Tours & Activities in San Francisco
Welcome to San Francisco!
Sign up with us to take a trip through San Francisco to get a great introduction to this wonderful city!
We’ll visit all the main highlights, from the earliest history of the 1700s to the Wild West of the 1800s, the growth (and destruction) of the city in the 1900s, to the skyscrapers of today. Walking through Chinatown, North Beach/Little Italy, and the Financial District, we will show you the best of the city!
We start at the bustling Union Square, near the corner of Geary Street & Powell Street in the heart of the city. We'll wander through the streets and hidden alleyways of downtown history, and you'll hear all the fascinating tales along the way until we finish at the modern Transamerica Pyramid, at the intersection of Washington Street & Sansome Street.
Don't miss this tour for a memorable experience!
Explore the rich culture of San Francisco’s Chinatown, full of fascinating architecture, street art, and most importantly, good food! This tour takes you on an expedition through the narrow alleyways, colorful storefronts, and bustling markets of one of the city's most iconic neighborhoods. You’ll make stops to sample dim sum, fortune cookies, tea, and more, all while learning about the history of the oldest Chinatown in North America, from the early days of Chinese immigration to the thriving community it is today.
Food & Drink Stops (subject to change):
At each place, I’ll recommend items for you to try, but you’re free to order anything you’d like. Expect to pay $15-$30 per person depending on what you get (a bargain for San Francisco).
- Dim Sum - freshly-made dumplings, buns, pastries, and more
- Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory - handmade fortune cookies
- Tea Tasting - sample Chinese teas including green, black, oolong, and pu-erh
- Egg Tarts - finish off with dessert from a Chinese bakery
Other Sights:
- Dragon Gate (meeting point) - entry to Chinatown
- Grant Avenue - souvenir shops galore
- Stockton Street - local shopping street with bakeries and produce markets
- Chinatown Alleyways - side streets for a look at local life
- Portsmouth Square - historic center of SF and a gathering place for locals
How is this tour different from other food tours in SF?
If you take other food tours in Chinatown, you’re likely to pay $75-$90 per person upfront without any guarantee of the quality of the tour. My tours are oriented to visitors who want to experience local spots at local prices. At each food stop, you’ll pay only for what you order, and at the end, you can pay-as-you-wish for the tour based on what you thought it was worth!
Additional Information
- Weather in SF can be unpredictable, so check the forecast and come prepared.
- We will be dining indoors at some of the food places, so we sadly cannot accommodate pets on this tour.
Join the Original Free SF Tour @10 am and get ready for the most fascinating stories of San Francisco.
We’d be telling stories about places, people, historic events and current affairs; buried ships under the buildings, influential women, gold-diggers and sailors, devastating fires and earthquakes.
You get a tour guide that knows a lot about the city and walks with you as you would walk with a friend.
The tour runs through all of downtown San Francisco: Union Square, Maiden Lane, Chinatown, The Chinese Fortune Cookie Factory Financial District (there be buried ships!), Transamerica Pyramid, Embarcadero
At the end of the tour, a surprise awaits you: a comprehensive guide to everything San Francisco is: where to go, what to see, where to eat and drink, plus tips and tricks for the city.
Free SF Tour runs every day, rain or shine! See you at 10 in Union Square at the corner of Post and Powell Street (Orange Flag Free SF Tour).
Become an art critic for a day! The Mission is one of San Francisco’s less visited neighborhoods, but also one of the most vibrant, colorful and festive! Every wall comes alive with local art murals, in fact, over 2000 of them in just this district alone! From the end to end traditional murals in Clarion and Balmy Alley, to the ceiling to sidewalk, full building murals on The Women’s Center – these giant works of art make for a great day of frolicking through the busy streets of San Francisco’s Hispanic district.
The Mission is also known to locals to have the very best Latin American and Mexican cuisine in The City by The Bay. No visit would be complete without sampling some regional specialties and the tour will make a couple stops at family owned local eateries (food not included on the tour).
History, art, culture, cuisine, and a walk that won’t cover any hills (a rare find in San Francisco!), this two hour walking tour covers a lot of territory from the South of Mission area to the historic Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores), the first building erected and the spot where San Francisco began its way to becoming a world class city!
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Water and bathroom stops will be signaled along the route.
Note: This is a walking tour. It is not recommended for very young children, those who may have a medical or heart condition, difficulty walking for long periods of time or related physical issues. Wheelchairs can be accommodated but cannot be operated by the guide.
Dress: comfortable, easy to walk in. Sneakers, light jackets (unless it’s a very cold day), shorts and t-shirts are fine on warm days. It is recommended you always check the weather before you depart as the area has many micro climates.
What to bring: Extra water if desired, gloves or umbrella (weather permitting), sunglasses and sunscreen is recommended. *** We will make a stop for a Latin American bite and bathroom stop. Food is not included in the tour but can be purchased separately. ***
NOTE: This tour will not be canceled due to rain, but the route may be modified to accommodate. Please bring an umbrella if rain is expected. The tour does not supply them.
** RUNNING LATE? Please contact the guide if you expect to run late. Only a 15-20 minute grace period is given f no contact is made. Please be respectful of other guests waiting to take the tour.
THIS TOUR HAS A MINIMUM 2 PERSON Requirement. If you are a solo traveler, there will need to be other guests booked for the tour to commence. You will be contacted prior to the event if the minimum is not met.
