google tour in san francisco

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How to Get to the Googleplex and Tour the Campus

Last Updated: June 1, 2024 Fact Checked

Getting to the Googleplex

Exploring google campus, touring with a google employee.

This article was reviewed by Seth Hall and by wikiHow staff writer, Ali Garbacz, B.A. . Seth T. Hall (ICF ACC, CLC, and MNLP) is a Certified Life Coach and Founder of Transformational Solutions, a Los Angeles-based life-coaching company that helps people achieve their toughest goals, find their own voice, and think outside the box. He has been a life coach for over 10 years, specializing in personal development, relationships, career and finance, and wellness. He has helped his clients break the negative cycles in their lives and replace them with a positive, proactive mindset. Seth believes that everyone has the potential to live a fulfilling and rewarding life, and works passionately to help them reach their full potential. With a deep understanding of how our minds work and the power of positive thinking, he encourages his clients to find their unique paths in life and find success on their own terms. He is a certified master practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, a featured co-author for WikiHow, and co-author of "The Mountain Method”, “The Happy Tiger”, and “The V.I.S.I.O.N.S. Program”. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 233,839 times.

Have you ever wanted to explore the place where all of the magic of Google happens? Well, if you happen to be in Silicon Valley, specifically Mountain View, you’ll be able to stop by the infamous Googleplex. While there are no official tours, visitors are more than welcome to walk around the outside of the Google campus. We’re here to give you all the insider information and tips about how to visit the headquarters of one of the world’s biggest tech companies. We’ve also got a lot of suggestions for fun things to do while you’re there, so keep reading!

Things You Should Know

• Get to the Googleplex (1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA) via car, bus, or train. Parking is free on the Google campus.
• Explore the outside of the Google campus on foot and look out for famous landmarks, like the giant T-rex statue named Stan.
• Ask a friend or acquaintance who works at Google to give you a tour of the inside of the office buildings.

• The Google campus is open for tourists to walk around 7 days a week. However, most office buildings are closed on weekends.
• To keep with the theme of your trip, use Google maps to plot out your journey efficiently.
• Google has 35 office and retail locations spread throughout the United States. Other U.S. cities that house Google offices include Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, New York, and Portland.

• Caltrain is a commuter rail service that operates within the San Francisco Bay Area region.
• If you take the Mountain View city buses, the nearest stop to the Googleplex is Charleston & Google. From there, it’s about a 0.2 mile (0.3 km) walk to Google HQ.
• If you’re taking the Caltrain, get off at the Mountain View Caltrain Station and transfer to Mountain View city bus #40. Take this bus to the Charleston & Google stop, then walk the 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to the Googleplex.
• A day pass for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority costs $7.50 while a one-way ticket costs $2.50 (for adults). [3] X Research source
• A day pass for the Caltrain costs $7.50 while a one-way ticket costs $3.75. [4] X Research source

• The parking lots are labeled A, B, C, D, and E.

• If you’re taking the bus and get off at Charleston & Google, you’ll be dropped off on the south end of the Google campus. Simply cross the street behind the bus stop to get to the Googleplex.

• There is no longer a Google Visitor Center for tourists to visit.
• Wear comfortable shoes to help you trek across the campus without hurting your feet.

• Make this the first stop on your Googleplex tour since it’s easy to access from the campus parking lots.
• In addition to the Google head office, Google Buildings 41, 42, and 43 are also in this cluster.
• There is also a volleyball court and a small green area near these buildings.

• If you’re lucky, you might see Stan wearing fun accessories, like pink flamingos.
• The giant T-Rex is also a nod to Silicon Graphics, a Hollywood effects company that worked on the huge dinosaurs that appear in the Jurassic Park movies. [10] X Research source

• You might also be able to see the Google Street View car. This is the car that drives around and takes pictures for the street view option on Google Maps. [12] X Research source

• If you do manage to score a tour, remain respectful and discreet as you tour the buildings. This is a workplace after all, and you wouldn’t want to disturb the hard-working people who are busy revolutionizing the tech industry.

• Green represents maximum healthiness.
• Yellow indicates food that features both healthy and unhealthy ingredients.
• Red signifies that the food is more decadent and not ideal for a healthy diet.

• These "nap pods" were created by a company called MetroNaps. [17] X Research source

• The Google Garden also has vast green spaces and meditation spots for Googlers to use freely.

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• ↑ https://about.google/locations/?region=north-america
• ↑ https://chasethehorizon.co/blog/96/visiting-google-and-twitter-headquarters-in-san-francisco
• ↑ https://www.vta.org/go/fares
• ↑ https://www.caltrain.com/fares/farechart
• ↑ https://www.sanjose.org/listings/googleplex-android-statue-garden
• ↑ https://www.siliconvalleyguide.org/
• ↑ https://youtu.be/72zcF1sQWEY?t=65
• ↑ http://business.financialpost.com/business-insider/an-inside-look-at-googles-luxurious-googleplex-campus-in-california
• ↑ https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/07/what-googles-famous-cafeterias-can-teach-us-about-health/241876/
• ↑ https://youtu.be/Z-pT0XDYvDM?t=144
• ↑ https://metronaps.com/
• ↑ https://youtu.be/Z-pT0XDYvDM?t=213

About This Article

To visit Google headquarters, plan a trip to Mountain View, California, which is where the Googleplex is located. From there, you can explore the campus on foot and see some of the sights like the life-sized replica of a T-Rex skeleton. Check out the Visitor Center and the gift store for souvenirs, or grab a bite to eat at the Googleplex cafeteria. If you know someone who works at Google, ask them to give you a tour for greater access. For more information on how to visit Google headquarters and what you can do there, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Visiting Google and Twitter headquarters In San Francisco

If you are anything like me, you can't fly halfway around the world to San Francisco. and not at least attempt to sneak a peek at some tech company headquarters.

Let's start with the bad news

The disappointing news is that these are real life companies with real life people trying to get some work done, sometimes on projects that they don't want to make public yet. Although we'd love them to be a little more outsider friendly, at the moment you can't just walk up to their reception and demand a tour.

So let's work out how to help you not join the ranks of these slightly too expectant people:

I was very fortunate to have some very kind friends of friends who took the time to give us a peek but if you aren't best friends with Eric Schmidt and co there is still hope.

Getting to Google Headquarters

The Googleplex in Mountain View is a pretty big trek out of San Francisco and I have to warn you that it might be a bit far for all you get to see - just over 1 hour 30 mins to get there. If you are still super keen though, you can get out using the Caltrain and a bus which comes to just under $20/person for the round trip.

We took the "Limited" Caltrain from San Francisco's central Caltrain station to San Antonio.

From there we walked to the 'California & Showers' (name of the cross streets) stop for the number 40 bus just outside Target which cost just $1 each (you need exact change). If you are feeling lazy, you can actually get another bus - the number 32 - from the Caltrain station to just around the corner from this stop.

You are wanting to go see the Google Headquarters though - you probably have already found this on Google maps!

One thing to note that we missed - there is a free community shuttle called 'Mountain View Community shuttle' which does a loop near to the San Antonio station - if you research that a bit, you might be able to jump on there instead!

What you can do at Google Headquarters

So, to repeat myself, don't appear at the reception of one of the buildings, demand a tour and expect to receive a warm welcome as many seem to have done with disappointing results. The headquarters is pretty much like a university campus - lots of casually dressed people walking around between a group of buildings - provided you don't stick out like a sore thumb, you should be able to blend in. You'll not be able to get into any of the buildings as these are a bit more secure, but there should be no trouble soaking in the atmosphere around lunch time.

There are two main clusters of buildings - Buildings 1900, 1950 and 2000 form a small group to the east, while the neighbouring main 'Googleplex' cluster is found around a volleyball court and green area, just to the west of Charleston park. The rest of the complex is spread out around these, but the other buildings are much more boring and isolated.

Getting around

Now these are probably for Googlers (Googlees?) only but noone stopped us having a go; There are tonnes of brightly coloured Google bikes sitting everywhere - you can just jump on one to get across the campus a little quicker than walking (but much much more fun!).

Visiting the shop

A little more bad news for this bit - you need to have been signed in by a Google employee to get into the shop. I have no clue as to why this is, but they seemed quite strict checking IDs at the door.

Touring the campus with a Google Employee

So if you have a Googler buddy they'll know where to take you and most of this post is moot. We met Charles, a friend of a friend of a friend, who was kind enough to take time out of his lunch break to show us strangers around. Even more exciting he hosted us for lunch!

Google's food offering is massive - there are different places to eat in almost all of the buildings as well as various snack stations scattered throughout the buildings. Apparently Google has taken a policy of using simper, healthier food options now - where in the past they apparently offered things like lobster, now it is simpler pastas, gnocchi and things like that - still an incredible variety; even the pickiest eater would find something there!

After food he took us on a tour around, again mainly the outsides of the buildings, but a few quick dukes through some of the buildings too. A really great and insightful tour - loved every second! We ended up in the store at the end which meant I got to buy a t-shirt (new favourite bit of clothing). All in all a great visit - thanks Charles!

My top tips for touring Google without a Googler

• Try not to stand out as an obvious tourist - keep the photos subtle and dress like you are at work.

• Don't expect to get into any buildings, crazily, including the gift shop, unless you have found yourself a Google buddy to look after you.

• There are a few good photo ops with the Google logos on the buildings, particularly in the main cluster of buildings west of Charleston Park

• Take a ride on a bike, at least a short one on the cycle path through the Googleplex just for fun
• If you have time, on the way back, jump off the Caltrain at Palo Alto to check out Stanford University (we had return tickets to the city but didn't get into any trouble making a quick stop half way) - Lisa mentioned this more in her proper San Francisco post .

A quick look around Twitter

Another company I was excited to see the inner workings of was Twitter. The office is much easier to get to, being on Market Street, one of the main thoroughfares in the city centre.

Twitter is a good bit stricter with their building security - we had to get a badge (which required an invite + photo IDs for both of us) to get up to Twitter's floor, then we needed another ID and guide to get into the main headquarters - so you won't be as lucky casually sneaking in here for a look around. I also was a bit more worried about taking photos in here so sorry for the lack of them.

The headquarters is a warren of levels, spanning a few floors in the building. The main atrium doubles as the main canteen and also acts as the main venue for Twitter's weekly company-wide meetings. We were meeting Josie for lunch and were only able to see the common areas - not the work areas - but there were certainly a lot of these to see!

We'd started in the canteen, grabbing some food (which was a much fancier affair than Google's offering, albeit maybe a little less healthy looking!), then wound our way through several areas and floors in order to find a place to sit and eat.

There are several main themed areas, from the main, functional, canteen to quieter corners and coffee-shop like areas. The aesthetic was much less colourful and more natural, with a lot of wood paneling and partitions. All in all a much more professional feeling place to work, although maybe missing a little of the creative colour and energy which Google's aesthetic seemed to conjour.

There are plenty of other awesome tech companies scattered about San Francisco city centre that you might also be interested in checking out - we did a bit of a rushed tour of them but if you spent a bit more time to research and plan your route, you could see quite a few.

It is worth noting though that a lot of companies we attempted to go and visit had quite nondescript facades with very little reference to the company contained within - Airbnb and Pinterest where two we couldn't see any associated logos outside etc. We were told there might be some building regulations in the city which prevented them having logos outside the building which may have been the cause of this.

So if you are heading out to San Francisco and this blog hasn't put you off nosying around, good luck and have a great time! It can be pretty inspiring to see the 'real world' side of products and services we use every day.

Got a question? Ask us in the comments below or send us a tweet @ChaseTravelBlog

Just in case you are in a rush - we normally can get back to you in less than a day!

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How to Get a Tour of Google Headquarters, Mountain View, California

**Important note: I keep getting emails from people who think I’m a Google employee— I DO NOT work for Google, nor have I ever worked for

My friend was gracious enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to give a tour of the Google campus to me and my mom while she was in town. Now, please note that we had just gotten back from touring a castle in Napa Valley the day before, so our standards were pretty high. But because this is Google we’re talking about, we were absolutely blown away by the campus.

To give some background, I absolutely adore Google, its products and its culture. It used to be a dream of mine to work for the search engine giant, but I’m really enjoying working for myself , so now I’m content admiring from afar.

We weren’t allowed to take pictures inside the offices, but I did get some photos of the campus. Below are just some highlights of what we saw:

An in-office minibar and keg. Because why not?

My friend showed us his office, and we stopped on the way to his cubicle. He gestured to the right. “We have a minibar and keg,” he said casually and shrugged his arms. “Because, why not?”

Laundry service, oil changes, haircuts, and more…

There is really no reason to ever leave the Google campus.

All the free coffee and snacks you could ever want

We passed countless snack areas and baristas. My mom and I got free lattes to go before we left the campus.

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Google even has their own colony of bees from which they can harvest honey that is sometimes made available in their cafeterias. The place in which they keep their bees is named, of course, “ The Hiveplex .”

Google has a dog-friendly work environment.

Cots–ahem, Napping Pods

You have to reserve these. valium buy online xanax order

A ball pit (yes, like the ones kids play in at Chuck E. Cheese)

At least this one was adult-sized. And  yes, it took every ounce of my self-control to not dive into it.

Relaxation areas and massage rooms

With all their perks, I’m not sure what Googlers are so stressed about…

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Google bicycles (AKA G bikes)

If you live in Silicon Valley, you’ve probably seen the brightly-colored Google bikes at some point. Googlers are free to just grab one to ride to a different part of campus, and just leave it there for the next Googler to use.

Oh, and this happened…

On our way out of the cafeteria, my friend pointed out a funny-looking contraption with a steering wheel in the middle, and bicycle wheels encircling it.

“That’s the conference bike,” he explained. “One person steers, and everyone else pedals as you hold your meeting.”

I stared at the contraption.

“You have to reserve it,” he told me, as though he could read my mind and knew I was about to hop on it and take it for a spin.

Cafeterias with free food galore

Ah yes, the highest of highlights. My friend invited us to grab lunch with him at one of the many cafeterias on campus. I was overwhelmed by the options: salad bars, meat carving stations, pizzas, vegetarian options, desserts, and a coffee bar bombarded me.

A bowling alley, swimming pools, treadmills, dance studios

We walked through a flurry of activity during our tour. In one office, a woman was walking on a treadmill. Then we passed these two guys swimming in the Google lap pools:

There was also a dance studio that holds a variety of different dance classes for Googlers to sign up for.

Good-looking people

Perhaps in part due to the previous perk, Googlers are fit and gorgeous. I have no photographic proof of this. Just trust me.

Japanese space toilets

Apparently, while I was busy admiring the dance studio, I missed out on the crown jewel of the entire Googleplex: the bathrooms.

My mom had to tell me about the many wonders of the toilets. The seats are heated, and there is a control on the side that lets you…um, how to put this delicately…lets you wash your front or your back, bidet style , and it even lets you control the water pressure and temperature. And yes, my mom got pictures:

So, you wanna work at Google now?

Get in line. Google gets more than a million applicants a year .

But if all you really want is to see the campus, the public is welcome to walk around the outside and see things like the Android sculpture garden. There is plenty to see outside. 

For more travel tips and stories, explore the rest of The Wherever Writer ! 

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More Information About Visiting Googleplex

If one is interested in the great modern tech companies of the world, then consider popping in and visiting their headquarters in Silicon Valley. Many of them are based in the Bay Area and some have visitor centers, while others are closed to the public. It is possible to walk around Google's headquarters and see how one of the largest and most innovative companies in the world plans its workspace. Many people would love to have a Googleplex tour and see a Google Visitor Center.

Google is a company that needs no introduction, its Google Maps are also some of the best in the world for navigating - regardless of the country one is in. Google tries to be an innovative and fun company that people would want to work for. While using Google Maps or other Google services, keep an eye out for Google's humorous Easter Eggs.

UPDATE: 2023/04/30 16:46 EST BY AARON SPRAY

Googleplex is one of the most notable complexes in Silicon Valley today. Googleplex is the dynamic headquarters of Google (Alphabet) and visiting facilities are subject to change. This article was updated and expanded with more information about visiting Googleplex and if there are any Googleplex tours or a Google Visitor Center to explore.

What To Know About Google's Headquarters - Googleplex

Googleplex is the name of Google's corporate headquarters and is located at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway in Mountain View, California. It is the home of the search giant's parent company, Alphabet Inc.

• Location: 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View
• Area: Spread Out Over 12 Acres
• Parent Company: Alphabet Inc.
• NYC Office: At 111 Eighth Avenue

At 2 million square feet of office space, Googleplex is Google's second-largest office space complex after its building at 111 Eighth Avenue in New York City.

The name of the headquarters takes its name from "Google" and "Complex" - i.e. a complex of buildings. It is also a reference to Google's name - "googolplex" impossibly high number large number 10(10100), or 10googol.

• "Googolplex": 10(10100), or 10googol

Googleplex is on the site that was previously used by Silicon Graphics (SGI) - some of their properties were purchased by Google in 2006 for $319 million.

Related: The Biggest Mistakes Tourists Make In New York City (And How To Avoid Them)

Facilities And Attractions At Googleplex

The complex is a sprawling one and covers a large area. The buildings are not high rise and are of relatively low height.

Inside can be trippy and the lobby boasts a piano and a projection of current live Google search queries. One can find a dinosaur skeleton there and a replica of SpaceShipOne. The purpose of the T-Rex skeleto n (with twirling flamingos) is a reminder to its employees (called Googlers) to stay relevant and not become dinosaurs.

Built with an eye to a more relaxed vision of workspace, Googleplex offers free laundry rooms, two small swimming pools, volleyball courts, and eighteen cafeterias.

• T-Rex Skeleton: On Display In Googleplex - The Main Building
• Cafeterias: Eighteen Cafeterias With Diverse Menus
• Employee Facilities: Include Access To Fitness Classes, Massages, A 24/7 Gym, An On-Site Doctor, Dry-Cleaning Facilities, Cafeterias

Around 3 miles or 5 kilometers away from the main Googleplex headquarters is another large campus called "The Quad". It is located in Mountain View at 399 N Whisman Road.

Related: 20 Surprising Things About Times Square Tourists Should Know

Visiting Google's Googleplex

"While visitors can visit the grounds, they are not permitted inside the buildings unless they are escorted by a Google employee. The company doesn’t run tours." CNBC

Unfortunately, the buildings are not open to the public. Visiting the complex, one will find it to be more of a campus than an office building. Google doesn't run tours as such.

To get from one side of the campus to the other, Google supplies its employees with free colorful “G Bikes.”

Attractions and Instagramming spots include a sculpture garden featuring various Android statues, one for each version of Android. The Android statues are all named after sweets and candies - there's a cupcake, donut, ice-cream sandwich, KitKat, gingerbread, and honeycomb.

• Android Statues: One Of The Main Instagramming Attractions at Googleplex

In 2018 Google was pushing forward with plans to expand and build massive new buildings that would include more than 10,000 square feet of publicly accessible areas. Those areas include retail space, cafes, or other amenities located in the middle of the building.

There was a retail store called Google Merchandise Store located at 1981 Landings Drive, but that closed. Instead, one can shop online .

Another Silicon Valley tech giant to visit is Apple's, Apple Park . While the main building and campus are closed to the public, they do have a visitor center with a cafe. There are not really any specific Googleplex tours, but if one would like a tour of Silicon Valley in general, there are options for that.

Silicon Valley: Self-Driven Audio Tour for Technology Lovers is a tour that enables one to discover the modern world's birthplace on a self-driven tour in Silicon Valley. One will see the headquarters of tech giants like Facebook and Amazon, and explore tech headquarters open to visitors, like Google’s Googleplex.

Are There Googleplex Tours & A Google Visitor Center?

Previously it was possible to explore the visitor center with an escort. People needed to contact the Google Public Affairs team in advance to arrange an escort, but Google seems to have discontinued that now.

The Google Visitor Center was a great way to learn about the history of Google and see some of its early products. The visitor center was set up more as a museum complete with a replica of the original Google search engine. The entrance ticket was $17.50 and offers a behind-the-scenes tour into some of the buildings of the complex - including Googleplex.

However, as of 2023, it seems that the Google Visitor Center is permanently closed and Googleplex tours are no longer offered.

Still, people can visit Googleplex and see the 100 buildings in its sprawling campus at Mountain View and Sunnyvale. Check out the Google Merchandise Store at 1674 N Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View, CA and buy shirts, hats, cups, and other Google, YouTube, and Android branded merchandise.

Visitors are still able to wander around the campus and see Stand the T-Rex, ride colorful bikes, etc. Take the time to snap some Instagram photos with the Android lawn statues. After visiting Silicon Valley, take the time to visit the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

Next: 10 Destinations For All Of Us Obsessed With Technology (10 Where We Can Escape It)

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Entertainment | more lightning expected throughout bay area, though weather forecasters said it won’t be as frequent, entertainment, entertainment | hillary rodham clinton brings new book tour to bay area this fall, former first lady to appear at davies symphony hall.

The former First Lady — who also served as senator from New York and Secretary of State — is set to appear Oct. 7 at Davies Symphony Hall.

The appearance is part of a tour in support of her new book, “Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love, and Liberty,” which is set to be released by Simon & Schuster on Sept. 17.

“I can’t wait to hit the road and talk about ‘Something Lost, Something Gained’ with you in person. I hope you can join me for wide-ranging conversations that go behind the scenes and include never-before told stories,” Clinton says in a news release. “We’ll discuss the state of our politics and creating the future we want for our children and grandchildren and, most of all, have some fun while we’re at it!”

Tickets to Clinton’s San Francisco appearance go on sale on July 12, broadwaysf.com . People can also register for a presale at www.HillaryClintonLive.com .

“At each event, Secretary Clinton and a moderator will take the audience on a journey of unvarnished exchanges on politics, democracy, the threats we face, as well as friendship, aging, marriage, and how we can all work together to shape a future to be proud of,” according to a news release.

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5 of the Best Silicon Valley Tours

Renowned across the world as the epicentre of tech innovation, Silicon Valley can be discovered by joining a wide choice of guided tours.

(Photo: A Taste of SF Tours, Inc / Courtesy GetYourGuide)

Situated in the southern San Francisco Bay Area of California, and home to some of the world’s most foremost technology companies including Apple, Facebook and Google, Silicon Valley is a popular stopping-off point for people travelling through the wider California region. If you’d like to spend some time exploring the famous tech hotbed, we’ve picked out 5 of the best Silicon Valley tours currently available.

Full-Day Private Tour to Silicon Valley

Learn the unrivalled history of Silicon Valley on this full-day private tour. During the day, you and your select group of family or friends will get to enjoy the cutting-edge modern architecture of Oracle, Facebook, Google, and Apple campuses, see Steve Jobs’ former home, and walk in the footsteps of Stanford’s illustrious alumni on a guided walking tour – all in the company of an expert guide. There’ll also be the chance to visit the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, and sit down to a hearty lunch in one of many restaurants on University Avenue in Palo Alto. The tour price includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, bottled water, museum entrance, and lunch. From $999 per group (max 6 people).

Book at GetYourGuide

Silicon Valley: Self-Drive Audio Tour

(Photo: Action Tour Guide / Courtesy GetYourGuide)

Hop in your car and enjoy this self-guided audio tour of the birthplace of tech at your own pace and with no fixed schedule. Cruise through Silicon Valley while checking out the headquarters of tech giants and learn about the visionaries who’ve shaped the world, from Bill Gates and Steve Jobs to the controversies around Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos and the eccentricities of Elon Musk. All you need to do is get the tour guide app set up on your phone, release that handbrake and head on your way. After being purchased, your audio guide has no expiration date and is valid indefinitely. From $15 per person.

Private Redwood Forest & Silicon Valley Day Trip from San Francisco

Combine a memorable trip to Silicon Valley with a visit to California’s oldest redwood state park on this action-packed full-day tour. Featuring door-to-door service, starting and ending in San Francisco, you’ll spend half the day exploring the famous man-made wonders of Silicon Valley tech capital of the world before making the 50-mile drive southeast to marvel at the jaw-dropping natural beauty of Redwood state park, where 2,000-year old trees rise over 300 feet into the sky. Tours are suitable for everyone, including families with children. From $579 per group (max 2 people).

Book at Viator

Silicon Valley Private 2-Hour Driving Tour

(Photo: Jitze Couperus via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

Want to see Silicon Valley but are tight for time? This whistle-stop two-hour private driving tour complete with audio guide may well fit the bill. After collection from your hotel in a comfortable vehicle, you’ll head off to see the area in quick-smart fashion, getting to know the stories, legends and landmarks of Silicon Valley as you visit sites including the Googleplex, Apple Park Visitor’s Center and the Hewlett Packard Garage.  Let your driver do the work while you kick back and listen to audio narrated by local legend Matt Chatta. The set-up allows you to listen on your own schedule, so you can pause if you want to take a break or explore further. From $51 per group (max 5 people).

Half-Day Silicon Valley Tour Private Day Trip from San Francisco

If there’s a Silicon Valley landmark that you’re particularly keen to visit, then this fully customisable five-hour private tour might well be for you. The trip puts you in touch with the pioneering work of global communications, computing and biotech companies and their impact on the region. Starting with pick-up in San Francisco, you’ll travel in the comfort of a private vehicle to the South Bay, learning from your personal guide how Silicon Valley has revolutionised the way our world works. The tour price includes your private driver and guide, pick-up and drop-off, bottled water and snacks. From $577 per group (max 6 people)

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Music | Review: Megan Thee Stallion starts off strong…

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Music | rain, lightning over bay area not likely to last, music | review: megan thee stallion starts off strong then stumbles in san francisco, hot girl summer show was woefully mismanaged at times.

On one hand, the hip-hop star came across like a complete force of nature early on, propelled by a heady combination of charisma, stage presence, sex appeal, energy and pure talent as she delighted a packed house of some 15,000 fans on Sunday night (June 23) at Chase Center in San Francisco.

On the other, this stop on the star’s Hot Girl Summer tour was woefully mismanaged at times and felt increasingly repetitive as the night wore on. At nearly two hours in length, the show seemed overly long — especially given the fact that she has two full-length albums (plus one on the way) — providing opportunities for wrong turns that could have been avoided with a more-streamlined and efficient production.

Yet none of that was a problem early on in the evening, as the 29-year-old San Antonio native — who just last month appeared at BottleRock Napa Valley music festival — arrived in a blaze of glory, appearing amid a batch of fiery effects as she rose up through the stage floor and proceeded to showcase her ample rapping abilities.

She moved with equal amounts of poise and power, sending the fans into hysterics as she rhymed through “Ungrateful,” “Thot (Expletive),” “Freak Nasty” and others.

Although she originally took the stage alone, she’d soon be joined by eight dancers who wore risqué red outfits that nicely matched the one that the main attraction had on. Nine strong, the women moved together in a mighty formation, with one after another breaking out into the spotlight to showcase their twerking abilities.

If you didn’t know, twerking is a big thing at a Megan Thee Stallion concert. Indeed, it comprises roughly 179 percent of the show. OK, maybe that’s (a bit of) an overstatement. But the point is that there is very little twerking downtime during the production, as accompanying dancers, crowd members (shown on the big overhead video screens) and, of course, the star herself move their backsides in ways that I couldn’t imagine being endorsed by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners.

The hip-hop star had the crowd worked into a frenzy for the first half of the show, as she continued to illustrate why she’s one of the most charismatic rappers in the game as she moved about the oversized stage, which had two cutouts providing lucky fans with some incredibly closeup views, as well as three long video screens in back.

There were some minor video segments, some pyro, but otherwise relatively few bells and whistles. And it initially didn’t seem like Megan Thee Stallion would need them, but as the show wore on — and fresh ideas were nowhere to be found — some special effects/props would surely have proved useful.

Around the time we hit “Big Ole Freak” — which was 13 songs into a setlist that touched upon some 30 numbers — the whole thing began to feel repetitive and, eventually, a little bit boring. Of course, it didn’t help matters that we were witnessing what amounted to hip-hop karaoke, with the star singing over her own voice on prerecorded tracks. She’d come in and out with her live vocals on these numbers, but the “out” portion — where she just let the unaccompanied track play — definitely seemed to grow as the night went on.

The whole thing really went south in the last 40 minutes or so, with the concert coming to a grinding halt while Megan Thee Stallion invited dozens of fans to come up onstage for a twerk fiesta. The overly long segment must have been a thrill for those selected fans. But it was pretty much a snoozer for the other roughly 15,000 in the building.

And just when the dozens of fans finally exited the stage, Megan Thee Stallion did the whole thing over again — and invited another batch of ticketholders to the stage.

Talk about derailing a show.

Thankfully, things would get back on track, at least to some degree, once energetic opening act GloRilla rejoined the party and combined forces with the headliner on “Wanna Be.”

Yet, that proved to be the highpoint of the latter part of the show, which otherwise offered up diminishing returns as Megan Thee Stallion brought the overly long and increasingly repetitive evening of music to a close.

1. “HISS” 2. “Ungrateful” 3. “Thot (Expletive)” 4. “Freak Nasty” 5. “Megan’s Piano” 6. “Gift & a Curse” 7. “Say I Yi Yi” 8. “Hot Girl” 9. “Kitty Kat” 10. “Cobra” 11. “Plan B” 12. “Cognac Queen” 13. “Big Ole Freak” 14. “Girls in the Hood” 15. “BOA” 16. “Sex Talk” 17. “Realer” 18. “What’s New” 19. “Captain Hook” 20. “Southside Forever Freestyle” 21. “Ride Or Die” 22. “Pop It” 23. “NDA” 24. “Wanna Be” 25. “WAP” 26. “Don’t Stop”” 27. “Stalli Freestyle” 28. “Cash (Expletive)” 29. “Body” 30. “Savage”

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Silicon Valley Guide

Silicon Valley , located in Northern California, is home to iconic technology companies like Apple, Google, Meta, and Uber. This guide gives an overview of things to do in Silicon Valley and is intended for software engineers and programmers looking for geeky Silicon Valley points of interest. Every year, thousands of geeks visit the Silicon Valley destinations outlined in this guide. 

The Silicon Valley Tour page provides more information for visitors that want a guided tour.

Follow us on Twitter and YouTube .

Quick facts

Population is around 4 million

Highest median house prices in the US

28% of jobs are in high-tech

15% more men than women

What to see

Silicon Valley covers a wide geographic area and points of interest are spread out among several cities. The following map  highlights the attractions listed in this guide. 

What to expect : Visitors are often surprised when they arrive in Silicon Valley. The area is mostly suburban, filled with office parks . Companies are geographically dispersed and the traffic is bad. Many companies are developing innovative technology, but the work is done in access-restricted office buildings, hidden from the public.

Facebook Headquarters 

Geek Appeal: ★★★★ | 15 minutes

1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025

Facebook, the social media giant, is based in a 40,000-square-meter main campus designed by Frank Gehry.

The Good: Take a selfie next to the big thumb up sign and make it your Facebook profile picture. 

The Bad: There isn't anything else to see unless you know a Facebook employee.

Fun fact: The back of the sign still has the old logo of Sun Microsystems, the previous tenant of the campus.

Tip: During  warm seasons, the Facebook Farmers Market is hosted on the main parking lot.

Learn more: Facebook Menlo Park

Sandhill Road

Geek Appeal: ★ | 5 minutes

Sandhill Rd, Menlo Park, CA

Sandhill Road is home to the most powerful venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Firms such as Andreessen Horowitz , Sequoia Capital , Accel , Benchmark Capital , Kleiner Perkins , and Greylock Partners are located here. Entrepreneurs come to this area to meet venture capitalists and raise money for their start-ups.

The Bad: There isn't anything to see here except for office buildings.

Fun Facts: 

Sand Hill Road has the most expensive office space in the United States. 

Cougar Night was a weekly dating event previously hosted at the five-star Rosewood Sand Hill hotel. Read more at Vanity Fair .

Read more: The VC Address of Choice: Sand Hill Road.

Stanford University

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305

Geek Appeal: ★★★★ | 1 hour

Stanford University is where many of the biggest tech companies, like Google, Yahoo, and Cisco, were founded.

The Good : Beautiful campus. Very smart (and sometimes famous) students and faculty.

The Bad: Parking can be hard to find if you visit on a weekday during the school year.

Tip: Parking is easier to find on the weekend.

Learn more: YouTube

(Image CC from small-world .)

Tesla Motors Show Room

Geek Appeal: ★★★★ | 30 minutes

4180 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306

Telsa's showrooms are open to the public.  Browse  and learn about their electric vehicles, even if you can't afford the cars!

Test drive: You can test drive cars for free if you are over 25 years old and have a valid US driver's license. This requires making an appointment ahead of time on the Tesla website.

The Good: Friendly staff. Sales people aren't pushy. Free test drives.

Tesla also has showrooms and stores in San Jose, Fremont, and Sunnyvale.

Geek Appeal: ★★ | 2 minutes

367 Addison Ave., Palo Alto, California

Hewlett Packard was founded in this garage in 1939.

The Good : Located in a pleasant Palo Alto neighborhood.

The Bad: The garage is part of a residential property and is only viewable from the street. You cannot go inside the garage.

Nikola Tesla Statue

260 Sheridan Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306 

This statue of Nikola Tesla is also a free Wi-Fi access point and time capsule which will be opened in 2043. The statue was originally started as a Kickstarter project .

The Good: Tesla is relatively obscure compared to Edison, so it's nice to see him honored.

The Bad: It's just a statue.

Mountain View

Google Headquarters 

Geek Appeal: ★★★★★ | 30 minutes

2000 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94043

Google's headquarters, also known as the Googleplex , spans over 100 buildings in a sprawling campus in Mountain View and Sunnyvale. See this map for specific locations for taking your selfies!

The Google Visitor Center sells shirts, hats, cups, and other souvenirs with Google, YouTube, and Android branding. You can also buy the same goodies online .

Throughout the Google campus, you'll find quirky decorations such as physical Google Maps markers, Google Street View car , a volleyball court, and Stan the T-Rex . Colorful bikes are scattered across campus. Employees use these bikes to quickly travel between buildings on the massive campus.

The Good: Store is open during the weekdays.

The Bad:  Visitor Center is relatively small.

Fun Fact: Google has nine conference bikes where teams can hold meetings while cycling.

Read more: 

Googleplex (Wikipedia)

Google Visitor Center

The Computer History Museum

Geek Appeal: ★★★★★ | 1 hour

1401 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View, CA 94043

The Computer History Museum is adjacent to Google's headquarters. The museum has the world's largest collection of historical computing artifacts, spanning from ancient counting machines to autonomous vehicles.

The Good: World's largest collection of historical computing artifacts. Hosts a model Google self-driving car that you can sit inside.

Price: $17.50 (General Admission)

Tip: Groupon frequently has discounts for the Computer History Museum

(Image CC from brianjmatis on Flickr. See more .)

Shockley Semiconductor

391 San Antonio Rd., Mountain View, CA 94040

Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory was the very first company working on silicon devices. Today, a produce market occupies the space. 

The Good: It's fun to say that you purchased produce from the same place the transistor was invented.

The Bad: It's a produce market.

Image from Wikimedia Commons .

Geek Appeal: ★★★ | 30 minutes

Moffett Field, California 94035

The NASA Ames site has two parts. The first part is the NASA Exploration Center . This is a small exhibit that showcases the work done at NASA Ames. The second part is the Moffett Field Historical Museum . This contains history around the country's airships during the first half of the 20th century.

The Good: Gift shop has neat NASA gear. 

The Bad : The Exploration Center and Moffett Field Historical Museum are small. Touring each will take about 30 minutes.

Apple Visitor Center

10600 N Tantau Ave, Cupertino, CA 95014

Apple's headquarters are located in Cupertino. They have a company store that's open to the public. It's the only place in the world that sells Apple-branded t-shirts, caps, and accessories. The store is the only part of the campus that's open to the public.

The Good: View Apple's futuristic spaceship campus can be viewed from the terrace.

The Bad: The site is mostly a collection of office buildings and access is heavily restricted.

Read more: Wikipedia | Official Site

Original Apple Garage

Geek Appeal: ★★★ | 2 minutes

2066 Crist Dr., Los Altos, CA 94024

The original garage where Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak started Apple. It is now a historic site.

Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Santa Clara

Intel Museum

2200 Mission College Boulevard, Santa Clara, CA 95054

This corporate museum hosts the history the of the Intel Corporation. There is also a gift shop where you can by Intel schwag.

The Good : Free. This museum is unique because of its focus on semiconductors.

The Bad : Relatively small. Focuses exclusively on Intel technology.

Hacker Dojo

Geek Appeal: ★★ | 20 minutes

3350 Thomas Rd, Santa Clara, CA 95054

The Hacker Dojo is a place where computer enthusiasts can hang out, in the spirit of the Homebrew Computer Club . It was the first location in California to host a Bitcoin ATM. Check out their calendar of events .

The Good : Great community focused on technology and hacking.

Learn more: Fox News

Whole Foods - Pay with Palm

2732 Augustine Dr Ste 1600, Santa Clara, CA 95054

Geek Appeal: ★

If you're interested in biometric authentication, this Whole Foods lets you pay with your palm using Amazon One ! Otherwise, it's just a regular grocery store.

The Tech Museum of Innovation

Geek Appeal: ★★★ | 1 hour

201 South Market St., San Jose, CA 95113

Price: $15 for adults, $10 for kids

The Good: Unique displays that teach basic science concepts.

The Bad: This museum is targeted to kids, so you may feel out of place if you're an adult.

Read more: Yelp

Immersive Game Box

2855 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95050

Step into the Gamebox and enter a fully-private, interactive digital room featuring projection mapping, touch screens, motion tracking, and surround sound to enjoy a hyper-immersive 60-minute adventure.

San Francisco

San Francisco is typically not considered to be part of Silicon Valley, but many hot startups have migrated to the city. Many young tech workers live in San Francisco and commute to the suburbs for work. People in the Bay Area refer to San Francisco as "the city" or "SF".

Fun fact: there are self-cleaning toilets throughout the city. The newer ones are metallic pods, like this .

Salesforce Tower

Salesforce Tower is the headquarters for Salesforce. It's adjacent to Salesforce Park on the Salesforce Transit Center.

Pros: It's a nice park.

Cons: It's just a park.

Learn more: Wikipedia

Yoda Fountain

1 Letterman Dr, San Francisco, CA 94129

A life-size Yoda fountain is positioned at the Lucasfilms HQ. 

Learn more: Yelp

Noisebridge

2169 Mission St, 3rd floor, San Francisco, CA 94110

Noisebridge is a 5,200 square-foot space with an electronics lab, machine shop, sewing/crafting supplies, photography darkroom, and more. 

Hillsdale Shopping Center, 60 E 31st Ave #304, San Mateo, CA 94403

Play virtual reality games in an immersive experience.

LEGOLAND® Discovery Center

870 Great Mall Dr, Milpitas, CA 95035

Indoor LEGO playground located at the Great Mall in Milpitas, CA.

Recycling Vending Machine (at Safeway)

555 E. Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas, CA 95035

Yes, it's just a Safeway grocery store. But, they have a cool machine where you can bring your recycles and get reimbursed. Powered by Olyns .

University of California, Berkeley

UC Berkeley is a public university. Many Silicon Valley startups were founded by UC Berkeley alum. The campus is open for visitors.

The MADE - Video Game Museum

3400 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611

The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment (The MADE) is a non-profit dedicated to the preservation of video game history and to educating the public as to how video games are created.

Price: $10 to play games all day

Pros: Comprehensive collection of video games and consoles.

Cons: Relatively small.

Ace Monster Toys

6050 Lowell St. Ste 214, Oakland, CA 94608

Ace Monster Toys is a hackerspace. It has a large collection of tools and machines. They also host regular events for hacking .

Learn more about Silicon Valley Tours.

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Home > Road Trip Itineraries > West Coast > California Road Trip Itineraries > Northern California Road Trip > Silicon Valley in California: Tour of the Headquarters of Major High-Tech Companies

Silicon Valley in California: Tour of the Headquarters of Major High-Tech Companies

This site may contain affiliate links. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Silicon Valley is a place we have all heard about before and now plays a central role in the collective imagination when it comes to computers and technology in general. You will not find Silicon Valley on a map, because it is actually just an expression that refers to a vast area of California that encompasses several counties.

If you are making an itinerary for a trip to California and you are looking for an attraction that is a little bit out of the ordinary compared to the classic national parks or the most famous landmarks in big cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles , or if you are a real “geek”, this article can provide you with useful information about places you can visit and where you can take some memorable pictures.

Apple (Cupertino)

Google (mountain view), ebay (san jose), netflix (los gatos), other attractions, facebook and instagram (menlo park), the best way to include a silicon valley tour in your itinerary, santa clara county.

What is about to become the old Apple headquarters is located at the famous address, 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA . Unfortunately, to enter the buildings you have to be “escorted” by an employee, so unless you’re lucky enough to have a relative who works at Apple, you’ll have to settle for taking a picture with the company logo. In 2013, the construction of Apple Park began: it is the futuristic campus envisioned by Steve Jobs, which opened its doors in 2017.

In this massive ring-shaped campus, access is not freely permitted; after all, it is a workplace. There is, however, a section dedicated specifically to external visitors, the Visitor Center which you can freely access. Don’t expect a room filled with gadgets: Apple’s visitor center is much more than that! You’ll find a large exhibition space, a bar, a beautiful panoramic terrace, and, of course, a well-stocked Apple Store.

The basic idea is to offer a place where visitors can also learn something while exploring the world of the bitten apple. Normally, the center is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm . Since access to the campus is controlled and the area is truly vast, to avoid finding the entrance blocked, it’s better not to search for Apple Park on the map, but rather the visitor center itself: the exact location is this .

Google’s headquarters is not a single building; it is a complex (more than 60 buildings). Indeed, the name Googleplex is on point. The address is 1600 Amphitheater Parkway, Mountain View.

The main park, where you can find many places to park, is in front of the Google Building 43 . From here you can take a stroll in the park and freely photograph the many peculiar attractions and curiosities that you will find, such as the statues of Android, a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex, and colorful bicycles that Google employees use to move from one part of the complex to another.

Also in this case, sadly, it will not be possible to go tour inside the Googleplex since the only way to enter is with an employee as your guide. There is a visitor center , but do not be fooled by the name. It is intended only for those who already have permission to enter.

If you are like me and you can’t leave a place without first getting some souvenirs, you must visit the Google Merchandise Store (1981 Landings Drive, Mountain View) which is open Monday to Friday from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm.

Also in this case, in addition to the typical picture with the company logo, the only part you can visit is the eBay Store , where you can find a myriad of accessories with the eBay logo. If you buy souvenirs and one day you decide that you don’t need them anymore, you can still sell them… This store is in San Jose, an important city in Silicon Valley. We wrote an article about the things to see in San Jose .

If you spend your afternoons binge-watching Netflix on your couch, you can’t help but pass by the office buildings that are the cause of your addiction to TV series.

Once you have taken the usual photo in front of the Netflix logo, however, there is nothing more to do here, because unlike in the previous cases, there is not even a Netflix store.

We’re talking about one of the companies that have played an integral role in the history of technological progress . Although it does not have the same appeal as the companies we have talked about so far, if you are a true fan of computers, I highly recommend you visit the Intel Museum that will take you on a journey through the history of this company.

The museum is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. In case you want to visit it, I suggest you look on the official website and contact the museum directly to make sure that it is not closed for special events. Since it is a museum, there is also a gift shop.

Until now, I have listed the headquarters that I personally recommend that you visit if you are passing through this area and you are passionate about technology. Instead, this section will be devoted to museums and unique attractions that have marked the history of technological progress.

Stanford University

Stanford University is one of the most prestigious universities in the United States and it is linked to the world of technology not only because of the courses it offers, but above all, because it was here that Steve Jobs gave his famous address to graduates (where Jobs declared “Stay hungry, stay foolish” ) that every Apple fan knows practically by heart.

Visiting the campus can be interesting not only to be able to say you have been to this iconic place but also because there are interesting things to do at the university.

Go to the visitor center so that you can take part in a free tour of the university. The most notable attraction of this campus is the Hoover Tower Observation Platform , which today has become a lookout tower where you can enjoy a 360° view of the entire surrounding area. To access it, you will pay $5 and also receive a guided tour.

To find out about the tour schedule and to check if the university is closed, please refer to the official website . Parking near the visitor center costs $2 per hour.

Computer History Museum

The Computer History Museum is very close to the Googleplex and as you can guess from the name, it goes through the history of computer science from its origins, when computers occupied an entire room, until today. There are more than 90,000 exhibits related to the world of technology that make it one of the most well-stocked museums in the world. The museum recently added, a section entirely dedicated to self-driving vehicles, which are becoming more and more popular in our society.

The hours of operation are usually from Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. However, there are special openings and extended opening hours depending on the time of year. For this reason, you should always check on the official website . The entrance ticket, which costs $19.50, is quite expensive , and there are some “geek packages” which, for a higher price, also include souvenirs.

The Tech Interactive (formerly  The Tech Museum of Innovation )

With its bizarre shape and bright colors , it is impossible not to notice the Tech Interactive if you are driving around this area. It is a museum divided into three floors and because it is interactive and offers demonstrations, it is particularly recommended if you are traveling with children. It also houses an IMAX cinema which you can access separately if you want to watch the latest movies.

If you thought your ticket to the Computer History Museum was expensive, get ready because to visit the Tech Museum of Innovation you’ll have to pay $34. The museum is open every day (closed on Christmas and Thanksgiving) but the hours vary (you can check them here ).

Hewlett Packard House and Garage

These last two attractions are legendary; they are the places of origin of the ideas that set in motion the technological and computer science progress that also led to the creation of the device on which you are reading this article.

Let’s start from the small wooden garage where Bill Hewlett and David Packard , while they were still students at Stanford, began to work together by building their first oscillator called HP200A and laid the foundations of their company that would later become a leader in the production of computers and computer accessories. A plaque describes this place as the birthplace of Silicon Valley.

Unfortunately, you can only see the garage from the outside, since it is not open to the public.

Steve Jobs Garage

Here we are at another garage that has become part of the history of computer science. In fact, this is the place where Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak assembled the Apple I and originated what is probably the most famous brand of Silicon Valley. Today it’s a historic home on a par with Hewlett and Packard’s garage and, as the other one, sadly you can only take pictures from the outside, since it is private property.

San Mateo County

The advantage of the headquarters of Facebook and Instagram is that you won’t have any problem parking your car. A huge number of parking spaces surround the offices. At the same time, unfortunately for visitors, there is not much you can do, besides taking a souvenir photo in front of the “thumb ” symbol of Facebook’s “ like”.

San Francisco Area

If you are a regular Twitter user you can take a picture of the well-known social network logo in the SoMa District at the intersection of Market St. and 10th st.

There’s not much else to do in the area, so only go if you really want to.

Maybe this stop is a bit unrelated to the other stops and to the topic of this article for that matter, but we thought it was right to mention the headquarters of the legendary Lucasfilm, where you can take a picture with a beautiful fountain with a statue of Yoda on top. This is definitely an attraction that, if you’re a Star Wars fan, you can’t miss when visiting the city of San Francisco .

At this point, if you are interested in taking a tour of Silicon Valley , you may be wondering how best to include it 

in a California road trip . It all depends on where you start, whether you’re traveling from Los Angeles to San Francisco or vice versa.

In our article on how to get around San Francisco , we had the chance to advise you against using the car in this chaotic city. For this reason, the best solution is to include this trip to Silicon Valley or at the beginning or end of your travel itinerary, because it will be more convenient for you to be already on the road and not have to worry about renting a car while you are visiting San Francisco.

Whether San Francisco is your point of departure or arrival, you should definitely look for accommodations here due to its wide selection of hotels. To find out which hotel is best for you, I suggest you read our tips on where to stay in San Francisco .

Warning: Operating hours can change and closures for extraordinary events can occur, so we strongly suggest to check the venues official websites.

Filippo Nardelli

I have a degree in History of North America and have always been fascinated by the United States.

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Soul Coughing Reunite for First Tour in 25 Years

Soul Coughing is back! On Thursday, the Nineties alt-rock band announced that its four original members - Mike Doughty, Mark Degli Antoni, Sebastian Steinberg, and Yuval Gabay - will be reuniting for a tour across the United States later this year.

"We said it would never happen," wrote Doughty on Instagram sharing the news.

Presale tickets go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. local time before going on sale to the general public on June 28. The group will kick off their tour in San Diego on Sept. 11, before stopping for two nights at San Francisco's Fillmore, Chicago, Boston, and two shows at Brooklyn Steel in New York City to conclude the run.

The group released three albums between their 1992 formation and 2000 separation. Their first was titled Ruby Vroom , the second named Irresistible Bliss in 1996, and their third and final album, El Oso , in 1998. The final LP featured tracks such as "Pensacola," "I Miss the Girl," "Misinformed," and "Circles."

Doughty had intended to reunite Soul Coughing back in 2020, and ended up forming a new group called Ghost of Vroom. The band's name was a reference to a once-planned companion piece to Soul Coughing's Ruby Vroom . "It's this ghostly version of Soul Coughing - this step that was never taken," Doughty said at the time. "That idea stepped out of my consciousness and said, ‘This is where you're at.'"

Soul Coughing Reunion Tour

Sept. 11 – San Diego, CA @ Belly Up Tavern

Sept. 13 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether

Sept. 14 & 15 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore

Sept. 17 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom

Sept. 18 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox

Sept. 20 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot

Sept. 21 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre

Sept. 22 – Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater

Sept. 24 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue

Sept. 25 – Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre

Sept. 27 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Small's Theatre

Sept. 28 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club

Sept. 29 – Boston, MA @ Royale

Oct. 3 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer

Oct. 4 & 5 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel

More from Rolling Stone

• Sabrina Carpenter Unveils 2024 'Short n' Sweet' North American Arena Tour Dates
• Ivan Cornejo Announces Arena Tour to Celebrate Upcoming Album 'Mirada'
• MisterWives Rock Out With Charlotte Sands on 'Other Side,' Announces 20-Date Tour

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The best San Francisco tours

Get to know the real Fog City on brewery crawls, art excursions, culinary walks and more of the best San Francisco tours

Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/giuseppemilo/15911515116" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Giuseppe Milo</a>

Though San Franciscans would rather cheer for the Dodgers than get caught riding one of those double-decker buses, it’s still fun to play tourist on one of the best San Francisco tours every now and then. Happily, there’s no shortage of offbeat excursions to quench the local thirst for discovery, from boozy trips to the best San Francisco breweries to strolls through the mural-covered Mission District . There are plenty of options for first-time visitors to the City by the Bay, too: You can get the lay of the land on a bike ride through Golden Gate Park or a walking tour of all the best San Francisco attractions .

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Best San Francisco tours

1.  city guides.

What started out more than 30 years ago as a request from the mayor for librarian-led tours of City Hall has evolved into a nonprofit operation with more than 200 volunteers who lead some 50 different walking tours all over San Francisco—entirely for free (though donations are gladly accepted). Guides are local history buffs who live to share their knowledge and wax poetic about their city. Tours cover every niche, nook and cranny of S.F.—from Russian Hill stairways and Alfred Hitchcock film locations to Chinatown tongs and gangs and the 1906 earthquake and fire.  Free

Photograph: Courtesy Creative Commons/Flickr/ Roger

2.  Precita Eyes Murals Tour

With more than 200 murals canvasing its walls and back alleys, the Mission District is the city’s mecca for political, cultural and just downright beautiful street art. Since it was established in 1977, the Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center has worked with local artists to create and preserve many of the stunning works. On the third Saturday of every month, founder and director Susan Cervantes leads guided mural walks through the Mission. Learn how the art reflects the changing cultural and physical landscape and tells the story of the nabe's Hispanic heritage. $20

3.  Gourmet Walks

Given the city’s rep as a food mecca, it’s no surprise that there are a glut of “eat your way through…” tours in SF. Gourmet Walks stands out by having a great grasp on what people want, focusing on hip neighborhoods, of-the-moment dishes (think salted caramel ice cream, artisan salumi and fresh-baked breads), and of course, chocolate. Local cooks and culinary aficionados lead tasting tours of Hayes Valley , Russian Hill and Alamo Square that offer plenty of samples, plus meet-and-greets with chefs, cheesemongers, bakers and chocolatiers. $55–$90

4.  AT&T Park Tours

Regardless of where your team loyalties lie, few can argue about the fabulousness of AT&T Park, which in 2000 kicked off the transformation of South Beach from an abandoned warehouse wasteland into a bonafide five-star neighborhood. Behind-the-scenes tours of the park are offered all year, giving fans a chance to sit in the dugout, visit the clubhouse and press box, soak up the spectacular Bay views and walk on the field where the Giants have taken three World Series victory laps in the last six years. $22 adults, $17 seniors, $12 kids 12 and under

Photograph: Courtesy Creative Commons/Flickr/ Shawn Clover

5.  Teas, Temples and Beatniks Tour

This walking tour pairs up two of the city’s most visited neighborhoods: Chinatown and North Beach. Start at Chinatown Gate, then venture further into the ‘hood to taste mooncakes at a local bakery, have your fortune told at the oldest Chinese temple in the country and taste freshly made fortune cookies at the factory. Then you’ll head into North Beach to see former hangouts of Beat poets like Jack Kerouac and look up Coit Tower. $66

Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/ Giuseppe Milo

6.  The Castro Historical Walking Tour

Though San Franciscans have lived in the Castro for decades, it didn’t become the thriving LGBTQ community it is today until after World War II, when discharged LGBTQ servicemen settled in the neighborhood. Since then, the Castro has become a hotbed for social and political activism and a symbol of acceptance and diversity for people around the world. Discover the nabe’s history on a walking tour that visits cultural and historic landmarks like the Rainbow Honor Walk, Harvey Milk's residence and the Castro Theater. $25

7.  SF on Tap Tours

Hop heads can quench their thirst for suds on an SF on Tap brewery tour. Guided walking tours take drinkers to three local breweries and craft beer bars in Haight-Ashbury , SoMa or North Beach , where you'll sip complimentary beers as you learn about the city's beer history. Each tour is capped at 12 people, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to pepper your guide with questions about his favorite local brews.  $79

8.  San Francisco Urban Hike

Thanks to the city’s hilly terrain, walking in San Francisco might as well be considered hiking—just in an urban jungle instead of, well, a natural one. Ascend some of S.F.’s steepest hills on this three-hour tour that requires you to wear hiking boots. You’ll climb Kite Hill, ride the Seward Street Slides, discover a hidden eucalyptus forest and summit Twin Peaks. The sweeping views of the city are worth the perspiration. $49

9.  Historic Sausalito Houseboat Tour

After World War II ended, the once-bustling shipbuilding operation in Richardson Bay shut down, leaving tons of wood and scrap metal behind. Enterprising locals took the opportunity (and free materials) to build an entire community of floating houseboats in the harbor. Today, Sausalito is still home to more than 200 houseboats—everything from rough-and-tumble shantys to million-dollar properties. Explore the waterfront community that inspired Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” on this walking tour. $58.83

Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/ Jay Sterling Austin

10.  San Francisco Love Tour

Channel the spirit of peace and love that once enveloped San Francisco on this ‘60s-themed bus tour. Instead of a charter coach, the tour uses a vintage Volkswagen van decked out with neon blue seats, shag carpets and beaded curtains to set the scene. You’ll cruise all over town to landmarks like Lombard Street and Golden Gate Park, plus the former homes of counter-culture icons like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. $48

11.  Golden Gate Park Self-Guided Bike Tour

Though 13 million people visit San Francisco’s verdant oasis every year, few of them explore all of the park’s 1,017 acres. Instead of hoofing it, hop on a bike to cover more ground in less time. Cycle to the Conservatory of Flowers, National AIDS Memorial Grove, Beach Chalet, Lloyd Lake, Japanese Tea Garden and other lauded landmarks at your own pace. $32

12.  Barbary Coast Trail

If you’re not a tour kind of person, but you still want to find out the backstory of San Francisco’s wild and scandalous Gold Rush past, take yourself down to the Barbary Coast Trail. The walking path was created in 1998 by local historian Daniel Bacon in conjunction with the San Francisco Historical Society. Bacon worked tirelessly for years to install more than 170 bronze Barbary Coast Trail medallions in the sidewalk that trace a 3.8-mile path through the history of gold diggers, shanghai dens, railroad barons and ship graveyards. The best part is you can do as little or as much as you want and you don’t need to go in order. Pick up a printed pocket guide, a Walking San Francisco on the Barbary Coast Trail book or download an audio tour. For the full experience, you can also book Bacon for a guided tour ($25 a person, $400 minimum).

Photograph: Courtesy Creative Commons/Flickr/ San Francisco Maritime NHP

Looking for more tours in San Francisco?

The best san francisco bus tours.

• Things to do
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If you don’t want to rely on Ubers, taxis or an unfamiliar public transportation system to get around San Francisco, bus tours might just be your best bet

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16 best san francisco tours (alcatraz, wineries & more).

Explore SF's top sights and hidden gems on these traveler-approved tours.

The Best San Francisco Tours

Getty Images

Whether by air, by bike, by boat, by bus or even by vintage Volkswagen, there are so many different ways to take in the beauty of San Francisco and experience its top attractions . To help you decide which method is right for you, U.S. News compiled the city's top tours, considering traveler sentiment and expert opinion. Foodies, history buffs, adventurers and everyone in between will find a tour on this list.

Editor's Pick: Dylan's Tours – Dylan's Famous Tour with Muir Woods

Price: Adults from $99; kids from $79 Duration: 5 hours

U.S. News independently paid to send Lili Weigert , an arts and travel writer based in Marin County, on this tour to provide readers with an unbiased, first-hand perspective of what to expect. Dylan’s Famous Tour With Muir Woods was selected by our team as an Editor’s Pick thanks to its popularity and favorable user reviews.

This half-day minibus excursion takes you from Fisherman's Wharf to Muir Woods and back, and includes a lively tour of some of San Francisco's most iconic neighborhoods and landmarks. Throughout the ride, our guide – a passionate San Francisco native – shared fun and surprising facts and pointed out interesting sights as we wound through North Beach , Pacific Heights, Chinatown and Alamo Square. After a dramatic photo-op at Fort Point (the waves can make a big spray!), we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and drove to Muir Woods, where we spent almost 90 minutes strolling through the trees. After a lunch break in the town of Sausalito, we headed back over the bridge, making a quick stop to admire the Palace of Fine Arts before ending back at Fisherman's Wharf.

Tours operate daily at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Know that if you choose the 8 or 10 a.m. departure, you'll have a slightly higher fee because of the extra stop in Sausalito (the 8 a.m. tour) or the Ferry Building Marketplace (the 10 a.m. tour). Dylan's Tours offers a variety of minibus tours, including a foodie tour and a daylong Sonoma and Napa wine tour.

Lili Weigert

Why we love it:

• Our guide kept us entertained with fascinating historical anecdotes about the Bay Area; he even used visual aids and played music to bring the stories to life.
• In Muir Woods, our guide explained the different paths we could explore, then left us on our own so everyone could go at their own pace and as far as they wanted.
• The organization and timing of the entire tour was flawless – there were plenty of stops for photo-ops and our guide was very clear and respectful of everyone's questions and needs. He even had water and energy bars for us.
• Sausalito is a lovely spot for lunch and there’s enough time for a snack and stroll through town or a waterfront meal at The Spinnaker – just ask for your check when you order!

– Lili Weigert 

Check prices & availability on:

Red and White Fleet – Bridge 2 Bridge Cruise

Price: Adults from $48; kids from $36 Duration: 1.5 hours

Take in San Francisco's two most famous bridges on this boat trip through San Francisco Bay. In addition to sailing beneath both the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge, tourgoers will see Alcatraz Island, Palace of Fine Arts and the city skyline, among other landmarks. Red and White Fleet provides an audio guide available in 16 different languages that details the city's history. Reviewers say this is a must-do if you're a first-time visitor and that they enjoy the views, the helpful commentary, and the clean and comfortable boats. They recommend wearing layers – especially on evening tours – because it gets chilly on the water.

Tours run daily, year-round. You can hop on a boat in the morning and the afternoon, but exact times vary by day and time of year. Cruises depart from Fisherman's Wharf. Short on time? Red and White Fleet also offers an hourlong Golden Gate Bay Cruise, among other tours.

Vantigo – San Francisco City Tours

Price: Adults from $95; kids from $65 Duration: 3 hours

Instead of a traditional tour bus, Vantigo transports up to seven passengers in a vintage Volkswagen van to see all the city has to offer. The tour highlights 15 points of interest, with plenty of opportunities for photos and views of Haight-Ashbury, North Beach, Twin Peaks and more. Reviewers love the Volkswagen, which they say is roomy, comfortable and unique, and describe the guides as fun, informative and personable.

Tours are generally available Thursday through Monday once or twice daily. You can board at either Fisherman's Wharf or Union Square . Combo tours to Alcatraz are also available, as are brewery tours.

Secret Food Tours – San Francisco Mission District Food Tour

Price: Adults from $79; kids from $69 Duration: 3.5 hours

Weave your way through the epicenter of San Francisco's Latino culture on this tasty food tour of the Mission District . The tour starts with a Mission-style burrito and ends with a visit to a craft chocolate maker for a total of five stops, including the company's "secret" dish that's not revealed until the day of the tour. Along the way, your guide will share stories about how immigrants continue to shape the district's culture and food scene and its many murals. Travelers applaud the authentic food featured on the tour and are particularly impressed with the insightful guides, who share a bounty of historical information about the district and the dishes. 

This tour is offered daily at 11 a.m. and it's capped at 12 participants. If you're hungry for more, the company also runs a combo food tour of North Beach and Chinatown.   Check prices & availability on:

Seaplane Adventures – Alcatraz & City Sites Seaplane Tour

Price: From $249 Duration: 20 minutes

After you've walked the city streets and sailed the bay's waters, your next step should be an air tour. On this short seaplane tour, you'll fly over downtown and above Alcatraz and Angel Island before landing in Sausalito's Richardson Bay. Reviewers describe the trip as amazing and one of the best activities they did while visiting San Francisco. Even locals recommended it and were particularly impressed with the pilot.

Flights depart Thursday through Monday in the afternoon. If you're hoping to spend more time flying, consider the company's 45-minute Greater Bay Area Tour.

San Francisco Love Tours – The Love Tour

Price: From $85 Duration: 2 hours

Drive through the city in a classic Volkswagen hippie bus during this sightseeing tour. As you drive around to sites like Lombard Street and Golden Gate Park , you'll hear all about San Francisco history and listen to music. You'll also make two stops for photos to capture the Golden Gate Bridge and the city skyline. Reviewers rave about the knowledgeable guides and the nostalgic music choices and say this is a great way to spend a couple hours in San Francisco, especially on the first day of your trip.

Tours, which start and end near Fisherman's Wharf, are generally available daily at 8:30 and 11 a.m. as well as 2 and 5 p.m. The van can accommodate up to seven passengers. The company also runs a night tour.

Local Tastes of the City Tours – Tastes of Little Italy: North Beach San Francisco Food Tour

Price: Adults from $79; kids from $25 Duration: 3 hours

According to reviewers, this tour is a must for food and history lovers thanks to experienced guides who are engaging storytellers. Along the walking tour, you'll explore up to 10 blocks of North Beach (or "Little Italy"). Samples of the neighborhood's best pizza, pastries, coffee, chocolates and more are all included in the cost of the tour. Travelers say the portions are generous and recommend arriving to the tour hungry.

Tours are generally offered daily at 10:30 a.m. with an additional 2:30 p.m. tour available on select days. Still hungry? Consider the company's Chinatown tours.

Big Bus San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Price: Adults from $63; kids from $53 Duration: 2 hours

If you're looking for a convenient way to visit the city's top attractions in one day, this hop-on, hop-off tour may be just the ticket. Big Bus lets riders disembark at any of its stops, explore the area and catch another bus when they're ready. Buses frequent stops every 15 minutes and visit more than 15 locations, including Presidio Park , Chinatown, the Embarcadero and even includes a ride over the Golden Gate Bridge. The entire tour lasts a little more than two hours, if you don't choose to disembark. All buses have open tops and prerecorded commentary available in six languages. Reviewers enjoy the educational commentary and the opportunity to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge in the open-top bus, but many warn that buses get crowded quickly. For access to maps and live bus tracking, heed the advice of past riders and download the Big Bus Tours smartphone app.

Big Bus San Francisco also offers night tours of the city, as well as upgraded tickets that include free bike rentals or tours of Muir Woods.

Gray Line San Francisco – Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour

Price: Adults from $96; kids from $75 Duration: 5 hours

This half-day excursion from Gray Line San Francisco takes you to Muir Woods National Monument to see its beautiful redwood trees up close. After exploring the forest on your own for about 90 minutes, the tour continues to Sausalito, a charming town across the bay full of waterfront dining, shopping and art galleries. You'll have about an hour to explore on your own before boarding the bus back to San Francisco. For even more time in Sausalito, you can skip the bus and instead return to the city by ferry for an additional cost. Reviewers say the tour bus is comfortable and describe the driver as engaging and knowledgeable. Many recommend this tour if you do not want to navigate the traffic and parking headaches at Muir Woods.

Gray Line offers a variety of day trips from San Francisco, including trips to Sonoma , Napa Valley and Monterey .

Bay City Bike Rentals and Tours – Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito

Price: Adults from $75; kids from $55 Duration: 2 to 3 hours

See San Francisco by bike on this tour that guides you from Fisherman's Wharf to Sausalito. The trip takes two to three hours and covers 8 miles. After making your way along the waterfront, you'll pedal across the Golden Gate Bridge, stopping for photo-ops along the way. At the conclusion of the tour, you can either bike your way back to the city or opt to take the ferry from Sausalito to San Francisco for an additional fee. Tourgoers say guides are friendly and informative and the sights are beautiful.

Tours are open to all ages. From March through September, tours are available daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.; tours are available daily at 10 a.m. the rest of the year. The company also offers a Streets of San Francisco Electric Bike Tour, among other options.

Courtesy of San Francisco Whale Tours

San Francisco Whale Tours – Golden Gate Whale Watch

Price: Adults from $96; kids from $72 Duration: 2.5 hours

Head into San Francisco Bay to catch sight of some of the many whales that pass through its waters with San Francisco Whale Tours. On the cruise, you may see humpback or gray whales, harbor seals, dolphins, porpoises and seabirds, depending on the time of year. You'll also get a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The tour does not include food, though you can bring your own, and you should bring warm clothes, including jackets, hats and gloves. Many tourists report seeing both gray and humpback whales and describe the crew as very friendly and respectful of the marine life.

Golden Gate Whale Watch tours are offered once or twice daily. The company also operates specialty cruises for popular seasonal events in San Francisco, such as Fleet Week and July Fourth fireworks.

Extranomical Tours – Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Tour

Price: Adults from $214; kids from $192 Duration: 15 hours

Once you've gotten your fill of the city, trek to one of California's incomparable natural wonders with a day trip to Yosemite National Park . During the daylong tour, you'll stop at Tuolumne Meadows to see the 2,000-year-old giant sequoia trees, then hit top stops like El Capitan , Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Fall . You'll also enjoy about two hours to explore on your own in Yosemite Valley. Buses, which pick up from most San Francisco hotels , are equipped with expert park guides who provide commentary along the way. Tourgoers appreciate the information provided by the guides and compliment the drivers for their attention to safety. Reviewers also rave about the scenery and say this is a great option if you don't have time for a multiday trip to Yosemite.

The trip departs every day of the year. Tickets do not include meals, but do cover the park entrance fee. Extranomical Tours offers a variety of city tours, as well as excursions to wine country and Monterey.

San Francisco Movie Tours – San Francisco Movie Sets & Locations Tour

Price: Adults from $67; kids from $44 Duration: 3 hours

Countless movies and TV shows have been filmed in San Francisco, and this bus tour highlights all the top filming locations. Knowledgeable actors-turned-guides lead the interactive tour, which takes you to filming locations for productions such as "The Princess Diaries," "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Full House." Throughout the trip, you'll see clips on big screens with surround sound of each movie or show as you arrive. Along the way, you'll see several of the city's most popular neighborhoods, including North Beach, Nob Hill, Golden Gate Park and Pacific Heights. Tourgoers describe it as a fun way to see the city and say guides are entertaining.

Tours are generally offered daily at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., though availability may vary by month.

The Haunt Ghost Tours – Ghost Hunting in Old San Francisco

Price: From $48 Duration: 90 minutes

According to reviewers, The Haunt Ghost Tours' outing is full of intriguing and spooky information told by engaging guides. The nighttime walking tour, which lasts up to 90 minutes, unveils the darker side of San Francisco history, including stories about Chinatown's history, documented hauntings and true crimes, while you hunt for spirits along the way with EMF meters – devices used to measure electromagnetic fields.

Tours meet nightly (exact times depend on the season) in the Jackson Square Historic District. Trips traverse less than a mile of downtown. Though the tour covers topics like hauntings and ghosts, the company says it is family-friendly and kids 4 and older require a ticket.

Adventure Cat Sailing Charters – San Francisco Bay Sail

Price: Adults from $65; kids from $35 Duration: 90 minutes

To feel a bay breeze and see San Francisco from a new perspective, climb aboard Adventure Cat's sailing catamaran. The cruise allows you to see the sights from inside the protected cabin or outside on a netted deck trampoline where you can feel the waves crashing beneath your feet. While you can't bring drinks on board, soda, beer and wine are available for purchase in the cabin bar. The company also provides an audio tour, which offers listeners information about key attractions as they sail by. Reviewers describe the cruise as fantastic, with many lauding the tour as their top experience in San Francisco. Others appreciate the excellent service provided by the crew.

Sails operate daily, but times vary by the season (know that Thursday to Sunday sails have a slightly higher fee per person). The company also offers sunset sails and Alcatraz combo tickets.

GoCar San Francisco

Price: From $286 Duration: 5 hours

Explore the city at your own pace with this GPS-guided talking car that provides directions and historical and cultural commentary as you follow the designated sightseeing route or branch off on detours, stopping for photo-ops or breaks as you please. The full-day option takes you to the Painted Ladies, Legion of Honor, the Marina District and more. A maximum of two people can fit inside the roofless, three-wheeled car and you must be at least 21 years old to drive it. The custom cars do not exceed a speed of 30 mph. Reviewers describe riding in the car as lots of fun and a unique way to see the city; they also assure that it's easy to drive.

The rental cost covers both passengers. A variety of routes and rental times are available daily.

You may also be interested in:

• The Best San Francisco Bus Tours
• The Best San Francisco Walking Tours
• The Best San Francisco Boat Tours
• The Best San Francisco Wine Tours
• The Top Things to Do in California

Tags: Tours , Travel , San Francisco , Vacations , California Vacations , US Vacations , U.S. West Vacations

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Chicago cubs at san francisco giants odds, picks and predictions, share this article.

The Chicago Cubs (37-41) begin a 4-game series against the San Francisco Giants (36-42) Monday at Oracle Park. First pitch is scheduled for 9:45 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cubs vs. Giants odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Cubs lead 2-1

The Cubs and Giants are struggling. Both teams lost Sunday continuing their downward trends.

The Giants were held to 2 hits at St. Louis Cardinals Sunday, but at least both hits brought in runs — C Patrick Bailey’s solo homer PH Wilmer Flores’ RBI double. Unfortunately Giants SP Logan Webb gave up 3 runs in the 1st inning and, in the end, the Giants lost 5-3 — as +110 underdogs with the Over (7) cashing.  — as they were swept in 3 by the Cardinals over the weekend and have lost 5 in a row overall.

The Cubs offense also failed to show up Sunday in a 5-2 home loss as -111 favorites vs. the New York Mets — the Under (8.5) hit. After Mets SP Luis Severino pitched 6 shutout innings of 3-hit ball with no walks and 10 K’s. Once he was removed, Cubs 3B Christopher Morel hit a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 7th inning to cut the deficit to 4-2, but the Mets held on for the win and took 2 of 3 at Wrigley over the weekend.

Cubs at Giants projected starters

LHP Justin Steele vs. LHP Erik Miller

Steele (0-3, 3.16 ERA) makes his 11th start. He has a 1.07 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9 and 8.8 K/9 through 57 innings.

• Last start: No-decision, 6 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 8 K in 5-2 home win vs. Giants Tuesday
• 2024 road splits: 0-1, 2.51 ERA (28 2/3 IP, 8 ER), 0.90 WHIP, 9.1 K/9 in 5 starts
• Career vs. Giants: 1-2, 2.31 ERA (23 1/3 IP, 6 ER), 1.20 WHIP, 11.6 K/9 in 4 starts

Miller (2-2, 4.11 ERA) makes his 7th start and 37th appearance in what is expected to be an “opener” role. He has a 1.23 WHIP, 4.4 BB/9 and 10.3 K/9 through 35 innings. The Giants hope RHP Spencer Howard (0-1, 4.86 ERA) can pick up the bulk of the innings once Miller is removed. Howard has a 1.86 WHIP, 4.3 BB/9 and 7.0 K/9 in 16 2/3 innings.

• Miller’s last outing: No-decision in start, 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K in 6-5 road loss at Cubs Wednesday
• Allows .171 batting average when batter is ahead in count
• Posts 1.17 OPS with 2 outs and RISP
• Spencer’s last outing: 1 IP, 2 ER (3 R), 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K in relief of Miller in Wednesday loss to Cubs

Who’s going yard ? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.

Cubs at Giants odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook ; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:32 p.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML) : Cubs -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Giants +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS) : Cubs -1.5 (+145) | Giants +1.5 (-175)
• Over/Under (O/U) : 7.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

Cubs at Giants picks and predictions

Cubs 6, Giants 4

Steele is the Cubs’ best pitcher and he has yet to earn a win. His road splits show that when he is locked in he can dominate.

The Giants are 5-6 when playing as home underdogs. Plus, after a loss, the Cubs are 24-16, while the Giants are 21-20.

LEAN CUBS (- 120 ).

Run line/Against the spread

The Cubs’ recent woes has makes me skittish on picking them against the spread as favorites. They’re also 14-17 in 1-run games.

The Cubs offense has stalled recently, but the Giants have some good trends toward the Over. San Francisco is 34-24-2 (58.6%) O/U in NL games, the 2nd-best mark in the majors. On no rest, the Over is 37-28-2 (56.9%) for the Giants.

The current line just seems too low. BET OVER 7.5 (- 105 ).

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now !

For more sports betting picks and tips , check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW .

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• Destinations

Free tours in San Francisco

• Tours in San Francisco

San Francisco – The Charming City by the Bay

San Fran is a much loved city made up by many wonderful facets - with plunging hills, valleys and stunning vistas, beautiful white-sand beaches, delightful boutiques, restaurants & bars, a huge gay & lesbian population, rich cultures, counter-cultures, history, heritage & traditions, San Francisco is a colourful, alluring, ambient, hip & diverse city with an irresistible unique charm.

Freetour.com recommended free walking tours are an ideal way to really get to grips with this remarkable place. Friendly local guides take great pride in showing you their city & give you an unrivaled insider perspective to see San Fran, and life lived here, through their eyes. Learn the history & heritage, see the many sights like Union Square, Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, Old Market Street, vibrant Chinatown, legendary cable cars & more, get useful hints & tips and meet other like-minded travelers. And after your introduction to San Francisco you can hit the Haight-Ashbury district to explore the many different shops, cool cafés & restaurants, marvel at the 'painted ladies' - the charming Victorian-era houses on Alamo Street, traverse winding Lombard street for exceptional views and embrace the atmospheric nightlife of the South of Market district, aka SoMa, with it's happening nightclubs, bars & venues. There is something for everyone here in beautiful San Francisco by the Pacific.

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Free Walking Tours of San Francisco

Our city at your feet, 70 unique tours. 300 volunteers. 46 years..

City Guides in the Community!

Historical scholarship awards handed out by Mayor London Breed to San Francisco students.

Find out more…

Celebrate July 4th with City Guides!

Spend the day in San Francisco and enjoy the holiday.  

Explore the Palace of Fine Arts!

Learn about the extravagant 1915 exhibition by visiting the Palace grounds.

A New Partnership

Welcome, The Jay, our new premier sponsor for City Guides.

Learn more…

Why Tour With Us

No-Cost Tours

Our 1.5 to 2 hour tours are always free, but we welcome donations to support our mission of keeping San Francisco’s history accessible.

Expert Tour Guides

Our tour guides go through extensive training to learn about the history of our beautiful city and how to share that history with you.

A Tour for Everyone

We offer over 80 different tours – allowing you to learn about the diverse ways that San Francisco became the vibrant city it is today.

City Guides, founded in 1978, is an independent 501c3 non-profit organization with more than 300 trained volunteers who lead FREE historical and architectural walking tours in San Francisco for over 35,000 locals and visitors each year. We are a program of the San Francisco Public Library. Join us for a walk along the streets, sidewalks, and byways of America’s most beautiful – and fascinating – city!

Loved By Many

Truly one of the greatest treasures of San Francisco! City Guide tours never disappoint, always full of interesting stories, anecdotes, and fun- facts! Google Review – Jan ’24

The guides are well trained and enthusiastic to share their knowledge and love of the greatest city on earth! I have done numerous tours and am always delighted! Google Review – Jan ’24

The tour was fabulous! I’ve lived in SF for over 40 years but learned so much! And I saw so many places that I now can appreciate their significance. I can’t wait to do more. Google Review – Jan ’24

One of the best ways to see San Francisco on the cheap! SF.FunCheap.com

Our guide was warm, friendly, funny, and full of interesting facts and stories. What a great way to get to know The City by the Bay! Google Review – Jan ’24

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415-375-0468

Mailing Address San Francisco City Guides c/o SF Public Library 100 Larkin Street San Francisco, CA 94102

EIN: 85-3688709

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