Free Walking Tours-San Francisco City Guides
This nonprofit group originated with Gladys Hansen, a San Francisco librarian, who trained volunteers to present guided tours of city hall. Officially established in 1978, the group hosts over 200 volunteers who offer a number of free historical and architectural walking tours in each of the 15 neighborhoods throughout the city.
All of the tours are free and available each month on every day of the year, excluding major holidays, regardless of the weather. Check the website for a current list of tour types, locations and times. It is recommended that you wear comfortable shoes and layered clothing, as the weather varies upon the time of day and location.
San Francisco City Guides
c/o SF Public Library
100 Larkin St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4266
sfcityguides.org
Free Garden Tours-San Francisco Botanical Garden
Open 365 days a year, free guided tours are led by knowledgeable docents from the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society. This nonprofit enjoys sharing the diversity of the extraordinary gardens with two tours daily and one tour monthly in Russian. With roughly 20 different garden areas to explore and plants from all over the world, having a trained guide at hand is quite a luxury. Private focus tours are available for a small fee, and groups numbering over 10 should call six weeks in advance to schedule a tour date. There is also a bookstore and library to peruse at your leisure.
San Francisco Botanical Garden
Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 661-1316 ext. 412
sfbotanicalgarden.org
Free Audio Tours-Academy of Hospitality and Tourism
Take a vacation at your convenience right from home. Assembled by students interested in culture and economics, the eight tours offered include a map, resource reading and audio download for each topic. Fun listening includes a coffee lovers tour, seafood of Fisherman's Wharf tour, and a lifelike true San Franciscan tour. With so much to do and see, this is a great way to get to know the city and plan your next visit to San Francisco.
Academy of Hospitality and Tourism
Galileo Academy of Science and Technology
1150 Francisco St.
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 749-3430
galileoweb.org/aoht/audio-tours-of-san-francisco
