Walk across the Golden Gate BridgeMust-See SightsCheck AccessWalking across the Golden Gate Bridge takes about 30–45 minutes each way. Free for pedestrians — just check the path access rules, which vary by season and direction.0 Add to listWalk across the Golden Gate BridgeMust-See SightsCheck AccessWalking across the Golden Gate Bridge takes about 30–45 minutes each way. Free for pedestrians — just check the path access rules, which vary by season and direction.0 Add to list
Ride a cable carMust-See SightsPaidThe historic cable cars are a slow, classic way to get between neighborhoods. Expect a queue on tourist routes — the Powell lines are busiest. Ticketed, worth doing once.0 Add to listRide a cable carMust-See SightsPaidThe historic cable cars are a slow, classic way to get between neighborhoods. Expect a queue on tourist routes — the Powell lines are busiest. Ticketed, worth doing once.0 Add to list
Tour Alcatraz IslandMust-See SightsPaid · Check Access · SummerThe Alcatraz audio tour is genuinely well done — ex-prisoners narrate. Book the ferry tickets well in advance, especially in summer. Budget about half a day.0 Add to listTour Alcatraz IslandMust-See SightsPaid · Check Access · SummerThe Alcatraz audio tour is genuinely well done — ex-prisoners narrate. Book the ferry tickets well in advance, especially in summer. Budget about half a day.0 Add to list
Visit Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39Must-See SightsWith KidsFisherman's Wharf is touristy but easy — sea lions at Pier 39, clam chowder in sourdough bowls and easy waterfront access. Good for a couple of hours, especially with kids.0 Add to listVisit Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39Must-See SightsWith KidsFisherman's Wharf is touristy but easy — sea lions at Pier 39, clam chowder in sourdough bowls and easy waterfront access. Good for a couple of hours, especially with kids.0 Add to list
Watch Cars Zigzag Down Lombard StreetMust-See SightsLombard Street's famous zigzag block is lined with flowers and usually has a queue of cars. Worth seeing, but go early in the morning or just walk it on foot to avoid the crowds.0 Add to listWatch Cars Zigzag Down Lombard StreetMust-See SightsLombard Street's famous zigzag block is lined with flowers and usually has a queue of cars. Worth seeing, but go early in the morning or just walk it on foot to avoid the crowds.0 Add to list
See the Painted LadiesMust-See SightsThe Painted Ladies row of Victorian houses faces Alamo Square park, with the skyline behind. Classic photo spot — best in morning light before the fog burns off.0 Add to listSee the Painted LadiesMust-See SightsThe Painted Ladies row of Victorian houses faces Alamo Square park, with the skyline behind. Classic photo spot — best in morning light before the fog burns off.0 Add to list
Explore Golden Gate ParkMust-See SightsWith KidsPaidGolden Gate Park is large and easy to spend half a day in — botanical garden, de Young museum, Japanese Tea Garden and Stow Lake all in one. Free to walk; museums and garden are ticketed.0 Add to listExplore Golden Gate ParkMust-See SightsWith KidsPaidGolden Gate Park is large and easy to spend half a day in — botanical garden, de Young museum, Japanese Tea Garden and Stow Lake all in one. Free to walk; museums and garden are ticketed.0 Add to list
Walk through ChinatownMust-See SightsSan Francisco's Chinatown is the oldest in North America and easy to walk from Union Square. Good for dim sum, cheap snacks and a browse — goes quickly on foot but worth the detour.0 Add to listWalk through ChinatownMust-See SightsSan Francisco's Chinatown is the oldest in North America and easy to walk from Union Square. Good for dim sum, cheap snacks and a browse — goes quickly on foot but worth the detour.0 Add to list
Climb the Mosaic Staircase at 16th and MoragaActiveThe 16th Avenue Tiled Steps are 163 hand-mosaiced steps climbing through Golden Gate Heights from sea life at the bottom to stars at the top. Worth the climb for the views from the top.0 Add to listClimb the Mosaic Staircase at 16th and MoragaActiveThe 16th Avenue Tiled Steps are 163 hand-mosaiced steps climbing through Golden Gate Heights from sea life at the bottom to stars at the top. Worth the climb for the views from the top.0 Add to list
Ride the Seward Street Concrete Slides on CardboardFun Side QuestsWith KidsThe Seward Street Slides are two concrete chutes from the 1970s — bring a flattened cardboard box to slide on. Free, quick and funny. Usually quieter on weekday mornings.0 Add to listRide the Seward Street Concrete Slides on CardboardFun Side QuestsWith KidsThe Seward Street Slides are two concrete chutes from the 1970s — bring a flattened cardboard box to slide on. Free, quick and funny. Usually quieter on weekday mornings.0 Add to list
Listen to the Wave Organ at Crissy FieldFun Side QuestsCheck AccessThe Wave Organ is a stone jetty art installation at Crissy Field where pipes channel the tidal sound. Go at high tide for the best effect — press your ear to a pipe and listen.0 Add to listListen to the Wave Organ at Crissy FieldFun Side QuestsCheck AccessThe Wave Organ is a stone jetty art installation at Crissy Field where pipes channel the tidal sound. Go at high tide for the best effect — press your ear to a pipe and listen.0 Add to list
Get cackled at by Laffing SalFun Side QuestsMusee Mecanique on Pier 45 has a free entry and dozens of antique coin-operated machines, including the six-foot Laffing Sal automaton. Bring quarters — the machines actually work.0 Add to listGet cackled at by Laffing SalFun Side QuestsMusee Mecanique on Pier 45 has a free entry and dozens of antique coin-operated machines, including the six-foot Laffing Sal automaton. Bring quarters — the machines actually work.0 Add to list
Find the Peephole Art Gallery on 24th StreetFun Side QuestsA tiny alley off 24th Street in the Mission hides a single-peephole art gallery — you see the whole show through one small hole in a wall. Blink-and-miss, but worth hunting down.0 Add to listFind the Peephole Art Gallery on 24th StreetFun Side QuestsA tiny alley off 24th Street in the Mission hides a single-peephole art gallery — you see the whole show through one small hole in a wall. Blink-and-miss, but worth hunting down.0 Add to list
Walk the Mural-Covered Balmy AlleyFun Side QuestsBalmy Alley between 24th and 25th Streets in the Mission has about 33 murals covering garage doors and fences — decades of political art packed into one block. Free and easy to walk in five minutes.0 Add to listWalk the Mural-Covered Balmy AlleyFun Side QuestsBalmy Alley between 24th and 25th Streets in the Mission has about 33 murals covering garage doors and fences — decades of political art packed into one block. Free and easy to walk in five minutes.0 Add to list
Climb the Vulcan Steps Garden StaircaseActiveThe Vulcan Steps are a 1925 garden staircase above the Castro where residents haul groceries by hand because no car can reach. Short climb with good neighborhood views at the top.0 Add to listClimb the Vulcan Steps Garden StaircaseActiveThe Vulcan Steps are a 1925 garden staircase above the Castro where residents haul groceries by hand because no car can reach. Short climb with good neighborhood views at the top.0 Add to list
Drink at Specs' Twelve Adler Museum CafeFun Side QuestsSpecs' Twelve Adler Museum Cafe is a 1968 North Beach dive bar with walls and ceilings covered in curios brought back by merchant sailors. Small, dark and genuinely atmospheric.0 Add to listDrink at Specs' Twelve Adler Museum CafeFun Side QuestsSpecs' Twelve Adler Museum Cafe is a 1968 North Beach dive bar with walls and ceilings covered in curios brought back by merchant sailors. Small, dark and genuinely atmospheric.0 Add to list
Step Inside the Camera Obscura at Cliff HouseFun Side QuestsPaidThe Camera Obscura next to the old Cliff House is a small building that projects a live 360-degree view of the crashing surf onto a parabolic dish inside. A few dollars to enter and one of the stranger things in the city.0 Add to listStep Inside the Camera Obscura at Cliff HouseFun Side QuestsPaidThe Camera Obscura next to the old Cliff House is a small building that projects a live 360-degree view of the crashing surf onto a parabolic dish inside. A few dollars to enter and one of the stranger things in the city.0 Add to list
Eat an It's-It Ice Cream SandwichLocal FoodLocal RitualsIt's-It is an SF original from 1928 — vanilla ice cream between two oatmeal cookies, dipped in chocolate. Sold at grocery stores and some corner shops around the city. Eat it before it melts.0 Add to listEat an It's-It Ice Cream SandwichLocal FoodLocal RitualsIt's-It is an SF original from 1928 — vanilla ice cream between two oatmeal cookies, dipped in chocolate. Sold at grocery stores and some corner shops around the city. Eat it before it melts.0 Add to list
Run the Golden Gate Promenade at Crissy FieldActiveLocal RitualsCrissy Field's flat waterfront path runs toward Fort Point with the Golden Gate Bridge ahead the whole way. Best early morning before the wind picks up and while the fog still hangs on the bridge.0 Add to listRun the Golden Gate Promenade at Crissy FieldActiveLocal RitualsCrissy Field's flat waterfront path runs toward Fort Point with the Golden Gate Bridge ahead the whole way. Best early morning before the wind picks up and while the fog still hangs on the bridge.0 Add to list
Jog the Embarcadero at Sunrise Past the Ferry BuildingActiveLocal RitualsThe Embarcadero promenade along the bay is flat, car-free and good at sunrise before the commuter and tourist crowd builds. The Ferry Building at the end is worth a stop.0 Add to listJog the Embarcadero at Sunrise Past the Ferry BuildingActiveLocal RitualsThe Embarcadero promenade along the bay is flat, car-free and good at sunrise before the commuter and tourist crowd builds. The Ferry Building at the end is worth a stop.0 Add to list
Ride the 1914 carousel at Koret Children's QuarterFun Side QuestsWith KidsPaidThe Herschell-Spillman carousel in Golden Gate Park dates from 1914 and has unusual animals — dragon, camel, rooster — alongside the standard horses. Small fee to ride; the adjacent concrete slide is free.0 Add to listRide the 1914 carousel at Koret Children's QuarterFun Side QuestsWith KidsPaidThe Herschell-Spillman carousel in Golden Gate Park dates from 1914 and has unusual animals — dragon, camel, rooster — alongside the standard horses. Small fee to ride; the adjacent concrete slide is free.0 Add to list
Ride the 1906 Carousel at Yerba Buena GardensFun Side QuestsWith KidsPaidYerba Buena Gardens has free lawns and a waterfall, plus a 1906 carousel and the Children's Creativity Museum next door. A relaxed stop with a mix of paid and free things.0 Add to listRide the 1906 Carousel at Yerba Buena GardensFun Side QuestsWith KidsPaidYerba Buena Gardens has free lawns and a waterfall, plus a 1906 carousel and the Children's Creativity Museum next door. A relaxed stop with a mix of paid and free things.0 Add to list
Make a stop-motion movie at the Creativity MuseumFun Side QuestsWith KidsPaidThe Children's Creativity Museum lets kids direct stop-motion animations and music videos. You leave with an actual short film. Admission required — book ahead on busy days.0 Add to listMake a stop-motion movie at the Creativity MuseumFun Side QuestsWith KidsPaidThe Children's Creativity Museum lets kids direct stop-motion animations and music videos. You leave with an actual short film. Admission required — book ahead on busy days.0 Add to list
