San Francisco: San Francisco City Lights Cruise

The evening on the bay for people who want the view, not the dinner. Red and White Fleet’s City Lights cruise leaves Pier 43 1/2 at Fisherman’s Wharf for two hours. The listing route passes Alcatraz, Angel Island and Sausalito, goes beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, and returns along the waterfront and the skyline, with Coit Tower and the Transamerica Pyramid lit up. In the winter months it departs after sunset, so it is a true night cruise; in summer you see the last light in the sky first.

There is indoor and outdoor seating, and the seating is open, so you may share a table with strangers. Food and drink are not included, and the listing does not allow alcohol to be brought on board. It is wheelchair accessible. Bring warm clothing: the listing advises dressing in layers, because San Francisco weather can change fast, and fog can partly or completely hide the Golden Gate Bridge.

Who it does not suit: anyone who wants dinner on the water. For that, City Cruises’ Premier Dinner Cruise leaves Pier 3 for two to two and a half hours with a plated dinner. The City Lights cruise page compares the two.

Rated 4.6 from 2,674 reviews, from $58 a person, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before (GetYourGuide, checked October 2026). Red and White Fleet’s own FAQ lists $58 for adults, $38 for youths aged 5 to 17, and free for children 4 and under (checked October 2026).