• Insider's Guide
    to San Francisco

Welcome to our San Francisco Insider Guide.

Hello and welcome to our exclusive guide to some of City Segway's favorite sights, eats, and spots in the city! We're a company built by travelers - just like you. Regardless if you're brand new to San Francisco or frequent the City by the Bay, after all of the planning, time, and effort spent on getting here, enjoying your time in San Francisco should be the easy part. That's where we come in.

Whether it be creating the ultimate Private Tour along the waterfront for you and your family or pointing you in the direction of our favorite new restaurant, we are so passionate about sharing the best of the city we love with our guests, and have been doing so for years.

  • San Francisco Bucket List
  • Attractions
  • Restaurants
  • Outdoor Activities
  • Day Trips from San Francisco
  • Transportation Guide

San Francisco Bucket List

Attractions

Restaurants

Outdoor Activities

Day Trips from San Francisco

Transportation Guide

 

Ultimate San Francisco Bucket List

Bike Across the Golden Gate Bridge

  • Offering much more than a quick view through a speeding car window, cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge is the best way to experience this landmark at your own pace.
  • Tip: Enjoy lunch just across the bridge in Sausalito, and then take the scenic ferry back to the city with your bike – no need to ride back across!

Try a sourdough bread bowl at Boudin Bakery

  • From their classic clam-chowder bread bowl to their more adventurous sourdough tacos, Boudin is the original sourdough spot in San Francisco.
  • Fun Fact: All of Boudin's sourdough is made from the same yeast culture, or "mother dough" that Isidore Boudin perfected all the way back during the Gold Rush in 1849.
  • Tour Option: Our Day Segway Tour swings by the bakery so be sure to ask your guide what their favorite bread option is! 

Visit a hole-in-the-wall Mission District taqueria

  • The debate rages among San Francisco resident as to who has the best burrito, but it's difficult to go wrong with any of the local taquerias in the ultra-hip Mission District.
  • Some of the most popular taquerias inclue La Taqueria, El Farolito, and La Cumbre, the latter being the home of the original Mission-style burrito since 1972.

Walk the halls of Alcatraz

Sip a glass of Northern California wine

  • A short drive north of San Francisco will bring you to the wine country of Napa and Sonoma, where the hustle and bustle of the city seems a world away.
  • Swing by a couple of the numerous wineries scattered throughout Napa and Sonoma counties, or visit world-class restaurants like the French Laundry in Yountville.
  • Good to know: Due to Napa County law, wineries there are only allowed to offer small samples instead of full glasses of wine on site.

 

Attractions

Whether it's art, architecture, gritty history, live sports, or just about anything else, there's something for everybody in San Francisco. We've listed some of our favorite museums and monuments for you to check out while you're in town, as well as San Francisco's beloved baseball park. 

 

Palace of Fine Arts

Entrance fee: Free
Closest Public Transport Stop: MUNI 30-Stockton Bus
The only remaining building from the Panama-Pacific Expo of 1915, the Palace of Fine Arts now serves as a theater, event venue, and park for all to enjoy.
We glide right to the Palace of Fine Arts on our Day Segway Tour and Alcatraz Island Segway Tour Combo.

Coit Tower

Entrance fee: $8.00 for adults, $5 for seniors ($65+), $5 for youths (12-17), $2 for children(5-11), children 4 & under are free. 
Closest Public Transport Stop: MUNI 39-Coit Bus
The observation deck of Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill offers a panoramic view of the Golden Gate, downtown San Francisco, and the bay. 
We don't enter the tower on any of our tours, however our Segway Experience Tour and Sunset Segway Tour offer great views of the tower and will help you get your bearings on the area should you choose to return and to go the top!

Alcatraz Island

Entrance fee: $33.00 for adults (12-61)
Closest Public Transport Stop: MUNI F-Market & Wharves, E-Embarcadero Streetcar
This infamous prison was once a place that nobody wanted to visit, but now Alcatraz is the hottest ticket in town. Tickets regularly sell out weeks in advance, so make sure to book your Alcatraz/Segway Tour Combo early!
We offer an Alcatraz Island & Segway Tour Combo as well as an Alcatraz Island & Sunset Segway Tour Combo package. 

Golden Gate Bridge

Entrance fee: $33.00 for adults (12-61)
Closest Public Transport Stop: MUNI 28-19th Ave Bus
Originally considered an eyesore that ruined residents' view of the Golden Gate, the bridge is now San Francisco's most iconic landmark.
All of our tours include stunning views of the most famous bridge in the world!

AT&T Park

Entrance fee: Ticket prices vary
Closest Public Transport Stop: MUNI N-Judah Tram, E-Embarcadero Streetcar
Situated right next to the bay, AT&T Park is the home to San Francisco's beloved Giants baseball team and is rated one of the best ballparks in all of Major League Baseball.

de Young Museum

Entrance fee: $10.00 for adults, $7.00 for seniors (65+), $6.00 for youths (13-17) and college students with valid ID, children (12 & under) and active military servicemembers are free.
Closest Public Transport Stop: MUNI N-Judah Tram, E-Embarcadero Streetcar
Part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the de Young houses art from the Americas, Africa, and the Pacific. The observation deck is one of the main attractions of this museum, offering sweeping views of the city from the heart of Golden Gate Park.

Japanese Tea Garden

Entrance fee: $8.00 for adults, $6 for seniors (65+) and youths (12-17).
Closest Public Transport Stop: MUNI N-Judah Tram
This garden oasis in Golden Gate Park includes traditional Japanese features ranging from koi ponds to a Zen garden. It's also where the fortune cookie was first served in the United States!

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Entrance fee: $25.00 for adults, $22 for seniors (65+), $19 for young adults (19-24), 18 & under are free.
Closest Public Transport Stop: 
The SF Museum of Modern Art features more than 33,000 pieces in its cutting-edge expansion opened in May 2016.

 

Restaurants

San Francisco boasts cuisine from just about every corner of the world, with Mexican and Italian being the classic staples. In addition to those traditional favorites, San Francisco is also one of the top dining destinations in the world, with progressive eateries and drinking establishments galore.  

ON A BUDGET
Under $20 per meal 

La Taqueria

2889 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
The most popular spot in town for a Mission-style burrito.

Molinari

373 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
Old-school Italian deli serving sandwiches and antipasto. "Take a number!"

Tony's Pizza Napoletana

1570 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Gourmet pizza served on your choice of 5 distinct types of crusts.

 

FINER DINING
Over $20 per meal 

Nopa

560 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Haute takes on American classics, along with a full bar and late-night hours.

Scoma's

1965 Al Scoma Way, San Francisco, CA 94133
Fresh seafood served directly from Scoma's pier to the plate.

House of Prime Rib

1906 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94109
Iconic restaurant known for English-style prime rib and martinis.

COCKTAIL BARS
Unique and expertly crafted cocktails for you to sip on

Comstock Saloon

155 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
Vintage cocktails served in an upscale, turn-of-the-century atmosphere.

Hard Water

Pier 3, San Francisco, CA 94105
Elevated southern bar fare and vast American whiskey selection on the waterfront.

 

Outdoor Activities

The great outdoors are never too far away in San Francisco--beaches, canyons, mountains, and lakes can all be found within the city limits. The distinct geography and characteristics of each neighborhood makes each one seem like a totally different town.   

Dolores Park

  • Located in the Mission on a hill with a breathtaking view of the city and sheltered from the chilly ocean breeze, Dolores Park is a popular spot for a picnic and people-watching.
  • In addition to being a place to relax, Dolores Park has tennis and dodgeball courts, as well as a large children's playground.

Land's End

  • The northwest corner of San Francisco feels about as remote as its name suggests, with unspoiled woods, hiking trails, and rocky beaches.
  • The main attraction at Land's End is the stone labyrinth, located on a windswept cliff with fantastic views of the Golden Gate.

Haight-Ashbury

  • Famous (or infamous) as the birthplace of the 1960s hippie counterculture movement, there are still plenty of characters to be found out and about in the Haight.
  • Haight Street is lined with a variety of shops, offering vintage clothing, vinyl records, hippie accoutrements, and much more.

Muir Woods

  • Located just a short drive north of San Francisco, Muir Woods National Monument allows visitors to wander among California's famous redwood trees.
  • Muir Woods is located near Mount Tamalpais State Park, Muir Beach, and Stinson Beach for even more outdoor adventures.
  • No reservations are required, but there is an entrance fee: $10.00 for adults 16 and up, children 15 and under are free

Baker Beach

  • Shielded from the brisk ocean winds that whip across most of San Francisco's Pacific coastline, Baker Beach is a great spot to spend an oceanside afternoon.
  • This area offers a unique view of the Golden Gate Bridge in a more natural setting, which is especially breathtaking as the sun begins to set.
  • We like Baker Beach's view of the Golden Gate so much, we feature it on the back of our City Segway Tours San Francisco t-shirts!

 

Day Trips from San Francisco

As amazing as San Francisco is, no trip is complete without exploring a little further afield. Within a days' drive from the city you'll find national parks, amazing wineries, ski resorts, scenic highways, and much more.  

Yosemite National Park

Distance from San Francisco: 165 miles east; 3.5-hour drive
Highlights: Half Dome, El Capitan, Glacier Point, Tunnel View, Yosemite Falls

  • Located in the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Yosemite is the third-most visited National Park in the United States.
  • Camping is available, though during the summertime sites can book up weeks or even months in advance.

Wine Country

Distance from San Francisco: 45 miles north; 1-hour drive
Highlights: Larson Family Winery, The French Laundry, Sterling Winery, Sonoma Raceway

  • Though Northern California's renowned wine country is just a short drive from San Francisco, it feels a world apart. 

Big Sur

Distance from San Francisco: 140 miles south; 3-hour drive
Highlights: Bixby Bridge, Henry Miller Memorial Library, Pfeiffer Beach

  • Big Sur is arguably the most scenic stretch of California's famed Highway 1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway
  • With winding roads and breathtaking overlooks at seemingly every turn, Big Sur is both a driver's and photographer's dream.
  • Writers such as Henry Miller and Jack Kerouac both retired to Big Sur, and Henry Miller's Memorial Library makes a great pit stop while driving through.

Lake Tahoe

Distance from San Francisco: 200 miles northeast; 3.5-hour drive
Highlights: Emerald Bay State Park, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Donner Memorial State Park

  • The largest alpine lake in North America, Lake Tahoe is a popular year-round destination for outdoor activities including skiing, rafting, and mountain biking.

Point Reyes National Seashore

Distance from San Francisco: 40 miles northwest; 1-hour drive
Highlights: Point Reyes Lighthouse, Hog Island Oyster Co., Blue Water Kayak Tours

  • This park preserve is home to some of the most pristine coastline in California.
  • Among the wildlife visible in the preserve are elephant seals, tule elk and even gray whales during certain times of the year.

 

Transportation Guide

Getting around San Francisco is a breeze! Once you've experienced the city's famous cable cars, more modern modes of transportation are available in the form of taxis, ride-sharing, buses, and rapid transit train lines.  

BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT (BART)

BART is the Bay Area's regional equivalent of the subway or metro. 

  • Both the San Francisco and Oakland airports are accessible by BART.
  • There are a number of stations in San Francisco, mostly along Market Street and in the Mission.
  • The cost varies based on destination
  • Plan your journey here or here.

MUNICIPAL RAILWAY (MUNI)

MUNI is the Bus, Tram, and Streetcar line within the city of San Francisco.

  • You can purchase one-way, roundtrip, multi-ride, daily, or weekly MUNI passes at any Walgreens location in San Francisco.
  • Each fare of $2.25 is good for unlimited travels for 1.5 hours.
  • Exact-change cash payment is accepted on any MUNI vehicle, but change cannot be issued on board.
  • Plan your journey here or here.

TAXI & RIDESHARING OPTIONS

Taxis

  • Hailing a taxi is easy in busy areas like Fisherman's Wharf and Union Square, but with the Flywheel app you can request a taxi much like requesting and Uber or Lyft.

Uber & Lyft

  • These popular ridesharing services are a great way to get around San Francisco, as driving and parking a vehicle in the city can be very difficult and time-consuming. You can use either company's app to request a ride anywhere in town. Download Uber here, Lyft here.
  • If you're not in too much of a rush, use Uber Pool or Lyft Line to share a ride with others along your route and save big on your fare.

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