Here are the 52 best things to do in San Francisco

What is it? The world’s most photographed bridge (and for good reason). 

Why go? The iconic 746-foot-tall orange towers of the Golden Gate Bridge have stood sentinel over the San Francisco Bay since 1937. Even when shrouded in fog, the bridge never fails to impress. The view is spectacular when passing over this span, with cityscapes on one side, nature on the other and a beautiful shock of blue below. Come prepared wearing extra layers; Karl the Fog doesn’t mess around when it comes to the Golden Gate. 

What is it: An expansive new park opened in 2022 on top of the Presidio Parkway highway tunnels, connecting the Presidio to the Crissy Field waterfront—designed by the same people behind New York's High Line. 

Why go: The 14-acre federal parkland offers tons of green space by the water and is now one of the best spots to take in views of the Golden Gate Bridge. If you have kids in tow, they'll love the Outpost, a natural-themed playground, and the Field Station, where they can draw butterflies, discover maps and get hands-on with science.

What is it? SF’s quintessential dish. 

Why go? It is common knowledge that burritos as we know them today are an American invention. And no burrito is more famous than SF’s Mission-style burrito formed in the '60s. There is still some debate as to who created the first Mission-style burrito. Taqueria La Cumbre is generally credited with the creation—they introduced the tortilla-wrapped combination of beans, rice, meat, and cheese in 1969. Their neighborhood competitor, El Faro (2399 Folsom St), also claims to have originated the delicacy, serving it up to local firefighters as early as 1961. If you want the best, though, head to La Taqueria (2989 Mission St), which consistently appears on top restaurant lists year after year thanks to its behemoth rice-free, foil-wrapped bombs.

What is it?  The oldest and most storied enclave of Chinese immigrants outside of Asia.

Why go?  After passing through the Dragon Gate at the corner of Bush Street and Grant Avenue, get revved to explore Chinatown's historic buildings, pocket parks and shops. Considered the birthplace of American Chinese food like chop suey and fortune cookies, as well as credited with introducing dim sum to the Western palate, you'd be remiss not to stop for a bite at an eatery like Good Mong Kok Bakery.

Don’t miss: The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory (56 Ross Alley), where some 10,000 fortune cookies are made every day—folded by hand as they come off an ancient-looking conveyor belt.

What is it? An incredible showcase of all things science. 

Why go? The Cal Academy offers a bit of everything for science-loving folks. Budding marine biologists should make a beeline for the Steinhart Aquarium, which takes up the entire lower floor and has exhibits like the world’s deepest living coral reef. Are you into ecology? Check out a four-story living rainforest that boasts butterflies, birds and a variety of tropical plants. The living roof is home to 1.7 million native plant species.

Don't miss: The Morrison Planetarium is state-of-the-art and great for aspiring astronomers. 

What is it? A former maximum-security prison in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. 

Why go? Converted from a lighthouse station to a military prison in the 1870s, Alcatraz is a formidable fortress in the middle of San Francisco Bay that was home to the early 20th century’s most notorious criminals. Today, you’ll only make it to “The Rock” via ferry from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing. Once there, the self-guided audio cell house tour narrated by former inmates and guards will fill you in on harrowing escape attempts, prison riots and the 19-month-long occupation of the site by Native Americans demanding reparation for broken treaties in 1969. 

Don’t miss: To get a more creepy bang for your buck, try a night tour. Plan to spend about three hours round trip and bring a jacket to protect you from heavy year-round fog and the agonized spirits of the island’s former residents. 

What is it? The home of over 2,000 exotic, endangered and rescued animals with talks and interactive feeding sessions running every day – set across 100 acres of beautiful gardens located right on the Pacific Coast. 

Why go? For a reasonable price you can spend the whole day getting to know your favorite animals, as well as creatures you've probably never even heard of. San Francisco Zoo has its very own tropical rainforest with exotic birds and plants, an amazing outdoor lemur exhibit and a gorilla preserve where you'll find Africa's largest primate. 

What is it? Added to the San Francisco skyline in 1933, this monumental love letter to the city remains an iconic welcome for travelers westbound across the Bay Bridge. 

Why go? This postcard favorite is named for Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a wealthy eccentric woman whose $118,000 bequest to the city resulted in Coit Tower's construction. The tapered fluted tower stands 180 feet tall at the crest of Telegraph Hill. At the top is the tower’s observation deck with 360-degree views of San Francisco and the bay. 

Don’t miss: A rotunda at its base, covered in Depression-era WPA murals depicting socialist images painted by more than two dozen artists, some of whom studied under Diego Rivera. 

What is it? SFMOMA is the stylish go-to for top-notch modern art. 

Why go? Global architecture firm Snøhetta designed the 2016 addition to Mario Botta’s iconic 1995 building, tripling its exhibition space and making it the 8th largest art museum in the country. Inside, you’ll find 33,000 works of art, including painting, photography, architecture and design, and media arts. Along with seven ticketed gallery floors, there is a large area of public space filled with art, free to the public.

What is it? The Mission District’s alleys and buildings are decorated with over 200 distinct murals, many reflecting the neighborhood’s Latino heritage and themes of social justice. 

Why go? Thanks in large part to the efforts of artist Susan and Luis Cervantes and the Precita Eyes Mural Arts and Visitors Center, you’ll find the most concentrated outdoor galleries at Caledonia Alley (at 15th Street), Clarion Alley (at Valencia Street), Balmy Alley (at 24th Street), Horace Alley (at 25th Street), Cypress and Lilac Alleys (at 26th Street) and Osage Alley (at 25th Street). At Balmy Alley, murals are constantly in flux with new ones going up all the time.

What is it? The Ellis Island of the West. 

Why go? Angel Island is a hidden gem that serves a perfect mix of history and nature for an easy day trip from the city. Tour the U.S. Immigration Station, where over a million Asian and other immigrants were processed from 1910 to 1940 and sometimes detained for years. (Chinese poetry can still be seen carved into the walls of the barracks.) Afterward, hike to the summit of Mt. Livermore, bike the 5-mile Perimeter Trail or take a break at several picnic sites.  

What is it? Colorful Victorian and Edwardian houses, many of which feature three or more colors. 

Why go? The most famous ones—there are hundreds of houses—can be found in NoPa, the Lower Haight, Haight-Ashbury and Cole Valley. But there’s one row so iconic that it’s simply referred to as “the Painted Ladies” (or sometimes “Postcard Row”): the houses of 710-720 Steiner Street at the corner of Hayes Street. These gals have appeared in an estimated 70 movies, ads and TV shows, including, yes, Full House. You can’t enter the Painted Ladies (real people live there), but you can get a great view and a photo of your own from the east-facing hillside of Alamo Square across the street. 

What is it? A massive museum for the child in everyone.

Why go? At its home on the Embarcadero waterfront, the Exploratorium uses play and experimentation to introduce visitors to scientific principles. From the storage lockers that play tones when you touch them to the outdoor fog bridge by artist Fujiko Nakaya, everything in the museum is hands-on. New exhibits appear regularly, but even the museum’s most beloved mainstays—the Sweeper's Clock, a fascinating movie loop in which two street sweepers keep time by pushing around piles of trash; the toothpick diorama of San Francisco; and the Tactile Dome, a sensory-deprivation crawl-through maze—are worth returning for again and again. 

Don’t miss: Upstairs on the second floor, the glass and steel Bay Observatory and the sustainable seafood restaurant Seaglass, which offers stunning views of the Bay.

What is it? Twenty percent larger than New York’s Central Park and just as iconic, Golden Gate Park is 1,000-plus acres of rolling hills, groves of trees, gardens and hidden treasures. 

Why go? Golden Gate Park houses some of San Francisco’s most beloved institutions—the Victorian-era glass-ensconced Conservatory of Flowers, the de Young Fine Arts Museum and the Academy of Sciences, among them—as well as less famous attractions such as the bison paddock, Shakespeare’s Garden and the north and south windmills. On Sundays, the main drive is closed to cars. Bicyclists, rollerskaters and eager Lindy Hop aficionados take over the streets. 

Don’t miss: Snacks can be found throughout the park, but for a meal, the Beach Chalet and Park Chalet on the park’s western edge offer lovely views and house-brewed beer.

What is it? An interactive bus tour where you'll be matching 55 film clips to the sights outside the bus. 

Why go? It's a 2-in-1 city tour, where you get to see the most popular San Francisco landmarks while also experiencing some movie magic. Including filming locations of Mrs. Doubtfire, Vertigo and Bullitt, the tour goes behind the camera as you gain insight from your trusty actor-turned-guide while clips play on the screen inside the bus to jog your memory.

What is it? Dubbed San Francisco's "Little Italy," North Beach is one of San Francisco's oldest and most loved neighborhoods.

Why go? With European-style outdoor cafe seating, iconic bookstore City Lights and coffee shops, a day in North Beach is a day well spent. Dine at Italian-American classics like Original Joe's (open for more than 100 years), Tony's Pizza Napoletana or Café Zoetrope.

Don't miss: Stop by for a glass of wine or two at Waystone, a delightfully unpretentious wine bar that's quickly become a local favorite. 

What is it? Unwind at one of the city's best day spas.

Why go? San Francisco has a spa for everyone. Looking to splurge? Book a treatment at the Bamford Wellness Spa, followed by an outdoor bath soak on the rooftop terrace. Looking for more amenities? Head to the more approachable  Burke Williams Day Spa, which features a large selection of treatments in addition to a jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. Up for experiencing something new—with a side of nudity? Archimedes Banya is a massive co-ed bathhouse that blends wellness rituals from around the world. 

Don't miss: A quick pop-in for a foot rub at one of the many Chinatown massage shops.

What is it? If you’re looking to get a taste of San Francisco’s past—with a great view to boot—head to the Starlite located on the 21st floor of the historic Beacon Grand Hotel (formerly the Sir Francis Drake.)

Why go? When the first iteration of the hotel bar, the Starlight Room, opened in the 1940s, it was a place to see and be seen, and it continued to entertain guests eager to take in the city skyline, drink in hand, for years to come. After closing in 2021, the bar reopened in 2024 with a modern look and revamped cocktail and food menus from bar connoisseur Scott Baird and Michelin-awarded chef Johnny Spero. Visit on a Sunday when DJs spin tunes through sundown.

Don’t miss: Arrive before sunset to watch the skyline—and the mood at the bar—shift from day to night. 

What is it? Take in sweeping views of San Francisco and the bay with a craft cocktail in hand.

Why go? Rooftop bars used to be hard to come by in the city—until recently. The past few years have brought a series of sky-high venues that are now some of the hottest places to drink in town. Personal favorites include the recently reopened Starlite, a nearly 100-year-old cocktail bar on the 21st floor of the Beacon Grand Hotel. Other hot spots include Cavaña, a Latin American-inspired bar in Mission Bay, and Rise Over Run, a lush drinking destination on the top floor of the LINE Hotel.