When you think of pedestrian cities, places like New York and Chicago come to mind. But did you know that another major American city that has a lot to offer by foot is San Francisco?
Companies like City Guides and Local Food Adventures offer just a couple of the countless walking tours available to San Francisco visitors. It’s a great way to see the city and they come highly recommended.
You’ll see monuments, landmarks, and all the things that make San Francisco, well… San Francisco. Here, we’re exploring all the different ways you can experience a walking tour of San Francisco to help you choose the one that’s right for you.
San Francisco’s most iconic landmark is the Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge opened way back in 1937 and still awe-inspiring today. At the time, it was the world’s largest, tallest suspension bridge and it’s a San Francisco must-see.
During your Golden Gate Bridge walking tour, your guide will share interesting facts about the bridge’s history and a bit of history about the city itself as you come across statues and important areas to the city’s past.
Since you’ll mostly be outdoors for this tour, jackets are advised as the weather can be quite unpredictable. You also won’t want to have too much stuff with you. So, either store your luggage somewhere safe (try searching for left luggage San Francisco) or leave your things at the hotel.
Tour of San Francisco through Food
For many travellers, one of the best parts about experiencing a new city is exploring the food that makes it unique. There are countless walking tours in San Francisco that take you through the city from the perspective of food-lovers and restauranters, past and present.
Some foodie walking tours bring you to various restaurants to learn about the history of each while getting a taste-test and some behind-the-scenes insights. Others are more cumulative where you’ll gain an understanding of San Francisco’s culinary past as a whole.
Still, other walking tours are essentially pub crawls where you tour a handful of local breweries. Most serve food as well which is a good thing. Most of us wouldn’t be able to stand, let alone continue with a walking tour, without something to soak up all the beer.
Walking food tours are an amazing way to explore the various neighbourhoods of San Francisco while also learning about what food is important to the region. You’ll learn a lot and leave with a full belly. So, perhaps you’ll want to skip breakfast!
History of San Francisco on Foot
For all the history buffs out there, a historical walking tour of San Francisco will get you out of the museums and into the streets. San Francisco has such a diverse and interesting history that being there, walking the roads where this history took place, makes it all the more compelling.
Explore Historic Market Street with a walking tour that explores the history of the Gold Rush and how San Francisco’s main road is connected to it all.
Travel back in time to 1906 when a rupture in the San Andreas fault caused mass destruction. See where earthquakes and fires erupted all over San Francisco, which caused much of the city to be turned to rubble.
If film history is more up your alley, take a walking tour to see all the famous backdrops of classic Alfred Hitchcock movies. You might also want to see the house from the Full House television series.
There are walking tours to commemorate many moments in San Francisco’s history and these are only a few examples. What an incredible way to see the city.
Odd Walking Tours of San Francisco
If you’ve ever been to SanFran, you’d know that things can get a little quirky in some areas. Explore these weirder, lesser-known “monuments”, with a more unusual walking tour of the city.
Check out a walking ghost tour to experience San Francisco’s haunted past. Or, let your hippie flag fly as you explore some of the areas that made hippie culture popular in the US. Learn about famous criminals, artists, musicians, and others who once roamed the streets of San Francisco.
You’ll find street art tours, venturing through the city using murals and graffiti as your guide. Or you might meet up with Emporer Norton on his flamboyant, larger-than-life historical tour through San Francisco’s past.
There are so many fun and unexpected ways to see this diverse city by taking a walking tour. You’ll quickly see how San Francisco can give other iconic walking cities a run for their money.
Preparing for Your San Francisco Walking Tour
Before you set off on your walking tour of San Francisco monuments, there are some things you can do to make your experience a lot more enjoyable.
Wear comfortable shoes
Sure, strappy sandals look cute, but they’re not worth the blisters. On a walking tour, sneakers are your best option. They’ll give you arch support and all-day comfort. You may even add some extra insoles if your feet are particularly tender.
Dress appropriately
I mentioned earlier that you should bring a jacket on your walking tour since the weather in San Francisco can be unpredictable. You’ll also want to wear comfortable, breathable clothing. Cotton and activewear are good choices.
Pack lightly
While there are a few things you’ll want to have with you like your camera, water, and your wallet, it’s important to pack lightly. If you have a backpack filled to the brim with stuff, you’re just asking for an aching back by the end of it. If you don’t have a secure place to stash your extra stuff, find a local luggage storage shop before you hit the sidewalk.
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Clare
Hi, I'm Clare (Emmy's Mummy). A former Nanny and Mother of 2 - Emmy (born February 2010) and Harry (born October 2012). We are Essex based and share our adventures and misadventures of a busy crazy life.
