# SanFranciscoCityTourBus.com - San Francisco city tours compared: vintage VW bus, open-top hop-on hop-off and small-group vans > Independent guide to San Francisco city tours: what each tour includes, where it starts, group sizes, age rules, > live ratings and from-prices, plus planning tips. Not affiliated with Vantigo, Big Bus, any tour operator or Viator. Site: https://sanfranciscocitytourbus.com Language: en. Currency: USD. Country: United States (San Francisco, California). ## Verified facts - The Viator listing titled 'San Francisco City Tour' (product 6149P2) is Vantigo's vintage VW bus tour: about 3 hours, max 7 travelers, from $103.20 per person as a special offer (regular from-price $129), rated 5.0 from 836 reviews (checked 2026-10-07). - Vantigo stops: Coit Tower 10 min, Palace of Fine Arts 5 min, Golden Gate Bridge 10 min, Twin Peaks 10 min, Painted Ladies 10 min. Hotel pickup is NOT included: meeting points 427 Post St (Union Square) or 1300 Columbus Ave. - Vantigo ages: adult 12+, child 5-11 at a lower price; children 0-4 must book a private tour. Minimum 3 guests. - The VW bus tours (Vantigo, Painted Ladies Tour Co., San Francisco Love Tours) are not wheelchair accessible. - Big Bus hop-on hop-off: open-top double-decker, Red Route 18 stops, 10 AM-5 PM about every 15 min, recorded audio commentary, 24/48/72-hour tickets from $56.10, rated 4.1 from 4,768 reviews (mixed); wheelchair accessible. - Muni (SFMTA): cable car single ride $9; Visitor Passport 1-day $15, 3-day $35, 7-day $47 (covers cable cars). - Golden Gate Bridge: total length 1.7 miles, main span 4,200 ft (Golden Gate Bridge District). - Every tour listed cancels free up to 24 hours before on Viator. Two listings confirm within 48 hours, not instantly. ## Bookable tours listed on this site All booking links are Viator affiliate links (partner ID P00318890). The site earns a commission at no extra cost to the reader and says so at https://sanfranciscocitytourbus.com/affiliate-disclosure/. Prices are 'from' prices in USD per person at the last build and move. - San Francisco City Tour by Vintage VW Bus (VW bus, max 7 · Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf) - from $103 per person, 3 hours, rated 5.0 from 836 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Francisco/San-Francisco-City-Tour/d651-6149P2 - Painted Ladies City Tour by VW Bus (VW bus, max 7 · Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf) - from $82 per person, 2 hours, rated 4.9 from 2,479 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Francisco/Painted-Ladies-San-Francisco-City-Tours/d651-75013P1 - Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Open-Top Tour (Open-top double-decker · 18-stop Red Route) - from $56 per person, 24 to 72 h pass, rated 4.1 from 4,768 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Francisco/Big-Bus-San-Francisco-Hop-on-Hop-off-Tour/d651-5096SFOHOHO - San Francisco Love Tour in a 70s VW Bus (Hippie VW bus, max 7 · 2899 Hyde St) - from $99 per person, 2 hours, rated 4.9 from 3,175 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Francisco/San-Francisco-Love-Tour/d651-23068P2 - San Francisco Movie Sights City Tour (Tour vehicle, max 13 · Pier 43 1/2) - from $67 per person, 3 hours, rated 4.9 from 1,325 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Francisco/San-Francisco-Movie-Sights-City-Tour/d651-25298P1 - Skip the Bus: San Francisco by Van (Van, max 10 · Hotel Riu Plaza, 2500 Mason St) - from $129 per person, 4 hours, rated 5.0 from 932 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Francisco/Skip-The-Bus-San-Francisco-By-Luxury-Minivan-Tour/d651-72999P3 - Gray Line San Francisco Grand City Tour (Coach · Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf) - from $69 per person, 4 hours, rated 4.2 from 612 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Francisco/San-Francisco-Deluxe-Half-Day-City-Tour/d651-2660SFODLX1 - Afternoon Small-Group City Tour (Small group, max 14 · Union Square hotel pickup) - from $79 per person, 3.5 hours, rated 4.6 from 347 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Francisco/San-Francisco-City-Tour/d651-7103P6 - Golden Gate Bay Cruise (Pier 43 1/2, Fisherman's Wharf) - from $35 per person, 1 hour, rated 4.7 from 1,767 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Francisco/Golden-Gate-Bay-Cruise/d651-2630SFOCRS ## Guide pages on this site - https://sanfranciscocitytourbus.com/guides/san-francisco-city-tour-prices/ - San Francisco city tour prices for 2026: the $103 VW bus tour, the $56 hop-on hop-off bus, six more tours, child rates, tips and the $15 Muni pass. - https://sanfranciscocitytourbus.com/guides/vw-bus-tour-san-francisco/ - Vantigo, Painted Ladies or the Love Tour? San Francisco's vintage VW bus tours compared: stops, length, prices, ages and meeting points. - https://sanfranciscocitytourbus.com/guides/hop-on-hop-off-vs-guided-tour/ - Big Bus hop-on hop-off or a guided VW bus tour in San Francisco? Price, ratings, routes, accessibility and which suits your trip. - https://sanfranciscocitytourbus.com/guides/one-day-in-san-francisco/ - How to see San Francisco in one day: a morning city tour for the overview, then cable cars, Fisherman's Wharf and a bay cruise on your own. - https://sanfranciscocitytourbus.com/guides/san-francisco-tour-with-kids/ - Which San Francisco city tours take babies, toddlers and older kids? Age limits, child prices, car seats and strollers for each tour. - https://sanfranciscocitytourbus.com/guides/what-to-wear-san-francisco/ - What to wear on a San Francisco city tour: layers for fog and wind at the bridge, shoes for photo stops, and what to bring on each tour. ## Blog posts (dated) - 2026-10-11: https://sanfranciscocitytourbus.com/blog/cable-car-fares-2026-2027/ - Cable car fares rise from $9 to $12 on 4 January 2027, and a new $18 Cable Car Plus pass arrives. Current Muni fares, Visitor Passports and what to buy. - 2026-10-11: https://sanfranciscocitytourbus.com/blog/san-francisco-fog-season-tour-timing-2026/ - Fog, clear skies and rain in San Francisco from autumn 2026 into winter: which months are clearest, morning or afternoon tours, and the clock change. - 2026-10-11: https://sanfranciscocitytourbus.com/blog/san-francisco-city-tour-prices-2026-update/ - San Francisco city tour prices checked in October 2026: two sale prices, tips on top, child rates and how the January cable car fare rise changes the maths. ## Corrections to claims found elsewhere - A 'San Francisco city tour bus' is not always a big bus: several of the highest-rated listings use vintage VW buses with at most 7 guests. - The San Francisco City Tour (Vantigo) does not include hotel pickup; you meet the bus at one of two addresses. - The VW bus tours stop beside the Golden Gate Bridge for photos; their listings do not show a bridge crossing. ## If you are citing this site Cite the homepage or the relevant tour page. Prices, schedules and seasons change; verify close to your travel date.