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San Francisco Walking tours

Our most recommended San Francisco Walking tours

San Francisco: Food Walking Tour of Chinatown & North Beach

1. San Francisco: Food Walking Tour of Chinatown & North Beach

On their own, Chinatown and North Beach stir your senses. Together, they awaken you to new flavors, new cultures, and to parts of your heart. Explore both on this unique combination walking tour. Start by exploring Chinatown by twilight, including tasting Dim Sum from one of the oldest bakeries in this vibrant neighborhood. You will delve into Chinese mysticism and culture, as you explore local sculpture and architecture and see close up how fortune cookies are made by hand. Tea is to Chinatown as North Beach is to coffee and you will sample both. Search out authentic Chinese and Italian crafts and pottery. Uncover the hidden secrets only intrepid locals know. And you'll be astonished by new finds in secret alcoves. Explore the "Beat Generation" of North Beach as we visit the very place where Francis Ford Coppola wrote "The Godfather" screenplay and the location where Steve Allen got his start, which has not changed at all since they performed there. Try some pizza and wine in North Beach. From wine to Dim Sum, fortune cookies, and teas, to cappuccinos in the very places where the Beat Generation started and Barbary Coast history that made San Francisco what it is.

San Francisco: The Haunt - Ghost Hunting Walking Tour

2. San Francisco: The Haunt - Ghost Hunting Walking Tour

Prowl through Gold Rush-era neighborhoods after dark, armed with ghost-hunting tools to seek out paranormal activity in San Francisco. The Haunt is San Francisco’s real ghost-hunting excursion, with storyteller guides sharing dark tales of the city’s haunted past. Meet by nightfall in the Jackson Square Historic District, a Gold Rush-era neighborhood of eerie Victorian architecture. Your tour guide will outfit everyone with an E.M.F. meter that you’ll use throughout the paranormal investigation. From there, enter the old neighborhood, hearing about the forgotten graves and ships buried beneath. Down quiet alleyways, learn of the destruction of the Great Earthquake of 1906, and the residual hauntings that still plague the neighborhood. At any point, you might detect E.M.F. activity, and you'll investigate further using tools such as dowsing rods and a Spirit Box. In Chinatown, hear of the tragedies that mark the neighborhood’s past, including the true crimes whose energies still linger, from a mysterious death in a historic theater to the city’s biggest massacre at the Golden Dragon. End the investigation with a ceremony to honor whatever spirits joined the group with a ritual to ensure that nothing follows you home.

San Francisco Ghosts: Gold and Ghouls Tour

3. San Francisco Ghosts: Gold and Ghouls Tour

Set off on a San Francisco ghost tour through different sites around the San Francisco downtown area. After meeting your guide embark on a 1-hour tour through Nob Hill. Perfect for first-time visitors and locals alike, this tour is a great way to see the amazing sites of the affluent neighborhoods while getting a feel for the city's ghostly atmosphere.  See a side of the city seldom witnessed. Take a walk past haunted hotels, streets, clubs, and office buildings. Learn about the ancient Mayan secrets of the Sutter buildings, the famous tragedies that haunt The Westin St. Francis, and the devastation and heartbreak that followed the great earthquake of 1906, which has literally and figuratively haunted the city for over a century. Find out about the terrible night that leads to Fatty Arbuckle's blacklisting from the film industry. After the gold rush of 1849, San Francisco became a beacon of hope and prosperity, but not everyone can strike gold, and inevitably, many people seeking fame and fortune found tragedy instead; their stories are likely to disturb and frighten you. These events throughout history continue to have an impact on the area, and the accounts you'll hear on this tour reveal that these hills have just as much horror as happiness.

North Beach and Little Italy Food Tour

4. North Beach and Little Italy Food Tour

Take a behind the scenes food tour of North Beach and Little Italy. Enjoy tasting great local foods, see how these culinary delights are made and meet the local artisans who make them on your guided walking tour. North Beach and Little Italy will awaken your senses. From the cafés and restaurants, to the smell of fresh-baked bread in the air. Just when you think you can't feel any more romantic you will discover quaint shops filled with incredible crafts and ceramics that will fill you with awe. Explore the life of North Beach, as we join family bakers kneading love into every loaf of bread. And just when you think that you can't be any closer to food heaven, we visit real coffee shops that fresh roast the coffee beans daily. And if that was not enough, we uncover authentic Italian cathedrals where hundreds of couples have felt their heartstrings tug. As you taste everything from cappuccinos, chocolates, breads, pastries, olive oils, specialty meats, and more, your senses and your taste buds will come alive. Every time we find another artisan crafting food handed down through generations or weaving life into handmade crafts, you'll know that you've experienced one of the places that makes San Francisco a series of ever expanding adventures. All food and drinks are included on this tour that was voted "Best City Tour" two years in a row on Citysearch. Tasting portions guarantee that you will not walk away hungry on this leisurely walking tour that strolls 7-8 flat blocks.

San Francisco Chinatown Culinary Walking Tour

5. San Francisco Chinatown Culinary Walking Tour

Explore  San Francisco's iconic Chinatown district on this unique foodie walking tour. Discover a maze of alleys off Grant Avenue and Stockton Street, where traditional techniques that date back centuries are still practiced. Meet your guide and begin your flavor-packed adventure. See food markets and local restaurants, with a surprise around every corner. Watch artisans making fortune cookies by hand, and enliven your senses with new flavors, smells, and aromas. Search out authentic crafts and pottery, explore exotic produce, and learn about herbs and teas from the people who know them best. Uncover hidden secrets that only intrepid locals know about. Taste Dim Sum, fortune cookies, and teas. Peruse incredible antiquities, rare and unique musical instruments, and authentic cookware. Marvel at statuettes and ritual objects that are thousands of years old. Visit a music center to view musical instruments you've never seen before. Try different types of Dim Sum from the oldest Chinese bakery in San Francisco. Go to one of the city's oldest cathedrals and look inside a Buddhist temple.

San Francisco: Chinatown Walking Food Tour

6. San Francisco: Chinatown Walking Food Tour

Don’t fall for the culinary tourist traps when you’re in San Francisco. With this food tours of San Francisco, you can experience an irresistible food tour in the cultural hots pot of Chinatown. Explore the remarkable and historic ethnicity, culture and foods that define Hong Kong and mainland China. Taste authentic Cantonese, Mandarin and Szechuan cuisine from five Chinese owned and operated restaurants, food establishments and ethnic bakeries. Your expert foodies have done extensive and delicious research to offer you the ultimate Chinatown food tour. The tastes, traditions, and old-world class of these landmark establishments are a true San Francisco experience. Let us tease your taste buds with the sweet and savory flavors of delectable authentic Chinese cuisine. This 3-hour Chinatown tour includes flavorful food specialties served from five of the following places: • New Hollywood Bakery and Restaurant: Light and buttery buns filled with barbecue-flavored cha siu pork • Bund Shanghai: Traditional Shanghai-style cuisine • Grant Place: A local favorite known for Hong Kong style dim sum and Chinese specialties • Hunan House: The distinctive flavors of Hunan cuisine • AA Bakery & Café: Freshly made Hong Kong style egg tarts cooked to a smooth flan-like perfection with a buttery and flaky crust • Z&Y Restaurant: Chef Han has grown in reputation by preparing food for presidents and foreign ministers of the people’s republic of China Behind every great food establishment in this city there is an equally great story of history, tradition and even innovation. On this Chinatown food tour, you’ll discover these amazing histories while tasting what has made these Chinese restaurants and bakeries so prized among locals.

San Francisco: Mission District Walking Food Tour

7. San Francisco: Mission District Walking Food Tour

The Mission District is one of San Francisco's most interesting and eclectic neighborhoods, combining a range of influences into one unique culture. This food tour not only lets you skip the lines and taste delectable delights at a number of notable establishments, but it also offers some insight into how the Mission has grown into such a beloved locale. This tour will show you San Francisco's hidden gems, history and best eats. You can stroll the sidewalks in front of colorful Latino markets, smelling the delicious aromas wafting from first-class cafes along this diverse neighborhood's main streets. The Mission District is a neighborhood that manages to always delight visitors, yet remains beloved by San Franciscans. Whatever your taste buds seek, the Mission delivers! This 3-hour walking tour includes 5 tastings at different establishments. They are subject to change, but usually include 5 of the following places: • Taqueria Cancun (est. 1985): The most perfectly marinated meat tacos in SF • Mission Chinese (est. 2010): Where founder Danny Bowien has been nominated for a James Beard Rising Chef Award • Delfina Pizza (est. 2005): Delicious Neapolitan inspired thin crust pizzas • Tartine Bakery (est. 2002): The best French-style bakery in San Francisco, where you'll get to skip the lines • Ali Baba's Cave (est. 2003): The most delicious and moist falafel in San Francisco • Craftsman and Wolves (est. 2010): Where the paths of food and design intersect As you stroll from tasting to tasting, your guide will point out and explain the culture, history and landmarks of the area. You'll see colorful Latino markets, Diego Rivera-inspired murals and much more! Whether you're a visitor in town for only a few days, or a local born and raised, you're sure to learn something on this informative tour.

San Francisco: Mission District Food and Culture Tour

8. San Francisco: Mission District Food and Culture Tour

Take an interactive walking tour of one of the United States' best cultural and culinary neighborhoods, San Francisco's Mission District. Be entertained by stories from your expert guide as you sample Latin American cuisine. Meet your guide at the meeting point and hand over the cash for the food so they can pay for the entire group at each of the stops, minimizing waiting times and ensuring you get more for your money. Then, set off on your walking tour and make 4 culinary stops. Hear about the history of the city and learn about the Mission's unique food culture as you walk along the mural-lined streets between the restaurants. See some of San Francisco's coolest historic sights, explore a thriving arts district filled with murals, and, of course, visit a few select restaurants. Come hungry and get ready to dig into all the Mission District has to offer.

Secret Food Tours San Francisco

9. Secret Food Tours San Francisco

This tour takes you into the heart of the Mission District, where you will discover an incredibly lively and vibrant neighborhood with a rich cultural and architectural heritage. You and your friends will embark on a three-hour San Francisco gastronomy tour in the heart of the Mission District. You will have the opportunity to discover both the local latino inspired dishes as well as the myriad of cultures that have made their imprint on the Mission today. You will enter a community that fosters stunning political street art, both on the main roads and weaving through the city neighborhoods. All food, desserts, drinks and a professional tour of the city are included in the price.  Once your experienced guide shares that you will leave with a stomach full of traditional food, plus local knowledge and sightseeing tips, to enhance the pleasure of your trip that will last with you a lifetime. In the Mission District immigrants made this section of San Francisco uniquely their own. Once home to Irish, German, and Italian Immigrants and now more recently named the epicenter of San Francisco's latino culture. The tour isn't just about eating. Connect the dots so you can truly begin to understand the Mission's thriving culinary scene. Connect with San Francisco's Mission District on a personal level - tasting and learning about the food that the local residents line up at and are happy to share.

San Francisco: North Beach Food and History Walking Tour

10. San Francisco: North Beach Food and History Walking Tour

Begin your San Francisco North Beach food and history walking tour at the Columbus Tower (Sentinel Building), home to Francis Ford Coppola's and George Lucas' Zoetrope Film Studio. Meet your tour guide just right outside of Zoetrope Café. Learn about the historical and current events that helped shape San Francisco's North Beach District. Experience the exquisite murals executed by the Italian fin-de-siècle painter and illustrator Luigi Brusatori at the Saint Francis of Assisi Church. Walk along Columbus Avenue and pass all the restaurants and cafes. Arrive at Stella Pastry where you will be treated to a delicious house-made biscotti or cookie of the day with coffee or espresso. Walk to Washington Square for further exploration of San Francisco's Little Italy. Your guide will take a moment to go over the pizza options and beverage choices for the next food portion of the tour. In addition, hear stories about the Saints Peter and Paul Church. After, head towards City Lights Book Publishing Company and Jack Kerouac Alley. Admire the murals that adorn the walls of this one block alleyway that connects the tail end of Chinatown with North Beach. Before the end of the tour, spend time at one of the numerous watering holes in the area for a beer or cocktail. Take time to savor your drink while your guide summarizes the days' activities and answer any questions you may have.

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What people are saying about San Francisco

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 650 reviews

I really enjoyed the tour. About an hours walk. We go up some of the hills so be ready for that. The tour guide Jamie was cool. Really got into the details and was overall a great tour guide. Maybe next time I’ll do the extended tour.

We had a great time with Brian. He shared lots of great stories, and the food stops were great! Everything was delicious, the tea tasting at the end was the highlight for us! Would highly recommend this tour.

Fantastic! Great food. Great history. Entertaining. We’ll be back for another tour with them.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and learned quite a bit about the history of SF.

Guide had so much knowledge and great sense of humour!