After living in the area for a few years, San Francisco is still one of my favorites cities in the U.S. From its unique location on a peninsula jutting out into the bay to its confusing weather, it’s got a personality of its own. Take it from Mark Twain, who famously said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” San Francisco is a dynamic city that pairs indoor museums with outdoor attractions. Here are the BEST things to do in San Francisco.
17 BEST Things To Do in San Francisco
The Golden Gate Bridge and Crissy Field
Palace of Fine Arts
The Painted Ladies
Alamo Square
Lombard Street
Ghirardelli Square
Fisherman’s Wharf
The Sea Lions at Pier 39
Aquarium of the Bay
Coit Tower
Union Square
Cable Car Ride
Chinatown Gate
Golden Gate Park
CA Academy of Sciences
De Young Museum
Walt Disney Family Museum
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Golden Gate Bridge and Crissy Field
To get the iconic photo of the Golden Gate, head to Crissy Field. So grab it first when the light is soft in the morning.
After enjoying the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, grab a coffee and a muffin at the warming hut. It opens at 9 a.m. and sells souvenirs, too.
ProTip: Don’t confuse Golden Gate Park with the Presidio of San Francisco, where the Golden Gate Bridge viewing is located. Golden Gate Park is home to the popular De Young Museum and the California Academy of Sciences, and not the same park.
Located at 983 Marine Drive. Free to visit and best from dawn to dusk.
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Palace of Fine Arts
Walk through the rotunda of the Beaux Arts classic from 1915 and enjoy the pond and landscaping. Built for the Panama Pacific International Exposition, it is one of the several buildings meant to showcase San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake.
Located at 3301 Lyon St. Free to visit and open from dawn to midnight.
The Painted Ladies
The glorious pastel-painted Victorian homes from the opening credits of Full House are a must when in San Francisco. They are located in Alamo Square, and downtown San Francisco is in the background.
Located on the Eastern side of Alamo Square at Steiner Street between Hayes and Grove Streets.
Note: These are privately-owned homes, so be respectful.
Alamo Square is next to Haight Ashbury, the hub of the 1960s counterculture movement.
Lombard Street
Another must for first-time SFO visitors, the crookiest street in the world. Lombard Street zigzags up a hill in the Russian Hill neighborhood.
Since it’s easier to walk downhill, start on Hyde Street to see the eight hairpin curves flanked by gardens. Grab a picture at the bottom of the one-block section of Lombard at Leavenworth Street.
Located at the Corner of Lombard Street and Hyde Street. Free to visit and best from dawn to dusk.
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Ghirardelli Square
For the chocolate lovers, Ghirardelli Square is a must in San Francisco. It offers coffee, ice cream and chocolate samples. This is the location of the first chocolate shop.
I recommend the ice cream sundae. It is big enough to share.
The Ghirardelli Chocolate Experience is a shop with a wall of chocolate. It is stocked with all the varieties of individual squares.
Located at 900 North Point St. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
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Fisherman’s Wharf & Pier 39
This area can be touristy; however, there’s shopping, dining and lots to see. From Fisherman’s Wharf, you get great views of San Francisco Bay.
If the weather is clear, visitors can get a glimpse of Alcatraz, the infamous prison. Pier 39 is a departure point for guided boat excursions, too.
This is also where the San Francisco sea lions sun themselves on the docks. The Aquarium of the Bay is located here, more on that below.
If traveling with the kids, there’s the double-decker carousel at the end of the pier. Plus, you’ll find attractions like escape rooms, carnival-type rides and street performers.
Dining runs the gamut in the area. If it’s your first visit, then head to Boudin’s Bakery at Pier 39 for a San Francisco sourdough bread bowl filled with chowder. If the weather is nice, find a table outside.
Located in the blocks surrounding Taylor Street and Jefferson Street. Various hours and free to visit.
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Aquarium of the Bay
Open since 1996, The Aquarium of the Bay focuses on local aquatic animals from the San Francisco Bay and the Sierra Nevada watershed. In total, the aquarium protects 200 species with over 24,000 animals.
During our visit, we enjoyed the different exhibits. The saltwater exhibits were particularly interesting.
Located at PIER 39, The Embarcadero and Beach St. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adults (13-64) are $30.48, kids (4-12) are $22 and there’s a Senior (65+) discount for $26.24.
Coit Tower
Can’t visit San Francisco without exploring this North Beach area and the neighboring Telegraph Hill, famous for the iconic Coit Tower. A 210-foot tower in the Telegraph Hill neighborhood, built in between 1932 and 1933, it is in Art Deco style.
If the weather is good, then head up to its observation deck via elevator. There, guests will get 360-degree views of San Francisco and the bay.
Located at 1 Telegraph Hill Boulevard. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April to October and 5 p.m. for the rest of the year. Adult tickets are $11, seniors and students (12 to 17) are $8 and kids (5 to 11) are $5, available at the gift shop.
Union Square
A 2.6-acre public plaza bordered by Geary, Powell, Post and Stockton Streets. This area is great for people watching and shopping.
There is an outdoor cafe and lots of benches to sit. The St. Francis Hotel is located on Union Square. The Flagship Macy’s store is also at Union Square.
During the Holiday Season, it is spectacularly decorated with a towering tree and a pop-up ice skating rink. Then, tour the lobby of the Westin St. Francis at 335 Powell Street to see the sweets by the hotel’s pastry chef.
Located at 333 Post Street. Best from dawn to dusk and free to enter.
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Cable Cars
A ride on the iconic San Francisco Cable Cars is a must. One of the easiest spots to grab a seat is the corner of Taylor and Bay near Fisherman’s Wharf.
This is the origination point for the Powell/Mason cable car route. As a bonus for queuing up at this popular location, you get to see the cable cars turn and grab a picture.
First, purchase a ticket from the kiosk at the origination point of this line. Or save time and purchase on the Muni Mobile app.
Adult and youth fares are $7 each, though kids younger than 5 ride for free in your lap. Remember to tell your kids to hold on for this thrilling ride up the San Francisco hills. The cable cars operate from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
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Chinatown Gate
The Dragon Gate is the entrance to the first and largest Chinatown in the U.S. Located next to North Beach and the Financial District, visitors will find the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum, shopping and dining.
My teens particularly like walking through Chinatown. We browsed several shops and sampled dumplings. It is named Tian Xia Wei Gong on many maps.
Located at Grant Avenue and Bush Street.
Go City Pass
If you are visiting several attractions, consider a Go City Pass. I have used them in several cities, and they provide discounts and the convenience of an app.
Get the details on the San Francisco Go City Pass.
Alcatraz Island Tour and Alcatraz Cruises
Out in the San Francisco Bay, a notorious prison is on everyone’s bucket list, even international tourists. It is one of the top U.S. attractions.
Tickets sell out months in advance, especially for its night tour. This one feels like a movie set from an 1980s horror flick.
The infamous prison was home to Al Capone and other prisoners with nicknames like Birdman, Creepy and Machine Gun. However, it is actually a National Park.
I recommend the Night Tour; it includes extras like the closing of the cell block and access to the prison’s hospital. It is super creepy, but my school-aged kids’ favorite thing to do in San Francisco.
Departs from Pier 33. The only way onto Alcatraz is through the official concessionaire: Alcatraz Cruises. Due to the popularity, reserve tickets up to 90 days in advance. Tickets vary on the type of tour.
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San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
While researching for our trip to San Francisco, I learned there was a National Park Service site besides Alcatraz. The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park features a visitor center in a historic cannery warehouse.
Opened in 1988, the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is dedicated to America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. There is a park film and exhibits explaining the maritime history in San Francisco.
Note, due to ongoing construction on the Hyde Street Pier, the boats have been relocated to Mare Island, in
Located at 499 Jefferson Street. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is free to enter.
The Ferry Building
Originally opened in 1898 as a train transportation hub, it’s now a farmers market, food hall and shopping destination. If you’re hungry and in the area, there’s a large selection of casual dining.
Located at the corner of the Embarcadero and Market Street. Hop on the other historic streetcar in the city, the F-Market.
Golden Gate Park
As San Francisco’s largest urban park, it is 1,017 acres. Located between the Richmond and Sunset districts, Golden Gate Park is home to several institutions like the California Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum.
The Gardens of Golden Gate Park are another top attraction within the park. The Conservatory of Flowers, from 1879, houses rare plants and is the oldest building in the park.
The Japanese Tea Garden dates back to 1893 and includes torii gates, pagodas, a moon bridge, and a 1.5-ton Buddha. The San Francisco Botanical Garden is home to over 9,000 plant species.
There is plenty of space for playing and picnicking in Golden Gate Park, in addition to several recreational activities. Each attraction operates with its own hours and admission.
Located on the west side of San Francisco between Fulton and St. and Lincoln Way. Limited parking is available in the park. Best from dawn to dusk and free to enter.
California Academy of Sciences
In the heart of Golden Gate Park, the California Academy of Sciences houses over 46 million specimens. With an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest and natural history museum, it is one of the largest museums of its kind in the U.S.
Visitors will find a colony of African penguins. There’s the world’s oldest fish in human care, Methuselah. A T. Rex skeleton, a four-story rainforest exhibit with free-flying birds and a 75-foot planetarium are all favorites.
Located at 55 Music Concourse Dr., San Francisco. Open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission (18+) is $49 / $55 peak, youth (13 to 17) $45 / $49 peak, kids (3 to 12) $39 / $45 peak. Reservations are recommended.
de Young Museum
Located in Golden Gate Park, the de Young Museum is dedicated to a fine arts collection. It, with the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, makes up the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
Originally opening in 1895, it is dedicated to American Art from the 17th century to today. Visitors will also find textiles and costumes, plus art from Africa, Oceania and the Americas.
The Legion of Honor (located in the Presidio) is dedicated to European art, including decorative art and contemporary work. The building opened in 1924 and was modeled after the neoclassical Palais de la Légion d’Honneur in Paris.
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. (closed Monday). Adult admission is $20, students with ID are $11 and kids 17 and younger enter for free.
Located at 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, San Francisco.
The Walt Disney Family Museum
Dedicated to the life and legacy of Walt Disney, it is located in the Presidio of San Francisco, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Within three historic buildings, the main building is 40,000 square feet, featuring historic materials and artifacts to bring Disney’s achievements to life with the newest technology.
Popular exhibits include Lilly Belle, the locomotive from Disney’s backyard rideable train. There are lots of Mickey’s to see and details on how Disneyland came to be.
Located at 104 Montgomery St., San Francisco. Open from Thursday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Adult admission is $35, students with ID are $20, youth (6 to 17) are $15 and those 5 and younger enter for free.
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