Taking the Blue and Gold Fleet’s ferry service from Sausalito to San Francisco will drop you off at one of the city’s most well known and frequented tourist attractions and put you right in the middle of the action. Take the boat across and enjoy the sights as you pull into one of the oldest continuously operating waterfront areas on the west coast – and get ready forfun!
With views of famous landmarks such as Coit Tower, Alcatraz Island, Angel Island, and more and within easy walking distance of North Beach, Chinatown, and other San Francisco attractions, Pier 39 makes the perfect place to launch your San Francisco day-trip from Sausalito, or the perfect place to enjoy yourself for the afternoon.
Pier 39 Shopping and Dining
Pier 39 is well known for its restaurants, shops, and fun for kids and families and becomes a destination for those visiting the San Francisco Bay Area. Whether you are looking for a casual hamburger or cup of coffee on the pier itself or a fine dining experience very nearby, you’ll find every imaginable type of cuisine and level of comfort you can think of within walking distance. Pier 39 has been set up in the form of an outdoor farmer’s market and marketplace with indoor restaurants and shops all lining the wooden planks of the famous pier itself. Candy and sweet treats for the kids, fresh San Francisco Sourdough bread for the grownups, and entertainment and fun for everyone!
Entertainment on Pier 39
Pier 39 is also home to many different types of attractions ranging from historical and educational to outdoor adventure and just plain entertainment. Historical markers and exhibits are set aside and give visitors a taste of what life was like during the early pioneer and Gold Rush days of the city by the bay and are set alongside more modern and interactive fun for all ages. Take a tour from any of the tour companies that will show you around San Francisco by bus, bike, or car, or set up a tour by water with a jet boat, a catamaran, or bay cruise and see the Bay Area from a different perspective.
For more educational fun, the Aquarium of the Bay is available with a complete set of exhibits about the underwater residents of the Bay Area and exhibits that are as entertaining as they are educational. Live music is often on the schedule around the pier, and there are theaters, arcades, and other games for kids of all ages.
Don’t Miss the Famous Sea Lions
No trip to Pier 39 is complete without stopping by to see the famous sea lions that have taken over a section of the harbor as their own since 1989. These large sea mammals have been living on several of the boat slips in the harbor and have become an iconic presence of their own. Take a few minutes and treat yourself to some real-life wildlife viewing and watch their antics.
Pier 39 is one of the most frequent destinations from Sausalito in part because if the ease of access with the ferry terminal right there on the pier, and partly because of the endless opportunities for fun and excitement!
Things to Do and See at Pier 39:
• Aquarium of the Bay • Bay Theater • Sea Lions • Rocket Boat Tours • Blazing Saddles Bike Tours • Adventure Cat Sailing • Blue and Gold Fleet • Restaurants • Shopping
Pier 39 Information:
Pier 39 2 Beach St. San Francisco, CA 94133 (415)421-1789 www.pier39.com/index.cfm
Aquarium of the Bay Pier 39 The Embarcadero San Francisco, CA 94133 (415)623-5300 www.aquariumofthebay.com/
Ferries from Sausalito to Pier 39:
See our full Ferries section for routes, schedules, and times.
Blue and Gold Fleet Serving Sausalito, San Francisco, Tiburon, Vallejo, Oakland, Alameda, San Francisco Giants games, and more. Pier 41 Marine Terminal San Francisco, CA 94133 (415)705-5429 Mon-Fri 9:00am-4:00pm Sat-Sun 9:00am-4:30pm www.blueandgoldfleet.com Fares: Adult $10.50, Children (5-12)$6.25, Seniors $6.25, Children Under 5 Free
Golden Gate Ferry
Serving Sausalito, Larkspur, San Francisco, and San Francisco Giants games
Golden Gate Transit 101 East Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Larkspur, CA 94939 (415)455-2000 www.goldengateferry.org Fares: Adult $9.25, Youth (6-18)/Seniors $4.50, Children Under 5 Free |