Be adventurous with your food choices. How about some jellyfish?
San Francisco’s Chinatown is the second-largest Asian community in North America and is as old as the city itself. But there are really two Chinatowns here, though: one for tourists centred on Grant Avenue and another for locals centred on Stockton Street. Dip in and out of both for wonderful dining options and a unique glimpse of a world within a world.
In Chinatown, it pays to wander off the beaten track and down the side alleys. There you will hear the muffled buzz of conversation and the clatter of game tiles, and you can see temples with wafting incense and hanging pieces of laundry flapping like flags overhead.
Cornucopia
The SF Chinatown is considered by many to be the birthplace of several Westernised Chinese dishes, such as Chop Suey, and also where delicacies such as Dim Sum were introduced to the United States. Even today its Dim Sum tea houses are still a major tourist attraction. But for the real deal, head to the Stockton Street markets. Here, between pull carts and dozens of stalls, you can find anything: dried mushrooms, sea cucumber, bundles of bok choy — you name it.
American Homeopath
Waverly Place is home to the district’s acupuncture and Chinese medicine shops. Also tucked away there is the Tin How Temple — the oldest Taoist temple in the city. Dozens of illuminated paper lanterns hover overhead and plates of orange and bread rest on an altar with a shrine of Buddha statues. Photography is not allowed, so you have to see it with your own eyes.
Immerse yourself in the heart of San Francisco, one of the most iconic cities in the world, on this private full-day tour where you will discover the history and culture of the city before embarking on a journey through some of its most famous landmarks, including a visit to Alcatraz Island to uncover the secrets of the infamous prison.
On your private tour of San Francisco, you will:
Your Private Full-Day Tour of San Francisco Highlights will take you through an urban landscape, set on the northern tip of a peninsula, shaped by glaciers, earthquakes and the Pacific’s rolling waves.
At the top of Nob Hill, soak up an extraordinary cityscape at cable car height. Set on San Francisco's picturesque steep slopes, enjoy a stunning skyline across streets crisscrossed by streetcars, yellow taxis, and jogging trails.
Wander through some world-class shopping malls in Union Square, where big-name brands and local stores nestle amongst chic boutiques.
Lastly, Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, lined with seafood cafés, are home to basking sea lions, jugglers, and mime artists, with striking views across the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Angel Island. Enjoy lunch at one of the many eateries on Pier 39 before your guide takes you to Pier 33, where you will board a pre-booked ferry ride to Alcatraz Island.
Please note: your guide will not be joining you on the island, as private guides are not permitted to operate on the island. On arrival at Alcatraz, take an audio tour at a leisurely pace to hear tales of notorious felons such as Al Capone and Robert Franklin Stroud in this former fort, a military prison and maximum-security federal penitentiary. Once you are finished exploring Alcatraz Island (most people spend about 2 hours), you can hop any return ferry to San Francisco, where you will be dropped off at Pier 33.
Dating back to 1776 and considered by many to be the USA’s most beautiful city, San Francisco - a.k.a. The City by the Bay - is a vibrant mix of exotic cultures, and is renowned worldwide for its liberal free-thinking ideals.
San Francisco’s strong historical bonds with Spanish America and Mexico are evident all over the city and reflected in its Hispanic population, vibrant arts, music, and festival scene.
On your private half-day tour, you will:
On this private half-day tour of the best of San Francisco, you will learn about the city’s foundation in the 18th century, when Spanish colonists settled the area during the gold-rush fever, to the city in the modern era, famous for its political activism and social inclusivity the world over.
See first-hand San Francisco’s colourful mix of quaint buildings and modern architecture in a stunning ocean-facing city.
Learn about San Francisco's long-standing progressive stance on activism: the city is credited with trailblazing the “Flower Power” peace movement, and powering the gay rights movement as one of the largest and most prominent LGBT communities in the world.
You will explore this fascinating urban landscape, set on the northern tip of a peninsula, shaped by glaciers, earthquakes and the Pacific’s rolling waves. Set on San Francisco's picturesque steep slopes, enjoy a stunning skyline across streets crisscrossed by streetcars, yellow taxis and jogging trails. Wander through some world-class shopping in Union Square, where big-name brands and local stores nestle amongst chic boutiques.
Enjoy a historic cable car ride from one part of the city, over Nob Hill to the waterfront. At beautiful North Beach, known colloquially as Little Italy, soak up the ambience of the city’s lively historic Italian-American community.
Lastly, Fisherman’s Wharf, lined with seafood cafes, is home to basking sea lions, jugglers and mime artists and enjoys striking views across the Golden Gate Bridge, the infamous island prison on the sea, Alcatraz, and Angel Island.
Explore two of San Francisco’s beloved neighbourhoods with a foodie extravaganza tour. With an eclectic array of food from Chinatown and Little Italy, be sure to arrive hungry for this experience.
On your private food tour, you will:
San Francisco's international influences are so diverse that locals are constantly discovering foodie spots that have existed for decades. Don’t miss the chance to try fresh-baked fortune cookies - before they're wrapped in crinkly plastic and served to you at restaurants.
On your private tour, your guide will not only take you to the best places to try new desserts and espresso but also equip you with their insider's knowledge, so you can continue exploring the city's diverse food scene long after your tour has ended.
Your tour ends in Washington Square Park, where you can continue with your day, or take time to digest your food extravaganza by lounging in the grass amongst the locals who congregate in the area every day.
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