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Airplane Tours

Golden Gate Seaplane Tour with Guide

A family posing by a seaplane before takeoff.
Seaplane on the water with hills in the background
 Aerial view of San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge.
Family inside the seaplane, wearing headsets.

Soar above San Francisco with expert narration from your pilot, and spot landmarks like Alcatraz, perfect for adventurous families and couples.

Highlights

  • Take a 30-minute seaplane tour for aerial views of the city with an expert pilot and a small group of 6 people for a premium experience.

  • Learn about Alcatraz's history as a prison and Angel Island's role as the "Ellis Island of the West" for immigrants from the pilot as they fly over them.

  • Baker Beach stretches along the coast below the Golden Gate Bridge, while Crissy Field spreads out as a green oasis bordering the Bay.

  • Add a touch of convenience to your seaplane adventure with round-trip transfers from Fisherman's Wharf to Sausalito.

  • Did you know the Golden Gate Bridge wasn't originally meant to be red? The U.S. Navy wanted it painted black and yellow with stripes.

Inclusions

  • 30-minute San Francisco seaplane tour

  • Experienced and knowledgeable pilot

  • Small group of up to 6 people

  • Round-trip shuttle transfers from Fisherman’s Wharf (as per option selected)

  • Noise-canceling headset

Cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 72 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Soar above the bay

Your San Francisco seaplane adventure starts in Sausalito, a town across the Golden Gate Bridge. With expert narration from your pilot, this is perfect for families with older children or curious couples seeking a new way to see San Francisco. After a safety briefing, climb aboard the seaplane and prepare to take off. Admire the Golden Gate Bridge's scale, its orange striking against the vast blue. Spot the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, a complex of bridges connecting the city to Oakland. Your pilot will also point out the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including the historic Point Bonita Lighthouse, a silent sentinel guarding the bay entrance for over 150 years.

See the hilly city from the sky

You'll also get glimpses of Baker Beach, popular for sunbathers with the white sand stretching like a crescent moon, or Crissy Field, a former airfield transformed into a park. Soar over Richardson Bay, a calm expanse of water between Sausalito and Tiburon, and admire the houseboats bobbing on its surface. Keep your eyes peeled for the bay's smaller islands. You might spot Treasure Island, a man-made island built for the 1939 Expo, or the Brothers Islands, a habitat for seabirds and harbor seals. Choose between a round-trip transfer from Fisherman's Wharf or direct boarding in Sausalito to start your adventure!

Itinerary

  • Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

  • Golden Gate National Reserve and Pt. Bonita Lighthouse

  • Island Prison of Alcatraz

  • Angel Island

  • Richardson Bay

  • Southern Marin and the seaside town of Sausalito

  • Baker Beach and Crissy Field

What to bring

  • Pack your medicines – better to be prepared, just in case they’re not available onsite.

  • To ensure a comfortable journey for your infant, consider bringing noise-canceling headphones or earplugs.

What's not allowed

  • Nobody likes a crowd. A single group has a maximum of 6 people.

Accessibility

  • Your guide dogs are welcome at the venue.

Additional Information

  • The weather here tends to bring unexpected twists. Dress in layers for adaptable comfort.

  • For optimal comfort and weight distribution, guests over the weight of 117kg (257.94lb) will need to purchase an additional seat.

  • Infants under the age of 2 years can fly on parents' laps.

  • San Francisco's weather can change, with fog rolling in unexpectedly. The pilots will adapt the flight route for the best possible view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

  • In the event of severe weather, the pilot may cancel the flight up to 30 minutes before departure. You can reschedule your seaplane tour for up to one year from the original date.

  • All guests are required to sign a brief waiver before boarding the seaplane.

  • Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

  • Please arrive at the meeting point 45 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

  • Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

Meeting point

  • Please check your final voucher for the meeting point details and specific instructions.

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