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Bridge to Bridge Cruises San Francisco
By: Jill Loeffler • Updated: August 28, 2024 • Published: February 19, 2013
The Bridge to Bridge cruises in San Francisco are ninety-minute tours on the SF Bay. On this boat tour, you will get the chance to cruise under both the Golden Gate and the Bay Bridge.
You'll also get the chance to pass by Alcatraz Island, the Ferry Building and the Palace of Fine Arts. The cruise offers open seating, so you can roam around the boat and catch the views from all sides.
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The tickets for this SF bay cruise are valid for up to 365 days after purchase. This means you can buy your ticket in advance, but then select later which day you want to enjoy this cruise.
After you board the boat, you will pick up your audio tour. The entire 90 minutes includes narration through these audio players.
You can find narration in 12 languages including English, Spanish, French and Italian. Other languages include Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
Tour Departs
After everyone boards, the boat departs Fisherman's Wharf. The first 60 minutes of the cruise follows along exactly with the Golden Gate Bay Cruise (learn more about this cruise).
There is no need to take both the Golden Gate Bay Cruise and the Bridge to Bridge cruise, since the first part is exactly the same. If you want to take two cruises, check out this list for some other great options.
From Fisherman's Wharf, you will head west along the San Francisco waterfront. You will pass the Hyde Street Pier, Fort Mason and the Marina Green.
You will then continue along the waterfront on your way to the Golden Gate Bridge. On your way, you will get a great view of the Palace of Fine Arts (learn more).
You will then start to get a clear view of the Fort Point National Historic Site (learn more). The plans for the Golden Gate Bridge were redesigned in order to save this historic military building.
You will then continue on to the main attraction - the Golden Gate Bridge. Here are a few photos as we approach it and cruise underneath.
After you cruise under it, your boat turns, heads back under the bridge and makes its way to Alcatraz Island. On the way, you will see the seaside town of Sausalito in Marin County, as well as Angel Island (learn more).
On these Bridge to Bridge cruises San Francisco, you are taken very close to Alcatraz Island. You go almost all the way around the island too, so you can take a look at it from a few different angles.
You'll first approach Alcatraz from the west. The big building on the top of the island is the main cell house.
You'll then head past the northern side of the island.
You'll also pass by the eastern side, where you can get a great view of the Alcatraz Island lighthouse.
From here, you will continue to cross the bay southward, past both Treasure and Yerba Buena Islands.
Yerba Buena is the larger hill in the water on the right. Treasure Island is long, but flat and is on the left side of the picture.You will then get the chance to cruise under the Bay Bridge. You'll notice that the eastern span, which connects Yerba Buena Island to Oakland, has a completely different architectural design.
That's because in 2013 the elegant, white, new suspension bridge replaced the seismically unsafe bridge that partially collapsed in the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake.
Here are a few photos of this attraction.
After you pass under it, you make a turn and head back under a second time. From here, you will cruise close to the SF waterfront past both the Ferry Building (learn more) and Coit Tower (learn more).
After you pass these two SF landmarks, you will arrive back at Pier 43 1/2 in Fisherman's Wharf. Here is a map of the route for all of the Bridge to Bridge San Francisco cruises.
The star on the map is Pier 43 1/2 - the start and end point for your cruise.
SFTourismTips is made possible by readers like you! If you book through my links, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! Learn more.
Tour Times and Ticketing Information
This cruise runs one to two times a day in the busy summer and fall months. It runs just a few times a week during the cooler winter months.
Are you ready to book this cruise? When you book your tickets online, you will need to select a specific date. However, as I mentioned above, you can use the ticket for any of these tours for 365 days after you purchase it.
Get additional details and book your tickets online today!
My Experience on Other SF Tours
Movie Tour: If you love movies, you must go on this movie tour of the city. This well-timed adventure drives you past the spots used in famous movies. You will see where scenes from movies such as The Rock, Vertigo and The Princess Diaries were filmed.
Muir Woods Day Tour: This is also another wonderful tour from San Francisco. Our huge Coastal Redwoods are an amazing sight and draw in crowds from around the world. This wonderful tour offers you a ride to this famous national monument with some great information about it. You will also get to spend some time in Sausalito. Find out more about visiting Muir Woods.
Walking Tours: One of the best ways to explore San Francisco is on foot. The great news is you don't have to do it alone! You will find dozens of walking tours from those that focus on our interesting history to those where you get to sample local treats. Find out more here.
Hi, I'm Jill!
Dreaming of a San Francisco vacation? As a proud local, I'm here to share my insider tips and personal experiences to help you make the most of this iconic city!
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