Free SF Tour — Local services in San Francisco

I recently had the pleasure of joining the Free SF Tour during my visit to San Francisco, and it was an amazing experience. The tour, led by a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide named Fillip, lasted for 2.5 hours and covered some of the city's major landmarks and attractions.

We started our journey at Union Square and ventured into the vibrant streets of Chinatown. Fillip's expertise and passion for the city shone through as he shared intriguing historical and cultural insights. He delved into topics such as the gold rush, the devastating earthquake, and also discussed the city's Chinese people and china-town history. I found it fascinating to learn how these events shaped San Francisco and continue to impact it today.

As we made our way through the Financial District, Fillip effortlessly blended storytelling with personal experiences, which made the tour even more engaging. He also shed light on the city's homeless situation, providing a comprehensive understanding of its history, the measures taken, comparisons to other states and some of his own experiences. It was refreshing to see a tour that not only showcased the iconic sights but also touched on important social issues.

The pace of the tour was perfect, allowing us to explore each location without feeling rushed. Fillip's ability to balance historical information with interesting anecdotes made the entire experience captivating. Every moment of the tour was a highlight, as we soaked in the city's rich history and took in its bustling atmosphere.

Overall, I can't recommend the Free SF Tour enough. It was an insightful, teaching experience that provided a deeper understanding of San Francisco's past and present. Fillip's friendly and enthusiastic personality added an extra layer of enjoyment to the tour. If you're looking for an exceptional walking tour that combines history, culture, and local insights, this is the...

Date of tour: June 23, 23. I was expecting a "oh, look at this, isn't this nice?" tour. Boy was I wrong.

What I got was a Mind Blown, Information Download on the history of this city.

From the beginning "Grandmother of San Francisco" onwards, Filip shared with intrigue and passion, a deep and thorough history of SF that I never knew.

His Presenter skills were illustrated when he'd say something along the lines of, "Did you know this or this about that? (We'd all go "Huh?") He'd respond, "I'll tell you all about it at our next stop..." It made me want to keep up and hear the next thing on the tour.

He was very inviting of questions. When I'd asked a question about the financial district, he answered, then as we started onward, he turned around and asked me, "Did I answer that question for you?" It opened a new line of questions of which he was excited to answer and dialogue (and so was I).

I was thinking this would be a "Look at this, look at that," and what I got was a deeply rich and exciting story, a genuine history of how "this impacted that which in turn affected this over here". I was more educated and more curious afterwards. It wildly exceeded my expectations.

Sign up for this tour with curiosity, Filipe will help you picture, see and IMAGINE what was happening at the beginning of...

Absolutely brilliant tour with Filip on our first full day in San Francisco, and it was SO much better than we could have imagined. Filip's immense passion for the city and the great depth of his knowledge are apparent from the outset, and his enthusiasm in sharing his knowledge and his storytelling abilities are a joy to experience. The 2.5 hours seem to pass by in a flash, with not a boring moment. There are plenty of places to stop and listen, and also a toilet break for those who need it, so put on some comfortable shoes, bring water, sunnies, a cap/hat, possibly a jacket and an umbrella (this is SF, after all!) and prepare to immerse yourself in an utterly absorbing introduction to this fascinating city. Filip delves into marvellous detail about how the city came into being, the gold rush, the French connection, the origins of Chinatown, politics, earthquakes, the impact of the bay, all the way to the present cost of living, recessions, Silicon Valley, diversity and thoughts for the future. I cannot recommend this enough! Thanks Filip, this is probably the best walking tour we...