Ultimate San Francisco Travel Guide: 21 Best Things to Do
This post is a San Francisco travel guide.
San Francisco, California is an iconic destination in the USA. The city is mostly famous for the bright red Golden Gate Bridge, which you’ve probably seen on your television screen many times. However, there is so much more to offer in San Francisco for anyone to enjoy. From Lombard Street to Pier 39 to Fisherman’s Wharf and so much more. As a former San Francisco local, I’m so excited to share the iconic things to do in San Francisco!
Join me in this San Francisco travel guide as I provide you the best things to do, the best places to stay, and if it’s worth it to rent a car. By the end of the blog post, you’ll be familiar with the must-visit tourist attractions to help you make the most of your San Francisco vacation.
This post is a San Francisco travel guide.
San Francisco Travel Guide: Where to Stay in San Francisco
Finding the best and safest place to stay in San Francisco can be tough, especially if you don’t plan on renting a car. There are so many things to take into consideration like – do you want to wake up to views of the Golden Gate Bridge? Do you want to wake up to city views? Do you want to wake up to ocean views? Or do you just want to be near all the activities on your San Francisco itinerary?
Below are the best neighborhoods to stay based on the popular tourist attractions:
- Fisherman’s Wharf Neighborhood – you can stay at hotels near Fisherman’s Wharf where you can experience Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, Lombard Street, views of the Golden Gate Bridge, views of Alcatraz Island, and views of the San Francisco Bay. Everything is walking distance and you can take the cable car to Union Square.
- Financial District Neighborhood – this is a popular place to stay if you want to fully immerse yourself into the city landscape. The popular attractions within walking distance is the Ferry Building Marketplace, Chinatown, At&T Park for an Oracles baseball game, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).
- Marina District Neighborhood – another popular place if you want to wake up to views of the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge every morning. There are multiple beaches within walking distance and you can explore the Palace of Fine Arts. This is a popular place to stay if you plan to take a walk or bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge too.
San Francisco Travel Guide: Best Things to Do
Below are the top 21 best things to do in San Francisco that you can’t miss out on!
1. See the Iconic Golden Gate Bridge
If there’s one thing to see in San Francisco, the infamous Golden Gate Bridge is it. If you’ve ever watched a movie or television show taking place in San Francisco, then you’ve probably seen the Golden Gate Bridge a few times on your tv screen. The infamous bridge is a 1.7 mile stunning bright red bridge located over the San Francisco bay waters. The reason why San Francisco is known as the “Bay Area!” The Golden Gate Bridge is very picturesque in all surrounding areas. However, the most breath-taking view of the bridge is located at Marin Headlands in Sausalito. It’s the most mesmerizing and postcard perfect view in all the city (literally, it’s on a postcard!).
Below are some popular and iconic picturesque spots of the Golden Gate Bridge:
Marin Headlands (aka Battery Spencer)
The Marin Headlands is located right over the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, where you’ll arrive in Sausalito, California. Whether you have a car or not, don’t worry, you can still Uber or Lyft across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. As you step foot upon the Marin Headlands, you’ll have a very short incline walk to the edge (there’a railing too), and that’s where you’ll find this breathtaking view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Baker Beach
Seeing the Golden Gate Bridge at Baker Beach is the perfect spot to enjoy a romantic picnic or take your girlfriends to layout on the beach. The beautiful beach showcases the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge from all angles, there’s really no bad view at the beach. It makes the perfect spot for some pictures!
Fort Point
The views at Fort Point is probably the most common spot for visitors to see the Golden Gate Bridge, mostly because a lot of tours take a pit-stop here. It’s the perfect place to grab some family photos and admire the beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge. From Fort Worth, you can actually begin your walk across the Golden Gate Bridge too!
Torpedo Wharf
The Torpedo Wharf bridge view is almost like a hidden gem in San Francisco. The hidden beach-walk makes for a less crowded walk, but you can still admire the beautiful views along the way. Torpedo Wharf actually takes you up to Fort Point too, so if you want to see both views, you can easily do both along this route!
2. Take a Tour of Alcatraz Island
You’ve probably heard of Alcatraz Prison in your school history class, but have you ever thought about experiencing the prison where the most notorious criminals were held captive? The prison housed criminals such as Al Capone and Robert Stroud on a small island in the San Francisco Bay. The prison consisted of maximum security, only accessible by boat. I guess the infamous Alcatraz quote is true “when you break the rules, you go to prison. When you break the prison rules, you go to ALCATRAZ”
Nowadays, the small island is a popular tourist attraction and national park. Alcatraz Island is such a hot spot, tickets can sell out MONTHS in advance. Be sure to snag your tickets as early as you can! If you aren’t able to snag yourself some tickets, you can see still the island from Pier 39 too!
3. Shop and Eat at Pier 39
Pier 39 is an exciting and unique tourist attraction where you can see the world famous sea lions. The infamous pier has shopping, dining, live entertainment and family-friendly attractions all throughout the day. From aquariums, boat rides, bike rentals and tours, mirror mazes, escape rooms, arcades, and wine tasting – there really is something for everyone to enjoy at the Pier.
4. Try Fresh Seafood at Fisherman’s Wharf
Fresh seafood and a bay cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge – what could be better? Fisherman’s Wharf carries the freshest fish caught right from the Bay waters – including crab, lobster rolls, clam chowder, and so much more. The indoor and outdoor dining, unique shopping, bay cruises, family attractions, museums, and outdoor activities allows for a lively day of entertainment.
5. Visit the Painted Ladies at Alamo Square Park
If you’ve ever seen the sitcom show Full House, you’re probably familiar with the Painted Ladies appearing in the opening theme song. However, don’t be fooled – the Painted Ladies is NOT where the Full House house is located. See my San Francisco Filming Locations From Entertainment You Love for the exact location of the popular filming locations – from Full House, That’s So Raven, Ant-Man, Mrs. Doubtfire, and more! The Painted Ladies are a row of Victorian-style homes with their own characteristics and color scheme. These beautiful homes are a huge tourist attraction, drawing visitors from all over to snap photos as the sun sets over the Painted Ladies’ gables.
6. Explore the Haight-Ashbury Neighborhood
Since the 1960s, Haight and Ashbury street has been home to colorful Victorian buildings brightening the hillsides. The streets are filled with flamboyant clothing shops, piecing and tattoo parlors, and stores mixed with hip restaurants and boutiques. You’ll feel like you’re in the 60s walking the street.
At Haight-Ashbury, you can find more iconic filming locations from the Grateful Dead and Disney Channel’s hit sitcom That’s So Raven, where the exterior scenes of the home were filmed. See more iconic filming locations with my San Francisco Filming Locations From Entertainment You Love blog post.
- That’s So Raven: 461 Ashbury Street
- Grateful Dead: 710 Ashbury Street
7. Enjoy a Picnic at Baker Beach
The best city-escape right inside the city. Baker Beach is a beautiful beach showing the iconic views of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is a perfect location for picnicking, sunbathing, and picturesque photos. The beach is a popular tourist and local destination, and can get packed with crowds, which can make parking a bit of a struggle. However, the views and quietness makes it all worth it.
8. Drive on Lombard Street
Lombard Street is a popular and world-famous tourist attraction as it is the windiest street in the world. With eight hairpin curves overlooking the ocean, over 2 million people drive down this road a year!
9. Grab a City View Photo at Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is a small neighborhood In San Francisco with an elevation gain of up to 920 feet. The neighborhood offers a lookout view of the entire San Francisco city at a bird-eyes view. It is a world-famous tourist destination, and is accessible by car or bus, with parking available at the lookout point.
10. Hike at Muir Woods National Monument
Maybe you’re looking to spend some time outside the city? Muir Woods National Monument is located a car ride across the Golden Gate Bridge in Sacramento filled with beautiful forest and woodland scenery. On your way to Muir Woods, you might as well stop at Marin Headlands for the ultimate Golden Gate Bridge view.
Muir Woods offers light to vigorous hikes, so you can guarantee a nature-filled experience without the noise of the city. The hikes range from 0.5-mile distances to 8-mile distances, with an elevation gain up to 2,800 feet. The National Monument is a family-friendly location, with tourists and locals trailing along the hike with you.
11. Explore the Chinatown Neighborhood
San Francisco’s Chinatown is one of the oldest and most established Chinatowns in the U.S. It is one of San Francisco’s top tourist attractions filled with 30 blocks of tea rooms, Taoist temples, dim sum palaces, dragon sculptures and pagodas. It’s the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat and explore the streets!
12. Try a Sundae at Ghirardelli Square
San Francisco’s Ghirardelli Square is the home of the original Ice Cream and Chocolate shop focusing on sundaes. The two-block corner of chocolate has the widest selection of Ghirardelli Squares allowing guests to customize their choices. It is home to the World Famous Hot Fudge Sundaes featuring fresh hot fudge homemade daily. If you have a jam-packed schedule, Ghirardelli Square has grab-n-go options to take your Hot Fudge Sundae with you!
13. Visit Coit Tower for a City View
Coit Tower is a 210 foot tower located in the heart of San Francisco. The memorial was built in 1933 using Lillie Hitchcock Coit’s bequest to beautify the city of San Francisco. And it’s true, you can spot Coit Tower almost anywhere in the city, and it really makes the city pop. Best of all, you can purchase tickets to go inside the Coit Tower, where you can get the best city views at the very top!
14. Shop and Eat at Ferry Building Marketplace
The Ferry Building Marketplace is an essential San Francisco food experience and home to nearly 50 local artisan food merchants, restaurants, and small eateries. With an overlooking view of the 5-mile Bay Bridge, the marketplace is usually packed with tourists, but it is well worth your time to visit.
15. Stroll along the Palace of Fine Arts Park
The Palace of Fine Arts was to showcase artists at a period of time when modern art was beginning to emerge. The 17-acre park has previously featured a number of television shows and movies such as Twister, The Five Year Engagement, and Always Be My Maybe. The beauty of the building attracts locals and tourists, and allows for the perfect place for a picnic or walk along the lagoon.
16. Visit Dolores Park
If you’re looking for a family-friendly park with lots to do, Dolores Park is it. The park offers several features including tennis courts, a basketball court, multi-purpose courts, a soccer field, a children’s playground, and a dog play area. The park is also notable for it’s skyline views of downtown San Francisco.
17. See a Baseball Game at Oracle Park
If you are visiting San Francisco during baseball season, the home of the San Francisco Giants play at Oracle Park. The MLB ballpark sits on the coast of San Francisco Bay with stunning views of the city and the Bay Bridge. Be sure to grab your tickets in advance and enjoy some stadium-style food.
18. Shop at Union Square
Union Square is located at the heart of San Francisco’s theater scene, a hub for destination shopping, and a lively dining and drinking scene. While there’s lots to do all year-around, if you’re visiting San Francisco during the holidays, Union Square is home to San Francisco’s largest Christmas Tree with Holiday activities such as ice skating, Nutcracker, SantaCon, Chanukah Festival of Lights, and so much more.
19. Experience San Francisco’s Unique Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is a family-friendly experience and public learning laboratory where you can explore the world through science, art, and human perception. With hundreds of exhibits in the indoor and outdoor galleries, you can let your curiosity run free. This is such a fun experience for kids, but I have to say, as an adult, I thoroughly enjoyed this experience too!
20. Ride on a Cable Cars
No experience is more uniquely San Francisco than a ride on an iconic cable car. It’s easy to find and board a cable car. The Cable Cars run through popular tourists destinations, from Fisherman’s Wharf to Union Square, and a few more stops along the way. You can choose to hop on a Cable Car at one of the two turntable destinations below:
- Cable Car Pickup Spot #1: Corner of Powell St and Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
- Cable Car Pickup Spot #2: Corner of California St and Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
If you want to avoid long lines, be sure to snag your tickets early! Whether you want to do a one-way route or an all day pass, there are many options to choose from.
21. Drive Across the Bay Bridge
The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is one of the longest bridges in the world linking San Francisco and Oakland city. There are many ways to view the bridge – whether you want to take a drive over it, a boat ride underneath it, or find a picturesque location (I highly recommend the Ferry Building Marketplace). The bridge is a gorgeous and must-see experience.
This post is a San Francisco Travel Guide.
And there you have it! The ultimate San Francisco travel guide showing you the best things to do and the best places to stay! What, if anything, will be at the top of your list when you visit San Francisco, California? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear from you!
This is a great post. Wonderful photos of the bridges. I missed the fine arts park on our last visit, we’ll be planning a trip back.