UCPlaces | San Francisco Self-Guided Driving Tour: Iconic Sites from Golden Gate Bridge, to Downtown | California, United States, San Francisco Self-Guided GPS Audio Tour | Driving

Places (POIs) visited during this tour

Place #1

Distance: 0.00mi , Attraction : Historic Site, Fort (Recommended selfie spot).

Redwood Hwy, Mill Valley, CA 94941, USA

Golden Gate Bridge North Vista Point

We’re starting our journey at the North Vista Point, one of the most photographed spots in the world — and for good reason. Ahead of you stretches the Golden Gate Bridge, glowing that unmistakable orange-red against the blue of the bay. Go ahead and merge onto U.S. 101 South, and as we begin to cross, please stay in the far right lane. That’ll make it easier to take the exit just after the bridge for the Presidio.

The bridge you’re driving on is more than steel and cables — it’s a symbol of courage and imagination. When it opened in 1937, it was the longest suspension bridge on Earth, spanning nearly 1.7 miles across a channel once thought impossible to conquer. The Golden Gate Strait below is deep, swift, and often shrouded in fog, yet more than 80,000 miles of wire and six lanes of roadway now sail effortlessly across it.

That color isn’t just for beauty — it’s officially called International Orange, chosen to stand out against the mist and harmonize with the cliffs of Marin. Look to your left for Alcatraz Island, and to your right, if the fog’s kind, you’ll glimpse the Pacific Ocean rolling in through the strait.

Architect Joseph Strauss led the project, but it was the thousands of workers who risked their lives high above the water who gave this bridge its soul. Nearly nine decades later, it’s still one of the most recognized structures on Earth — part engineering marvel, part work of art.

As you approach the city side, the road begins to dip slightly. Stay in that right-hand lane, and we’ll soon exit into the Presidio of San Francisco — where history and nature meet at the foot of the bridge.

Read More

https://www.goldengatebridge.org/

Place #2

Distance: 1.59mi , Attraction : Historic Fortress

201 Marine Dr, San Francisco, CA 94129, USA

Presidio of San Francisco

Just past the toll gate, let's turn to the right, and head into the Presidio of San Francisco — one of the most beautiful and historic landscapes in the city. Take a deep breath — the air changes here. The hum of the bridge fades, replaced by the sound of wind moving through eucalyptus trees planted by soldiers more than a century ago.

The Presidio began in 1776, the same year America declared its independence. Spanish soldiers built a small fort here to guard the entrance to San Francisco Bay, making this one of the oldest continuously settled places on the entire West Coast. Over the centuries, it served under the flags of Spain, Mexico, and the United States, and by the 20th century, it had become one of the most important Army posts in the nation.

Look around as you drive — the wide lawns and red-roofed buildings ahead were once barracks and parade grounds. The old Main Post still feels like a town within a park, complete with cafés, museums, and restored officers’ quarters.

To your left lies Crissy Field, once a military airstrip and now a beloved waterfront park. On clear days, you’ll see kites flying over the beach and joggers tracing the shoreline with the Golden Gate Bridge gleaming behind them.

The Presidio became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1994, and today it’s a place of balance — history, art, and nature all living side by side.

Stay on this road as we continue through the heart of the Presidio — we’ll pass some of its best overlooks and hidden corners just ahead.

Also, we will be passing pleanty of parking if you wanna get out and explore on foot!

This is a premium tour, click below for complete access!

How to take a UCPlaces tour
Taking a UCPlaces tour is fun and easy.
Download the app (Android or iOS), purchase the tour (either here on the website, or from within the app).
That's it, you're ready to go!
When you want to start the tour, find the tour in the app (via a quick in-app search or by clicking the tour link received in your confirmation email) and click "Start Tour" (headphones recommended for best experience.)
* After purchasing a tour you will receive a purchase confirmation email including the tour link and instructions on how to take the tour, so you don't have to remember anything now.

How does the tour work?
UCPlaces acts as your personal tour guide, providing self-guided audio tours fully navigated within our app using GPS-based navigation. You won't need to switch between external navigation apps.
Whenever you approach a point of interest (POI) on the tour, our app will automatically play the relevant audio story at the right time and place.
If you start the tour before reaching the first POI, the app will navigate you to the starting point and then begin the tour.

How is this more convenient than a traditional tour?
UCPlaces offers an innovative and flexible way to explore exciting destinations on your terms.
Here are some key advantages over traditional tours:

No need to commit upfront or purchase in advance; buy a tour only when you're ready to go.
Walk at your own pace.
No waiting for groups; go on your schedule.
Take the tour in your preferred language.
Start, stop and continue the tour whenever you want.
Returning to the same destination? Take the tour again, and again, and again... And bring a friend!
Enjoy preferred prices.

What's included?

A self-guided audio tour taken via the UCPlaces app [Android / iOS (iPhone) / Apple CarPlay].
Tour route map and in-app GPS navigation (via the UCPlaces app).
Audio stories for places visited during the tour.
Apple CarPlay connection (for iOS users); for a seamless driving tour experience.

What's NOT included?

Earphones (highly recommended).
Smartphone.
Any kind of transportation (including tickets and passes).
Tickets to the attractions on your tour.
Food and drinks
Physical tour guide.

San Francisco Self-Guided Driving Tour: Iconic Sites from Golden Gate Bridge, to Downtown

About this English self-guided 1h:09m driving tour in San Francisco

Places (POIs) visited during this tour

Redwood Hwy, Mill Valley, CA 94941, USA

201 Marine Dr, San Francisco, CA 94129, USA

This is a premium tour, click below for complete access!