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SAN FRANCISCO — A new kind of tour has emerged in the Bay Area: sightseeing through Waymo’s driverless taxis. Visitors have been paying curated operators hundreds of dollars to string together multiple Waymo rides as a novelty way to explore the city.
A New Tourist Experience
Tour guide Dara Mihaly offered a $149, three-hour package linking rides through landmarks like Alamo Square and Twin Peaks. The “Waymo tour” drew steady demand from February to August 2025 before she received a cease-and-desist from the company over brand-use rules. By then, she had begun expanding to Los Angeles, Waymo’s other California market.
Waymo has not discouraged tourist ridership. In March, the company released a study claiming out-of-town bookings in San Francisco rose about 10% weekly during its first year, adding tens of millions of dollars in local economic activity. That figure comes from Waymo’s internal estimates rather than an independent review.
From San Francisco to Los Angeles
Los Angeles is now fully open to public, paid Waymo rides. The service operates 24/7 across more than 120 square miles, from Santa Monica to Echo Park. That footprint has made L.A. a logical next stop for robotaxi-based sightseeing.
Robotaxis vs. Uber
A head-to-head test across San Francisco’s busiest neighborhoods found Ubers generally arrived faster and cost slightly less, while Waymo offered consistency and a calmer, private ride. For some, speed and price remain decisive; for others, predictability is worth the premium.
Learning to Drive Like Humans
Waymo vehicles have also become more assertive. Once known for overly cautious stops, the cars now honk when cut off, make firmer merges, and ease forward at intersections. The company argues this makes traffic flow more natural and safer. Its data claim an 81% reduction in injury crashes compared with human drivers in San Francisco. Independent experts welcome smoother flow but stress the need for continued oversight and transparent reporting.
A Glimpse of the Future
What began as a quirky tour has become a marker of how quickly driverless cars are shaping city life. Tourists are not just riding in autonomous vehicles — they are building experiences around them. San Francisco and Los Angeles may be offering a preview of how urban tourism and travel will evolve in the age of autonomy.
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