Visit San Francisco for Business or Sightseeing (or Both!)
Home to some of the most diverse landscapes and architecture in the world, San Francisco is an easy city to fall in love with. Whether you’re in the city for work or for fun, you won’t want to miss the chance to see the iconic streetcars, famous neighborhoods, and historic Victorian homes.
If you’re traveling to SF with coworkers, you may be able to take public transportation around the Bay Area. However, a minibus offers a comfortable, air-conditioned way to keep everyone together so you don’t have to worry about anybody getting lost and showing up late to the conference venue. You can also request a bus with free WiFi so you can complete assignments and check your email while you travel.
Traveling for fun instead of for work? National Charter Bus can help with that too. Keep reading to discover our ideas for first-time visitors to San Francisco.
First-Time Trip Ideas
With so much to do in the City by the Bay, you won’t be able to explore everything on a single trip. But a charter bus makes it easier to hit the destinations that are most important to your group. You won’t have to waste time waiting on public buses or trains while trying to get from Fisherman’s Wharf to The Castro, and you can take advantage of relaxing amenities like air-conditioning, reclining chairs, and flat-screen TVs in between stops.
You should definitely customize your trip to better meet the needs of your group, but if you’re looking for ideas, here are a few of our suggestions for what you shouldn’t miss during your first visit.
Bike or Walk Across the Golden Gate Bridge
Walking, jogging, or cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge is free, and no trip to SF is complete without setting foot on the bridge. Have your charter bus drop your group off at one end so you can take your time coasting or strolling while you admire the water below and around you.
Depending on your group’s stamina, you can either pay for your bus to cross the bridge so it can pick you up at the other end, or turn around and bike or walk back. Either way, your bus will take you to your next destination after your workout.
Explore Fisherman’s Wharf
Another of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks, this port is home to abundant stores, like NorthPoint Shopping Center, The Original Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop, and Wattle Creek Winery, as well as delicious restaurants like Alioto’s, Cioppino’s, and Fog Harbor Fish House. You can also book a cruise around the harbor or visit destinations like Pier 39, home to hundreds of sunbathing sea lions and the Aquarium of the Bay.
Sail Over to Alcatraz Island
This island in the Bay once housed a fort and a military prison as well as the maximum-security federal prison that made it famous. In 1969, Indians of All Tribes occupied the island for more than a year and a half in order to protest for Native American civil rights.
Alcatraz now serves as a popular destination for tour groups and classes on field trips. You can learn about the protest as well as the prison’s famous inmates, past escape attempts, and daily life on the island when you take a guided behind-the-scenes tour. The island can only be accessed by ferry, but your bus can drop you off and pick you up at the dock the ferry leaves from.
Hike Muir Woods National Monument
Most of the redwoods in the Muir Woods are at least 500 years old, with some as old as 1,200 years. You must notify the park that you wish to park a charter bus before you arrive, and you may be required to disembark from the bus and board a shuttle to reach the forest. Once you’re there, take a moment to revel in the serenity of the primeval woods and think about how many generations of people have stood beneath those same trees.
Wine Country Tours
When you think of Northern California, there’s a good chance you think of wine. There are about 600 wineries in Napa Valley and Sonoma Wine Country alone, and the two regions have a sibling rivalry regarding which is best for wine-lovers. So how do you pick one? Your charter bus can take you around either or both, but here are a few facts to help you decide which one you prefer if you have to choose.
Best Vineyards in Wine Country
Napa Valley and Sonoma share mountainous geography and an arid climate, but they have very different personalities. If you’re looking for a high-end, tourist-oriented experience, put Napa Valley on your bus itinerary. If you’re more into a rustic, country vibe, Sonoma is right for you. Whichever one you pick, you’ll have a guaranteed designated driver when you rent a charter bus.
Napa Valley
Napa Valley is pricey and highly commercialized, with high-end restaurants and luxury hotels sharing space with vineyards specializing in Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay. If your group wants to feel like high-rollers, put Napa on your itinerary. Some of the most popular vineyards here include Domaine Carneros, Monticello, Corley Family Napa Valley, Piña Napa Valley, and the famous Castello di Amorosa.
Sonoma Wine Country
This sprawling region offers more vineyards and more affordable wines, though it lacks Napa’s fine dining restaurants and high-end lodgings. This makes Sonoma ideal for groups who want a slow-paced journey through the countryside. Popular wineries in this area include Buena Vista, Ravenswood, Deerfield Ranch, and Sebastiani.
Corporate Events in Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley lies about 30 minutes from the southernmost part of San Francisco, which means many Google and Facebook workers call San Francisco home and board their company shuttle to get to work each day. If you have to travel to Silicon Valley for work, you can follow much the same pattern.
Book a hotel in SF so you can explore Fisherman’s Wharf, The Presidio and the Golden Gate Bridge during your free time, and then rent a bus to take you to the tech headquarters where you’ll be working for the day. And if you haven’t filled up your itinerary with fun attractions, check out the options below to finish fleshing it out.
San Francisco Destinations & Local Attractions
The Orignal Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop at Ghiradelli Square
Ghirardelli’s original chocolate factory was founded in 1852, making it the third-oldest chocolate company in the United States. Have your charter bus driver drop your group off at Fisherman's Wharf and then walk to this charming storefront for a sundae.
Address: 900 North Point Suite #52, San Francisco, CA 94109
Union Square
With abundant stores, restaurants, and hotels, Union Square is a major hub for the city of SF. Check out luxury stores like Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co before grabbing something to eat at Amber India, Colibri Mexican Bistro, or Chabaa Thai Cuisine. Your charter bus can drop you off so your group can wander freely through the area.
Address: 333 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Lombard Street
While the majority of Lombard Street runs smoothly and predictably between The Presidio and The Embarcadero, the stretch between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets gets interesting. Made famous in multiple films, this twisting street has 8 hairpin turns crammed into a 1-block area. Although a charter bus can’t make it down the road, your driver can drop you off nearby so your group can walk up and down the hill and take plenty of pictures for Instagram.
Address: 1070 Lombard St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Golden Gate Park
This large urban park lies on the western edge of San Francisco and offers stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Pack a picnic lunch in your motorcoach's undercarriage, spend a few hours sitting on the grass, and take in the breathtaking vistas.
Address: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94122
Muir Beach Lookout
Muir Beach is where the redwood forest meets the Pacific Ocean. If your group hikes through the woods to this peaceful spot on the coastline, you’ll be greeted with a 360-degree panoramic view of the Pacific.
Address: Muir Beach Overlook, Muir Beach, CA 94965
The Palace of Fine Arts
Showcasing all the regality its name implies, The Palace of Fine Arts is one San Francisco architectural landmark you won't want to miss. Marvel at the 1,100-ft. Greek pergola structure, watch ducks and swans float by on the tranquil lagoon, or catch a special event or show.
Address: 3601 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA 94123
Point Bonita Lighthouse
If you opt to take your charter bus to Sausalito, the charming city located on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge, don’t miss the historical Point Bonita Lighthouse. The third lighthouse to be built on the West Coast, this landmark offers views of the bridge and the San Francisco skyline and is often less crowded than other vantage points.
Address: San Francisco Bay Entrance in the Marin Headlands, Sausalito, CA 94965
Why Take a Charter Bus to San Francisco?
A charter bus offers a safe and efficient way to navigate San Francisco’s narrow streets and California’s busy highways. Depending on how many people you’re bringing, it can be more affordable than flying, rental cars, or rideshares, and it certainly carries less risk of getting lost than public transit does.
Your experienced driver will drop you off and pick you up at all of the destinations on your personalized itinerary so you won’t have to waste time waiting on trains, rideshares, or buses. You can also store your belongings in the luggage bays and take advantage of relaxing amenities like free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, and reclining seats. If any of that sounds good to you, call National Charter Bus at 415-226-7853. We’d love to give you a free, no-obligation quote for your trip to the City by the Bay.
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