15 Things to Do in San Francisco

San Francisco is among the most popular cities in America, it is beautiful, vibrant, and it has an interesting history. And with this depth, comes a lot of things to do! Therefore, let us present to you some of the best things to visit and do in San Francisco.

1. Golden Gate Bridge

The iconic suspension bridge built in 1937 is one of the major tourist attractions of the city. But more than a bridge or a symbol of the golden state, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of America’s icons. Therefore, seeing the bridge is something worth doing at least once. Moreover, you might be interested in the story and engineering behind the bridge.It is also possible to walk and bike the Golden Gate Bridge.

Next to the bridge you will find a plaza. It contains a welcome center, restrooms, a little outdoor museum, and the Round House Cafe where you can enjoy a coffee while looking at the Golden Gate.

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.

How to cross the Golden Gate Bridge?

The Golden Gate Bridge is accessible to bikes and pedestrians for free. However, vehicles do have to pay a toll to drive across the bridge. The cost varies depending on many factors. Also be aware that you cannot stop at the toll plaza. Tolls are assessed electronically.

What are the best views of the Golden Gate?

The Golden gate Bridge can be perceived from various points across the city. Of course, you can see the bridge from the visitor center mentioned above. Some other popular areas offering great views of the Golden Gate Bridge include:

Golden Gate Overlook

Offers a beautiful front view of the bridge. The point is accessible via public transit and car. The Pacific overlook is also located nearby.

Marshall’s Beach

This spot is accessible only via a trail and offers a side view of the bridge.

Presidio Tunnel Tops

This point of view is easily accessible. From there, you can view the east side of the Golden gate Bridge.

There are many other options. You can visit this website to view more possibilities.

2. The Golden Gate Park

If you look at the things to do in San Francisco, many tend to not mention the Golden Gate Park. And what a loss! This huge park is bigger than Central Park in New York, and it is the third most visited urban park in the United States. And no wonder why. There are so many activities to do in Golden Gate Park. Let us give you a glimpse:

The Windmills
Japanese Tea Garden
San Francisco Botanical Garden
California Academy of Science
De Young Museum

In fact, there is so much to say about the Golden Gate Park that we made a dedicated page on it.

Access: Car, Bus, Foot or Bicycles.

Price: The park is free of access, but the different attractions within have different costs.

See the Full Article on the Park

3. Riding a Cable Car

Multiple cities in the world have cable cars, but San Francisco is the only city in the world with a manually operated cable car system. That makes the cable cars of San Francisco unique. But riding a cable is also fun and definitely worth doing in San Francisco. To ride a cable car, you will need to find a stop in one of the three lines.

Access: Various points across the city.

Price: The price varies. A single adult ticket cost $8.

See more information about cable car's fares and routes there:

See More About Cable Cars

4. Presidio

Presidio of San Francisco is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The area was formerly an U.S. army post, and today what is left of the military building is one of the many attractions within Presidio. In Presidio you will find many things to do from visiting historical buildings and gun batteries to picnicking at the famous Tunnel Tops. You can also find many hiking trails and scenic views of San Francisco in Presidio.If you are a Star Wars fan, there is also a small Yoda fountain that you can see.

Access: Presidio is a big area with many points of access by car and public transit. You can visit this website for all the information to move around there.

Price: Free

Yoda Fountain - Photo by N.Mistry | Unsplash

5. 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. And, Yes these are owned and some are inhabited.

6. The Palace of Fine Arts

When you look at the best things to do in San Francisco, you might often see the same things show up, and one of those is the Palace of Fine Art. Why? Simply because the Palace of Fine Arts is another icon of San Francisco. The Palace of Fine Arts is a monumental structure conceived to evoke the ruin of ancient Rome. The original place was built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, was destroyed, later rebuilt in the form known today. It is a beautiful place, and a must do in San Francisco. The big advantage of it is that it is located in the same area (but not a walkable distance) as the Golden Gate. Therefore, it can easily be added into your visit route.

Access: Car, Bus, Foot or Bicycles.

Price: Free

7. Visit Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz is considered by many as one of the best attractions in San Francisco. Once a military fort and later a prison, it is today a “giant” museum visited by many people each year. You can book a tour to visit the island or visit the island on your own if you prefer. Alcatraz can be visited both day and night. However, know that the tours given at night gives the opportunity to see things that cannot be seen during the 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 cruises.

8. Ghirardelli Square

If you live in the United States, there are chances that you know Ghirardelli. But did you know that the chocolate manufacturer as we know it was founded in San Francisco? That is part of the reason why the company had a factory there. However, when the company was transferred somewhere else in the 1960s, some feared that this historic factory would be demolished. That is why they bought it and turned it into a beautiful square housing restaurants and shops, the Ghirardelli Square. It makes a nice place to walk around, eat or shop.

Hours:

The square is open Every day from 9am to 10pm. However, the shops and restaurants there might have their own hours.

Access:

You can easily go there using transit, or by car. Parking is available for cars from 6:00am to midnight everyday, but charged.

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. Lombard Street

Lombard Street in San Francisco is famous for its steep, one-block stretch of eight hairpin turns, making it a popular tourist attraction, dubbed the "crookedest street in the world." It's located in the Russian Hill neighborhood, between Hyde Street and Leavenworth Street. It also offers a stunning sight with its manicured flowers and red brick paving. For an unforgettable experience, you can reach it by taking the Cable car at the bottom of Hyde Street.