San Francisco is an incredibly popular tourist destination, with people travelling from all over the world to experience the city for themselves.
Whether you’re travelling from near or far, you are going to want to make sure you see all of the best bits during your stay. However, with so much on offer, it isn’t always easy to narrow it down.
That is why we’ve created a list of the 10 best things to do in San Francisco, to try and help you out.
With a little bit of everything the city is known for included, as well as all of the most famous, iconic attractions, this should give you everything you need to fill out the perfect travel itinerary for your own stay in San Francisco.
San Francisco At A Glance
The 4th most populous city in the state of California and 17th most in the United States as a whole, San Francisco was originally settled as a Christian mission in 1776 and incorporated as a city in 1850.
The city was one of the epicentres of the California Gold Rush of 1849, and saw its population soar, as people arrived from across the country, as well as more distant locations like Asia and Europe.
San Francisco has developed a reputation as one of the most friendly and diverse cities on Earth and has even been nicknamed the LGBT Capital Of The World.
With countless iconic locations and attractions, as well as stunning scenery that has been used as a backdrop to various movies and TV shows through the years, San Francisco is one of the most popular tourist destinations in North America.
Best Time To Visit San Francisco
The best time to visit San Francisco is from the start of June to mid-August. While the warmest, driest months in San Francisco are between June and September, late August is when the region surrounding the city is often hit by wildfires.
This makes June to the middle of August the best time to balance fabulous weather with not potentially putting yourself or your trip at risk.
Best Things To Do In San Francisco
As we move to our list of the 10 best things to do in San Francisco, I am going to suggest a broad range of options.
These will include things to appeal to travellers of all different interests, while ensuring you have something to cover everything that San Francisco is known for.
Go For A Walk Across The Golden Gate Bridge
There’s nothing more synonymous with San Francisco than the Golden Gate Bridge. Spanning 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometres) across the Golden Gate strait, it connects San Francisco to Marin County.
Constructed in a period of a little over four years, between 1933 and 1937, it was both the longest and tallest bridge in the world upon completion. It has been listed as a California Historical Landmark since 1987 and a San Francisco Designated Landmark since 1999.
Designed using Suspension, Truss Arch, and Truss Causeway elements, with an Art Deco façade, it is the most photographed bridge on Earth.
The bridge is painted in its own unique shade of red and as soon as painting is completed it begins again at the other end, to ensure it never loses its style.
Able to carry six lanes of traffic across the strait, Golden Gate Bridge is most commonly crossed by either cycling or walking when it comes to tourism.
Markers provide insights into its history, giving you information on things such as significant dates and people who have worked on its construction.
Meanwhile, it is perhaps the best place in San Francisco to enjoy stunning views of the city, Alcatraz Island, and the surrounding waters.
Set Sail For Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island is a 22 acre island in the San Francisco Bay, roughly 1.25 miles (2 kilometres) from the city’s coast. It is easily one of the most famous spots in the San Francisco Bay area and is home to multiple iconic landmarks, including a prison, lighthouse, and military fort.
While the entire island is incredibly popular with tourists, the main attraction is undoubtedly the prison, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary.
Used to house high risk inmates between 1934 and 1963, it was closed due to high running costs, poor living conditions, and quickly deteriorating buildings
Alcatraz gained infamy due to the numerous escape attempts made by prisoners, almost all of which failed, due to the freezing waters and powerful currents that surround the island. Out of 36 known escape attempts, 31 were recaptured or died during the attempt.
While the remaining 5 were believed to have drowned or died of hypothermia, there is no proof that their attempts were unsuccessful. Urban legends of how they survived and built new lives in the city have been told in San Francisco for decades.
It has since been turned into one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States. Guided tours around the prison will teach you about its past, while a museum provides even more detail on the prison and the island as a whole.
Spend An Afternoon In Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf is the heart of the San Francisco tourist industry and is filled with things to do and see to entertain visitors, all while keeping with the spirit of the city.
Pier 39 is the main attraction in Fisherman’s Wharf. Filled with shops, bars, restaurants, rides, street performers and vendors, and attractions like the San Francisco Carousel and the Aquarium Of The Bay, the entertainment opportunities here are endless.
Pier 39 is also home to San Francisco’s legendary California sea lions, who have slept and played on and around the pier since the 1980s.
Visitors interested in maritime history will enjoy the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, San Francisco Maritime Museum, a fleet of both historic and modern vessels, some of which have been converted into unique museums, and even a maritime library and research centre.
Ghirardelli Square is a city block filled with historic buildings, stunning architecture, iconic landmarks, such as its clock tower and hotel, and a range of classic shops, bars, and restaurants, all of which have been listed on the National Register Of Historic Places since 1982.
Throughout Fisherman’s Wharf, you’ll also find a range of art galleries, attractions, and museums, like the Wax Museum At Fisherman’s Wharf, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not.
As an active fishing port, it is even a great place to sample some of San Francisco’s legendary seafood, including delicacies like clams, chowder, and Dungeness Crab.
Explore The City On The San Francisco Cable Car System
The San Francisco Cable Car system is not only one of the city’s most iconic features but is also the only manually operated cable car system still in use in the world. Despite 23 routes being established in the late 19th century, only 3 remain in operation.
With the remaining routes connecting Fisherman’s Wharf and Union Square, as well as one running the width of the city, along California Street, the cable car system is a fabulous, novel way to travel between the sites and enjoy a cultural staple of San Francisco in the process.
The entire San Francisco Cable Car system is listed on the National Register Of Historic Places and as a National Historic Landmark.
Guests also have the option to choose between Victorian style carriages, as well as the open backed cars you regularly see people hanging off the side of in movies.
Whichever car you choose, if you follow the route to the end of the line, make sure you stick around to see it rotated on the turntable so it can set off again, for yet another unique experience.
For those who want to learn more about the system, you also have the San Francisco Cable Car Museum in Nob Hill. Here you will be able to see vintage cars with your own eyes and better understand the rudimentary methods used to operate them when they were first installed.
Embrace Diversity In Chinatown
San Francisco’s legendary Chinatown is the largest Chinese enclave anywhere on Earth outside of Asia, as well as the oldest and most famous in the United States.
Filled with the iconic culture, cuisine, customs, languages, and places of worship of the Chinese people, it’s a fabulous opportunity to embrace diversity when you visit San Francisco.
Iconic landmarks like the Dragon Gate archway are perfectly balanced with a collection of bars, restaurants, and shops, to help you to completely immerse yourself in the Chinese culture.
Depending on when you visit, you may even have an extra surprise in store, as Chinatown is the location of a number of the most vibrant, exciting parades and festivals held in San Francisco.
With options like The San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival And Parade in late January, the Autumn Moon Festival in September, and even the traditional Chinese funeral processions that are held throughout the year, there is always something new to experience.
Pay A Visit To The Painted Ladies
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Edwardian and Victorian style houses were immensely popular in San Francisco. Brightly painted in all manner of different colours, the houses became known as the “Painted Ladies” and were synonymous with the city’s style.
While many were destroyed, remodelled, or repainted through the years, a great number still remain.
The most iconic of the remaining Painted Ladies is a collection opposite the Alamo Square park, on the edge of the Fillmore District, also known as the Seven Sisters and Postcard Row.
Located on a gently sloping hill, the iconic façade of these houses has been featured on paintings and postcards for years, as well as in more than 70 famous movies and TV shows, such as Full House, Fuller House, and Mrs. Doubtfire.
Whether you want to appreciate their historic architecture, recreate a shot from your favourite movie, or simply relax in a quiet park with beautiful surroundings, a trip here is well worth an afternoon during your stay in San Francisco.
Take A Drive Down Lombard Street
Lombard Street is an iconic east to west street in the heart of San Francisco, which has been featured in countless movies, TV shows, and works of art throughout the years. It is best known for a 600 foot (180 metre) “crooked” section in the Russian Hill neighbourhood.
This section of Lombard Street was designed with eight sharp, hairpin turns, with the aim being to reduce the incredibly steep gradient of the hill. First opened in 1922, it has since gone on to become one of the most popular roads for tourists to visit in the United States.
From the unique experience of driving its tight turns, to the stunning views of the city and bay on offer as you drive down the street, there is plenty of reasons why Lombard Street is visited by around 2 million motor enthusiasts each year.
Considering a trip down Lombard Street takes only a few minutes to drive during quiet periods, it is more than worth the trip if you have access to a car. Even if you don’t, why not stop in one of the city’s most famous spots to snap a photo and take in the legendary scenery?
Explore The Natural Side Of The City In Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park is a sprawling 1,017 acre urban park in western San Francisco, which runs for 3 miles (4.8 kilometres) from the Haight-Ashbury neighbourhood to the Pacific coast.
It is the third most visited city park in the United States, behind only Central Park in New York City, which it is 20% larger than, and Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.
Much like those two other parks, Golden Gate Park is also a destination filled with incredible attractions to discover.
The San Francisco Botanical Garden and Conservatory Of Flowers are great stops for those interested in botany and plant life. Meanwhile, the Beach Chalet is a Spanish Colonial Revival building ideal for fans of architecture.
The California Academy Of Sciences is one of the world’s largest natural history museums, with over 46 million artefacts, covering anthropology, biology, entomology, geology, herpetology, ichthyology, invertebrate zoology, mammalogy, marine biology, ornithology, and palaeontology.
Then you also have the de Young Museum, which is dedicated to fine arts, while those who want to enjoy a sporting event during their visit can do so at the Kezar Stadium or Polo Fields.
There are even plenty of things to see and explore if you just want to take a break from the urban press of the city for a while and enjoy a relaxing stroll.
These include the AIDS Memorial Grove, Dutch Windmill, Japanese Tea Garden, Lloyd Lake, Murphy Windmill, Music Concourse, Spreckels Lake, Strawberry Hill, and Stow Lake Boathouse.
Shop Till You Drop In Union Square
Union Square is a California Historical Landmark located in Downtown San Francisco, which is often considered to be the main plaza of the city. It gained its name due to hosting rallies in support of the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Surrounded by San Francisco’s central hotel, shopping, and theatre districts, Union Square is the perfect choice for those seeking a relaxing day out on the town.
It has one of the largest collections of art galleries, beauty salons, boutiques, department stores, and gift shops in the United States.
Whether you want to pick up some high end goods, catch a show, pamper yourself, attend one of the many events that are held here throughout the year, or simply sit back with a drink or meal and take in sights like the Dewey Monument, Union Square makes for a fabulous day out.
Delve Into The City’s History And Culture In The Mission District
Also known simply as The Mission, the Mission District is the perfect spot to visit for those interested in the history and culture of San Francisco.
The main attraction is the Mission San Francisco De Asis, also known as the Mission Delores, which was built in 1776 and is the oldest building in San Francisco.
A California Historical Landmark, it has been converted into a museum, where visitors can see artefacts from the settling of the city.
With an early 20th century basilica and Mission Delores Park, which is full of historic Mediterranean Revival style buildings, nearby, the Mission District is a history buffs dream.
The Mission District is also home to one of the largest populations of Mexicans and Spanish speaking people in the city.
With art galleries, bars, live music, Mexican restaurants, murals, street art, street performers, and taquerias, visitors can get a true sense of the Latino experience in the city.
Best Hotel To Stay At In San Francisco – Fairmont San Francisco
The Fairmont San Francisco is a stunning, 5-star hotel, located in the city’s upmarket Nob Hill neighbourhood. It also has the unique distinction of being the only place in the city where all three of the remaining San Francisco Cable Car lines meet.
Guest’s will enjoy lavish rooms that are the height of modern luxury, with everything from flat screen TVs and Wi-Fi to bedside USB charging ports, coffee makers, and air conditioning.
This is then complimented by exquisite marble bathrooms, kitted out with luxury robes and toiletries.
The huge windows ensure all of the rooms and suites are nice and bright throughout the day, while each offers panoramic views of either Alcatraz Island, Coit Tower, Golden Gate Bridge, or the Financial District.
The Tonga Room and Hurricane Bar provide plenty of options for guests to enjoy Polynesian fusion cuisine or enjoy live entertainment on a floating barge while sitting back and sipping on a drink.
Meanwhile, a gym, spa, exercise classes, and a range of shops are available on site, to ensure all of your needs and wants are taken care of. An airport shuttle and private parking are both offered to all guests, while the whole property is also pet friendly.
Conclusion
That concludes our list of the 10 best things to do in San Francisco. From long walks across iconic bridges to days exploring the unique landscape of the city, our list should have given you everything you need to plan the perfect travel itinerary.
That means all you have left is to work out the best areas to stay in San Francisco and start getting everything booked. That way, you can look forward to experiencing all of the wonders the city has to offer for yourself, as soon as possible.
