Best Things to Do
in San Francisco
San Francisco is a big city, and there are plenty of things to do in it. This article will go over some of the best activities in San Francisco. It is not thought to be a ranking, only a list to give you some inspiration in your trip.
Golden Gate Bridge
Does this one needs to be introduced? The iconic bridge built in 1937 is one of the major tourist attractions of the city. The plaza next to the bridge contains a welcome center, restrooms, a little outdoor museum and the Round House Cafe where you can enjoy a coffee in front of the bridge. You can also walk on the bridge if you would like too.
Access: The major ways of accessing the bridge are by the bus (lane 28) and by car. However, know that the parking for the bridge is small and often crowded. If you want to challenge yourself, you may also walk or bike to the bridge.
The not so fun, Fun fact: The Golden Gate is the name given to the strait that connects the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
Price: Free
Riding a Cable Car
Riding a Cable Car is one of the major attractions in San Francisco. There are three different routes, and you may hope in a car at different points across these routes. Although the wait can be long, it is definitely a great experience.
Access: Various points across the city.
Price: Varies. $8 for a single adult ticket.
See more informtion about cable car's fares and routes there:
Visit The Golden Gate Park
Not the most well known by tourists, the Golden Gate Park is the third most visited urban park in the US though! This huge park (bigger than Central Park in NY) contains many attractions where you could spend a day. These include;
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The Windmills
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The Japanese Tea Garden
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The Botanical Garden
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The California Academy of Science
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The De Young Museum
Access: Car, Bus, Foot or Bicycles.
Price: The park is free of access, but the different attractions within have different costs.
The Painted Ladies
When saying Painted Ladies, most people think about the row of Victorian houses at 710 - 720 Steiner Street from Across Alamo Square park. These houses are also known as the “Postcard Row” or the “Seven Sisters”. Alamo Square park provides a beautiful view of the houses – which colors are a bit less vivid than they used to be – and the San Francisco’s skyline in the back (as in the picture).
Access: The place is accessible by Bus, Car or foot. Be aware that the place can be crowded depending on the season.
Price: Free
The not so fun, Fun fact: The Painted Ladies define any houses in the Victorian and Edwardian style that were colorfully repainted.
The Palace of Fine Art
Another icon of San Francisco, the Palace of Fine Art is a nice stop on the way to the Golden Gate Bridge from downtown. The original place was built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, was destroyed, later rebuilt in the form known today. You can easily walk around, take pictures, and also take a look at the activities that may be happening around the building.
Access: Car, Bus, Foot or Bicycles.
Price: Free
Salesforce Park
This one may sometimes be unknown to tourists, but is worth it for park lovers. The Salesforce Park is an aerial park located next to the Salesforce Tower (tallest building in the city) in downtown San Francisco. There you can take a nice walk and enjoy the view, or also take a break at the park’s café.
Access: Bus, Car, Foot and Bicycle. As the park is elevated, you will need to take the escalator or elevator to get up there.
Price: Free
The Coit Tower
If you like to enjoy great views from the top, the Coit Tower is a great option. The tower was built in the 1930s and can be climbed for a fee. At the observation deck you will be able to enjoy the 360 degrees view of the Bay and the city. And if you don’t want to go up there, no worries, you can still visit the small museum and see the beautiful scenery. Also, the observation deck is accessible by elevator or stairs, but when the elevator is out of service, you will need to take the stairs.
Access: A bus drops people at the tower’s foot. You can access by car, but the parking is small. You also have the option to walk or bike to the top, but be aware that it is steep.
Price: The museum and plaza are Free. As of April 2025, the fee to access the observation deck is $7 for adult SF residents and $10 for non-resident. There are also prices for youth, seniors and children.
The Ferry Building
Well, like the name suggests, the Ferry Building is the place where you can take the Ferry. However, it is much more than that. In 2002, the building underwent a major renovation that made it a marketplace. Since then, the building has welcomed many little food shops of any kind. As the building is in downtown, it is a nice step on the way to other spots.
Access: Bus, Car, Foot, Bicycle, Streetcar and there is a BART station 5 min from the building.
Price: Free
Visit Alcatraz Island
The historic island is considered by many as one of the best attractions in the bay. Once a military fort, then a prison, and now a museum, you can visit the island by day or by night. You can book a tour to visit the island or visit the island on your own if you prefer. If you visit the island by night, tours give the opportunity to see things that cannot be seen during day visits.
Access: Take of Alcatraz City Cruises from pier 33. The cruise typically lasts around 15 min.
Price: The prices for Alcatraz depend on many factors. Here are the prices range for tours
Day: $27.55 - $46.25
Night: $33.00 - $56.30
If you are interested in visiting Alcatraz, we encourage you to visit the official website of Alcatraz City tour.
Chinatown
Chinatown in San Francisco is probably among the most popular neighborhoods for tourists. The architecture, shops and food all make the place immersive and nice for a little walk when you are in downtown San Francisco.
Access: Bus, Car, Foot, Bicycle. A cable car route (California line) passes near the neigborhood.
Price: Free
The Walt Disney Family Museum
If you like Disney, or if you are simply interested in learning about the family behind the entertainment giant, you may be interested to visit the Walt Disney Family Museum. This museum was founded by Walt’s daughter, and aims to explore the life and legacy of Walt Disney. It is not related in any way with the Walt Disney company, and if you wonder why it is in San Francisco, the answer is simply that is where the Disney family lives.
Access: Car, Foot and Bicycle. A bus stops near the museum too (line 43).
Price: As of 2025, the admission prices provided by the website of the WDFM ranges from $0 to $25.
If you are interested in visiting the museum, we encourage you to check the prices and opening hours on the official website of the Walt Disney Family Museum.
San Francisco Cable Car Museum
As an icon of San Francisco, the cable cars have their own museum. Although small, the museum can be an interesting stop if you walk around downtown.
Access: Bus, Car, Foot and Bicycle. Of course, a cable car stop is situated near the museum (Washington St & Powell St).
Price: Free
You can check the operating hours of the museum on the museum's website, or on Google/Apple Map.
