Ride historic cable cars up SF's steep hills - moving landmarks!

Experience San Francisco's iconic cable cars - last manually operated system in the world! Cable car tours ride three historic lines (Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason, California Street) climbing SF's famously steep hills with vintage wooden cars pulled by underground cables. Experience gripman operating cars, ride outside running boards, hear bells clanging, pass landmarks like Lombard Street and Fisherman's Wharf, and enjoy thrilling hill descents. Tours include all-day passes, hop-on-hop-off flexibility, cable car museum visits, and expert guidance. Learn about 1873 invention, how cable system works, preservation efforts, and cultural icon status. It's mobile National Historic Landmark!
Discover our top picks for cable car tours in San Francisco

Explore the best sights of San Francisco at your leisure, while riding the world famous Cable Car! We will stop at many attractions like Union Square, Chinatown, Nob Hill, The Italian Quarter, and Fisherman's Wharf! We are very excited to take you on this journey! Don't worry about other people, this tour is completely tailored to you with the Pintours App! With our app, you can pause the tour, and check out the locations as long as you want! You can skip a stop you don't like, and you have all the best information about each stop at your fingertips.

Explore the best sights of San Francisco at your leisure, while riding the world famous Cable Car! We will stop at many attractions like Union Square, Chinatown, Nob Hill, The Italian Quarter, and Fisherman's Wharf! We are very excited to take you on this journey! Don't worry about other people, this tour is completely tailored to you with the App! With the app, you can pause the tour, and check out the locations as long as you want! You can skip a stop you don't like, and you have all the best information about each stop at your fingertips.

Explore the best sights of San Francisco at your leisure, while riding the world famous Cable Car! We will stop at many attractions like Union Square, Chinatown, Nob Hill, The Italian Quarter, and Fisherman's Wharf! We are very excited to take you on this journey! Don't worry about other people, this tour is completely tailored to you with the Pintours App! With our app, you can pause the tour, and check out the locations as long as you want! You can skip a stop you don't like, and you have all the best information about each stop at your fingertips.

Our SF in a Day tour will take you places that no other San Francisco tour does, traversing the city by cable-car, rail & bus to visit enchanted gardens, secret stairs & glorious rooftop vistas, creating an unforgettable experience. You’ll avoid crowds at the tourist hot-spots, while experiencing the culture of SF & learning its history. We’ll start your tour near the Embarcadero & take the cable-car up to Nob Hill. From there we go to City Hall (or Cable Car Museum) &, after going inside, we can grab a coffee in Hayes Valley. After that we head to the Castro, then walk through Dolores Park. We finish the morning part of the tour in the Haight, it's a great place to get some lunch. After that we take you to see an icon of San Francisco, the Painted Ladies. That's followed by a walk down another SF icon, Lombard Street. We finish the tour with a walk through North Beach & Chinatown. By then you’ll have had a fantastic experience of SF & made some beautiful memories to take home.

Explore the best sights of San Francisco at your leisure, while riding the world famous Cable Car! We will stop at many attractions like Union Square, Chinatown, Nob Hill, The Italian Quarter, and Fisherman's Wharf! We are very excited to take you on this journey! Don't worry about other people, this tour is completely tailored to you with the App! With the app, you can pause the tour, and check out the locations as long as you want! You can skip a stop you don't like, and you have all the best information about each stop at your fingertips.

Spend a morning getting to know the real SF. We meet you near the Embarcadero, in downtown, before taking the cable car to Nob Hill, with its Gold Rush era mansions. From there we take another cable car to San Francisco City Hall (or, on the weekend, the Cable Car Museum). After going inside this magnificent building, we take the historic streetcar to Castro, which is famous for its place in LGBTQ+ history. From there it's only a short walk to Mission Dolores Park, one of the nicest open spaces in San Francisco. The Mission is really the birthplace of SF - and you'll learn about it all, as well as experiencing a lovely corner of the city. Next we take the bus to Haight-Ashbury, a name that's forever associated with the hippie generation and the Summer of Love. We'll give you a tour of the neighborhood, with its beautiful murals, before your tour ends at the perfect time, and in the perfect place, for lunch.

When Robert Louis Stevenson visited San Francisco in 1879, he declared, "Nob Hill, the Hill of Palaces, must certainly be counted the best part of San Francisco. It is here that millionaires gathered together, vying with each other in display". My Nob Hill tour is a 2-hour walking photo-shoot tour that starts with a Cable Car ride and a visit to a French Gothic Cathedral and ends at the Top of the Mark on the 19th floor of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel for photographs and beverages at sunset. The eclectic history of Nob Hill includes: * The Gold Rush (not the San Francisco 49r cheerleaders) * The Silver Bonanza (not including Ben Cartwright, Ben, Hoss or Little Joe) * The Transcontinental Railroad * The 1906 Earthquake and Fire, and * A spectacular French-Gothic design Episcopal Cathedral that took nearly 40 years to build. The opportunities for photography are endless on Nob Hill!
Only remaining manually operated cable cars globally!
National Historic Landmarks - ride history!
Experience SF's famous hills - thrilling descents!
Pass Lombard Street, Fisherman's Wharf, Nob Hill!
Most scenic - Lombard Street, bay views, Fisherman's Wharf.
Unlimited rides on all three lines.
Combine cable car with guided neighborhood walk.
Visit free museum showing working cable machinery!
Single ride: 20-30 min. All-day pass: Unlimited. Museum: 1 hour.
Gripman manually operates - watch them work the grip and brake!
Climb/descend SF's famous hills - thrilling and scenic!
Powell-Hyde line passes "crookedest street" - great photo op!
Powell-Hyde has best Alcatraz and bay views!
Vintage wooden cars from early 1900s - living history!
Powell-Hyde most scenic (Lombard St, bay views) - ride this one!
Board at turnarounds (Powell & Market, Hyde & Beach) for seats.
Mid-line stops: Long waits, often full. Walk to turnarounds!
Ride outside running boards for thrill (hold on tight!).
Cable Car Museum FREE - see working cable system, fascinating!
Early morning (7-8 AM) or evening (after 7 PM) shorter waits.
Single ride $8. All-day Muni pass: $13 (includes buses/metro too).
Lines can be 1+ hour wait at peak times - plan accordingly!
A: Single ride: $8 (exact change or Clipper card). All-day cable car pass: $17. Muni passport (includes buses/metro): $13/day, $27/3-days. Cash on cable car or buy pass. Riding multiple times? Get pass - good value!
A: Powell-Hyde most scenic - Lombard Street, Russian Hill, bay views, ends at Fisherman's Wharf! Powell-Mason: Similar but less scenic. California Street: Least scenic but functional. First-timers: Ride Powell-Hyde. All have character!
A: Peak times (midday): 1-2 hour waits at turnarounds! Early morning (7-9 AM) or evening (after 6 PM): 15-30 min. Mid-line stops: Long waits, cars often full. Plan accordingly - it's popular!
A: Yes! Running boards designed for standing passengers - hold poles tight! Thrilling but safe. Seats fill fast - standing often only option. Part of the experience! Not recommended for young kids or mobility issues.
A: YES for iconic SF experience! Tourists love it. Locals use sparingly (crowded, slow). Worth riding once for history and thrill. Not practical transport - buses faster/cheaper. Experience trumps function - quintessential San Francisco!
A: Completely FREE! See working cable machinery (all cable cars powered from here!), historic cars, learn system mechanics. Donations appreciated. 1 hour sufficient. Mason & Washington Streets. Fascinating engineering - highly recommended visit!
A: Operate 6 AM-midnight daily (reduced hours late night). Most frequent midday. No service for major maintenance occasionally - check schedules. Year-round operation - rain or shine (cables work always!).
A: Early morning (7-8 AM) or evening (after 7 PM): Shorter waits. September-October: Best weather. Avoid midday peak tourist times. Weekdays less crowded than weekends. Sunset rides beautiful when clear!
Iconic Golden Gate Bridge and bay views
Historic Alcatraz Island and prison tours
Charming cable cars and historic transportation
Diverse neighborhoods and authentic cuisine
World-class museums and cultural institutions
Perfect blend of history and innovation
San Francisco enjoys a Mediterranean climate with cool, foggy summers and mild winters. Average temperatures range from 50°F (10°C) in winter to 70°F (21°C) in summer.
September to November offers the best weather with warm temperatures, clear skies, and perfect conditions for sightseeing.
June to August brings peak tourist season with foggy weather, larger crowds, and higher prices.
December to May offers lower prices and fewer crowds, though with cooler weather and occasional rain.
Explore comprehensive guides to plan your perfect trip, including food tours, cultural experiences, and more.
Visit the infamous island prison with audio tour and SF Bay views!
Cruise under Golden Gate, around Alcatraz, and see SF skyline from water!
Taste sourdough, Dungeness crab, dim sum, and diverse SF cuisine!
Walk, bike, or cruise under the world's most iconic bridge!
Explore diverse districts: Mission, Haight-Ashbury, Castro, and more!
Excellent public transportation with cable cars, buses, and BART. Walking is perfect for exploring neighborhoods, and ride-sharing services are widely available.
Rent a car for maximum flexibility and explore at your own pace on Expedia USA.
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