Top 5 San Francisco Helicopter Tours: A Detailed Review

You know, getting a bird’s-eye view of San Francisco has always seemed just amazing, like from the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to the infamous Alcatraz Island, seeing it all from above, very different. I wanted to share my own rundown of five top-rated helicopter tours. I considered so many different things to look into pricing, the sights you get to see, tour length, and well, that safety record, too, it’s almost very important. I’m going to help you choose a tour that you’ll love.

1. San Francisco Helicopter Tours: The Golden Gate Tour

This one is very much a classic. The Golden Gate Tour, it actually focuses heavily on showing off that stunning Golden Gate Bridge. Imagine, you know, the helicopter lifts off, so, anyway it climbs to the sky and flies straight out to the bridge. You get to see that iconic red structure from angles that people can normally just imagine. It is pretty surreal, even if you’ve seen it many times from the ground.

Then, that helicopter swings around, following the coastline to give pretty amazing views of Sausalito and the Marin Headlands. I liked that tour because it packed quite a bit of punch into a shorter timeframe, normally around 20-30 minutes of air time. This is nice if you happen to be a little short on time or, perhaps, are just a tiny bit nervous about your initial helicopter flight.

Cost-wise, expect that you will be paying somewhere in the $200-$300 range, give or take. That is going to vary a little by the operator and, actually, the season. So, just, I would check a few comparison sites to actually land on the best available price. This one actually offers good value, really, because it’s so iconic.

Read our full review: Golden Gate Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Golden Gate Tour)

2. San Francisco Bay Discovery Helicopter Tour

Alright, now this is an option for those people who want the “big picture”. This tour goes beyond just that bridge to show off the entire San Francisco Bay. It goes farther south, giving you views of the city skyline, like a glittering collection of buildings against the water. Very different, yet rather beautiful.

I felt this tour gave more insight into the whole Bay Area because it sweeps over spots such as Oracle Park (where the Giants play, so if you’re a sports fan…), and other key sights before that it swings around Alcatraz. Very nice to see.

The ride length is usually around 30-40 minutes, longer than a Golden Gate-only tour, very similar, in the pricing to what you’d expect. This particular package often gives an extra narrative about what you are seeing. It can provide nice historical details and other tidbits of info to people who are actually interested in seeing more than, just well, that beautiful scenery.

Read our full review: San Francisco Bay Discovery Helicopter Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Bay Discovery Tour)

3. Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge Combo Helicopter Tour

This one is that double whammy for those that really cannot choose. That Alcatraz and Golden Gate Combo Tour hits pretty both major landmarks in just one swoop. You’ll get views of the Golden Gate Bridge, too, it’s almost quite impressive, while getting an exclusive look at Alcatraz from above, so different. To me, looking down at the prison walls is especially haunting, just very moving to look down.

This tour combines a shorter version of two previously listed tours into an efficient package. You’ll pass over that waterfront, see the Bay Bridge in that distance, as well as, the city skyline all the while feeling just a bit spoiled with awesome viewing angles.

The price is actually a bit more, really, since you’re combining two tours. Tour length averages around 30-45 mins. Still, if that’s your thing, well, you get a lot packed in, actually.

Read our full review: Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge Combo Helicopter Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Combo Tour)

4. Coastal Helicopter Tour of San Francisco

This option, that coastal tour, so different, in a way, since that it really caters to the scenery buffs. Rather than only focusing just so on those landmark structures, it often explores much of the coastline that is near San Francisco, too, it’s almost very beautiful. That includes spots like Point Reyes, rugged cliffs of the Pacific coastline, and maybe, a look into some secluded beaches, even. It might well be seasonal, mind you.

Now, that aerial perspective does really let you see the beauty that exists just outside of San Francisco. I found the varying terrain surprisingly striking; You see that change from the urban development to that pure, raw coastline is seriously pretty sharp.

A longer tour is something that is more likely. Plan for about 45 minutes to an hour, possibly, and look at something a bit above that typical price point, too. This is, by the way, perfect for photography enthusiasts wanting gorgeous landscape shots.

Read our full review: Coastal Helicopter Tour of San Francisco Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Coastal Tour)

5. Sunset Helicopter Tour Over San Francisco

Very magical. Can I actually suggest this option. Seeing San Francisco bathed in sunset colors really makes everything that much more stunning, honestly. What the tour companies usually do is schedule their flights to match right as the sun begins dipping beneath that horizon, casting those soft, amber lights all across that Bay. Golden Gate Bridge, that Alcatraz area, and actually, all the way down the cityscape will feel so different as they catch that light, actually.

Those Sunset Tours do tend to be, naturally, actually just a bit pricier and might need booking much further in advance since everyone kind of really wants to do it, right? Well, think of that photo ops, folks. As far as ride length goes, the sunset flights really closely resemble Bay Discovery or actually, possibly Alcatraz combos with only slight difference. Yet you might think that something that gives extra enjoyment may, well, just feel extra amazing with beautiful sunset, that is!

Read our full review: Sunset Helicopter Tour Over San Francisco Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Sunset Tour)

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