Top San Francisco On the Water

Explore one of California's most iconic settings from the beauty of San Francisco Bay. This narrated Golden Gate Bay cruise journeys alongside Alcatraz and Angel Island State Park, past the shores of Sausalito and beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. You can choose to view the sights from inside your boat or out on deck.

Sail across San Francisco Bay at twilight to admire the city skyline as it begins to light up for the night. With an experienced captain at the helm, you’ll glide past Alcatraz Island and cruise underneath the Golden Gate Bridge.

Bypass the line and head directly to the gate with your prebooked tickets. This sunset cruise takes you across San Francisco Bay with outstanding views of the city skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Bay Bridge, and Alcatraz Island. Relax while background music sets the tone. Watch the sunset or select a twilight cruise during winter months.

Glide across San Francisco Bay with unlimited mimosas and sparkling wine on this weekend brunch cruise. Sail under the Golden Gate Bridge, pass Alcatraz, and see the city skyline from the deck. A hearty buffet and onboard music keep the mood festive while you enjoy brunch and sightsee.

On this San Francisco bridge cruise, get an up-close look at the city’s two engineering marvels—the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge—as you travel across San Francisco Bay. See major city sights like Alcatraz, Coit Tower, and the Ferry Building, and listen to recorded commentary about the city's legendary architecture while you glide under both bridges.

Come aboard the Privateer for a beautiful sailing journey along the San Francisco Bay where you can enjoy sightseeing at the most beautiful time of day—sunset. Coast along as you spot out Alcatraz, the Sausalito shoreline, and the Golden Gate bridge, all with a drink of choice in your hand.  

Visit charming Sausalito, cruise across San Francisco Bay and stare up in wonder at the redwood trees of Muir Woods on this combo tour from San Francisco—the perfect day out in the Bay Area. Experience the Golden Gate Bridge from both above and below as you drive across it and glide under it, and learn about some of California’s oldest and tallest natural wonders, the coastal redwoods. In Sausalito, you can stroll along the waterfront or shop in the galleries and boutiques.

Enjoy a relaxing outing on San Francisco Bay with a cruise. Take in panoramic views of the city skyline, marvel at Alcatraz Island, and journey beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. Choose to sit indoors or savor cool bay breezes from an outdoor deck and experience San Francisco in a whole new way from the water. You can even learn about the sights that you're seeing from a free audio tour—available on any personal wifi-enabled device. This ticket allows you to skip the box office line and go straight to the gate.

Admire San Francisco and its surrounding sights from the water on a San Francisco Bay sailing cruise. Onboard a catamaran, sail past the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, legendary Alcatraz Island, and the hamlet of Sausalito. Take advantage of great photo ops while you soak up the sea breeze during this scenic tour.

Take a relaxing afternoon sailing cruise aboard a traditional sailboat on the San Francisco Bay. Cruise past landmarks such as Alcatraz Island, Angel Island, the Sausalito waterfront, and Golden Gate Bridge, and see the San Francisco skyline on your way back to Pier 39. Includes two drinks, and personalized attention from the crew and captain.

Make the most of a day in San Francisco with this triple combo tour that starts with a morning visit to Muir Woods to enjoy the majestic giant redwoods before most of the crowds arrive. Along the way, stop at the Golden Gate Bridge for photos and a walk on the iconic rusty-orange span. Finish with a cruise across the San Francisco Bay for the famous Cell Block tour at Alcatraz prison — one of San Francisco's most in-demand tours.

Explore San Francisco and Alcatraz on this 2-in-1 tour. Hop aboard a ferry for a scenic ride to Alcatraz and enjoy the award-winning audio walking tour. Plus, enjoy a coach tour with a knowledgeable local guide. Learn about the City by the Bay through visits to top attractions such as Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, the Presidio, and the Palace of Fine Arts.

Learn stories behind the Bay Area's most notorious former federal penitentiary on a fascinating 'Escape from the Rock' cruise. Board a boat for a journey through the bay while listening to audio recordings (available in several languages) from ex-prisoners and guards about daily life on 'The Rock.' Learn about the Birdman of Alcatraz and the infamous 1962 'Alcatraz Escape,' and come to know why Alcatraz instilled fear into the hearts of even the worst-of-the-worst criminals. Tours are accessible on any of your own wifi-enabled iPads, smartphones or other devices. This ticket allows you to skip the box office line and go straight to the gate.

Tread in the footsteps of world-champion sailors on this 2.5-hour America’s Cup Day Sail on San Francisco Bay. You’ll board a high-speed International America’s Cup class yacht and take a turn on the official race course from the 2013 competition. With a skilled sailor in charge, you’ll take your turn as crew working the sail trim controls and even have a chance to skipper the boat. After departing from San Francisco’s famous Pier 39 you’ll take to the Bay and cruise beneath the magnificent Golden Gay Bridge. There’s no better way to see the Bay than this sailing trip with USA 76.

Go sailing on the San Francisco Bay on a spectacular sailboat cruise from Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf. Head to the Golden Gate Bridge for sweeping views of the Marin Headlands, Tiburon and Sausalito, then glide across the bay, passing Angel Island, Alcatraz Island, The Presidio, Crissy Field, Ghirardelli Square, and the Bay Bridge. You can enjoy two complimentary glasses of sparkling wine, beer or soda, and ask your captain and crew any questions you may have along the way.

Have dinner with panoramic city views on a San Francisco Bay supper club cruise. Spend time on the water with the twinkling city skyline as your backdrop. Take in the views and enjoy the sea breeze on the exterior decks, cut loose on the dance floor with a DJ spinning top 40 hits, and enjoy a buffet dinner with classic American and international dishes on the menu.

This is a unique tour package to visit both the Alcatraz Island and the Treasure Island across the Bay Bridge! You will first take a short ferry ride from Pier 33 to the Alcatraz Island, where you can walk around the Island freely at your own pace and follow a 45-minutes award-winning audio tour in multiple languages of the Alcatraz Prison Cellhouse. Hop on to any returning ferry when you are finish touring the Alcatraz Island, and your night tour will start near Pier 39 where just a short walk from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing. During the night tour, you will be on a double decker open top sightseeing bus that takes you across the Bay Bridge to Treasure Island, where you will have a brief stop to view the breathtaking city view of the San Francisco Financial District and downtown night lights!

See San Francisco’s top attractions from the water on this 1.5-hour tour by rigid inflatable boat. Your guide will provide gear to keep you dry and warm as you take off from Pier 39. Pass the infamous prison of Alcatraz, Coit Tower, the Presidio and glide under the Golden Gate Bridge while your captain provides insightful narration. Numbers are limited to 12 people to keep this small-group tour as intimate as possible.

Learn to surf in Pacifica, a picturesque town on the California coast just south of San Francisco. Your expert instructor covers all basics so that you can begin to catch some waves. Learn how to read the ocean, paddle out, pop up, balance and ride the waves, along with the etiquette of the surf world. Start practicing on the beach and in shallow waters before heading further out, with the assistance of your instructor available throughout your 3-hour lesson. Choose a morning or mid-day lesson that suits your schedule, with all necessary equipment provided.

Boats that usually take groups out on the San Francisco Bay can be super crowded and it can even be hard to see the views. This San Francisco Bay Private Sailboat Cruise takes just you and your group out on the water, so you never have to worry about missing out on seeing something. See popular spots like Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge or customize your time on the bay.

Combine an Muir Woods visit with a Same Day Express van and a stop to the Golden Gate Bridge. This one day excursion gets you two iconic attractions in a laid back hassle free way. No frills...just thrills! No spiels...just deals! Hybrid of light sight seeing narration with a blend of informative Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island documentaries. Feel like a VIP as you relax on our small group family style road trip in style! The day will typically start with a morning Muir Woods excursion. Guests will experience approximately 1 hour in the park full of red woods. After we will experience the Golden Gate Bridge with ample time to stop and walk the bridge for photos. Note: We may depart in the afternoon during some busy seasonal dates. This tour could start as early as 6:50am or as late as 3:00pm depending on the date we depart. This excursion will end at the same hotel departure point.

Maximize your time in San Francisco with this Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary admission and bike rental package. No need to worry about booking ferry tickets—they’re included to Alcatraz Island and back. Once you’re there, enjoy an audio tour around the former Alcatraz Prison site and its cell blocks. A one-day bike rental is also included—the perfect way to get fit, cover lots of ground, and see the Golden Gate Bridge.

Combine inside Alcatraz with same day Express van to Muir Woods and Sausalito with a Wharf IHOP brunch $12.50 food credit. Feel like a VIP as you relax during this small group family style road trip! Hybrid of light narration and informative documentaries are also included. The day will typically start with a morning Muir Woods excursion. Guests will experience 1 hour in the park full of red woods. Once we depart get ready to experience a 30 minutes photo stop in Sausalito then return to Fisherman's Wharf. Guests will be given a $12.50 food credit to IHOP for lunch then have ample time to shop and walk next door to Alcatraz Landing Pier 33. IHOP is in the same hotel that we depart so guests may start or end this tour with delicious brunch! This excursion will end in Fisherman's Wharf. Alcatraz is often the last portion and is in late afternoon slots. However, some days events may be reversed with Alcatraz in morning followed by brunch/lunch and Muir Woods in late afternoon.

Learn the basics of surfing with a beginner lesson that takes place at picturesque Stinson Beach. Your instructor provides a 2-hour lesson that covers fundamentals such as water safety, wave dynamics, paddling skills, surfboard positioning, stand-up and riding techniques, and surfing etiquette. Stinson Beach is located within a 1-hour drive of San Francisco and other Bay Area cities, making it convenient for both locals and visitors.