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Morning San Francisco City Tour with Escape from the Rock Cruise
TOUR DESCRIPTION

Tour Length - 9 hours approximately

Fully guided San Francisco sightseeing tour
Escape from the Rock tour by Blue and Gold Fleet
Live narration (English) of San Francisco attractions
Several stops to explore the area and take pictures
Golden Gate Bridge crossing toll
Daily departures
Wi-Fi on board
Admission to the Alcatraz Island
Meals
Guide gratuity
HIGHLIGHTS
MORE INFORMATION

On this alternative Alcatraz Island and San Francisco City Day Tour, you will ride in comfort, walk the streets and float the bay as you visit the City’s top attractions PLUS experience why they call Alcatraz Island 'The Rock"!

In the morning, our San Francisco half-day tour will then take you through the culturally rich neighborhoods of San Francisco. You’ll learn about what made the Haight-Ashbury, Mission and Castro districts, what they are, and why they’re important to so many.

Join up with your tour at a hotel in Fisherman's Wharf for pickup. Your Extranomical Tours’ “insider” guide knows how to get the most from your afternoon San Francisco sightseeing adventure. After a brief journey along San Francisco’s waterfront and Marina District, we’ll visit the Palace of Fine Arts. Then, it’ll be on to the main event—a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge!

On this tour, you’ll also see the City’s rugged coastline. Pause to enjoy cliff-side views of “city by the bay”. Be blown away by the beauty of Golden Gate Park and its many attractions such as the California Academy of Sciences, Japanese Tea Garden, de Young Museum—be sure to make a plan to return on your own time to fully experience its wonders.

After a slow drive through Nob Hill and Chinatown, we'll visit the charming Italian neighborhood of North Beach. While there, we’ll point out Lombard Street, Coit Tower, and more.

From start to finish on this San Francisco sightseeing highlights tour, you will laugh out loud at the surprising (and sometimes crazy) things that have made San Francisco one of the world’s most beloved cities.

In the afternoon, sail around the infamous Alcatraz Island on the Escape from the Rock cruise. Learn about this prison and hear unscripted accounts of escape attempts from the "The Rock"! The 90-minute cruise also sails under the Golden Gate Bridge and passes by Treasure Island and Sausalito. Please note that this cruise does not go on Alcatraz Island.

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TOUR ITINERARY

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

  • Meet your expert guide and tour vehicle at the Zephyr Hotel
  • Learn about Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, and the Marina District
  • Stop and explore picturesque Palace of Fine Arts

10:00 AM – 11:15 AM

  • Learn the history of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge
  • From a spectacular vista, snap stunning photographs of the Bridge
  • Arrive at the city’s Pacific Ocean shoreline, Land’s End
  • Capture panoramic views of Sutro Baths, Ocean Beach, and Cliff House

11:15 AM – 12:30 PM

  • See the highlights of Golden Gate Park, including the California Academy of Sciences, Japanese Tea Garden, and de Young Museum.
  • Learn the unique cultural history of San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury
  • Roll through the Castro and Mission neighborhoods on your way to San Francisco’s City Hall

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

  • Cruise slowly through Chinatown, Nob Hill, and Financial District
  • See North Beach, location of Coit Tower and crooked Lombard Street
  • Return to Fisherman’s Wharf in time for dinner

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

  • Free time to explore the many attractions at Pier 39
  • Choose a Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant and enjoy lunch (not included)

3:00 PM – 5:45 PM

  • Arrive at Pier 39 to meet your boat for the Escape from the Rock Cruise
  • Learn the fascinating history of Alcatraz without stepping on the Island (90-minute cruise)
  • Sail under the Golden Gate Bridge

Read more helpful articles about San Francisco in our BLOG.

Important Information
Does this tour operate every day?

Yes, this tour operates daily based on a minimum number of participants.

How long is the tour?

This tour takes about 9 hours. 4-5 hours for City tour, 1.5 hours for cruise

Will I have time to see the Golden Gate Bridge?

Yes. This tour will take you across the Golden Gate Bridge, we will also make a stop so you can take photos of the bridge and city (weather permitting). You will also see the bridge from the water on the cruise.

What will we see during the city tour?

The tour will cover as much of San Francisco as we can in 4-5 hours. We will delve into the facts and history of the Haight-Ashbury, Fisherman’s Wharf, Castro, Chinatown, Financial District - and even more. You will also have the chance to see the city’s majestic parks, rugged coastline, and the not-to-be-missed Golden Gate Bridge. In short, you’ll get to see most of the things that make San Francisco the city it is today!

Do you offer this tour in different languages?

The City tour is offered in English only. However, if required we can organize a private tour in several languages. The cruise is offered in 9 different languages.

I'm travelling with a child

Please note that for your child's safety, we require you to bring a child safety seat or booster seat for all children under 8 years of age or 4' 9" in height, as dictated by California State Law. You will be required to bring your own child seat on all motor vehicle tours. Failure to provide a seat for your child will result in forfeit of your seats on the tour without a refund. Please also note that any children 12 years and older must have an adult ticket as they do not qualify for a child-priced ticket.

Do you pick up outside of San Francisco?

We only offer one pick up point for the City tour located in Fisherman's Wharf within walking distance from the cruise, at Hotel Zephyr - 250 Beach street, San Francisco.

Is this a guided tour?

Yes, the City tour is guided with an English-speaking guide. There will also be time on your own during the stops.

What is the average temperature?

San Francisco average temperature data is below.

SUMMER MONTHS (JUNE, JULY, AUGUST):
Average High temperature: 67°F / 19°C
Average Low temperature: 54°F / 12°C

WINTER MONTHS (DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY):
Average High temperature: 58°F / 14°C
Average Low temperature: 47°F / 8°C

What should I wear?

Temperatures vary depending on the season and time of day in the Bay Area, so we recommend that you wear layered clothing in case of unexpectedly climbing or falling temperatures. We do not recommend wearing shorts or sleeveless shirts in the winter. However, we realize that everyone is acclimated to different weather and thus trust you to make your own judgement. For footwear, we recommend comfortable walking shoes, such as regular tennis shoes, sneakers, or boots with rubber soles and treads. In the summer months, hiking sandals can be worn on the tour, but high heels, beach flip-flops, and other open-toed shoes are not recommended.

What should I bring?

Comfortable shoes for walking
Extra spending money for meals, snacks, souvenirs etc
A light jacket (easily removable) in case of wind
Camera
Water bottle
Warm clothes and a waterproof jacket (during the winter months)
Hat and sunscreen (during the summer months)
Sturdy umbrella (if the forecast calls for rain)

Are meals included? Can I buy or bring my own?

Meals are not included, however, there will be places you can purchase something light at some of the stops we make.

How accurate are the times on the itinerary?

Times listed are approximates only. Traffic and other unforeseen issues can cause delays or changes in these times, which are out of our control. Please do not make flight/travel arrangements on the same day as your tour. Extranomical Tours is not responsible for and will not be providing any compensation for missed flights or appointments.

How will we recognize the vehicle?

As we have several different vehicles, we don’t know until the morning of your tour which vehicle will be hosting your tour as well as the name of your Expedition Leader. Please feel free to call us in the morning of your tour if you like. Regardless of which vehicle will come to your location, it should say “Extranomical Tours” on it.

Are there restrooms on board the vehicles?

Our vehicles at this time do not have any restroom facilities. We do, however, make several stops throughout the tours and there will be opportunities for you to use the restroom.

Do I need to call to reconfirm my tour?

Yes, we request that you reach out to us at least a day in advance to confirm your tour and pick up details. You can contact us via our live chat function or by calling our office at 1-866-231-3752 (toll free from the USA) or +1-415-357-0700 (internationally) during office hours. You can call us from your hotel’s phone if you do not have a working mobile phone while you are in the area.

Can I bring a suitcase or large item?

We ask that you do not bring anything on tour larger than 22”x14”x9”, or 56cmx36cmx23cm.

Can I bring a wheelchair?

We do have wheelchair-capable vehicles available – subject to availability. Please notify us at time of booking if you are bringing a wheelchair on the tour so that we can make the appropriate arrangements. Please note that due to limitations we are unable to guarantee an ADA vehicle.

Do you have a lost and found?

Yes, items left in the vehicle are stored in a lost and found area for 30 days. If you left something on one of our tours, please give us a call office at 1-866-231-3752 (toll free from the USA) or 1-415-357-0700 to see if it has been found. Once you have confirmed with us that your item has been found by our staff and you are still in town, you can come by our office to pick up your item. Otherwise, we will ship almost any item to any destination within the U.S. for a flat fee of $25. Extranomical Tours is not responsible for lost or stolen items

Morning San Francisco City Tour with Escape from the Rock Cruise
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