T
Great time in North Beach
Amanda was great! Very friendly, very knowledgeable, she did a phenomenal job!
North Beach Walking Tour
+3 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 1h 30min
- Price from
- $39 / person
- Location
- San Francisco, United States
- Rating
- 4.8 / 5 · 106 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 25
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- ExperienceFirst
- Meeting point
- We’ll meet at Washington Square, beside the Volunteer Firemen Memorial, a large statue of three firefighters located at 600 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133. Your guide will be holding an orange sign with ExperienceFirst on it.
Description
It’s hard to imagine San Francisco as the sleepy village it was before the Gold Rush, but our North Beach Walking Tour takes you back in time as you discover SF through the ages. We’ll visit Washington Square Park, the city’s first public park, where you’ll learn the surprising role it played after the 1906 earthquake and fire. Admire the vintage lampposts and Coit Tower in the distance. Step inside Saints Peter and Paul Church to see its Italian marble altar and hear about its celebrity connection to Joe DiMaggio. Along the way, you’ll learn how this area became SF’s “Little Italy” as you stroll past colorful shops and bakeries. Your guide will show you unexpected viewpoints of the famously windy Lombard Street and beautiful Golden Gate Bridge. We’ll end at the picturesque Pier 39, adorably overrun with sea lions enjoying the sun. But arguably the best view is from 150 feet above the city with your included ticket to a private gondola in the SkyStar observation wheel.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 8 times a day, 12:00 AM–2:00 PM
- Next available
- Thu, Oct 22
- Adult (ages 12+)
- $39
- Child (ages 5–11)
- $35
- Infant (ages 0–4)
- Free
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $349.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 21.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Stroll through a central North Beach gathering place and learn how the park served as temporary housing after the 1906 earthquake and fire. Today, it offers open green space and classic views of the surrounding architecture.
Saints Peter And Paul Church
Visit one of North Beach’s most recognizable landmarks and step inside to see its Italian marble altar and elegant interior. Hear stories of the church’s celebrity connections to Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe.
This North Beach institution has been making exceptional focaccia bread since 1911. With a simple recipe and creative flavors, it’s a neighborhood favorite, and locals know to get here early. Learn about a slice of SF’s “Little Italy” here — and go inside if it’s open!
Lombard Street
Take in an unexpected viewpoint of the famously crooked street, and learn why it was engineered this way in the early 1900s. Snap a photo of its tight curves and surrounding cityscape.
Pier 39
The pier is best known for the sea lions who enjoy basking in the sun on floating docks. Your guide will tell you why they’re here while you snap selfies with these adorable whiskered mammals.
SkyStar Wheel Fisherman’s Wharf
Enjoy a ride in your glass-enclosed gondola for sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay and the surrounding city from 150 feet in the air. Your ticket is included if you choose to upgrade.
What's included
Included
Professional SF guide
Guided tour of North Beach
SkyStar Wheel ticket (if option selected)
Not included
Guide Gratuities (Appreciated)
Food or Drinks
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.8
106 reviews
How it compares in San Francisco
- Starting price $39 is 51% below the typical $80 for tours of similar length in San Francisco
Excurgo comparison of 963 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does North Beach Walking Tour take?
North Beach Walking Tour lasts about 1h 30min. The itinerary has 6 stops.
How much does North Beach Walking Tour cost?
Prices start at $39 per person for this San Francisco experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $349. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does North Beach Walking Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 8 departures a day between 12:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
How much does North Beach Walking Tour cost for children?
Children aged 5–11 pay from $35, adults from $39. Infants go free.
Can I cancel North Beach Walking Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is We’ll meet at Washington Square, beside the Volunteer Firemen Memorial, a large statue of three firefighters located at 600 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133. Your guide will be holding an orange sign with ExperienceFirst on it. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is North Beach Walking Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 25 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is North Beach Walking Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 106 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by ExperienceFirst.
Reviews(106)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
2
Great experience with the walking tour.
Jamie was very knowledgeable and well spoken, making it a very enjoyable experience. The experience itself was very good, taking us to some well known sights and sights that we would not have necessarily gone to ourselves but thoroughly enjoyed. Highly recommend.
2
Do not miss this opportunity. 10 out of 10!!
My first trip to San Francisco and I was not disappointed. This walking tour is simple yet filled with great information about the city and its history. Our guide was simply excellent despite our group being sort of like herding cats. Her name escapes me now but she was able to finish the tour on time. I plan on returning again and may take one of their other tours. Afterwards we took the ferry to Alcatraz which was mind blowing. We did the day tour and I suspect the night tour would be a little spooky. Again, there is a great deal of history here and I highly recommend it.
C
Wonderful Tour - Glad I went
I did the North Beach tour through the Go City pass. Meeting point was at the Volunteer Fireman's memorial which is a great location at a park with a public bathroom and playground near by. Our tour guide was Kenan, and I really enjoyed the information he had to share about San Francisco, so I could appreciate the history more and learn about some iconic food places. I was really glad that I took the tour even though I had just walked around North Beach and already been to Pier 39. After the rest of the group left to go to Alcatraz (option not offered through the Go City pass), Kenan went above and beyond to explain the Waymo driverless taxi app interface as I asked, since my husband and I had tried it twice and missed it twice since we couldn't figure out where to meet the taxi.
N
North Beach walking tour, San Francisco
Jamie was an excellent guide. We really enjoyed the tour.
Operator response
Hi Neil, Thank you so your kind words! We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again on another adventure!
D
Didn't happen and we didn't know
Cancelled - but we were notified while waiting from other participants only. Our contact regarding the cancellation didn't happen until about 1/2 hour after the scheduled start. With a very limited amount of time to spend on this vacation - being told earlier would have been appreciated. We could have enjoyed our breakfast instead of running off to nothing, etc.
Operator response
Hi Danielle, Thank you for your feedback, and please accept our sincere apologies for the last-minute cancellation of your tour. Unfortunately, your guide became ill on the day of the tour, and we were unable to find a suitable replacement in time. We understand how disappointing this was, especially given your limited time in San Francisco. Please rest assured that your refund has been initiated. We know this does not make up for the inconvenience caused, but we hope it provides some reassurance that the matter has been addressed. We truly appreciate your understanding and are sorry that we were unable to provide the experience you were looking forward to. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back and deliver the quality experience you deserve.
M
San Francisco in a day tour
Jamie did an exceptional job showing us the best of San Francisco. He is friendly and very knowledgeable about the city. Very informative and lots of interesting inside stories about the SF culture.
Operator response
Hi Michael, Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted to hear you had such a great experience exploring San Francisco with Jamie. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to see you again soon!
S
Awesome walking tour. Amazing guide.
Jamie was awesome. Super knowledgeable and friendly. Gave us great advice on how to get around town, places to eat, things to do, what to avoid and what you must see. Clearly loves what he does.
Operator response
HI, Thank you for sharing your experience! It’s wonderful to hear how much you enjoyed your tour with Jamie. We hope to welcome you back again in the future!
E
Tour pier 39. Amazing! :o
Very good tour. Vicky a genius.
Operator response
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're so glad to hear you enjoyed the tour. Vicky is truly amazing and always goes the extra mile to make every experience special and memorable. We hope to see you again very soon for another adventure!
C
Spring Break visit
Sharlene was the best! She was very knowledgeable & personal. My two grandsons were impressed with the tour & Sharlene kept them engaged.
Operator response
Hi there, Thank you for your lovely review! We’re so happy to hear that Sharlene made such a positive impression on you and your grandsons. Creating an experience that’s enjoyable for all ages is something we truly value. We appreciate you sharing your experience and hope to welcome you and your family on another tour soon!
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from$39
4.8(106) Free cancellation