A sailboat passes in front of Alcatraz Island in San Francisco.
Alcatraz Island is one of San Francisco's most iconic sights.

Find the Perfect Boat Tour in San Francisco

Whether you're here for history or just want some fresh air, there are boat tours for every type of visitor. Experience SF views on the water!

Easy Breezy

Red & White Fleet 

Pier 43 1/2 

If you want to see the highlights, try Red & White Fleet. Their one-hour Golden Gate Bay Cruise, which has frequent departure times, is a good baseline package. The longer Bridge 2 Bridge Cruise offers a little more bang for your buck, as it takes visitors under both the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, and past landmarks such as Coit Tower and Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. For something a little more relaxing, you can enjoy spectacular views of the bay and the San Francisco skyline, accompanied by live music, drinks, and light appetizers, on the Red & White Fleet's California Sunset Cruise.

Purchase Evening Sunset Cruise

Purchase Golden Gate Bay Cruise

Purchase Bridge 2 Bridge Cruise

 

Blue & Gold Fleet 

PIER 39 

There's a lot to experience in San Francisco, so why not make the most of your time? To pack in as much as possible, use Blue & Gold Fleet. Their hour-long Bay Cruise will sail you past the shoreline, offering dramatic views of the city to one side and the rolling hills of Marin County to the other. Their longer Escape from the Rock tour gives you all that, as well as taking you under the Golden Gate Bridge and around "The Rock." All tours feature narration from guides available in multiple languages.

Purchase Escape From the Rock Cruise

Purchase San Francisco Bay Cruise

Custom Creations

California Spirit and The Diamond Seas

Bet you didn't know that you could get out on the water with the San Francisco Giants, did you? These two yacht options, perfect for a private experience on the water, come courtesy of Giants Enterprises. The 100-foot yacht California Spirit offers sleek and modern interiors and can cruise onto the open ocean. The 80-foot motor yacht The Diamond Seas offers a more intimate experience, with a capacity for 12 people, but with the same charter route availability on the bay.

Purchase your Cruise

 

Adventure Cat Sailing Charters

PIER 39

If you desire a more custom tour experience, Adventure Cat might be right for you. Offering small tours on their catamaran, your trip with Adventure Cat can be easily customized to your wishes. In addition to the main sights, you'll be able to get up close and personal with the sea lions at PIER 39. If you're lucky, you might even appear on the Jumbotron at Oracle Park!

Purchase a Sunset Catamaran Cruise

Purchase a San Francisco Bay Cruise

 

Bay Lights Charters

Pier 40

Bay Lights Charters is another customizable tour operator on the water. Their historic 72-foot schooner Gas Light is a peek into San Francisco history. Although it is outfitted in luxurious trappings, this ship is fashioned after the "scow" schooners that sailed during San Francisco's boom from the mid-to-late 1800s.

Purchase your Cruise

San Francisco Whale Tours 

PIER 39

Nature lovers can also charter ships for private whale-watching excursions. Both S.F. Bay Whale Watching and San Francisco Whale Tours offer private wildlife-viewing voyages beyond the Golden Gate, where you might find elephant seals, dolphins, porpoises, and sea bird colonies in addition to sightings of blue, humpback, and gray whales.

Purchase your San Francisco Whale Tours Cruise

Unique Excursions

City Kayak 

Pier 40

Want to steer your own ship? City Kayak offers you the chance to rent kayaks, canoes, and even paddleboards. Instructors and guides can accompany you on established routes around the bay or create customizable journeys for you.

Purchase your City Kayak Adventure

Alcatraz Cruises

Pier 33

Of course, where else but San Francisco can you cruise to a former prison and take a tour inside? It might be our most popular attraction, but there's no denying that a cruise to Alcatraz is about as unique as it gets! With Alcatraz Cruises, you'll combine a cruise with a walking tour of the legendary landmark. Park rangers lead you from the pier to a tour of the former jailhouse, with a supplementary audio guide (available in 11 languages).

Purchase your Alcatraz Cruise


Aaron Danzig
Aaron Danzig

Aaron is the Manager of Digital & Social Media Marketing at San Francisco Travel. He has lived in San Francisco for over 9 years and has worked in Travel & Tourism for over 7 of those. He is usually exploring the Bay Area hunting for that new and unique experience and good food too!