Check out the 17 best things to do in San Francisco, one of California’s most iconic and attractive cities. With our tips, you’ll know exactly where to go to enjoy everything.
1. Cross and take pictures on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
A postcard of this city, the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge has connected Marin County to the city of San Francisco since 1937, and was once considered the longest bridge in the world. You can cross it on foot, by bicycle or by car, and take incredible photos, including of the view – the height is approximately 200 meters.
- Our tip: visit the bridge just before sunset. The view is even more beautiful.
2. Plan a trip to Alcatraz Island in San Francisco
Another very interesting tourist attraction is Alcatraz Island, one of the most talked about prisons in the world and once home to Al Capone. You can cross over to the island in a few minutes on a ferry boat, which offers a great view.
Today, there is a museum with preserved cells and objects from the time – including the hole made by two Alcatraz escapees.
The Alcatraz Island tour is one of the most popular in San Francisco, as is the ticket to the Art Museum and the Aquarium, which we’ll talk about below. If you’d like to secure your ticket for these at the best price and security we’ve found, click here.
3. Stroll along Pier 39 in San Francisco
Located in the Fisherman’s Wharf area, San Francisco’s pier has a beautiful view of the sea and many attractions, such as restaurants, bars, stores, ice cream parlors, etc. It is the most famous pier in the city and it is common to see sea lions around it. All in all, it’s a very nice place and a must-see during your trip to San Francisco in California.
4. Visit the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco
Super interactive and attractive to people of all ages, the Aquarium of the Bay is one of the best things to do in San Francisco. It’s a huge and beautiful aquarium located inside Pier 29.
There, you have the chance to see marine animals up close, including species that are almost extinct, and even interact with them. Among them are sea lions, sharks, fish, octopuses, jellyfish and more. Not to be missed.
5. Discover San Francisco’s museums
For those who love museums, San Francisco is full of options. The most famous of them is the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, founded in 1995, whose collection includes works by masters such as Pollock, Diego Rivera, Henri Matisse, Frida Kahlo, Picasso and others.
Another interesting museum (actually a cultural center) is the Yerba Buena Center of Arts, housed in a modern building with spaces for music, dance and film performances. There are often important or innovative exhibitions there, which is why we’ve selected it in our list of the 17 best things to do in San Francisco.
- Important tip: San Francisco is a city with many tourist attractions, such as museums and tours. That’s why our tip is to always buy your tickets in advance. We buy everything on this website that has the best price.
6. Explore Chinatown and Japantown in San Francisco
The Chinatown area is home to many typical restaurants and stores, offering the best of oriental cuisine in San Francisco. Stockton Street, for example, is a great place to buy very original items.
Another similar area is Japantown in San Francisco, which follows the same style, but with lots of typical Japanese products and wonderful food – especially inside the Japan Center and Nihon Machi malls.
7. Enjoy shopping in San Francisco
If you also travel to the United States with low prices in mind and the opportunity to shop at a much lower price, take note of this tip. The Union Square area is perfect for shopping in San Francisco, as it has a wide variety of stores selling the most famous brands.
In addition to the high street stores, there are shopping centers such as the Stonestown Galleria Mall and the HUGE Westfield San Francisco Centre, which has stores such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Bloomingdale, Adidas, Hugo Boss, Guess, Rolex and much more.
8. Visit the Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco
Not all tourists visit the San Francisco Ferry Building, a former railroad terminal that now houses the Marketplace. But it’s worth it.
It’s a market with several restaurants, cafés and stores selling a wide variety of products, such as cheeses, olive oils, jams, spices, jellies, fruit and more. It’s an interesting way to get to know a little of the daily life of the city’s residents, and you can eat very cheaply there.
9. Stroll down Lombard Street in San Francisco
Lombard Street is the most famous street in San Francisco, especially because it’s so twisted and steep. Without a doubt, it’s one of the 17 best things to do in San Francisco. As you stroll along it, be sure to enjoy its beautiful gardens and take lots of photos.
10. Take the cable car in San Francisco
One of the most traditional things to do in San Francisco is to ride the graceful cable cars, which are all over the city and pass by various tourist attractions, going up and down the steep streets. You can see the city from different perspectives. It’s a pleasant, inexpensive and unmissable ride – as well as taking you to other tourist attractions.
11. Go to Alamo Square in San Francisco
Famous for being an area full of colorful houses, one next to the other, Alamo Square is very popular with tourists who are fans of the TV series Full House, as it served as the setting for the plot. Be sure to take lots of photos.
12. Visit the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco
One of the most beautiful sights in San Francisco, the Palace of Fine Arts emanates art and leaves everyone impressed. It’s an ornamental construction and one of the most photogenic buildings in California, even though it was built in 1915 for an exhibition. That’s why you’ll see a lot of people using it as a backdrop for photo shoots.
13. Go to Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco
This is one of the most important gastronomic and cultural complexes in California. It used to be an old chocolate factory and today it’s a place where you’ll find lots of restaurants, stores, leisure and entertainment venues.
You’ll find a bit of everything here, and you can spend a whole day. For chocoholics, it’s worth trying the delicious chocolates from the Original Ice Cream and Chocolate Ghirardelli Manufactory.
Not only is this tour delicious, but you also get to see how chocolate is produced there, which is very cool and fun at the same time. For those who want to try the best of the local gastronomy, it’s worth a visit:
- Kara’s Cupcake
- The Pub
- Loris Diner
- McCormick ans Kuleto’s
The area is also great for shopping, especially at the ElizabethW and Helpers Bazzar stores, with their magnificent merchandise and products. It’s one of the best things to do in San Francisco.
14. Get to know the Castro neighborhood in San Francisco
Do you love places with lots of color and diversity? Then one of the best things to do in San Francisco is to go to the Castro district, where you’ll find 100% gay-friendly bars, clubs and restaurants. It’s also where the city’s famous gay parade takes place – recognized not only in California but throughout the USA.
15. Go to the Twin Peaks and Coit Tower viewpoints in San Francisco
Among the 17 best things to do in San Francisco, we can’t fail to mention the Twin Peaks and Coit Tower viewpoints. The former is 300 meters high and is one of the highest points in the city. The latter is a tower – a trademark of San Francisco – a little lower than Twin Peaks, but just as cool.
- Important tip: to make the most of your trip to San Francisco, staying in the best areas is essential. So, if you want, check out our article explaining the main areas, the hotels and how you can save a lot on accommodation.
16. Nightlife in San Francisco’s clubs and bars
San Francisco’s nightclubs are great and if you like to party at night, you can set aside a few days to visit them. But for those who don’t like the hustle and bustle of clubbing and want something quieter, the city has several very popular bars in the Fillmore Street area – one of the best bohemian strongholds there.
17. Watch a sports match
Are you a sports fan? Don’t miss an NFL or NBA game in San Francisco, it’s INCREDIBLE. The coolest teams are the two from Los Angeles (Lakers and Clippers) and the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. Try to visit one of the stadiums and see a game, as it’s undoubtedly one of the best things to do there.
How to save on paid attractions in San Francisco?
San Francisco offers many free and diverse attractions, but there are also paid tours that are not to be missed – such as its incredible museums. To do these, we recommend that you book them in advance, online and with reliable companies – like the one we used on our trip to California. With this company, you’ll be able to visit the most popular places.
And because we always use the same tour company on our trips, we’ve been able to get a special discount for our readers. So, to get access to the discount and already secure tours at a great price, just click here on tickets to San Francisco.
Save money on your trip to San Francisco:
Tickets: find out where to buy your San Francisco tickets in the cheapest and safest way. You can save up to 40%!
Car: if you are thinking about renting one this is the best website. It compares the price at all rental companies and finds unbeatable prices. You can save up to 30%!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in San Francisco. You will find out the best areas and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Transfer: do you need one from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
