San Francisco · SAN FRANCISCO HOP-ON HOP-OFF TOURS
24 reviewed
A hop-on hop-off bus is the simplest way to cover a hilly city on your own clock. Below are the best San Francisco hop-on hop-off tours, ranked: how many stops each runs, whether Alcatraz or a night loop is bundled in, how long the ticket lasts, and what it costs.
Big Bus SF Red Route hop-on hop-off with 17 stops, earbuds audio, open-air deck, and optional sunset or Chinatown upgrades.
“Have used these types of tours before, but in San Francisco they are a must. Such a beautiful and diverse city, and so so many hills!”
Hop-on hop-off San Francisco tour with 17 stops, open-top views, and digital audio. Cover Golden Gate, Painted Ladies, Wharf.
“It was great to learn about the city's history, early settlers, and see the current city. we enjoyed driving through different neighborhoods and being able to stop and explore the neighborhoods and end up where we started. It was an enjoyable experience, and we will be back to visit with more time.”
Alcatraz ferry with audio guide plus 48-hour Big Bus hop-on hop-off, sunset views, Chinatown walk, and Aquarium by the Bay.
“Big bus company were amazing very friendly and informative definitely recommend”
Deluxe hop-on hop-off San Francisco bus with 20 stops and live guide. Board anywhere and ride 8 hours to iconic sights.
“For me, it was good in that it gave a good overview of the city. I did a few rounds to get photos of everything I wanted. Disappointed that we didn't drive past the actual painted ladies houses, it was a few block walk from the stop and I was running out of time, but thats OK... I saw lots of other things. Was quite impressed with the drivers skills on some pretty narrow roads and corners!”
Alcatraz Island ferry, timed entry, and a 48-hour Big Bus hop-on hop-off route with Aquarium and sunset options.
“Alcatraz trip was excellent! Bus tours was great too and convenient to see all the sights and get off and on throughout two days!”
Ride an open-top Big Bus in San Francisco at sunset. See Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, and more.
“Very cold at night in September.; but the lights of the city were beautiful. Our driver Blat was the beat”
A 2-day hop-on hop-off San Francisco bus with an included Alcatraz ferry and self-guided audio tour, plus night sights.
“Unfortunately, the first hop on/off bus tour I took the commentary wasn’t working. Second and night tour had excellent live commentaries. Alcatraz was worth the trip.”
Hop on a double-decker bus for 20 stops in San Francisco. Wi‑Fi onboard, live English guide, and 1–2 day flexibility for $55.
“Easy to catch from Union Square. Many stops to choose from if you want to get off and investigate and catch the next bus. Weather was perfect and we enjoyed it very much!”
Hop on a San Francisco open-top bus for 24 hours with audio commentary and stops across North Beach, the waterfront, Haight-Ashbury, and the Golden Gate.
“So MUCH FUN!!!! My husband and I always do the BIG BUS tour everywhere we travel and this one didn’t disappoint! We love the history and the fun! Great for everyone!!!”
One hour on an open-top bus through San Francisco at sunset, with onboard audio, Bay Bridge views, and iconic landmarks like Grace Cathedral.
“This is a wonderful and easy way to get a taste of San Francisco-it’s history, the people, the streets, and glorious views! Using the earphones as a type of self guided trip as we were driven through the city and different places of interest was an excellent way of showing us tourists what this area had been and is. We can highly recommend this venue as one of the first ways to tour. Be sure and layer well as it can get cold at night on top of an open air bus, bring a blanket, and be sure and leave a gratuity to the driver who deftly steers through the…”
See San Francisco from an open-top double-decker bus at night, with Bay Bridge light views, Treasure Island photos, and multilingual narration.
“We had a good driver and a very knowledgeable tour guide. Very interesting and sure beats walking !”
Hop-on hop-off day access plus an optional narrated night tour. Hit 16+ stops, grab big views, and ride an easy double-decker route.
“Die Nachtfahrt findet um 18.00 Uhr abends statt und endet 22.00 Uhr , da ist es alles andere aber keine Nacht!!!Auch noch kein Sonnenuntergang ,dies Tour kann man sich sparen . R-R Hardt”
Cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge and ride a 24-hour hop-on hop-off Big Bus loop with audio tips and a Chinatown walk.
“The very long wait we had to get on the bus at the beginning of the tour. My husband is disabled and can’t walk or stand for long periods of time, there was nowhere he could sit and wait, so that was a serious issue for us as he was in a lot of pain. We asked the staff and they said there was nothing they could do. The rest of the tour was fantastic and the driver amazing.”
2-day San Francisco hop-on hop-off bus plus live night tour, Chinatown walk, and a 2-hour bike rental. Valid 48 hours.
“Everything was great. Staff very friendly. In the sum better than expected. Good value for money. The only downside is that they run only one circuit so you cannot really make changes to the order you visit the city. The last bus ran at 17:30, later than advertised. That saved our day, thank you.”
A mobile pass for San Francisco with Big Bus Tours, bike rental, and major attractions—great value if you plan a tight route.
“Great deal!!! Took my 2 teen granddaughters and we were able to see tons of things on our two day pass.”
