Booking choice: The Painted Ladies VW tour, from $82 per person. Check dates Tour details
Age limits on Viator come from the operators' own age bands. The flagship VW bus tour, for example, does not take children under 5 on its shared departures.
Below, each tour's rules as listed in October 2026.
The quick answer
With under-5s, choose the Painted Ladies VW tour (any age, booster seats on request) or the Big Bus (infants on laps, lower rate for ages 3 to 12). From age 5, Vantigo works and charges less for ages 5 to 11. The Love Tour takes all ages but infants need their own car seat and a ticket.
Which tours take young children?
Most do, but Vantigo's shared tour starts at age 5 and the Skip the Bus van tour asks you to bring your own child seat.
| Tour | Ages | Child price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vantigo VW bus | 5 and up | Lower for 5 to 11 | Under 5: private tour only |
| Painted Ladies VW tour | Any age | One price per seat | Booster seats on request |
| Love Tour | Any age | One price per seat | Infants need own car seat and ticket |
| Big Bus hop-on hop-off | Any age | Lower for 3 to 12 | Infants sit on laps |
| Movie Sights | Any age | Lower for 5 to 17 | Children with an adult |
| Gray Line city tour | Any age | Lower for 5 to 11 | Infants 0 to 4 have their own band; infants on laps |
| Skip the Bus | 5 and up | One price | Bring your own child seat |
Can toddlers go on the VW bus tour?
Not on Vantigo's shared tour: its listing says children 0 to 4 need to book a private tour.
The Painted Ladies VW tour has a single age band from age 1, and booster seats are available if you ask when booking.
Travelling with a toddler? The Painted Ladies tour offers booster seats on request.
Check dates for the Painted Ladies VW tourDo kids pay less?
On Vantigo (ages 5 to 11), the Big Bus (3 to 12), the Movie Sights tour (5 to 17) and the Gray Line tour (5 to 11), yes.
The Painted Ladies, Love and Skip the Bus tours charge the same price for every seat, so a family of four pays four full fares.
Are the tours stroller-friendly?
The Painted Ladies, Love, Movie Sights, Gray Line and Big Bus listings say stroller accessible; the VW buses are small, so a compact stroller is easier.
Vantigo's shared tour starts at age 5, so families with a stroller-age child usually end up on the Painted Ladies tour or the Big Bus anyway.
Is three hours too long for children?
For younger kids, the two-hour Painted Ladies or Love tours are the safer bet; the hop-on hop-off bus lets you stop whenever they need a break.
The guided tours do get you out of the bus at each photo stop, which helps.
Need breaks on demand? The hop-on hop-off bus lets you get off at any of 18 stops.
Explore the Big Bus hop-on hop-off Tour detailsDo teenagers enjoy it?
Guests suggest so: one Vantigo guest wrote that the guide's mix of history, facts and jokes made even her teenagers laugh.
Teens who love films may prefer the Movie Sights tour, which plays clips on board as you pass the locations.
What about car seats?
Bring your own for the Love Tour (infants) and Skip the Bus; the Painted Ladies tour has booster seats on request.
Tell the operator your children's ages when you book so they can plan the seating.
Two hours, any age: check family dates for the Painted Ladies VW tour.
Check dates for the Painted Ladies VW tourWhich tour is best for a family?
Under 5: the Painted Ladies tour or the Big Bus. Ages 5 and up: Vantigo, with its lower child price.
For costs side by side, see city tour prices, and for layers on foggy days, what to wear.
Frequently asked questions
Can a baby go on a San Francisco city tour?
Yes on the Painted Ladies tour, the Big Bus (on laps) and the Love Tour (with its own car seat and ticket). Not on Vantigo's shared tour.
What age is a child on the Vantigo tour?
Ages 5 to 11 pay the child price; 12 and over pay the adult price.
Is the bay cruise good for kids?
It takes all ages, with a child rate for 5 to 17 and an infant band for under-5s.
Ready to book
Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Painted Ladies City Tour by VW Bus
- Live guide in a vintage Volkswagen bus, maximum 7 per vehicle
- Snacks and bottled water
- Stops: Palace of Fine Arts, Painted Ladies, Golden Gate Bridge; passes Lombard Street
San Francisco City Tour by Vintage VW Bus
- Live guide and commentary on San Francisco history
- Vintage Volkswagen bus, maximum 7 travelers
- Stops: Coit Tower, Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Bridge, Twin Peaks, Painted Ladies
Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Open-Top Tour
- 24, 48 or 72-hour ticket; Red Route 10 AM to 5 PM, about every 15 minutes
- Digital audio commentary with earbuds; Big Bus app with live tracking
- 48 h adds a sunset tour and digital Chinatown walk; 72 h also adds a bay cruise
