Ultimate LGBTQ+ Castro District Walking Tour

Discover the historic Castro ‘gayborhood’ and its celebrated LGBTQ+ landmarks on this fun two-hour tour!

Take the ultimate LGBTQ+ Castro district walking tour with Go City® 

• Your pass includes a two-hour walking tour of San Francisco’s historic Castro neighborhood.
• Just roll up to the meeting point with your pass and you’re good to go.
• Your San Francisco pass also includes dozens of other top attractions, tours and experiences, all for one money-saving price. 

About this experience 

The Castro is the beating heart of San Francisco’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community, and that spirit of love and acceptance is writ large through the streets here, where colorful rainbows adorn flags and crosswalks, drag nights are par for the course and the nightlife is unsurprisingly incredible.

This two-hour walking tour of the area's most important LGBTQ+ landmarks takes in Harvey Milk Plaza, named for the first openly gay elected official in California, and also visits Milk’s old camera shop and campaign headquarters. There’s a chance to pay tribute to LGBTQ lives lost during World War II at the Pink Triangle Memorial and a visit to the legendary Twin Peaks Tavern, one of the neighborhood’s first gay bars and certainly its most iconic.

The tour also calls at the century-old Castro Theatre, which hosts regular drag nights alongside classic movie screenings and Disney sing-alongs, and pauses for quiet reflection at the ‘Hibernia Beach’ memorials on the corner of 18th and Castro before concluding at popular neighborhood bar The Mix, a favorite spot for socializing with locals.

Your expert guide will regale you with tales of the neighborhood’s history on this fascinating tour, as well as providing recommendations for other great landmarks, bars and nightlife to try.

Why choose Go City®?  

• Customers save money on sightseeing with our pass vs. buying regular walk-up tickets.
• Our app makes sightseeing easy – your pass, plus all the info you’ll need is right there in the palm of your hand.  
• No need to worry about buying tickets on the day, the Castro walking tour is included with your pass. 

Ultimate LGBTQ+ Castro District Walking Tour highlights  

Harvey Milk – visit the plaza named for California’s first openly gay elected official, and drop by his camera shop and campaign headquarters.

Moving memorials – the tour calls at the Pink Triangle Memorial, which commemorates LGBTQ+ lives lost in the Second World War, as well as the community memorial wall at ‘Hibernia Beach’ on the corner of 18th and Castro.

Best bars – learn the history of the iconic Twin Peaks Tavern and stop by local hangout The Mix for a drink at the end of your tour.

Expert guide – your guide will narrate the walk, relating the history of the Castro Theatre as well as local luminaries including Harvey Milk and Officer Jane Warner.

Ultimate LGBTQ+ Castro District Walking Tour facts

• A tireless campaigner for gay rights, Harvey Milk was elected San Francisco city supervisor in 1977, a role that he served in until his assassination, alongside Mayor George Moscone, in November 1978.
• Twin Peaks Tavern opened in 1935 and in 1972 took the then-controversial move of revealing prominent windows (meaning patrons could now be seen from outside), perhaps the first gay bar in the world to do so. It was bestowed San Francisco Designated Landmark status in 2013.
• The Castro Theatre was opened in 1922 and, along with its eye-catching neon sign and elaborate California Churrigueresque facade, has become an emblem of the district.

Go City is the best choice for maximum savings and flexibility when sightseeing in San Francisco. Your pass includes the LGBTQ+ Castro walking tour, plus admission to dozens more top San Francisco attractions.

Getting in

Meet your guide in front of SoulCycle on Harvey Milk Plaza (400 Castro St.). Guides will be identifiable by their orange hat and/or blue windbreaker. You should plan to arrive 15 minutes before the tour start time.

Ultimate LGBTQ+ Castro District Walking Tour FAQs 

How much walking does the tour involve? The tour covers about half a mile at a leisurely pace over a roughly two-hour period. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes.

What happens if it rains? Tours go ahead rain or shine and will only be canceled in extreme weather conditions. Bring an umbrella or waterproof jacket if rain is forecast.

What else should I bring? Drinks at The Mix are not included, so bring cash if you plan to pause for refreshment here.

For more information, visit the official tour website.