How our current Walks work!
- Walkers should register in advance on our website. It’s pretty easy and you will receive a confirmation email with details on where to meet for the tour.
- Our walks are always free, but we are supported almost entirely by walker donations. You will be given the opportunity when you register to make a suggested $20 per person donation online
- Each walk is around 90 to 120 minutes.
- When arriving at your starting point, look for the person wearing a City Guides ID badge (who also may be wearing a red jacket with our logo.
- If you missed the opportunity to make a donation when registering, our Guides will pass around our recognized “yellow envelope” at the end of the tour. Our Guides do not accept personal tips. We hope that you’ll consider making a donation so we can keep walking!
- Walk ups are always welcome!
- If you liked your walk and your Guide – share your experience on social media so other walkers can hear about us
- Most important, THANK YOU for supporting San Francisco City Guides.
*Advance registration is required for a few tours on private property where the owners limit the size of our groups. If a walk is identified on the web site as “Registration Required”, you will need to register online before arriving. These tours often fill up quickly so plan to sign up early. The guide will check your name on the list when you arrive.
Questions?
Are your tours really free?
Absolutely!! San Francisco City Guides is a non-profit organization with roots in the San Francisco Public Library. We welcome all walkers, free of charge. All our tours are led by volunteers who love to share their knowledge and passion for our city with walkers like you, and who do not accept tips. At the same time, we depend on the generosity of our walkers to keep City Guides running — more than 80% of our budget comes from your donations! So if you like your walk with us, please consider supporting us with a donation of $20 (or whatever amount you choose). Every donation will help keep our tours going for another 40 years!
How good are your volunteers?
We think they’re the best walking tour guides in town. Not only are they all passionate about their city, but they’ve also gone through a comprehensive training program. It takes months of work with our instructors and mentors to become a City Guide, and we are constantly evaluating the quality of our tours as well as offering an extensive continuing education program. Many of our guides have been leading tours for a decade or more, and have researched (and even created) the tours that they that lead; they can answer your in depth questions about the tour, San Francisco history, and even great places to have lunch. A lot of our guides are lifetime residents who have lived and contributed to the tapestry that is San Francisco. Where else can you:
- Learn about the 1906 earthquake from a professional geologist?
- Hear tales of the 1880’s murder of a newspaper editor from a working newspaper editor?
- Explore San Francisco’s architecture with an architect?
- Visit the sights of early San Francisco with a descendant of a 49er and early mayor?
What happens if it rains?
Come anyway! We walk rain or shine. Just check our website the day of the tour for any last-minute cancellations.
More Questions?
Please visit our FAQ page for answers to our common questions or give the office a call at 415-375-0468. We look forward to seeing you on a tour soon.
