North Beach Walking Tour
- 1h 30m
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
It’s hard to imagine San Francisco as the sleepy village it was before the Gold Rush, but our North Beach Walking Tour takes you back in time as you discover SF through the ages. We’ll visit Washington Square Park, the city’s first public park, where you’ll learn the surprising role it played after the 1906 earthquake and fire. Admire the vintage lampposts and Coit Tower in the distance. Step inside Saints Peter and Paul Church to see its Italian marble altar and hear about its celebrity connection to Joe DiMaggio. Along the way, you’ll learn how this area became SF’s “Little Italy” as you stroll past colorful shops and bakeries. Your guide will show you unexpected viewpoints of the famously windy Lombard Street and beautiful Golden Gate Bridge. We’ll end at the picturesque Pier 39, adorably overrun with sea lions enjoying the sun. But arguably the best view is from 150 feet above the city with your included ticket to a private gondola in the SkyStar observation wheel.
Inclusions
What's included
- Professional SF guide
- Guided tour of North Beach
- SkyStar Wheel ticket (if option selected)
What's not
- Guide Gratuities (Appreciated)
- Food or Drinks
Itinerary
Stroll through a central North Beach gathering place and learn how the park served as temporary housing after the 1906 earthquake and fire. Today, it offers open green space and classic views of the surrounding architecture.
Visit one of North Beach’s most recognizable landmarks and step inside to see its Italian marble altar and elegant interior. Hear stories of the church’s celebrity connections to Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe.
This North Beach institution has been making exceptional focaccia bread since 1911. With a simple recipe and creative flavors, it’s a neighborhood favorite, and locals know to get here early. Learn about a slice of SF’s “Little Italy” here — and go inside if it’s open!
Take in an unexpected viewpoint of the famously crooked street, and learn why it was engineered this way in the early 1900s. Snap a photo of its tight curves and surrounding cityscape.
The pier is best known for the sea lions who enjoy basking in the sun on floating docks. Your guide will tell you why they’re here while you snap selfies with these adorable whiskered mammals.
Enjoy a ride in your glass-enclosed gondola for sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay and the surrounding city from 150 feet in the air. Your ticket is included if you choose to upgrade.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.8
- 596
- 44
- 30
- 20
- 14
Ratings come from 104 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- We’ll meet at Washington Square, beside the Volunteer Firemen Memorial, a large statue of three firefighters located at 600 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133. Your guide will be holding an orange sign with ExperienceFirst on it.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 25 travellers
- Operated by
- ExperienceFirst
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in San Francisco
- Its from-price is 80% below the median of the 204 city tours we list in San Francisco.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 38 of 204.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About San Francisco
San Francisco crowds steep hills onto a peninsula between the Pacific and its bay, with cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge and colourful neighbourhoods.
The Golden Gate Bridge spans the strait at the mouth of the bay, often wrapped in fog, and walking or cycling across it is a classic. Boats cross to Alcatraz, the former island prison, while Fisherman's Wharf is known for seafood and the sea lions that bask on the docks of Pier 39. The Ferry Building is a food lover's market.
Top-ranked sights in San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge, Union Square, San Francisco Chinatown.
Special offers in San Francisco
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
