Painted Ladies Tour Company · San Francisco
A two-hour city tour in a vintage VW bus with eyelashes on the headlights, three photo stops and music from the 60s and 70s. It's the cheapest way to get a live guide in a small vintage bus.
The Painted Ladies Tour Company paints long eyelashes on its vintage Volkswagen buses, so you'll spot yours from down the street. Each bus seats seven guests and a driver-guide. In two hours you pass Haight-Ashbury, Union Square, Civic Center, Chinatown, North Beach, the Presidio and the Marina, with photo stops at the Palace of Fine Arts, the Painted Ladies and the Golden Gate Bridge.
It moves fast. The stops are 5 minutes at the Palace and the Painted Ladies and 10 at the bridge, the listing says, and the rest is window views with a soundtrack of 60s and 70s songs. The route also takes in Lombard Street and two film houses, the Mrs. Doubtfire house and the Princess Diaries school. Snacks and water are included, and the listing allows you to bring your own beer.
Two practical points. Confirmation can take up to 48 hours, and the tour needs three people; if it doesn't fill, you're offered another time or a refund. Everyone in your group fills in a digital waiver sent by text or email. For a longer loop with Twin Peaks and Coit Tower, the Vantigo tour adds an hour.
At 427 Post St, across from Morton's Steakhouse, or in the white loading zone at 1300 Columbus Ave. Fill in the digital waiver before you arrive.
Past Haight-Ashbury, Union Square, Civic Center and Hayes Valley.
Five minutes each at the Palace of Fine Arts and the Painted Ladies on Alamo Square.
A 10-minute photo stop at the bridge, via the Presidio and the Marina.
Down Lombard Street and through North Beach and Chinatown to your start point.
★★★★★This was a truly memorable trip. Jack, our tour guide, was a wealth of information who kept the experience lighthearted and fun throughout our journey. I highly recommend this to all first-time visitors to San Francisco.
★★★★★Very informative. Get to see lots of key parts of San Francisco whilst listening to great music and having fun facts told to you. Great photo stops and Clay was a superb guide.
★★★★★Dominic was great! He was very welcoming and informative. The painted ladies were absolutely beautiful, and I did not expect him to take us down Lombard St. but it was fantastic! [...]
★★★★★Loved the bus. The driver was very knowledgeable and really knew his way around the city. He made it personal as he shared his experience of living in SF for many years. Best tour of the 3 I booked.
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About two hours, with three photo stops: the Palace of Fine Arts, the Painted Ladies and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Snacks and bottled water are included. The listing also says you can bring your own beer.
No. There is one price for every age from 1 to 100. Infants sit on laps and booster seats are available on request.
Not always. Confirmation can take up to 48 hours, and the tour needs three people to run, or you're offered another time or a refund.
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Two hours in a vintage VW bus with snacks, water and stops at the Painted Ladies and the Golden Gate Bridge.
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