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San Francisco packs a lot into a small space. In a few days you can walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, take a ferry to Alcatraz, ride a cable car up a ridiculous hill, eat your way through Chinatown and the Mission, and still have time for a day trip to the redwoods or wine country. The city is only about seven miles across, so most of the best sights are close together.
The big sights
1. Walk or bike across the Golden Gate Bridge
The bridge is the city's icon, and the best way to see it is on foot or by bike. The east sidewalk is usually open to pedestrians during the day, and the round trip from the welcome center on the city side to Vista Point on the Marin side is a good long walk. Rent a bike near Fisherman's Wharf, ride across, and take the ferry back from Sausalito for a classic half-day loop. Sidewalk hours and rules change from time to time, so check before you go.
2. See the bridge from below and from above
Some of the best views are not from the bridge itself. Try Crissy Field and Fort Point for close-up views from the water's edge, Battery Spencer on the Marin Headlands side for the postcard angle looking back at the city, and Baker Beach for sunset with the bridge in the frame.
3. Tour Alcatraz
The former federal prison on an island in the bay is one of the most popular sights in the country. The only way to visit is the official ferry from Pier 33, and tickets regularly sell out days or even weeks ahead in summer and on weekends. Book as soon as your dates are set. The audio tour inside the cellhouse is excellent, and the night tours are especially atmospheric. Bring a jacket: the ferry ride and the island are often windy and cold.
4. Ride a cable car
San Francisco's cable cars are the last manually operated cable car system in the world, and riding one is part tourist ritual, part genuine transport. There are three lines: Powell-Hyde (the most scenic, with views of Alcatraz and the bay as it drops toward Fisherman's Wharf), Powell-Mason and California Street. Lines at the Powell and Market turnaround can be long, so try boarding a few stops up the line or ride the California Street line, which is usually quieter.
5. Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 and the sea lions
Touristy, yes, but the sea lions that lounge on the docks at Pier 39 are a genuine delight and free to watch. Grab clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl, then walk west to Ghirardelli Square and the Aquatic Park.
6. The Ferry Building
The beautiful 1898 terminal on the Embarcadero is now a food hall with local bakeries, coffee, oysters and cheese. On market days, the farmers market outside is one of the best in the country. It is also where ferries leave for Sausalito, Tiburon and Oakland.
Neighborhoods worth exploring
Much of San Francisco's charm is in its neighborhoods, each with its own personality. Wear good shoes: the hills are real.
7. Chinatown
One of the oldest and largest Chinatowns in North America. Enter through the Dragon Gate on Grant Avenue, then wander the side streets and alleys for dim sum, bakeries, tea shops and temples.
8. North Beach
The city's old Italian neighborhood, right next to Chinatown. Think espresso bars, bakeries and long lunches, plus City Lights, the bookstore made famous by the Beat poets. Climb up to Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill for views, and look for the murals in the lobby.
9. The Mission
Colorful murals, especially along Balmy Alley and Clarion Alley, the city's most famous burritos, and Dolores Park, where locals spread out on sunny afternoons. The Mission is often warmer and sunnier than the rest of the city when the fog sits on the west side.
10. Haight-Ashbury
The birthplace of the 1967 Summer of Love still has vintage shops, record stores and painted Victorian houses. It sits right at the eastern edge of Golden Gate Park, so combine the two.
11. Alamo Square and the Painted Ladies
The row of pastel Victorian houses facing Alamo Square park, with the downtown skyline behind them, is one of the most photographed views in the city.
12. Castro, Hayes Valley and Japantown
The Castro is one of the most famous LGBTQ+ neighborhoods in the world. Hayes Valley is full of independent boutiques and cafes, and Japantown has ramen shops, a Japanese mall and the Peace Pagoda.
Free things to do in San Francisco
San Francisco has a reputation as an expensive city, but some of its best experiences cost nothing:
- Golden Gate Park. Bigger than New York's Central Park, with meadows, lakes, the bison paddock and gardens. The park is free to wander, though a few attractions inside, like the Japanese Tea Garden, charge admission.
- Lands End Trail. A coastal trail on the city's northwest edge with cliffs, cypress trees, the ruins of the Sutro Baths and views of the Golden Gate.
- Twin Peaks. Two hills near the center of the city with a sweeping view over downtown and the bay, on a clear day.
- Crissy Field and the Presidio. A former military post turned national park site, with trails, beaches and picnic spots.
- The Painted Ladies, Dolores Park and the Mission murals.
- The sea lions at Pier 39.
- Walking the Golden Gate Bridge.
- The Wave Organ. A quirky acoustic sculpture on a jetty in the Marina that makes sounds with the waves.
Museums and indoor ideas
13. California Academy of Sciences
An aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum and four-story rainforest under one living roof in Golden Gate Park. Great for kids and for foggy days.
14. The de Young and the Legion of Honor
The de Young in Golden Gate Park has American art and an observation tower with free views. The Legion of Honor, near Lands End, has European art in a striking setting overlooking the Golden Gate.
15. SFMOMA
One of the biggest modern art museums in the US, in the SoMa neighborhood.
16. The Exploratorium
A hands-on science museum on Pier 15 that adults enjoy as much as kids.
Admission prices and free days change, so check each museum's website before you go. For skip-the-line tickets to several of these, see Tiqets.
Day trips from San Francisco
17. Muir Woods and Sausalito
Muir Woods National Monument, just north of the Golden Gate, protects a grove of towering coast redwoods. Reservations for parking or the shuttle are required, so book ahead. Combine it with lunch in Sausalito, a hillside waterfront town you can also reach by ferry from the city.
18. Napa and Sonoma
California's most famous wine regions are about an hour or more north, depending on traffic. Napa is the more polished and pricier of the two; Sonoma tends to be more relaxed. Many wineries require tasting reservations. Do not drink and drive: join a tour or pick a designated driver.
19. Half Moon Bay and the coast
Highway 1 south of the city runs past beaches, cliffs and small towns to Half Moon Bay, a lovely half day out.
20. Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur
A longer day or, better, an overnight. Monterey has its famous aquarium, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a storybook village, and Big Sur is one of the most beautiful drives in the US. Parts of Highway 1 through Big Sur close from time to time for landslides and repairs, so check road conditions first.
Weather and fog tips
San Francisco's weather surprises many visitors. The city has mild temperatures all year, but summer is often cool and gray, especially near the ocean, when fog rolls in through the Golden Gate.
- September and October are often the warmest and sunniest months, and a great time to visit.
- June to August can be foggy and chilly, especially in the morning and evening and on the west side of the city.
- Winter is the rainy season, but it is mild, and hotels are often cheaper.
- Dress in layers, always. A sunny morning in the Mission can turn into a cold, windy afternoon at the bridge. A light jacket or sweater is a must, even in July.
- Microclimates are real. If it is foggy at Ocean Beach, it may be sunny downtown or in the Mission.
Where to stay
Union Square, the Financial District and SoMa are central with good transit links. Fisherman's Wharf and North Beach are handy for the waterfront and Alcatraz. Hotel prices jump when big conferences are in town, so if your dates are flexible, compare a few options. See hotels and prices on one map on our San Francisco hotels page.
Getting around
Walking, Muni buses and streetcars, the cable cars and BART (which runs to SFO and across the bay to Oakland and Berkeley) cover almost everything. The historic F-line streetcars along Market Street and the Embarcadero are a fun ride to Fisherman's Wharf. Check current fares and passes on the official transit websites before you go.
Getting to San Francisco
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is south of the city and connected by BART. Oakland and San Jose airports are also options and sometimes cheaper. Popular routes: New York to San Francisco, Los Angeles to San Francisco, Chicago to San Francisco, Seattle to San Francisco, Dallas to San Francisco and Boston to San Francisco. For more ways to save, read our guides on how to find cheap flights and the cheapest day to fly.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the number one thing to do in San Francisco?
- Walking or biking across the Golden Gate Bridge is the classic first choice, closely followed by touring Alcatraz and riding a cable car.
- How far ahead should I book Alcatraz tickets?
- As early as you can. Tickets on the official ferry from Pier 33 often sell out days or weeks ahead, especially in summer, on weekends and for night tours.
- What is the best month to visit San Francisco?
- September and October are often the warmest and sunniest months. Summer can be surprisingly cool and foggy, so pack layers whenever you go.
- Do you need a car in San Francisco?
- Not in the city, where walking, Muni, cable cars and BART cover most sights and parking is expensive. A rental car is useful for day trips to Muir Woods, Napa, Sonoma or the coast.