Classic VW Van Tour of San Francisco

If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair—and take a city tour in a classic VW van! The restored 1971 vehicle affectionately named ‘Lillie’ zips you around the City by the Bay to see famous areas including the Sutro Baths, Twin Peaks, Alamo Square and Lombard Street. Reminisce about classic vinyl in Haight Ashbury, nibble on chocolate in Ghirardelli Square and check out artifacts from Playland at the Beach. This small-group tour is limited to six people, ensuring a wild trip full of great memories and photo ops.

At your selected time, your local guide will pick you up at your downtown San Francisco hotel or designated meeting point for a funky, 4-hour trip around the city. Hop in the authentic VW bus called 'Lillie' to explore the metropolis that stretches seven miles by seven miles (11 km by 11 km). Named after Lillie Hitchcock Coit, benefactor of the iconic Coit Tower, the cherry-red van epitomizes counterculture cool much like its namesake did in the late 1800s, when ‘Firebelle Lil’ dressed in trousers, smoked cigars and gambled in North Beach establishments typically only open to men.

Think of the wild woman as you pass the beautiful Coit Tower, a monument that came to fruition thanks to the estate she left to the city when she passed away. The bustling neighborhood of North Beach is just one of 14 districts that you explore on this trip. Check out the zigzags of Lombard Street, admire the Painted Ladies in Alamo Square and dive into the history of the Sutro Baths ruins, once dubbed the world’s largest indoor swimming pool.

You'll groove to tunes from the Summer of Love as you road trip along routes that afford terrific photo ops of the Golden Gate Bridge, Twin Peaks and Alcatraz. You'll also learn about how earthquakes, the Gold Rush and the rise of Silicon Valley helped shape this innovative city into a world-class destination.

Pass around vintage admission tickets to the beloved Playland at the Beach in the backseat in Ocean Beach; reminisce about vinyl records in Haight Ashbury; and enjoy samples of treats such as Ghirardelli chocolate and fresh sourdough bread from Boudin at Fisherman’s Wharf. You might even forget you're on a sightseeing tour as you melt into Lillie's overstuffed bench seats and chat about the old-school mementos with fellow passengers. Your guide can answer questions that you have about the attractions along the way.

Finish your alternative route to sightseeing around San Francisco back at your hotel, or selected location. By the end of this guided, small-group tour, you'll be hip to the city’s vibrant history, and you'll surely have some interesting stories to share!

• City tour by VW bus
• Local guide
  
• Hotel pickup and drop-off within San Francisco city limits
  

• Gratuities (optional)