The Six Tours, Close Up
Six GetYourGuide tours see the Golden Gate Bridge from three heights. Three boats pass 220 feet under the deck, two guided rides cross it on the sidewalk to Sausalito, and one seaplane flies over it. None of them sells the bridge itself, because walking across is free. Each page below follows one tour from the meeting point to the end, in order.
Under the deck: three boats
The shortest is the one-hour bay cruise from Pier 43½, which goes under the bridge, round Alcatraz and back. The bridge to bridge cruise leaves the same pier, lasts 90 minutes and adds the Bay Bridge at the far end of the waterfront. The catamaran also runs 90 minutes, but from Pier 39 under sail, with a crew instead of a handset. I compare the three on the bay cruises page.
Across the deck: two rides
Both bike tours are three hours, both start at Fisherman’s Wharf and both end in Sausalito. The Sausalito cycling tour includes the bike for the whole day and leaves you free time in town. The guided bike or e-bike tour runs a tighter list of timed stops and plans the ferry back. The two are side by side on the bike tours page.
Over the towers: one flight
The seaplane tour is 30 minutes in a six-seat aircraft from Mill Valley, north of the bridge. It is the only one of the six that is non-refundable once booked, so read that page before you decide.
Pick a tour
San Francisco: Golden Gate Bay Cruise (1-hour)
One hour from Pier 43½: under the bridge, round Alcatraz, audio in 16 languages.
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San Francisco: Bridge to Bridge Cruise (90-minutes)
Ninety minutes, both bridges, same pier as the bay cruise, wheelchair accessible.
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San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge Catamaran Cruise
Under sail from Pier 39 with a live crew; trampoline nets, a turn at the helm.
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San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito Cycling Tour
Guided ride from Taylor St over the bridge into Sausalito, bike kept for the day.
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San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge Guided Bike or eBike Tour
Eight timed stops from Leavenworth St to Sausalito, with an e-bike upgrade.
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San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge Seaplane Tour
Thirty minutes over the bridge, the city and Alcatraz; every seat by a window.
Read the close-up ›If you would rather see all six on one page with a comparison table, go to all tours. If you are deciding between water and saddle, cruise or bike settles it.
Frequently asked questions
Are these pages reviews with scores?
No. They are close-up guides: what happens in order, what is included, who each tour suits and what reviewers mention by first name. The site prints no ratings and no prices; live dates and prices are in the booking widget on each page, and the cost page explains why.
Which tour is the shortest?
The seaplane is 30 minutes in the air, though the shuttle from Fisherman’s Wharf adds time either side. On the water, the bay cruise is one hour from Pier 43½. The free walk across the deck takes 35 to 60 minutes each way.
Do any of these tours stop on the bridge?
Only the bike tours. Both ride across the deck on the sidewalk and pause at Vista Point on the Marin side. The boats pass underneath without landing and the seaplane flies over. If you want to stand on the deck without a tour, walk it.