30 of the best · San Francisco, California
Things to Do in San Francisco: Sights, Views and Day Trips
The Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the cable cars, the Ferry Building, PIER 39’s sea lions, Coit Tower, the Painted Ladies, the Presidio and day trips to Sausalito, Muir Woods and wine country.
Our 30 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
What's onThis week in San Francisco
Insiders' picks
Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love San Francisco.
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The city’s icon
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge, with a Welcome Center on the San Francisco side open daily 9am–6pm.
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The island prison
Alcatraz Island
The former federal penitentiary on Alcatraz Island, reached only by the official ferry from Pier 33.
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Ride a cable car
Cable cars
San Francisco’s three cable car lines: California, Powell–Hyde and Powell–Mason. A single ride costs $9.
The full list: Sights, A–Z
The icons 7
The essentials.
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The island prison
Alcatraz Island
The former federal penitentiary on Alcatraz Island, reached only by the official ferry from Pier 33.
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Ride a cable car
Cable cars
San Francisco’s three cable car lines: California, Powell–Hyde and Powell–Mason. A single ride costs $9.
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Grant Avenue through the Dragon Gate
Chinatown and the Dragon Gate
Grant Avenue’s Dragon Gate, the entrance to Chinatown from Bush Street.
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Food under the clock tower
Ferry Building Marketplace
The historic ferry terminal on the Embarcadero, now a food hall, with the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market three days a week.
One Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94111Explore View on map
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The city’s icon
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge, with a Welcome Center on the San Francisco side open daily 9am–6pm.
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Sea lions and the Bay
PIER 39
The busy waterfront pier at Fisherman’s Wharf, with shops, restaurants, the Aquarium of the Bay and the sea lions on the docks.
The Embarcadero & Beach Street, San Francisco, CA 94133Explore View on map
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See the cables at work
San Francisco Cable Car Museum
The cable car powerhouse on Mason Street, where you watch the cables that pull every car in the city.
1201 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94108Explore View on map
Views & landmarks 4
Hills and postcards.
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Above North Beach
Coit Tower and Telegraph Hill
The landmark tower on Telegraph Hill, above North Beach.
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The crooked street
Lombard Street
The crooked, flower-lined block of Lombard Street on Russian Hill.
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The postcard view
The Painted Ladies, Alamo Square
The row of Victorian houses facing Alamo Square, with the downtown skyline behind.
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The city from above
Twin Peaks
The twin hills near the middle of the city, with views across San Francisco and the Bay.
History 4
Missions, forts and the Presidio.
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Under the Golden Gate
Fort Point National Historic Site
The brick fort tucked beneath the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge.
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The city’s founding mission
Mission Dolores
Mission San Francisco de Asís, with the Dolores Basilica beside it, on 16th Street.
3321 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114Explore View on map
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The Marina’s rotunda
Palace of Fine Arts
The domed rotunda and lagoon on the edge of the Marina, built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition.
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A former army post turned park
The Presidio and Presidio Tunnel Tops
The former army post at the Golden Gate, now part of the national park, with the Presidio Tunnel Tops parklands.
Families 3
Aquariums, science and the zoo.
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The Bay underwater
Aquarium of the Bay
An aquarium on PIER 39 devoted to the creatures of San Francisco Bay.
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Rainforest under a living roof
California Academy of Sciences
An aquarium, planetarium, rainforest and natural history museum under one living roof in Golden Gate Park.
55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118Explore View on map
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By Ocean Beach
San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
The city zoo on Sloat Boulevard, beside Ocean Beach.
7080 Sloat Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94132Explore View on map
Sports 3
Giants, Warriors and 49ers.
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Home of the Warriors
Chase Center
The Mission Bay arena that is home to the Golden State Warriors and hosts big concerts.
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Home of the 49ers
Levi’s Stadium
The stadium in Santa Clara that is home to the San Francisco 49ers.
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Home of the Giants
Oracle Park
The bayside ballpark of the San Francisco Giants, on the waterfront in SoMa.
Beyond San Francisco 9
Day trips.
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The island in the Bay
Angel Island State Park
The largest island in the Bay, a state park reached by ferry from Tiburon or San Francisco.
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Across the Bay by BART
Berkeley
The university city across the Bay, home of UC Berkeley, reached by BART.
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The mountain over the Bay
Mount Tamalpais State Park
The mountain above Marin, with a visitor centre and an easy accessible trail at East Peak.
3801 Panoramic Highway, Mill Valley, CA 94941Explore View on map
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The redwoods
Muir Woods National Monument
An old-growth redwood forest in Marin, north of the Golden Gate. Parking reservations are required in advance.
1 Muir Woods Rd, Mill Valley, CA 94941Explore View on map
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Wine country to the north
Napa Valley
California’s best-known wine valley, north of the Bay.
1300 1st St #313, Napa, CA 94559Explore View on map
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Lighthouse and wild coast
Point Reyes National Seashore
The wild peninsula on the Marin coast, with the Point Reyes Lighthouse and the Bear Valley Visitor Center.
1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956Explore View on map
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Across the Bay by ferry
Sausalito
The bayside town across the Golden Gate, reached by Golden Gate Ferry or over the bridge.
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Vineyards and coast
Sonoma County
The wine country and coast north of Marin, with Healdsburg, Sonoma and the Russian River.
Book Alcatraz well ahead: the official ferry from Pier 33 often sells out.
Explore more of San Francisco
15 of the best Hotels
22 of the best Restaurants
6 of the best Cafés & Bakeries
12 of the best Bars6 of the best Nightlife & Live Music9 of the best Museums & Performing Arts
7 of the best Parks & Walks
9 of the best Shopping7 of the best Supermarkets & Pharmacies
2 of the best Spas & Wellness5 of the best Hospitals
3 of the best Luxury Lifestyle5 of the best Boats & Ferries
1 of the best Motoring5 of the best Property7 of the best Getting Around