40 years, my siblings and I had never visited Alcatraz, Muir…read moreWoods, or many of San Francisco's iconic landmarks. So, instead of our usual family trip to another country or state this summer, we decided to become tourists in our own backyard and booked an eight-hour San Francisco Alcatraz + City Tour, including Muir Woods and Sausalito. The tour cost $179 per adult (nine of us) and $169 for one child, and we even booked a hotel nearby the night before to make sure we'd be on time for our 9am start. We all met beneath the iconic Fisherman's Wharf sign, where Patrick was our guy! Patrick was knowledgeable, witty, and engaging--he kept us entertained with fascinating facts about San Francisco, fun trivia questions, and even handed out Ghirardelli chocolate as prizes. My man and I answered so many questions that we ended up with almost half the bag! Even though we were a bit hungover from pub crawling the night before, Patrick's energy kept us awake and involved. He thoughtfully included the three kids in our group, telling them to count Priuses on the street and quizzing them with their own set of trivia. Along the way, he pointed out some quirky facts, like there being more dogs than babies in San Francisco, and made sure everyone felt part of the experience. Patrick pointed out several billionaires' homes, as well as highlights like Chinatown and Japantown. We made a memorable stop at the Presidio and Fort Point for stunning views and photos of the Golden Gate Bridge. Patrick even volunteered to take group pictures for us and made sure we had time for restroom breaks. After crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, we made our way to Muir Woods. Though we only had an hour and a half--just enough time for my older siblings--my man and I left wanting more, wishing we could explore beyond the designated paths. The towering redwoods, some between 400 and 800 years old, were awe-inspiring. I'm sure there were even more breathtaking sights we didn't have a chance to see. Next, Patrick took us on a drive through Sausalito, pointing out popular restaurants and an old recording studio once frequented by celebrities. After dropping off a few tourists, he guided us to the starting point for our Alcatraz Tour and left us at Fisherman's Wharf for lunch. We felt a little sad knowing it was the last time we'd see him--at that point, we were on our own for the rest of the adventure. Although I've visited San Francisco many times--unlike my siblings--I still learned so much from the tour. We all had a great time, even my man who lived in the city for several years. While I initially thought the price was steep, by the end of the day, it felt completely worth it!

Our little Family of 4 booked a trip with Dylan's Tour. Not fully knowing what it would be like we…read morewere excited nonetheless. We met at Fisherman's Wharf and our tour guide was Jules. He thoroughly explained to us what we'd see, how long it'd take etc. Let me tell you... Jules knows San Francisco inside and out. We were really happy to see things that on our own would've missed. He took us to some very iconic spots and some of the views were just amazing. The scenery. The bridge. Muir Woods. All stunning. If you're skeptical about taking a tour, do it. You won't regret it. You'll be much happier you did vs doing it on your own. Thank you Jules for showing us around and for the "little drop off". We greatly appreciate it! We can't wait to go back and try all those food locations.

Incredible tour with Caio. It was perfect for all ages groups, I had my senior parents as well as…read moremy teenage children. He was very informative, knowledgeable and had great tips!

When we decided to visit San Francisco, I knew I wanted to do some kind of tour. I researched a…read morebunch of options and even considered one of the hop-on, hop-off buses, but then I came across the Painted Ladies Tour. I watched several videos, read reviews, and quickly realized this was a completely different kind of tour. The tour takes place in a vintage VW van that looks like something straight out of the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine. Honestly, even the vehicle itself makes the experience fun! It's also a much more intimate experience than a large bus tour, which was exactly what I was looking for. It ended up being one of our absolute favorite things we did in San Francisco. Our guide, Clay, met us just a couple of blocks from our hotel, which was another huge bonus. We didn't have to take any additional public transportation to get to the tour. It was my daughter and me, another mother and daughter, and their aunt, so we had a really small group. Clay made sure we rotated seats throughout the tour so everyone got a different perspective and everyone had a chance to sit up front for the best views. One of the first things Clay did was explain what actually makes a "Painted Lady" a Painted Lady. We got to see so many examples throughout the city, and one of our favorites was the Four Seasons. It was really interesting learning the history behind the homes rather than just driving past them and taking pictures. We drove through the Haight-Ashbury area, where Clay explained how housing costs and the population have changed over the years. We even saw the iconic home with the legs sticking out of one of the windows, which is a pretty funny representation of just how packed some of the homes became. We also got to see the former homes of Jerry Garcia, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix. Being able to see those places in person and hear the history behind them was really cool. Our first stop where we actually got out of the van was Alamo Square Park, where the iconic Full House opening scene was filmed. This was probably the number one thing my daughter wanted to see, so she was thrilled! We got out, took pictures, and Clay was kind enough to take pictures of both of us together so neither of us had to be the person left out of the photos. Next, we drove by the house from Mrs. Doubtfire. Clay actually happened to see them filming part of the movie when he was younger, which made the stop even more interesting. Then came another major highlight for my daughter--we got to see the school from The Princess Diaries! From there, we headed to the Palace of Fine Arts, where we learned about its connection to the World's Fair. We stopped to take pictures, and I have to mention one of my favorite random moments of the entire tour: seeing a Golden Retriever riding in a convertible, absolutely living his best life. It was one of those completely unexpected San Francisco moments that made the day even better. Since we were already in the area, we also stopped to take pictures with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. But the absolute highlight of the tour came next. Clay took us to Lombard Street, turned the music way up, blasted "Born to Be Wild," and let us cruise down the famous winding street with the windows down. We were all singing along, laughing, and taking in the experience. It was honestly one of the most iconic and memorable moments of our entire San Francisco trip. The tour was also perfectly timed. We spent the morning seeing so much of the city, but we were finished early enough to walk back to our hotel, have some downtime, and regroup before lunch. We never felt rushed, but we also didn't lose an entire day to the tour. I would absolutely recommend the Painted Ladies Tour to anyone visiting San Francisco. It's such a fun and personal way to see the city and learn about its history. Instead of sitting on a huge bus with dozens of other people, you're in a small group, getting to interact with your guide and really experience the city. And Clay was fantastic. He was knowledgeable, personable, and made the history fun for both the adults and the kids in our group. He took pictures for us, made sure everyone got a chance to experience the best seats, and really made the entire morning feel special. If you're looking for something more personal than a traditional sightseeing bus, I can't recommend this tour enough. Between the Mystery Machine-style van, the history, the movie locations, the Golden Gate Bridge, and singing "Born to Be Wild" down Lombard Street, this was easily one of our favorite memories from San Francisco.

Took my mother & she uses a walker. We were the 1st to Board the ship on the way to Alcatraz & on…read morethe way back. Staff were Extremely helpful and informative. The ship has snacks & drinks. Alcohol is available on the return trip. The Self guided tour is Great.

Poor Service Experience with Alcatraz City Cruises…read more I'm writing this review to share my experience with the company's customer service, specifically around their cancellation policy. We were excited to book a trip through Alcatraz City Cruises on 6/16/26. Unfortunately, a family emergency forced me to cancel our trip to San Francisco, including this tour. I cancelled through the confirmation link in my email on 6/19 -- well within the 72-hour window required for a full refund, since the event itself wasn't until 6/26. The website showed my reservation as cancelled, so I stepped away to deal with the family emergency. In my rush, I never went back to check for a separate cancellation confirmation email, since the site had already shown the cancellation as complete. That was my mistake -- but it led to a frustrating outcome: I was charged for the tickets on the day of the event anyway. I didn't catch the charge until I reviewed my bank statement at the start of the following month. I called four times and couldn't reach a live person. When I finally got through to a representative, my request for a refund was denied. I asked again for the decision to be reviewed, but the agent refused, saying they would not look into it further. I understand that not confirming the cancellation via email was an oversight on my part. But the website clearly showed the reservation as cancelled, and we never used the tickets. Given that the cancellation was initiated well within the refund window, I would have expected more flexibility from customer service -- not an automatic denial. Dissapointed in this company and would not book through them again. Unfortantely, they did come up as one of the recommended companies to book through due to other scams and fake sites, but beware

Came to San Francisco for our wedding anniversary and wanted to see all the hotspots without…read morerenting a car or ubering everywhere. We found Vantigo after asking ChatGPT the best way to see the city. It recommended Vantigo. After looking at the yelp reviews and some YouTube videos, I made the reservation. We can't be happier with our experience. Chad, owner of Vantigo and tour guide, was the friendliest and coolest dude to have guide you around the city. Very knowledgeable, extremely easy to talk to, and more than happy to play photographer. We saw Coit tower, the Golden Gate Bridge, the place that I swear was Naboo in Star Wars, some random local know spot with an amazing view of the city, and drove through pretty much all the neighborhoods while Chad pointed out what he recommended we check out. The tour was about 3 hours long and came with bathroom stops at photo locations. If you are looking for a way to see everything without having to plan it yourself or rent a car during your trip, this is what to do. You won't be disappointed.

Absolutely loved our Vantigo tour with Chad. I've been to San Francisco 2X before, but seeing it…read morethis way gives you a completely different sense of the city. Chad is born and raised here and knows EVERYTHING - the history, the neighborhoods, the landmarks, and little gem stories about it all. So in three hours you will see and learn more than you ever could on our own. And the 1971 vintage VW van is just unbelievably cool. Chad even matches the music to where you are - I won't give away the songs but really great touch! Such a fun, memorable way to see San Fran and get your bearings. And book with Chad cause Vantigo is the OG. Don't book a copycat. He's fantastic!

Hello, We had an awesome time! Renting a Polaris Slingshot…read moreSL (3-wheeled vehicle) for a self-guided tour was the perfect option for us. It was an all-day adventure that gave us the opportunity to visit all the highlighted sights while still having the freedom to take breaks and explore at our own pace. We could easily step away from the self-guided tour and reconvene whenever we were ready without missing a beat. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking to get the best bang for their buck. The staff was amazing--they went over every detail and made sure we had no questions before heading out. We have absolutely no regrets and would definitely do this again! Highly recommended!

Better have a reservation and if possible fill out any waivers and forms online. We did not and it…read moretook almost an hour. Staff was friendly but the process was a problem. The max something is great for someone who has mobility issues. Staff was great and let us store a mobility scooter there. Plan your route before you go. Options made us pick wrong route and friends car didn't have GPS audio tour working. Again, staff was great and helped out. Good tour, expect long process and plan ahead.

I had a great time on Chris' Mission District Food Tour with my work team this week. He's an ideal…read moretour guide--fun and fast paced, but leaves plenty of time for you to enjoy. Enthusiastic about food and local history, and knowledgeable about the unique people and places we visited. Our group spanned all ages and dietary restrictions; a consideration when looking for a "team building" off-site, and he was very accommodating to make it a fun experience for everyone. He did little contests and raffles throughout, and we had a mural tour with a really nice souvenir photo of our group. I organize a lot of these kinds of group activities, and not all food tours are created equal. I highly recommend this one, whether you're organizing a work thing, having visitors from out of town, or are newcomers to SF. You won't be disappointed.

Three words: BOOK THIS TOUR!…read more If you want an unforgettable SF experience, this is the activity to do. Take their helpful tip of coming with an empty stomach because by the end of the tour you'll definitely be stuffed. On top of amazing food, you'll learn so much fascinating history about the local SF food culture. I've done both the Mission and North Beach/Chinatown tours and each were incredible. From a corporate team bonding event to a fun experience to share with friends, this is a great activity for all occasions. Chris is top notch and the best storyteller! His passion and love for food, the community, and its people are what truly creates the magic of these tours. I'm so grateful for all that he's done!

Had a great tour of Japantown yesterday with Ian of San Francisco City Guides. Ian is smart,…read morefunny, knowledgeable, and a compelling storyteller. He made good use of photos to bring history to life. Highly recommend.

I have been on quite a few SF City Guides tours and I have learned some pretty cool stuff about San…read moreFrancisco and all the different neighborhoods. My favorite tours have been Chinatown, The Haight, the Fairmont Hotel, and the Rincon Center. I like that the tour guides bring their own flavor and experience to the tours. How cool is it that we can go on all these different tours for free? I like to donate online before I go on the tour. They give you the option in person but I have never felt like they were pushy or annoying about it. They have a very robust schedule with days of the week and times to fit with your life. Get out of the house and enjoy one of these tours!

This was a good tour, and the woods were so incredibly peaceful and really helped me remember how…read moresmall I am in this great big world. Those trees are massive! The women's restroom at the entrance of the trail is disgusting. There was literal fuzzy mold on the wall under the sink, used toilet paper all over the floor...it didn't appear to have been cleaned in weeks, at least. For the first time, I felt like I needed a hazmat shower after leaving there, and I say that after traveling across country and using countless public restrooms! The toilet paper is like wiping with a snowflake so you have to use a ton just to dry off the undercarriage.

My husband used to live in Santa Venetia, during his 5th through 7th grade, and we were taking the…read moreroute when he used to ride his bike to MUIR WOODS. With that said, I'm just reviewing the VIEWS to Muir Woods, by car, since that's what we did! There were a lot of twist & turns, roads with beautiful new homes (that weren't there before) & gardens! Awesome views along the way. We drove for over 1 hour, and we were trying to follow the path, when he was a boy. That was some adventure for him, and for us in our car . . . and he was able to find his way back home. If he had done that today? He would sure gotten lost without a GPS!

Lisi was a fun and engaging tour guide. We are SF locals, but often go on ghost tours in other…read morecities. We decided we should do one in our own town for the hell of it. We enjoyed the history tales around the gold rush, earthquake, and Chinatown, mixed in with fun horror stories. Also a fun evening out for our two pups, who got to join along. Well done.

Really entertaining evening with great guides who kept it engaging and just the right balance of…read morespookiness. We learned a lot of SF history too.

I had my relatives from Germany and wanted them to see most of San Francisco without having to take…read moreour car rental out of the Mark Hopkins garage and having to hassle with parking. We looked at different options and decided to rent a Lucky Tuk Tuk for 6 people. We had Meera as our tour guide. Since we lived in San Francisco for 25 years we knew the best spots. She covered everything and more. We also enjoyed the heated seats and blankets since it was a chilly day. I highly recommend Lucky Tuk Tuk. You will not regret it.

Our family was in San Francisco during Christmas Break and we booked the Tuk Tuk really not knowing…read morewhat to expect and my family and I had such a blast! Edith was amazing I would highly recommend her! Edith continually fed us nuggets of the city throughout the tour and we learned a ton while having a great time in the Tuk Tuk. We will do this again on our next trip! Changa we appreciate all the fun memories you have given our family for many years to come you are absolutely amazing! My kids have talked about this tour so much with friends/family. Cant wait to do this again!