Vantigo · San Francisco
Three hours around San Francisco in a vintage Volkswagen bus, with a live guide and five photo stops from Coit Tower to the Painted Ladies. Pick it if you want the classic loop with a real person talking, in a group of seven at most.
Vantigo runs its city tour in vintage Volkswagen buses that seat seven guests. The guide drives and talks, and the loop covers the city's big names in three hours: past Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf and Chinatown, up to Coit Tower, through North Beach and the Marina, then the Palace of Fine Arts, the Golden Gate Bridge, Twin Peaks and the Painted Ladies, and back via Civic Center and Haight-Ashbury.
The stops are short. The listing gives 10 minutes at Coit Tower, the bridge, Twin Peaks and the Painted Ladies, and 5 at the Palace of Fine Arts. That is enough for photos and a look around, not for a walk across the bridge. Several reviewers mention the guide taking pictures for them and swapping seats between stops so everyone gets a window.
Two caveats. There is no hotel pickup: you meet the bus at one of two curbside points. And the $103 from-price is a sale price; the regular from-price on the listing is $129. The tour needs three guests to run, so a solo booking can be moved or refunded. If you want the same kind of bus for less time and less money, look at the Painted Ladies VW tour.
Wait at the Westin St. Francis Post Street entrance (427 Post St) or the white loading zone in front of Hotel Caza (1300 Columbus Ave). The tour ends where it started.
Past Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf and Chinatown, then a 10-minute stop at Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill.
Through North Beach and the Marina to the Palace of Fine Arts (5 minutes) and the Golden Gate Bridge (10 minutes).
Through Golden Gate Park and up to Twin Peaks for a 10-minute stop over the whole city.
Ten minutes at the Painted Ladies, then past Civic Center and Haight-Ashbury back to your meeting point.
★★★★★Chad was an excellent tour guide with a wealth of information combined with a very likable personality. This tour was very complete in a small setting. Letting passengers rotate seating was a great way to insure equal viewing.
★★★★★Great tour, Chad was very knowledgable and friendly. Made stops to take pictures. Also gave info on places to eat. Perfect Bus Tour for First Day in San Francisco!
★★★★★Chad our guide was amazing. Very personable and full of knowledge. Managed to also play songs that related to the different ares we visited. The VW van was so cute. Plus he took some amazing photos for us. [...]
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No. You meet the bus at 427 Post St by Union Square or at 1300 Columbus Ave near Fisherman's Wharf, and the tour ends at the same spot.
Seven travelers at most. The tour needs at least three guests to run.
Children 5 to 11 book at the child rate. Children 0 to 4 cannot join the shared tour; the operator asks you to book a private tour.
From $103 per person at the current sale price; the regular from-price is $129. Our price guide compares every tour.
Ready to book
Three hours in a vintage VW bus with a live guide, five photo stops and at most seven guests; free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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