Last Updated on July 16, 2024 by Tori’s VA
Planning a trip to San Francisco, California? I’m so glad, because it is one of my favorite cities in the country. San Francisco has this perfect blend of tourist activities, sporting events, delicious food, relaxation, history, and of course, wine! We most recently spent a long weekend in The Golden City, and while we definitely would have loved more time there, (but what vacation shouldn’t be longer?) it was enough time to savor some of the most special things this place has to offer.
San Francisco is a great destination no matter the reason for a trip. Planning a California Babymoon? Want a warm winter getaway? Or just want to go just because? Whether you have 2 weeks, or 2 days, here are the best things to do in San Francisco, California.
When planning your trip, it might seem overwhelming, but I can help you get through the planning with ease! Read my guide on how to plan your perfect vacation.
This post may contain affiliate links for activities, destinations and products that I love, and think you will too!
The Best Things to do in San Francisco
Admire the Famous Golden Gate Bridge
Arguably the most famous bridge in the country, the Golden Gate Bridge sits on the northwest side of the city and connects to a town called Sausalito (an adorable little town on the water). Built in 1933, this bridge attracts more than 10 million visitors each year. It is even more breathtaking in person, and funny to think how special it is to see a bridge, of all things. But it is indeed huge and red and beautiful. If you want more history on this iconic bridge, check out this 5 minute Ted-Ed video.
I personally think the best place to view the bridge is from Battery Spencer. A park that is located across the bridge from San Francisco, there is plenty of parking and is easy to get to by car. This view is from above, and gets you very close to the bridge, so it looks as huge as it actually is in your photos, and also features the city of San Francisco in the background. We went right around sunset and had perfect lighting.
If you’ve been thinking about buying a nice camera, this would be a great time to. The bridge (and the rest of the city) is very photogenic so it’s worth splurging on a travel camera! Here’s a great option for beginner photographers!
Some other places you can visit to see the bridge include Marshall Beach which is on the city side of the bridge, and might be easier to get to if you don’t have a car. This is a super famous location for photos as well, but has a low viewpoint and no city in the background. You can visit Chrissy Park as well, which is even easier to access, a great option if you want to walk or ride your bike from downtown. The park has plenty of green space to spend a few hours and have a picnic if you want. The last option that I will recommend is the Golden Gate Overlook, the spot for the iconic Instagram-worthy photo of the bridge aligned perfectly between two trees. There’s also parking and walking paths, another great option for views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Sip Your Way Through Wine Country
Drive North over the bridge and continue up to the beloved wine country. Both Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley are located just north of the city. Sonoma is a short 1 hour drive with Napa only an hour and a half. Rent a car, drive north and check out the beautiful land and you must stop at a winery or two (or four) along the way. If you have a designated driver, then visit as many vineyards as you can along the way, or book a Napa Valley Wine Tour for the full experience (and so everyone in your group can enjoy the fruit of the land).
If you have the time, then I highly recommend devoting several days to wine country, at least two or three days would be ideal. But if you’re staying in San Francisco, then a day trip to Napa is more likely, and still an amazing options. Stay in the adorable little town of Napa at a B&B or VRBO, enjoy some of the culinary delicacies that the area has to offer, (We ate at Brasswood Bar + Kitchen a wow, it was impeccable) take in beautiful views over rolling hills and even visit a spa if you’d like. This area definitely offers some of the finer things in life, and can quickly add up in price. But, if you’re on a budget, don’t be turned off, you can certainly do the budget version as well.
I could go on and on about amazing recommendations for wine country, but I’ll try to give you a short synopsis as best as I can. If you’re interested in more information, sign up for my email list as I am sure to be posting more about this amazing area soon.
If you only have a day trip from San Francisco, and everyone in your group drinks wine, then I think the best and only option is to book a tour. They even have tours as short as 5 hours, so if you are short on time then this is still an option. The tour will take you by bus up to a specific vineyard or vineyards and will typically include the tasting and/or tour of the vineyard in the price of the tour.
If you want to explore on your own, then rent a car and pick out some vineyards in advance to visit. I recommend you also book reservations at each vineyard in advance, because most will not accept walk-ins. Try to book lunch and dinner reservations as well. Keep in mind if you do it this way, you will need to have a designated driver.
If you can allot 2 days or more, then renting a car and doing it on your own could probably work out fine, or you can take the train to get to the valley, and then just Uber around from vineyard to vineyard. However, the best, fanciest and definitely most fun option is to take the Napa Valley Wine Train. It is one of the absolute top things on my bucket list.
For more detailed information about getting to and getting around Napa and Sonoma Valleys, check out this blog post, it is sure to answer all of your transportation questions.
Selecting which vineyards to visit can seem like an extremely daunting task. There are SO many to choose from that it is overwhelming to decide. Don’t stress, read a few blogs about the best vineyards in the valleys (like this blog about Napa) and make a decision based on the things you like most. For us, we really wanted one that had more than just wine, but was an experience. That’s why we chose Castello di Amorosa which is a vineyard where the tasting room is located in an actual castle!! It was beautiful and a unique and fun place to visit, and they of course had delicious wines.
When you’re in Napa or Sonoma, you’re sure to want some beautiful flowy dresses to wear there, so here’s a roundup of some of my favorite dresses I think you’ll love! Be sure to sign up for my email list for more of my Wine Country content that is still to come!
Jump Back in Time at Alcatraz
Back in 1934, this famous prison was established to hold some of the U.S.’s most troublesome inmates. The prison quickly became famous as it held some of the most well-known prisoners in a prison that was nearly impossible to escape, on an island right off the coast of San Francisco. Today, it is a major tourist attraction, and something that you must do while visiting.
When we were planning our trip I honestly did not intend on going. Until, we met someone from the area and they said “if you do one thing in San Francisco, it has to be Alcatraz Island”, so that changed our minds! The island is open from 9am to 9:30pm each day, and is very easy to access.
Buy your tickets in advance through Alcatraz City Cruises, the official partner of the national park. The day time ticket is $41 per adult or $25 per child, which includes the ferry ride to the island, access to everything on the island and an audio tour of the cell house. But you must buy tickets a few weeks in advance as they do sell out during peak seasons! Plan for at least 3 hours (but 4-5 would probably be great) including the ferry, audio tour, walking around the other sites, taking photos along the water with the city in the background and of course time in the giftshop.
We absolutely loved Alcatraz. The ferry ride was actually super beautiful, the island was so unique, it was packed full of history, and the Audio tour was incredible! It was recorded by men who used to be inmates at the prison. It really pulled you into the stories and was incredibly interesting to learn all about some of the men who were held here. Learning about their lives on the island was fascinating, and made you actually kind of feel bad for them (despite the horrible things they did to get sent there!!)
Take Photos at The Painted Ladies
If you grew up in the 90s like I did, you likely watched Full House every. single. day. after school. I know I sure did!! The show was based on a family who lived in San Francisco, and the house (well the outside shot they used for the show) is located right in the heart of the city! They refer to this house and the others surrounding it as “The Painted Ladies”.
Take a bus or call an Uber and make your way to Alamo Square, a beautiful park in the middle of San Fran. Located along the eastern side of the park is a row of gorgeous Victorian style homes. They are big, brightly colored, and have the city skyline as the backdrop. It is stunning.
Including pop culture in my travels is hugely important. I love learning about the people of a place, the food, the history and so much more, but tying destinations into pop culture is such a special part of travel to me. I think it adds an extra element of fun when visiting new places. Try visiting a destination that your favorite movie was filmed in. Or, visit the set of your favorite TV show. It can be equally as cool to visit spots mentioned in your favorite book as well! However you do it, I encourage you to find pop culture ties to the place you visit, or better yet, plan a whole trip around it! For example, Harry Potter lovers have a lot of fun visiting England, Twilight lovers can explore Washington and Oregon, and even fans of the show Friends have several places to check out in NYC!
Walk up (or drive down) Lombard Street
As quirky as it is iconic, visiting Lombard street is another “must do” while in San Francisco. While it might seem strange to visit a street while on vacation, when you return home, everyone will ask if you saw this gem. Lombard street is the crookedest street in the world. The famous part is only one block long, but it zig-zags down the steep hills of San Francisco. There are expensive homes all along the street, and depending on the season, the road is filled to the brim with blooming flowers.
If you have a rental car in the city, definitely plan to drive down it. During the busy season there might be a line to get in, but it’s worth the wait just to say you did it. When I was a little girl my family drove down it and I still remember that experience to this day.
If you don’t have a car, walk to (or Uber to) the bottom, take a few photos and walk up the stairs on either side. At the top of the stairs is the next thing you can’t miss in the Golden City. This sight is super close to the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, which is where we stayed. The hotel was super nice and a great location to everything, I highly recommend that you stay there too!
Definitely note that San Francisco can have a lot of walking, as with any city. So be sure to wear very comfortable shoes!! I love wearing dresses, so my go-to sneaker with dresses are these shoes, but its just important that you find what you like and feels good for your feet!
Ride a Cable Car
Possibly the most iconic part of San Francisco is the beautiful and eclectic cable car. No trip to San Fran is complete without taking a ride on one of these pieces of history. The cars were invented nearly 150 years ago, and a few are still running today!
In order to ride the cable car, be sure to download the Muni Mobile app, it is the easiest way to get tickets! Tickets are $8 per person (5+) or free for kids 4 and under, and will only take you one way. Buy a second ticket for a round trip ride.
Now that you have made it to the top of Lombard Street, there is a cable car stop right there at the top! Wait under the brown and white cable car sign for one to arrive, usually within 10 minutes. Be sure to purchase the ticket on the app before the car arrives. It’s super easy to do on the app and only takes a minute!
If you get on the car at the top of Lombard street like I recommend, it is only the fifth stop, so you will be able to experience most of the ride from that point! It is about a 15 minute ride from there, and will go up and down the steep hills, with stunning views of the city and a look into some of the local lives of San Franciscans along the way. The ride ends at Market Street, near the shopping district, where you can jump off, grab a coffee and wander the streets window shopping. At least that’s what we did!
Wander Down Pier 39
Head north along the water, passing all of the piers, and eventually you will hit Pier 39. This famous pier is home to shops, restaurants, activities and even a merry-go-round. Definitely a tourist area, while I wouldn’t recommend spending a ton of time here, it is fun to check out and wander for a while. The highlight of the pier would have to be the wild sea lions that have decided to make the docks their home. Depending on the season, you can see as many as 900 there at one time!
I remember seeing a ton of them when I visited as a little girl, but when we visited back in January, the docks were almost empty. The city felt pretty empty too thanks to the harsh COVID restrictions that California endured, so I was convinced the sea lions must have been at home quarantining too. Haha!!
From the end of the pier you can get a nice view of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, so it’s definitely worth wandering around and enjoying the scenery.
I personally don’t recommend eating on the pier; there are tons of places, especially for seafood, but I try to avoid tourist areas at all costs when traveling. For suggestions on where to eat in San Francisco, I will be writing up another whole post. So, be sure to sign up for my email list so you can find out the moment the post is live!
Stop by Fisherman’s Wharf
Just a 5 minute walk from the Pier is Fisherman’s Wharf. A little spot along the water filled with tourist shops and places to eat, and also home to the recognizable Fisherman’s Wharf sign. This place is usually hoppin’, since it is kind of the hub of the tourist area, and there really is not too much to see here. However, the one “touristy” restaurant that I do think you HAVE to check out is located in this spot…
Eat Sourdough Bread at Boudin Bakery
The flagship Boudin Bakery location is located right in Fisherman’s Wharf, and it is something that is not to be missed. San Francisco’s oldest continuously operating business, and home to the world’s most delicious bread (my personal opinion), this was Austin’s favorite part of our trip. I have extremely fond memories here, as the thing I remember the most from my childhood vacation was walking the streets with loaves of bread in our arms, munching as we went along. It may sound silly, but every time I take a bite of sourdough, I get transported back to this happy memory, and it is one I will never forget.
On this trip, we stopped for lunch and grabbed the famous bread bowl soups along with sandwiches to take with us to the airport as we headed home. They have a casual café and a full service, higher-end restaurant called Bistro Boudin. Both are great options, but no matter what be sure to stop by the bakery to watch them make the loaves fresh each day. You can even talk directly to the bakers as they work and ask them all of your questions. A perfect afternoon activity for kids and adults alike.
Share a Bowl of Cioppino
There’s no argument about it, the best (and most famous) thing to eat in San Francisco is Cioppino. This Italian-American dish originated in San Francisco in the late 1800s and has a unique story behind it. Supposedly, when a fisherman would have a bad day, and come back without catching any seafood, he would go around to the other fishermen with a pot and ask for anything they would be willing to donate. This variety of seafood was turned into a stew, and thus created the idea of Cioppino.
This dish is a seafood stew, consisting of a wide variety of different seafood. The different meats can vary, but typically it includes Dungeness crab, clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops and squid. In the stew they add tomatoes and a white wine sauce and serve it with crusty sourdough bread to soak it all up.
The dish is almost always served in a large pot for two people to share. It is an amazing date night, family meal or dinner with a friend. Many claim to have the best Cioppino in town, but most locals know that the place to get Cioppino will always be at Sotto Mare. An adorable little family owned place with lots of spirit, but be sure to get there early or you could be waiting for hours. If you don’t believe me, read any blog about where to eat Cioppino and you’ll see it on the list (usually at the top) every time.
Eat Your Weight in Chocolate at Ghirardelli Square
Ghirardelli Square is located just a few blocks away from Fisherman’s Wharf, so it’s super easy to get to. And you definitely can’t miss the massive light up Ghirardelli sign sitting on top of the buildings. The square has a really fun history behind it, as it used to be home to the original Ghirardelli chocolate factory. Domenico “Domingo” Ghirardelli was born in Italy where he became a Genoa confectioner’s apprentice, and moved to San Francisco (by way of Peru) when the gold rush began. He opened a general store selling a variety of goods, but of course that included chocolate. Read the full story on the Ghirardelli Square here.
There are many shops and restaurants located in the square but you must stop by the ice cream and chocolate shop and the Ghirardelli Chocolate Experience to watch the chocolatiers hard at work.
Stroll Through The Ferry Building
I love visiting markets wherever I go, as I think it is a great way to get inexpensive food, try out the local options and get a huge variety to choose from. For that reason, I recommend checking out the Ferry Building when you’re in town, as there are tons of little stalls to choose from throughout. We ended up not eating here as everything was pretty eclectic, and not exactly what we had in mind that day, but would be an awesome choice to explore some of the local cuisine.
It also can be a fun place just to walk around as it is usually packed and on the weekends you’ll likely find a market to enjoy right outside!
Visit the Walt Disney Family Museum
I am so sad that I discovered the Walt Disney Family Museum after our trip to San Francisco, because it would have been on the top of my list to visit. Not only am I a huge Disney fan, I also wrote many papers about Walt Disney and the history of Disney World in grade school. (Obviously if you’re forced to write a paper about someone, you have to pick someone interesting!) So this museum would have been extra interesting to me, as I am sure it would be for many of you!
Quoted directly from their website, “The Walt Disney Family Museum presents an inspirational journey through the life of Walter Elias Disney. Our mission is two-fold: to inform present and future generations about the man and, through his story, to inspire them to heed their imagination and persevere in pursuing their goals.”
The Museum costs $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniors, $15 for kids 6-17 and free for kids 5 and under and for active duty military! If they have an exhibition at the time of your visit, that will likely cost more to access.
If you have lots of time in town, I highly recommend you get the San Francisco CityPass. I am a huge fan of City Pass and they offer them in cities across the country. CityPass includes several tourist attractions in the discounted price of this pass. All cities offer different things, but this one includes 4 activities for $76. This particular pass doesn’t include many of the “must sees” in the city, but does include this museum. So if you have 4 or more days (and even better if you’ll have kids with you) then I think this is something great to look into!
Catch a Golden State Warriors Game at the Chase Center
San Francisco has lived in my memories as my favorite city in the U.S. since my childhood trip, and while I have always wanted to return one day and show my husband, the truth is that the whole reason we visited this year was to see the Golden State Warriors. Austin is a huge fan and has been begging me to go to a game, so for Christmas I surprised him with flights and tickets to the game! Austin made some connections through work with someone who works for the team, so we were lucky enough to get a 2 hour tour of the facility before the game, and it was amazing!
I am not necessarily a basketball fan, but this team is electric and the fans are a lot of fun. The arena is new and huge and extremely upgraded. There’s a massive variety of food and drinks, including a ton of local options. We were also blown away by the different premium spaces they offered, many are very expensive, but some are super reasonable and even have all you can eat and drink options.
Since the basketball season is only October through April, this is a great thing to do in California in the winter!
Be sure to get some Warriors gear to wear at the game before you go!
Attend a Giants Game at Oracle Park
Another fun thing to do for sports fans (or people who just like to people-watch, eat yummy food and have a good time) is to go to a Giants game at Oracle Park. Located right in downtown, either a long walk, scooter ride, or super quick Uber, and you’re there! This is a super unique ballpark because it is located right on the water, and you’ll usually catch people in kayaks behind the stadium waiting to catch home run balls!
If you are into baseball, then I highly recommend getting the MLB Pass-Port, and trying to visit as many ballparks as you can! You should buy the book online in advance and then when you attend a game at a new ballpark, visit the designated location (usually the guest services desk) for a free stamp! Each ballpark has a cool and unique stamp for your book.
Get Around Town on a Scooter
Okay, so this is definitely not unique to San Francisco, however we discovered our love for using electric scooters as transportation while we were here. They were so easy to use, got you places super fast and were fun. They’re definitely more expensive than an Uber ride, but who cares, we had a blast! We mainly used them to get to and from the Chase Center, since it is a little further outside of the tourist area, and would have been a very, very long walk.
Need more help planning your trip? My detailed post about how to plan your perfect vacation will walk you step by step through the process. Or join my private Facebook group, just for travel lovers who help each other plan their adventures!
Now that you know exactly what to do in San Francisco, get on the plane and head to this amazing city! Want other ideas for U.S. travel? Check out all of my USA travel guides here.
