If you’ve read our tips on how to get around San Francisco, you’ll understand that using your car to get from one place to another in the city is highly discouraged, unless you have some particular reason. That’s why, after public transportation, including the historic cable cars, renting a bike or taking a guided bike tour can be a great way to reach the main attractions of the city without worrying about traffic and, above all, not stress about finding parking.
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Why Rent a Bike in San Francisco
Before analyzing the main resources that will allow you to do the above (also saving something compared to paying for the rental upon arrival) here are some tips that I feel like giving you based on my personal experience.
- If you can opt for an electric bike, you will save yourself a lot of trouble whether you want to explore the city on its famous ups and downs or take a trip on the Golden Gate Bridge, perhaps in the direction of Sausalito. In case you want to opt for this solution, and you are traveling with children or teens, pay attention to the age limits.
- Make sure to check the weather forecast carefully. As you know, the weather in San Francisco is very special and variable on the same day. Generally, it is best to dress in layers so that you are prepared for both the heat of a windless morning and the cold of a cloudy afternoon.
- Do not rule out a combined tour, especially if you are in town for several days. In case you are planning to visit the famous Alcatraz, and you could not find a ticket in time, you will find some interesting surprises.
In principle, find out everything that is included in the tour or rental and what you will be allowed to do. For example, pay close attention to the selection of bike you can rent, and to see whether or not the lock provided works and the wheels are intact.
San Francisco Bicycle Rental
- Electric bike rental for 24 hours: the perfect option for those who want to spend a whole day exploring San Francisco by bike. It is very convenient and I recommend choosing an electric bike with pedal assistance.
- Bike rental in San Francisco: if you don’t want to spend the whole day on your bike, you will only have the possibility to rent it for 2 or 4 hours. This is the ideal solution for those who only have half a day to spend riding a bike. You will have the possibility to choose between various models including eBike and tandems.
San Francisco Bike Tours
- 3-hour tour on the Golden Gate to Sausalito: you can choose between riding a regular bike or an electric bike. The guide will accompany you all the way to Sausalito where you can decide whether to return by ferry (ticket is not included in the tour) or by bike. You can also choose to extend the bike rental (for an extra charge) and you can return it by the time the office closes.
- Electric City Bike Tour: a 6-hour guided tour of the city’s main and most important attractions including the Painted Ladies, Haight-Ashbury, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Fisherman’s Wharf. Electric bikes are available.
- 3-hour bike tour at sunset: a 3-hour tour that will take place at the end of the day when the colors of sunset will transform the city skyline. This tour also allows you to choose between a regular bike and an electric bike.
Self-guided Bike Tours
- Self-guided bike tours: those who want more freedom than is provided on a tour with a guide, but still need some resources to appreciate more what they are visiting (in addition to reading our guide to San Francisco) can consider doing a self-guided bike tour. In addition to the bike, you will have all the instructions and information you will need for your personal itinerary of the city.
Combined Bike Tours
- Guided bike tour and visit to Alcatraz in two days: this tour will provide you with a ticket to access the ferry that will take you to Alcatraz. The guided bike tour will take place the day before and, for an extra charge, you can opt for an electric bike.
- Guided bike tour and visit to Alcatraz at sunset in two days: this tour very similar to the previous one, but the difference is that the guided bike tour will take place at sunset, so you can admire the bay as the sun goes down.
- Reach Sausalito by bike and shuttle to Muir Woods in a day: this option allows you to reach Sausalito by crossing the Golden Gate Bridge by bike and, once you arrive, you can get on a shuttle that will take you to visit Muir Woods, where you will have one hour to explore the park on your own before returning to the shuttle. During the trip, a guide will explain the most important things about the area. le The park admission fee is not included in the tour.
- One-day bike rental and visit to Alcatraz: if you want to combine a visit to Alcatraz with a simple bike rental instead of a guided tour, you can select this solution. Also was the case in other tours, the two activities will take place on two different days.
If you haven’t found the one that’s right for you, you can have a look at the link below where you’ll find all the bike tours of San Francisco.