The Real S.F. Tour
The Real S.F. Tour
5
This location was reported permanently closed
Full view
About
The Real SF Tour offers 4 incredible tours merging sightseeing and trekking with public transit for the most authentic visitor experience in San Francisco. Part urban adventure, part urban trek, and totally green, The Real SF Tours take you where no other tours can go. You’ll visit enchanted gardens, secret stairways, glorious rooftop views, and some of the city’s coolest neighbourhoods. You’ll be avoiding large crowds of tourists while experiencing the real culture of San Francisco and learning about its rich and storied history. You’ll traverse the city on Cable Cars, Light Rail, and City Buses. You must be able to walk 4 separate uphill 1.5 block sections, there are a total of 6 uphill flights of stairs, and 15 downhill flights of stairs, spread throughout the day. The day encompasses over 5 miles of walking including short uphill sections and hidden stairways that most people find extremely enjoyable. If you do not walk regularly this tour may be more challenging than enjoyable. If you have any difficulty going up and downstairs we do not recommend this tour. Please only wear comfortable closed toe walking shoes. Tours run daily departing from the California St Cable Car turnaround.
Similar Experiences
The Real S.F. Tour
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsContribute
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 waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
844 reviews
Excellent
788
Very good
45
Average
8
Poor
2
Terrible
1
ela127
Toronto, Canada48 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
My (adult) daughter and I took a day tour with Chris in July. It was awesome. We learned a lot, rode local transit, visited local shops, saw major attractions, simply wonderful. Chris did it all in a small boot cast. Chris I wish you a speedy and full recovery and hope to see you back on the circuit soon.
Written 10 November 2017
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.
karenmai2017
London, UK1 contribution
Oct 2017 • Couples
Absolutely fantastic all day walking tour - Kevin was brilliant - knowledgeable and interesting from start to finish - this is the best tour we have ever done - we travelled all over San Fransciso on all modes of transport which we would never have managed to do on our own in 1 day. Cannot recommend this highly enough - we almost didn't do this - but so glad we did - it was the highlight of our trip (3 week tour of America). Thank you so much Kevin for sharing your wonderful City with us - Steve & Karen
Written 23 October 2017
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.
Chris W
Boston, MA8 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
Based on previous reviews we decided to spend a whole day out of 2 in SF doing this tour, and we’re really glad we did! Kevin was our guide and an SF native, and was really great at tailoring the tour to the small group’s various interests. Any time there was a lull, say, waiting for a train, he was able to talk about the history of the area or some interesting fact. He was very skilled at getting us around town on foot and public transit, which was half the fun of the tour. We went to so many neighborhoods so efficiently that it would have been impossible to plan it on our own and get it done in a day. Coffee and lunch breaks were in good locations with lots of options. It was no big deal when we had to leave a bit early either. 100% worth it if you’re up for hopping around on public transit—you will get days’ worth of SF touristing done in one
Written 12 October 2017
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.
Jim O
Nottingham, UK78 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
One of the highlights of our holiday in the Bay Area. This walking tour is the perfect way to get your bearings of the city.
The tour is informative and a lot of fun, using public transport and leg power to explore San Francisco. I would recommend doing the tour on your first day because it does help when you know where each area is in relation to each other. There are regular WC stops and refreshment breaks and the tour is well planned. Would recommend.
The tour is informative and a lot of fun, using public transport and leg power to explore San Francisco. I would recommend doing the tour on your first day because it does help when you know where each area is in relation to each other. There are regular WC stops and refreshment breaks and the tour is well planned. Would recommend.
Written 24 September 2017
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.
Jack
London, UK4 contributions
Apr 2017 • Family
Wow - this tour is a MUST for anybody visiting San Francisco. We were only in the city for three days, but this tour ensured that we were able to visit almost everything the city had to offer. Who knew that it was possible to go to so many neighbourhoods and attractions in just eight hours!? Using public transportation ranging from buses to the subway to trams, we were made to feel like San Francisco natives whilst also limiting the amount of time we spent walking. Unlike other walking tours, this one was not at all tiring. We were given our own space for a break and for lunch, as we were able to eat at any restaurant in the vicinity. Our knowledgeable and cultivated guide, Chris, was fantastic from start to finish.
Written 23 September 2017
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.
Greg K
North Branford, CT2 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
Kevin was our guide and we had the good fortune of being alone on our tour. We visited all of the important SF landmarks as well as many obscure places of interest that we would otherwise have never known about. Kevin, a SF native interspersed his running dialogue with stories of growing up in this great city. The combination of walking and public transportation allowed us to see a great deal of the city in 8 hours. Highly recommend this tour as a great introduction to the city!
Written 13 September 2017
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.
Nicola H
Dubai, United Arab Emirates39 contributions
Sept 2017 • Solo
This 8 hour walking tour is a fantastic way of getting a solid overview of San Francisco. I would recommend it to anyone at the start of their time in the city.
There were ten in our group (the most they will take in a group), of mixed nationalities. Our guide was Nessa, a local girl who clearly loves travel. Oh.... and it was 38 degrees Celsius the day we undertook the tour!
We started the journey on the oldest cable car, and travelled to Nob Hill. Thereafter we went on to see main locations and lesser known local areas, ending in China Town. We did a huge loop around San Francisco walking and using the metro, bus and tram. It gave us a great flavour of this interesting city, and we had some fantastic views of the city, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate.
Given the heat, using public transport was a relief. But even on a cooler day, by using the bus and trains it allows people to concentrate on the history and scenery rather than the exercise.
There were regular rest stops and Nessa gave us some great recommendations where to get food and drink. The tour company provided the travel passes.
Overall this is a well thought out route and well run organisation.
There were ten in our group (the most they will take in a group), of mixed nationalities. Our guide was Nessa, a local girl who clearly loves travel. Oh.... and it was 38 degrees Celsius the day we undertook the tour!
We started the journey on the oldest cable car, and travelled to Nob Hill. Thereafter we went on to see main locations and lesser known local areas, ending in China Town. We did a huge loop around San Francisco walking and using the metro, bus and tram. It gave us a great flavour of this interesting city, and we had some fantastic views of the city, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate.
Given the heat, using public transport was a relief. But even on a cooler day, by using the bus and trains it allows people to concentrate on the history and scenery rather than the exercise.
There were regular rest stops and Nessa gave us some great recommendations where to get food and drink. The tour company provided the travel passes.
Overall this is a well thought out route and well run organisation.
Written 1 September 2017
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.
Milosch02
New York City, NY3 contributions
Aug 2017 • Solo
This was one of the most seamless tours I've been on. We rode on every form of transportation in the city, got great views and just had a wonderful day. The eight hours zoomed by and no one was winded or bored.
Written 29 August 2017
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.
Douglas S
South Hadley, MA71 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
We went on this and really enjoyed it. Chris was a great guide and he was great at answering questions (both on the phone or via emails) before/after we booked it .
Riding all the forms of street cars/trolley cars was a lot of fun. We wanted to take a ride on them while here and by taking this tour we got to do that and not worry about paying the right amount for tickets or passes, that is taken care for you with the metro passes he gives you for the tour. Most of all you see all the special little areas and things you will never get from a bus ride. We initially did the "half day" (which goes from about 8:30 am to 2) but then. We decided to stay for the all day tour do we just had pay $10 difference in the price for all day vs half which was definitely worth it. Walking distance First part of the trip was about 5.5 miles kvia Google fit) and the 2nd added about 2.5 more for a total of 8 miles give or take a half mile I would guess.
Last but not least, we wanted to go on the Alcatraz tour but they were all booked months before. This package has reserved tickets that come with it so you can go. He doesn't charge extra for the alcatraz tickets, same price as if you could buy them direct from the only authorized tour boats that can take folks to the island.
Enjoy!
Riding all the forms of street cars/trolley cars was a lot of fun. We wanted to take a ride on them while here and by taking this tour we got to do that and not worry about paying the right amount for tickets or passes, that is taken care for you with the metro passes he gives you for the tour. Most of all you see all the special little areas and things you will never get from a bus ride. We initially did the "half day" (which goes from about 8:30 am to 2) but then. We decided to stay for the all day tour do we just had pay $10 difference in the price for all day vs half which was definitely worth it. Walking distance First part of the trip was about 5.5 miles kvia Google fit) and the 2nd added about 2.5 more for a total of 8 miles give or take a half mile I would guess.
Last but not least, we wanted to go on the Alcatraz tour but they were all booked months before. This package has reserved tickets that come with it so you can go. He doesn't charge extra for the alcatraz tickets, same price as if you could buy them direct from the only authorized tour boats that can take folks to the island.
Enjoy!
Written 19 August 2017
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.
Kanaschwiiz
Zurich, Switzerland166 contributions
Aug 2017 • Solo
An 8-hour tour? Could have been an ordeal but it was genuinely great - Kevin even prolonged it to 9 hours and it was over too soon. We hopped on and off public transit (giving us some exposure to San Fran natives who were happy to contribute to the tour; our guide Kevin involved and dis-involved them adeptly).
I took a bike tour with a decent guide the next day but the poor thing couldn't hold a candle to Kevin: his knowledge and affection for his home town was memorable.
I took a bike tour with a decent guide the next day but the poor thing couldn't hold a candle to Kevin: his knowledge and affection for his home town was memorable.
Written 12 August 2017
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.
GlenElgin
Bluffton, SC60 contributions
Hi we are going to be in SF Dec 25-29 do you guys run tours over this period? I can not find any dates other than dec 11? Thanks in advance.
Chris C
ccour1048145 contributions
Hi Glen,
Regrettably we are actually winding down operations. We are in the process of updating our listings. Apologies for any inconvenience.
Chris
Simon B
Broxbourne, UK8 contributions
Is this tour available in November? It's currently not possible to book any date in November on the website.
Chris C
ccour1048145 contributions
Hi Simon,
We are working on getting dates up for the next 6 months. We have to work out our staffing for the low season. Those dates should be up sometime in the next two weeks. I hope this helps and we look forward to seeing you.
Thanks
Chris
ferroSingapore
singapore
Hi. My husband(70yo),sister(59yo)& I (64yo) are interested tp join the Classic SF tour. We are healthy and are able to walk the distance. Per your experience, is this tour suitable for us at our ages? Thanks
salem1692
Montreal, Canada4 contributions
Yes! Alot of walking but also alot of street cars, buses and metro. You guys can do it. It is a great experience not to be missed. Enjoy!!
Gilmar R
610 contributions
Good morning, I'll be in SF on May 16th and would like to do this tour. How much? Can I book by phone on the 15th when I arrive in the city?
MMSmall
Los Angeles, CA
where does it meet, where does it end and how long is it? what about inclement weather?
Chris C
ccour1048145 contributions
Hi MM,
Sorry I didn't see this sooner. All of that info is on our website. Please check the site carefully. The Real SF Tour does involve lots of walking. We like to be sure that everybody knows what they are getting into.
Thanks
Chris
rchhuang
Edmonton, Canada
We would like to take this interesting "The Real SF Tour" after we get off the Celebrity Infinity cruise ship on Oct. 6, 2016. The ship will arrive SF 8:00 am and leave next day. Can anyone help us as to (1) do we have enough time to get to the meeting place (the intersection of Market and Drumm Streets) by 9:20 am from the cruise terminal? (2) by what transport mode: transit, street car or bus? (3) How much would it cost if by taxi? Thank you very much.
I would say yes you would have enough time to get there by the meeting time. I'll be honest, I used Uber the entire time in SF and it was always fairly inexpensive..at least way less expensive than using a taxi. If you're docking somewhere along the Embarcadero I'd say between $5-10US. I took the Uber to the hotel they listed on the site and the meeting place is impossible to miss.
starstormWallkill
wallkill131 contributions
If I am not staying in the city, where would I park to get to the beginning of the tour. I see that parking is difficult and not suggested.
Chris C
ccour1048145 contributions
star storm,
I agree with Sammie. Parking is not just difficult but also costly, except on Saturday. There is info about the lot at 250 Clay on our website. Also in general we usually do not end the tour where it begins, so you will have to get yourself there after the tour. It's 2 metro stops or about and additional 10 mins of walking (on flat).
If you are coming from the East Bay or Marin please give 90 mins. If you are coming from San Jose please give 2.5 hours. Cable Cars Depart at 9:28 on weekdays and 9:22 on Saturday and food and coffee are not allowed.
I hope this helps and we look forward to seeing you!!
Chris
Paul S
Nantwich, England, United Kingdom19 contributions
Im going to San Francisco on my own in June, this looks the sort of thing I would really like to do. How do I book this tour - can't see any link on trip advisor
Jana C
Yakima, WA92 contributions
Great tour for a single. Just go to their website and book from there.