The 10 Best Things to Do in San Francisco

San Francisco is a City of Many Wonders.
San Francisco is a city of many things: weird and wonderful people, beautiful views, and delicious food. But what's most important is that it's a city that constantly surprises you. So whether you're visiting the Bay Area for the first time or returning home after a long hiatus, here are 15 things to do in San Francisco that will leave you feeling like you've just had an adventure—and then some!
The 10 Best Things to Do in San Francisco

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So whether you're visiting San Francisco for the first time, or you're already a local looking for new things to do, here are some of the best places to visit in the city:

1. Visit the Golden Gate Bridge

Visit the Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects San Francisco to the North Bay. It's one of the most recognizable bridges in the world and serves as a symbol for both the city of San Francisco and California.

The bridge was built in 1933, making it more than 1.7 miles long. It was designed by engineer Joseph Strauss and constructed with steel from Bethlehem Steel, who also provided their own workers for construction on this massive project—which took about 4 years to build!

2. Take a stroll down Chinatown

Take a Stroll Down Chinatown
The Chinatown centered on Grant Avenue and Stockton Street in San Francisco, California, which is the oldest Chinatown in North America and one of the largest Chinese enclaves outside Asia.

3. See Alcatraz Island

See Alcatraz Island in San Francisco
Alcatraz Island has a long and fascinating history. It was originally used as a military fort, then turned into a prison, and now it's one of the most popular tourist destinations in San Francisco. You can visit Alcatraz Island by taking an official ferry from Pier 33 (or sometimes from Fisherman's Wharf) which takes about 20 minutes to get there. Once you arrive on the island, you'll be able to take self-guided tours of some parts of the prison that are still intact including dining areas, cells, and more!

4. Take a walk down Fisherman's Wharf

Take a walk down Fisherman Wharf
Let's start with one of the most popular tourist destinations in San Francisco: Fisherman's Wharf. Located in the southern part of the city near the Golden Gate Bridge, this area is home to some of the best seafood in California. If you want to try some delicious crab cakes or clam chowder, head on over here!

5. Take a cable car ride and see the city from above

Take a Cable Car Ride in San Francisco
The Cable Car Museum is a great place to begin your journey into San Francisco's unique cable car history. The museum is located in the Washington-Mason cable car barn, which was built in 1917 and houses several historic cable cars that have been restored by volunteers.

The next stop on your trip will be at Lombard Street—the "most crooked street" in San Francisco where you can ride on a cable car up one of the steepest hills in California (22% grade). From there, you can enjoy views from Coit Tower before continuing your adventure through Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39.

6. Visit Palace of Fine Arts Theatre

Visit Palace of Fine Arts Theatre
The Palace of Fine Arts is a monumental structure located in the Marina District of San Francisco. It is constructed for the 1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition to exhibit works of art. Completely rebuilt from 1964 to 1974.

7. Take a walk down Lombard Street known as "the most crooked street in the world"

Take a Walk Down Lombard Street
Lombard Street is an east–west street in San Francisco, California that is famous for a steep, one-block section with eight hairpin turns.

8. Ride on a ferry to Sausalito and Tiburon

Ride on a Ferry to Sausalito and Tiburon
Marin County just north of San Francisco and had the sixth highest income per capita of all U.S. counties, at $141,735. As of the 2020 census, the population was 262,231.

9. Strolling through the Japantown

Strolling through the Japantown
Spend an afternoon strolling through the Japantown neighborhood, where you can find tea houses and more than 100 stores and restaurants selling Japanese goods and food

10. Take a day trip down to Silicon Valley

Take a day trip down to Silicon Valley
Where you can visit Facebook headquarters or stop off at Googleplex (Google's headquarters), then explore the Stanford University campus or Palo Alto University campus for some cult.

Also See Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in San Francisco


Twin Peaks in San Francisco

Twin Peaks in San Francisco
This is a beautiful hike that will take you to the highest peak in San Francisco. It's not too challenging, but it's worth noting that this trail can be windy and foggy at times, so be sure to check the weather before you go!

The trek takes about two hours one way, so plan accordingly. When you reach the top of Twin Peaks, you'll have an amazing view of San Francisco and its surrounding areas. This hike is dog friendly as long as they're kept on leashes or within voice control—and we recommend bringing them along!

San Francisco The Exploratorium Museum

San Francisco The Exploratorium Museum
The Exploratorium is a museum of science, art, and human perception. Located on Pier 15 on San Francisco's Embarcadero since 1969, this interactive museum has been accredited by the American Association of Museums since 1972. The Exploratorium seeks to engage people with an understanding of the world in which we live through exhibits that are fun and interactive for visitors of all ages.

A visit to the Exploratorium can be like entering a magical world where you can touch levitating objects or even create your own music! You will see how things work in ways that you never imagined before—and maybe even never dreamed possible! You might even get a chance to play with some cool toys while learning something new at the same time!

The Mission District Murals

The Mission District Murals
The Mission District is one of the most colorful neighborhoods in San Francisco, and in fact all of America. The murals that adorn many walls here were created by different artists and depict a range of themes from history to politics to religion and more. One mural depicts the lives of immigrants from Mexico, while another shows scenes from Egypt and the pyramids. Other murals show famous figures such as Frida Kahlo or Diego Rivera; some even feature local residents who have passed away recently. You can find these works all over this neighborhood but especially on Valencia Street between 16th and 18th Streets--it's easy to tell you're in this area when your eyes start popping out of your head because they won't stop staring at all these amazing pieces!

Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park
There's no shortage of things to do in San Francisco. To get the most out of your visit, it's best to plan ahead and prioritize your activities. If you're looking for something outdoorsy, head straight for Golden Gate Park—the city's premier green space that's one of the largest urban parks in the world. You'll find everything from gardens and museums to camping grounds and sports fields at this expansive park, which also has some impressive architecture including an art museum designed by Bernard Maybeck and a Japanese Tea Garden modeled after those at Kyoto's Ryoan-ji Temple Complex.

California Academy of Sciences

California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is a great place to visit with your children. It has an aquarium that's the largest in the western United States, as well as many other exhibits including rainforests, deserts, and more. The aquarium alone is worth visiting for—it houses over 100,000 sea creatures from all over the world!

Hours: Open daily 9AM-5PM (closed on Thanksgiving)

Cost: $30 adults; $25 seniors & students; $20 children ages 3-11; under 3 are free

Admission includes access to most special exhibits, tours of select areas within the building (including Earthquake Hall and Planetarium), and guided tours on weekends at 11AM or 2PM by appointment only. Special tours include: Behind-the-Scenes Tours (1 hour) - Tuesday–Saturday at 10am and 1pm; Sunday at 11am & 1pm. These are pretty popular so make sure you book early! Advance reservations required for groups larger than 15 people.; Access All Areas Tour (2 hours) - Monday–Friday at 10:00am only.; Night Life Tour(2 hours) - Wednesday & Thursday evenings only.; Holiday Lights Tour(1 hour)- November 23rd through January 8th only

San Francisco is steeped in rich history and culture, making it a popular tourist destination for young and old alike.

As one of the most beautiful cities on earth, San Francisco's natural beauty is matched only by its cultural richness. The city has a long history as an important port city and as a thriving center of technology. Today, you can find remnants of this past everywhere in San Francisco: from the historic cable cars that run up and down Nob Hill to the art museums that house some of the world's most valuable pieces.

Conclusion

If you're visiting San Francisco and want to see some of the best sights, why not try out one of these fun spots? They're all within walking distance or a quick drive from one another, so it won't be difficult to get around in this city.

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Author: Arif Cagrici