Things to Do in San Francisco
DESTINATION GUIDE

Things to Do in San Francisco

50 curated spots from San Francisco itineraries

Activities & Attractions

30 curated experiences

Ferry Building Marketplace
Do
morning

Ferry Building Marketplace

Historic ferry terminal turned gourmet market with local vendors selling cheese, oysters, bread, coffee, and chocolate along the waterfront.

1h · Free to enter; food ~$10-25
Alcatraz Island
Do
afternoon

Alcatraz Island

Ferry tour of the prison cells, audio guide with inmate stories, and island trails.

3h · $45
Balmy Alley Murals
Do
morning

Balmy Alley Murals

Walk this compact alley for some of the city’s strongest murals and portrait-worthy street art; late morning offers good color and softer shadows.

45m · Free
Lombard Street
Do
morning

Lombard Street

Walk or drive the crooked switchbacks, admire Victorian homes and gardens.

45m · Free
Mission Dolores Park
Do
late_morning

Mission Dolores Park

Relax on the grassy hillside, people-watch, and enjoy sweeping views of the downtown skyline; walk up to the top of the park for the best panorama.

45m · Free
Palace of Fine Arts
Do
evening

Palace of Fine Arts

Greco-Roman lagoon rotunda; golden hour reflections; 10-min walk from Wharf.

1h 15m · Free
Exploratorium
Do
afternoon

Exploratorium

Hands-on science museum on the waterfront where kids can touch, build, and experiment with hundreds of interactive exhibits.

3h · $30-40 per adult, discounted child tickets
Golden Gate Bridge
Do
afternoon

Golden Gate Bridge

Walk or bike across the bridge, visit the welcome center, and enjoy panoramic photo ops.

1h 30m · Free or $10 bike rental
Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point
Do
morning

Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point

Viewpoint parking, short walk toward bridge, photo ops with city skyline.

1h · Free
Golden Gate Park
Do
afternoon

Golden Gate Park

Stroll the gardens, lakes, and shaded paths; if you want the most jungle-wild feeling, focus on the botanical areas and tree-lined sections near Stow Lake.

2h 30m · Free
Golden Gate Park Free Explore
Do
afternoon

Golden Gate Park Free Explore

Enter near the Conservatory of Flowers and wander past the Music Concourse, lakes, and gardens; optionally pay to visit de Young Museum or California Academy of Sciences.

2h 30m · Free to wander; museums ~$20-40 if you choose
Lands End Coastal Trail
Do
morning

Lands End Coastal Trail

3.5-mile bluff hike to Sutro Baths ruins; photography at labyrinth and coves; medium fitness.

2h · Free
Mission District Murals (Balmy Alley & Clarion Alley)
Do
morning

Mission District Murals (Balmy Alley & Clarion Alley)

Walk narrow alleys filled with colorful political and cultural murals, surrounded by urban greenery and side-street gardens.

2h · Free
Pier 39
Do
morning

Pier 39

Watch sea lions, street performers, carousel rides, and arcade games amid waterfront bustle.

2h · Free ($10-20 extras)
Presidio Tunnel Tops
Do
morning

Presidio Tunnel Tops

Play at the large nature-inspired playground, walk the paths with Golden Gate Bridge views, and relax at picnic tables overlooking the bay.

2h · Free
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
Do
afternoon

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)

Explore one of the West Coast’s leading modern art museums, with striking architecture, rooftop sculpture spaces, and photography-worthy interior design.

2h · $25 per person (general admission)
California Academy of Sciences
Do
afternoon

California Academy of Sciences

Aquarium, planetarium, rainforest dome, and T-Rex skeleton in Golden Gate Park.

3h · $50/adult, $40/child
Chinatown Street Markets & Alleys
Do
morning

Chinatown Street Markets & Alleys

Wander Grant Avenue and Stockton Street to see produce markets, dried goods shops, herbal pharmacies, and colorful lanterns; duck into side alleys for quieter corners.

1h 30m · Free (shopping extra)
Clarion Alley
Do
evening

Clarion Alley

Self-guided walk through vibrant murals in historic alley off 17th Street.

45m · Free
Coit Tower & Telegraph Hill Stairs
Do
afternoon

Coit Tower & Telegraph Hill Stairs

Walk up the stairways through lush, jungle-like gardens on Telegraph Hill (Filbert or Greenwich steps), then visit Coit Tower’s base for panoramic city and Bay views; optionally pay to go up the tower.

1h 30m · Free to climb hill; ~$10 to go up tower (optional)
Coit Tower & Telegraph Hill Steps
Do
afternoon

Coit Tower & Telegraph Hill Steps

Climb or ride up to Coit Tower for panoramic city and bay views, then descend via the lush, garden-like Filbert or Greenwich Steps.

1h 30m · $10 (tower entry) or Free if you skip the elevator
Crissy Field
Do
afternoon

Crissy Field

Private waterfront path in Presidio with unobstructed Golden Gate Bridge views.

1h 30m · Free
Crissy Field & Beach Walk
Do
afternoon

Crissy Field & Beach Walk

Stroll the flat path along the bay, let the kids play in the sand, and watch windsurfers with the Golden Gate Bridge looming above.

2h · Free
de Young Museum
Do
afternoon

de Young Museum

American art collection in striking copper-clad building with tower views.

1h 30m · $20
Dolores Park
Do
morning

Dolores Park

Relax on the lawn, enjoy skyline views, and take a slow break before lunch.

1h · Free
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
Do
morning

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

Browse stalls, sample local produce and prepared foods, and enjoy the waterfront setting if your weekend includes a Saturday morning.

1h 30m · Free entry; food varies
Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39
Do
afternoon

Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39

Watch sea lions, explore piers, street performers, and bay views.

1h 30m · Free
Fisherman’s Wharf & Pier 39 Sea Lions
Do
late afternoon

Fisherman’s Wharf & Pier 39 Sea Lions

Stroll the busy piers, watch the sea lions lounging on the docks near Pier 39, and enjoy the carnival-like atmosphere along the water.

1h 30m · Free
Japanese Tea Garden
Do
morning

Japanese Tea Garden

Walk through landscaped paths, bridges, and quiet water features for a calm nature break in the middle of the city.

1h 15m · $18-25
Lands End Coastal Trail & Sutro Baths
Do
afternoon

Lands End Coastal Trail & Sutro Baths

Walk the Lands End Coastal Trail for cliffside ocean views framed by windswept trees, then explore the ruins of Sutro Baths below for moody, wild-feeling photos near the surf.

2h 30m · Free

Restaurants & Food

20 local favorites

Good Mong Kok Bakery
Eat
morning

Good Mong Kok Bakery

Takeaway dim sum spot with lines of locals; order shrimp dumplings, baked BBQ pork buns, and egg tarts, then eat in nearby Portsmouth Square.[5][6]

45m · $8-15 per person
La Taqueria
Eat
evening

La Taqueria

Michelin-recommended burritos with fresh carnitas or veggie options.

45m · $15-25 per person
Tartine Bakery
Eat
morning

Tartine Bakery

Share a morning bun or croque monsieur with great coffee at this famed bakery, then stroll right into the Mission’s mural-lined streets.

1h · $15-25 per person
Fog Harbor Fish House
Eat
morning

Fog Harbor Fish House

Clam chowder bread bowls; sustainable seafood.

1h · $25-40 per person
Foreign Cinema
Eat
morning

Foreign Cinema

Creative California-Mediterranean plates in a stylish courtyard setting; order a shared starter and a main for a leisurely meal.

1h 15m · $25-$45 per person
Golden Boy Pizza
Eat
evening

Golden Boy Pizza

Casual, beloved counter-serve spot for thick, square slices; get the garlic-and-clam slice or a veggie slice and eat at the simple indoor tables.

45m · $10-15 per person
Boudin Bakery
Eat
morning

Boudin Bakery

Legendary sourdough bread bowls filled with clam chowder; grab coffee too.

45m · $15-25 per person
Gary Danko
Eat
afternoon

Gary Danko

Refined tasting menu with impeccable service and wine pairings overlooking the bay.

2h · $250-350 per person
State Bird Provisions
Eat
evening

State Bird Provisions

Book ahead for a shareable, inventive dinner that feels special without being stuffy; the dim-sum-style service makes it a fun couple meal.

1h 40m · $50-80 per person
Tartine Manufactory
Eat
evening

Tartine Manufactory

A reliable, modern dinner stop with excellent bread, seasonal dishes, and a comfortable room for a slower evening.

1h 30m · $25-$45 per person
The Slanted Door
Eat
morning

The Slanted Door

Start with a comfortable bayfront breakfast nearby; if you want a lighter first meal, aim for pastry, coffee, and fruit at the Ferry Building before sightseeing.

1h · $20-40 per person
Al-Masri Egyptian Restaurant
Eat
evening

Al-Masri Egyptian Restaurant

Egyptian restaurant with many halal dishes; choose koshari, falafel, ful medames, and grilled chicken or lamb dishes confirmed as halal with the staff.

1h 15m · $20-35 per person
Atelier Crenn
Eat
evening

Atelier Crenn

The crown jewel: a 17-course pescatarian tasting menu ($395) featuring fresh seafood, tableside pours, stories from Chef Crenn's French coastal childhood, and a menu presented as a poem handwritten by the chef

3h · $395-500+ per person (with wine pairings)
Bi-Rite Creamery
Eat
afternoon

Bi-Rite Creamery

Organic ice cream scoops in flavors like salted caramel.

30m · $10-20 per person
Gyro Xpress
Eat
afternoon

Gyro Xpress

Simple Mediterranean counter-service spot near Lombard/Marina; go for the halal chicken shawarma plate, falafel wraps, hummus, and salad. Confirm halal signage and choose chicken/lamb/falafel options only.

45m · $12-20 per person
Hook Fish Co.
Eat
lunch

Hook Fish Co.

Get fish tacos or a casual seafood lunch before or after a seaside walk on the western edge of the city.

1h · $20-35 per person
House of Nanking
Eat
afternoon

House of Nanking

Well-known Chinese restaurant with bold flavors and generous portions; if you’re unsure what to pick, ask the server for a vegetable dish plus a noodle or rice dish to share.

1h · $18-25 per person (sharing dishes)
Mama’s on Washington Square
Eat
morning

Mama’s on Washington Square

Classic breakfast spot near Washington Square; order the French toast or omelets and go early to avoid a wait.

1h · $20-$35 per person
Mandalay Restaurant
Eat
afternoon

Mandalay Restaurant

Burmese restaurant with many vegetarian and seafood options like tea leaf salad, rainbow salad, and prawn curries; confirm no pork or alcohol-based sauces in your selections and stick to fish/veg dishes.

1h · $20-35 per person
Mela Tandoori Kitchen
Eat
evening

Mela Tandoori Kitchen

Indian-Pakistani restaurant with clearly halal meats; order tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, daal, naan, and vegetable curries.

1h 15m · $18-28 per person

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