San Francisco City Guides
San Francisco City Guides
5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view

About
City Guides are local volunteers who love the city, lore and legends and they will share it all with you--for free. There is a large selection of tours available all over town and lasting 90 minutes to 2 hours. Note that currently we are offering limited tours with the safety of our guests and guides in mind. Please refer to our website and review our safety guidelines.
San Francisco, California
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,671 reviews
Excellent
1,575
Very good
81
Average
9
Poor
3
Terrible
7
Eterion
Newport Beach, CA341 contributions
Jan 2025 • Solo
This was my first time taking a walking tour, much less first time in San Francisco's Chinatown - during a short trip I took this past weekend. I heard many great things about SF City Guides, so was excited to set aside some time to take my first walking tour while also learning a bit more about the history behind "the oldest Chinatown outside of China".
We had a relatively large tour group of about 20 or so participants, and our amazingly awesome tour guide was Richard L. - who mentioned he was raised near the Chinatown here, and was intimately familiar with many origins and tales linked to the area.
Our group met at Portsmouth Square - which a colorful block that is basically the community hub for Chinatown seniors - especially since many of them live in very small spaces (as explained by our wonderful tour guide). We moved to several different points of interest throughout the nearly two hour tour - but it never really felt that long to begin with - since Richard was fully engaging with his enthusiastic storytelling and the different types of "teaching aids" he had with him. In addition to a very detailed binder full of photos, he also had a joss stick fortune telling device, as well as two wooden moon shaped trinkets (I forgot the name) - which he demonstrated the use of when we were in front of the Ma Hsu Temple.
Having never taken a walking tour of this length before, and with no other experience to compare it to - I have to say, that RIchard L. is definitely among the best tour guides. He came prepared, was very engaging, and definitely knew his stuff about the area. We covered things like Chinese herbal medicine (along with tales of Chinatown's first millionaire), to opium alley, to tales of less-than-desirable/sadder parts of Chinatown in the past. It never sounded like he was speaking from a script - as demonstrated by his confident answers to some of the questions that our tour group asked. I also appreciate his use of a voice amplifier - helps ensure he is clear and easy to hear.
One thing to note - SF City Guides tour guides are entirely volunteer based. The tour guides are volunteers and do not accept tips. There is no charge to attend any of their tours (space limited, reservations required) - there is a $20 donation (either cash or online) if you feel inclined to - and the donation is really worth the cost of the tour.
We had a relatively large tour group of about 20 or so participants, and our amazingly awesome tour guide was Richard L. - who mentioned he was raised near the Chinatown here, and was intimately familiar with many origins and tales linked to the area.
Our group met at Portsmouth Square - which a colorful block that is basically the community hub for Chinatown seniors - especially since many of them live in very small spaces (as explained by our wonderful tour guide). We moved to several different points of interest throughout the nearly two hour tour - but it never really felt that long to begin with - since Richard was fully engaging with his enthusiastic storytelling and the different types of "teaching aids" he had with him. In addition to a very detailed binder full of photos, he also had a joss stick fortune telling device, as well as two wooden moon shaped trinkets (I forgot the name) - which he demonstrated the use of when we were in front of the Ma Hsu Temple.
Having never taken a walking tour of this length before, and with no other experience to compare it to - I have to say, that RIchard L. is definitely among the best tour guides. He came prepared, was very engaging, and definitely knew his stuff about the area. We covered things like Chinese herbal medicine (along with tales of Chinatown's first millionaire), to opium alley, to tales of less-than-desirable/sadder parts of Chinatown in the past. It never sounded like he was speaking from a script - as demonstrated by his confident answers to some of the questions that our tour group asked. I also appreciate his use of a voice amplifier - helps ensure he is clear and easy to hear.
One thing to note - SF City Guides tour guides are entirely volunteer based. The tour guides are volunteers and do not accept tips. There is no charge to attend any of their tours (space limited, reservations required) - there is a $20 donation (either cash or online) if you feel inclined to - and the donation is really worth the cost of the tour.
Written January 21, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ariane L
1 contribution
Sep 2024 • Solo
The guide was very experienced - knows the neighborhood very well. The way she told us about buildings, architecture, history of SF, even funny anecdotes, was awesome!
And she even gave us a sheet with historical dates (and listing of cafés and restaurants near by) at the end!
The idea that well-trained citizens are volunteering as wellinformed guides and hosts of their city is so inspiring for me as a guest coming from Europe. And they are offering it without a fix price - one is asked to make a donation.
I will do another tour at the Weekend and can highly recommend the San Francisco City Guides (btw: I was the only tourist in our group - so it is also very interesting for people living here)
And she even gave us a sheet with historical dates (and listing of cafés and restaurants near by) at the end!
The idea that well-trained citizens are volunteering as wellinformed guides and hosts of their city is so inspiring for me as a guest coming from Europe. And they are offering it without a fix price - one is asked to make a donation.
I will do another tour at the Weekend and can highly recommend the San Francisco City Guides (btw: I was the only tourist in our group - so it is also very interesting for people living here)
Written September 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reita F
7 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
We went on 3 different City Guides tours and enjoyed them all. They are an incredible service that is run with mostly volunteers and cost nothing to attend. They do request donations but it is not a pushy request by any standard. The guides are very clear that any donations go exclusively running the program and do not go the guides as tips. They truly want to be there and are well trained and knowledgeable. The cable car walk had the largest attendance. Our guide used a microphone so everyone could hear everything clearly. She had a binder that contained support materials containing mostly historic photos. What was really fascinating was when she passed around a segment of cable for us all to inspect. Most of the tour is walking downhill so inclines are not really an issue. At the end of the tour an empty cable car was coming out of the stable and stopped so that a group photo could be taken before it went along into service. After our tour she emailed everyone the photos. Very neat!
Written September 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eileen N
2 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
We thoroughly enjoyed our cable car tour. Our guide Kenn was so knowledgeable and interesting that we would highly recommend the tour to anyone, even if you only had the slightest interest in SF cable cars. For nearly two hours he filled every minute with just the level of detail that we hated to move to the next tidbit. He supplemented his info with great pictures of the past that made everything so believable and yet remarkable. He even took a couple pictures of our group in front of a passing cable car at the end of the tour and emailed the pictures to us. We were sent a welcoming email the night before our tour with when and where to meet, and because we were interested in another of Kenn’s offerings, he sent us a personal email directed to us with our group picture. We have liked each of the numerous City Guide tours we have taken, but we have never had a more enthusiastic guide who communicated his stories as well as Kenn!
Written October 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gricelia G
2 contributions
Sep 2024 • Solo
I recently embarked on a captivating walking tour of South Park with San Francisco City Guides, expertly led by the incomparable David M. As a local, I thought I knew the neighborhood, but David's vast knowledge revealed hidden gems and surprising facts that left me amazed.
David M.'s gentle nature and warm smile made the tour a delight, as he patiently answered my numerous questions and shared insights that brought the area's history and culture to life. His expertise shone through in every story and anecdote, showcasing his passion for San Francisco.
In just 90 mins, David M. taught me over 30 fascinating tidbits about South Park that I never knew existed! From architectural secrets to historical events, his depth of knowledge was stunning. David's ability to weave complex narratives into engaging, bite-sized bits made the tour both entertaining and informative.
If you're looking for a truly immersive San Francisco experience, look no further than San Francisco City Guides and David M. He's the perfect ambassador for this charming neighborhood, and I wholeheartedly recommend his tours to locals and visitors alike!
Kudos to David M. and San Francisco City Guides for an unforgettable adventure!
With my deepest gratitude, “G”
David M.'s gentle nature and warm smile made the tour a delight, as he patiently answered my numerous questions and shared insights that brought the area's history and culture to life. His expertise shone through in every story and anecdote, showcasing his passion for San Francisco.
In just 90 mins, David M. taught me over 30 fascinating tidbits about South Park that I never knew existed! From architectural secrets to historical events, his depth of knowledge was stunning. David's ability to weave complex narratives into engaging, bite-sized bits made the tour both entertaining and informative.
If you're looking for a truly immersive San Francisco experience, look no further than San Francisco City Guides and David M. He's the perfect ambassador for this charming neighborhood, and I wholeheartedly recommend his tours to locals and visitors alike!
Kudos to David M. and San Francisco City Guides for an unforgettable adventure!
With my deepest gratitude, “G”
Written September 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joan V
The Netherlands27 contributions
Jan 2025 • Solo
I learned about the history of my neighborhood which goes back to the 1850s. Very informative and insightful. There are over 80 different City Guide walks so if you are interested in the rich history and sites af the beautiful City of San Francisco I highly recommend one.
Written January 12, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bernadette H
Pacifica, CA2 contributions
Jul 2024 • Friends
The Architecture Tour of Downtown SF was excellent, the best SF City Guides Tour I’ve experienced thus far (& I’ve been on about 10). Our tour guide Edward O., was knowledgeable, sharing a great depth of information while being personable & aware of our safety in the busy surroundings. As a native San Franciscan, I learned so much about buildings I’ve walked or driven by many times, that frankly I didn’t even notice before. We viewed buildings’ exteriors and entered into some amazing lobbies that were surprisingly open to the public. This was such an eye-opening tour. I’m looking forward to sharing what I learned with my family and friends when we’re in the area again. I appreciate the sheet of outlined notes that Edward provided, which included the key concepts, terms and facts that he presented. Thank you Edward, the SF City Guides program, and the SF Public Library System for providing such wonderful free tours to the public. Donations are accepted to keep the program running. I highly encourage all to signup for this (and other interesting) tours and to support the program.
Written July 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janis L
Tiburon, CA197 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
My husband, my daughter and I booked the SF City Guides "Murals of the Mission" earlier this week. We are Bay Area residents and love the many walking tours offered daily by the SF Library system. Our guide was Renee who obviously knew lots about the history of the murals we were seeing, but as a neighborhood resident was passionate about her topic and presentation. The art was amazing and the history behind it was inspiring. Though we've done many SF City Guides tours over the years, my husband said that this was his favorite. It's among mine too, but the diversity of the tours, topics and the knowledge of the guides makes it hard to rank any one above another. We always recommend these walking tours to friends, guests and family who visit the Bay Area. It's a great way to get up close and personal with SF while always learning something of interest!
Written November 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ams44
New Jersey608 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
Very interesting and informative tour. Guide was very knowledgeable and courteous. She also was fully self-aware and made sure she was loud enough for everyone to hear even on city streets. Tour was free but donations were requested (in order to keep tours ongoing).
Written April 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Voyager137494
San Francisco, CA5 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
As a San Franciscan resident (plus born and raised here), I recently discovered San Francisco City Tours, and wow, I'm so impressed and HIGHLY recommend it to San Francisco residents and tourists!
I and the others in our group had Dennis as our Tour Guide for Billionaires Row, and it was so much fun to learn about the history behind Billionaires Row and many of the houses there. We met the CEO of Zynga as he was returning home from his bike ride....we were standing in front of his gate, blocking him from getting home. But he was so lovely and gracious and shared several minutes chatting with us!
I've since signed up for more tours with SF City Guide. Even though I'm a lifelong San Franciscan, I'm finding there is so much to learn that I didn't know about so much about my city. And they're fun!!
I and the others in our group had Dennis as our Tour Guide for Billionaires Row, and it was so much fun to learn about the history behind Billionaires Row and many of the houses there. We met the CEO of Zynga as he was returning home from his bike ride....we were standing in front of his gate, blocking him from getting home. But he was so lovely and gracious and shared several minutes chatting with us!
I've since signed up for more tours with SF City Guide. Even though I'm a lifelong San Franciscan, I'm finding there is so much to learn that I didn't know about so much about my city. And they're fun!!
Written October 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What was the name of the tour.? And the tour guide's name was Filip?
Written September 12, 2024
it was a tour of the Japanese tea garden in golden gate park and our tour guide was named eric
Written November 18, 2024
Hi, we are visiting San Francisco for the first time in June and was wondering which city tour would be the best do for our first time. Thank you in advance.
Written April 23, 2023
San Francisco City Guides are great. You will find the meeting place is different for each tour so it depends on which one you sign up for. We loved the Art Deco tour but if you want something more comprehensive you might look at the on and off bus tour that leaves from Union Square or download or find a copy of the Barbary Coast Tour that is self guided. You will find medallions in the sidewalk and you can read the info that you downloaded. The Barbary Coast is old San Francisco, so think history buffs.
Written September 13, 2024
Buonasera, sarò a San Francisco ad aprile con i miei figli di 9 e 11 anni, vorrei sapere per fafvore se le guide parlano anche italiano o francese. Grazie anticipatamente
Written January 22, 2019
SFCityGuides
San Francisco, California
Hi, sorry I’m late with this response and and not able to respond in Italian. As far as I know, we don’t have any Italian or French speaking tours. Hopefully, we can expand our tours in the future to include these languages. Again, many apologies.
Ciao, scusate sono in ritardo con questa risposta e non sono in grado di rispondere in italiano. Per quanto ne so, non abbiamo tour in italiano o francese. Speriamo di poter espandere i nostri tour in futuro per includere queste lingue. Ancora una volta, molte scuse.
Written May 12, 2019
Where do the tours meet?
Where can I find a list and explanation of each tour?
Written September 19, 2017
SFCityGuides
San Francisco, California
Hello!
SF City Guides offers over 60 different walking tours, all of which meet in the specific neighborhood that you will be learning about.
See a complete listing of our walks at our website by googling: San Francisco City Guides
You can also contact the office at: 415-557-4266
Written September 20, 2017
Meine Frau und ich sind 3 Tage in SF, vom 15. bis zum 17. November 2017. Ist es korrekt, dass auf deutsch geführte walking touren kostenlos angeboten werden? An wen müssen wir uns wenden und wie lange im Voraus sollten wir buchen?
Written September 7, 2017
For the English tours, you just show up at the meeting place that is listed for that walking tour. No reservations needed. At the end they pass around a yellow envelope and you put in what you want to give them for the tour. The guides do not keep the money. The money goes to the organization which is affiliated with the San Francisco library.
Written September 8, 2017
I am disabled and need the assistance of a rollator and sometimes a scooter, depending on my level of pain that day. Can any of the walks accommodate handicapped?
Written July 5, 2017
I would call them and ask them which tours might be good for you.
Written July 6, 2017
I'm travelling with my husband and our 2 teenagers in march next year, I've been told there is lots of homeless and drug use on the streets, is this corrrect? And also where is the best district to stay. Thanks in advance
Written December 10, 2016
There are lots of homeless but for the most part they don't bother the tourist to much. I took a tour that started on the steps of the library, the guide pointed out all the used needles between the concrete steps. With that info, we all watched where we stepped. A mobile shower was also there and most the homeless were busy cleaning up. I wouldn't stay near the civic center area if I could help it. We stayed at the Fairmont on Nobhill. It was beautiful but that uphill climb was tough, took the cable car often instead of walking, and I like to walk.
Written December 10, 2016
El próximo agosto vamos a estar 3 días en San Francisco, me gustaría saber desde donde salen los tours y la hora de partida, y si hay varios recorridos
Written October 6, 2015
Buenos días, en agosto próximo, vamos a viajar a San Francisco y vamos a estar 3 días, me pueden decir desde donde salen los tours y la hora de comienzo y si hay varios recorridos. Un saludo
Written October 6, 2015
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