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San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

TourTruth score 4.4 out of 10

Below average

8,939 reviews · Rated on 2 providers · How we score

  • San Francisco
  • Updated November 4, 2026

Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and explore San Francisco’s top sights at your own pace with a flexible 24- or 48-hour bus ticket.

About this tour

See San Francisco from the open top of a bus as you cross the Golden Gate Bridge and take in sweeping views of the bay. This flexible San Francisco hop-on hop-off bus tour connects more than 17 stops, making it easy to explore the city at your own pace.

Ride the full route or hop off to wander Fisherman’s Wharf, watch sea lions at Pier 39, explore Chinatown, admire the Painted Ladies, or browse and dine around Union Square. Onboard digital commentary in 8 languages adds stories and context as the city unfolds. Your 24- or 48-hour ticket works during operating hours after first use, and the Big Bus Tours app lets you activate your ticket and track buses in real time.

Choose an option that adds a 1-hour Bay Cruise, a panoramic sunset tour, or a digital Chinatown walking tour. Selected tickets also offer a bike rental perk from Blazing Saddles. Pick your ticket, then set out to see San Francisco on your own schedule.

Highlights

  • Cross the Golden Gate Bridge aboard an open-top bus
  • Hop off at 17 stops, from Fisherman’s Wharf to Union Square
  • Admire the Painted Ladies and explore Chinatown at your own pace
  • Add a Bay Cruise, sunset tour, or Chinatown walking tour when selected

What's included

Included

  • 24- or 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus ticket
  • Digital audio commentary in 8 languages
  • Souvenir earbuds
  • Big Bus Tours app for ticket storage, activation, and live bus tracking
  • 1-hour Bay Cruise, if selected
  • 1-hour Panoramic Sunset Tour, if selected
  • 1-hour Digital Chinatown Walking Tour, if selected
  • Blazing Saddles bike rental offer: buy 1 hour and get 1 hour free with selected tickets

Not included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

What reviewers mention

Themes that come up most in this tour's reviews.

Important information

  • Wheelchair accessible; call ahead to arrange assistance
  • Infants and small children can ride in a stroller; infants must sit on an adult’s lap
  • Service animals are allowed
  • Download the Big Bus Tours app to activate your ticket and track buses in real time
  • The ticket is valid during operating hours for 24 or 48 hours after first use
  • For the Bay Cruise, redeem your ticket at the Blue & Gold Fleet Box Office at Pier 39 and arrive 30 minutes before departure

Frequently asked questions

How long is the bus ticket valid?

Your ticket is valid during operating hours for 24 or 48 hours after first use, depending on the option selected.

What languages are available?

Onboard digital audio commentary is available in 8 languages.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The tour is wheelchair accessible. Call ahead to arrange assistance.

How do I use my mobile ticket?

Download the Big Bus Tours app to store and activate your ticket and track buses in real time.

Where do I redeem the Bay Cruise ticket?

Redeem it at the Blue & Gold Fleet Box Office at Pier 39. Arrive 30 minutes before your desired departure.

How this score is calculated

This tour scores 4.12 on Viator and 4.56 on GetYourGuide. Ratings on these sites cluster near the top of the 5-star scale, so we compare each one with all other ratings on the same site before combining them.

How the score works and rating distribution in San Francisco
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 4.4.

Provider rating distribution in San Francisco

How many tours in San Francisco have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

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