San Francisco Self-Guided Audio Drive: Explore at Your Own Pace

Duration3h - 4h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Explore all that San Francisco has to offer, from the twists and turns of Lombard Street, through the bustling streets of Chinatown, and to the top of Telegraph Hill! This comprehensive self-guided audio tour of San Francisco covers everything from the Painted Ladies to the Golden Gate Bridge. This self-guided driving tour allows you to explore San Francisco with maximum flexibility and value.

Purchase one tour per car. Everyone can listen at the same time!

After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.

New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

What's included

Just bring your car and phone; the app guides your tour.
Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
Private tour experience for your family, in your own car.
Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.
One purchase covers everyone in your car, not per person.
Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.
Access your tour in our separate audio tour app after booking.
Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.

No live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.

What to expect

Painted Ladies
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Our San Francisco exploration begins at one of the city's most iconic stops: the Painted Ladies! As we drive past, we'll admire these striking buildings and learn about how they came to be painted in such vivid colors. As we continue driving, we'll dive into what makes SF the city that it is: its past, its present, and the promise of its future.

NOTE: The tour is over 17 miles long, with more than 43 audio stories, and takes about 3-4 hours to complete.

New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
San Francisco City Hall
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Our drive through San Francisco brings us past a magnificent marble building: the San Francisco City Hall! As we drive, we'll learn all about how this city was founded and why it grew.
Lombard Street
10m

Next, our SF tour brings us to the famous Lombard Street. For one block, this road turns into the “most crooked street in the world!” You’ll make EIGHT hairpin turns within that one block! Drive carefully!
Telegraph Hill
10m

Next, we'll head up one of SF's famous hills: There’s a phenomenal view of the bay and of the city skyline once you’re up there.
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We'll climb to the top of Coit Tower and get a great look at San Francisco from above. As we get back to the tour and continue driving, we'll learn all about the city's rapid real estate growth and the housing crisis it currently faces.
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Our tour of SF brings us to one of the city's most active neighborhoods: Chinatown. As we drive, we'll learn all about the impact of Chinese and Asian immigrants on San Francisco.
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As we drive towards Chinatown, we'll pass a strange sight: a huge, glass pyramid. We'll learn all about this building's strange history as we pass.
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Next, we'll see two iconic symbols of San Francisco's Chinatown: the Chinatown Mural and the Old Chinese Telephone Exchange.
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We'll then be able to jump out of the car for an optional walk around this bustling neighborhood, exploring its vast selection of foods, drinks, and desserts.
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We'll exit SF's Chinatown through the Dragon's Gate. As we drive, we'll learn about another iconic San Francisco feature: the cable car!
Dragon's Gate
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The Dragon Gate is a south-facing gate at the intersection of Bush Street and Grant Avenue, marking a southern entrance to San Francisco's Chinatown, in the U.S. state of California.
The Embarcadero
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As we make our way to the waterfront, we'll dive into San Francisco's maritime history... and its (literal) gold-digging past. This will finally bring us to the Embarcadero. From here, we can explore the wonders of the nearby Ferry Building or make our way to Fisherman's Wharf for a glimpse of the infamous Alcatraz!
5m

Embark on this iconic trip over San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge from the Embarcadero at either the Ferry Building or Fisherman's Wharf. As we follow the waterfront, we'll learn all about "the most famous bridge in the world" and how it almost didn't exist!
Union Square
10m

Nestled in the heart of San Francisco, Union Square stands as a historic beacon, echoing tales of yesteryears. A fusion of art and flair, this vibrant epicenter boasts iconic landmarks, from its famous Dewey Monument to the surrounding theaters that have entertained generations. With a plethora of upscale shops, art galleries, and bustling cafes, it’s more than just a square—it's a cultural melting pot, reflecting the city's rich tapestry of innovation and tradition.
Fisherman’s Wharf
10m

As we turn the corner along the waterfront, we'll catch our first glimpse of SF's Golden Gate Bridge. We'll learn all about the money problems, construction problems, aesthetic problems, engineering problems, creative problems, and even life-endangering problems that this bridge overcame.
Crissy Field
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We'll pause at Crissy Field for phenomenal views of the Golden Gate Bridge. During this break, we'll understand why this "golden" bridge is red, what it's massively popular opening week was like, and how it's a modern marvel of transportation today.
Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center
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Now it's time to actually cross over the bridge! We'll pass the Golden Gate Welcome Center on our way over, learning all about this bridge's epic construction history. As we cross, we'll also understand why this is a favorite setpiece for Hollywood!
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The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a modern and contemporary art museum located in San Francisco, California. A nonprofit organization, SFMOMA holds an internationally recognized collection of modern and contemporary art, and was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th-century art.
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San Francisco is a technology hub without rivals, and the upcoming Uber and Twitter headquarters prove it! As we drive through the city, we'll learn all about San Francisco's relationship with technology, Silicon Valley, and more.
Golden Gate View Point
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Our scenic tour towards, and across, SF's Golden Gate Bridge ends on the other side, at the Golden Gate View Point.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Start on Steiner St at Alamo Square Park, San Francisco. This is the suggested starting point; we’re not affiliated with nearby businesses, and their staff won’t have tour info. The audio starts automatically—check your email/text for setup (best done on Wi-Fi). Valid forever.

End point

Additional information

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.
More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.
The app’s audio will play through your car’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto display, while the app’s map will display on your phone. You can connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth to listen to the commentary through the car stereo.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

3.9 (10)