What are the top things to do in San Francisco?

The top things to do in San Francisco are: Alcatraz Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco Bay Muir Woods Fisherman's Wharf

What are the top activities in San Francisco?

Top activities in San Francisco include: Muir Woods & Sausalito Half-Day Tour (Return by Bus or Ferry from Sausalito) Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Full-Day Tour from San Francisco Alcatraz Inside with Fisherman's Wharf Lunch Credit Big Bus San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off Open Top Tour Straight to the Gate Access: San Francisco Bay Twilight or Sunset Cruise

What are the top things to do near San Francisco?

Check out things to do near San Francisco: California Sausalito Napa & Sonoma Yosemite National Park Paso Robles

What do I need to know before visiting San Francisco?

Check out these top San Francisco travel ideas: 6 Books About San Francisco to Read Before Your Next Trip How to Prepare for Whale Watching in the San Francisco Bay 10 Fun Things to Do When Alcatraz Tickets are Sold Out Where to Find the Best Views of the Golden Gate Bridge Unique Souvenirs to Bring Home from San Francisco

What is San Francisco city known for?

California’s 4th-largest city, San Francisco is known for its steep hills and photogenic attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, and Alcatraz Island. The city also has a thriving gourmet food scene and is an urban hub for innovative tech companies.

What is the best thing about San Francisco?

Depending on who you ask, the best thing about San Francisco may be its diverse cultural attractions, miles of scenic shoreline, farm-to-table food scene, or walkable neighborhoods. Others love the urban parks and proximity to nature havens like Muir Woods, beaches, and the Marin Headlands.

Is San Francisco worth visiting?

Yes. San Francisco is popular with tourists thanks to its scenic location on the San Francisco Bay, array of cultural attractions, and diverse food scene. Its compact size is easy to get around, and visitors can experience museums, beaches, urban hikes, and world-class dining all in one day.

What is the most visited place in San Francisco?

Pier 39 is the most-visited place in San Francisco. This family-friendly pier on Fisherman’s Wharf features souvenir shops, seafood restaurants, and the Aquarium of the Bay. It’s also a departure point for boat tours to Alcatraz Island and home to a noisy colony of California sea lions.

Is it safe in San Francisco?

Vehicle break-ins and property theft are the most commonly reported crimes in San Francisco, though drug use, traffic accidents, and violent crime are also concerns. Visitors can help keep themselves safe by crossing streets carefully, remaining aware of their surroundings, and never leaving valuables inside a car.

What can you do in San Francisco?

The most popular things to do in San Francisco include a tour of Alcatraz Island, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, taking a San Francisco Bay cruise, and exploring the waterfront at Fisherman’s Wharf. Walking around neighborhoods like Chinatown, North Beach, and the Mission is also a great way to explore San Francisco.

Things to do in San Francisco

Welcome to San Francisco

San Francisco is seven square miles of fog-shrouded magic. Travelers come for cable-car rides and the Golden Gate Bridge—and stay for edgy neighborhoods, cultural diversity, and beautiful open-air spaces.

Learn more

Why you are seeing these recommendations

Top 15 attractions in San Francisco

Tours & Tickets

Alcatraz

10,105

A former federal prison that held notorious criminals Al “Scarface” Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly, Alcatraz is now a national historic landmark and one of the most sought-out (and sold-out) attractions in the San Francisco Bay Area. Highlights include touring what’s left of the maximum-security facility, hearing stories from former inmates, and sailing past the Golden Gate Bridge to reach the craggy isle.More

Tours & Tickets

Golden Gate Bridge

40,137

The red-orange Golden Gate Bridge is a San Francisco icon, which spans 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) across and connects the city’s northernmost point to Marin County. While the suspension bridge is a major route for Bay Area commuters, the famous landmark also attracts visitors from around the world with its panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, the Marin headlands, Alcatraz, and San Francisco.More

Tours & Tickets

San Francisco Bay

13,228

A natural harbor spanned by the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the picturesque San Francisco Bay is the defining feature of California’s Bay Area. Get out on the chilly, choppy water—or just savor the views from the shoreline as the fog rolls in.More

Tours & Tickets

Muir Woods

12,703

Home to one of the world's last remaining coastal redwood forests, Muir Woods National Monument allows travelers to hike, relax, or picnic among giant Northern California trees only minutes from the city. This protected nature reserve is also part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, home to Stinson Beach—the park's only lifeguarded beach—and Fort Baker.More

Tours & Tickets

Fisherman's Wharf

14,818

Once the stomping ground of Italian fishermen, Fisherman’s Wharf is now one of San Francisco’s most popular tourist destinations. The bustling waterfront strip is filled with souvenir shops, seafood restaurants, and a wealth of family-friendly attractions—most notably a colony of sea lions that sunbathes and poses for photos on Pier 39.More

Tours & Tickets

San Francisco Chinatown

14,743

San Francisco’s Chinatown, one of North America’s oldest and largest, has long been one of the city’s top attractions. Highlights of this bustling neighborhood that dates back to the California Gold Rush include shops, dim sum restaurants, temples, and markets.More

Tours & Tickets

Palace of Fine Arts

14,184

San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts dates to the 1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition. One of the only remaining buildings from the World’s Fair, the Greco-Roman–inspired ruin is a favorite Bay Area venue. Walk under the picturesque rotunda, wander the grounds, and visit lagoons that are home to ducks, swans, and geese.More

Tours & Tickets

Union Square

17,228

Union Square is the city’s main dining, entertainment, and shopping district. Visitors can shop at department stores and designer boutiques; stop into various art galleries; grab a bite to eat at any of a number of restaurants; and see a live performance at a nearby theater.More

Tours & Tickets

Bay Bridge

8,867

Though the San Francisco Bay Bridge doesn't share the fame of the Golden Gate, the beauty of its recently reconstructed east span is beyond debate. Locals know it as the best way to cross between Oakland and San Francisco, while travelers enjoy its storied history, Yerba Buena Island connection, and stunning light displays.More

Tours & Tickets

#10

Tours & Tickets

North Beach

15,575

Despite its name, San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood does not border the water and has no sandy spots. But its position between Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, and the Embarcadero makes it one of the city’s most popular areas for visitors and locals, all of whom enjoy its Italian eateries, Beat history, quiet park, and nightlife scene.More

Tours & Tickets

#11

Tours & Tickets

Golden Gate Park

12,861

The 1,000-plus acres (412 hectares) of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park are home to museums, picnic sites, lakes, golf, hiking and biking paths, concerts, and more. From the attraction-laden east end to the wilder west side where bison roam, the park offers plenty of ways to relax, get a culture fix, exercise, or gather with friends.More

Tours & Tickets

#12

Tours & Tickets

Lombard Street

9,027

Lombard Street runs more than 20 blocks across northern San Francisco, but only one block—between Hyde and Leavenworth streets—gives the thoroughfare its nickname, “the crookedest street in the world.” Lined with well-manicured flowers and trees and tidy million-dollar homes, the red-brick-paved road zigzags its way down Russian Hill.More

Tours & Tickets

#13

Tours & Tickets

Yosemite National Park

6,474

One of the United States’ most popular national parks, Yosemite National Park is packed with natural beauty and views that never cease to amaze. From the majestic mountain peaks to the green meadows on the valley floor (plus all the waterfalls and groves of tall Sequoia trees in between), there’s no shortage of outdoor and leisure activities set against the park’s epic views. And whether you spend a single day or stay for a multi-day camping trip, you’ll feel a deeper appreciation for the nature at this national treasure.More

Tours & Tickets

#14

Tours & Tickets

Pier 39

8,395

One of the most visited sights in San Francisco, the multilevel Pier 39 complex is home to shops, restaurants, street performers, and a video arcade. Its waterfront setting on the San Francisco Bay means visitors can take in panoramic bay views, breathe fresh sea air, and watch sunbathing California sea lions.More

Tours & Tickets

#15

Tours & Tickets

Coit Tower

2,952

Visitors flock to Coit Tower to take in views of downtown San Francisco, Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, and other landmarks. With its perch in Pioneer Park atop Telegraph Hill, the 210-foot-high (64-meter-high) tower, built in 1933, offers some of the best panoramic photo ops in the city.More

Tours & Tickets

See more San Francisco attractions

Explore San Francisco by interest

Trip ideas

6 Books About San Francisco to Read Before Your Next Trip

Travel writer Madigan Talmage-Bowers called the Bay Area home for nearly 10 years. Here are her favorite SF-related reads to add to your to-read stack.

How to Prepare for Whale Watching in the San Francisco Bay

Make the most of this seasonal event with our top tips from a naturalist guide.

10 Fun Things to Do When Alcatraz Tickets are Sold Out

Don't despair if you can't get tickets to Alcatraz—San Francisco has more than enough alternative tours and attractions to keep you busy.

Where to Find the Best Views of the Golden Gate Bridge

Admire from the water, sure, but don’t overlook these other options either.

Unique Souvenirs to Bring Home from San Francisco

There’s no shortage of unique finds, delicious treats, and wacky wares for you to choose from in San Fran.

A Tour Guide's Guide to San Francisco's Chinatown

Tour guide Dorothy Quock knows San Francisco’s Chinatown by heart. Here’s her guide for getting to know the place in which she was born and has lived most of her life.

8 Best Weekend Getaways from San Francisco

Hit the road for coastal towns, Sonoma wineries, lakes in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and more—all less than a 4-hour drive from SF.

Visiting San Francisco for the First Time? Here's What to See and Do

San Francisco enchants newcomers with walkable neighborhoods, green urban spaces, and an offbeat personality. Here’s a guide for your first visit.

How to Get Off the Beaten Path in San Francisco

San Francisco’s eccentricities run deep, but you have to know where to find them.

8 Must-See San Francisco Neighborhoods and How to Visit

Compact by American standards, San Francisco is full of charming, walkable neighborhoods. These are the best.

An Insider’s Guide to LGBTQ+ San Francisco

Tour company owner Kathy Amendola on San Francisco Pride, the Castro, and where you can honor LGBTQ+ history in SF.

An Exploratorium Employee's Guide to San Francisco

When exploring a new city, there's nothing quite like getting tips and advice from someone who calls it home. That's why, in this series, we turn to the locals who know just as much about what can't be missed as they do about the unexpected delights that make a place so special.

Know Before You Go: Tips for Visiting Alcatraz

Perched on a rocky island in the San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz once housed such legendary criminals as Al Capone. Today, the former prison is an extremely popular National Historic Landmark. Here are the top things to know when planning your visit.

San Francisco Do’s and Don’ts: 10 Unwritten Rules That Every San Franciscan Knows

San Francisco welcomes visitors with open arms. Follow these tips to endear the locals even more—and make your trip a great success.

Guide to Marin County: Sausalito, Muir Woods, and More

From hiking and biking trails to cheese and wine tastings, quaint towns to inviting beaches, here’s what not to miss in Marin.

See all San Francisco articles

Itineraries for your San Francisco trip

3 Days in San Francisco for First Timers

3 Days in San Francisco for Families

3 Days in San Francisco for Foodies

Top activities in San Francisco

Muir Woods & Sausalito Half-Day Tour (Return by Bus or Ferry from Sausalito)

3867

From

HK$655.05

~~HK$714.46~~ HK$59.41 savings

Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Full-Day Tour from San Francisco

3400

From

HK$1,284.42

Alcatraz Inside with Fisherman's Wharf Lunch Credit

243

From

HK$786.62

Big Bus San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off Open Top Tour

3058

From

HK$505.74

Straight to the Gate Access: San Francisco Bay Twilight or Sunset Cruise

1092

From

HK$401.38

Small-Group Yosemite Day Tour from San Francisco

387

From

HK$1,597.49

GoCar San Francisco Tour

691

From

HK$776.99

per group

Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive - Full Day Tour from San Francisco

1754

From

HK$963.31

Alcatraz with San Francisco Bay Cruise

398

From

HK$1,115.84

Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco

2450

From

HK$1,597.49

Alcatraz with Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour

561

From

HK$1,276.39

San Francisco Super Saver: Muir Woods & Wine Country w/ optional Gourmet Lunch

2935

From

HK$1,436.94

Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco

1400

From

HK$1,677.77

Straight to the Gate Access: Golden Gate Bay Cruise

1021

From

HK$305.05

Small Group Tour: San Francisco, Muir Woods, Sausalito with OPTIONAL Alcatraz

512

From

HK$1,035.56

San Francisco Bay Sunset Catamaran Cruise

976

From

HK$642.21

San Francisco Love Tour

1518

From

HK$682.35

Yosemite National Park - Full Day Tour from San Francisco

718

From

HK$1,597.49

Wine Country Small-Group Tour from San Francisco with Tastings

879

From

HK$1,356.66

The Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour

526

From

HK$1,115.84

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Explore our promoted experiences

Big Bus Muir Woods Tour

3 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation

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Muir Woods, Sausalito and San Francisco, All in One Day

3 hours 25 minutes
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2-Hour Sunset Sail on the San Francisco Bay

2 hours
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Big Bus San Francisco Night Tour

1 hour 30 minutes
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Hidden Stairways of San Francisco

2 hours
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Golden Gate Bridge Bike Tour

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The Nearly-Private Golden Gate Bridge Tour

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San Francisco Bike Rental For the Golden Gate Bridge

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What people are saying about San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge Guided Bicycle or E-Bike Tour from San Francisco to Sausalito

Bronwen_M

, May 2023

A beautiful way to see...

A beautiful way to see San Francisco, really enjoyed this e-bike tour.

Private City Tour of San Francisco

margarete_a

, May 2023

Great Overview of San Francisco

We saw all the sights we wanted to see and learned a great deal about current and historical San Francisco.

Big Bus San Francisco Hop-On-Hop-Off Open Top Tour and Alcatraz Combo

DAVID_B

, May 2023

Great bus tour for orientation.

This is a great way to see the major attractions and get your bearings when visiting San Francisco for the first time.

Alcatraz with Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour

Richard_W

, Apr 2023

A must see!!!!

What an outstanstanding combo including so many major attractions.

Muir Woods, Sausalito and San Francisco, All in One Day

Zuleyma_o

, Apr 2023

100% Recommend

We enjoyed all the attractions , the timing of our tour was about 6 hours along, sufficient time to sightsee the iconic attractions of San Francisco.

San Francisco Movie Sights City Tour

Samantha_H

, Apr 2023

Great Experience!

Best way to see San Francisco!

Good value and a great way to see San Francisco.

Big Bus San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off Open Top Tour

Diana_L

, Apr 2023

Good value and a great way to see San Francisco.

Great way to see San Francisco.

Straight to the Gate Access: San Francisco Bridge-to-Bridge Cruise

Angelica_H

, Apr 2023

Great little trip

Great trip to see the bridges in San Francisco and Alcatraz.

Small Group Half Day Muir Woods and Sausalito Morning Tour

MariaElendia_S

, Apr 2023

Muir Woods

Really a beautiful experience to see the One of many sequoia not far from San Francisco.

Muir Woods & Sausalito Half-Day Tour (Return by Bus or Ferry from Sausalito)

Robert_T

, Apr 2023

Muir Woods and Sausalito tour

Great opportunity to see the GG bridge and San Francisco from the water and we weren't rushed to get back on the bus.

San Francisco Grand City Tour

Lynne_S

, Apr 2023

Excellent time

A great way to see San Francisco

Straight to the Gate Access: Golden Gate Bay Cruise

Bonnie_Z

, Apr 2023

Lots of fun. Friendly...

Great way to see San Francisco.

Fantastic / Fabulous / the best way to see North Beach and sample it's food :)

Little Italy and North Beach Walking Tour in San Francisco

James_G

, Apr 2023

Fantastic / Fabulous / the best way to see North Beach and sample it's food :)

A great way to see 'SF'

San Francisco Love Tour

Stephen_L

, Apr 2023

Groovy time

Judith did a truly groovy job getting us to see some of the best sights in San Francisco.

Golden Gate Bridge Bike Rentals

Nicola_F

, Apr 2023

Great experience

This was a great way to see the bridge and the outskirts of San Francisco.

Straight to the Gate Access: San Francisco Bridge-to-Bridge Cruise

JonaDela_C

, Apr 2023

Late March boat trip

This was a great way to see the landmarks!

Early Bird San Francisco GoCar Tour