Capital Tuk Tuk Murals Tour of Sacramento

Sacramento is a city that often surprises people. While many know it as California’s capital, fewer realize how vibrant the arts scene is here—especially when it comes to the incredible street murals scattered throughout Midtown and Downtown. During a recent outing with my friends, we decided to experience Sacramento’s public art in a completely unique way: by taking the Murals Tour with Capital Tuk Tuk.

It was a perfect March springtime morning with lots of sunshine, but very breezy and just warm enough weather. Me and my girlfriends got to hop on board, take a load off our feet, and enjoy a leisurely drive through some of the most popular and scenic neighborhoods in Sacramento.

If you’re looking for a creative thing to do in Sacramento—whether you’re a local, visiting with friends, or entertaining out-of-town guests—this tour offers an unforgettable way to see the city’s artistic side.

What Is Capital Tuk Tuk?

Before we dive into the experience itself, let’s talk about the star of the tour: the tuk-tuk.

A tuk-tuk is a three-wheeled motorized vehicle commonly used throughout Southeast Asia for transportation. Capital Tuk Tuk has brought this fun concept to Sacramento by offering city tours in their 100% electric tuk-tuk vehicles, which are compact, eco-friendly, and perfect for navigating urban streets.

The company offers a variety of themed experiences—from city tours and pub crawls to holiday light tours and mural tours—but the Murals of Sacramento tour is one of the most visually exciting options.

The tour takes guests through Midtown and surrounding neighborhoods to explore some of the city’s most impressive murals while learning about Sacramento’s growing public art scene. If you don’t know already, SacTown is full of color and trendy art!

Meeting Up in Old Sacramento

Our experience began in Old Sacramento near the waterfront. Many of the Capital Tuk Tuk tours meet right near the Ferris wheel area, which is an easy and scenic place to start the adventure.

As soon as we arrived, we spotted the tuk-tuk—and it was impossible to miss. Bright, stylish, and compact, the vehicle immediately gave off a fun, playful vibe. The colors are pink and girly, perfect for a girls day out on the town!

The vehicle comfortably seats up to six people, making it perfect for small groups, families, or even a date night activity.

After a quick introduction and safety overview from our guide Manushi (who is also the female founder!), we climbed aboard and settled in for the ride.

The Fun of Riding in a Tuk Tuk

Honestly, the tuk-tuk ride itself is half the experience!

Unlike a traditional tour bus, the tuk-tuk is open-air, which means you really feel immersed in the city. As we drove through the streets, we could feel the breeze, hear the sounds of the city, and get a full view of Sacramento’s neighborhoods.

It’s a completely different experience from driving a car or riding in a rideshare.

Because the vehicle is small and a bit agile, our guide could easily navigate through Midtown’s streets, weaving between neighborhoods filled with colorful buildings, coffee shops, art galleries, and historic homes. If we saw something we really liked, we ask for a quick stop to jump out and take pics.

True story: There’s something about being in a tuk-tuk that instantly makes the tour feel more adventurous and interactive.

Discovering Sacramento’s Incredible Murals

Sacramento has quietly become one of California’s most impressive cities for street art, thanks in large part to the annual Wide Open Walls mural festival, which brings artists from around the world to paint massive works throughout the city.

The result is an ever-growing outdoor gallery spread across buildings, alleyways, and storefronts.

The Capital Tuk Tuk Murals Tour takes you directly to some of these standout pieces. Our guide explained the background behind many of the artworks, which made the experience even more meaningful. Instead of just seeing the murals, we learned about the artists, the inspiration behind the pieces, and how Sacramento’s street art scene has evolved.

During the tour we saw:

Massive building-scale murals
Colorful trendy art
Cultural portraits
Whimsical characters
Bold typography murals
Hidden alleyway pieces you’d never notice while driving.

Twisted Track Station in the R District

On our Tuk Tuk tour, it was my first time visiting the Twisted Track Station located on R Street. It is a restaurant, bar, and outdoor street gallery located in Sacramento’s R Street Corridor, where art and music come together in a lively, creative atmosphere. If you’ve ever visited the old school Rainey Street in Austin, back when it had all the shipping container bars, this is exactly what it looks like.

My Favorite Murals from the Tour

I am always a sucker for lots of bright and vibrant colors in a mural. They really make photos pop and are fun to do creative poses. The Maren Conrad Koi Fish Mural was on our tour and it’s always been one of my favorites. For starters, it’s huge! And the blue is so bold, with the white fish really standing out.

On our tour we crossed the Tower Bridge over to West Sac (which was really fun doing open air BTW!), and our guide took us to see this colorful eye mural with the Tower Bridge in the iris of the eye. See photo below. This was my first time seeing this art by My Dog Sighs (real name Paul Stone) and it’s very impressive.

Plenty of Photo Opportunities

If you love photography—or just want great pictures for Instagram and TikTok videos —you will absolutely love this tour.

One of the best parts of the experience was that the guide regularly stopped at several murals so we could get out, explore, and take photos.

Some murals were massive, covering entire buildings. Others were tucked away in alleyways, creating the feeling of discovering hidden art treasures.

The tuk-tuk format makes taking pictures especially easy because it can stop quickly and park in spots where larger tour vehicles can’t.

*Note: If you’re a content creator, blogger, or photographer, this tour is basically a goldmine for colorful backdrops.

A Family-Friendly Activity

One thing we loved about the Capital Tuk Tuk tour is that it’s very family-friendly. Children are welcome on the tuk-tuk, and the experience is engaging enough to keep kids interested.

The combination of riding in a fun vehicle, seeing colorful murals, and stopping for photos makes it a great outing for families.

It’s also a fantastic activity for:

Date nights
Bachelorette parties
Wedding parties
Girls’ trips
Birthday celebrations
Visiting friends and family
Team outings

Because the vehicle seats a small group, you can easily gather up a small group of family and friends.

Tips for Taking the Tour

If you’re planning to book the Capital Tuk Tuk Murals Tour, here are a few tips to make the most of it:

Bring Your Camera (or a fully charged cell phone)

You will definitely want photos of the murals.

Wear Comfortable Clothes

The ride is open-air, so dress appropriately for the weather.

Bring Sunglasses and Wear Sunscreen

Especially for daytime tours.

Ask Questions

The guides love sharing local insights.

Arrive Early

Old Sacramento is worth exploring before or after your tour.

Final Thoughts – A Unique Way to Experience Sacramento

There are many ways to explore Sacramento—walking tours, bike rides, driving around—but riding through the city in a tuk-tuk adds a layer of excitement and novelty. It turns sightseeing into an adventure!

From the moment we boarded onto the tuk-tuk to the final mural stop, the experience was engaging and offered plenty of fun and colorful photo opportunities.

Whether you’re visiting Sacramento for the first time or have lived here for years, this tour offers a fresh and exciting way to explore the city.

I will leave you with one last note – Please also consider the fact that you’re supporting a local female-owned small business. Manushi was amazing! She’s so fun and helpful, she was the highlight of our tour. Thank you!

Check out the Capital Tuk Tuk Instagram here.